First Aid Courses

What are the different types of first aid training courses?
First aid training courses include Emergency First Aid at Work, First Aid at Work, and CPR training. These courses teach essential skills such as CPR, wound treatment, and managing medical emergencies, health conditions and injuries. Learners gain the ability to assess situations, provide immediate care, and make life-saving decisions where every second counts.

How long does a first aid at work certificate last for?
A first aid at work certificate is valid for 3 years. During this time, the individual is authorised to act as a workplace first aider. Once the certificate expires, they can no longer fulfil this role, and the employer may fail to meet the first aid requirements identified in their risk assessment.

Although the certificate is valid for 3 years, studies have shown that the quality of first aid skills can deteriorate after 6 months. This is called skills fade. The HSE strongly recommends that first aiders complete an annual refresher of their first aid skills.

What is the difference between First aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work course?
The First Aid at Work course is intended for employers whose risk assessments show a higher level of workplace hazards, or for larger organisations with lower levels of risk.

The First Aid at Work course also covers a wider range of first aid techniques than the emergency first aid at work course. If your risk assessment identifies specific risks, for example, fractures, burns or anaphylactic shock, your first aiders should complete the full first aid at work course to ensure they are properly equipped to respond.

How do I become a certified first aider?
You need to attend a First Aid at Work or Emergency First Aid at Work course and successfully complete the assessment on these courses. The assessments for both courses test both your knowledge and your skill at responding to a variety of first aid incidents.

If you have already completed a First Aid at Work course and your certificate is about to expire, you can attend a requalification in first aid at work to keep your certificate current.

What is the difference between a first aider and an appointed person?
An appointed person is expected to take charge of the first aid arrangements, which include looking after first aid equipment, such as ensuring the first aid kit is regularly replenished and calling the emergency services if an incident occurs. They are not expected or trained to provide first aid. 

Appointed persons are only appropriate for very small, low-risk workplaces where their risk assessment has identified that a first aider is not required. Whereas a first aider is trained and assessed to provide first aid if a first aid incident occurs.

Can you fail a First aid at Work course?
Before you can fulfil the role of a first aider in the workplace, you need to demonstrate that you have both knowledge and competence to manage a variety of first aid incidents. If you are unable to prove sufficient knowledge on a first aid at work course, or show competence at managing a variety of first aid incidents, you will not be allowed to complete the course or be awarded a certificate.

How often should I do first aid training?
A first aid at work or emergency first aid at work certificate is only valid for 3 years. You need to complete either a requalification in first aid at work or redo the emergency first aid at work course before your certificate expires, to continue to fulfil the role of a first aider in the workplace.

Although a certificate is valid for 3 years, studies have shown that the quality of first aid skills can deteriorate after 6 months. This is called skills fade. The HSE strongly recommends that first aiders complete an annual refresher of their first aid skills.

How many first aiders do I need?
The number of first aiders needed is determined by a combination of the number of people you employ, the level of hazard that your operations present, the layout and size of your workplace and work patterns, such as shifts. The number differs from employer to employer, and a thorough risk assessment is required to determine what is appropriate for your operation.

As a rule of thumb, if you operate at a higher hazard, you should have 1 first aider with a first aid at work certificate for every 50 people employed on site at all times. For lower hazard employers, it’s 1 first aider for the first 25 people employed on site at all times, then 1 extra for every 100 people employed.

If you operate over several floors, a large site or have a shift pattern, you need to ensure the same provision is provided across your whole site and at all times your workplace is open. If you have a multi-use site that has a variety of operations, for example, an office plus light manufacturing on site, you need to ensure that enough trained first aiders are provided based on the varying hazards of different parts of your site. The HSE also advises that you take into account whether parts of your site are open to members of the public and ensure sufficient first aiders are provided.