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Introduction

 

We wish to welcome you to your Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (P.H.E.C.C) First Aid Responder (F.A.R) course.

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This Student Handbook will provide you with information on various procedures and guidelines that are relevant to your training.

Please take the time and familiarize yourself with our procedures and review the clinical practice guidelines from PHECC listed below for download. 

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At ER Training we will do our utmost best to help you maximize your potential in developing new knowledge and skills, or enhancing existing ones. We wish you the very best of luck with this training course. If you need any help, assistance or have any questions please contact Ross Mannion on 0879676700.

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Regards 

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Ross Mannion - Director NQEMT | AREMT Paramedic Dip.

Dr Deborah Mannion  - M.D DRCOG MSc Obs & Gynae - Medical Director 

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Course Descriptor

 

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First Aid Response

 

Entry criteria: There is no specific entry criterion including a minimum age. However, a course participant should be mature enough to comprehend the knowledge, skills and implications associated with defibrillation and have a maturity to complete assessment to receive certification

Duration: This is an 18 Hour (Class Time) Course. The course is delivered over three days

Ratio: The FAR instructor to student ratio is 1:8

The ratio of student to manikin for student is 1 : 1 (You will have your own manikin during the course)

The ratio of student to AED is 3 : 1 

Assessment: Course participants will have their skills assessed throughout or at the end of course. Assessment sheets and a question MCQ paper have been developed for this assessment by PHECC. Examination procedures are set out further below in this handbook. PHECC assessment sheets are the only assessment material that will be used on the day. 

Certification: Successful participants will receive a joint PHECC/Affiliated Training Institution First Aid Response cards/certificates. Certification lapses after two tears.

Recertification: In order to achieve recertification participants will need to take a two day FAR refresher course in order to recertify in First Aid Response.

 

 

 

 

Attendance

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In accordance to PHECC standards, your attendance has to be 100%. A student will not receive certification if the course was partially attended. At the start of each training day there will be sign in sheet that is mandatory to complete by all students.

After every break and at the end of the day, our instructor will visually check that all students are present.

Any learners are absent for any of the training days will be regarded as having dropped out of the course and will be terminated from the course.

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Standards of Behaviour

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Your instructor will go through these in more details as part of the training company induction.

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• Smoking is not permitted in any part of the training venue.

• Mobile phones must be switched off or put on silent mode and may not be answered in class. If you have to answer the phone, please leave the classroom silently and take the phone call outside the premises. 

• The use of personal music is not permitted.

• Learners must keep the classroom and their work area tidy.

• Behaviour which your tutor considers a danger to yourself or others may result in you being asked to leave the training venue and a full refund of your course cost will be awarded back to you. 

• No valuables or personal belongings should be left unattended in classrooms or any other part of the training location. Neither ER Training nor the trainer is responsible for any personal articles stolen or damaged while attending the course.

• Training material presented to you at the start of class should be not be shared with other course participants. This is to limit cross contamination and to add in infection control.

 

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Feedback Forms

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At the end of the course you will be asked to complete Student Feedback Form to reflect on your training. ER Training greatly appreciates all suggestions that could improve student experience and enhance the training.

 

 

Data protection Policy

 

ER Training will collect necessary data from our students as part of the delivery of PHECC training. We will store and share student’s information in accordance to GDPR related legislation.

Personal data will be collected for purpose of:

• Tailoring of course requirements for students

• Communicating with the students

• For legal taxation and audit purposes

• To comply with requirements imposed by training accreditation bodies

• For provision of billing, payment or receipts

• Issuing of the certificates

• Our own records review and self-assessment

 

We will collect further data:

1. Name and surname

2. Company or home address

3. Contact email and telephone number

4. Sign up date

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For better course preparation students can contact us if they have any questions, queries or concerns before the course by email or by phone call. If necessary a meeting can be arranged. 

