TQ6 - Staff who Administer Automated External Defibrillators
| Issue Date | Effective Date | Version |
|---|---|---|
| T14/12/2023 | 01/01/2024 | 1.0 |
Purpose of this Guideline
To provide guidance to owners or operators of aquatic facilities and/or aquatic programs on the initial training and entry qualifications appropriate for those employed (voluntary or paid) who may be required to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Note: All aquatic facilities should provide automated external defibrillator equipment in accordance Work Health Safety Regulations and the Guidelines for Safe Pool Operations – Safety Equipment
BACKGROUND
Drowning is likely to induce cardiac arrest. With cardiac arrest, time to defibrillation is a key factor influencing a person’s chance of survival. A defibrillator should be applied to the person who is unresponsive and not breathing normally as soon as it becomes available so that a shock can be delivered if necessary.
AEDs are designed so that they can be used by untrained bystanders and therefore AED use should not be restricted to professional responders. However, professional responders are generally able to respond more quickly and effectively, e.g. pad placement.
Responsibilities
Owners or operators of aquatic facilities and/or aquatic programs should ensure that there are trained staff, who have access to the appropriate equipment, available to deliver prompt defibrillation to a casualty.
Initial qualifications
Staff at an aquatic facility who may be required to administer basic life support using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) should hold at minimum one of the following nationally recognised units of competency, or its most recent superseded version, or successive replacements, regardless of whether deemed equivalent or non-equivalent:
- HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- HLTAID010 Provide basic emergency life support
- HLTAID011 Provide first aid
- HLTAID012 Provide first aid in an education and care setting
- HLTAID014 Provide advanced first aid
- HLTAID015 Provide advanced resuscitation and oxygen therapy
It is noted the Pool Lifeguard skill set includes the ‘Provide first aid’ Unit of Competency: https://training.gov.au
REFERENCES
- Australian Resuscitation Council Guideline 7 – Automated External Defibrillation in Basic Life Support
- Safe Work Australia – A Guide to First Aid in the Workplace
- AS 2488-1995 Resuscitators intended for human use
- Australian Standard AS 60601.2.4:2018 - Medical electrical equipment Particular requirements for the basic safety and essential performance of cardiac defibrillators
PREVIOUS VERSIONS
- SE6 – AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS, Issue 1, September 2017
