The Workplace First Aid Skills Everyone Should Have
Emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time, and being quick to act can make a life-saving difference. Learn the practical first aid skills that help people respond with confidence when every second counts.
When people think about First Aid at Work or Emergency First Aid at Work, they often focus on the training course itself. However, the real value of first aid training lies in the practical skills and in-depth first aid knowledge people take away and can apply in situations where it matters most.
As we know, emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time, regardless of workplace or location. You could be at work, and a colleague may cut themselves on some office supplies in the storeroom; you could work on an airline, and a passenger goes into anaphylactic shock, or a stranger could choke on some food at a café on your lunch break. In those critical moments, having someone nearby who is trained in first aid and knows what to do can make a life-saving difference.
At a minimum, workplaces should be carrying out regular risk assessments to determine their level of risk and what measures should be taken to ensure workplace safety. These assessments help work out the level of first aid provision the workplace requires. But there are also core first aid skills that every workplace can benefit from having. They form the foundation of effective emergency response and help build a safer, more prepared working environment.
Workplace first aid skills that matter
Learning first aid skills isn’t only useful for high-risk workplaces, such as construction sites, warehouses or manufacturing facilities where the risks are more dangerous. As emergencies can happen in offices, retail shops, schools and even in public settings.
The purpose of first aid training is not to replace emergency services, but to provide immediate support until they arrive. Having employees who are trained in first aid helps organisations:
- Improve workplace preparedness
- Respond quickly during emergencies
- Increase employee confidence that there is always help
- Support colleagues, customers and guests
- Create a stronger safety culture
Whether you’re considering the Emergency First Aid at Work course (suitable for low-risk environments) or are looking for a more in-depth First Aid at Work course (suitable for high-risk environments); understanding the essential first aid skills highlights why first aid training remains a valuable asset to any workplace.
Performing CPR
CPR, medically known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is one of the most recognised first aid skills and is performed when a casualty becomes unresponsive and is not breathing normally. This technique of 30 compressions and 2 rescue breaths helps circulate oxygen around the body while waiting for emergency services to arrive.
However, in a workplace emergency, people can be unsure of what to do if someone collapses, and uncertainty can delay action taken to help the individual – when every second matters.
But with First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work training courses, learning how to perform CPR can help remove that uncertainty by teaching people how to:
- Check for danger around the casualty
- Recognise when CPR is needed
- Assess an unresponsive casualty safely
- Perform effective chest compressions
- Perform effective rescue breaths
- Work together with colleagues during an emergency
- Continue CPR until emergency services arrive
There may be some learners who attend the First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work who will think learning CPR will be challenging, but with practical, hands-on training, confidence can be built. The first aid trainers will also be there for any support if learners need it.
CPR training is a key first aid skill that isn’t only exclusive to medical professionals; it’s a life-saving, practical first aid skill that everyone can learn and use in times of need.
Responding to a choking incident
A choking emergency can escalate quickly, especially when there’s no one available to help. It can also happen whenever: during a lunch break, at a work social event, or even at the desk while working. There’s never an announcement; a choking emergency happens unexpectedly, but can become serious within minutes.
It can feel quite stressful, and that can be down to people not being confident in recognising the warning signs.
Signs of severe choking can include:
- Coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Unable to speak
- Clutching the throat
- Increasing panic or distress
First aid training from either First Aid at Work or Emergency First Aid at Work teaches learners how to identify choking in a person and to respond quickly, effectively, and appropriately. Having the confidence to act, rather than freezing, is an important quality to gain from first aid training, and remains one of the most valuable skills taught.
Managing severe bleeding
Severe bleeding requires immediate attention. Significant blood loss is life-threatening and can be frightening for both the casualty and people around them if nobody knows how to respond.
However, a trained first aider will be equipped with the knowledge on how to manage severe bleeding, remain calm, assess a situation, and take effective action while waiting for emergency services to arrive.
A workplace first aid training course will help learners develop confidence around:
- Identifying a serious bleed: is there a pool of blood forming, for example
- Maintaining personal safety: putting on personal protective equipment like gloves
- Supporting an injured casualty: putting on sterile dressings or bandages on the wound to hold pressure. If this doesn’t stop the flow, a tourniquet may work
- Managing an emergency scene: ensuring a crowd doesn’t gather around the casualty
- Communicating effectively during an incident: asking a colleague for a first aid kit and to call emergency services
For workplaces that are reviewing their first aid at work requirements, ensuring you’re always prepared for the worst will help first aiders react quickly and effectively. A PAcT Trauma Kit is an important addition to your first aid provisions, as well as a tourniquet, haemostatic bandages and sterile dressings.
Understanding the recovery position
Some of the most effective first aid skills can also be the simplest. For example, the recovery position is a technique used to help protect an unresponsive but breathing casualty.
Although it appears straightforward, understanding when and how to use the recovery position properly is an important workplace first aid skill.
Without first aid training, bystanders may be unsure whether a casualty should be moved or left where they are. But with first aid training, learners gain practical guidance on how to assess situations safely and respond appropriately.
The recovery position is most used for emergencies such as:
- Fainting from low blood pressure
- After someone has suffered a seizure
- When a casualty is unconscious but breathing
However, the recovery position should not be used in certain cases like:
- If you suspect a spinal injury
- If the casualty is awake and talking
- If the casualty isn’t breathing – CPR needs to begin immediately
Understanding when to put an injured person into the recovery position can help first aiders feel more prepared if they encounter an emergency at work and give them the best chance of recovery while waiting for medical help to arrive.
Knowing how to use an AED
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are becoming an increasingly important piece of first aid equipment to keep in workplaces, schools, public and community spaces. However, many people remain nervous about using one.
This can stem from a lack of guidance on how to use an AED and not being familiar with the equipment itself. First aid training is where awareness and confidence grow, as a first aid training course introduces learners to AEDs and helps them understand:
- What an automated defibrillator does
- When an AED may be required
- How AEDs support emergency response
- How an AED works alongside CPR
- Why acting quickly is important
Building awareness around AEDs can help remove some of the fear people feel during a cardiac emergency. One way to do that is through our First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work training courses, where learners will gain a better understanding of how AEDs work, their confidence will grow, and they will feel prepared to respond in an emergency if a defibrillator is needed.
Our First Aid Training Courses
Emergency First Aid at Work
First Aid at Work
First Aid at Work Requalification
Paediatric First Aid
Schools First Aid
First Aid & Specialist Trauma (FAST) Level 3
Our First Aid Training Courses
Learn lifesaving skills that can help create a safer, more prepared workplace. From CPR to choking response, with expert-led workplace training.
Shop our training coursesWorkplace preparedness starts with practical first aid skills
Workplaces that are the most prepared aren’t always the ones with the biggest first aid kits or the most detailed emergency plans. They’re often the workplaces that have confident and trained first aiders who are ready to respond when the unexpected happens.
First aid skills that are taught in a first aid training course, like CPR, severe bleeding, AED use, and the recovery position, are all important first aid skills that can build confidence, which remains so important for a first aider. A confident first aider forms the foundation of an effective workplace first aid response and can help create a safer working environment for all staff and customers.
It’s important to note that every workplace will have different risks and hazards that will require different first aid requirements. This is why carrying out a risk assessment is the first step in identifying what is needed in your workplace. Investing in proper first aid equipment and first aid knowledge will ensure effective and prompt emergency response is available when it’s needed most.
Whether you’re looking to understand your first aid at work requirements, explore an Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work training course, or even refresh your first aid knowledge with a requalification. Developing and maintaining practical first aid skills is an important step towards a more prepared workplace.
