Description
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This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to recognise and respond to life threatening emergencies using basic life support measures only |
Pre Requisites
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Nil |
Application
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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 |
Performance Critera
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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
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Required Skills & Knowledge
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Essential knowledge:
- 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:
- 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
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Range Statement
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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 procedures must include:
- 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
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Evidence Guide
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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
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