Due to formatting/presentation issues, please access the link to view – Updates for Basic Course Training Centres (310323)

Dear Training Centres,

 

Click here for PDF version – Updates for Training Centres (061022)

Updates for all Accredited Training Centres (TCs)

Removal of Cap/Limit of Learners in a Class (New)
1. From 1 January 2023, Training Centres (TCs) will no longer need to maintain a cap/limit of learners per class for ALL courses. TCs and the respective course’s Instructors and Chief Instructors are expected to comply with the Instructor-to-Learners ratio for practical hands-on and assessment to ensure that learners have sufficient hands-on and guidance from the assigned instructors. However, a cap/limit on the number of learners per class will still be required based on the following factors:
a. Physical space constraints
b. Cap/limits of learners in a class as imposed by other licensing/regulatory/funding agencies and/or the respective venue/institution management
2. SRFAC will conduct random observation checks to ensure compliance to the Instructor-Learners ratio for practical hands-on and assessment.

Standard and Child First Aid (SFA – CFA) Course Matters (Update)
3. From 1 January 2023, the following will be implemented with no changes to the course duration for Child and Standard First Aid courses (refer to the existing Syllabus Outlines for the course duration).
From 1 January 2023
(To be implemented with the removal of class size limit – see item 1)

Ratio of
1 Instructor : up to 8 practising Learners

Practical Hands-on (manikin not required):

a. Bandaging
b. Tourniquet
c. Epipen
d. Conscious Choking
e. MDI with spacer
f. Recovery Position
g. Transportation of Casualty
Ratio of
1 Instructor : at least 1 Manikin : up to 4 Learners

Practical Hands-on (manikin required):

a. Unconscious Choking
b. CPR with AED
i. CPR (Hands-Only) for Standard First Aid course
ii. CPR (Mouth-To-Mouth)* for Child First Aid course
*The designated mode of CPR is the Mouth-To-Mouth version. CPR with Bag-Valve-Mask is for stand-alone BCLS+AED courses catered for Healthcare Providers.
All practical assessments for the Child and Standard First Aid Courses:
 1 Instructor (assessor) to 1 pair of learners at any one time.
 Recovery Position and Transportation of Casualty are not assessed.
 Assessment of the one-rescuer CPR (Hands-Only for SFA and MTM version for CFA) must be conducted on a manikin conforming to the specific requirements stipulated by SRFAC (https://srfac.sg/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/SRFAC-BCLSAED-and-CPRAED-Manikin-Specification.pdf).

Combined Accreditation Audits in a Single Sitting (CFA and SFA Provider Course) (New)
4. SRFAC will allow CFA or SFA courses; and their relevant pre-requisite course (SFA and BCLS+AED for CFA; CPR”Hands-Only”+AED for SFA) to be audited in a single sitting (for renewal audits only).
a. CFA and SFA and BCLS+AED (3 courses’ accreditation audit combined in a single sitting):
i. Combined audit to be conducted within the full CFA course (over 2.5 days according to CFA Syllabus Outline).
ii. Upon successful combined audit of all 3 courses, the accreditation validity of 2 years will be dated/back-dated from the original expiry date of the respective courses. Audit fee of the 3 courses will be payable for the combined audit upon confirmation of auditors for the submitted dates.
iii. Failure of 1 or 2 courses during the combined audit will require subsequent re-audit of the affected course(s) to be conducted on a separate session. Audit fee of the course(s) will be payable for the follow-up re-audit upon confirmation of auditors for the submitted dates.
b. SFA and CPR(Hands-Only)+AED (2 courses’ accreditation audit combined in a single sitting):
i. Combined audit will be conducted within the full SFA Provider course (over 2 days according to SFA Syllabus Outline).
ii. Upon successful combined audit of all 2 courses, the accreditation validity of 2 years will be dated/back-dated from the original expiry date of the respective courses. Audit fee of the 2 courses will be payable for the combined audit upon confirmation of auditors for the submitted dates.
iii. Failure of 1 of the courses during the combined audit will require subsequent re-audit of the affected course to be conducted on a separate session. Audit fee of the course will be payable for the follow-up re-audit upon confirmation of auditors for the submitted dates.

Increase in Goods and Services Tax (GST) from 1 January 2023 (New)
5. In line with the government’s plan to increase the Goods and Services Tax (GST), SRFAC will be implementing the increase in GST for course accreditation audit fees to 8% from 1 January 2023 (S$500 + S$40 = S$540) and, subsequently, to 9% from 1 January 2024 (S$500 + S$45 = S$545). However, the before-mentioned will not affect Institutions/Training Centres under SingHealth due to Group GST Registration.

Audit Admin Matters (Reminder)
6. Kindly email SRFAC (noor.azlin.jumaat@upec.sg, cc loke.jun.hao@upec.sg) and indicate the audit course start and end dates (for courses taking up more than 1 day) and also to inform us that the uploaded audit documents has been submitted. When notified of a match of auditors to the submitted dates, do email us the proof of funds transfer for the payment of accreditation audit fees.

