What is the difference between First Aid at Work Qualification and First Aid within Pool Emergency Responder

We are often asked, why is the Emergency First Aid at Work, not included within the Pool Emergency Responder, so I thought I would discuss the differences between the qualifications, to ensure understanding was understood.

First of, the Emergency First Aid at Work is a 6 hour, end user course, which covers First Aid for a low risk i.e an office.  Due to the nature of Swimming Pools, the types of injuries that would offer would not be deemed as a low risk and therefore this qualification would not be appropriate for the leisure industry.  

Secondly, certain skills are not included within the Emergency First Aid but are within the Pool Emergency Responder.  These include bone and supporting tissue injuries, medical conditions (Stroke, Epilepsy), Anaphylactic shock, management for a casualty with a Head injury and Heart conditions.  Equally, there are skills covered with the Emergency First Aid at Work which are not covered within Pool Emergency Responder.  These include splinters, Regulations compliant with the 1981 First Aid Regulations, Safe use of an Automated External Defibrillator and practical management of choking with a Choking Vest.

Third reason, is that the Emergency First Aid at Work is for dealing with First Aid conditions for work colleagues, where the first aid for Pool Emergency Responder is dealing with those people using the swimming pool.  The treatment would differ due to the First Aid at Work colleague knowing of any medication that their work colleague would have.  A difference in the treatment may be in the case of a work colleague going into Anaphylactic Shock.  Within the 3 day First Aid at Work, the treatment for Anaphylactic Shock would include the administration of an Auto injector.  Where the treatment for Anaphylactic Shock in Pool Emergency Responder would be to lay the casualty down and elevate the legs, seek medical attention, but would not be to administer the Auto injector, as they would not know where this medication would be stored and an appropriate Risk Assessment had been done.  Managing Health and Safety in Swimming Pools (HSG 179) re-enforces this point on paragraph 43-44.

For these 3 reasons, the Risk assessment for Swimming Pools not being low, the additional topics covered in Pool Emergency Responder and the difference in treatment, the Pool Emergency Responder does not include Emergency First Aid at Work.  A better solution, would be to complete the 3 day First aid and work, alongside the Pool Emergency Responder.  P & P Associates, offer this in a 4 day course.  The First Aid at Work is covered 9 - 4 on the first 3 days, with Pool Emergency Responder 4 - 6 and the Pool Emergency Responder all day 9 - 6 on the 4th day.

If you have any further questions, please let us know on 08700772637