REPs First Aid and CPR Policy

Please Note: For more information on delivery of CPR in a COVID-19 environment please refer to the ExerciseNZ COVID-19 Framework available as a downloadable resource: click here.

Exercise professionals & facilities must ensure that the level of First Aid/CPR is appropriate and relevant to the environment and conditions in which they deliver exercise – the specific First Aid/CPR needs of exercise professionals vary considerably depending on factors such as location, activities undertaken, and the number of clients under instruction.

For those Exercise Professionals operating only within the physical premises of a REPs Registered Facility they are required to hold a current Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate only.

Click here to view the guidelines

The New Zealand Resuscitation Council standard for CPR involves attending a course where the participants must be able to physically demonstrate CPR skills and knowledge on a mannequin, therefore a solely online CPR certificate does not meet the NZ Resuscitation Councils requirement. Courses must be completed in person to meet the standard.

REPs First Aid/CPR Requirements

1. For REPs Registered Exercise Professionals

  • Exercise professionals operating only within the physical premises of a REPs Registered Exercise Facility, are required to hold a current Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate only.
  • For all other exercise professionals, REPs requires that they hold a First Aid certificate which covers the equivalent of unit standards 6401 and 6402
  • In addition we recommend that exercise professionals operating in an environment where they may be exposed to dealing with multiple injuries (ie more than one client injury at one time), or multiple injuries to an individual client, then they also undertake training that includes competencies covered in unit standard 6400.

In all cases, the actual unit standard(s) are not required as long as the training and assessment covers the equivalent competencies.

Self assessment

In addition to first aid, there may be additional health and safety training and/or practices that an exercise professional needs to undertake if they operate in a specific or unique environment. Examples of this include operating from a location far from any other medical support, clients with unique and special medical needs, or undertaking specific activities that  may have unique risks. In all cases the exercise professional must ensure they review all risks, and undertake all steps to ensure they are eliminated or managed.

Factors to consider include location, activities undertaken, and number of clients under instruction, as well as if you are in a workplace, what support the workplace may be able to offer you and your clients as a part of its health and safety procedures and practices.

In all cases the exercise professional should determine if the extra training is needed (eg Unit 6400 equivalent as outlined above) after first undertaking a risk analysis.  A full health & safety framework for exercise professionals is available from REPs/ExerciseNZ – free for registered exercise professionals.

Common First Aid/CPR examples:
  1. A trainer/instructor/teacher operating from their own studio and/or individuals homes and/or facilities that are not REPs registered is required to undertake training that covers standards 6401 and 6402 (or equivalent) – ie First Aid.
  2. A trainer/instructor/teacher operating small group training in a park is required to undertake training that covers standards 6401 and 6402 (or equivalent), and it also recommended to include training that covers unit standard 6400 – ie First Aid + training that covers unit 6400.
  3. A trainer/instructor/teacher operating with one or multiple clients always within the premises of a REPs Registered Exercise Facility is required to hold CPR.  The reason for this is that the facility takes responsibility for the first aid needs of all staff/visitors.

2. For REPs Registered Exercise Facilities

All workplaces must ensure they provide adequate first aid cover for their staff and customers/visitors.  This can be managed in a number of different ways, including using exercise professionals and/or admin/management staff.  The number of on duty first aid holders will vary based on the size and type of the facility/business, but could range from one person; one person per floor/room/group; all the way up to several people per space/activity/premises.

Further information on best practice for first aid are available from WorkSafe New Zealand in a guide called First Aid for Workplaces – a Good Practice Guide.

You can also check the WorkSafe New Zealand General Risk and Workplace Management Interpretive Guidelines at this link

3. Exclusive Discount Offer

For access to the REPs Registered Professionals EXCLUSIVE discount code for preferential rates on First Aid courses with Factco Click here.  (note you need to be logged on to your to view that page)