Unit of competency

Modification History

Not applicable.

Application

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide a first aid response to a casualty in a remote or isolated site over an extended period of time until medical assistance is provided, or evacuation occurs.

This unit applies to any site where medical assistance is likely to be delayed.

First aid is to be provided in line with guidelines determined by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and other Australian national peak clinical bodies.

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

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

Unit Mapping Information

Supersedes and not equivalent to HLTAID005 Provide first aid in remote situations.

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

Not applicable.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the workplace or community setting.

There must be evidence that the candidate has completed the following tasks in line with State/Territory regulations, first aid codes of practice, first aid guidelines determined by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines and workplace or site procedures:

• managed, in line with ARC guidelines, the unconscious, breathing casualty including appropriate positioning to reduce the risk of airway compromise
• managed, in line with ARC guidelines, the unconscious, non-breathing adult including:

• performing at least 2 minutes of uninterrupted single rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (5 cycles of both compressions and ventilations) on an adult resuscitation manikin placed on the floor
• performing at least 2 minutes of ventilation and at least 2 minutes of compressions during a two-rescuer procedure on an adult resuscitation manikin placed on the floor
• following the prompts of an automated external defibrillator (AED) to deliver at least one shock
• responding appropriately in the event of regurgitation or vomiting
• demonstrating a rotation of operators with minimal interruptions to compressions

• managed, in line with ARC guidelines, the unconscious, non-breathing infant, including:

• performing at least 2 minutes of uninterrupted single rescuer CPR (5 cycles both compressions and ventilations) on an infant resuscitation manikin placed on a firm surface

• managed casualties, with the following:

• anaphylaxis
• asthma
• non-life-threatening bleeding
• choking
• minor wound cleaning and dressing
• nosebleed
• shock
• envenomation, using pressure immobilisation
• fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains, using appropriate immobilisation techniques for remote situations and appropriate equipment improvisations
• head, neck and spinal injuries
• hypothermia and hyperthermia
• life threatening bleeding requiring use of tourniquets and haemostatic dressings

• responded to at least one simulated first aid incident contextualised to the candidate’s workplace or community setting, where the candidate has no knowledge of the casualty’s condition prior to starting treatment, including:

• identifying the casualty’s illness or injury through history, signs and symptoms
• using personal protective equipment (PPE) as required
• conducting a secondary survey assessment
• assessing vital signs respirations, pulse, temperature
• level of consciousness
• providing appropriate first aid treatment
• conveying incident details to emergency services or advising casualty on any required post incident action
• providing an accurate verbal and written report of the incident
• reviewing the incident

• conducted a basic triage for a multiple casualty incident.

Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:

• guidelines and procedures including:

• ARC guidelines relevant to the provision of first aid
• first aid guidelines from Australian national peak clinical bodies including those relevant to remote or isolated sites
• potential incident hazards and risk minimisation processes when providing first aid
• infection control procedures, including use of standard precautions and resuscitation barrier devices
• requirements for currency of skill and knowledge
• first aid codes of practice
• appropriate workplace or site procedures relevant to the provision of first aid
• contents of first aid kits

• legal, workplace and community considerations including:

• duty of care requirements
• own skills and limitations
• consent and how it relates to the conscious and unconscious casualty
• privacy and confidentiality requirements
• awareness of potential need for stress management techniques and available support for rescuers

• in relation to the administration of medication

• legal requirements
• the five rights
• the responsibilities of the first aider

• considerations when providing CPR, including:

• upper airway and effect of positional change
• appropriate duration and cessation of CPR
• appropriate use of an AED
• safety and maintenance procedures for an AED
• chain of survival
• how to access emergency services

• techniques for providing CPR to adults, children and infants including:

• how to recognise that a casualty is unconscious and not breathing normally
• rate, ratio and depth of compressions and ventilations
• correct hand positioning for compressions
• basic anatomy, physiology and the differences between adults, children and infants relating to CPR

• signs, symptoms and management of the following conditions or injuries:

• allergic reaction
• anaphylaxis
• asthma
• non-life-threatening bleeding
• burns
• cardiac conditions, including chest pain
• choking
• diabetes
• drowning
• envenomation - all current treatments
• eye injuries
• fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains
• head, neck and spinal injuries
• hypothermia
• hyperthermia
• minor wounds
• nose-bleed
• poisoning
• seizures
• shock
• sharps injuries
• stroke
• life threatening bleeding including use of tourniquets and haemostatic dressings

• considerations when providing first aid including:

• assessment, interpretation and documentation of vital signs, including normal clinical values for respirations, temperature, pulse and level of consciousness
• how to conduct a secondary assessment of a casualty
• basic triage processes
• ongoing care requirements of casualty beyond initial treatment

• remote considerations in the provision of first aid, including:

• the nature of remote or isolated sites and how this may impact on first aid management
• key features, functions and limitations of different types of emergency communication equipment used in remote or isolated sites, and factors that affect choice:

• radio equipment
• mobile phones
• satellite phones
• alerting and tracking devices including personal locator beacons (PLBs)

• management options relating to transporting casualty, including aero-medical evacuation
• specific considerations contextualised to alpine, desert, marine, rural or remote settings and tropical environments
• methods used to assist emergency services to locate incident sites and the key features, functions and limitations of resources used to assist:

• verbal directions
• flags
• flares or smoke
• fires

• use of man-made and natural resources to supplement first aid equipment
• content of remote area first aid kits
• content of remote area medication boxes

• psychological impacts of first aid incidents on rescuers and how to seek help.

Assessment Conditions

Each candidate to demonstrate skills in an environment that provides realistic in-depth, scenarios and simulations to assess candidates’ skills and knowledge.

Scenarios must concentrate on the significance of remote or isolated site circumstances.

Due to the nature of this type of training, it is acceptable for the performance evidence to be collected in a simulated environment.

Compression and ventilation skills must be demonstrated on resuscitation manikins following ARC guidelines for the purpose of assessment of CPR procedures.

Assessment must ensure access to:

• adult and infant resuscitation manikin following ARC guidelines for the purpose of assessment of CPR procedures
• adrenaline auto-injector training device
• AED training devices
• placebo bronchodilator and spacer device
• haemostatic dressings
• haemostatic wound packing trainer
• thermometers
• tourniquets
• tourniquet trainer
• different types of wound dressings and bandages
• blankets and items to manage a casualty for shock
• personal protective equipment (PPE)
• workplace injury, trauma or illness record, or other appropriate workplace or site incident report form, which includes space for recording vital signs of casualties
• remote first aid kits
• immobilisation devices.

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

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations’ requirements for assessors and must hold this unit or demonstrate equivalent skills and knowledge to that contained within this unit.

Links

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