Which first aid course is right for me?

There are loads of first aid courses out there. Some of them will be right for you, some won’t.

Ultimately it’s down to you to decide which course to attend, based on the results of your own first aid needs assessment, (which is what you need to do first).

On this page, we’ve listed all of the first aid courses that we offer, broken down by who they’re for, or where you might use them. For example;

• you’re a childminder, then you might choose to do the emergency paediatric first aid course.
• you work where professional help may be more than 30 minutes away, you should do an outdoor first aid course (care up to 2 hours).
• you’re looking to extend your skill base, how about the First Responder course, or a medical gases course?

Next to the course title, you can see how long the course take (hours or days). Work on the basis that the longer the course, the more you’ll learn. So a longer course will be more advanced than a shorter course.

When you’ve worked out which course is right for you, click on the course title to read more information about it and to book your place, or enquire about a private course booking.

Those under 14 years of age

• Junior Doctor (3 hour course, for those aged 5-10 years)
• Teens First Aid (5 hour course, for those aged 10-16 years)

Anyone over 14 years of age

Almost all of our first aid courses are suitable for those aged over 14 years. Typically those looking for basic first aid knowledge attend these courses;

• Baby & toddler first aid (2 hours)
• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 hours)
• Basic CPR and AED training (3 hours)
• Emergency first aid at work (1 day course)
  • Note that those under 16 should not be relied upon by employers to be a first aider.

Babysitters, New and soon-to-be Parents and Grandparents

• Baby & toddler first aid (2 hours)
• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 hours)
• Paediatric first aid (12 hours/2 day)

Childminders, Nursery staff, Primary school staff and those responsible for children under 18 years old

• First aid annual skills update (3 hours)
  • Annual skills refresher courses are “strongly recommended” for all first aiders by the Health & Safety Executive, who state that they should attend at least once during the validity of their first aid certificate.
• Paediatric first aid (12 hours/2 day)
  • Note that since the Resuscitation Council 2021 guidelines were released in April 2021, those under 18 years of age are considered to be children and as such you would undertake a paediatric first aid course if you have a duty to care for them.
• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 hours)
• Emergency first aid at work (1 day course)
  • “Adult” first aid to enable you to care for your colleagues and the parents.
• First aid at work (3 days course)
  • “Adult” first aid to enable you to care for your colleagues and the parents.

High school staff and those responsible for children over 18 years old

• First aid annual skills update (3 hours)
  • Annual skills refresher courses are “strongly recommended” for all first aiders by the Health & Safety Executive, who state that they should attend at least once during the validity of their first aid certificate.
• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 hours)
• Emergency first aid at work (1 day course)
  • “Adult” first aid to enable you to care for your colleagues and the parents.
• First aid at work (3 days course)
  • “Adult” first aid to enable you to care for your colleagues and the parents.
• Paediatric first aid (12 hours/2 day)
  • Note that since the Resuscitation Council 2021 guidelines were released in April 2021, those under 18 years of age are considered to be children and as such you would undertake a paediatric first aid course if you have a duty to care for them.

All existing workplace first aiders

• First aid annual skills update (3 hours)
  • Annual skills refresher courses are “strongly recommended” for all first aiders by the Health & Safety Executive, who state that they should attend at least once during the validity of their first aid certificate.
• First aid at work requalification course (2 days)
  • This is only for those whose 3 day first aid at work certificates are close to, but not yet expired.

Low hazard workplaces (eg: shops and offices, hairdressers)

• First aid annual skills update (3 hours)
  • Annual skills refresher courses are “strongly recommended” for all first aiders by the Health & Safety Executive, who state that they should attend at least once during the validity of their first aid certificate.
• Emergency first aid at work (1 day course)
• First aid at work (3 days course)

High hazard workplaces (eg: cafes and restaurants, light engineering and beyond)

• First aid annual skills update (3 hours)
  • Annual skills refresher courses are “strongly recommended” for all first aiders by the Health & Safety Executive, who state that they should attend at least once during the validity of their first aid certificate.
• First aid at work (3 days course)
• Level 3 Award for First Responders (4 days)
• Catastrophic bleed management (3 hours)
• Critical injury responder (6 hours)

Sports coaches

• First aid annual skills update (3 hours)
  • Annual skills refresher courses are “strongly recommended” for all first aiders by the Health & Safety Executive, who state that they should attend at least once during the validity of their first aid certificate.
• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 hours)
• Emergency first aid for Rugby (1 day)
• First aid for Judo (BJA approved) (1 day)
• Concussion in sports awareness (2 hours)

Outdoor instructors

• First aid annual skills update (3 hours)
  • Annual skills refresher courses are “strongly recommended” for all first aiders by the Health & Safety Executive, who state that they should attend at least once during the validity of their first aid certificate.
• Outdoor first aid (16 hours/2 days)
• Forest school first aid (20 hours/2-3 days)
• Concussion in sports awareness (2 hours)
• Level 3 award for first responders (4 days)
• Catastrophic bleed management (3 hours)
• Critical injury responder (6 hours)

Those with NHS contracts, Dentists, GP’s, Pharmacies, Opticians, Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Podiatrists, etc

• First aid annual skills update (3 hours)
  • Annual skills refresher courses are “strongly recommended” for all first aiders by the Health & Safety Executive, who state that they should attend at least once during the validity of their first aid certificate.
• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 hours)
• Basic life support (Dentists) (3 hours)
• Emergency first aid at work (1 day course)
• First aid at work (3 day course)
• Level 3 award for first responders (4 days)
• Level 3 award in administering emergency oxygen
• Level 3 award in administration of medical gases

Security and emergency services personnel

• First aid annual skills update (3 hours)
  • Annual skills refresher courses are “strongly recommended” for all first aiders by the Health & Safety Executive, who state that they should attend at least once during the validity of their first aid certificate.
• Basic life support (adults & children) (3 hours)
• Emergency first aid at work (1 day course)
• First aid at work (3 day course)
• Level 3 award for first responders (4 days)
• Level 3 award in administering emergency oxygen (
• Level 3 award in administration of medical gases

Those working on Forestry Commission land including those undertaking their “Core Activities”

• First aid annual skills update (3 hours)
  • Annual skills refresher courses are “strongly recommended” for all first aiders by the Health & Safety Executive, who state that they should attend at least once during the validity of their first aid certificate.
• Emergency first aid at work +F (1 day course)
• First aid at work +F (3 day course)
• Catastrophic bleed management (3 hours)
• Critical injury responder (6 hours)
• Level 3 award for first responders (4 days)

Tree surgeons

• First aid annual skills update (3 hours)
  • Annual skills refresher courses are “strongly recommended” for all first aiders by the Health & Safety Executive, who state that they should attend at least once during the validity of their first aid certificate.
• First aid at work +F (3 day course)
  • We don’t recommend the 1 day emergency first aid at work +F course for tree surgeons as, by definition, they work in a High Risk workplaces as defined by the Health & Safety Executive. The HSE recommend that all high risk workplaces should have first aiders trained to FAW standard, not EFAW standard.
• Level 3 award in responding to ligature incidents
• Catastrophic bleed management (3 hours)
• Critical injury responder (8 hours)
• Level 3 award for first responders (4 days)

If you’re reading this and you’re still unsure which course you should attend, please feel free to contact us to discuss your needs. Whichever course you choose to book on, I look forward to seeing you there soon.