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Coronavirus - Advice in relation to courses

Mar 13, 2020

COVID-19 (Coronavirus), Guidance for learners of British Canoeing and British Canoeing Instructors, Coaches, Leaders, Guides, Quality Mark Centres and Course Providers.

Scottish Canoe Association and British Canoeing have received several enquiries concerning the risks of COVID-19 during paddlesport activity and British Canoeing courses. 
The following guidance supplements guidance available from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Public Health England (PHE) and Health Protection Scotland (HPS)  and may change based on increasing experience in the care of patients with COVID-19, as well as the effect of the outbreak on health services. It is therefore important to always check the latest guidance on the relevant websites. 

COVID-19 is thought to spread in a way similar to seasonal influenza; from person-to-person through close contact and droplets. Standard principles of infection control and droplet precautions are the main control strategies and should be followed rigorously. Aerosol transmission can also occur. Attention to hand hygiene and containment of respiratory secretions produced by coughing and sneezing are the cornerstones of effective infection control. 
We would encourage you to read the following Government guidance in order to develop strategies if the current situation should change. 

Government guidance 
Earlier this week the Government published an action plan to contain the possible spread of the virus 
 


  • Statement for Course Candidates and Activity Participants

    We would encourage you to read the Government guidance above in order to develop strategies if the current situation should change. 


    If you are exhibiting symptoms typical of flu, a cold or have been in close contact with someone who has the COVID-19 infection, then you should not attend the course/activity. If you have travelled to/from the countries/regions as listed here  you should contact your coach/provider prior to the travelling to the course/activity.


    During the course/activity if you need to cough/sneeze you should do so into a tissue and dispose of this into a bin immediately, washing hands afterwards. Alternatively, coughing/sneezing into the bent elbow if no tissue is available. 


    The guidance is clear that hand washing is essential in the protection of your health and preventing the spread of the virus, careful consideration should be given to ensuring venues have hot running water and washing facilities with alcohol gel (or wipes if gel unavailable) provided in addition to handwashing facilities. For venues without this option you must ensure appropriate alternative measures are in place.


    Prerequisites for training and assessment courses

    We expect there to be occasions in the coming months where, through no fault of the learner (e.g. First Aid course being cancelled), they may not have all appropriate prerequisites for assessments in place. In these circumstances we will be allowing registrations to be made and for candidates to attend assessments; however, certification will not be issued until notification of the missing requirement being gained has been provided. Providers will be given written confirmation where such an agreement is in place.



  • Statement for Instructors, Coaches, Leaders and Guides

    We would encourage you to read the Government guidance above in order to develop strategies if the current situation should change. 


    First Aid 

    You are encouraged to read the guidance provided by the Resuscitation Council on both delivery of First Aid and performing First Aid available here


    If your First Aid Training is due to expire in the coming months, you should consider if it is appropriate to renew your First Aid ahead of its expiry. If your First Aid expires and you are unable to access appropriate training, please contact your deployer to consider alternative First Aid cover, for example team teaching.


    Managing your participants

    The guidance is clear that hand washing is essential in the protection of your health and preventing the spread of the virus, careful consideration should be given to ensuring venues have hot running water and washing facilities with alcohol gel (or wipes if gel unavailable) provided in addition to handwashing facilities. For venues without this option you must ensure appropriate alternative measures are in place.

    Learners should be reminded to cough/sneeze into a tissue and dispose of this into a bin immediately, washing hands afterwards. Alternatively, coughing/sneezing into the bent elbow if no tissue is available. 

    Where individuals are exhibiting symptoms typical of flu, a cold or have been in close contact with someone who has the COVID-19 infection, then they should exclude themselves from the course. Likewise, if an individual has travelled to/from the countries/regions as listed here they should act on the advice dependent on whether they were a category 1 or 2 traveller.


    Cancellation Policies

    We recommend you review your cancellation policies and ensure your position is clear, you are advising your learners of that position at the time of booking and that your arrangement is balanced, fair and two way, e.g. what happens if you cancel the activity due to your own inability to provide the activity. 


  • Statement for Course Providers

    We would encourage you to read the Government guidance above in order to develop strategies if the current situation should change. 


    Postponement of courses

    We continue to be flexible in our approach to the planning of training and assessment courses, short notice cancellation or postponement of courses is expected under the current circumstances. However, notice periods for rearranging such courses remain the same, permission being sought in advance for short notice courses/changes. We do acknowledge that some learners may be concerned due to expiry dates or time periods – in such cases, please be assured that extensions to those expiry dates will be given.


    Prerequisites

    We expect there to be occasions in the coming months where, through no fault of the learner (e.g. First Aid Course being cancelled), they may not have all appropriate prerequisites for assessments in place. In these circumstances we will be allowing registrations to be made and for candidates to attend assessments. However, certification will not be issued until notification of the missing requirement being gained has been provided – providers will be given written confirmation where such an agreement is in place.