 

As per GDPR, ER Training will not be sharing personal data unless we get consent from the student. At the start of the course, the student is made aware in writing where their personal data may have to be shared and can consent to it.

 

 

 

Company course cancellation policy

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Companies that book with us have the right to cancel their course at any time prior to the start of the course or during the course.

• Cancellations received before or during the class will be free of any cancellation charges.

• Companies can provide substitute students if they are unable to sit the course up to 3 days before the course, to allow for student and company administration. Companies may not provide substitutes during the class should one student drop out.

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Individual Public course cancellation policy ( If applicable )

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Individuals that book a public course with us have the right to cancel their course at any time prior to the start of the course or during the course.

• Due to the costing of the cost set up, venue hire etc students will not receive a refund on cancellation but will be given the option to join another public course at a later date. 

• Companies or students can provide substitutes if they are unable to sit the course up to 3 days before the course, to allow for student and company administration.

• Students who fall ill before or during the course will be allowed a full refund with provision of certified sick note from their GP.

• Students that have a grievance in their family will be issued a full refund to themselves or the company who booked the course. No proof of grievance will be sought by ER Training. This payment will be returned within 14 days if payment was made prior to course.

 

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Course cancellation by ER Training

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ER Training reserves the right to cancel or postpone the course at any time with a refund being issued to the company or student within 7 days, if full or part payment was made.

We are not to be held liable for any direct or indirect consequential or special damages that may be occurred due to a cancelation of a course.

 

 

Course Timetable

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Registration of each day of training will start 30 minutes before start of the class. This allows the student to reflect on the timetable of the day and sign Fitness Declaration Form. That will allow the student to raise any issues and concerns with their instructor in private. The registration period is an informal setting.

At the start of course students will be provided with a student pack. Each pack will contain a PHECC student handbook, pocket face mask, request emergency dispatch (RED) card, CFR / ACR report forms & clinical practice guidelines. What also will be in the pack, will be a Student Pack Checklist Form to which they must check and sign that they have received the above course material. This form will be kept with other E.R Training course material for internal review.

Each day of the course, students will have to sign in. First day of the course, students will need to bring in the photographic ID, to confirm their identity.

At the end of the training, students are present with their own exam and are given their results in private on the day of completion of the course. If needed a remediation is offered which will be carried out in private.

Each day of the course students are given a Daily Student Feedback Form to complete. At the end of the course, students will be given an End of Course Student Feedback Form to complete and given a chance to appeal. An End of Course Student Feedback Form will be presented to the student after they receive their course results.

 

 

FAR Timetable

 

Day 1  

                           

08.45 Registration

09.00 Introduction 

09.05 Patient Assessment

10.15 Incident Procedures

10:45 Break

11.00 CFR Community level - Module 1 Basic Emergency Care 

1300 Lunch

1400 CFR Community Level - Module 2 AED              

1530 Break

1545 CFR Community Level- Module 3 Safety & Communication

1630 Recap/Questions/Complete Registration Paperwork

17.00 Close

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Day 2

                                         

0900 Review

0915 Common Medical Emergencies

1045 Break

1100 Injury Management & Shock

1300 Lunch

1400 Injury Management & Shock

1500 Unconscious Patient

1530 Break

1545 Unconscious Patient

1645 Recap/Questions

1700 Close

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Day 3

 

0900 Review

09.05 Burns & Electrical Injury Care

09.50 Hypothermia & Hyperthermia

10.30 Break

10.45 Information Management & Communications

12.00 The Wellbeing of the first aid responder 

1235 Recap/Questions/Set up for skills Practice

12.45 Lunch

13.30 Practical Skills Assessments

15.30 Paper MCQ Exam start time

16.00 Paper MCQ Exam end time

16.30 MCQ Exam Results awarded 

16.30 Open discussions 

1700 Course Closes

 

 

 

 

                               

Recognition of prior learning Policy and Procedures

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ER Training is aware our students come from different backgrounds, with different knowledges they acquired.  We are devoted in delivering the courses that will suit an individual, for satisfaction of our student and our instructor.

