News

SRFAC Updates for Training Centres (280322)

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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 20th 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 30th June 2022. It comprises of 50 multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

    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):

    • 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 7th to 11th 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. 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 1st 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 1st June 2020, SRFAC will allow the enrolment of refresher course for CFA if the individual attended the full CFA course after 1st 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 1st 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 1st April 2022 with the following measures in place:

    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 30th 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:

  1. Bandaging
  2. Tourniquet
  3. Epipen
  4. MDI with spacer
  5. Recovery Position
  6. Transportation of Casualty

Instructor to learner ratio of 1:8

 

Hands-on practice and testing:

 

  1. Bandaging
  2. Tourniquet
  3. Epipen
  4. MDI with spacer
  5. Recovery Position (not tested)
  6. Transportation of Casualty (not tested)

Instructor to learner ratio of 1:4

 

Hands-on practice and testing:

  1. Conscious and Unconscious Choking
  2. CPR with AED
1 instructor can take up to 4 learners for the following hands-on practice:

  1. Conscious and Unconscious Choking
  2. CPR with AED
1 instructor can take up to 4 learners for the following practical testing:

  1. Bandaging
  2. Tourniquet
  3. Epipen
  4. MDI with spacer
  5. Conscious and Unconscious Choking
  6. 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

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SRFAC Updates for Training Centres (291221)

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29th December 2021

Dear Training Centres,

Updates and Reminders for all Accredited Training Centres (TCs)

Vaccination Differentiated Safe Management Measures (New)

  1. SRFAC will be aligning with Singapore’s shift towards the Resilience Phase with Vaccination Differentiated Safe Management Measures which are being implemented for different premises and activities. By restricting entry to only individuals who have been fully vaccinated, we can further reduce the risk of transmission in such settings.
  2. From 1st January 2022, all enterprises are required to implement the Workforce Vaccination Measures (WVM). With WVM, only employees who are fully vaccinated or certified to be medically ineligible for all COVID-19 vaccines under the National Vaccination Programme or have recovered[i] from COVID-19 within the past 180 days, can return to the workplace to work onsite. All other unvaccinated employees, including partially unvaccinated employees, will not be able to return to work onsite. More details on the WVM can be found on https://www.mom.gov.sg/covid-19/advisory-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-employment-settings.
  3. From 1st January 2022, SRFAC will also require all learners/trainees to be fully vaccinated or certified to be medically ineligible for COVID-19 vaccines or have recovered from COVID-19 within the past 180 days before they can come onsite for training. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals will not be allowed for onsite training. For more information, please visit https://www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19-phase-advisory and https://file.go.gov.sg/vdsmminfo.pdf.

Regular Workplace Testing (New)

  1. MOH will open applications for a second round of free antigen rapid test (ART) kit distribution for workplaces not on mandatory rostered routine testing (RRT) to implement voluntary weekly testing for two months. This will facilitate early identification of cases and reduce workplace transmission as more return to their workplaces. with employees that work onsite and are not already subject to mandatory RRT may apply for 8 ART kits per onsite vaccinated employee for weekly testing over a two-month period, if they require the funding support. Applications will open from 3rd to 31st January 2022. More details will be made available at www.go.gov.sg/time-limited-rrt-art closer to date.

Accreditation Matters (Reminder)

  1. TCs which have submitted their audit application should wait for confirmation from SRFAC that their submitted dates have been matched to Auditors before proceeding to make the bank transfer of the audit fee. Please buffer at least 4 weeks between the earliest submitted date from date of audit application.
  2. Please reduce the file size of the training slides and relevant documents for audit submission:
    1. For PowerPoint, double-click on the picture.
    2. Under “Picture Format”, select “Compress Picture” at the tool bar and then select “Web” or “Email” setting if applicable.
    3. Repeat steps a and b for the required pictures as needed.
    4. Save PowerPoint slides as PDF.

Other Matters (Reminder)

  1. There are no further changes to SRFAC’s recommended Safe Management Measures. However, workplaces that have more stringent measures/routines than the prescribed measures should follow their existing implementation:
    1. SafeEntry, use of Trace Together mobile application and/or token as well as health declaration.
    2. 1 meter distance between individuals, 2 meters between small groups (up to 4 learners) during practical hands-on and assessment.
    3. Provision of hand sanitisers and/or hand-washing points.
    4. Continue with twice-daily temperature-taking. Individuals who develop Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) symptoms during the course/workday must seek medical attention at the nearest Swab and Send Home (SASH) clinic.
    5. Disinfect/wash hands thoroughly before and after every hands-on practice.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. Disinfect the training premise and common touch points at the end of each training day/session.
  2. TCs that have yet to submit their risk mitigation plans are reminded to submit the plans to SRFAC for vetting and approval prior to resuming training (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.

***

[i] Non-fully vaccinated individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 infection prior to 1 January 2022 and who will already exceed the 180-day period as of 1 January 2022 would be granted an additional one month grace period till 31 January 2022 to complete their primary series vaccination regime, to continue to work onsite.

SRFAC Updates for Training Centres (070921)

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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 7th February 2020. SRFAC’s initial allowance for healthcare and educational institutions, “2 X DORSCON Orange duration” to renew provider and instructor certificates since 27th March 2020 cannot continue indefinitely. Since the opening of phase 3 on 28th 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 1st 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).

 

3rd SRFAC Townhall (virtual) Materials (Update)

  1. SRFAC held its third townhall on 31st 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)

  1. 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)

  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.