PHECC has designed the First Aid Response (FAR) Standard to offer appropriate training to individuals and groups who require a first aid skill set including cardiac first response. This standard is designed to meet first aid and basic life support (BLS) requirements that a person known as “First Aid Responder” may encounter. The FAR Standard meets the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) requirement for occupational first aid training for the workplace. The Child and Family Agency (TUSLA) guidance also recognises FAR as the standard for child care.

Role and responsibility of a First Aid Responder
A First Aid Responder may be a healthcare practitioner, or a member of the public who has undertaken a First Aid Response course incorporating the Cardiac First Response (CFR) standard. In addition to CFR skills, the First Aid Responder possesses defined skills in the further management of a patient who has become suddenly ill or injured in the pre-hospital environment until the arrival of emergency medical services (EMS).
The First Aid Responder is able to assess and manage these patients in accordance with PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). The First Aid Response Standard adopts a uniform approach to interacting with patients and other emergency medical services in the pre-hospital setting. Finally, First Aid Responders must be able to demonstrate a commitment to the process of continuous responder competence and will be required to maintain their skill levels in First Aid Response including CFR at defined intervals.

Course Duration
The duration of a First Aid Response course incorporating the CFR Community standard and assessment shall be no less than 18 contact hours (excluding breaks – averaging 6 hours instruction per day).

Course Modules
Module 1: Patient Assessment.
Module 2: Incident Procedure.
Module 3: Cardiac First Response – Community.
Module 4: Common Medical Emergencies.
Module 5: Injury Management & Shock.
Module 6: Care of the unconscious patient.
Module 7: Burns and electrical injury care.
Module 8: Hypothermia and hyperthermia.
Module 9: Information management.
Module 10: Communications.
Module 11: The well-being of the First Aid Responder.

Certification
Award of joint PHECC/RECFIRSTAID LTD First Aid Response cards/certificates to successful participants is mandatory.
Certification lapses after 2 years. A First Aid Response certificate may be used as evidence of successful completion of a CFR course necessary for entry to other recognised course: e.g. CFR instructor (Community only) or EFR.

Assessment
Course participants may have their skills formally assessed throughout, or at the end of the course. The timing of this is at the discretion of the instructor.
However, both formative and summative assessments should be utilised in course delivery. Skill assessment sheets are developed and published by PHECC.
They are available for viewing on the PHECC website. The Responder Level Examination Handout for Recognised Institutions (PUB034) should be utilised.
The mandatory components are: a) Assessment using the PHECC’s CFR Community skill assessment sheet and the First Aid Response skills assessment sheets.
b) A 30-minute, 20 question MCQ written exam; the pass mark is 60%