If students have prior learning that in their opinion can exempt them from part of the programme requirements, they can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning. They need to complete Recognition of Prior Learning Form in which they will state details about any prior learning. With the completed Form, they will need to attach any relevant certificate.

Ross Mannion will review the request and respond to the student in writing if their request is satisfactory and reasoning behind that.

For PHECC course refresher applications, E.R Training request that companies/individuals present an in date valid PHECC certificate no later than 1 week prior to course due start date. This request is done by receiving a scanned copy of their in date PHECC certificate emailed to info@ertraining.ie together with the Recognition of Prior Learning Form. In that Form, there will be consent from the student for ER Training to contact the issuing PHECC RI for confirmation of authenticity of the certificate. Ross Mannion will then go forward and complete the authentication.

 

Due to student practical skills depreciation and the requirement for class team participation and involvement in PHECC First Aid Responder (FAR) courses, students will be required to participate the course in full. This is applied to all students. Participants who have a valid in date PHECC CFR certificate will still be required to engage in the full PHECC FAR course including the PHECC CFR section. This applies to both PHECC First Aid Responder full 3 day course, and PHECC First Aid Responder Refresher course.

 

PHECC Cardiac First Responder (CFR) Advanced Practitioner level students on a PHECC FAR course will be allowed the opportunity to be upskilled from CFR C to CFR A at a suitable time for both the student and teacher. This will be at the discretion of ER Training’s availability and will be at no extra cost to the student.

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Equality and Diversity Policy and Procedures

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Everyone who wishes to undertake training with ER Training , will be provided with equal opportunity to do so, irrespective of age, colour, disability, ethnic or national origin, marital status, nationality, race, religious beliefs, gender, sexual orientation, or other considerations not justified in law which are irrelevant to the performance of the task.

We will make sure everyone is afforded the opportunity to fulfil their potential. We will promote inclusive and supportive environment.

ER Training is committed to ensuring fair access to training for all learners. If needed, we will accommodate our learners with permanent or temporary disabilities, and make sure those with a learning disadvantage are facilitated. Examples of this would include the provision of a signer / interpreter for deaf.

Students that report difficulties with reading  will be provided with extra time to fulfil MCQs and an instructor will assist with reading out the questions.

ER Training will be taking positive action to promote equality in all aspects of our business. We will provide equal opportunity to everyone interested in relation to recruitment, promotion, transfer, training, benefits, facilities and procedures. 

 

Complaints Policy and Procedures

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ER training takes complaints very seriously and deal with them in open manner. If one of our students, members of staff, associates or other members of the public have a need to make a complaint, they can do so in few ways. 

At the end of every training day and at the competition of the course, students will have a chance to express their satisfaction or dissatisfaction through our Student Feedback Form. Students will be encouraged to give feedback through informal communication with our instructors at any time during course duration. We value any feedback as that allows for ER Training to enhance and improve delivery of our  courses.

Every person can make  an oral complaint by calling our office and directly discussing the matter with either Ross Mannion or Deborah Lanca who will then record the complaint. Every effort will be made by ER Training to deal and resolve the complaint received by Feedback Form or orally.

If person feels there is a need, they can make formal complaint.

A formal complaint can only be made by sending a written complaint either to info@ertraining.ie or sending a letter to our address (12 Cluain An Oir, Belgooly, Co Cork). This is separate from the End of Course Feedback Form. When complaint is received, an email or a letter will be sent to the person complaining,  acknowledging that we received the complaint and confirming that we will give a response to complaint in maximum 2 weeks period.  In a complaint letter person should provide their name and contact information. Complainant should describe the situation that led to complaint and time, date and location of event.

Ross Mannion or appointed person will investigate the event and interview all involved parties. When investigation is done he will make a written respond to the complainant. He will communicate the conclusions that came out of the investigation to all parties involved.  If changes need to be done to policies or personnel, we  will implement the changes. The outcome of the complaint will be final decision by ER Training.

