Are you up to date with your CPR?

[Shanti]

I have decided I'm going to sign up for a First Aid and CPR course. I haven't done it all since I did my bronze medallion in surf life saving and that was 11yrs ago now!!

I always think about doing the course, every time DD chokes on a bit of food I get a bit concerned!! If something was to happen to DD, I'd have a basic idea of what to do however I would not be confident. I want to know that I know what I am doing if something (heaven forbid) was to go wrong.....

Has anyone recently done a refresher course and know how much it is? Do I ring my local ambulance office to organise this? Anyone know?

TIA

[starangelk]

Hi Shanti - I just did a "Caring for Kids" course through St Johns last Saturday. I hadn't ever had any formal first aid training and this course was excellent. It taught me CPR on infants, children and also adults. It also went through general first aid for kids and adults and I got a book specifically about kids health. They also went thru a few child specific things like convulsion, bites etc. The cost was $140 and in my opinion totally worthwhile. I just googled them and booked online.

[Shanti]

oh i saw that one online just now! Thank you!! It's $105 for us in our area? The first one available on a weekday is in may!! Was hoping to do one sooner.... hmmm.

[Laranna]

St Johns will have all the courses. I did a refresher when pregnant with DS, so due to do again soon.

I've always held a senior first aid certificate as I was a first aider and first responder at my job before I left to have babies. It's soooo worthwhile knowing this stuff. Even if you remember just one or two things, you never know, you could save someones life.

[starangelk]

Hi Shanti - $105.....hmmmm, maybe I did only pay $105 after all! I actually booked back in January and the first available course on a weekend was just last weekend. Obviously they are pretty popular. I would also consider travelling for the course if you wanted to do it sooner because honestly, I found it that worthwhile.

[luna moth]

I have always had one, since I left school. I have done them through St Johns, Red Cross, and a fw other small providers. The St Johns ones are 100% the best, although my recent CPR refresher was excellent. $105 sounds about right. Some smaller providers will do them cheaper/in less time, but are hard to book into as an individual.
May is only 7 weeks away though - if you've lived this long without it, you can probably manage another 7 weeks!

[mrsmac]

We do them every year through work, its amazing how much the rules change with regards to CPR.

[Floweryfields]

I do mine annually for work - here in Qld you contact a 13 number - at least I think that's what it is, and they book you in through there. Last time it cost me about $70 if I remember rightly.

[Mother Goose]

yup - i HAVE to do it each and every year... part of my profession.

Which State are you in? Depending on where you are depends on who you can contact. St John Ambulance is actually withdrawing First Aid courses from some areas (I still don't know why)... BUT, you can try;

St John Ambulance
Red Cross Australia
The Ambulance Service in your State
Surf Lifesaving Australia
Contact your local Council to see if they have any courses being run
Contact your MCHN, they often run courses
In Victoria, the MFB have done them in the past
In some States, there are also INDEPENDENT companies that conduct these courses

HTH and good on you for doing it!

MG

[Shanti]

Thanks girls! I'm booked in with St Johns "Caring For Kids" course on a Sunday in May!!! Looking forward to it. I couldn't do a weekday as I have noone to mind DD.