Occupational First Aid FETAC Level 5

First aid in the workplace

• List the role and responsibilities of the Occupational First Aider
• (OFA)
• Describe the OFA’s responsibility related to personal safety
• Discuss the roles and responsibilities of the OFA towards others at the scene of an incident including the patient and bystanders
• Describe the importance of scene safety for the rescuers
• Assess for scene safety
• Apply the principles of standard infection control precautions eg. hand washing, glove use and disposal, clinical waste disposal
• Explain the importance, necessity and legality of patient confidentiality
• With reference to the First Aid Regulations and Guide: define the terms ‘first aid’ and ‘occupational first aider’; describe the duties of an employer, identify the contents of a first aid box for 11-25 persons and the minimum conditions and facilities of a first aid room
• State the procedure for the activation of emergency services
• List possible emotional reactions that an OFA may experience when faced with trauma, illness, death and dying
• List the signs and symptoms of post traumatic stress
• State possible steps that the OFA may take to help reduce/alleviate stress
• Describe the role of post traumatic stress management

Patient assessment

• Describe a primary and secondary survey
• State the normal respiration rates for an adult at rest
• List the methods to obtain a breathing rate
• State the normal pulse rates for an adult at rest
• List the methods to obtain a pulse rate
• Outline the methods to assess the skin colour, temperature, condition
• Differentiate between hot, cool and cold skin temperature
• Differentiate between a sign and symptom
• Explain the need to search for additional medical identification
• Outline the reason for forming a general impression of the patient
• Assess levels of consciousness including using the alert, verbal, pain, unresponsive (AVPU) scale
• Assess the patient for external bleeding
• Outline the airway, cervical spine, breathing and circulation (AcBC) approach to a trauma victim
• Explain how the mechanism of injury may lead to a risk of spinal injury
• Describe the requirements for an explicit handover between occupational first aiders and other health care practitioners including documentation as appropriate
• Demonstrate a primary and secondary survey
• Demonstrate assessment of breathing
• Demonstrate assessment of a pulse
• Demonstrate manual in-line stabilisation of the head in a suspected spinal injury

Respiratory emergencies

• Define respiration
• List the component parts of the respiratory system
• List the functions of the respiratory system
• List the percentage of oxygen in inspired and expired air
• State the signs and symptoms of a patient with respiratory difficulties
• List the signs of adequate air exchange
• List the signs of respiratory arrest
• Define asthma
• Define foreign body airway obstruction
• Explain the functions of a barrier device
• Describe the correct use of a face shield or facemask
• Describe the steps in the management of a foreign body airway obstruction in the responsive and unresponsive adult (child and infant where appropriate)
• Demonstrate an open airway using the head tilt technique
• Demonstrate rescue breathing using mouth-to-mouth, mouth-to-mask or mouth-to-nose (infants only) techniques
• Recognise the signs of choking in an adult (child and infant where appropriate) and take the appropriate steps to clear the airway obstruction
• Demonstrate the relief of a foreign body airway obstruction in an unresponsive adult (child and infant where appropriate)
• Demonstrate the treatment of the patient with respiratory difficulties
• Demonstrate the treatment of the patient in respiratory arrest

Cardiac first response

• Describe the links in the chain of survival for adult (child and infant where appropriate)
• Explain the importance of calling the emergency services
• Retrieve an automated external defibrillator (AED)
• Explain the importance of early cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation
• Describe when to start CPR
• Describe when to use an AED
• List the 4 major life threatening emergencies
• Define heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest and foreign body airway obstruction
• List the signs of heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest and foreign body airway obstruction
• Explain the functions of an AED
• Outline the conditions in which an AED is used
• List the safety precautions for use of an AED
• List the special considerations for use of an AED
• List the steps of one-rescuer adult CPR (child and infant where appropriate)
• Describe the appropriate actions to take for each AED voice prompt
• List the obvious signs of death and describe when resuscitation is not indicated
• Describe the legal implication for those who attempt to provide pre-hospital emergency care
• Describe the clinical indemnity issues for those who attempt to provide pre-hospital emergency care
• Describe the importance of the pre-hospital emergency care continuum emphasising the integration of all pre-hospital emergency responders
• List the steps to be taken prior to aspirin (Acetylsalicylic Acid) 300mg tablet administration for cardiac chest pain
• Assess responsiveness
• Demonstrate the techniques of airway, breathing and circulation assessment in an adult (child and infant where appropriate)
• Perform one-rescuer adult CPR (child and infant where appropriate)
• Demonstrate safe defibrillation with an AED (adult only) with minimal delay and interruption in CPR
• Demonstrate how to troubleshoot the most common problems that might be encountered whilst using an AED
• Demonstrate the recovery position

