PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA) – Mayor Peduto announced that the City of Pittsburgh will offer free state-required pediatric first aid, CPR, and fire safety certifications to childcare staff and early learning professionals who work or reside in City of Pittsburgh.
The certificates are expensive for childcare facilities, while being critical for children's safety. This free training will help keep children and staff safe.
Upon completion of the course, participants will receive American Heart Association Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid, CPR/AED, and Fire Safety certificates.
"It can be very difficult and costly for childcare facilities to ensure that their staff members have access to high quality training opportunities. Our program aims to ensure that programs that need this vital training are able to get it and to keep the children in their care safe," said Tiffini Simoneaux, Youth and Education Manager for the Office of Equity.
The program will be offered in hybrid format at two physical locations due to COVID-19. Pittsburgh paramedics and Fire Prevention Officers will broadcast their trainings at both locations.
University of Pittsburgh Student EMS monitors will verify certifications at the locations.
"Bystanders are often the first people on scene of a medical emergency. Providing first aid and CPR training to childcare providers will allow for high quality bystander care to be rendered prior to the arrival of emergency medical personnel and will improve patient outcomes. Pittsburgh EMS is proud to safely provide this training and encourages everyone to learn CPR," Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS Assistant Chief Pinchalk said.
Fire Prevention Officer Lisa Epps-Cuda added that, "Fire safety is a necessary part of emergency preparedness and every family and business must have a fire safety plan in place. Childcare facilities are no exception. I am looking forward to sharing this information with childcare providers throughout the City of Pittsburgh to make sure that in the event of an emergency, these facilities know exactly what to do and how to stay safe."
Trainings will be held Saturday, April 10 at 10:00 a.m. Registration is limited. For more info, click here.
