First Aid Class Coordinator Role Description

First Aid Class Coordinator Role Description

Description of the Class Coordinator role within the Seattle First Aid program.

What is a First Aid Coordinator?

A First Aid Class Coordinator is the administrative leader for a single First Aid class of 20 - 30 students.  They handle most of the communications and some of the administrative tasks before and after the class. The Class Coordinator does not actually teach the class - that is done by third party instructors - but the Class Coordinator can usually attend the class if they want, and can even take it for credit at no cost under certain conditions.

The amount of work and the type of work required to coordinate a single First Aid class is like leading a Mountaineers day hike minus the actual hiking. Most of the work is online and can be done from home, though in some cases the Coordinator may need to go to the Seattle Program Center to lock or unlock the building (more on that below).

Coordinating a First Aid class typically takes about 8 - 12 total volunteer hours spread out over multiple small tasks. Most Coordinators lead 1 or 2 classes per year, though they can do more if they want.

Most Seattle First Aid classes are taught in the off-season and shoulder-season months of October through April. Being a Class Coordinator is a great way to stay connected and make a real contribution to the community when it is cold, dark, and rainy outside.

If you are the Coordinator for a WFA class and your WFA badge has expired or will expire within six months, you can also take the class for credit at no charge.

What does it take to become a First Aid Coordinator?

It's a lot like being the trip leader for a Mountaineers day hike, minus the actual day hike.  It requires the following four skill areas:

  1. Be self-driven, organized, and have good online communication skills.
  2. Have a working knowledge of how to administer an activity on the Mountaineers website.  If you are already a Mountaineers trip leader (for any activity) then you already know this.  And if not, we will show you. It’s easy.
  3. Be familiar with the structure of the Mountaineers WFA course. You don’t need to have a current WFA badge or be a First Aid expert, but you need to know enough that you can answer student questions about how the course works.
  4. Have completed the Seattle Program Center (SPC)  Openers & Closers training (a 1-hour clinic at the SPC).  We don’t always have to open or close the building for First Aid classes, but sometimes we do.

New Coordinators receive the First Aid Coordinator badge after leading their first class.

Typical Coordinator Timeline for a WFA Class

To give you an idea of what to expect, here is the the Class Coordinator timeline for a typical hybrid WFA class with a mix of online and in-person activities.  We will provide email templates and checklist.  The steps for an in-person (non hybrid) class are simpler and take less time.

Three weeks before the class date

Estimated time: 1 hour or less.

  • Send group email to students reminding them of important upcoming class dates.
  • Send email to third party instructors to confirm date and location, and to ask about any special room setup requirements.
  • Review SPC room reservation online and make sure it still looks good.

Two weeks before class date

Estimated time: 2 hours or less.

  • Upload class roster to third party training site.
  • Send online training links to students.
  • Finalize SPC room reservation if any changes are needed.
  • Optional: start looking for alternate SPC openers/closers.  (Details below.)

Two days before class date

Estimated time: 1 - 2 hours.

  • Verity students have completed online training on third party site.
  • Send group email to students with any last minute reminders.
  • Verify any last minute logistics with instructors.
  • Optional: Send reminders to alternate SPC openers/closers, if any.  (Details below.)

Day of class

Estimated time: often zero, but varies.

  • Possibly to go to SPC to open and/or close the building if needed.
  • Be available to answer any problem calls from third party instructors.

Within 24 hours after class

Estimated time: 1 hour or less.

  • Send group email to students with link to Final Assessment Exam.
  • Send thank you email to instructors.

One week after class

Estimated time: 1 hour or less.

  • Set student completion status in Mountaineers class roster according as per results of Final Assessment exam.
  • Close Mountaineers roster and notify Course leader that class is complete.

Finding Alternate SPC Openers/Closers

The Class Coordinator is responsible for making sure the instructors and students can get into the Program Center before and during the class, and that building is secured after the class. However, that doesn’t mean the Coordinator needs to open or close the building directly. Often there are other ways:

  • Often there are other activities happening at the SPC for which the building will already be open or will need to remain open.
  • Sometimes the third party instructors are on the SPC Openers/Closers list.
  • Sometimes a student in the class is on the SPC Openers/Closers list.

In practice it is usually not necessary for the Class Coordinator to open and close the building. However, finding an alternate opener/closer can take a little creativity - every case is different. Or, to keep it simple, you can always just plan to open and close yourself if you like. It can be fun to meet the instructors and students in person.