Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to use specialised equipment in the provision of resuscitation in line with the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines.

This unit applies to workers who may be required to use specialised equipment to provide resuscitation in 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, 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
• assessed airway, breathing and responsiveness of casualty
• performed at least 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 a suction device
• 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
• carrying out two rescuer procedure, as both the ventilator and the compressor

• selected and inserted an oropharyngeal airway adjunct
• rescue breathing via a resuscitation mask and soft bag resuscitator
• conducted a secondary survey, including checking pulse of at least one person and recording pulse rate
• activated and followed the prompts of an AED
• administered oxygen to an unconscious casualty, including:

• selecting correct equipment
• preparing equipment
• administering oxygen safely at correct flow rate
• monitoring of oxygen saturation levels when administering oxygen

• monitored and coordinated maintenance of equipment including:

• dismantling
• storage
• disposal
• cleaning
• checking and diagnosis of faults

• provided an accurate verbal report of the incident
• 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 performing resuscitation, including:

• airway obstruction due to body position
• appropriate duration and cessation of CPR
• appropriate use of an AED
• chain of survival
• standard precautions for managing the incident

• considerations when providing supplementary oxygen, including:

• selection and operation of oxygen masks and other appropriate delivery devices
• benefits of providing oxygen to a casualty and of providing suction during the application of advanced resuscitation techniques
• complications with the use of a bag-valve-mask device and suitable strategies to minimise these

• benefits, contraindications and complications with the use of an oropharyngeal airway
• basic anatomy, physiology and toxicology as it relates to the provision of advanced resuscitation, including:

• basic electrical activity associated with normal and abnormal heart rhythm
• relevant organs of the cardio pulmonary system and their operation
• physiology relating to response/consciousness
• upper airway anatomy and effect of positional change

• methods for cleaning, replenishing, recharging and maintaining resuscitation equipment, including:

• troubleshooting to identify minor and major faults
• actions to rectify problems
• procedures to ensure operational readiness.

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, including an airway model suitable for simulated insertion of an oropharyngeal airway
• first aid equipment including:
• AED training device
• bag valve mask resuscitation device
• oropharyngeal airway adjunct
• suction device
• oxygen resuscitation system with oxygen cylinder
• selection of oxygen masks such as nasal cannula, demand valve, non-rebreather and pocket mask with oxygen port.

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 and a current advanced resuscitation 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