    Courses/ Coaching/ Leading/ Guiding Overseas

    Providers are expected to consider International travel carefully, taking into account the up to date advice of both the destination and country of origin. We would expect providers to review their joining instructions to ensure learners are aware of the risks of planning to join such course/trips and take appropriate measures to protect themselves, both from a health and financial standpoint (insurance, EHIC, using credit cards to pay, etc.) 


    Course delivery

    The guidance is clear that hand washing is essential in the protection of your health and preventing the spread of the virus, careful consideration should be given to ensuring venues have hot running water and washing facilities with alcohol gel (or wipes if gel unavailable) provided in addition to handwashing facilities. For venues without this option, you must ensure appropriate alternative measures are in place.

    Learners should be reminded to cough/sneeze into a tissue and dispose of this into a bin immediately, washing hands afterwards. Alternatively, coughing/sneezing into the bent elbow if no tissue is available. 

    Where individuals are exhibiting symptoms typical of flu, a cold or have been in close contact with someone who has the COVID-19 infection, then they should exclude themselves from the course. Likewise, if an individual has travelled to/from the countries/regions as listed here they should act on the advice dependent on whether they were a category 1 or 2 traveller.


    Providers are expected to review their joining instructions to ensure this advice is clearly given on booking and in the run up to the course.


    First Aid 

    Providers are encouraged to read the guidance provided by the Resuscitation Council  on both delivery of First Aid and performing First Aid available here


    For providers who deliver First Aid training, please ensure you are considering the advice of both the Resus Council and your awarding organisation.


    Cancellation Policies

    We recommend you review your cancellation policies and ensure your position is clear, you are advising your learners of that position at the time of booking and that your arrangements are balanced, fair and two-way, e.g. what happens if you cancel the activity due to your own inability to provide the activity. 





  • Statement for Centres

    We would encourage you to read th Government guidance above in order to develop strategies if the current situation should change. 


    Postponement of courses

    We continue to be flexible in our approach to the planning of training and assessment courses; short notice cancellation or postponement of courses is expected under the current circumstances. However, notice periods for rearranging such courses remain the same, permission being sought in advance for short notice courses/changes. We do acknowledge that some learners may be concerned due to expiry dates or time periods – in such cases, please be assured that extensions to those expiry dates will be given.


    Prerequisites

    We expect there to be occasions in the coming months where, through no fault of the learner (e.g. First Aid Course being cancelled), they may not have all appropriate prerequisites for assessments in place, in these circumstances we will be allowing registrations to be made and for candidates to attend assessments; however, certification will not be issued until notification of the missing requirement being gained has been provided – providers will be given written confirmation where such an agreement is in place.


    Courses/ Coaching/ Leading/ Guiding Overseas

    Providers are expected to consider International travel carefully, taking into account the up to date advice of both the destination and country of origin. We would expect providers to review their joining instructions to ensure learners are aware of the risks of planning to join such courses/trips and take appropriate measures to protect themselves, both from a health and financial standpoint (insurance, EHIC, using credit cards to pay, etc.) 


    Course delivery

    The guidance is clear that hand washing is essential in the protection of your health and preventing the spread of the virus, careful consideration should be given to ensuring venues have hot running water and washing facilities with alcohol gel (or wipes if gel unavailable) provided in addition to handwashing facilities. For venues without this option, you must ensure appropriate alternative measures are in place.

    Learners should be reminded to cough/sneeze into a tissue and dispose of this into a bin immediately, washing hands afterwards. Alternatively, coughing/sneezing into the bent elbow if no tissue is available. 

    Where individuals are exhibiting symptoms typical of flu, a cold or have been in close contact with someone who has the COVID-19 infection, then they should exclude themselves from the course. Likewise, if an individual has travelled to/from the countries/regions as listed in https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-specified-countries-and-areas/covid-19-specified-countries-and-areas-with-implications-for-returning-travellers-or-visitors-arriving-in-the-uk they should act on the advice dependent on whether they were a category 1 or 2 traveller.


    Providers are expected to review their joining instructions to ensure this advice is clearly given on booking and in the run up to the course.


    First Aid 

    Providers are encouraged to read the guidance provided by the Resuscitation Council  on both delivery of First Aid and performing First Aid available here.


    For providers who deliver First Aid training, please ensure you are considering the advice of both the Resus Council and your awarding organisation.

  • Moderation, Orientation and SCA directly organised Courses

    Update 17th March - All SCA moderations, orientations, and SCA courses are cancelled until 30th April. 


    ------

    We will be reviewing the guidance available and local situation of all our planned events in the coming months; where possible events will run, where required they will be postponed and alternative dates agreed with all parties.


    If you are exhibiting symptoms typical of flu, a cold or have been in close contact with someone who has the COVID-19 infection, then you should not attend the course. If you have travelled to/from the countries/regions as listed here you should contact us prior to travelling to the course.


    If you cancel your attendance our usual terms and conditions will be applied for refunds, for cancellations within 2 weeks.  We will review each case and consider if we can make a partial refund. In the case of moderation events, we will review each case individually but, where possible, we will provide extensions to provider roles.

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