Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to recognise and respond to life-threatening emergencies in line with the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) Guidelines.

This unit applies to all workers who may be required to provide an emergency response in a range of situations, include community and workplace settings.

Specific licensing requirements relating to this competency, including requirements for refresher training, should be obtained from the relevant state/territory Work Health and Safety Regulatory Authority.

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

Unit Mapping Information

No equivalent unit.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=ced1390f-48d9-4ab0-bd50-b015e5485705

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role.

There must be demonstrated evidence that the candidate has completed the following tasks at least once in line with state/territory regulations, first aid codes of practice, Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines and workplace procedures:

• conducted a hazard assessment and identified strategies to minimise risk
• demonstrated safe manual handling techniques
• assessed airway, breathing and responsiveness of casualty
• performed at least four minutes of uninterrupted CPR on both an adult and an infant resuscitation manikin placed on the floor, demonstrating the following techniques on each:

• checking for response and normal breathing
• recognising abnormal breathing
• opening and clearing the airway
• using correct hand location, compression depth rate in line with the ARC recommended ratio of compressions and ventilations
• acting in the event of regurgitation or vomiting
• following single rescuer procedure, including the demonstration of a rotation of operators with minimal interruptions to compressions

• followed the prompts of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
• conducted a verbal secondary survey
• applied first aid procedures for the following:

• allergic reactions
• anaphylaxis
• asthma
• basic wound care
• severe bleeding
• burns
• cardiac arrest
• choking and airway obstruction
• convulsions
• envenomation (using pressure immobilisation)
• fractures, sprains and strains (using arm slings, roller bandages or other appropriate immobilisation techniques)
• poisoning
• respiratory distress
• shock

• provided an accurate verbal report of the incident
• responded to at least two simulated emergency scenarios contextualised to the candidate’s workplace/community setting.

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

• state/territory regulations, first aid codes of practice and workplace procedures including:

• ARC Guidelines relevant to provision of CPR and first aid
• safe work practices to minimise risks and potential hazards
• infection control principles and procedures, including use of standard precautions
• requirements for currency of skill and knowledge

• legal, workplace and community considerations including:

• need for stress-management techniques and available support following an emergency situation
• duty of care requirements
• respectful behaviour towards a casualty
• own skills and limitations
• consent
• privacy and confidentiality requirements
• importance of debriefing

• considerations when providing first aid including:

• airway obstruction due to body position
• appropriate duration and cessation of CPR
• appropriate use of an AED
• standard precautions and infection control

• principles and procedures for first aid management of the following scenarios:

• abdominal injuries
• allergic reactions
• anaphylaxis
• bleeding control
• burns
• cardiac conditions
• choking and airway obstruction
• cold and crush injuries
• diabetes
• dislocations
• drowning
• envenomation
• environmental impact (including hypothermia, hyperthermia, dehydration and heat stroke)
• epilepsy
• eye and ear injuries
• fractures
• head, neck and spinal injuries
• minor skin injuries
• needle stick injuries
• poisoning and toxic substances
• respiratory distress, including asthma and other respiratory conditions
• seizures
• severe allergic and anaphylactic reactions
• shock
• soft tissue injuries
• unconsciousness, abnormal breathing or not breathing

• basic anatomy and physiology relating to:

• absence of normal breathing
• anatomy of the external chest
• physiology relating to response/consciousness
• upper airway anatomy and effect of positional change
• anatomy and physiology considerations in provision of first aid for specified conditions

Assessment Conditions

Skills must be demonstrated working individually:

• in an environment that provides realistic in-depth, industry-validated scenarios and simulations to enable assessment of candidates’ skills and knowledge.

Assessment resources must include:

• adult and infant resuscitation manikins in line with ARC Guidelines for the purpose of assessment of CPR procedures
• first aid equipment including
• roller bandages
• triangular bandages cloth
• trauma dressings
• placebo bronchodilator and spacer device
• adrenalin auto-injector training device
• an AED training device
• emergency rescue blanket
• workplace first aid kit.

Simulated assessment environments must simulate the real-life working environment where these skills and knowledge would be performed, with all the relevant equipment and resources of that working environment.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors. In addition, assessors must hold:

• a current advanced first aid certificate

OR

• at least three years’ experience as a health professional, nurse or emergency services provider

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=ced1390f-48d9-4ab0-bd50-b015e5485705