EMT / EFR in The Gardai.

Steviewonder

What standard of first aid would the gardai have?

TylerIE

Steviewonder wrote: »

What standard of first aid would the gardai have?

This was asked before and my reply was that AGS is not registered as a PHECC EFR or EMT training Organisation.

However the Occupational First Aid Assessment Authority show a large number of Registered First Aid Instructors at the Garda College.

I dont know if anybody can give you an official answer but the above is certainly public record.

Steviewonder

would applying to the gardai having an emt or efr qualification be seen as an advantage?

many gardai seem to have limited knowledge of first aid

TylerIE

I don't know if its an advantage in itself "per se".

However in many job interviews for all sorts of positions you may have to give an example of where you engaged in a team activity/ did some problem solving / prioritised a workload etc. If you have been in practice as an EMT or EFR it may be of use in helping you to build up the above scenarios.

You may also find that being an EMT or EFR leads you to have a particular interest in certain aspects of AGS. E.g. If you did your placements with a 999 provider or even a PTS provider who has had transfers of Patients Post RTA, you may have a particular interest in road safety, accident prevention, etc.

However AGS is not [yet anyway and probably wont be] a designated medical response agency. They are not routinely called to medical emergencies and, particularly in urban and sub-urban areas, an ambulance is often at an incident as quick as the guards.

I guess I'm saying its what you make of it - if you have a PhD in Social Science it doesnt automatically mean you will get recruited, but if you can show how your background leaves you with an excellent understanding of anti-social behaviour, alcoholism or domestic abuse, then you have probably got an advantage.

Delancey

I was told by someone a while ago that Garda First-Aid training is up to First Responder standard ?

TylerIE

Delancey wrote: »

I was told by someone a while ago that Garda First-Aid training is up to First Responder standard ?

PHECC EFR is only in a few years and AGS isnt an EFR training organisation so It makes it quite unlikely.

Its possible that some members for various reasons have been trained to a higher level, and there are good few members who were or are in CD / IRC / OMAC (and I presume some from SJA) so have training from these organisations.

Kaffy

Where would be the best place to do a proper first aid/ first responder course?

TylerIE

Kaffy wrote: »

Where would be the best place to do a proper first aid/ first responder course?

As much as I'd love to say that one organisation or company is better than another I wont.

You can do a

Community First Responder Course (CFR)
CPR ie Mouth to Mouth and chest compressions, using a defibrillator and recognizing and treating a heart attack and stroke

Occupational First Aid Course (OFA)
3 days, one of which is CFR above. Other topics include dressing and bandaging, fractures, head injuries, soft tissue injuries, etc.

Emergency First Responder Course (EFR)
around 5 days. Includes the above and also some advanced skills such as those needed for suspected spinal injuries, oxygen administration, etc.


Privately you could pay up to €100 for the first, €300 for the second and €650 for the third.
You may or may not get a recommendation for a Private training site here - but they all are expected to teach the same course now so its much of a muchness. Any course that is not one of the above or EMT wont have the same national recognition.

If your wanting to learn it in a manner that you will remember it you may be best to join one of the Voluntary organisations like the Order of Malta, Civil Defence, St. John Ambulance or Red Cross. They will bring you through the levels of CFR, OFA and EFR and you get to keep your skills up to date, both in the classroom and real world setting.

If your just after a piece of paper for an interview the OFA would be the best, as doing the EFR is probably a waste if you dont keep your skills up to date and practice reasonably regularly.

cbwex

Under the B.A. in Police Studies all Garda entrants were trained to Occupational First Aid Standard. Other specialist Units are First Aid qualified according to operational need - details cannot disclose.
Currently a National Training Strategy for First Aid is being developed and will be put before the Commissioner for his approval.

I am in fact currently writing my dissertation on a Garda Tactical Medic programme, essential taking the usa swat system and using it in an irish context. Im studying Criminal Justice studies in Waterford by the way.

WilcoOut

TylerIE wrote: »

Community First Responder Course (CFR)
CPR ie Mouth to Mouth and chest compressions, using a defibrillator and recognizing and treating a heart attack and stroke

Occupational First Aid Course (OFA)
3 days, one of which is CFR above. Other topics include dressing and bandaging, fractures, head injuries, soft tissue injuries, etc.

Emergency First Responder Course (EFR)
around 5 days. Includes the above and also some advanced skills such as those needed for suspected spinal injuries, oxygen administration, etc.

.

tyler, is this a progression list? you must do one to be able to do the next etc

i have an OFA cert. could i enroll in the EFR course or is there other prior learning needed? or could a person just enrol in an EFR course without doing the first two?

cheers pal

Dan1994

Done the OFA in templemore , excellent coarse the instructors were top class and no nonsense unlike a previous coarse I done

coach23

There are members trained to EMT and EFR standard on certain units