Former paramedic on the one skill every parent needs to know

There is one thing that Nikki Jurcutz wants every parent to put on their "must do" list.

As a former paramedic she's seen the difference between turning up at a job involving a child where the parent has been able to administer first aid, versus the jobs where the parents didn't know what to do. It's why she started Tiny Hearts. 

"Over the past 11 years we've worked so hard to establish this industry in Australia. Before Tiny Hearts, people didn't have baby first aid on their list of 'must do' before the baby arrives," she tells 9honey Parenting. 

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"Now we see parents understanding the importance and being proactive to prepare themselves for the 'just in case.'" 

Nikki recently put a call out on Instagram , asking paramedics "what do you want people to know before the ambulance arrives?" The overwhelming message was: "Please get trained, we won't make it in time" or "Do the Tiny Hearts course, we notice a difference when we arrive".

"A huge portion of the responses we received mentioned the parents that had done training with Tiny Hearts were the ones that were able to make a significant difference in the treatment of their child.

"These parents are the ones that are calm, and do everything possible to save their child's life." 

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She said she often gets feedback from parents who have had to act in an emergency, who recalled being able to hear or see Nikki in the back of their head talking them through it. 

"This level of empowerment is something I want for all parents, and Tiny Hearts will continue to offer our courses to ensure as many little lives are saved as possible," she added. 

The reason Nikki wants parents to know how to act has a lot to do with a quote which she mentions often on the Tiny Hearts Instagram.

"The quote is, 'You don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training'. I stole it from the Navy SEALS," Nikki explained. 

"It's based on the idea that in high-stress situations, people will perform based on their level of preparation and training, if you are not trained you will sink to a level which might mean you are unable to help your little one." 

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It's a quote that also resonates with her. 

"On many occasions as a paramedic I saw parents panicked and unsure, sometimes even applying incorrect first aid to their little ones," she said.

"In an emergency situation your little one will look to you to help them. If you aren't trained in first aid and CPR, you cannot help your child and the outcome can be devastating. That's why I started this business – to give parents the calm and confidence they need to act in emergency situations."

Nikki wants all parents to be confident they know what to do in a situation like choking or if their little one had an allergic reaction.

"In an emergency, your little one is looking to you to act and save their life. If you are not 100 per cent confident that you could treat choking, perform high quality CPR, treat burns, allergic reactions and anaphylaxis, assess respiratory distress, treat a head injury or quickly define what you needed to do for your child; it's time to invest in learning these life skills," she said.

"The best advice I can give is learn before baby arrives and refresh your skills annually.

"The best way to learn these skills is in a hands-on public course, led by expert educators who have an absolute passion for saving little lives. Our in-person courses are available throughout Australia. In four hours you walk away with peace of mind should anything happen you will know exactly what to do."

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