News

SRFAC Updates for Training Centres (201121)

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Dear Training Centres,

Updates and Reminders for all Accredited Training Centres (TCs)

Launch of Standard First Aid Instructor (SFAI) course (New)

  • SRFAC has launched the Standard First Aid Instructor (SFAI) Course which will be conducted by the 4 SFA Instructor Training Centres (ITCs) – Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore Red Cross, Singapore First Aid Training Centre and St John Singapore. The programme will cover 3 days of theory with mock teaching/assessment sessions; and includes 2 full SFA course training attachments (to be completed within 6 months from end of course) with the conducting SFA ITC. Please enquire with the above-mentioned SFA ITCs for course availability and other details.
  • This SFAI course is catered for individuals who aspire to be SFA instructors and already possess a CPR+AED instructor cert and has completed a Standard First Aid Provider course.
  • SRFAC will inform when the SFAI course is open for accreditation application to interested TCs in 2023.
  • Existing SFA Instructors who have been declared to SRFAC (in February 2021) by their Training Centres need not enrol for the SFAI course but will need to undergo an Instructor Proficiency Test (IPT) to be registered as SFA instructors. More details will be announced once the current COVID-19 situation stabilises.

 

 Antigen Rapid Testing for Training Centre Instructors, Staff and Learners (New)

To control the spread of COVID-19 infection cases, SRFAC is hereby recommending the following:

  • At least once-a-week Antigen Rapid Test (ART) for all instructors (permanent and associate/free-lance) and staff, regardless of vaccination status. See the following flowchart for the streamlined protocols for testing and Isolation – derived from https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/protecting-the-vulnerable-securing-our-future.
  • TCs should only admit ART/PCR-negative (within 24 hours from start of course) individuals into the TC. PCR and Pre-event Testing (PET) results are also acceptable on the Trace Together mobile application. The above-mentioned need not apply for internal staff (learners and/or instructors) who are already on Rostered Routine Testing (RRT), such as healthcare workers attending life support courses at the Training Centre within their institution/organisation. However, the recommendations will still apply for associate (free-lance) instructors and/or external learners who are not from the same institution/organisation.
  • TCs are required to verify the results, and ensure Instructors and staff report their ART results in accordance to a schedule determined by the TC.
  • For more details, please visit https://ask.gov.sg/agency/moh.
  • For details regarding time-limited 8-weeks Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) for workplaces, please visit https://www.gobusiness.gov.sg/covid-19-faqs/time-limited-rrt-for-workplaces.

Accreditation Audit Fee Payment (Update)

Moving forward, 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 3 weeks between the earliest submitted date from date of audit application.

 

New SRFAC Staff handling Administrative and Accreditation Matters (Update)

Ms Noor Azlin (SRFAC’s new staff) will be gradually taking over and handling SRFAC’s administration and accreditation matters. Do direct the relevant enquiries, requests and emails to azlin.jumaat@upec.sg and CC loke.jun.hao@upec.sg.

 

Return of Public-Access Defibrillators (PADs) after use during an Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) (Update)

Used Public Access Defibrillators (PADs) from Housing Development Board (HDB) blocks will be collected by SCDF Ambulance crew when they convey the casualty to the hospital. The used PAD will be collected by the contracted vendor at the respective fire stations after the data has been downloaded (for research and improvement purposes). The vendor will restock and replace the PAD back to its original location.

For PADs located in places other than HDB blocks, they should be returned to the AED owner (building management or security staff) after use.

 

Other Matters (Reminder)

TCs are reminded to strictly comply with the following safety measures:

  • 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.
  • Disinfect/wash hands thoroughly before and after every hands-on practice.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Disinfect the training premise and common touch points at the end of each training day/session.

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.

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.

SRFAC Updates for Training Centres (160521)

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Dear Training Centres,

Updates for all Accredited Training Centres (TCs) – (Click here for PDF version of this memo)

Tightening of Safety Measures (Update)

  1. With the implementation of additional tightened safety measures announced by the Multi-Ministry Taskforce on 14th May 2021, we have consulted with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and would like to inform all Training Centres (TCs) of the following:
    1. There will no changes to existing safety measures already implemented by Training Centres (TCs) (refer to 1st September 2020 Update Memo on SRFAC website – https://srfac.sg/2020/09/01/srfac-updates-for-training-centres-010920/).
    2. TCs can continue with the conduct of planned courses until informed otherwise. However, theory lessons should be conducted online whenever possible, while the hands-on practice, practical and theory assessments must be conducted in the presence of the TC’s instructors (in line with SRFAC’s basic stance regarding elearning).
    3. If the learners’ employers have re-implemented split-team arrangements, do ensure that the learners from different teams should not be enrolled in the same course at the same time.
    4. Movement of healthcare staff between different healthcare campuses is not permitted until further notice.
    5. The implementation of Trace Together (TT) – only SafeEntry (SE) will be implemented on 17 May 2021. Training Centres should proactively remind staff and learners on the upcoming implementation of TT-only SE, to allow sufficient time for TT token collection and familiarization of the TT app (if they have not done so).
    6. All TCs should ensure that their health and travel declaration forms include the latest infection clusters in the forms.
    7. Please ensure temperature taking is done at least twice daily and staff or learners who are unwell or presenting Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI) symptoms must seek immediate medical attention.
    8. On-site physical class size of up to 16 learners will apply for all TCs (TCs within Institutes of Higher Learning, Healthcare Institutions and SAF/SCDF will remain capped at 40 learners).
    9. Small groups for hands-on practical and assessment sessions shall remain at 1 instructor and 1 manikin with up to 4 learners. A ratio of 1 instructor and 1 manikin with 2 learners will be preferred, if the TC can arrange the necessary logistics and manpower. The instructor and learners assigned to the practical small group should remain fixed. Learners should be permanently assigned a fixed practical partner within the small practical group for the entire duration of the course.
    10. Chief Instructors and floor instructors must ensure that learners (including instructors) wash/disinfect their hands before and after every hands-on session, as well as before and after every tea/lunch break. Washing points and/or hand sanitisers must be made readily available for everyone’s access. Manikins and non-disposable training aids (AEDs, MDIs or auto injectors used for training) must be wiped down with disinfectant wipes before and after each learner’s use as well as at the end of each course. Other expendable items such as bandages should not be re-used for another course. Steps for disinfection before and after practical hands-on as follows:
      1. Instructor disinfects/washes hands and then proceed to disinfect manikin or training aid.
      2. Learners will disinfect/wash hands before touching the mainkin/training aid for the practical hands-on.
  • After their practical hands-on session is over, learners will disinfect/wash hands.
  1. Instructor will disinfect manikin/training aid and then disinfects/washes hands.
  1. The safe distance will be 1 meter between individuals and 2 meters between small practical groups.
  2. There should be no intermingling during tea/lunch breaks and masks must be worn properly at all times except when eating or drinking.
  1. Child First Aid (CFA) TCs are reminded of the heightened safety measures implemented by the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) regarding the conduct of CFA courses for ECDA-regulated learners with effect from 16th May 2021 till 13th June 2021. For more details, refer to the update memo sent on 15th May 2021 – https://srfac.sg/2021/05/15/srfac-updates-for-child-first-aid-cfa-training-centres-150521/
  1. SRFAC may conduct random observations at TCs to ensure compliance of the heightened safety measures. All TCs will need to submit their planned/confirmed classes to jun.hao@upec.sg and daniel.wong.m.t@upec.sg.
  1. For the latest updates on the situation, please visit https://www.moh.gov.sg/ for more information. We seek your cooperation to ensure that all safety measures are strictly adhered to. Take care and stay safe.