Wounds and bleeding

• List the components of the circulatory system
• List the functions of blood
• Differentiate between arterial, venous and capillary bleeding
• State the effects of severe bleeding
• List wound types
• Demonstrate the control of bleeding using posture, expose/examination and elevation, pressure and shock (PEEPS)
• Outline the management of head, eye and facial injuries
• Outline the management of internal bleeding
• Outline the management of crush injuries
• Outline the benefit of tying a reef knot
• Demonstrate the application of pre-packed sterile dressings to various body sites
• Demonstrate the application of bandages to various body sites
• Demonstrate using a triangular bandage the narrow fold, broad fold, arm sling and elevation sling
• Demonstrate the treatment of a nose bleed
• Demonstrate the procedure to clean a simulated minor wound
• Demonstrate the treatment of surface injuries to the head, ear and face using items from a first aid kit

Altered levels of consciousness

• Define shock
• State the primary causes of shock
• List the signs and symptoms of shock
• Outline the treatment of a patient in shock
• Outline how monitoring vital signs can indicate the condition of a patient
• List the functions of the nervous system
• Define altered level of consciousness
• List the causes of altered level of consciousness
• Differentiate between concussion and compression
• Define fainting
• List the signs and symptoms of a faint
• Outline the treatment of a patient with altered level of consciousness
• Define diabetes and epilepsy and outline appropriate treatment
• Demonstrate the position used to treat a patient in shock
• Demonstrate the recovery position
• Demonstrate the treatment of the patient with altered level of consciousness

Musculoskeletal injuries

• List the functions of the skeleton
• Define a fracture, sprain, strain and dislocation
• List the causes of a fracture
• Differentiate between open, closed and complicated fractures
• List the signs and symptoms of a fracture
• Outline the dangers of uncontrolled movement of a fracture and the conditions where a patient should/ should not be moved
• Demonstrate the treatment of an upper limb fracture using bandages
• Demonstrate the treatment of a shoulder dislocation
• Demonstrate the treatment of a soft tissue injury using the rest, ice, compress and elevate (RICE) method
• Demonstrate the treatment of a lower limb injury

Burns and scalds, chemicals, electric shock

• State the functions of the skin
• Differentiate between a burn and a scald
• State the danger of burns
• Outline the treatment of minor burns
• Outline the treatment of major burns
• Outline the treatment of a chemical burn to the body
• Outline the treatment of a chemical burn to the eye
• Define a poison
• List four routes of entry of a chemical/poison into the body
• Differentiate between a harmful, corrosive and toxic chemical
• Outline the treatment for each route of entry of a chemical/poison
• State the effects of low/high voltage electric current to the body
• Outline the safe management of a patient who is in contact with a live electrical source
• Outline the treatment of a patient who has been in contact with a live electrical source
• Demonstrate the treatment of a minor burn including the application of a burns dressing
• Demonstrate the treatment of a major burn
• Demonstrate the treatment of a chemical burn
• Demonstrate eye irrigation and the application of an eye pad

• Understand the responsibilities of the occupational first aider.

• Be able to provide treatment for the purpose of preserving life or minimising the consequences of injury until discharge or the arrival of medical assistance.

• Be able to provide treatment in the workplace for an injury which does not require the attention of a medical practitioner or nurse.

• Be capable of coordinating first aid arrangements in the workplace.

• Be familiar with health and safety legislation on first aid provision in the workplace.

   

FETAC Level 6 Instructor course or any other FETAC Level 5 Major award