Foster families: first-aid and CPR standards

First Aid & CPR Wisconsin

Becoming a foster family in Wisconsin means providing a safe, temporary home to a child who cannot remain with their birth family. Among the requirements to complete before a placement: holding current first-aid and CPR training.

The first-aid requirement

In Wisconsin, the foster care licensing rule (Wis. Admin. Code ch. DCF 56) requires preplacement training that includes medication administration and first aid, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation appropriate to the age of any foster child who may be placed in the home. The training is delivered by a recognized provider and prepares carers for common emergencies.

This requirement is administered by the Department of Children and Families (DCF), with first-aid reauthorizations built into ongoing training for higher levels of care. The certificate is one requirement in addition to the home study and evaluation of parenting suitability, and must be kept current.

Severe allergies and anaphylaxis

Because preplacement training also covers medication administration, foster parents learn to give a child's prescribed medications, which can include emergency treatment for a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) with an epinephrine auto-injector.

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.

See the recognized first-aid courses in your region

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 region

References

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