Red Cross course teaches parents what to do if an infant chokes

New Zealand Red Cross is running a campaign to lift awareness about the risk of infants choking. It encourages parents, caregivers, teachers and whānau to take part in the First Aid for Parents and Caregivers course.

Red Cross says choking in infants is a significant fear for parents and caregivers, and many do not feel confident to respond in an emergency.

Children and infants need different first aid techniques from adults, Red Cross says. The nation-wide course teaches child-specific skills, including infant CPR and how to respond to choking. It is designed with whānau in mind.

People who attend receive a New Zealand Red Cross First Aid for Parents and Caregivers Attendance Certificate.

Carol Gardiner, New Zealand Red Cross Director of First Aid, describes the course as a way to give people practical skills and the confidence to act in an emergency.

To learn more about the course and book online, visit www.redcross.org.nz/first-aid (opens in a new tab).