Changes to paediatric and workplace first aid training

The HSE have revised the Emergency First Aid and First Aid at Work syllabuses and will require all workplace first aiders to be trained in the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED)

The HSE have revised the Emergency First Aid and First Aid at Work syllabuses following the changes to Resuscitation Council UK guidelines on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in October 2015.

The revision will require all workplace first aiders to be trained in the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) from the 31 December 2016. This meets the Resuscitation Council UK guidelines which now state that the management of a casualty requiring CPR is to request an AED.

As the Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) qualification covers CPR, and the EFAW forms the first unit of the First Aid at Work (FAW), changes are only required to the EFAW.

The EFAW Learning Outcome Four: ‘Be able to manage an unresponsive casualty who is not breathing normally’ has two Assessment Criteria, the second criteria, 4.2: ‘Demonstrate CPR using a manikin’ can readily incorporate the AED without change as the AED now forms part of the CPR sequence (Resus Council UK). This means we do not have to produce a new Ofqual regulated qualification in order to cover the changes to resuscitation.

AED training only needs to cover the safe use, correct placement of pads and follow the AED voice prompts. This can readily be introduced during the Learner performing CPR on a manikin. However as this needs to be demonstrated, each Learner will require access to an AED training defibrillator as well as manikin to practice on.

Trainer Defibrillators are available from AED suppliers and must conform to the UK resus guidelines. A Trainer will need one defib per four learners.

For employers, the resus changes does not mean they have to purchase a defibrillator for their workplace. The requirement for a defibrillator is still dependent on the employers’ assessment of their first aid needs. Neither do you have to retrain existing first aiders as they will be updated in this skill when they re-qualify.