 

 

Codes of conduct for Staff, Faculty and other Stakeholders

 

All our management staff, employees, and learners have the right to be treated with dignity and respect at work, and work in an atmosphere of openness, safety, collaboration, equality and respect.

ER Training will not tolerate harassment, bullying or disrespectful behaviour by any employee in any circumstances. Staff should not comment in derogatory or offensive manner on or about other employee or student. Staff should not harass or bully another employee or student. Staff should not discriminate against another employee or student.

Any person who encounters harassment, bullying or disrespectful behaviour towards themselves or towards a colleague should bring the matter promptly to the attention of Ross Mannion or Deborah Lanca. All complaints are confidential and will be dealt with in respectful and sensitive manner. The complainant should be reassured that the matter will be dealt with quickly, and in confidence. Ross Mannion or Deborah Lanca will investigate the matter, and on reaching a finding, communicate the finding to all stakeholders involved, as soon as is practical. Where disciplinary action is required, it should be in line with the Company Safety Statement, and current Legislation.

If a complainant does not feel comfortable bringing the issue to Ross Mannion or Deborah Lanca, it can be brought directly to the PHECC.

 

Appeals Policy and Procedures

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Every student can make an appeal against the decision made by our Instructor or Director.

All appeals are managed effectively in accordance with the set up procedures.

This appeal procedure applies to decisions regarding:

• MCQ examination or practical exam.

• Recognition of prior learning

• Registration for the course

• Certification

 

All appeals must be made in writing and sent to ER Training office address or through ER Training official email info@ertraining.ie. All appeals must be received in 14 days from the decision student submits appeal about. All appeals must be submitted using ER Training Appeals Form that can be found on our webpage and in Student Handbook.  We will respond by post or email with confirmation of receiving the appeal.

Internal verifier, Deborah Mannion is responsible in dealing with the appeal. She will review the appeal, and all relevant paperwork from the course undertaken. That can involve only paperwork related to the student appealing or paperwork related to all students undertaking the course. The comprehensive review of the documentation will be completed within 28 days from receiving the written appeal. Decision will be based on the learner evidence that was submitted and course documentation. Internal Verifier will complete a detailed written report regarding its decisions and accompanying rationale. Student can be assured we will maintain the confidentiality of all information received during appeals process.

 

 

 

Health and Safety Statement and Policy and Procedures

 

ER Training will treat any act that may compromise Health and Safety management as a serious offence and may be subject to disciplinary action. This policy will be available to all our staff and to our students in the Student Handbook. 

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These are special arrangements for our Health and Safety Procedures.

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• Covid 19 

• Students are asked to fill out a COVID 19 pre-course questionnaire at the start of class

• Students will be reminded to inform the instructor should they have any signs or symptoms of Covid 19 infection during the course.

• During class lectures students are asked to social distance to 1 meter. Masks are not mandatory to be worn during lectures. 

• During class activities students are advised to wear masks should they wish to do so.

• No direct mouth to mouth will be performed on manikins or any such training items (ie. Pocket Face Masks).

• Students will have alcohol gels provided should they wish to use them.

• Should the student wish to cough or sneeze it is asked that they would please cover their nose and mouth with their elbow.

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• First aid and medical emergencies

  • If any injury or accident happens to the student during the course, he or she has a duty to report it to the instructor or a member of staff so that injuries can be assessed and if needed medical attention can be sought.

  • If there is a need for medical attention for any reason, students should contact a member of staff so that a medical review can be arranged. Students will be responsible to cover medical costs themselves. If a student has medical condition which they would like to make us aware of, please mention this to your instructor or note it in the Student Disclaimer Form (Or Both )provided at the start of class. Any information provided will be treated in strict confidence and is only sought of providing care for you.  

