Criterion HS119#

There is an adult present at all times for every 25 children attending (or part thereof) that:

• holds a current first aid qualification gained from a New Zealand Qualification Authority accredited first aid training provider; or
• is a registered medical practitioner, nurse or midwife with a current practising certificate; or
• is a qualified ambulance officer or paramedic.

In the case of an emergency, such as those described in HS121, the required ratio of first aid qualified adults may be temporarily reduced to 1 adult for every 50 children for the duration of that situation.

If a child is injured, any required first aid is administered or supervised by an adult meeting these requirements.

Documentation required #

Copies of current first aid (or medical practising) certificates for adults counting towards this requirement. 

Guidance#

How to show you are complying#

You must make sure there is at least one adult who holds a current first aid qualification (or equivalent) for every 25 children attending. 

The ratio extends to all children across the service, including if children are on an excursion (HS113). For example, if some children are taken on an excursion and some children remain at the service, the first aid qualification ratio must be met both on the excursion and at the service.

First aid qualifications 

To hold a current first aid qualification, adults in your service need to have completed 2 relevant unit standards (6401 – Provide first aid and 6402 – Provide resuscitation level 2). To be valid, they must have received the qualifications by a New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) accredited provider. 

The qualifications remain ‘current’ and up to date for 2 years. To extend the qualification for another 2 years, an adult must complete either a first aid qualification course, or a revalidation course run by an accredited provider. 

The best way to show compliance is to keep copies of current first aid certificates held by staff in the service. 

Keeping track of other relevant qualifications

Qualified and practising medical practitioners, nurses and midwives can also count towards this requirement. You can check whether adults in your service meet these requirements by checking the relevant registers in the tools to help you comply section.

If you have adults providing education and care who are also qualified ambulance officers and paramedics, these qualifications also count towards this requirement. 

• Qualified ambulance officers must hold a New Zealand Certificate in Emergency Medical Services – First responder or equivalent (Level 3 or 4 on the NZQA qualifications framework).
• Qualified ambulance officers must hold a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Paramedicine) or equivalent (Level 7 on the NZQA framework). 

In an emergency

There may be situations where a child is seriously injured or ill and needs immediate medical attention or intervention. This might mean an adult at the service needs to take the child to see a medical professional or accompany them in an ambulance because their parent(s) are unavailable. In these situations, if the adult accompanying the child holds a first aid qualification, you can relax the first aid ratio from 1:25 to 1:50.

The adult should remain with the child until their parent, or another authorised adult is able to take over. The ratio can remain at 1:50 until the accompanying adult has had a reasonable amount of time to return to the service.