***

Dear Training Centres and Partners,

Click here for PDF version – “Amended – Updates for Training Centres (280322)“

Standard First Aid (SFA) Instructor Proficiency Test (IPT) (Update)

As announced on 20^th November 2021, existing SFA Instructors (including Chief Instructors) who have been declared to SRFAC (in February 2021) by their Training Centres (TCs) need not enrol for the Standard First Aid Instructor (SFAI) course but will need to pass an Instructor Proficiency Test (IPT) to be registered as SFA instructors. Those who have already completed the SFAI course (or have committed to attend the SFAI course) need not undergo the IPT. The pathways for the respective new and existing SFA instructors are shown below:

 

The IPT will be a one-off exercise and SRFAC aims to have all eligible existing SFA Instructors (including Chief Instructors) declared to SRFAC in Feb 2021 (last year) and complete the IPT before 30^th June 2022. It comprises of 50 multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. 1. 10 questions on SRFAC guidelines and criteria
   2. 20 questions on simple Anatomy and Physiology
   3. 20 questions on First Aid Treatment and Interventions

Reference/Preparatory materials (SRFAC Guidelines and Criteria):

1. • 2022 SRFAC SFA-CFA TC Guidelines (from SRFAC website)
   • 2020 SRFAC SFA Syllabus Outline (from SRFAC website)

Reference/Preparatory materials (Simple Anatomy and Physiology):

• Red Cross and St John First Aid Manual (10th Edition 2016) with a focus on the following:

o   Musculo-Skeletal system

o   Integumentary system (skin)

o   Nervous system

o   Circulatory system

o   Respiratory system

Reference/Preparatory materials (First Aid Treatment and Interventions):

• SRFAC Standard First Aid Manual (R1 – 2020 version)

The initial 8 SFA IPT sessions have been successfully conducted at NYP from 7^th to 11^th March 2022. The SFA IPT for April 2022 will be conducted over 2 sessions at the Singapore Red Cross Academy (SRCA). The schedule as follows:

IPT Session No.	Date	Time	Available slots
09	16th Apr 2022 (Saturday)	10.30AM	50
10	30th Apr 2022 (Saturday)	10.30AM	50

Passing criteria is to achieve 80% for each of the 3 sections. Candidates are allowed up to 3 attempts. Any re-attempt will be done on a separate day. Actions for failed attempts:

1. 1. Coaching after every failed attempt by respective nominating/sponsoring TC.
   2. Fail all 3 attempts – retake SFA provider and attend full SFAI course.

SFA TCs may register their previously declared SFA Instructors (including Chief Instructors) with SRFAC directly to secure a slot. We will match the registration to the list provided to SRFAC in Feb 2021 (last year). Send in the application to SRFAC by 1^st April 2022 (Friday) – email to loke.jun.hao@upec.sg and noor.azlin.jumaat@upec.sg. Confirmation of slots will be on a first come, first served basis. Please include their mobile number and email address for us to contact them.

Resumption of Child First Aid (CFA) Refresher Course (Update)

Following the implementation of the revised CFA syllabus, and full course registration for all CFA learners from 1^st June 2020, SRFAC will allow the enrolment of refresher course for CFA if the individual attended the full CFA course after 1^st June 2020. Enrolment for refresher course must be supported by the latest expiring/expired certificate (within 3 months before/after the stated expiry date). The implementation of enrolment for CFA refresher course shall take effect from 1^st April 2022.

Revised Safe Management Measures for All TCs (Update)

With immediate effect, TCs need not continue the twice-daily temperature checks or RRT regimes (ART or PET).

TCs are to continue implementing the Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS), in-line with national guidelines.

SRFAC will allow up to 50 learners per class (regardless of healthcare/educational institutions or commercial TCs– Exception applies to CFA and SFA Training Centres. See attached PDF for more details – amended on 31 March 2021)) with effect from 1^st April 2022 with the following measures in place:

1. 1. Maximum of 50 learners are subjected to physical space constraints.
   2. Mask-on at all times (with the exception of Mouth-To-Mouth ventilations for the CPR component of CFA course; and to maintain 1-metre safe distancing when mask is off).
   3. Practical and theory assessment must be conducted on-site and invigilated by TC instructors.
   4. SafeEntry, use of Trace Together mobile application and/or token as well as health declaration.
   5. Provision of hand sanitisers and/or hand-washing points.
   6. Disinfect/wash hands thoroughly before and after every hands-on practice.
   7. Manikins and re-useable training equipment (AED trainers, MDIs, BVMs, Auto-Injector trainers, etc) should be wiped down with disinfectant wipes after each use by a learner.
   8. For First Aid courses, sufficient amount of bandages should be issued to the learners for their individual use only and should not be collected by the TC to be re-used for the next batch of learners.
   9. Disinfect the training premise and common touch points at the end of each training day/session.

 

(Amended 31 March 2021) SRFAC is aware that it was a common practice for 1 Instructor to take the whole class for bandaging, tourniquet, Epipen, MDI with spacer and choking modules. The move to enforce a fixed practical training ratio is to allow First Aid learners to be accorded coaching by a dedicated instructor with more hands-on time for the above-mentioned practical components, similar to how CPR+AED is to be taught and assessed. This will also reduce waiting time for hands-on practice and testing.

