FIRST AID QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. What are the changes in first aid training course?
The ECD Basic Emergency Life Support (BELS) course is a new, longer and competency assessed basic first aid course - this is because of changed requirements in the first aid field, and not driven by ECD. The changes include competency based assessment on CPR, administration of adrenalin via an Epipen for anaphylaxis reactions, use of a puffer with a spacer and management of bleeding.

2. What is the legal situation if permanent staff have their first aid certificates expire?
Training is not mandated, there is no requirement for every permanent teacher or school/preschool based person to have first aid training.

3. I understand that a First Aid certificate of some sort (minimum the new ECD BELS course) is needed for teachers applying for an authority to teach e.g. TRTs, contract teachers and new graduates
Yes, teachers do need a first aid certificate to get an authority to teach. The following first aid certificates are recognised as meeting the first aid training requirements for seeking an authority to teach in ECD.

Training in an approved First Aid certificate is a minimum requirement for employment within the Department.

FIRST AID QUALIFICATIONS FOR PEOPLE SEEKING AN AUTHORITY TO TEACH IN DECD

The following first aid certificates are recognised as meeting the first aid training requirements for seeking an authority to teach in DECD.
Applicants need one of the following for an authority to teach.

1. Current ECD Basic Emergency Life Support ( ECD BELS) certificate.

Please note:

2. Current HLTFA301C ‘Apply First Aid’ certificate with the following details:

3. Current Senior First Aid / Level 2 Certificate / HLTFA301B 'Apply First Aid' certificates with the following details:

The department recommends the ECD/DECS BELS certificate as a minimum standard of care for employees.

Information about ECD Basic Emergency Life Support (ECD BELS) course is available at

Page Updated: 16-Apr-2012

http://www.chess.sa.edu.au/Training/Trai_Home.htm

No other certificates will be accepted. Applicants with other cetificates should contact Australian Red Cross SA about recognition processes.

When the certificate requires renewing the Department for Education and Child Development Basic Emergency Life Support (ECD BELS) is the preferred option.

USEFUL LINKS
Australian Red Cross Ph. (08) 8293 9209 or via www.redcross.org.au

4. What is the legal situation if non-permanent staff have their first aid certificates expire?
Teachers are not eligible for an authority to teach without a current first aid certificate.

5. Are employed teachers required / mandated to have a current first aid certificate (now the new BELS course)?
No, this training has never been mandated – but certainly recommended.

6. Will my not holding a current first aid certificate affect my teacher registration?
It will not affect your registration with the Teachers' Registration Board.

7. Are our current First Aid in Centres and Schools (FACS) certificates still valid?
Yes. FACS certificates are valid until their expiry date. Staff with a current FACS certificate do not need to complete a ECD BELS course until their FACS certificate is due to expire.

8. Does everyone have to do the ECD BELS 7.5 hour course?
Training has never been mandated for permanent employees – but certainly recommended. If a staff member chooses to retrain once their current first aid certificate expires they will need to do the 7.5 hour ECD BELS course. The FACS refresher course is no longer available

9. Is there a ECD BELS refresher version?
A refresher has not yet been designed.

10. How long will the ECD BELS certificate last?
The 7.5 hr ECD BELS course will give a certificate that will last 3 years.

11. Who Pays?
ECD will centrally fund ECD Basic Emergency Life Support (BELS) training provided by Red Cross for any permanent teacher, or permanent support officer (SSO, ECW and AEW) for programs held at their sites. Sites will be invoiced for any staff who are not eligible for central funding. If staff are not eligible for funding, they are responsible for payment unless they have negotiated payment from the site budget with the principal/director.

12. What if I work in a part-time setting?
Staff who meet the above funding criteria and work part time are considered eligible.

13. Is ECD funding first aid training for teachers and support staff who work in the central and district offices?
No. The funding arrangements apply to staff who are in education settings such as schools and preschools.

14. Which courses are not funded centrally by ECD?
The following first aid courses do not qualify for ECD central funding:
• Senior First Aid Courses
• Community First Aid/ECD BELS Courses: these are courses run in the community (not organised by ECD sites or chess training office)
• Basic First Aid Courses: ECD will only fund ECD BELS
• Basic First Aid Courses run by training providers other than Red Cross. Red Cross are the current contracted first aid training providers.

15. How do we book a ECD BELS course?
Individuals and sites can book directly through Red Cross Training (phone: 8293 9200). The Australian Red Cross are the contracted training providers for ECD.

16. How many participants can we book in for a ECD BELS course at our site?
As these courses have an assessment component and a cost reduction from $95 to $52 per participant it is essential that 15 participants are registered for, and attend the course. Sites who run courses for less than 15 participants will be invoiced $52 for each vacancy. Sites can include other participants to ensure that the required quota of 15 participants per training session is met. Groups are limited to 15 maximum to enable the assessment requirements to be met.

17. Why are the ECD BELS training sessions limited to 15 participants?
The trainers are unable to conduct the assessment component of the course unless the number of participants is restricted to 15. If the number of participants is increased the training session will need to be extended beyond the current recommended time of 7.5 hours.

