Adapting the First Aid education and response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis

Technical guidance note directed to the RC/RC National Societies and other First Aid training centers

By: Dr. Tamer Ahmad[1]

Spreading the First Aid knowledge and conducting trainings must always be ongoing in all times , and should never be stopped , not even during the current pandemic crisis or other crises , given the fact that during crises, accidents continue to happen and people continue to get injured, accordingly the need for first aid response remains critical.

Moreover, in case of exhaustion of the official health systems (which is very likely to occur especially in fragile contexts) the need for well-trained Emergency responders, First Aid, and prehospital care providers to support the health system will be greater, which goes in the same line with the approach of Not stopping of the First Aid and emergency response education procedures.

Of course, the current situation forces all of us to adopt mitigation and adaptation processes in order to avoid having new victims of COVID-19 among the First Aid providers and/or emergency responders.

In support of the RC/RC National societies and other First Aid training institutes in mitigation for the current outbreak, this technical guidance note was developed:

Adapting the curriculum:

-         Donning and doffing should be an integral part of the training curriculum.

-         A special chapter about COVID-19 should be developed and included in the curriculum containing simple information about the signs & symptoms, modes of transmission, the severity, ways of personal protection & prevention (Ref. WHO) , and customized response to suspected cases as per the context ( Ref. Health authorities in each country).

-         Additional chapter on sterilization and disinfectant materials those could be used to disinfect tools, materials, personal belongings, First Aid equipment, and means of transport, and those to be used on the hands and bodies of emergency responders.

-         Appropriate waste management of the contaminated PPEs should be focused on during the trainings as well to avoid cross contamination.

-         In the same regard, the chapter of basic Psychological support should be further focused on, with a special attention on providing such assistance to COVID-19 suspected patients and their relatives, while providing psychosocial support services to the emergency responders, medical staff and the public during curfew and long home stay periods should also be considered .

Adapting the response

-         While responding to accidents, moving the crowds away from the scene & victim is of even greater importance.

-         Initial assessment should begin from a distance of at least 6 feet from the patient, if possible.

-         Respiration assessment steps (look, listen, and feel) should depend mainly on (Look) , to minimize closer contact with the victim.

-         In case of cardiac arrest, it is highly advisable to encourage the hands only CPR, as it is proved and confirmed by the AHA to have closer success rate to the conventional CPR.

-         Similarly, in case of drowning and chocking persons who lost consciousness, hands only CPR should be utilized.

-         It is advised to deal with every victim as a suspected patient of COVID-19, face mask should be applied to all victims, and until the mask is on the victim’s face, contact should be kept to minimum.

-         During transportation, number of first aiders should be kept to minimum (for example 2 first aiders to hold the stretcher instead of 4) , immediate disinfection of the stretcher used in transportation should be done after handling the victim to EMS / hospital.

-         In case of patient transportation in NS vehicle / ambulance, number of persons in the patient compartment (including providers and relatives) should be limited in order to minimize possible exposure, and immediate disinfection of the vehicle / ambulance should be performed.

-         In all occasions, all first aid providers and emergency responders should avoid touching their faces while working.

Adapting the mode of education:

Following the recommendations of the WHO regarding social distancing and avoiding the crowds, practical alternatives to the classic “class room “First Aid courses or seminars should be thought of.

In fact, with the evolving technological methods, several e-learning alternatives exist nowadays, the following options are some examples for platforms those proved their efficacy: -

-         If the NS has its own learning platform, they can upload the First Aid lessons on it, and encourage their staff & volunteers as well as the public to follow them.

-         Using of free hosting social media sites ( Youtube – Facebook – etc … ) to upload videos and promote messages.

-         With obtaining the necessary agreements, some videos produced by other NSs could be used in this regard (British RC for example).

-         Using the IFRC developed videos and courses.

-         Using live streams on some applications[2] like: skype , Webex, Zoom, etc…

-         Uploading the course materials on learning platforms like: Udemy , Future learn, etc…

-         Using the free enabling platforms like: easy class, google classroom, etc…

Each platform has its’ own pros and cons, some allow only live streaming, some may charge for certain services, some of them enable the course provider to set up tests, record the tests results, and store the trainees’ data for future calls. Each RC/RC National Society shall make their choice according to their and training policy and objectives.

At the end, the main objective is to continue all the efforts aiming at saving lives and assisting the most vulnerable in times of crisis, while putting the safety of the staff, volunteers, emergency responders, and all First Aid providers at the heart of the whole process.

[1] First Aid and prehospital delegate , ICRC,

[2] With ensuring the security and encryption of users’ data.