Published by AB First Aid — nationally registered first aid training provider, Tullamarine, Victoria.
First aid advice spreads fast in childcare settings — through staff rooms, Facebook groups, and half-remembered training sessions. Some of it is solid. A lot of it isn’t. When it comes to real emergencies involving children, acting on outdated or incorrect information doesn’t just slow you down — it can make things worse.
Here are some of the most common first aid myths circulating in early childhood settings, and what the evidence and Australian guidelines actually say.
Do You Need to Tilt the Head Back When a Child Is Choking?
No — tilting the head back is not recommended for a choking child, and doing so can actually push an obstruction further into the airway. The correct response for a conscious child who is choking is to give up to five back blows between the shoulder blades, followed by up to five chest thrusts. For infants under twelve months, the technique differs: use a combination of back blows and chest thrusts, and never perform abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich manoeuvre) on a baby. These guidelines come from the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC), which sets the evidence-based standard for resuscitation training in Australia.
Myth: You Should Put Butter or Oil on a Burn
Putting butter, oil, toothpaste, or any other home remedy on a burn is one of the most persistent myths in first aid — and one of the most harmful. These substances trap heat in the skin, increasing tissue damage and raising the risk of infection. The correct response, as outlined by the ARC and Kidsafe Australia, is cool running water for a minimum of 20 minutes. The water should be cool, not cold or iced, to avoid causing shock or hypothermia in young children. Remove any clothing or jewellery near the burn, but do not peel away anything that is stuck to the skin.
This applies to childcare settings too. If a child in your care sustains a burn, start the cooling process immediately while calling for emergency assistance if the burn is larger than a 20-cent piece, on the face or hands, or involves a very young child.
Does Putting a Child in the Recovery Position Mean They Are Safe?
The recovery position reduces the risk of airway blockage in an unconscious child who is breathing — but placing a child on their side is not the end of your responsibilities. You still need to monitor breathing continuously, ensure emergency services have been called, and be prepared to begin CPR if breathing stops. The recovery position is a management step, not a resolution. A child who is unconscious and breathing still requires urgent medical attention, regardless of how stable they appear in the moment.
Myth: Childhood CPR Is the Same as Adult CPR
The principles of CPR — compressions and breaths to restore circulation — are the same, but the technique changes significantly depending on the child’s age. For children aged one to eight years, the Australian Resuscitation Council recommends using one or two hands for chest compressions, pressing down approximately one-third of the chest depth. For infants under twelve months, use two fingers on the centre of the chest. Compression ratios and breath volumes also differ. Using adult CPR technique on a young child can cause injury, and being unfamiliar with the differences wastes critical time during an emergency.
Under the Education and Care Services National Regulations, childcare services in Victoria are required to have at least one staff member with a current approved first aid qualification present at all times — including a Provide First Aid certificate and CPR training renewed annually. This requirement exists precisely because the skills needed in a childcare setting are specific, not just general adult first aid knowledge.
What Should You Actually Do for a Child Having a Febrile Seizure?
Febrile seizures — seizures triggered by a rapid rise in body temperature — are one of the more frightening events a childcare worker can witness, and they come with plenty of misinformation attached. The most common myths: hold the child down to stop them shaking, put something in their mouth to prevent biting, or cool them with a cold wet cloth to bring the fever down during the seizure.
None of these are correct. You should not restrain the child, put anything in their mouth, or apply cold to the body during an active seizure. The correct response is to clear the area of any hazards, gently guide the child to the ground if they are upright, place them on their side, time the seizure, and call 000 if the seizure lasts more than five minutes, if this is a first febrile seizure, or if you are unsure. After the seizure ends, place the child in the recovery position, keep them warm, and wait for medical help. Always notify parents and document the event in your service’s incident register.
