It is our top priority to ensure the health and wellbeing of our delegates, clients & team.
Although the training courses that we organise are temporarily paused, we are currently taking bookings for courses to take place after 1st July 2020.
Our already high hygiene standards will continue to be enhanced by the additional measures below after courses continue for a period of time.
First Aid Course Hygiene
We have provided guidance and resources to our training team to help prevent the spread of the virus on courses. We are closely following the guidance from the Resuscitation Council UK regarding First Aid Training activities.
For example –
- Delegates are reminded of good hygiene practises throughout courses. Specifically –
- The main infection risk in a classroom full of delegates is contact with other people and/or surfaces rather than the manikin itself. Delegates always need to observe a high standard of handwashing, with alcohol gel (or wipes if gel unavailable) provided in addition to handwashing facilities.
- Delegates should be reminded to cough/sneeze into a tissue and dispose of this into a bin immediately, washing hands afterwards. Alternatively, coughing/sneezing into the bent elbow if no tissue available.
- Where individuals are exhibiting symptoms typical of flu, a cold or have been in close contact with someone who has the COVID-19 infection then they should exclude themselves from the course.
- Likewise, if an individual has travelled to/from the countries/regions as listed in https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-specified-countries-and-areas/covid-19-specified-countries-and-areas-with-implications-for-returning-travellers-or-visitors-arriving-in-the-uk they should act on the advice dependent on whether they were a category 1 or 2 travellers.
- Manikin ‘lungs’ which are designed to be hygienic and stop cross-infection are continuing to be changed very frequently.
- Manikins wipes with 70% alcohol are continuing to be used between any practices. Wipe the chest, forehead and face of the manikin using disinfectant/alcohol wipes between delegates and allow the surface to dry naturally before the next delegate takes their turn.
- Clothing has been removed from manikins to allow for easier hard surface disinfection.
Further steps
- Rescue breaths are temporarily non-mandatory during training sessions, as long as delegates understand the importance of rescue breaths in a real-life scenario, and it has been well demonstrated by the tutor.
- Where there is other contact on courses, for example, bandaging practice or recovery position, delegates should either –
- All wash their hands before and after the practice session
- All use hand sanitiser before or after the practice session
- All wear gloves (which should then be disposed of) for each of the practice sessions.
You can find useful information about the symptoms of coronavirus and what to do if you feel unwell on the NHS website. The current guidance is that you should check symptoms online, rather than call NHS111. You can also find regular updates on the Public Health England website.
The links to all sites along with guidance for first aiders can be found here https://www.skillbasefirstaid.com/coronavirus-facts-vs-fiction/
We will continue to monitor the government guidance and keep you updated as the situation develops.
