Emergency First Aid at Work +Forestry (Blended Learning)

Emergency First Aid at Work + Forestry (Blended Learning)

We offer several versions of the “first aid +f” course. This, the Emergency First Aid at Work + Forestry (Blended Learning) course, or EFAW+F (blended) as it’s also known, is aimed those looking to undertake the role of emergency first aider in low risk workplaces on Forestry Commission/Forestry England land (e.g. land surveying, deer stalking – not tree surgery). This blended learning version of the course reduces the number of hours in the classroom but still covers the full syllabus of the course.

If you’re looking to undertake first aid for forestry workers, we’d strongly recommend that you attend the three day First Aid at Work +F (FAW+F) course, as this teaches you about how to treat more serious life-threatening conditions.

The EFAW+F course provides you with the knowledge & skills required to be an emergency first aider at work, as outlined in the Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.

This qualification goes beyond the level of teaching in a normal Emergency First Aid at Work course, covering the specific additional elements required by the Forestry Commission/Forestry England in their first aid policy, with regards to their “Core operations” of “harvesting, civil engineering, mechanised ground preparation, planting, fencing, pesticides application, forest nursery activities, or similar.”

This course is ideal for:

• Land surveyors,
• Estate workers,
• Fencing contractors,
• Farmers
• Rangers,
• Ecologists
• Those undertaking site visits in remote areas of Forestry Commission/Forestry England property

If you work in the following higher risk industries, please book onto the 3 day version of the course:

• Forest workers,
• Tree surgeons,
• Civil engineering contractors,
• Hauliers,

Course syllabus includes:

Note: The Emergency First Aid at Work course syllabus is set by the Health and Safety Executive. However, as a result of the European Resuscitation Guidelines 2025 and the UK’s Resuscitation Council 2025 guidelines coming into effect from January 2026, the course syllabus requirements of the HSE & Forestry Commission are also likely to change during 2026. If and when they do, our course syllabus will be updated accordingly.

• Health & Safety legislation with regards to first aid
• Understanding the role & responsibility of the first-aider, including:
  • managing incidents
  • gathering & using available equipment
  • the importance of preventing cross infection
  • the need for recording incidents and actions
• First aid kits & their contents
• How to assess an emergency situation in order to act safely, promptly and effectively
• Recognising & administering first aid to a casualty who is/has;
  • unresponsive & breathing normally (recovery position)
  • unresponsive & not breathing normally (CPR & use of Defibrillator)
  • the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest
  • choking
  • wounded and bleeding
  • small cuts, grazes and bruises
  • small splinters
  • minor burns and scalds
  • having a seizure
  • suffering medical shock
• Forestry Commission syllabus (PPG59) elements, including;
  • Recognising and treating;
    • extreme cold (hypothermia)
    • extreme heat (hyperthermia)
    • catastrophic bleeding
    • Adder snake bites
    • Anaphylaxis
  • The use of tourniquets and haemostatic agents
  • Crush injuries
  • Lyme disease

Certificate:

• Certified by Chris Garland Training:
  • This is the default option.
  • PDF format certificates are issued as standard, but paper certificates can be requested as well.
  • Your certificate is valid for 3 years.

Course duration:

• The blended learning course includes around 3-4 hours of e-learning that you can dip in and out of before taking an end of course exam.
• The face-to-face session runs from 9am until 3pm.

Test:

• Practical observation:
  • You’ll need to demonstrate giving first aid for forestry workers as you would in an emergency situation, such as providing CPR on the floor.
  • You need to score 100% to achieve a pass.
• Exam:
  • We do not include a written/multiple-choice exam in this course.

Pre-requisites:

• You’ll need to be able to demonstrate first aid procedures as you would in a real activity environment. This includes providing CPR to a casualty who is on the floor. So you must be physically capable of doing this to pass the course.
• We recommend that you have at least GCSE grade D/Level 1 English & Maths before undertaking this course. This is not mandatory – please contact us to discuss any reasonable adjustments to accommodate your needs.
• The EFAW+F (Blended learning) course is suitable for anyone over 16 looking to undertake the responsibilities associated with being a nominated first aider.

Candidates:

• All classroom courses have a minimum and maximum number of candidates that we can take on a course.
  • Minimum: We need a minimum of 4 candidates on an open/scheduled course for the course to run. Click here for more details.
  • Maximum: We are limited by the Health & Safety Executive, and (where applicable) by the Awarding Organisation, to a maximum of 12 candidates per instructor.
• Should you have more than 12 candidates to be trained, please contact us to discuss your training needs.

Geographical coverage:

• The emergency first aid at work +F (blended learning) course is available to candidates in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• We can deliver it in other countries, but the protocols that we teach meet the current UK practice, protocols & guidance.

Venue:

• Scheduled EFAW+F (blended learning) courses run at our training centre in Knutsford, Cheshire.
• Visit our Joining Instructions page to read about what you will need to bring/wear, etc.

Joining instructions:

• Visit this page to read the course joining instructions.

Private courses:

• To arrange a private EFAW+F (blended learning) course for yourself or your colleagues, please fill in our quote request form.

Links:

• Forestry England (aka Forestry Commission) website first aid page.