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UPDATE: First Aid Training during COVID-19 Lockdown

Providing safe and socially distanced first aid training during COVID-19

The Department for Education (DfE) is likely to adopt the same validity extensions for Paediatric First Aid certificates, however, this cannot be confirmed at this time due to complexities relating to the modifications being made to the EYFS Statutory Framework. A link to these disapplications and modifications is provided below: 

https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/first-aid-certificate-coronavirus.htm

Discussions have also recently taken place between the First Aid Awarding Organisation Forum (FAAOF), the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the wider first aid sector to agree on guidelines for first aid delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. The FAAOF has agreed to issue the below statement:

‘FAAOF recommend that first aid training (other than absolutely essential first aid training) should not restart until after the government has changed the COVID-19 alert status to Level 3. Training must only take place where this is permissible in accordance with the UK Government and devolved administrations or regional restrictions.’

The full statement is available to view at the FAAOF website:

http://www.firstaidqualifications.org.uk/

The document contains guidance on hygiene and infection prevention and control practices that those delivering first aid training need to have in place, and assessment adjustments that can be put in place to allow for social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

All learners with have to be mandatory with handwashing or sanitising on arrival at a training session, during and at the end.

HSE announcement

First aid certificate extensions

If you hold a first aid certificate that expires on or after 16 March 2020 and cannot access requalification training because of the coronavirus, you may qualify for an extension. This applies to:

  • Offshore Medic (OM) 
  • Offshore First Aid (OFA) 
  • First Aid at Work (FAW) 
  • Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) 

How you qualify for the extension

To qualify for the extension, you must be able to:

  • explain why you haven’t been able to requalify 
  • demonstrate what steps you have taken to access the training if asked to do so

Requalification training in England

The first aid training industry in England is confident that enough courses will now be available for all required requalification training to take place. HSE has therefore agreed on a final deadline for requalification for these qualifications of 30 September 2020.

Paediatric first aid 

The Department for Education (DfE) want to follow the HSE with validity extensions for Paediatric First Aid certificates, however, further clarification is needed owing to some complexities relating to modifications being made to the EYFS Statutory Framework. For your reference, please see the link to these disapplications and modifications: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework–2/early-years-foundation-stage-coronavirus-disapplications

If you have questions regarding any of the above, please contact Claire Craig, Commercial Training Manager.

Kind regards,Team Orangebox

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