New and faster training for first responders

New rules for more compact and hands-on first aid courses

04/01/2015

First aid courses will in future be carried out less theoretically than before. As announced by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), from today, April 1, 2015, a revised regulation is in force, which provides for a more compact and practice-oriented education and training for first-aiders. The aim is, therefore, to focus on the essential content and to involve the participants more strongly, whereby first aid should be conveyed in a more understandable and sustainable way.

In fact, at least one first responder must be trained in an emergency
Initial and continuing education for first responders will be carried out in a modified form from 1 April 2015. This is currently announced by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV). According to this, the First Aid department of the DGUV and the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Erste Hilfe der Hilfsorganisationen have developed a new concept which will provide for a more compact and practically oriented basic education as well as advanced training for first aid in the future. An important innovation especially for companies where after the „accident prevention regulation“ (UVV) „Principles of prevention“ (BGV A1), depending on the size of the company, at least one first responder must be trained for emergencies.

Instead of 16 in the future only 9 lessons
Accordingly, the basic training instead of the previous 16 lessons in the future, only 9 lessons include, also increase the number of regular, necessary training of first responders from 8 to 9 lessons. In terms of content, too, the new concept would change a lot, as the new training offers more focus „the absolutely essential content“ and the teaching method was improved at the same time, Dr. Horst Reuchlein, Head of the department First Aid of the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV). „The participants should be more involved in the future. They should practice the life-saving measures in realistic scenarios“, explains Dr. Horst Reuchlein continues.

Revision also with the license applicants
Above all, the participants want to be taught that first aid is not difficult, but instead only that „Do nothing“ could be a mistake. According to the DGUV report, the reasons for the reform were studies that showed that the two-day basic training that was previously the norm „too theoretical and not sustainable enough“. Accordingly, what was learned was often forgotten quickly after the course, and many participants felt overwhelmed by the flood of information. In the future, therefore, according to Dr. med. Horst Reuchlein focused on teaching life-saving measures and easier first-aid measures. The revision will be implemented not only in the field of company first aid, but within the next few months, for example. also with drivers' license applicants, so the information of the DGUV. (No)