Updates on changes on First Aid Qualifications as per HSE.

Frequently asked questions on the changes to first aid training and approval arrangements
Introduction
This note is aimed at employer duty holders and first aid training organisations. It considers some common enquiries received by HSE on future changes to the first aid training regime for first aiders in the workplace.
In the text, FAW refers to 'first aid at work' and EFAW to 'emergency first aid at work'.
First aid provision by employers .

1. When will the changes be fully implemented?
The new training courses will be introduced from 1 October 2009. More details on implementation and the guidance that will be published to support it.

2. If I need first aiders in my workplace before 1 October 2009, what training will they need?
The current requirements will remain in place until 1 October 2009. Any prospective first aiders will need to successfully complete a four day FAW course delivered by an HSE approved training organisation.

3. If a first aider obtains an FAW certificate just before implementation of the new training regime, will they need to be retrained as soon as the new courses are introduced?
No. They will only enter the new training regime when their three year FAW certificate expires.

4. Will annual refresher training be a mandatory requirement?
No. It will be strongly recommended to employers to help qualified first aiders maintain their basic skills and keep up to date with any changes in first aid procedures.

The relevant regulations are the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. This guidance to the regulations sets out the difference between a 'first aider' and an 'appointed person':

In any company, the number and type of first aid personnel would be based on an assessment. In assessing need, employers need to consider:

• workplace hazards and risks;
• the size of the organisation;
• the organisation's history of accidents;
• the nature and distribution of the workforce;
• the remoteness of the site from emergency medical services;
• the needs of travelling, remote and lone workers;
• employees working on shared or multi-occupied sites;
• annual leave and other absences of first aiders and appointed persons.

Whilst the regulations do not give specific personnel numbers, the guidance does give suggested numbers of first aid personnel:

SWINE FLU INFORMATION

Swine flu is a respiratory illness caused by the type A flu (H1N1) virus. The current influenza pandemic (commonly known as swine flu) in countries around the world has been caused by a new version (strain) of the virus named as Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 by World Health Organization (WHO).

An influenza pandemic is a ‘worldwide outbreak of influenza’, and is a rare but recurrent event. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges, is able to spread easily from person to person, and against which people have little or no immunity.

Influenza viruses are grouped into three types: A, B and C. Influenza A and B viruses are of concern for human health. The virus is able to cause both annual winter epidemics of varying size and severity and occasional more severe pandemics.

Influenza A and B viruses alter gradually through a process of random mutation
(antigenic drift) - every few years this will result in a significant epidemic. Influenza A may also change abruptly (antigenic shift), leading to a new subtype and causing a pandemic. Only influenza A has the ability to cause a pandemic.

Three worldwide influenza pandemics occurred in the last century, each differing from the others with respect to the causative virus, epidemiology and disease severity:
1918/1919 Spanish flu, an unusually severe and deadly strain of the H1N1 subtype of Influenza A

1957/1958 Asian flu, influenza A H2N2 virus

1968/1969 Hong Kong flu, a novel influenza A subtype, H3N2.

The main influenza virus circulating in the UK continues to be the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 strain, with few influenza H1 (non-pandemic), H3 and B viruses detected through sentinel and non-sentinel surveillance. The majority of pandemic influenza
cases continue to be mild.

GP consultation rates for influenza like illness are now high in most English regions indicating that influenza activity is widespread. Daily calls to GP practices, out of hours services and NHS Direct relating to colds/flu are at high levels. Children and
young adults remain those predominately affected, though increases were observed in all age groups.

The Department of Health National Flu Line is aimed to take the strain off GP services. This will enable those who are worried that they have symptoms to phone in and after triage be given access to anti-viral medication (Tamiflu or Relenza ).

HAND HYGIENE 

The ‘my five moments for hand hygiene’ approach defines the key moments when health-care workers should perform hand hygiene.

This evidence-based, field-tested, user-centred approach is designed to be easy to learn, logical and applicable in a wide range of settings.

This approach recommends health-care workers to clean their hands:

• before touching a patient

• before clean/aseptic procedures

• after body fluid exposure/risk

• after touching a patient

• after touching patient surroundings.

Back to Homepage