18. If there are more than 15 staff who want to access training how do we decide who to train?
This is a decision made by the site. Staff can also access training at other sites or through the courses arranged by Red Cross Training.

19. What can sites do if they do not enough staff (15) to fill a first aid training session?
ECD sites are engaging in a number of strategies to facilitate access to this training within the number of participant guidelines:
• Linking with other schools in the local community to arrange training
• Advertising on SAPPA talk and EDSAS chat to indicate vacancies in courses on their sites or requesting places for their staff
• Inviting community members to participate at a cost of $52 each. This certificate is recognised as a qualification for many community based activities. Community based training costs $95.

20. Can sites negotiate to do the ECD BELS course over a couple of sessions?
Yes. Sites can negotiate to have the ECD BELS course over two sessions of four hours each.

21. Why should I do ECD BELS if I am a permanent ECD employee and it is not mandatory?
The provision of first aid is an essential service in all community settings.
First aid support in education and childcare settings is provided in response to unpredictable illness or injury to:
- preserve life
- protect a person, particularly if the person is unconscious
- prevent a condition worsening
- promote recovery.

22. Where can I see the Policy regarding the “rules” for First Aid Training in writing?
Section 3 paragraph 77 of the Administrative Instructions and Guidelines or www.chess.sa.edu.au

23. Who is responsible for first aid on site?
Worksite managers are responsible for ensuring:
- workers and families understand and are supported to follow the worksite’s first aid procedures.
- sufficient staff are trained to meet duty of care on their site.
- an assessment of the first aid needs of the site should be undertaken on an annual basis

24. How do worksite managers ensure that the site’s first aid requirements are met?
Factors principals/preschool directors can consider in determining the numbers of first aid trained staff required and which staff need to be trained include:
• the number of children in the school/preschool
• the physical layout of the school/preschool
• accessibility to first aid
• the number of part time staff
• the nature of foreseeable injuries, past injury and illness rates
• likely absences of first aid trained staff and
• local needs e.g. number of students with identified health care needs


25. Can ECD BELS be run as the first day of a two day Senior First Aid course?
The ECD BELS course can be run as the first day of a two-day Senior First Aid course. This needs to be negotiated with the training provider and the second day needs to occur within 6 weeks of the ECD BELS course.

26. As a permanent ECD Employee, is it acceptable to have a Senior First Aid Certificate and not do the ECD preferred program?
Yes

27. With the changes to First Aid training for teachers, is it a requirement for SSO's to have first aid training if they are rostered on to provide first aid care for students?
All staff should have the information and training they require to undertake their allocated duties. This applies to SSOs and to explicit duties such as first aid coordination. So yes, staff who have explicit first aid duties need relevant training to do this. Senior First Aid training is required for the staff who are nominated as Senior First Aid officers and are paid the allowance.

28. What if the person (s) trained in Senior First Aid is away ill or on an excursion?
It is the worksite manager's responsibility to ensure that all people (staff, students and visitors) can access first aid assistance at any time from a suitably trained person. The worksite manager needs to anticipate and plan for absent staff members, including ensuring suitable numbers of staff are trained.

29. We have a camp next week. What first aid must the teachers have?
All departmental employees must respond promptly and in line with their training when first aid is required. Principals must ensure that students can access first aid support at all times.
For a number of activities, the leadership/instruction qualifications specified for the teacher-in-charge/instructors include additional levels of first aid training and certification. The ECD Camps and Excursions Guidelines should be referred to when planning any camp or excursion.
Due consideration should also be given to Ambulance response times when selecting a camp or excursion location.

30. What qualification should we have for Aquatics programs?
A ECD Aquatic instructor must
• complete a minimum Aquatic Qualification.
• complete a Resuscitation Course including a practical examination provided by a ECD preferred provider.
• complete a Senior First Aid Course provided by a ECD preferred provider.
• complete Asthma First Aid Training

31. Is Senior First Aid required for school camps? I am hoping that the 'new' course will cover all staff for all occasions.
The ECD Camps and Excursions guidelines do not require all staff attending a school camp to have a Senior First Aid certificate, however for some activities, additional levels of first aid training and certification is required. Activities which require the teacher-in-charge/instructor to have Senior First Aid are outlined in the Camps and Excursions Guidelines.

32. What are the first aid qualifications for workers in Out of School Hours Care?
OSHC sector staff are required to complete the ECD Basic Emergency Life Support (BELS) training when undertaking their First Aid Training.

33. I don't know when my first aid training certificate expires - how can I find out?
You can find out about the expiry date of your last training by contacting the organisation that ran the last course you attended - they keep the training records.

34. I am a student teacher about to undertake a placement as part of my training. Do I need a current first aid certificate?
Generally, student teachers are not required to have a current first aid certificate for these situations. However, students who are doing specific subject placements such as aquatics may be required to be trained in first aid. The supervising staff would be aware of these requirements. If a student teacher is required to have a current first aid certificate for their placement, they can book directly through Red Cross Training (phone: 8293 9209). The Australian Red Cross are the contracted training providers for ECD.


Further questions?
Email: jacky.dodd@chess.sa.edu.au