Conservancy fire personnel will be adequately trained to render first aid and have first aid supplies readily available.

Personnel working in the field and qualified at a level of Squad Boss (FFT1) or above, as well as chainsaw operators, must have the following training:

• Basic First Aid*
• CPR
• Bloodborne Pathogens
  
  * Workplace Adult CPR and First Aid is acceptable for most wildland fire situations. Wilderness First Aid or other more advanced training may be appropriate where Basic Life Support (BLS) response time may be an hour or more.

First Aid and CPR training should follow recent guidelines of the American Heart Association and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC). Training can be obtained from a wide variety of sources, including classroom, online, and a blended combination of online and classroom delivery.

Refresher training is required for First Aid and CPR at regular intervals to maintain proficiency. This interval can be between one and three years depending upon the standards followed by the training vendor.

First Aid Kits

First Aid kits must be available at fire management related work locations. Typically, first aid kits are located in vehicles and with Chainsaw Operators or their support personnel and equipment.

In the US, first aid kits should include contents listed in the American Standard (ANSI) Z308.1 "Minimum Requirements for Workplace First-aid Kits." Additional PPE is required under provision of the Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens standard (1910.1030(d)(3) (56 FR 64175).

For all work with chainsaws in the US, first aid kits must include the mandatory contents of an OSHA Logger first aid kit, 1910.266 App A.

COVID-19 Safety Message:

Avoid in-person refresher training for First Aid, CPR, and Bloodborne Pathogens. Online training is acceptable and recommended.

Last updated May 17, 2022.