Frequently Asked Questions

First Aid at Work

The contents of your First Aid Kit will vary according to the expected use and number of users, please see the link to the Health and Safety Executive below which will help
http://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/faqs.htm#first-aid-box

The regulations surrounding approval for First Aid training providers changed in 2013, the Health and Safety Executive’s website has a document to help with this please use the link below for a free download
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/geis3.htm

Please see the Training Courses section of our website for the full contents of all our courses where you can also download a Course Outline.

The Health and Safety Executive provide guidance http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg214.pdf

This will depend upon who you are expected to provide first aid to and how many people your first aid is expected to cover.  Please see our website for more information or give us a call on 0370 850 11 86 and we will be happy to help.

The annual updates are only a recommendation and the 2 day First Aid at Work Re-qualification course can still be done providing that the current First Aid at Work Certificate is in date or the course is attended within 28 days of the expiry of the current certificate.

Automated External Defibrillator / AED

All models of AED have a status indicator and or a beeping noise when the battery is due to be replaced.  The packaging that the pads are supplied in will have an expiry date on the outside and we will endeavour to send you a reminder when your pads are due to expire if you purchased your defibrillator form us.

You don’t need to be trained to use and AED. Modern defibrillators give clear voice prompts, visual illustrations/instructions to guide the user through the rescue. There have been many instances where AED’s have been used with success by untrained rescuers. We of course strongly recommend that training is undertaken as this improves confidenceand the likelihood that the user will act promptly and safely.

There are a wide range of AED’s on the market today so before purchasing your AED call us for some advice on 0330 043 5818. We will ask a series of questions to help determine what will be the most suitable equipment for you. This will be based on a number of factors such as the type of workplace and the age of people the AED might be used on i.e. if we were supplying an AED for a primary school the device would need to be suitable for paediatric use on children 1-8 years old or if the device was to be used on a farm we would need to ensure the AED was rugged and durable enough to stand up to harsh environments.

AED (Automated External Defibrillator) are a portable lightweight device designed to be used by people with minimal training on someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest.  The job of the AED is to analyse the heart rhythm to determine if it is normal or irregular.  AED’s can recognise rhythms such as ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) that are also known as Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  Once the AED has completed its analysis it will either give instructions to start CPR or to give a shock.

Although there is no legal requirement to provide AED’s in the workplace your first aid needs assessment may determine that you should have AED’s available. You may have an ageing workforce or history of instances where an AED was needed for example. We believe that all UK workplaces and locations should have a defibrillator available.

First Aid/Training Courses

This is a course run by a training provider that is approved and monitored by the First Aid Industry Body (FAIB). Approved courses include: Emergency First Aid at Work, 3 day First Aid at Work, 2 day First Aid at Work Re-qualification and 12hr Paediatric First Aid. Student certificates should show the training providers FAIB approval number. Our company is approved by FAIB to deliver the first aid training courses listed.

Contact our office on 0330 043 5818 or enquiries@first-rescue.co.uk and our team will be able to help.

Please allow 2-4 weeks for your certificate to be processed. This will then be emailed as a PDF document to the person or organisation that made the course booking.

Most First Aid Certificates are valid for 3 years however please view our course information section as this will give you details of certificate validity periods.

Emergency treatment administered to a person who is ill or injured prior to the arrival of the emergency services.

Paediatric First Aid

Anyone working with young children (EYFS), Teachers, Nursery Workers, Childminders, Nannies etc. The statutory framework for the early years foundation stage has been updated and came into effect as at 3rd April 2017. This document clearly states that:

Providers are responsible for identifying and selecting a competent training provider to deliver their PFA training. Training is available from a wide range of providers including: those who offer regulated qualifications; or the Voluntary Aid Societies (St John Ambulance, the British Red Cross and St Andrew’s First Aid who together are acknowledged by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) as one of the standard-setters for currently accepted first aid practice for first aid at work training courses); or those who operate under voluntary accreditation schemes; or one that is a member of a trade body with an approval and monitoring scheme;

If you are at all concerned about the person who requires your first aid it is always best to call 999, the operator will be able to advise you on what to do and will send an ambulance if required.

Schools are able to provide emergency inhalers for pupils that are already diagnosed with asthma. Please use the following guidance – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emergency-asthma-inhalers-for-use-in-schools

Schools can also provide emergency adrenaline auto-injectors for pupils that are diagnosed with Anaphylaxi. Please use the following guidance – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-emergency-adrenaline-auto-injectors-in-schools