SKILL  KNOWLEDGE  SAFETY

HLTFA301B - Apply first aid

Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to provide first aid response, life support, management of casualty(s), the incident and other first aiders, until the arrival of medical or other assistance

Pre Requisites

 Nil

Application

These skills and knowledge may be applied in a range of situations, including community and workplace settings

Training Package users should ensure implementation is consistent with any specific workplace and/or relevant legislative requirements in relation to first aid, including State/Territory requirements for currency

Application of these skills and knowledge should be contextualised as required to address specific industry, enterprise or workplace requirements and to address specific risks and hazards and associated injuries

A current Senior First Aid, Workplace Level 2 or Level 2 qualification may provide evidence of skills and knowledge required by this competency unit. However, as with all evidence of competence, evidence must be assessed against the requirements specified in the competency unit

Performance Criteria

 1 Assess the situation    
1.1 Identify assess and minimise hazards in the situation that may pose a risk of injury or illness to self and others
1.2 Minimise immediate risk to self and casualty's health and safety by controlling any hazard in accordance with occupational health and safety requirements
1.3 Assess casualty and identify injuries, illnesses and conditions

2 Apply first aid procedures    
2.1 Calmly provide information to reassure casualty, adopting a communication style to match the casualty's level of consciousness
2.2 Use available resources and equipment to make the casualty as comfortable as possible
2.3 Respond to the casualty in a culturally aware, sensitive and respectful manner
2.4 Determine and explain the nature of casualty's injury/condition and relevant first aid procedures to provide comfort
2.5 Seek consent from casualty prior to applying first aid management
2.6 Provide first aid management in accordance with established first aid principles and Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) Guidelines and/or State/Territory regulations, legislation and policies and industry requirements
2.7 Seek first aid assistance from others in a timely manner and as appropriate
2.8 Correctly operate first aid equipment as required for first aid management according to manufacturer/supplier's instructions and local policies and/or procedures
2.9 Use safe manual handling techniques as required
2.10 Monitor casualty's condition and respond in accordance with effective first aid principles and procedures
2.11 Finalise casualty management according to casualty's needs and first aid principles

3 Communicate details of the incident    
3.1 Request ambulance support and/or appropriate medical assistance according to relevant circumstances using relevant communication media and equipment
3.2 Accurately convey assessment of casualty's condition and management activities to ambulance services /other emergency services/relieving personnel
3.3 Prepare reports as appropriate in a timely manner, presenting all relevant facts according to established procedures
3.4 Accurately record details of casualty's physical condition, changes in conditions, management and response to management in line with 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

Required Skills & Knowledge

 Essential knowledge:    

ARC Guidelines relating to provision of first aid as outlined

Working knowledge of:   
 basic principles and concepts underlying the practice of first aid
 procedures for dealing with major and minor injury and illness
 priorities of management in first aid when dealing with life threatening conditions
 basic occupational health and safety requirements in the provision of first aid
 infection control principles and procedures, including use of standard precautions
 chain of survival
 first Aiders' skills and limitations

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

First aid management of:   
  •  abdominal injuries
  •  allergic reactions
  •  altered and loss of consciousness
  •  bleeding
  •  burns - thermal, chemical, friction, electrical
  •  cardiac arrest
  •  casualty with no signs of life
  •  chest pain
  •  choking/airway obstruction
  •  injuries:
  •  cold and crush injuries; eye and ear injuries; head, neck and spinal injuries; minor skin injuries; needle stick injuries; soft tissue injuries including sprains, strains, dislocations
  •  envenomation - snake, spider, insect and marine bites
  •  environmental impact such as hypothermia, hyperthermia, dehydration, heat stroke
  •  fractures
  •  medical conditions, including cardiac conditions, epilepsy, diabetes, asthma and other respiratory conditions
  •  near drowning
  •  poisoning and toxic substances (including chemical contamination)
  •  respiratory distress
  •  seizures
  •  shock
  •  stroke
  •  substance misuse - common drugs and alcohol, including illicit drugs

Awareness of stress management techniques and available support  

Social/legal issues:   
  •  duty of care
  •  need to be culturally aware, sensitive and respectful
  •  importance of debriefing
  •  confidentiality
  •  own skills and limitations

Essential skills:

Ability to:
  •  Conduct an initial casualty assessment
  •  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 skills
  •  Demonstrate correct procedures for performing CPR using a manikin, including standard precautions (i.e. as per unit HLTCPR201A Perform CPR)
  •  Apply first aid principles
  •  Infection control, including use of standard precautions
  •  Follow OH&S guidelines