Myth: Any Staff Member Can Give Medication to a Child in an Emergency
Administering any medication to a child in a childcare setting requires a completed medication authorisation form signed by a parent or guardian — not a verbal instruction, a text message, or an assumption based on familiarity. Administering unprescribed medication without written authorisation is a breach of the Education and Care Services National Regulations. Services in Victoria are required to follow the National Quality Framework and maintain a medication administration register for every dose given.
The exception is emergency situations involving anaphylaxis or asthma, where staff trained in anaphylaxis or emergency asthma management may administer an adrenaline auto-injector or reliever inhaler according to an individual medical management plan — even without prior written consent. For all other medication, written authorisation is required before a single dose.
Why Getting Your First Aid Knowledge Right Matters
In any given week, a childcare worker might manage scraped knees, allergic reactions, bumped heads, and choking scares. The difference between a confident, informed response and a well-meaning but incorrect one can significantly affect outcomes for a child. Many first aid myths feel believable because they are widely shared — but they are based on outdated advice or a misunderstanding of how the body responds to injury or illness.
Current first aid training, specifically training designed for childcare environments, gives you the tools to respond correctly without hesitation and without relying on guesswork. If your team’s certificates are overdue, or your annual CPR refresher hasn’t been completed this year, that’s worth addressing now. Book your team into a course or check the upcoming schedule at AB First Aid in Tullamarine: abfirstaid.trainingdesk.com.au/enrol.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do childcare workers need to renew their first aid certificate in Victoria?
The Education and Care Services National Regulations require childcare services to have staff with current approved first aid qualifications. First aid certificates such as Provide First Aid (HLTAID011) are generally renewed every three years, while CPR (HLTAID009) must be renewed annually. ACECQA maintains an approved list of qualifications relevant to early childhood education and care.
What first aid qualification does ACECQA require for childcare workers?
ACECQA requires that at least one responsible person present at an early childhood service at all times holds an approved first aid qualification, along with current qualifications in emergency asthma management and anaphylaxis management. The specific approved qualifications are listed on the ACECQA website and are updated periodically, so it is worth checking the current list before enrolling.
What should a childcare worker do if a child shows signs of anaphylaxis?
Locate the child’s individual anaphylaxis action plan immediately. If the child has been prescribed an adrenaline auto-injector (such as an EpiPen or Anapen) and shows signs of anaphylaxis — difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, or sudden collapse — administer it according to the action plan and call 000 without delay. ASCIA (Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy) provides nationally recognised guidelines for anaphylaxis management in early childhood settings.
Is compression-only CPR acceptable for children in childcare settings?
Current Australian Resuscitation Council guidelines recommend full CPR — including rescue breaths — for trained childcare workers responding to cardiac arrest in children. Compression-only CPR is recommended for untrained bystanders or as a fallback if rescue breaths cannot be performed safely. Since childcare workers are required to hold current first aid qualifications, the expectation is that they will perform the complete technique appropriate for the child’s age.
Can a childcare worker be held liable for providing first aid incorrectly?
In Victoria, the Wrongs Act 1958 includes Good Samaritan provisions that offer some protection to people who act in good faith during an emergency. However, childcare workers acting in a professional capacity have a higher duty of care than a bystander. Maintaining current, relevant training that reflects accepted guidelines is the most effective protection. For specific legal questions, consult WorkSafe Victoria or seek independent legal advice.
References
- Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC). (2021). Guideline 12.2: First aid management of choking. arc.org.au
- Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC). (2021). Guideline 9: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. arc.org.au
- ACECQA. (2024). First aid qualifications approved by ACECQA. acecqa.gov.au
- ASCIA. (2023). Anaphylaxis guidelines: Early childhood education and care. allergy.org.au
- Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (Cth), regulations 136, 137.
- WorkSafe Victoria. (2024). First aid in the workplace. worksafe.vic.gov.au
- Kidsafe Australia. (2023). Burns and scalds fact sheet. kidsafe.com.au
- Wrongs Act 1958 (Vic), Part VB — Good Samaritans.
