Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit deals with the skills and knowledge required to provide an advanced first aid response, including management of the incident and other first aiders, until the arrival of medical or other assistance.

The unit applies to workers who may be required to provide, coordinate and manage a first aid response across a range of complex 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:

• located and interpreted workplace policies and procedures
• conducted a hazard assessment and identified strategies to minimise risk
• demonstrated safe manual handling techniques
• conducted a basic triage for a multiple casualty incident
• assessed airway, breathing and responsiveness of casualty/casualties
• performed eight 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
• following two rescuer procedure, as both the ventilator and the compressor

• activated and followed the prompts of an AED
• conducted a secondary survey, including checking pulse of at least one person and recording pulse rate
• applied first aid procedures for the following:

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

• demonstrated correct usage of the following devices:

• cervical collars
• spinal boards, back boards and stretchers

• communicated effectively with a first aid team including:

• direction and coordination of other first aiders
• post-incident debrief and evaluation

• provided an accurate verbal report of the incident
• completed a written incident report
• responded to at least three 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
• guidelines of Australian national peak clinical bodies
• safe work practices to deal with risks and potential hazards including manual handling, hazardous substances, dangerous goods and chemicals
• infection control principles and procedures, including use of standard precautions based on incident
• requirements for currency of skill and knowledge

• legal, workplace or community considerations including:

• awareness of potential 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
• capabilities of emergency management services
• 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
• priorities of management in first aid when dealing with life-threatening conditions
• procedures for dealing with casualties who are aged or infirmed
• procedures for dealing with major and minor accidents in the workplace
• procedures when providing first aid to children

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

• abdominal injuries
• altered and loss of consciousness
• bleeding control
• burns – thermal, chemical, friction and electrical
• cardiac arrest
• chest pain
• choking and airway obstruction
• cold and crush injuries
• convulsions
• drowning
• emergency childbirth
• envenomation
• environmental impact including hypothermia, hyperthermia, dehydration and heat stroke
• eye and ear injuries
• head, neck and spinal injuries
• medical conditions, including cardiac conditions, epilepsy, diabetes
• needle stick injuries
• poisoning and toxic substances
• respiratory distress, including asthma
• seizures
• severe allergic and anaphylactic reactions
• shock
• skin injuries
• soft tissue injuries including sprains, strains, dislocations, fractures
• stroke
• substance misuse – common drugs and alcohol, including illicit drugs
• unconsciousness, abnormal breathing or not breathing

• basic anatomy and physiology relating to:

• absence of normal breathing
• anatomy of the external chest
• basic anatomy including skeleton, joints and muscles
• 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 assess 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
• back boards and stretchers
• an AED training device
• thermometer
• emergency rescue blanket
• eye patch
• workplace first aid kit
• incident report form.

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