The skills and knowledge described here enable a first aider to provide an initial response to an emergency in line with practised actions and Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) Guidelines and/or state/territory regulations, legislation and policies and accepted industry guidelines

Application should be contextualised as required to reflect workplace and community requirements relating to specific risks and hazards and associated injuries

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Respond in an emergency situation

1.1 Recognise emergency situation and identify hazards to health and safety of self and others

1.2 Minimise immediate risk to health and safety of self, casualty and others by isolating any hazard(s)

1.3 Assess casualty and identify injuries, illnesses and conditions

1.4 Assess the need for assistance

2. Apply identified first aid procedures

2.1 Reassure casualty in a caring and calm manner and make comfortable using available resources

2.2 Determine and explain the nature of casualty's injury/condition and relevant first aid procedures to provide comfort

2.3 Seek consent from casualty or significant other prior to applying first aid management

2.4 Respond to the casualty in a culturally aware, sensitive and respectful manner

2.5 Use identified first aid procedures as required in accordance with established first aid principles, policies and procedures, ARC Guidelines and/or state/territory regulations, legislation and policies and industry requirements

2.6 Use safe manual handling techniques as required

3. Communicate details of the incident

3.1 Request ambulance support and/or appropriate medical assistance according to relevant circumstances and using available means of communication

3.2 Accurately convey assessment of casualty's condition and first aid procedures undertaken to emergency services/relieving personnel

3.3 Calmly provide information to reassure casualty, adopting a communication style to match the casualty's level of consciousness

3.4 Provide reports, where applicable, in a timely manner, presenting all relevant facts according to established procedures

3.5 Maintain confidentiality of records and information in line with privacy principles and statutory and/or organisation policies

4. Evaluate own performance

4.1 Seek feedback from appropriate clinical expert

4.2 Recognise the possible psychological impacts on rescuers of involvement in critical incidents

4.3 Participate in debriefing/evaluation as appropriate to improve future response and address individual needs

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

Awareness of stress management techniques and available support

Basic anatomy and physiology relating to:

absence of signs of life:

unconscious

unresponsive

not moving

not breathing normally

choking/airway obstruction

severe bleeding

shock

Chain of survival

Duty of care requirements

First aid procedures for:

airway management

bleeding control

care of unconscious

casualty with no signs of life

chest pain

infection control as it relates to standard precautions

respiratory distress, including asthma

severe allergic reaction

shock

How to access emergency response support services/personnel

Need to be culturally aware, sensitive and respectful

Own skills and limitations

Privacy and confidentiality requirements

Relevant workplace hazards

State/territory regulations, legislation and policies, ARC Guidelines and accepted industry practice relating to currency of skill and knowledge

Understanding of the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), including when to use and when not to

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to:

Assess vital signs and responses of casualty

Call an ambulance and/or medical assistance, according to circumstances and report casualty's condition

Demonstrate first aid casualty management principles:

assess and minimise danger

check for response

maintain casualty's airway, breathing and circulation

Demonstrate:

consideration of the welfare of the casualty

correct procedures for CPR on a resuscitation manikin

implementation of standard precautions

safe manual handling of casualty

Identify and minimise hazards to health and safety of self and others in the immediate workplace or community environment

Plan an appropriate first aid response in line with established first aid principles, policies and procedures, ARC Guidelines and/or state/territory regulations, legislation and policies and industry requirements and respond appropriately to contingencies in line with own level of skills and knowledge

Report details of emergency incident and first aid provided

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects of assessment:

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Competence should be demonstrated working individually and, where appropriate, as part of a first aid team.

Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace or community setting

Currency of CPR knowledge and skills is to be demonstrated in line with state/territory regulations, legislation and policies, ARC and industry guidelines

Context and resources required for assessment:

For assessment purposes, demonstration of skills in CPR procedures requires using a model of the human body (resuscitation manikin) in line with Australian Resuscitation Council Guidelines

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Related unit:

This unit stands alone and incorporates the content of unit HLTCPR201B Perform CPR

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Condition of the casualty must include, but is not limited to:

Severe bleeding

Absence of signs of life:

unconscious

unresponsive

not moving

not breathing normally

Choking/airway obstruction

Severe allergic reaction

Identified first aid proceduresmustinclude:

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

Control severe bleeding

Airway management

Provide assistance with self-administered medications, such as auto-injector, puffer/inhaler in line with state/territory regulations, legislation and policies and any available medical/pharmaceutical instructions

Care of the unconscious person

Resources and equipment may include:

First aid kit

Resuscitation mask or barrier

Casualty's medication

Manikin

AED (if available)

Auto-injector

Puffer/inhaler

A hazard is:

A source or situation with the potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill-health, damage to property, the environment, or a combination of these

Appropriate clinical expert may include:

Supervisor/manager

Ambulance officer/paramedic

Other medical/health worker

This unit contains Employability Skills