Skip to main content
First Aid & CPRSuisse
CoursesArticlesGlossaryContact usLog in
  1. Home
  2. Childcare CPR & first aid requirements

Childcare CPR & first aid requirements

First Aid & CPR Switzerland

If you work in childcare in Switzerland — whether at a daycare, preschool, home-based care, or camp — first aid and CPR certification is not optional. It's a licensing requirement, and for good reason: children are among the most vulnerable to choking, allergic reactions, and injuries. Being prepared to respond can mean everything.

Requirements at a glance

Regulatory frameworkNon-family childcare falls under the federal Foster Children Ordinance (PAVO/OPE) implemented by the cantons: the operating licence requires qualified staff able to act in emergencies. In practice, cantons and associations (kibesuisse) require/expect a pediatric BLS-AED first-aid course ('Notfallkurs für Kinder', incl. infant/child resuscitation and allergic reactions) for daycare (Kita) staff AND family childminders (Tagesfamilien); BLS-AED-SRC training renewed every 2 years, via SRC-certified providers (HealthFirst, SafetyFirst, ESSR).
Governing authorityThe cantons (supervisory authorities for non-family childcare, under the federal PAVO/OPE ordinance); BLS-AED standard of the Swiss Resuscitation Council (SRC)
Renewal periodEvery 2 years
Min. certified staffDaycare staff and family childminders trained in pediatric BLS-AED emergency skills; qualified-staff requirement set at cantonal licensing
Online training acceptanceOnline courses accepted
Every 2 yearsOnline courses accepted

What Switzerland requires

In Switzerland, non-family childcare falls under the federal Foster Children Ordinance (PAVO/OPE), implemented by the cantons: the operating licence requires qualified staff able to act in an emergency. In practice, cantons and sector associations expect both daycare staff and family childminders to complete a paediatric BLS-AED first-aid course — covering infant and child resuscitation and allergic reactions — renewed every two years. Because the precise requirements are set canton by canton, it's worth checking the ones that apply locally.

Anaphylaxis and medication administration

The paediatric emergency course for childcare staff explicitly covers severe allergic reactions. A child's prescribed adrenaline auto-injector may be administered by trained caregivers with parental consent, with the emergency kit kept centrally and always accessible. In anaphylaxis, every second saved can be decisive.

How our courses meet these requirements

A recognized, standards-based certification — online theory paired with a hands-on skills check — meets Switzerland’s requirement and keeps your team ready to act.

View early-childhood first-aid courses

Don't wait for renewal day

When a child chokes, has a seizure or suffers a severe allergic reaction, everything is decided in the first minutes — those of the person present, before the emergency services arrive. A recognised, standards-based certification gives your team the right actions and reassures the families who entrust you with their child. Training is no mere formality: it's being ready the day it truly counts.

Our courses

  • Healthcare professionals
  • General public
  • Early childhood
  • School environment

Resources

  • Medical glossary
  • Intervention protocols
  • FAQ
  • Help center
  • Our Regions
  • Bibliography
  • Articles
  • Primary Survey

Organization

  • Organizations
  • About us
  • Mission and values
  • Guidelines
  • Contact

Legal & Compliance

  • Workplace Requirements
  • Good Samaritan Law
  • Childcare Requirements
  • Online Course Recognition
  • Healthcare professional recognition
  • Residential care settings
  • Foster families

Follow us

Privacy policyRefund policyTerms and conditionsCookie policy
© 2026 Formation RCR et Secourisme Suisse
Operated by Folio Systems Inc. (https://foliosystems.ca)