Guideline
Medical Co-Response – recognition of
equivalency
Introduction
1982
When to use
Volunteers should use these guidelines when seeking recognition of current
medical qualifications as equivalent to those required by Fire and Emergency New
Zealand for Medical Co-response.
Act
Role
Volunteer firefighters
Recognition of equivalency
Recognised
Fire and Emergency New Zealand recognises equivalent advanced
equivalency
ambulance/paramedic or medical qualifications held by volunteer firefighters.
Volunteer firefighters with a current advanced equivalent qualification will not be
required to take part in Fire and Emergency’s initial Medical Co-Response training
Information
or refreshers once equivalency is awarded.
Currency must be maintained every two years, either through external
qualification requirements and reapplying for equivalency, or through participation
in Fire and Emergency refreshers.
A current Pre-Hospital Emergency Care (PHEC) qualification (unit standard 29321),
and its regular refresher training is accepted as equivalent, as it is similar to Fire
Official
and Emergency training.
Note: CPR training is not included in all PHEC training. CPR is a requirement for Fire
and Emergency Operational Skills Maintenance (OSM) and is practised as part of
the
the routine OSM regime.
If you are an identified First Responder, you will need to undertake full Medical
First Responder training, without exemptions.
Fire and
We prefer all firefighters to complete our Medical Co-Response courses and
under
Emergency
refreshers. These are delivered to a high standard and are designed to prepare
provided courses
personnel for the type of incidents they attend.
Other equivalent qualifications gained outside may miss some of our specific
context. For volunteers, there is the added advantage that, by gaining our
qualification, you and your employer gain the full benefit without the financial
investment.
Fire and Emergency’s initial two-day Medical Co-Response training provides the
following unit standards:
Released 23406 - Provide first aid for trauma and medical emergency situations
6401 - Provide first aid
6402 - Provide basic life support
30 July 2020
1
Guideline- Medical Co-Response – recognition of equivalency
How to apply
Please complete one of the following forms:
If…
then…
You have an advanced first aid medical
Complete the Advanced First Aid Medical Co-Response
qualification
recognition of equivalency form.
Forward it along with copies of the relevant certificate(s) or
record of learning, including evidence of the qualification’s
currency. Your Chief Fire Officer or Controller will need to
sight the original documents.
1982
You are a current operational member of St John
Complete the Confirmation of Authority to Practice (ATP) form.
or Wellington Free Ambulance
Act
Information in the forms must be verified as indicated and sent for consideration to Training Business
Services. Email
[email address] or fax 0800 430 634.
The information provided will be held on file by Fire and Emergency for the purpose of determining
currency of Medical Co-Response skills.
If you have any queries, please phone 0800 874 746
Information
Official
the
Document information
under
Owner
National Manager People and Workplace Capability
Last reviewed
30 July 2020
Review period
Every second year
Record of amendments
Date
Brief description of amendment
Released
July 2020
Amended for template and updated unit standards
March 2018
Amended for Fire and Emergency
30 July 2020
2
Advanced First Aid/
Medical Co-Response
recognition of equivalency
Complete this form when requesting an advanced First Aid medical qualification be recognised by Fire and Emergency
to meet Medical Co-Response requirements.
Part A
Applicant’s details
Fire and Emergency
Name:
ID number:
1982
Phone number:
Date of birth:
Region:
Brigade:
Act
Part B
Confirmation
I wish to have an advanced First Aid medical qualification recognised by Fire and Emergency to meet Medical Co-
Response requirements.
I confirm that:
A copy of my current advanced medical certificate or record of learning is enclosed, showing which relevant
medical qualifications I hold.
I will advise Fire and Emergency of any change of circumstances that may affect the currency of my
qualifications.
Information
I understand that at Fire and Emergency medical callouts I am responding as a Fire and Emergency crew
member, with associated equipment and response protocols.
Print name:
Signature:
Date:
Official
While you have training and experience over and above what may be taught on a public first aid course, the
qualification and its currency does not constitute equivalency with unit standards or content taught and refreshed on
Fire and Emergency courses taught by St John Training, so you will need to undergo a formal assessment process run
the
by a St John approved trainer/assessor for unit standards to be awarded.
If an exemption is granted, Training Business Services will update your learning records and activate green OSM lights.
If you are exempt from Fire and Emergency Medical Co-Response training, you must learn and practice CPR as part of
the routine skills maintenance regime, as this is a requirement under OSM.
under
To maintain exemption, and currency in OSM, you must apply for recognition every one or two years, depending on
the term of your registration, qualification or certificate.
Section C:
For Chief Fire Officer
I have sighted the original documents for all copies of first aid medical qualification evidence included in this
application.
I have ensured this person is familiar with Fire and Emergency medical equipment and response protocols
(including triage for mass casualties) and that they have the capability to respond as a Fire and Emergency
member of my crew to medical related callouts.
Released
Print name:
Signature:
Date:
Please retain this completed form and copies of qualification evidence on the personnel file on station and send a
copy of all documents to: Training Business Services: E-mail
: [email address] or fax 0800 430 634.
30 July 2020
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Fire and Emergency New Zealand
Confirmation of Authority to Practice
To: Fire and Emergency New Zealand
From: St John Territory Manager or Wellington Free Ambulance Field Operations Manager
1982
Part A
Applicant’s details
Act
Name:
Phone number:
St John or WFA ID:
(Please circle which)
Position:
Fire and Emergency
ID number:
Current ATP:
Region/Territory:
Brigade:
Information
Part B
Confirmation from Territory Manager (St John) or Field Operations Manager (WFA)
I certify that the person named above is a current operational member*, and I agree that the above information
can be disclosed to Fire and Emergency.
Print name:
Official
Signature:
Date:
the
*Disclaimer:
This information is current at time of signing. A St John or Wellington Free Ambulance member may lose their
Authority to Practice if they have not been operationally active for the last six months, do not retain currency with
their CCE, or they leave St John or Wellington Free Ambulance. Responsibility will be with the individual to ensure Fire
under
and Emergency is informed of changes to their circumstances in regard to their clinical currency. Information is
provided and will be held on file with Fire and Emergency for the purposes of determining currency of clinical skills.
While the above named has training and experience over and above what may be taught on a Medical Co-response
course, acknowledgement of Authority to Practice/currency does not constitute equivalency with unit standards or
content taught and refreshed on Fire and Emergency courses taught by St John Training. Individuals will need to
undergo a formal assessment process run by a St John-approved trainer/assessor if credits for unit standards are to be
awarded.
If an exemption is granted, Training Business Services will update learning records of the above named and activate
green OSM lights.
Released
Individuals exempt from Fire and Emergency Medical Co-Response Training will need to ensure that they learn and
practice CPR as part of the routine skills maintenance regime as this is a requirement under OSM. To maintain this
exemption, and currency of lights in OSM, a new equivalence form must be submitted every one or two years
depending on the term of the registration, qualification or certificate.
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Form - Confirmation of Authority to Practice
Section C:
Confirmation from Chief Fire Officer
I have ensured this person is familiar with Fire and Emergency medical equipment and response protocols
(including triage for mass casualties) and that they have the capability to respond as a Fire and Emergency member
of my crew to medical-related callouts.
Print name:
Signature:
Date:
1982
Please retain this completed form and copies of qualification evidence on the personnel file on station and send a
copy of all documents to: Training Business Services: E-mail
: [email address] or fax 0800 430 634.
Act
Information
Official
the
under
Released
30 July 2020
5
