Unless training area orders state you need more 
In which case most units would struggle unless they have a suitably qualified SI
If I may ressurect an old thread ⌠a staff member has been told that he must take an AFA course, even though he almost never leaves the Sqn premises. A directive from corps and region are pushing it⌠apparantly.
Is this a thing or is it our wing making up the rules again?
All staff should be heart start trained minimum.
Some wings are trying to get all AFA qualified though.
Only justification I can think of is if they are the nominated Sqn 1st Aid Officer or if no one on the sqn holds it.
In the case of the former, I havenât seen anything in b+w stating it, but can understand a preference. For the latter, they should be encouraging ANYONE to do it.
If neither then I donât knowâŚ
Not seen anything official from Corps, I as an OC am encouraging all of my staff to get AFA as it is a sensible thing to all have. (It means anyone can be the medic on my Range for a start!)
There may be a wish to get all staff AFA qualâd, but until Wings can provide enough AFA courses, it will never happen!
1 Like
Wouldnât be so bad if a little common sense was used. Iâm FAAW trained, which I understand to be âhigherâ than AFA, why isnât that enough?
And why are some Wings now saying all cadets must be bronze badge trained?
It is.
Never heard of that specifically. Perhaps they are idiots?
ACTO8 was written badly and lists YFA as mandated within 18 months, regardless of practicality. Similarly, Heartstart (blue) is âmandatedâ within 3 months. TG1 needs to wind that back a bit.
I know a chap who was told that he absolutely had to attend the AFA course and also the RAFAC Risk Assessorâs Course, and that because someone hadnât made a record of his most recent pass heâd have to resit another Safeguarding refresher⌠This guy was a NEBOSH assessor, Safeguarding and security manager for an NHS trust and a St Johnâs Ambulance instructor trainer⌠For all three of those he holds a higher qualification (and actively uses it) than the people in the RAFAC delivering these courses.
The AFA was apparently âmandatoryâ because itâs specific to our organization - his higher qualifications werenât specific enough.
I later attended the AFA course which is âabsolutely not FAAW and is totally and specifically aimed at the type of outdoor events that we doâ⌠The slides, videos and training included a heart attack in a stock cupboard, and someone getting grumpy in the school.
Aside from some quickly covered âfact basedâ theory about ticks, rats, and snake bits, there was nothing âspecificâ at all⌠How do you treat someone whoâs passed out half way down an abseil tower? No idea⌠But hereâs how to treat a scald from a cup of tea.
Itâs higher, or its enough?
Because while I agree on the former, Iâve heard very different on the latter!
It is definitely enough. I woudlnât go so far as to say it was higher (it is longer) but it is at the very least equivalent. It is considered an appropriate qualification to allow the teaching of YFA, just as AFA is.
I have FAAW,
1 Like
What he said, FAAW is perfectly adequate.
Is this written anywhere?
We accept qualifications gained outside of the organisation, compatible with the RAFAC requirements. The Wing or Regional First Aid Officer should be contacted for advice in these cases.
Acto 8
They wont say specifically that they accept FAAW as there are many many courses that meet HSE requirements that are called weird things and listing them would take forever.
ACTO 8 give SJA 16 hour AFA as the preferred, but others are accepted and seeks advice. The recommendation is a minimum 16 hour course to meet requirements for other activities that are separately legislated.
You shouldnât have a problem getting your FAAW recognised by your Wing bod.
Iâve been FAAW since 1988 and no intention of doing an AFA.
You shouldnt have toâŚit superceeds AFA
I know, but it seems some around the country are having to or being told that FAAW is irrelevant to the ATCâs needs.
Id tell them where to go. The latest FAAW is level 3 courseâŚAFA is a be nice to have St John Course. I truely believe that the Silver Badge should be FAAW