Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to minimise further injury to a casualty when applying first aid and waiting for emergency medical aid. It includes recognition and management of a suspected spinal injury, immobilising cervical spine, evaluating the need to move a casualty, preparing a casualty for transport, transporting and monitoring a casualty, and performing a casualty handover.

The unit is applicable to personnel from emergency services, volunteer organisations or organisations which provide a first aid service in an environment where there is a risk of spinal injuries.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

HLTAID011 Provide First Aid

Emergency Care

Public Safety

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1  

Identify suspected spinal injury 

1.1 

Signs and symptoms from a conscious casualty that may suggest a spinal injury are identified

1.2 

Signs of life in an unconscious casualty are confirmed

1.3 

Basic life support protocols are followed with care for casualty’s spine where casualty exhibits no signs of life

1.4 

Likely causes of unconsciousness that may suggest a spinal injury are identified

1.5 

Seek assistance from emergency services in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and requirements

1.6 

Casualty is communicated with to provide reassurance and to explain need to minimise movement of their spine

2 

Immobilise cervical spine 

2.1 

Conscious casualty is assisted to supine position in accordance with organisational policies, procedures, manufacturers' instructions and availability of personnel

2.2 

Unconscious casualty is immobilised in accordance with organisation policies, procedures and requirements

3 

Evaluate need to move casualty 

3.1 

Potential hazards to first responder and to casualty are identified

3.2 

Risk of not moving the casualty while waiting for medical aid to arrive is evaluated

3.3 

Plan to move casualty is developed in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and availability of additional support

4 

Prepare casualty for transport 

4.1 

Casualty is communicated with to provide reassurance and the need to immobilise the casualty for transport is explained

4.2 

Equipment to immobilise the casualty’s spine is selected according to organisational policies, procedures, requirements and manufacturers' instructions

4.3 

Immobilisation equipment is applied in accordance with organisational policies, procedures, requirements and manufacturers’ instructions

5 

Transport and monitor casualty 

5.1 

Casualty is transported away from hazard according to organisational policies, procedures and requirements

5.2 

Team is coordinated according to organisational policies, procedures and requirements

5.3 

Casualty is monitored and communication is maintained during transportation

6 

Perform casualty handover 

6.1 

Details of incident are communicated to medical personnel

6.2 

Debriefing and/or evaluation of incident is undertaken in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and requirements

6.3 

Documentation is completed in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and requirements.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the PUA Public Safety Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

This unit replaces and is not equivalent to PUAEME004 Provide emergency care for suspected spinal injury.

Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and include:

• assessing and monitoring casualty
• communicating with casualty to provide ongoing reassurance
• completing documentation according to organisational policies, procedures and requirements
• complying with organisational policies and procedures, including work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements
• following basic life support protocols as recommended by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC)
• following organisational policies, procedures and requirements
• identifying and assessing hazards when determining need to move casualty
• identifying suspected spinal injury in both a conscious and unconscious casualty
• performing casualty handover to medical personnel
• preparing casualty for transport according to organisational policies and procedures
• transporting casualty using safe manual handling skills.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

• communication techniques and protocols when providing emergency care for suspected spinal injury
• debriefing and evaluation of incidents
• manufacturers’ guidelines and operating instructions
• organisational documentation, policies, procedures and requirements
• potential hazards associated with moving a casualty with a suspected spinal injury
• process for assessing and determining requirements and plan for moving casualty
• safe manual handling techniques according to organisational policies, procedures and requirements
• signs and symptoms of suspected spinal injury
• types of spinal immobilisation equipment according to organisational policies and procedures
• WHS/OHS requirements and risk mitigation.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations. Where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in industry approved simulated workplace operational situations that reflect workplace conditions.

Competency should be demonstrated in a range of first aid incidents or scenarios requiring management of suspected spinal injuries.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations
• relevant and appropriate materials, equipment, tools and personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry
• applicable documentation, including organisational procedures, industry standards, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.