THE SAFE DELIVERY OF FIRST AID TRAINING AFTER COVID-19

Following the COVID-19 outbreak, our future courses will closely follow HSE and government guidance, providing and ensuring the safety towards all our learners and staff. With that being said, we will provide FREE hygiene pack for all of our learners which will contain the following PPE:

• A Surgical Face Mask

• A CPR Face Mask

• Gloves

 

The following guidelines were produced by the First Aid Quality Partnership and will be followed on all of our training courses to ensure the safety of our learners and staff. For each guideline, we have stated what we will be doing as a training provider to follow the guidance and deliver training effectively:

 

• As a Training Provider, we will risk assess our training delivery and mitigate all risks of possible spread of COVID-19: this includes the trainer showing learners two videos on how COVID-19 spreads and how to wash your hands. Also, by explaining clearly that no one should touch their mouth, nose, or eyes unless they have just washed their hands or sanitised. 
   

•  Our lessons will be designed with COVID-19 in mind by ensuring that close contact between students and /or Trainers is reduced to an absolute minimum. 
   

• As a training provider, sensible adaptations will be in place for training and assessment activities in order for students to still receive quality training and feel confident after completion of the training course. When close contact is absolutely necessary, our hygiene packs will provide appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that reduces the risk of cross-contamination between students. This includes the provision of individual gloves and face masks for students.
   

• We will ensure appropriate handwashing facilities and/or alcohol hand sanitisers are available for use as students enter and exit the Training Room and throughout their time in the Training Room. There will also be a HSE handwashing guidance sheet for everyone to observe whilst thoroughly washing their hands.
   

• We will have in place a process for preventing those with possible COVID-19 symptoms (fever, a new cough, or loss of smell/taste) from entering the classroom by digitally checking temperatures and contacting learners prior to the course. We will also have in place a process to manage instances of people who develop symptoms during the delivery of any training.
   

• Classroom set up: throughout our training courses, we will ensure that all venues allow for Social Distancing of 2 metres between each Student (unless absolutely necessary for the purpose of practising or demonstrating competence), through checking the training venues before the delivery of training and reducing the number of learners that can attend a course. Also, the room will be set up prior to the course running time to plan for the 2-metre social distancing and be ready for learners to enter the room safely. 
   

• All equipment that is used by students will be thoroughly cleaned before use by an individual student.
   

• The First Aid taught will reflect protocols that ensure the safe performance of First Aid during the current COVID-19 outbreak that is supported by a body of medical opinion and the Resuscitation Council UK.

 

• As a training provider, on all of our courses, there will be a sufficient amount of alcohol hand sanitiser in the classroom for learners throughout the entire course. 

 

Do you need First Aid Training?

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, as a training provider, we are able to deliver First Aid courses to keyworkers and are now working in the office to fulfill your training needs and inquiries. So, if you need First Aid training get in touch with us today and we can help you get booked on to the right course. One of our trainers can come to your venue to provide First Aid training providing that the COVID-19 guidance can be followed fully. Additionally, you can book one of our open courses at a choice of our venues- you can book one of our courses as an individual or as a business group-booking. 

 

The expiry of current training certificates and extensions

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the HSE made a statement that allowed an extension of the following courses to those who hold a First Aid certificate from the 16th March 2020 and after this date:

• Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)

• First Aid at Work (FAW)

 

To qualify for the extension, you must be able to do the following:

• explain why you haven’t been able to requalify

• demonstrate what steps you have taken to access the training if asked to do so

 

The first aid training industry in England is confident that enough courses will now be available for all required requalification training to take place, although there could still be issues around the accessibility of First Aid Courses. Therefore the HSE recognises this and now states that First Aid at Work or Emergency First Aid at Work certificates that expired after 16 March 2020 can remain valid until 31 October 2020 or 6 months from the date of expiry, whichever is later. All requalification training for these certificates should be completed by 31 March 2021. HSE has therefore agreed on a final deadline for requalification for these qualifications of 31 March 2021. 

 

If you need any help with deciding which course is suitable for you or help with booking on one of our courses, please get in touch with us today.