Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.


Contextualisation to address specific requirements may include:
Focus on first aid management of specific types of injury
First aid provision under specific constraints or circumstances (e.g. in confined spaces, in maritime work environment or in work environment involving identified risks/hazards)


Established first aid principles include:
Preserve life
Prevent illness, injury and condition(s) becoming worse
Promote recovery
Protect the unconscious casualty


Vital signs include:
Consciousness
Breathing
Circulation


A hazard is:
A source or situation with the potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill-health, damage to property, the environment, or a combination of these


Hazards may include:
Physical hazards
Biological hazards
Chemical hazards
Hazards associated with manual handling


Risks may include:
Risks from equipment, machinery and substances
Risks from first aid equipment
Environmental risks
Exposure to blood and other body substances
Risk of further injury to the casualty
Risks associated with the proximity of other workers and bystanders
Risks from vehicles


Casualty's condition is managed for:
Abdominal injuries
Airway obstruction
Allergic reactions
Altered and loss of consciousness
Bleeding
Burns - thermal, chemical, friction, electrical
Chest pain/cardiac arrest
Injuries: cold and crush injuries; eye and ear injuries; head, neck and spinal injuries; minor skin injuries; needle stick injuries; soft tissue injuries including sprains, strains, dislocations
Near drowning
Envenomation - snake, spider, insect and marine bites
Environmental conditions such as hypothermia, hyperthermia, dehydration, heat stroke
Fractures
Medical conditions, including cardiac conditions, epilepsy, diabetes, asthma and other respiratory conditions
No signs of life
Poisoning and toxic substances (including chemical contamination)
Respiratory distress/arrest
Seizures
Shock
Stroke
Substance misuse - common drugs and alcohol, including illicit drugs.


First aid management must take into account applicable aspects of:
The setting in which first aid is provided, including:
workplace policies and procedures
industry/site specific regulations, codes etc.
OHS requirements
state and territory workplace health and safety legislative requirements
location and nature of the incident
situational risks associated with, for example, electrical and biological hazards, weather, motor vehicle accidents
location of emergency services personnel.

The use and availability of first aid equipment and resources
Infection control
Legal and social responsibilities of first aider


Resources and equipment are used appropriate to the risk to be met and may include:
AED
First aid kit
Auto-injector
Puffer/inhaler
Resuscitation mask or barrier
Spacer device


Communication media and equipment may include but are not limited to:
Telephones, including landline, mobile and satellite phones
HF/VHF radio
Flags
Flares
Two way radio
Email
Electronic equipment
Hand signals


Appropriate clinical expert may include:
Supervisor/manager
Ambulance officer/paramedic
Other medical/health worker


Documentation may include:
Injury report forms
Workplace documents as per organisation requirements


Documentation may include recording:
Time
Location
Description of injury
First aid management
Fluid intake/output, including fluid loss via:
blood
vomit
faeces
urine

Administration of medication including:
time
date
person administering
dose

Vital signs

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package. The evidence guide supplements assessment requirements that apply to all units in this Training Package. Users of this evidence guide should first read the package's assessment guidelines.

Critical aspects of assessment:
Assessment must include demonstrated evidence of specified Essential Knowledge and Essential Skills identified in this competency unit
Competence should be demonstrated working individually and, where appropriate, as part of a first aid team
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace or community setting
Currency of first aid knowledge and skills is to be demonstrated in line with State/Territory regulations, legislation and policies, ARC and industry guidelines


Context and resources required for assessment:
Skills in performing first aid procedures are to be assessed through demonstration, with questioning to confirm essential knowledge
For assessment purposes, demonstration of skills in CPR procedures requires using a model of the human body (resuscitation manikin) in line with Australian Resuscitation Council Guidelines


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities