The Benefits to Getting Certified in First Aid

Most dance teachers and studio owners would not characterize their work as high-risk nor do they anticipate emergency scenarios as regular, day-to-day concerns. Nonetheless, there is a growing expectation that professionals who work with children have some training in first aid and CPR.

Nannies, schoolteachers and coaches are enrolling in certification courses so that their employers can feel confident that children’s health and safety needs are being appropriately considered. Similarly, more and more dance teachers are choosing to become certified, and studio owners and parents are seeking out teachers who have these qualifications.

“We have an obligation to provide our students with the very best education, and that also includes the very best measure of safety possible,” says Patsy Lorentzen, executive director of Ballet New England, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. After all, a dance studio is a place where large groups of people from all backgrounds, states of health, ages, shapes and sizes assemble to engage in physically strenuous activity.

“Dance instructors have a preexisting relationship with students predicated on a sense of trust and responsibility,” adds Barbara Caracci, director of product development for the National Safety Council’s emergency care programs. “This relationship demands a standard of care in situations of illness and emergency that [should] include CPR and first-aid certification.” Other first-aid and CPR training organizations are also recommending that professionals who work with children and in large group settings require employees to become certified.

In 2000, when Lorentzen was hired as executive director of BNE, she brought with her the notion that CPR certification should be a basic qualification for her personnel. The studio now places a high premium on safety and first-aid training. “It takes time, money and a strong commitment to secure the hours required to achieve proper certification,” explains Lorentzen. “The commitment is truly reciprocal, and from the top down because it is a priority for us to have certified teachers. Our board of directors makes certain that funds are established for both new and renewing certifications.” Lorentzen notes that being able to write off CPR certification as a business expense mitigates some of the cost.

First-aid training provides the assurance that even common scenarios can be properly addressed. Most first-aid courses teach participants how to deal with bleeding, fainting, shock, bone fractures and burns, as well as medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy and allergic reactions. Particularly in situations where children are involved and do not necessarily have the sophistication to communicate the nature of their injuries, dance teachers trained in first aid can take the initiative and zero in on the problem.

From a marketing perspective, it serves studios well to hire certified teachers.

Studio owners can then advertise that their employees have a level of training and expertise that extends above and beyond the standard. A clearly visible sign in the lobby or a mention in advertising materials can alert potential customers to the staff’s first-aid expertise.

The cost of certification varies from agency to agency, as does the requisite investment of time. The price ranges from $25 for a basic class to $100 for a more involved program. Generally, a basic CPR certification program will require at least three hours of the participant’s time, and the certification will stay current for approximately two years. First-aid training curricula may also differ from one place to the next. However, a comprehensive program generally provides the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent, recognize and provide basic care for injuries and sudden illnesses until advanced medical personnel arrive.

The American Heart Association, the National Safety Council and the Red Cross all provide nationwide certification programs. These are reliable, reputable organizations that are on the cutting edge of workplace health and safety. All three distinguish between certification for administering CPR to adults, children or infants, and all offer courses for groups.

According to Lorentzen, if studio owners prioritize getting all teachers certified in first aid, “There is a greater feeling of security and comfort amongst students, parents and faculty members. There is a sense that in the case of an emergency, we are equipped to handle it.”