Foster families: first-aid and CPR standards
First Aid & CPR Caribbean
Fostering across the Caribbean means offering a child a safe, temporary home through a national child-welfare authority or social services department. Applicants are assessed, prepared and supervised before and during a placement. Across the region, holding a current first-aid and CPR certificate is widely expected as part of being ready to care for a child.
The first-aid requirement
In most Caribbean jurisdictions, foster carers are approved and supervised by a child-welfare authority or department of social services, which carries out a home assessment, background checks and pre-placement preparation. Requirements vary by country and are set locally, but a recognized first-aid and CPR certificate is commonly expected so a carer can respond to common emergencies — injuries, choking, cardiac arrest — including CPR for children and infants.
Where required, the certificate is recognized by the relevant national authority and kept current through periodic renewal. It is one part of caregiver readiness and is in addition to — never a replacement for — the home study, suitability checks and the parenting skills the authority looks for. Prospective carers should confirm the exact rule with their own country's authority.
How to meet it
A recognized, up-to-date first-aid and CPR certificate meets this requirement. It is in addition to the required training or assessment, and is renewed periodically.
Training aligned with the latest emergency-care standards
Our CPR, AED and first-aid training is developed in line with the most recent international guidelines for emergency cardiovascular care and first aid.
We rigorously follow the recommendations of ILCOR (International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation), the international body responsible for the scientific evaluation and development of global resuscitation standards. These recommendations serve as a reference for health organizations, institutions and professional orders worldwide — and are updated as scientific and clinical evidence evolves.
Keep your skills current with confidence
Every intervention can make a difference. Keeping CPR and emergency-care skills current is both a professional requirement and a responsibility toward patients, colleagues and the public.
See the recognized first-aid courses in your regionReferences
- UNICEF Eastern Caribbean Area — Child Protection
- ILCOR — International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation
Content is being updated.