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Excursion support - first aid

At least one member of staff responsible for each group of students must hold an appropriate first aid qualification.  For adventure activities, the minimum acceptable level of first aid training is the senior first aid certificate (often referred to as a level 2 first aid qualification) or its competency based equivalent HLTFA301B Apply First Aid.

For remote, isolated or mobile activities, a higher level of first aid training is required appropriate to the setting, such as Wilderness First Aid or its competency based equivalent THHGHS11A Manage casualty in a remote and/or isolated area.

A first aid kit must be carried with the group that is appropriate to the activity, the location, the group and the applicable level of first aid training.

Staff members must consider carefully the nature and location of the excursion as well as medical history of the students to determine the level of first aid training required by staff.

First aid training

The extent of the first aid training required by staff will be determined by:

• the environment in which the group will operate
• the remoteness of the location
• length of time the staff are required to provide patient support before definitive medical help arrives
• the resources available to support a patient in these conditions
• the known medical history of students and staff

Given the group’s communication strategy and taking into account the location of the excursion, consider whether medical care and treatment can be obtained within a reasonable period of time in the event of an emergency?

First aid providers

• Ambulance Victoria
• Red Cross (Victoria)
• Royal Life Saving (Victoria)
• St Johns Ambulance (Victoria)
• Wilderness Medicine Institute
• First Aid Training Service Directory (Victorian WorkCover Authority)

 

More information

For more information about first-aid, see:

• Victorian Government Schools Reference Guide - section 4.5.1.
• SAFETY Victoria