THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Department of Early Education and Care
Family Child Care,
Group Child Care, and
School Age Child Care FIRST AID/CPR APPROVAL
POLICY STATEMENT Number: P-EEC-01
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The Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) recognizes the vital importance of child care program staff
being trained in the basics of First Aid and CPR and requires that staff receive appropriate training. Family,
group, and school-age child care programs must ensure that their staff receives First Aid and CPR training that
is consistent with EEC guidelines. If a program selects a First Aid or CPR training course that does not meet
EEC requirements, the program will be cited for having invalid First Aid or CPR training, and program staff will be
required to repeat the necessary training by attending an appropriate course.
CPR Training Requirements
• CPR training must be renewed annually regardless of the expiration date listed on the document certifying
completion of the training. Please note: This requirement is based on national studies that have shown that
knowledge retention of the technique learned during CPR training is low because CPR is either used
infrequently or not at all.
• CPR training must be provided by an instructor who holds a current certificate as a CPR Trainer.
• Appropriate CPR training courses for staff of EEC licensed programs must address choking and rescue
breathing, must include the use of mannequins, must maintain an appropriate mannequin to student ratio, must
be appropriate for the ages of the children in care, and must include a requirement that the participant
demonstrate CPR technique.
First Aid Training Requirements
• First Aid training must be renewed by the expiration date listed on the document certifying completion of the
training or at least every three years, which ever comes first.
• For group child care and school-age child care, the program’s Health Care Consultant must approve all First
Aid courses used by program staff.
• First Aid Instructors must be currently certified as an instructor by one of the following organizations:
o American Heart Association;
o American Red Cross;
o Green Cross for Safety;
o National Safety Council;
12-22-04 Page 1 of 2 FCCGSACCFirstAidCPR20050701 o Medic First Aid Pediatric CPR (inclusive);
o American Safety and Health Institute;
o Massachusetts Firefighting Academy;
o Massachusetts Civil Defense Academy; or
o Emergency Medical Instructor/ Coordinator Training Course of the Department of Public Health.
• A licensed physician, registered nurse, or nurse practitioner with pediatric or family health experience may
provide First Aid training as long as he/she holds current certification as a First Aid Instructor.
• Appropriate First Aid training courses for staff of EEC licensed programs must maintain a 1:12 instructor to
student ratio, must be at least 4 hours in length, must include a standardized written test (which may be given
orally when necessary), and may include a requirement for the participant to demonstrate first aid techniques.
• Approved First Aid training courses must address the following topics:
A. Acute Injuries and Illness
-Seizures
-Head/Neck Injuries (including injuries of the face, mouth, eye and ear)
-Allergic Reactions
-Poisoning
-Burns (including heat, chemical, and electric)
-Human and Animal Bites
-Bleeding Control
-Bone and Muscle Injuries
-Shock
-Sudden or Serious Illness (including fever, diarrhea, and vomiting)
-Universal Precautions
B. Emergency Action Principles
-Primary survey (including assessing the scene and child for life-threatening injuries)
-Contacting Emergency Medical Services
-Secondary survey (looking for other injuries)
-Administering necessary first aid
C. General Injury Prevention and Safety Information
NOTE: EEC no longer maintains an approved list of individual First Aid and CPR trainers.