 

SRFAC will allow existing practices (for SFA and CFA only) to continue until 30^th September 2022 to allow time to transit to the new practical training ratio.

Up till 30th September 2022				From 1st October 2022
Class size capped at 16 learners				Class size capped at 50 learners
1 instructor can take up the whole class of up to 16 learners for the following hands-on practice: Bandaging Tourniquet Epipen MDI with spacer Recovery Position Transportation of Casualty				Instructor to learner ratio of 1:8   Hands-on practice and testing:   Bandaging Tourniquet Epipen MDI with spacer Recovery Position (not tested) Transportation of Casualty (not tested)		Instructor to learner ratio of 1:4   Hands-on practice and testing:   Conscious and Unconscious Choking CPR with AED
1 instructor can take up to 4 learners for the following hands-on practice: Conscious and Unconscious Choking CPR with AED
1 instructor can take up to 4 learners for the following practical testing: Bandaging Tourniquet Epipen MDI with spacer Conscious and Unconscious Choking CPR with AED
SFA		CFA		SFA		CFA
Full	Refresher	Full	Refresher	Full	Refresher	Full	Refresher
Theory: 6hrs Hands-on: 6hrs Practical test: 3.5hrs Theory test: 0.5hr Total: 16hrs	Theory: 2hrs Hands-on: 6hrs Practical test: 3.5hrs Theory test: 0.5hr   Total: 12hrs	Theory: 7hrs Hands-on: 8hrs Practical test: 4hrs Theory test: 1hr   Total: 20hrs	Theory: 3hrs Hands-on: 8hrs Practical test: 4hrs Theory test: 1hr   Total: 16hrs	TBC	TBC	TBC	TBC

***

Dear Training Centres,

 

Updates and Reminders for all Accredited Training Centres (TCs)

 

Clearing of Backlog of Providers and Instructors and Certification Matters (Update)

1. DORSCON Orange has lasted for more than a year since 7^th February 2020. SRFAC’s initial allowance for healthcare and educational institutions, “2 X DORSCON Orange duration” to renew provider and instructor certificates since 27^th March 2020 cannot continue indefinitely. Since the opening of phase 3 on 28^th December 2020, training activities have resumed some normalcy with safe management measures in place, which, have been refined and implemented over time.
   • As such, Training Centres (TCs) will need to clear any backlog of expired Provider and Instructor certification by 31st December 2021. The backlogged certificates will be valid for 2 years from their immediate past expiry date (backdated) upon successful completion of the respective re-certification course.
   • From 1^st January 2022, individuals seeking to renew their provider-level certificates (BCLS+AED, First Aid*, ACLS, LSCN, etc) will be eligible for enrolment of refresher course up to 3 months after expiry date. However, the acceptance/recognition of an expired certificate for operational deployment remains the purview of the respective employing/licensing organisations/agencies.

*TCs conducting Child First Aid (CFA) course should only start accepting enrolment for refresher CFA courses from Mar/Apr 2022 onwards (due to introduction of new content in June 2020, thus, only full course should be conducted until then).

 

3^rd SRFAC Townhall (virtual) Materials (Update)

2. SRFAC held its third townhall on 31^st July 2021. We are thankful to our presenters and participants for a wonderful and enriching session. The townhall session’s video recording and presented slides (uploaded as PDFs) can be found at https://srfac.sg/2021/08/17/3rd-srfac-townhall-virtual-session-recording-and-presentation-slides/

 

First Aid Videos (Update)

3. SRFAC has uploaded a total of 22 videos on our YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWsK6XKReuw0-c-mi73hIJA). The videos are intended to be used in conjunction with Singapore Resuscitation and First Aid Council (SRFAC) – accredited Standard First Aid (SFA) and Child First Aid (CFA) courses. While variations of some of the techniques may exist, the videos serve as a reference to complement the practical hands-on training and to align the techniques taught in the SFA and CFA courses. These videos are not intended to substitute formal first aid training.

 

Other Matters (Reminder)

4. There are no further tightening or relaxation of safety measures for resuscitation and first aid training in view of the current situation. There are no differentiated measures for vaccinated and unvaccinated learners or staff. Please refer to the past memos for the safety measures expected of TCs.

 

5. TCs intending to resume training but have yet to submit their risk mitigation plans are reminded to submit the plans to SRFAC for vetting and approval prior to resuming training, as per the process stated in previous update memos (https://srfac.sg/news/). For avoidance of doubt, TCs which had submitted their risk mitigation plans to SRFAC and had such plans approved, need not re-submit for approval. Non-compliance of the safety measures and training guidance may result in termination of the TC’s accreditation. SRFAC will continue to conduct compliance checks and TCs are reminded to provide continuous updates on all confirmed/scheduled classes.

 

6. Please update the profile, contact person and details of your TC within the SRFAC website directory to ensure that our update memos can reach your TC representatives.