COVID safe first aid training

The current first response training is split into three sessions and designed so it can be delivered through facilitated online sessions using online platforms such as Zoom and Teams. The syllabus identifies what items are required to be demonstrated in person. This is limited to parts of the life support session. 

When in YELLOW or GREEN full course may be delivered face-to-face, as long as it is done safely. If you'd prefer to complete the training online you can use one of the following options:

• Participate in the three online facilitated sessions, each lasting two hours and then complete a face-to-face validation session, lasting about 15 to 20 minutes. This short session will cover the mandatory practical elements of the life support training. 
  
• Participate in an approved blended model which involves a 2.5hr self-led eLearning followed by a 2.5-3hr online facilitated session. This is then followed by a short (15-20min) face to face validation session.

Further information on each of the options can be found below.

Online elements must be delivered by those who are First Aid Trainers. Within the Scouts, this must be someone holding a full first aid qualification, along with the relevant training modules of the Adult Training Scheme and appointed as a trainer on Compass (for example County Trainer – First Aid). All First Aid Trainers need to have the first aid variant listed on their Compass record to allow us to communicate with them when there are updates. 

Sessions are facilitated, which means that the trainer needs to engage with the participants throughout the session, checking knowledge where they can with a variety of tools identified in the training materials.  

The ratio for this training is normally 1:12 but due to the current circumstances this can be run at up to 1:20 so long as the trainer is confident that they can meet the requirements of the training, engage with all participants and do the relevant knowledge checks throughout.  

This model has been approved until 31 August 2022 (extended from 31 Dec 21) to support members with undertaking first aid training during COVID restrictions.

This model first requires the learner to undertake some eLearning which is provided by Hampshire Scouts. Counties must sign up for this approach with Hampshire prior to their members being able to access the course. Full details and contact information.

The eLearning is the first element learners will complete and this is done in their own time through a learning platform which tracks their progress and completion of knowledge checks as they move through the learning. This element will take approximately 2.5hrs to complete.

The second element is an online facilitated session lasting 2.5-3hrs where a first aid trainer takes the learners through some more detailed knowledge checking exercises and discussions (this element can be delivered face to face where allowed within the readiness levels but the content must meet the outcomes specified for this session). Once complete this is sufficient to validate module 10A. These sessions are usually delivered within the learners own County and resources to support this will be provided by Hampshire Scouts once a county enters into the agreement to access this model.

The final element of this model is the completion of the face to face validation which is outlined below.

Face-to-face validation for demonstrating elements of life support is possible once an area is in Amber readiness level. A COVID risk assessment needs to be in place – a COVID risk assessment needs to be in place - read the example.

The focus of the face-to-face validation is to verify the compulsory elements for practical demonstration within the life support session (those marked with ** in the syllabus). This can be done in a short 15 to 20 mins session with the appropriate hygiene arrangements in place.

The First Aid Quality Partnership (FAQP) are currently recommending that ventilations are taught and assessed on paediatric courses, we know of the challenge this brings whilst COVID-19 continues to spread in the UK. As a youth lead movement, we feel that this is an important skill for our adults to be assessed on.  

With this in mind we’re asking volunteers who attend first response courses, where they feel able, to demonstrate ventilations on the paediatric manikin. For now, there is no requirement to demonstrate ventilations on an adult manikin. 

Most of the manakins used in Scouts for demonstrating CPR are made by the industry leader Laerdal. Their manikins have a one-way valve which expels the air out of the back of the head during the exhalation phase, this means that contaminated air is not pushed directly back towards the learner. Laerdal, recommend changing the lungs between each learner, but the impact of doing this with the numbers of people we need to assess would be a huge financial cost. We also need to factor in the time taken to keep changing the lungs will reduce the amount of time available for assessments. With this in mind we have looked at what some of the industry leading training organisations are doing. 

Currently they are advising that their trainers change the lungs between training sessions, but they also have a manikin to learner ratio of 1:4 or 1:5 maximum. Taking all of this information we feel a reasonable risk mitigation procedure would be: 

• For practical training sessions a manakin to learner ratio of 1:5 maximum should be observed and lungs changed every session. 

• If a continuous assessment session is planned the lungs should be changed after every 5 learners. 

• The face should be removed between each candidate and disinfected, the inside structure should also be wiped down using a disinfectant wipe - it may be easier to have extra faces available to swap out. 

• All touch points, such as the chest, should be wiped down with disinfectant wipes between candidates. 

