CHILD minders, nursery nurses and nannies throughout the region are being offered a fist-aid course run by the Greater Manchester Ambulance Service in a bid to reduce accidents among young children.

The courses start on June 1, last four hours and will operate at various locations in Greater Manchester and will teach child minders and nannies how to deal with the five most common injuries among children.

Every year thousands of children throughout the region need medical treatment as a result of scalds burns, falls, choking and accidentally drinking toxic substances.

The Ambulance Service has launched the course to equip child minders with the necessary expertise to administer basic life saving treatment prior to the arrival of the ambulance.

Ambulance Service community liaison manager Paul Kenny said: "The time prior to the arrival of the ambulance is often critical to the condition of the patient and if they receive basic treatment this can often have an effect on the eventual outcome.

"Child carers regularly encounter these injuries and we hope this training will help them to undertake their many and varied duties more effectively."

The courses will cost £15 per person and people completing them will receive a certificate of competence. Further information on the courses is available from the Greater Manchester Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Interested individuals should contact Paul Kenny on: 272 7059.

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