Demonstrate:   
  •  safe manual handling
  •  consideration of the welfare of the casualty
  •  ability to call an ambulance
  •  site management to prevent further injury
  •  Provide assistance with self-medication as per subject's own medication regime and in line with State/Territory legislation, regulations and policies and any available medical/pharmaceutical instructions  
  •  Administer medication in line with state/territory regulations, legislation and policies
  •  Prepare a written incident report or provide information to enable preparation of an incident report
  •  Communicate effectively and assertively in an incident
  •  Make prompt and appropriate decisions relating to managing an incident in the workplace
  •  Call an ambulance and/or medical assistance according to relevant circumstances and report casualty's condition
  •  Use literacy and numeracy skills as required to read, interpret and apply guidelines and protocols
  •  Evaluate own response and identify appropriate improvements where required

Range Statement

 Contextualisation to address specific requirements may include:     
  • Focus on first aid management of specific types of injury
  • First aid provision under specific constraints or circumstances (e.g. in confined spaces, in maritime work environment or in work environment involving identified risks/hazards)

Established first aid principles include:     
  • Preserve life
  • Prevent illness, injury and condition(s) becoming worse
  • Promote recovery
  • Protect the unconscious casualty

Vital signs include:     
  • Consciousness
  • Breathing
  • Circulation

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  
    
Hazards may include:     
  • Physical hazards
  • Biological hazards
  • Chemical hazards
  • Hazards associated with manual handling

Risks may include:     
  • Risks from equipment, machinery and substances
  • Risks from first aid equipment
  • Environmental risks
  • Exposure to blood and other body substances
  • Risk of further injury to the casualty
  • Risks associated with the proximity of other workers and bystanders
  • Risks from vehicles

Casualty's condition is managed for:     
  • Abdominal injuries
  • Airway obstruction
  • Allergic reactions
  • Altered and loss of consciousness
  • Bleeding
  • Burns - thermal, chemical, friction, electrical
  • Chest pain/cardiac arrest
  • Injuries: cold and crush injuries; eye and ear injuries; head, neck and spinal injuries; minor skin injuries; needle stick injuries; soft tissue injuries including sprains, strains, dislocations
  • Near drowning
  • Envenomation - snake, spider, insect and marine bites
  • Environmental conditions such as hypothermia, hyperthermia, dehydration, heat stroke
  • Fractures
  • Medical conditions, including cardiac conditions, epilepsy, diabetes, asthma and other respiratory conditions
  • No signs of life
  • Poisoning and toxic substances (including chemical contamination)
  • Respiratory distress/arrest
  • Seizures
  • Shock
  • Stroke
  • Substance misuse - common drugs and alcohol, including illicit drugs.

First aid management must take into account applicable aspects of:     
  • The setting in which first aid is provided, including:   
  • workplace policies and procedures
  • industry/site specific regulations, codes etc.
  • OHS requirements
  • state and territory workplace health and safety legislative requirements
  • location and nature of the incident
  • situational risks associated with, for example, electrical and biological hazards, weather, motor vehicle accidents
  • location of emergency services personnel.
  • The use and availability of first aid equipment and resources   
  • Infection control
  • Legal and social responsibilities of first aider

Resources and equipment are used appropriate to the risk to be met and may include:     
  • AED
  • First aid kit
  • Auto-injector
  • Puffer/inhaler
  • Resuscitation mask or barrier
  • Spacer device

Communication media and equipment may include but are not limited to:     
  • Telephones, including landline, mobile and satellite phones
  • HF/VHF radio
  • Flags
  • Flares
  • Two way radio
  • Email
  • Electronic equipment
  • Hand signals

Appropriate clinical expert may include:     
  • Supervisor/manager
  • Ambulance officer/paramedic
  • Other medical/health worker

Documentation may include:     
  • Injury report forms
  • Workplace documents as per organisation requirements

Documentation may include recording:     
  • Time
  • Location
  • Description of injury
  • First aid management
  • Fluid intake/output, including fluid loss via:   
  • blood
  • vomit
  • faeces
  • urine
Administration of medication including:     
  • time
  • date
  • person administering
  • dose

Evidence Guide

 Critical aspects of assessment:     
Assessment must include demonstrated evidence of specified Essential Knowledge and Essential Skills identified in this competency unit
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 first aid 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:     
Skills in performing first aid procedures are to be assessed through demonstration, with questioning to confirm essential knowledge
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
    

Newsletter

Follow Us

Login


Copyright © 2011
Risk Response + Rescue
All Rights Reserved

Terms & Conditions
Disclaimer
Privacy Policy
Imprint