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 administer restricted analgesics to provide pain management as part of a medically supervised first responder organisation. It includes identifying the need for analgesia; accessing, preparing and administering restricted pain relief such as analgesics according to medically endorsed protocols; performing casualty handovers and completing analgesic use requirements.

The unit is applicable for personnel from emergency services, volunteer organisations or organisations that provide a medically supervised first aid service.

Licensing and regulatory information 

Requirements for the storage and administration of drugs must be applied in accordance with relevant Commonwealth and state or territory legislation, Australian Standards, and industry codes of practice.

No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative 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 need for analgesia 

1.1 

Casualty is assessed and the need to administer analgesia is confirmed

1.2 

Contraindications and precautions for use of analgesic drug are identified and appropriate use for casualty is confirmed

1.3 

Appropriate dosage for casualty is confirmed in accordance with organisational policies, procedures, industry standards and protocols

1.4 

Assistance is sought from emergency services in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and requirements

2 

Access and prepare analgesic 

2.1 

Secure storage of analgesic drug is accessed in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and requirements

2.2 

Analgesic documentation is completed in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and requirements

2.3 

Retrieval of correct drug within its expiry date is confirmed in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and requirements

2.4 

Analgesic drug is prepared in accordance with industry standards and organisational policies, procedures and requirements

3 

Administer analgesic 

3.1 

Purpose of the analgesic drug is explained to casualty

3.2 

Casualty is advised as to use of the analgesic drug and its potential impact

3.3 

Casualty consent to administer treatment is obtained

3.4 

Analgesic drug is administered in accordance with industry standards and protocols

3.5 

Casualty is continuously monitored whilst administering analgesic drug

4 

Perform casualty handover 

4.1 

Details of incident, including analgesic drug administration, are communicated to medical personnel

4.2 

Written record of treatment, including analgesic drug and dosage, is supplied to medical personnel in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and requirements

5 

Complete analgesic use requirements 

5.1 

Unused analgesic drugs are disposed of in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and requirements

5.2 

Details of drugs use is recorded in log in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and requirements

5.3 

Debriefing and/or evaluation of incident is undertaken 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 equivalent to PUAEME005 Provide pain management.

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:

• accessing and preparing appropriate dosage of analgesic, including checking for contraindications and precautions prior to administering, and identifying appropriate use of analgesic drug for the casualty
• communicating with casualty to provide comfort and instruction about the analgesic drug
• completing written logs and 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
• complying with the relevant legislation and industry standards
• following medically endorsed protocols
• following organisational policies and procedures and requirements
• identifying situations for use of analgesic drugs during first aid
• monitoring casualty whilst analgesic drug is administered, including assessing vital signs such as level of consciousness, breathing rate, pulse rate, skin colour and temperature
• reporting casualty condition and analgesic administration during handover
• requesting ambulance and/or medical assistance
• safely administering analgesic drug
• safely securing and disposing analgesic drugs in storage facility according to organisational policies, procedures and requirements.

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

• communication techniques and protocols used when handling and administering drugs
• contraindications and precautions for use of analgesic drugs
• debriefing and evaluation of incidents
• manufacturers’ guidelines and operating instructions
• organisational documentation, policies, procedures and requirements
• organisational protocols and procedures and legislation covering storage, disposal, administering and administration of restricted drugs, including permits and/or licences
• principles of casualty pain assessment and management
• process for assessing a casualty to determine requirement for analgesia according to organisational policies and procedures
• WHS/OHS requirements, including 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.

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, including:

• permits and/or licences for the storage, use and disposal of restricted analgesic drugs

• applicable documentation, including organisational procedures, industry standards, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.