Following a lengthy consultation period the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have announced changes to the first aid at work regulations. These will come into effect from 1 October 2009.
It has been decided that the four day First Aid At Work course will become a three day course. The qualification will still remain valid for a three year period with a First Aid Two Day Refresher to renew, prior to expiry. the HSE have also recommended that all first aiders attend an annual basic skill update (BSU). This will be a three hour session.
The BSU course will not be needed in the first year of qualification, but completed in year 1 and 2 prior to the refresher training in year 3. (for example, three day training course completed October 2009 will follow with a BSU October 2010 and October 2011 and then the two day refresher in October 2012).
As yet the syllabus for the 3 day course has not been released but Action Training Services will continue to keep clients fully informed prior to the changeover. The assessment process will remain in place on the third day. We have already modified our final assessment to fall in with the new course timings when they are introduced. This will include ‘on course’ assessments with the course tutor, and the practical skills independently assessed.
One Day First Aid courses will now be called Emergency First Aid At Work. The certificates will now feature this course title. The syllabus will be fully introduced from 1st October 2009 but we will implement the changes as soon as practicable prior to this as the course syllabus will remain very similar. This will include understanding the role of a first aider, accident reporting, understanding hygiene in first aid procedures, the ability to act safely and promptly in an emergency, Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Dealing with unconsciousness and seizures, Bleeding, Shock, Choking and minor injuries. The student contact time for this course is 6 hours.