ACLS/BLS

Hi all,

I am going through training right now to become an in home daycare provider since I am having difficulty finding a job. I am in the training class now and I am ACLS and BLS certified. This is probably the most crazy question but they keep asking me. They require you to be first aid certified as well so doesn't my ACLS and/or BLS cover that cert as well or do I have to do another cert for first aide? I have seen some cards that say CPR/First Aid, however mine does not say that so I just would like to make sure I am in the clear. Please do not laugh at my question, lol.
Wouldn't PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) be more pertinent to your future job as a daycare provider? After all, your clientele will consist of mostly infants and children.Pediatric Advanced Life Support - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote from TheCommuterWouldn't PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) be more pertinent to your future job as a daycare provider? After all, your clientele will consist of mostly infants and children.Pediatric Advanced Life Support - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

ACLS, I would say no it doesn't cover first aid - its too specific. But wow, I would think BLS would! (Personal opinion only of course).DC

First aid is a totally different class. It is sometimes offered with BLS. It teaches you things like how to splint fractures and make pressure dressings, c-spine precautions, nosebleed first aid, bee stings (how to use an epi pen) and other animal bite care. Try your local EMS for information, or even a community center or college may offer the class. Good luck.

Resumecpr put it quite nicely.BLS and First aid are completely different.

The CPR + First Aid classes/certs are from the Red Cross.BLS ACLS PALS are all American Heart Association certs I'm not sure that the AHA has a First Aid certification.

Personally if I were going to work in a day care I would definitely take the first aid class because what you'll learn there will probably be used on a daily basis (nosebleeds, cuts/scrapes, what to do when someone may have swallowed something toxic). BLS is exactly what it stands for: basic life support (i.e. the person is dead/dying and you are trying to make them.... well... less dead. )

BLS is a CPR class. It teaches nothing about identifying and taking care of little boo-boos or recognizing a more serious illness but not quite so serious it needs CPR. ACLS and PALS would be good only as far as the CPR portion. In a daycare you will not have access to a code cart nor will you be pushing those medications. You will be calling 911 unless the daycare is in the center of a hospital and is owned by the hospital. If not owned by the hospital, you will probably still be calling 911. As a nursing student (if your profile is still correct) without a nursing license, ACLS would also only be good for the CPR portion and the rest would be just extra knowledge. As an employer I might also question why someone without a professional license would even be using that cert on an application. Granted it is an easy cert to get but it is not practical for your purpose right now. But, congrats on taking ACLS as a student.The Natoinal Safety Council and the ARC will usually have approved courses for child care first aid. A college or votech school may also teach an approved course. EMS could be teaching a basic first-aid course but you should make sure it is approved by your state. I would not take a course unless it specially states it is approved for daycare workers. Here's an example for California:http://www.sdarc.org/TakeAClass/Indi...0/Default.aspxThe purpose of the California Child Care (CACC) Program is to teach individuals who work in the childcare field the knowledge and skills they need to keep children who are in their care safe and healthy. This state-specific course was developed in response to California Government Code, Training Standards for Child Care Providers, Title 22, Division 9, Chapter 1 and satisfies the requirements as stated in that code. All childcare providers will benefit from attending this program. However, there are childcare providers in California who must take the training (any person who provides childcare in a licensed child day-care facility).

Thanks everyone. This is why this site is great and after reading everything I totally agree. I don't have to find a class around here because they are offering it through the course I just wanted to make sure that I get it and that they just didn't take my BLS and say that my first aid is satisified with that cert. As I mentioned before I have seen some BLS cards that say first aid on them and my doesn't so I was a little confused.

Quote from gem0607as i mentioned before i have seen some bls cards that say first aid on them and my doesn't so i was a little confused.

do whatever the employer says. American Heart offers MANY types of "CPR" courses. First aid is one. Healthcare Provider and Heartsaver-AED are others PALS is overkill as you will call 911 if there is an emergency. You will not have the team or the equipment, including an MD, to perform advance skills. But first aid could be required.

I am already a nurse. I have all my certs pretaining to a healthcare provider. I am only starting the in home day care until I am able to find a job (I have been searching for over a year now). I'm living aboard the military installation and you can't babysit or have a child in your home other than yours and get paid unless you take this class. I just figured that being a nurse would suffice but it doesn't, lol. I called the place where I was CPR certified and clarified everything so I will have my first aid cert tomorrow. Again thanks for all your responses, they were greatly appreciated.