Hi Dennis,
Thanks for helping us get the issue of MFA expiration dates cleared up. The Level forms revised back in the March 2004 Revision of the Rider Ed Handbook reflected the change accurately. Some initially were confused and incorrectly thought that the change also applied to medical training such as CPR and First Aid.
Here is the real scoop going forward:
Rider Course - 3 years: Riding Courses such as the MSF BRC, MSF ERC, GWRRA Trike Rider Course (TRC), GWRRA Trailering Course (TC), GWRRA Advanced Rider Course (ARC), etc. are good for three years now. The MSF will still iss! ue cards with a two year expiration date. We just count it for an extra year for Rider Ed Levels program purposes. As Walt indicated, we would rather have refresher training more often, but a decision was made that was balanced against dwindling participation, member needs, finances, course availability, etc. In the end, there was a decision to get more involved in the training. Those that became trained could then make a decision to continue on the recommended 2 year frequency or stretch it to three if they needed to (for any number of reasons). Some still take it every year.
Co-Rider Course - 3 years: To be fair to Co-Riders, we also extended the courses that counted for Co-Ride! rs to the same three years. Now watching the Co-Rider video (2002 version only), attending the Live Co-Rider Seminar, or two-up with the Rider on any of the approved riding courses meets the Co-Rider requirements.
The Road Captain Course is a Seminar and is not accepted as training meeting the Riding Course requirement of the GWRRA Levels program. There is no teaching allowed during the riding portion of the course - only an observed ride followed by an off-bike critique.
Parking Lot Practice - normally not accepted as rider training, since there can be NO instruction during this self-taught course. It can be approved for use ONLY with the permission of the Region Educator under certain conditions.
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid (FA) Training - follow the recommendations of the provider organization (found on the course completion card).
For the American Red Cross (ARC), the typical course expiration da! tes are 1 year for CPR, 3 years for FA.
The American Heart Association (AHA) typical expiration dates are 2 years for both CPR and FA.
MEDIC FIRST AID(R) is also two years for each.
The American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI) is the most liberal for the lay-person, allowing 2 years for CPR and 3 years for FA.
There are others out there, but to be accepted they must be Nationally recognized (to qualify for all 50 state versions of the Good Samaritan Act) AND have a hands-on component for CPR. Web-based training is not accepted, and for good reason. Would you want someone who has never practiced CPR under the watchful eye of a trained instructor attempting CPR on you, your loved ones, or friends? Didn't think so.
The Good Samaritan act does not address recertification, but GWRRA does not want to get into the legal/medical battle of determining the best recertification frequency for medical training. We let the nationally recognized course providers determine what the refresher frequency and content should be. FYI - all of the courses we recognize follow international medical community guidelines which are in the process of changing again. All the ! providers are scrambling to change course materials and retrain instructors.
Other seminars such as Group (Team) Riding, Motorcycling for the Mature Rider (MMR), and the new Motorcycle Crash Scene Response (MCSR), are just as Walt said - great for knowledge but don't qualify for advancement in the REP Levels Program. Thus there is no need to have an expiration date for them. we have seen folks that do these on a refresher basis as deemed necessary though.
We'll copy Walt so he is aware of it and can clean up any lingering issues.
Ride with Less Risk & B+,
Tony Van Schaick
MSF Instructor 106012
GWRRA Master Instructor MI-040 (TRC, TC)
MFA Trainer (Basic 5.0 CPR/AED/First Aid)
ARC Instructor (CPR/AED/First Aid)
AHA Instructor (CPR/AED/First Aid)
GWRRA Seminar Instructor SI-001
GWRRA Assistant International Director
REP Levels Database Administrator
94 Edwards Circle
Oswego, NY 13126-6068
Voice: (315) 342-7438
E-mail: avansch1@twcny.rr.com
