At the end of March 2022, the Swiss Federal Council lifted the last remaining measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus and ended the special situation. However, COVID-19 is still circulating in the community in Switzerland.
Because a person can be infectious for up to 48 hours before they develop symptoms, we do need to make participants aware that, as with any activity involving contact with other people, there is a small risk that a participant on a course later tests positive for COVID-19.
Therefore, considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will continue to follow certain health and hygiene procedures during our face-to-face courses. The procedures that we have put in place to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission between participants are detailed here.
For courses delivered in-house in companies and organisations, we will continue to check and align with internal COVID protocols.
Health declaration before joining the course
We remind you of your social responsibility to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and other infections. We ask that you do not attend the training course if you:
1. Have any symptoms that could be signs of COVID-19 or another infectious illness: fever; cough; shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; chest tightness; sore throat; nasal congestion or a runny nose; body aches; loss of taste or smell; headache; diarrhoea; nausea or vomiting.
2. Have tested positive for COVID-19 infection within the last 10 days.
3. Have been a close contact of anyone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 within the last 5 days.
Hand hygiene and masks
You will be asked to hand sanitize on arrival in the training room. Hand hygiene will also be recommended at other intervals throughout the course.
Mask wearing is no longer compulsory during our training courses but if you still prefer to wear a mask, your decision regarding this is respected.
For our corporate courses, we will align with your company/organisation’s policy regarding mask wearing.
Adaptation to training
During our Basic Life Support courses, we are now able to demonstrate rescue breaths on the training manikins. However, for hygiene reasons, practice of rescue breaths by individuals is not possible.
Some of the practical exercises during the training require close contact/touch with another participant. For example, Recovery Position and bandaging practice. However, if you prefer not to engage in close contact/touch with another participant, then we respect your decision regarding this. Your course trainer will show you adaptations to these practical exercises that reduce close contact/touch. For example, putting yourself into the Recovery Position and bandaging practice on your own limb.
Training equipment and training room
Any equipment used for practical activities will have been thoroughly disinfected or washed before the training session. Before sharing equipment with other participants, please ensure that you follow the required disinfection procedure as outlined by your course trainer.
As much as possible, we will also encourage participants to maintain distancing during training courses and will aim to ventilate the training room on a regular basis.
Course refreshments
We will not be serving any course refreshments during our HealthFirst public training courses until further notice. You are welcome to bring your own refreshments to be consumed during course breaks.
What to do if you become unwell during the training course
If you start to feel unwell during the training course, please alert your course trainer as soon as possible.
Considerations at the end of the training session
At the end of the training session, your course trainer will run through the simple steps of disinfection of your manikin and any other training materials.
Dr Michelle Wright
Director, HealthFirst Sàrl
7th February 2023
drmichellewright@healthfirst.ch
+41 79 821 8027
