Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Teaches CPR To Newtown And Sandy Hook Au Pairs 

According to statistics, about 80 percent of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in private residential settings, so being trained to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can mean the difference between life and death for a loved one. Effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after cardiac arrest, can double a victim’s chance of survival.

Recognizing this, on January 24, area Cultural Care au pairs from Newtown and Sandy Hook met at Newtown Volunteer Ambulance’s training facility for a CPR class hosted by Cultural Care Au Pair and members of Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

According to local child care coordinator Diane Salvo, educating au pairs on CPR is a top priority for parents.

“Au pairs are often the primary caregivers for many local families during the day. CPR training is important because it reinforces their knowledge of what to do if there is an emergency, starting with calling 911 to activate the emergency medical system.”

The training is part of Cultural Care Au Pair’s ongoing continuing education program (CEP). As a US Department of State regulated program, au pairs receive safety and child care education throughout their yearlong stay in the United States, beginning with a week of intensive courses at the Cultural Care Au Pair school in New York. The Newtown and Sandy Hook au pairs together represent the countries of Germany, Ukraine, Colombia, Thailand, and France. Mrs Salvo, a resident of Newtown, supports area parents and au pairs, advising them of educational opportunities, as well as organizing fun activities for the entire extended family to enjoy.

“I am always looking for ways to make safety training and education interesting for our au pairs,” said Mrs Salvo.

The recent training covered adult, child and infant cpr, using an automated external defibrillator (AED), and choking emergencies, with an emphasis on the cultural differences on handling an emergency in the United States as opposed to other parts of the world.

“When you invite an au pair into your home, programs like these assure that you leave your children in the most capable hands possible. It is comforting as a parent to know that your children are with a caregiver you can trust,” Mrs Salvo said.

For more information on inviting an au pair into your home, call Diane Salvo at 203-426-1140 or visit Cultural Care Au Pair online at CulturalCare.com.

Cultural Care Au Pair is a leading provider of intercultural childcare and educational exchange. Since 1989, Cultural Care Au Pair has placed more than 55,000 au pairs in American homes. A division of EF Education and a US Department of State regulated program, Cultural Care Au Pair is headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., with an extensive network of recruitment, screening, and orientation offices worldwide.