 

• Emergency/fire procedures

  • At the start of class, students will be briefed, in the event of the fire alarm being activated in the premises, all students are to proceed to the assembly point which would have been pointed out at the start of class. Students will be advised to leave the training room or other areas of the building they may be in, and leave all personal belongings in the training room. Instructor(s) in charge will close all windows, disconnect any electrical appliances and close all doors leading into the training room.

  • In the event of a sudden fire, the instructor(s) will activate the emergency fire alarm immediately. All students will be asked to proceed in a calm and timely manner to the nearest fire exit & assembly point. The instructor may attempt to extinguish the fire if possible while turning off all electrical appliances and closing the windows and doors. Students will be advised not to re-enter the building until management/fire personnel have declared it is safe to re- enter

 

• Maintenance and PAT testing of electrical equipment

  • All our electrical equipment is Portable appliance tested and kept up to date.

• PPE equipment

  • We use barrier devices such as gloves, pocket face masks. Every student will be advised on correct using of PPE equipment if needed during the course.

• Smoking, drugs and alcohol

  • As an employer under section 8 part 2 of Safety, health and Welfare Act 2005 is to ensure the safety health and welfare at work of his or hers employees.

  • Smoking during the class is strictly forbidden. There will be designated breaks during the course. ER Training under no circumstances is promoting or encouraging smoking. 

  • Under section 13(1)b of Health, Safety and Welfare at Work 2005 Act, states that employees/students are not to be under the influence of an intoxicant to such an extent to endanger themselves or others.  Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs is forbidden for students or instructors to participate in any of our courses. 

  • Should a student appear to be under the influence of an intoxicant and not able able to participate in the course, the instructor can ask the student to leave the course. A full refund will be granted to the student or company. This will be dealt with in a confidential and sensitive manner. 

  • If a student is a part of the company that is our client, the company will be informed of our Health and Safety Policy and termination of the student from the course.

  • When a student signs the Student Declaration Form he or she is consenting that they have read their Student Handbook and agree to abide by E.R Trainings Health & Safety policies. 

 

 

Assessment Policy and Procedures

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Assessment of the student will be held according to PHECC guidelines and by using PHECC assessment material.

For FAR course practical assessments can be held any time during the course, at the discretion of the instructor. During practical exam student will have a chance to demonstrate skills he/she learned during the course.

Practical exam will be held using  PHECC’s CFR Community skill assessment sheet and the First Aid Response skills assessment sheets. Written exam will take place at the end of each course. It will be standardised 30 minute, 20 question MCQ exam. To satisfy, students will have to correctly answer 60% of the questions. 

For CFR C course there will be practical element of the exam at the end of the course. It will be done using PHECC’s CFR Community skill assessment sheet.

For CFR A course a practical element of the course will be assessed using PHECC’s CFR Community and Advanced assessment sheets. That will be followed by written exam that consists of multiple choice question paper exam of 25 questions; 80% pass mark.

 

Results of the assessment will be delivered to the students on the day of the exam. All the results will be given in private and will be held confidential. Every student will get feedback on their assessment.

If student doesn’t satisfy in practical or written aspect of the assessment, he/she will have a chance for remediation. It will be done in private, at the end of the course.

If a student is unhappy with a decision they can appeal as per our Appeal Policy and Procedures.

For students that are undertaking First Aid Response course, and satisfy at the assessment will be awarded with the First Aid Response Certificate that is valid for 2 years and then a recertification is needed.

Students that undertake Cardiac First Response Community and satisfy at the assessment will be awarded Cardiac First Response Community Card that will be valid for 2 years. 

Students that undertake Cardiac First Response  Advanced and satisfy at the assessment will be awarded Cardiac First Response Advanced Card that will be valid for 2 years. 

All assessment material will be securely stored in ER Training office and held for 5 years. 

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Please see below clinical practice guidelines to support your learning. 

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1. PHECC First Aid Responder Clinical Practice Guidelines 

2. PHECC Cardiac First Aid Responder Clinical Practice Guidelines 

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