Advanced Resuscitation Training in Brisbane: Who Should Consider It?

October 8, 2024: There are so many factors in determining who is required to take advanced first aid. This updated article provides more clarity on who should consider advanced resuscitation training, shifting from a rigid focus on legal requirements to an approach from a duty of care perspective. The article is also reorganized to be more reader friendly.

Advanced Resuscitation training is crucial for anyone responsible for using life-saving equipment such as oxygen therapy, defibrillators, or airway adjuncts in an emergency situation. However, the legal requirements around who must complete this training can vary depending on industry-specific regulations. While some professionals are explicitly required to undergo this training, others in similar roles may not be legally obligated but would significantly benefit from it.

Given these variations, it’s better to focus on who should consider advanced resuscitation training, especially for those who work with or have access to specialised resuscitation equipment.

Who Should Consider Advanced Resuscitation Training?

Individuals in various roles and industries may not always be legally required to complete advanced resuscitation training, but they are often the first line of defense during emergencies and, therefore, should strongly consider this training:

• Workplace First Aid Officers: Especially in industries with higher risk levels such as mining, construction, and manufacturing, first aid officers may be expected to handle equipment like oxygen cylinders.
• Divers and Marine Skippers: Oxygen is often used in marine environments and so advanced resuscitation training is often undertaken by divers and skippers.
• Lifeguards and Swimming Pool Staff: With access to oxygen therapy equipment, lifeguards are often required to perform advanced resuscitation techniques, especially during drownings or near-drownings.
• Sports First Aiders: In contact sports or high-risk activities, first aiders responsible for athletes often need advanced skills to manage life-threatening injuries using resuscitation equipment and airway adjuncts.
• Healthcare Workers in Remote Areas: In areas with limited access to emergency services, healthcare professionals are required to perform a wider range of emergency procedures, making advanced training extra valuable.
• Emergency Services: Firefighters, paramedics, and marine skippers are commonly required to have this training as part of their job responsibilities.
• Nursing Home and Aged Care Staff: With elderly residents at higher risk for cardiac incidents, having trained staff who can quickly respond using advanced resuscitation techniques can save lives.

Understanding Industry-Specific Requirements

The need for advanced resuscitation training is often dictated by industry-specific regulations. For example, those in healthcare, emergency services, or remote workplaces might be required by workplace health and safety laws to undergo this training.

In industries like sports, construction, or mining, it’s common for employees to have access to specialised resuscitation equipment, making training an important part of their duty of care.

As part of workplace safety, many employers are required  to ensure that employees who have access to such equipment are trained and certified to use it.

This varies between industries, but in many cases, employers must ensure their staff can properly operate oxygen therapy devices to avoid delays in life-saving care.

Duty of Care: Why Advanced Training Matters

Those who work in environments where advanced resuscitation equipment is present carry a significant duty of care.

It is not enough to have the equipment on hand; staff need to be adequately trained to use it effectively.

If a workplace first aider is unprepared or hasn’t learnt to use the equipment on hand, critical mistakes can be made, putting both the casualty and the responder at risk.

As part of a duty of care, workers in roles such as first responders, sports trainers, and nursing home staff must ensure that they are trained to handle emergencies. Failing to act or incorrectly using equipment due to a lack of training can lead to life-threatening delays.

Consequences of Not Being Trained

Not receiving proper training in advanced resuscitation poses significant risks. Untrained workers may not only fail to help a casualty effectively but could inadvertently worsen the situation. This could result in improper use of equipment like defibrillators or oxygen cylinders, causing delays in care during the critical first minutes of an emergency.

In life-threatening situations, early intervention is crucial. Advanced resuscitation techniques, including defibrillation, airway management, and oxygen therapy, can dramatically improve survival rates when applied correctly.

Specialised Equipment for Resuscitation and Oxygen Therapy

Specialised equipment that requires training includes the following:

• Oxygen regulators
• Bag-valve-mask (BVM) devices
• Basic airway adjuncts
• Pulse oximeters (oxygen saturation monitoring)
• Arterial tourniquets
• Airway suction devices
• Haemostatic dressings

Understanding how to use this equipment properly is critical in emergencies, and advanced resuscitation courses provide the hands-on training needed to operate it confidently.