PADI RTO First Aid Student Manual

Under work health safety legislation, HSR (Health Safety Representative) may have the right to inspect records relating to safety and particular incidents. You will need to look to the relevant government body. You will need to look at the legislation to determine what type of matters must be reported, and to whom. The legislation will prescribe that it is the employer’s (PCBU) responsibility to report matters, but the occupational first aider may be asked to complete the notices required by the legislation. It will not be a breach of confidence to pass on medical information to medical aid, for example, ambulance officers or a treating doctor, provided that the information is necessary for the ongoing care of the person and the patient has not expressly refused such permission. If providing information to a doctor, the patient should be given a referral letter to take with them. Information should not be given by phone except in an emergency and only when the identity of the caller can be positively established. The first aider should and the patient should understand that many people may legitimately have access to the first aider’s records, but still the privacy of a patient should be respected to the greatest extent possible. The PCBU’s expectations and requirements should be discussed and included in any relevant duty statement or job description. Who is authorised to have access to the records, and under what circumstances, should be clearly established. An occupational first aider or other person who has control of the records should ensure that records are only released to people with appropriate authority and on a ‘needs to know’ basis. A record should be maintained to show who has had access to any particular documents, when they had access, and why they had access. Privacy principles The NSW Privacy Committee Data Protection Principles outline the privacy principles that all NSW community services organisations must follow. These guidelines are to protect client rights and ensure that only essential information about the client is collected. 1. Collect information directly from the client, except if: a. The client agrees otherwise; b. The other information source also follows these principles. 2. Make sure the client knows whether it is compulsory or optional to give the informa- tion. 3. Make sure the client knows the purpose for collecting the information. 4. Make sure the client knows who you usually pass information on to (and who they usually pass it on to). 5. Make sure the client can look at and correct their information (unless the law stops this), and the client knows this right. 6. Make sure the information is actually needed for your purpose. 7. Limit your use of the information to: a. The purpose you collected it for; b. Other purposes with the client’s consent; c. Preventing harm to the client or someone else. 8. Make sure the information is accurate, up-to-date and complete. 9. Make sure the information is protected from unauthorised access. 10. Make sure the information is kept for no longer than necessary for the purpose it was collected for. 11. Make sure that the information is only used or disclosed with the freely given, clear written consent of the client if the information concerns their: a. Ethnic or racial origin;

b. Political opinions; c. Religious or philosophical beliefs; d. Trade union membership; e. Health; f. Sexual life. You can get more information from Lawlink NSW: A Brief Summary of the Information Protection Principles or go to: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/pc Participate in debriefing/evaluation to improve future operations and address individual needs Your response to the accident/incident After witnessing an accident or being involved in providing first aid, some people might suffer an immediate or delayed emotional response to the situation. The way people respond might differ but symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, depression and a wide range of physical complaints can occur. If you have offered first aid, or witnessed an accident, it might be beneficial to seek some form of debriefing or counselling, especially if you suffer from any changes in your physical or emotional health. You can find out about professional counselling and debriefing services through your workplace supervisor, Emergency Services, your local doctor or community health centre. Debriefing after an emergency event After an emergency event, participants involved in providing emergency services may be debriefed. The purpose of an operational debriefing is to: • Learn what actually happened for the historical record or planning purposes; • Improve results in similar future situations or incidents; • Increase the readiness of those being debriefed for further such incidents. The information from the operational debrief is gathered and used to improve action plans for future emergencies. Type of operational debriefs There are two types of operational debriefs: Hot d b i f These occur immediately after the event to ensure all feedback, outcomes and actions required are obtained before anyone leaves. Formal debrief The objective of this pre-arranged operational debrief is to analyse the elements of the emergency event more critically. Information obtained from these operational debriefs help improve responses in the future. Operational Debrief procedure The operational debrief generally takes place in the stand down stage of the emergency action plan and follows these procedures:

HLTAID008 MANAGE FIRST AID SERVICES AND RESOURCES

HLTAID008 MANAGE FIRST AID SERVICES AND RESOURCES

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PADI RTO

PADI RTO