Foster families: first-aid and CPR standards
First Aid & CPR Bahamas
Becoming a foster family in the Bahamas means opening your home to a child who cannot safely stay with their own family. Applicants are assessed, supervised and trained by the Department of Social Services. Holding a current first-aid and CPR certificate is widely expected as part of being ready to care for a child in your home.
The first-aid requirement
Foster care in the Bahamas is arranged through the Department of Social Services (Placement Unit), which reviews applicants, carries out a medical examination and home assessment, and provides preparation before a child is placed. While published rules focus on the home study and the applicant's suitability, a recognized first-aid and CPR certificate is commonly expected so a carer can respond to everyday emergencies — injuries, choking, an unresponsive child — including CPR for children and infants.
Where required, the certificate is recognized by the Department of Social Services and is kept current through periodic renewal. It is one element of caregiver readiness that sits alongside — and never replaces — the home study, background checks and the demonstrated ability to parent a child in care.
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.
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 regionReferences
- Government of the Bahamas — Fostering or Adopting (Department of Social Services)
- ILCOR — International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation
Content is being updated.