What type of training is available?
The purpose of First Aid is to provide immediate assistance in an emergency before the arrival of a medical professional. In the workplace this means employers should do all they can to reduce the effects of injury or illness at work, even if these were not caused by the work itself. HSE says that any First Aid provision should be ‘adequate and appropriate’ for your circumstances. They recommend employers complete a quick and easy ‘First Aid Needs Assessment’ to help them decide on the best type of training for their staff.
There are 4 levels of First Aider / training:
- Appointed person – hasn’t completed a first aid course but is responsible for managing first aid supplies and making emergency calls
- Emergency First Aider at Work (EFAW) – 1 day basic training for life-threatening conditions
- First Aider at Work (FAW) – 3 day comprehensive training covering life-threatening conditions AND illness/injury in the workplace
- Additional training – where the contents of an EFAW or FAW course are not enough for your situation e.g paediatric training, outdoor first aid or forestry first aid; examples are included in the table below.
| Additional training | When additional training may be relevant |
|---|---|
| Management of a casualty suffering from hypothermia or hyperthermia | Extensive exposure to the outdoor environment due to, for example, regular maintenance activity, eg trackside rail work, forestry |
| Management of a casualty suffering from hydrofluoric acid burns | Glass industry, chemical manufacture, or other industries using pickling pastes containing hydrofluoric acid |
| Management of a casualty suffering from cyanide poisoning | Chemical manufacture |
| Oxygen administration | Confined space work, for example tank cleaning operations and working in sewers. Also, where there is a risk of exposure to hydrogen cyanide |
| Management of a drowning casualty | Swimming pools, fish farms |
| Application of haemostatic dressings and/or tourniquets | Sectors such as agriculture, forestry and construction Employers of people working in hospitality, events or other relevant sectors might wish to consider additional training to prepare for injuries to colleagues or the public, resulting from terrorist acts or other violent incidents |
| Recognise the presence of major illness and provide appropriate first aid (including heart attack, stroke, epilepsy, asthma, diabetes) | Wherever the environment is low hazard but you have identified a risk, either based on the known health profile, age and number of employees or a need to consider members of the public |
| Paediatric first aid, as required by the Department for Education or local authorities, which complies with the syllabus produced by OFSTED for first-aid provision for children in a school or other childcare setting | Schools and nurseries |
What is covered in the different courses?
Workplace courses are suitable for anyone, including those who juts want to increase their first aid skill and knowledge, or use in a community or volunteering role. Basic first aid training is not sufficient for you to take the role of first aider in a workplace situation – the table below shows which courses are appropriate for the workplace. All courses are regulated and accredited, following the current guidelines set out by Resuscitation Council UK and First Aid Awarding Organisations Forum (FAAOF). The syllabus for workplace courses is advised by HSE and FAAOF in line with current Resuscitation Council requirements.
| Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) | First Aid at Work (FAW) | Emergency Paediatric First Aid | Paediatric First Aid | Combined FAW & Paediatric First Aid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Role and responsibilities of the first aider | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| Assessing an incident / emergency situation | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| Casualty Assessment | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| Incident reporting | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| First Aid kits | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| Unconscious casualty | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| Recovery position | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| Secondary Survey | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | |
| Adult CPR | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | |
| Infant & Child CPR | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||
| Defibrillation (AED) | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| Choking Casualty | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| Wounds & external bleeding | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| Shock | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| Seizures | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| Minor injuries | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ |
| Epilepsy | ♦ | ♦ | |||
| Heart attack & angina | ♦ | ♦ | |||
| Stroke | ♦ | ♦ | |||
| Diabetic emergency | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | |
| Allergies & Anaphylaxis | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | |
| Fractures & dislocations | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||
| Sprains & strains | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||
| Head injuries | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||
| Spinal injuries | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||
| Chest injuries | ♦ | ♦ | |||
| Burns & scalds | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||
| Eye injuries | ♦ | ♦ | |||
| Electric shock | ♦ | ♦ | |||
| Asthma | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||
| Croup & other breathing difficulties | ♦ | ♦ | |||
| Ear, nose & eye conditions | ♦ | ♦ | |||
| Febrile convulsions | ♦ | ♦ | |||
| Meningitis | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||
| Poisoning | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | |
| Bites & stings | ♦ | ♦ | ♦ | ||
| Treatment for hot & cold temperatures | ♦ | ♦ |