As of 30th September 2014, The FA are making some changes to their First Aid provision and procedures
As of 30th September 2014, The FA are making some changes to their First Aid provision and procedures for accepting FA and non-FA Emergency Aid qualifications for coaching pre-requisites, Charter Standard and FA Licensed Coaches Club purposes.
Why are changes being made?
Up until 30th September 2013, first aid training was approved by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), ensuring course content by most first aid training organisations was the same. As of the 1st of October 2013 the HSE relinquished their responsibility for the approval and monitoring of HSE approved training organisations as well as removing HSE approved first aid qualifications.
As a result, Emergency Aid courses delivered in the workplace are now accredited by Ofqual only. Ofqual recommend “that an organisation has the responsibility to make sure its qualifications are appropriate to the industry”.
The FA have acknowledged this and following a review of Ofqual accredited first aid qualifications and The FA Emergency Aid (EA) course, it has been identified that there are a number of elements specific to football that are not covered on these generic courses. The FA have therefore reformatted the EA qualification (3hrs) to embrace concussion/head injuries, asthma and emergency action planning, to ensure that what is contained in this short course is relevant to coaches.
What does this mean in practice?
In order to ensure a coach is fully equipped with the knowledge, understanding and skills to be able to administer Emergency First Aid in Football, The FA have introduced the following steps which will commence from September 1st 2014:
1.All new coaches must attend The FA Emergency Aid course on their first coaching course undertaken with The FA i.e. all new coaches taking the 1st4Sport FA Level 1 Award in Coaching Football must attend The FA Emergency Aid element. The reason for this is to ensure that all new coaches start from the same position and are equipped with the necessary Football specific knowledge, understanding and skills not covered on generic First Aid at Work courses
2.If a coach attends a subsequent coaching course, and they hold an in date First Aid at Work certificate with an external provider (providing it is on the approved course list below), they DO NOT have to attend the FA Emergency Aid again. However, they will be asked to read The FA Emergency Aid Bridging Document and send an email to their local County FA, acknowledging that they have read it.
3.For Charter Standard purposes, we will accept an ‘in date’ non-FA first aid qualification (providing it is on the approved course list below), and only if it is accompanied with a signed FA Emergency Aid Bridging Document. The documents must be sent to us or returned to FAlicencequery@TheFA.com
4.In order to apply for The FA Licensed Coaches Club and to re-licence, The FA will accept an ‘in date’ non-FA first aid qualification (providing it is on the approved course list below), and only if it is accompanied with a signed FA Emergency Aid Bridging Document. The documents must be returned to FAlicencequery@TheFA.com
Are there any exemptions?
For coaches attending subsequent courses see point 2 above, Charter Standard purposes (point 3) and coaches applying for The FA Licensed Coaches Club or relicensing (point 4), the following professional occupations will be exempt from having to attend an FA Emergency Aid course:
• Doctors
• Physiotherapists
• Nurses
• Paramedics
• Policeman
• Fireman
• Military Personnel (Navy / Army / Royal Air Force)
• Prison Officers.
However, these professions must produce certificated evidence of completing appropriate training whether it is from a course on the approved list or an ‘in house’ programme run in the NHS/public service/military.
The FA Emergency Aid Bridging Document
This document has been created for the pitch side first aider who has undertaken a generic first aid course where some of the elements that are specific to the football environment (which are contained within The FA Emergency Aid course) have not been addressed.
It is designed to provide additional information to enable the first aider to prevent illness and injury, plan for a medical emergency, manage medical conditions and ensure that appropriate care is given until the emergency medical services arrive and take over (or until an alternate healthcare professional assumes responsibility for the casualty).
It is a resource that should complement the training already undertaken. It is not a substitute for appropriate first aid training and does not sanction first aid management in any area where competency has not been established. Reading a document does not make you competent. Please find the document at the bottom of the page.
Ofqual Registered First Aid at Work Courses
Please see the PDF below for the current list of Ofqual registered Emergency Aid courses that we will accept, together with an FA Emergency Aid Bridging Document, for Charter Standard and The FA LCC re-licencing purposes.
Please see the documents attached