Frequently Asked Questions

about our first aid training courses

What is first aid?

First aid constitutes assessment and assistance given to a person who has suffered due to injury or illness. It takes place within the parameters of 1) Preserving life 2) Preventing the situation from worsening, and 3), Promoting recovery. First aid can be administered by a person who possesses relevant basic medical skills and qualifications, and may include the complete treatment of minor injuries such as cuts or slight burns, or performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) when necessary, before further (professional) medical help arrives, often in the form of an ambulance with paramedic assistance.

Who needs first aid?

Any person who suffers either a minor or a major injury in any situation, e.g. a cut at work, a fall in the street, a heart attack or an allergic reaction. In such circumstances if a qualified first aider is present they will administer the first level of help. It is a legal requirement under the Health and Safety Executive Health and Safety Regulations (1981) that all employers have to provide facilities, equipment and personnel to enable them to give first aid assistance to any employee or visitor who becomes ill or injured. In accordance with this, designated first aiders will have to be trained by Health and Safety Executive approved trainers and receive an appropriate qualification. The size and risk category of the company will determine the number of first aiders required and the level of qualification needed. Please contact us for information and guidance on this.

First aid at work

First aid at work applies to the environment of someone’s workplace, sometimes in a relatively high risk environment, such as for example a construction site, where heavy materials and machinery are used, and tall building sites may exist, or an airline, where space in an aircraft is confined and time to reach a destination with paramedic and hospital treatment is a factor. Employers are required to provide first aid to their employees.

Becoming a first aider

First Aid courses are taught by Health and Safety Executive approved first aid instructors in line with the First Aid Regulations (1981). Choosing the appropriate course is important, and will depend upon the size and risk profile of the company. We deliver both the First Aid at Work and the Emergency First Aid at Work courses, as well as the shorter annual refresher courses and the requalification courses, required every three years.

Aims & responsibilities of a First Aider

The aims of the First Aider are to:

Preserve life,
Prevent the situation from worsening, and
Promote recovery.

Their responsibilities extend to such time as further help arrives, often in the form of paramedics, and sometimes followed by removal to hospital or a Minor Injuries Unit.

The role of a First Aider is a crucial one, in that they are the link between someone being taken ill or have an accident or incident and that person receiving professional medical help. This first response by the First Aider is essential in buying time for the casualty, sustaining them before they receive that professional medical help.

Which course do I need?

The Health and Safety Executive guidance dictates that employers should ensure that first aiders should ‘remain competent to perform their role’, hence the recommendation that first aiders should attend annual refresher courses.

These are recommended on the evidence of the significant degree of ‘first aid skill fade’. The flow chart on the home page details the training sequence recommended by Health and Safety Executive.

The specific course you choose will depend upon the size and risk profile of the company for which you work. Typically, companies with fewer than 50 employees, in what is known as a low hazard environment, e.g. offices, will require one first aider with the Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) qualification. Larger companies in this category will require at least one employee with the First Aid at Work (FAW) qualification for every 100 employees.

Companies operating in a higher hazard environment, e.g. manufacturing companies with machine tools, will typically require one First Aid at Work qualified employee per 50 employees.

However, these are typically quoted figures, and as every organisation differs in its risk profile, the management have to make their own assessment to determine the numbers of First Aid staff required, and which courses they should take.

Where are your first aid courses located?

Our first aid training courses are based in Frome, Somerset, at one of three main venues, or in your own company premises – Contact us for more information about this.

We can also provide courses in your location and serve Somerset, Wiltshire and Dorset including Bath, Bristol, Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge, Westbury, Warminster, Shaftesbury, Gillingham, Salisbury, Yeovil, Taunton, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Wells, Weston-Super-Mare, Bridgwater, and more.

Would highly recommend, very professional, a great company to deal with.

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April 2023

See our courses...

First Aid at Work is our most comprehensive course. It is delivered over 3 days (18 hours), and will qualify you to deliver First Aid at Work. This complies with the legal requirement for employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work.

The First Aid at Work course is designed chiefly for workplaces in medium to high risk environment.

We can also deliver this course in the blended learning format, which involves an online study course of 6 hours. This online part comes complete with progress checks tests and a final exam, followed by 2 days in the classroom (12 hours).

Click below for more information about the course.

The Emergency First Aid at Work course takes one day (6 hours). It is designed to qualify you as an Emergency First Aider at Work. This is similar to the three-day First Aid at Work course, with the exception of some injuries and illnesses which are not covered. Examples of these include poisoning, suspected spinal injuries, anaphylactic shock, or diabetes. As such, it is considered to be suitable for employers operating in a lower risk environment.

Employers are responsible their own risk assessment and selecting which course is appropriate for them in their own workplace.

Click below for more information or to enquire about the course..

The Basic Life Support & AED is the only course not officially recognised by the Health and Safety Executive. This is a popular course aimed at any member of the public or organisation. It is designed so that any person can learn basic emergency life-saving skills which could be of use in a potential life-threatening emergency. These include Sudden Cardiac Arrest, severe bleeding, or choking. The course duration is only 4 hours, and it includes plenty of hands-on practise to make students feel confident in being able to apply those skills in a live situation. Click below for more information or to enquire about the course.