Nanny Hiring Guide: CPR Training for your Child's Safety

Emergencies, especially breathing emergencies, do happen to children. From an errant chicken bone lodged in the throat to an unexpected, allergy-causing bee bite, your child's respiratory system could come under attack at any minute. When breathing is obstructed, the brain will only survive 4 to 6 minutes unless oxygen flow is restored.

For many hours during the week, the life of your child is in the hands of your nanny or childcare provider. It is absolutely necessary that your nanny have the latest CPR training (updated by the Red Cross in 2005), and the demonstrated ability to perform the Heimlich maneuver according to the latest standards.

Note for instance that the latest medical research - which is already incorporated into Red Cross CPR training - has now determined that the Heimlich maneuver should not be the sole recourse for aiding a conscious choking victim, but rather it should be incorporated into a regimen of five back blows followed by five abdominal thrusts. (Heimlich maneuver = abdominal thrust).

When seeking nanny services and interviewing a number of candidates for the nanny position, your health and safety interview questions should be specific and original, not just a matter of formality. Rather than simply ask whether the nanny "knows CPR", look for a more involved description of how he or she would respond to signs of sudden and severe breathing difficulty in your child. Is the nanny up to date with the latest research and training? Has she shown you her up-to-date CPR certificate? For more information on CPR training go to the Red Cross website.

It is recommended that parents pose a couple of different hypothetical scenarios, and listen attentively to the nanny's proposed plan of response. While not a definitive litmus test, this process of interviewing a nanny candidate is helpful in revealing the depth of knowledge - and the quickness of response - that the childcare provider will be equipped with when faced with a childcare emergency.

Ask for the nanny's CPR certification. Pay attention to the date of certification. In addition, it is recommended that you follow up with the organization that provided the nanny with the CPR training, especially if you are not familiar with the organization. Find out if they are accredited, and if there is anyone on staff who can provide a personal reference for the nanny. Alongside criminal background checks and employer references, following up on CPR certification is an important added metric in assessing the qualifications of a nanny.