How do I know they can save MY child?

We send our children to facilities in which we put the lives of our children in the hands of those who work there. I’m not just talking about hospitals and doctors offices, but day care centers, elementary schools, sleep away camps. I’ve sat through these BLS/ALS classes many times before, and while most of us get it and are able to properly demonstrate the techniques were are being taught, I’ve always noticed that one person who maybe was pushed through the class by the instructor to a passing status, who may have required a little more time. Ultimate, in a real life situation, the training would kick in, but in the back of my mind, I wonder if that person would actually be able to perform.

On one occasion I brought this up to the instructor. This was a result of watching a particular person demonstrate CPR several times during the training. Each and every time they did it completely wrong. If that had been a real situatoin, the patient would have died, no doubt about it. I was poo pooed by the instructor which led me to go directly to the supervisor with my concerns. I don’t know what came of the situation, but i was assured that it would be delt with. Should I have gone further? Where does our responsibility lie when we suspect that someone who is required to possess certain skills and knowledge, might in fact, be inadequatly trained.

Another question is, as a patient or a client of a facility, such as a day care center, how do we know who has and hasn’t been trained? Who is due for recertification? Has anyone failed a first aid/CPR course? These records are kept at each and every facility, but are they available for public viewing? Are they accurate? Are they there at all.

I am sure these questions are on the minds of many people in light of the recent tragedy at Carousel Day School in Hicksville, NY. With two children in a day care facility 3 days out of the week, I know they are on mine.