Advisory for Bystanders providing assistance in view of COVID-19 situation in Singapore

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The Singapore Resuscitation and First Aid Council (SRFAC) has prepared the following advisory to help bystanders who would like to render aid in an emergency, to stay safe while helping others.

 

  • Bystanders who are skilled, willing and able to assist in an emergency, are encouraged to step forward to provide first aid, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and/or use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to improve the casualties’ recovery or chances of survival.

 

  • Always call 995 for an SCDF ambulance in an emergency. The dispatcher will guide you to perform first aid, CPR and/or use an AED on the casualty.

 

  • The following personal safety precautions should be taken when rendering aid to others:
    • Bystander should wear a mask while rendering aid in an emergency.
    • Bystanders with immediate access to gloves, should wear them before attempting first aid, CPR and/or to use an AED.
    • Bystanders should wash hands thoroughly with soap and water; or use hand sanitizers to clean their hands as soon as possible after the casualty has been handed over to SCDF.

 

  • For adults in cardiac arrest, high quality continuous chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth ventilations can save lives.

 

  • Paediatric cardiac arrests are more often due to respiratory conditions. For infants and children who are in cardiac arrest, in addition to chest compression, CPR should be performed with ventilations if bystanders are skilled, willing and able. If they are unable or unwilling to provide mouth-to-mouth ventilation, they are encouraged to perform at least good quality chest compressions.

 

  • Those who feel unwell after the incident must consult a medical practitioner immediately for further assessment.

 

  • To aid in contact tracing efforts if the need arises, the rescuer is advised to note down the date, time and location of the emergency as well as the ambulance license number or the three digits on the side of the ambulance.

 

We thank you for stepping forward to help others in need and hope you stay well and healthy.

SRFAC Updates for Training Centres (240420)

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  • Suspension of training and audits during COVID-19 outbreak
    1. As informed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on 27th March 2020, TCs are to cease all training until further notice.
    2. TCs within healthcare institutions (public and private), SAF, SCDF and specific TCs (reviewed and approved by MOH) supporting the before mentioned, are exempted from the suspension and must comply with the safety measures from the following link – https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/advisories-for-various-sectors.
    3. TCs which would like to seek exemption to resume training for essential service providers may apply via http://covid.gobuisness.gov.sg/ to appeal their case.
    4. TCs’ accreditation status that expire from 27th March 2020 until the end of the training suspension, will be extended until training and audits can resume. Renewal audits must be completed within 6 months of the suspension being lifted and the new accreditation status will be backdated to the original expiry date.
    5. Instructors’ validity status that expire from 27th March 2020 until the end of the training suspension, will be extended until training can resume. The remaining required sessions needed to renew instructorship must be completed within 6 months of the suspension being lifted and the new validity status will be backdated to the original expiry date.
    6. Trainee-Instructors will have 6 months to fulfil their remaining required attachments once training can resume.
    7. Once training suspension has been lifted, individuals whose certificates are still within the default 3 months’ grace period after the stated expiry date, may enrol for a refresher course, while those whose certificates are past the default 3 months’ grace period after the stated expiry date, will have to enrol for a full course.
    8. Regardless of the certificate expiry status, SRFAC would like to encourage everyone to step forward and provide care during an emergency to the best of their ability.

 

  • Removal of CPR(Mouth-To-Mouth)+AED course
    1. CPR(Mouth-To-Mouth)+AED course should no longer be conducted from 1st May 2020.
    2. CPR(Hands-Only)+AED course will be the default CPR+AED course to be offered by accredited TCs from 1st May 2020.
    3. CPR+AED Instructor Training Centres (ITCs) will need to revise their materials to cater for the Hands-Only version of the instructor course by 1st May 2020.
    4. With immediate effect, learners seeking to learn mouth-to-mouth ventilations will be encouraged to enrol for BCLS+AED course.

 

  • E-learning matters
    1. TCs offering to provide E-learning packages for Standard First Aid and Child First Aid courses are recommended to seek approval with Skillsfuture Singapore (SSG) for the E-learning track to ensure consistency in the delivery of the course. TCs within healthcare and educational institutions are exempted.
    2. Learners enrolled in the E-learning packages during this period can complete the theory lesson component but will have to wait for the training suspension to be lifted in order to complete the remaining hands-on practice, practical and theory assessment which must be conducted in the presence of the instructor for all SRFAC accredited courses.