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Safer Anaesthesia From Education (SAFE)

Safer Anaesthesia From Education (SAFE) is a short CPD/CME course aimed at equipping anaesthesia professionals with the essential skills and knowledge to deliver safe care to their patients, even in the most resource-limited settings.

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SAFE was jointly developed by the Association of Anaesthetists and WFSA back in 2011. The programme actively strengthens the anaesthesia expertise of participants through interactive skill sessions, discussions, simulations and role play and aims to create a sustainable training model which can be embedded in national health systems around the world.

SAFE combines international and local faculty, who are provided with a training of trainers course tobecome the in-country faculty of the future. SAFE is delivered in small groups using a combination of lectures, low-tech simulation, discussions and role-play.

The course is tailored to suit the needs and context of trainees and can be delivered to both physician and non-physician anaesthesia providers. The aim is to create a sustainable training model which can be embedded in the national health system.

Over 300 SAFE courses have been run in over 50 countries, training over 10,000 participants and 1500 trainers around the world.

SAFE Courses

SAFE Obstetrics

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SAFE Obstetrics

SAFE Obstetrics is a three-day training course which addresses the roles of the anaesthesia provider in managing obstetric cases and emergencies.

It uses clinical scenarios based on the conditions causing 80% of maternal deaths: haemorrhage, sepsis and eclampsia.

It also covers anaesthesia management, complications of anaesthesia and newborn resuscitation.

SAFE Obstetric Anaesthesia Course Manual

Participants on SAFE Obstetrics and Paediatrics courses also receive a copy of the SAFE Handbook

Safe topic leads: Jolene Moore and Maytinee Lilaonitkul

SAFE Paediatrics

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SAFE Paediatrics

The SAFE Paediatrics course is a three-day course which aims to provide refresher training in the essentials of paediatric anaesthesia and emphasises the principles of safe care for children, in particular, assessment, vigilance and competence in essential skills. 

The course includes sessions on anaesthesia for common elective and emergency conditions in children, pain management, fluid resuscitation, newborn and paediatric life support and paediatric trauma management.  

A two-day version of the SAFE Paediatrics course has been developed for UK anaesthetists in 2019.

Paediatric Anaesthesia Facilitator Course Manual 

Participants on SAFE Obstetrics and Paediatrics courses also receive a copy of the SAFE Handbook

Safe topic leads: Michelle White and Lowri Bowen. GB&I: Rachel Freedman

SAFE Paediatrics – Cleft

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SAFE Paediatrics-Cleft

Launched in 2022, SAFE Paediatrics – Cleft is a two-day course focused on the principles of providing safe anaesthesia to children undergoing cleft lip and palate repair surgery.

The course covers the principles of paediatric anaesthesia, cleft surgery and OR safety, as well as sessions on intercurrent illness, associated conditions and syndromes, airway management and anaesthesia for cleft surgery. 

Safe topic leads: Adele King

SAFE Training of Trainers (ToT)

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SAFE Training of Trainers

SAFE Training of Trainers is a one-day course which covers SAFE teaching methodology, to equip new trainers with the skills to teach on SAFE courses

Safe topic leads: James Leedham

SAFE Online

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SAFE Online

SAFE Online is our newest development, providing alternative models of SAFE course delivery, including interactive e-learning through our SAFE Online learning management system and interactive online discussions, with fully online and hybrid options of delivery

How to Get Involved

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Running a SAFE course:

When planning a SAFE course, please inform WFSA by emailing the SAFE Programme Coordinator, Laurie Barnes, at laurie.barnes@wfsahq.org.

  • New Locations: Notify at least 4 months in advance.
  • Locations that had SAFE before but requiring external support: Notify at least 2 months in advance.
  • Locations running SAFE independently: Notify at least 1 month in advance

Information to include in the Notification:

  • Location – Specify the region, country, and city/town where the course will take place.
  • Dates – Provide the proposed course dates.
  • Participants – Include the number and cadre of participants (anaesthesiologists, non-physician anaesthesia providers, nurses, technicians, etc.).
  • Faculty – List the number and names of faculty members.
  • Course Structure – Indicate any modifications or adaptations to the course structure, format, or curriculum.
  • Point of Contact – Provide the name and email address of the person responsible for coordination.

SAFE Trainers:

All SAFE trainers must have completed the Training of Trainers (ToT) in order to teach on a SAFE course. If you have experience teaching on SAFE courses, please fill out the Trained Faculty Form. Please update your details regularly to make sure they are accurate. This helps us maintain an up-to-date database of trainers and allows us to contact you about relevant courses.

If you would like to become a SAFE trainer, please contact Laurie Barnes at laurie.barnes@wfsahq.org. Please note that as the SAFE programme continues to expand, courses are relying more on local trainers and less on international faculty.

SAFE Participants

To participate in a SAFE course, please:

Course materials are available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and Khmer. Participants on SAFE Obstetrics and Paediatrics courses also receive a copy of the SAFE Handbook

Further Resources & Impact

Title image: SAFE Obstetrics course in Somaliland, 2022

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