• At least 2 meters should be maintained between candidates and others in the room as masks will need to be removed to demonstrate ventilation. 

If you are using a manikin from another manufacturer, they may have different guidelines for the frequency of lung changing, generally if it has a valve in then they can be changed less frequently. If you use manikins that use lungs with no valve then they must be changed between each learner as they offer no protection from contamination. 

To try to reduce the risk further we would encourage good practice throughout the sessions, such as: 

• Reminding candidates not to attend if they have any symptoms. 
• Encouraging the use of lateral flow/rapid antigen tests within 24 hours of attending a session. 
• Encouraging the use of face coverings when inside. 
• Keep inside rooms as ventilated as possible. 
• Encouraging good hand hygiene and cleaning of touch points. 

We appreciate that there may be people who feel unable to demonstrate ventilations currently, if this is the case these learners may explain the procedure to the assessor to demonstrate their knowledge, or demonstrate the elements they are comfortable with (compressions) whilst explaining the others (breaths). 

Certificates are available from the brand centre to be issued to those who attend the sessions, one available for each online session, the face-to-face validation and the completion of the whole programme. Certificates can be accessed via www.scouts.org.uk/brand and searching for First Response.

Compass - Once a learner has attended a session their compass record can be updated. There are two new modules; 010A First Aid Learning and 010B First Aid Practical. These will need to be added to existing members PLPs by Training Advisers or Line Managers. The Training Compliance Volunteer Team (training.compliance@scouts.org.uk) are also able to add the modules once they receive a completed certificate.  

010A First Aid Learning - enables the recording of the three learning sessions; Life Support, Major Illness and Trauma and injury. Validation is the requirement to complete all three sessions.  

010B First Aid Practical - enables the recording of the practical element of the training to be recorded. Validation is by demonstration.  

Each module, once validated will populate a First Aid Mandatory Ongoing Learning (MOGL) record to record that the individual is compliant with our current requirements. 

The existing 010 First Aid has been discontinued and will appear in PLPs as X010 - (Discontinued) First Aid. This can be removed from PLPs where it has not been completed.  

It is important that the new syllabus of training is recorded within the PLP, even if the member has previously completed 010 First Aid and has existing First Aid MOGL records. This allows, once the reports have been updated, to capture the detail of where members are with their First Aid learning in more detail.  

It is important that the three learning sessions are completed and validated (010A) before the Practical is validated (010B).  

Both the Appointment and Training have been updated to include 010A and 010B records, along with the Compliance Assistant tools.

Whilst we are dealing with the response to the COVID pandemic we are taking compliance statistics from the mandatory ongoing learning records. We are accepting that at the current time completion of all three learning elements would be considered as compliant. This will be able to be recorded in Compass through a 010A First Aid Learning module and will pre-populate the completion of mandatory ongoing learning for first aid.  

Members will be required to complete the face-to-face validation in order to have completed the full training. This can be recorded in Compass through 010B First Aid Practical and will pre-populate an additional mandatory ongoing learning for first aid record. 

Members have until the end of January 2022 to become compliant with their first aid training.

Where a County is unable to be self sufficient and meet the needs within their County for first aid training we would encourage local networking between Counties, this can be facilitated by the Assistant Regional Commissioner or Country Training lead.

If there are still challenges then we have a national support mechanism available which those at Regional or Country level can access on behalf of counties, identifying Trainers who can assist with in County delivery. 

If you have any questions or require support please contact us using firstaid@scouts.org.uk.

First Response is a jointly owned first aid training package, managed by both the Scouts and Girlguiding. Members may attend training provided by either organisation in order to meet the first aid requirements for their role.

We would encourage you to link up with your colleagues in Girlguiding in your area to share training provision to increase access to this training.

If using external First Aid Trainers they must be appointed to do so by an accredited body such as a first aid training organisation, a national governing body or similar. In doing so they must follow the requirements for delivering first aid set out by their accreditation body. Members' may participate in these training sessions and where possible we would encourage the principle of do as much online as possible limiting the face-to-face contact. Although the external provider will deliver to their syllabus, the minimum requirements for this training are those set out in the first response syllabus.  

If you're not sure where to start, make contact with your local first aid organisation such as British Red Cross or St John Ambulance. You can also make contact with them nationally using the links below.

St John Ambulance (for England)

St John Ambulance Cymru (Wales)

St Andrew First Aid (Scotland)

St John Ambulance Northern Ireland

British Red Cross