Royal Life Saving WA statement on COVID 19 and Essential Vocational Training

Statement current at 3.30pm Friday 20th March 2020 

Due to the most recent recommendation of the Australian Resuscitation Council, of which Royal Life Saving Society is a founding member, that the teaching of routine first aid and resuscitation courses should be postponed until the current COVID-19 pandemic has abated, we have suspended our face-to-face courses that include these components as of Monday 23 March 2020 until further notice.

The courses impacted are: First Aid, Advanced First Aid, Resuscitation, Advanced Resuscitation, Aquatic Rescue, Pool Lifeguard and Bronze Medallion. This also impacts the requalification versions.

In the situation of expiring qualifications of CPR, First Aid and Pool Lifeguarding an extension of the existing certification and accreditation is being made until 1 July 2020. In order to qualify for this extension the qualification must lapse between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2020 and the trainee is unable to complete the training and assessment requirements due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. This position will be under review as the situation changes. 
 
Royal Life Saving WA understands the importance of training these essential skills and has now developed innovative solutions to allow non-face to face assessment in CPR and First Aid, while also working on solutions for other programs. We are also continuing to monitor Government advice which takes precedence over any other.

Students who are currently enrolled in upcoming face-to-face courses can contact us at training@royallifesavingwa.com.au or at (08) 9383 8200 to reschedule or cancel your class at no charge.

Statement current at 2.30pm Thursday 19th March 2020

Royal Life Saving WA is closely monitoring the COVID-19 Pandemic through official sources including the Australian Government Department of Health, and the WA Department of Health website and advisories. We are working to ensure our staff and customers are protected during this time and will continue to monitor advice from these authorities, making necessary changes as needed to ensure compliance with their directives.

Public health and safety is paramount and all Government directives in relation to bans on indoor gatherings and social distancing measures will be followed.

At this time, Royal Life Saving WA will continue to provide vocational training that is deemed essential, subject to constant review of Federal and State policies.

Here’s what we’re doing to protect those taking part in our essential vocational training services.

Prior to attending a training course

• Emailing all those booked in for training to advise them not to attend if they have been overseas in the past 14 days, in contact with someone confirmed to have COVID-19, or are feeling unwell
• Instructing Royal Life Saving WA community trainers and course facilitators to disqualify themselves from delivering face-to-face work on our behalf if they have been overseas in the past 14 days or are feeling unwell
• Doubling the frequency of cleaning and sanitizing of all training facilities
• A senior level response team is meeting daily to respond to changes in this situation

During attendance at a training course

• Trainers are reinforcing the basic hygiene measures of washing hands, coughing into elbow and staying away if unwell, including signage in toilets and other public areas
• Reduced class sizes with participants spaced generously throughout the room to enable a distance of 1.5m between each person
• Modification of training activities to ensure social distance is maintained
• Sanitisation of all manikins for use in CPR, and each course participant provided with their own CPR manikin face and lung bag, along with gloves and disinfectant wipes to use during the course
• Hand sanitizers available in public areas of Royal Life Saving WA headquarters
• Those who are currently booked into training courses but don’t wish to attend at this time will be able to reschedule their training at no cost. Please call us on 9383 8222 to arrange this.

Given the pace of change in the situation worldwide, we are constantly monitoring the Australian Department of Health website for any updates and will respond immediately if required.

For all the latest information on Coronvirus please visit the Department of Health website at the link below.