First Aid Annual Skills Update | E-Learning
The HSE strongly recommends annual refresher training. This is the fastest way to do it.
First aid knowledge fades. Research consistently shows that practical skills, including CPR quality and tourniquet application, decline significantly within months of initial training, particularly when they have not been used. The Health and Safety Executive strongly recommends that all trained first aiders undertake annual refresher training between their three-year certificate renewals, precisely for this reason.
This online Annual Skills Update is the most time-efficient way to meet that recommendation. It takes a few hours to complete and refreshes core first aid knowledge, bringing you up to date with any changes in guidance since your last qualification. It does not replace a full practical requalification course. What it does is keep your knowledge current and your confidence higher in the years between courses.
What the Update Covers
- CPR review: current UK Resuscitation Council guidance on technique, compression rate and depth, and rescue breathing
- AED use: key points and any guideline updates
- Managing the unresponsive casualty: primary survey and recovery position
- Choking response for adults and children
- Catastrophic bleed management and tourniquet application: technique review
- Common medical emergencies: updated recognition and response for conditions including heart attack, stroke, anaphylaxis, asthma, hypoglycaemia and seizures
- Any significant guideline changes since your last first aid qualification
Course Details
| |
| Format | Fully online, self-paced |
| Duration | Approximately 2 to 3 hours |
| Certificate | PDF issued on completion |
| Access | Immediate on enrolment, and compatible with all devices |
Important: this is an annual skills update for trained first aiders, not a replacement for a full first aid qualification. If your EFAW or FAW certificate has expired or is approaching expiry, please book the appropriate requalification course: FAW Requalification or full FAW.
Certificate:
- Course is certified by Chris Garland Training.
- On successful completion of the multiple choice assessment within the course, you can download a certificate as evidence that you’ve completed and passed the First Aid Annual Skills Update E-learning course.
- Valid for 1 year.
- A4 sized pdf certificates are issued shortly after you complete the course.
- The course has been approved by the CPD Accreditation Group and qualifies for 1 CPD point.
Course duration:
- Learn at your own pace, typically 1-2 hours.
Test:
- Assessments throughout the course.
First Aid Update Pre-requisites:
- It’s recommended that you have a minimum of GCSE grade C/Level 2 literacy and numeracy (or equivalent) before undertaking this course. This is not mandatory – please contact us to discuss any reasonable adjustments to accommodate your needs.
- The course is suitable for anyone over 16 looking to undertake the responsibilities associated with being a nominated first aider.
Candidates:
- There are no minimum numbers for this online e-learning course.
Geographical coverage:
- This First Aid course is available to candidates throughout the UK.
Venue:
- This online first aid update course can be completed on any PC or mobile device.
- You can study at their own pace, and log in and out as often as you wish.
First Aid Update Joining instructions:
Private courses:
- To arrange a private course for yourself or your colleagues, please fill in our Quote Builder tool.
Useful Links:
Group Training & Corporate Enquiries
Do you need to train your team or purchase bulk licences? We provide flexible corporate options across our entire course catalogue to suit your organisation’s schedule and budget.
- Classroom & Blended Courses: Our expert instructors can travel directly to your venue to deliver private group training. Alternatively, we can host your team at our dedicated training centre in Knutsford. This is the most cost-effective route for group compliance.
- Online E-Learning Courses: We offer volume tier discounts for corporate clients purchasing multiple training seats. Our team handles the enrolment setup on our end to get your candidates registered quickly and seamlessly.
To arrange a private group session, discuss international travel logistics, or request a custom price breakdown for bulk e-learning licences, please visit our dedicated Corporate & Bespoke Training Quotations page.
What Happens After You Book?
We make the onboarding process completely frictionless. This allows you or your team to focus entirely on your training:
- Instant Email Confirmation: The moment you complete your booking, our system automatically delivers your order confirmation and receipt straight to your inbox.
- For Online & Blended Learning Elements: Following your order confirmation, our team will validate your booking and issue your unique access keys. We release these digital platform login details as quickly as possible during normal working hours. Once received, you can log in on any device and study entirely at your own pace.
- For Classroom & Practical Sessions: Most face-to-face courses begin promptly at 09:00am. We recommend arriving 15 minutes early to settle in. Please check your specific course description page for exact daytime run timings.
- All-Inclusive Transparent Pricing: The price you see covers your registration fees, official course textbooks (where applicable), examination materials, and final certificate processing. We never charge hidden additions.
Please visit our comprehensive Joining Instructions page to review specific venue directions, local parking options, and clothing recommendations for practical modules.
Get Notified of Upcoming Course Schedules
Course availability depends entirely on your chosen delivery method:
- Online E-Learning Courses: You do not need to choose a date. Following checkout, our team will validate your booking and issue your access keys as quickly as possible during working hours. You can then begin learning immediately.
- Classroom & Blended Courses: We regularly release new open-course dates throughout the month across our training centres. To view currently active schedules, simply scroll back to the top of this page and click the green “Choose an option” dropdown menu.
If our published diary dates do not match your setting’s availability, don’t worry. Drop your details into the contact form below. Our team will automatically notify you the moment our next block of course schedules goes live.
Why Choose Chris Garland Training?
Chris Garland Training is a multi-award-winning, ethical training provider. We operate on the principle of Honest Stewardship. We do not treat safety compliance as a corporate checkbox exercise. Instead, we view it as a vital investment in protecting human lives.
Accreditation & Authority
- Established Quality: We deliver expert safety training with a consistent 5-star rating from thousands of corporate and private clients.
- Certified Excellence: Our courses carry full backing and certification from Chris Garland Training alongside Ofqual Regulated Awarding Organisations. They meet all Health & Safety Executive (HSE) and Ofsted standards.
- Expert Instructors: Professionally qualified instructors deliver every session. They hold enhanced DBS certificates and undergo rigorous quality assurance monitoring.
Environmentally & Socially Responsible
Your booking actively advances global sustainability and supports critical humanitarian networks through our certified eco-partnerships:
- Global Reforestation: Every course place you book funds native tree planting across heavily deforested areas with JUST ONE Tree.
- Charity Support: We proudly co-fund the life-saving aviation networks of the North West Air Ambulance Charity.
- Ocean Cleanup: Your training helps purchase beach clean kits through our active association with Surfers Against Sewage.
Gareth Milton –
My First Aid at Work certificate expired 2 years ago. Is the online Annual Skills Update course right for me to obtain a new certificate?
ChrisGarland –
Hi Gareth.
Short answer; no. This course is for those who are still in date and want to brush up on their skills. If you’re certificate (either for a 1 day emergency first aid at work, or 3 day first aid at work) expired 2 years ago, you will need to re-do a full first aid course again. Note that the Health and Safety Executive deem that you shouldn’t be regarded as being a first aider in your workplace if your certificate is more than one month out of date.
Regards
Chris