First Aid at Work Course
The core legal framework governing this is the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981. These regulations require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities, and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work.
1. Appointed Person
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Definition: An Appointed Person is someone designated by the employer to take charge of the first-aid arrangements, including looking after the first-aid equipment (like the first-aid box) and calling the emergency services when required.
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Significance: They are required only when a workplace risk assessment shows that a First Aid at Work (FAW) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) qualified person is not necessary, or if a qualified FAW/EFAW person is temporarily absent (e.g., on holiday).
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Training Requirement: The Appointed Person does not need to hold a formal FAW/EFAW qualification. They simply need basic instructions on what to do in an emergency. This course, by providing formal training, goes beyond the minimum legal requirement for an Appointed Person, making them much more competent.
2. Qualified First Aid at Work (FAW) Practitioner
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Definition: A First Aid at Work (FAW) Practitioner is someone who holds a formal, certificate-level qualification achieved after completing a comprehensive three-day (18-hour) course.
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Role: They are competent to provide comprehensive first aid in the workplace and are generally required in higher-risk environments (e.g., construction, manufacturing) or larger workplaces.
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The Course’s Role: The course you described is suitable for “those supporting a qualified FAW practitioner.” This means it provides a good level of knowledge for a colleague who works alongside the main FAW provider and needs to assist them effectively.
3. FAW Annual Refresher
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Legal Recommendation: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which enforces these regulations, strongly recommends that all FAW and EFAW qualified first aiders take a three-hour refresher course every year between their formal, three-year re-qualification training.
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Purpose: The annual refresher helps to prevent skill fade and keeps first aiders updated on any new protocols.
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The Course’s Role: The content of the course you described “fulfils the requirements for the FAW annual refresher,” meaning it is an ideal candidate for FAW practitioners looking to keep their skills sharp annually.
Learning Outcomes (The Specific Skills)
The learning outcomes listed cover the critical, life-threatening emergencies that a workplace first aider must be able to manage immediately.
| Outcome |
Description & Importance |
| Unconscious (including seizures) |
Assessing a casualty’s responsiveness and knowing how to place them in the Recovery Position to keep their airway open and prevent them from choking on their own fluids. |
| Not breathing normally (CPR) |
The most critical intervention. The ability to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on an adult casualty, significantly increasing their chances of survival until emergency services arrive. |
| Bleeding severely |
Stopping catastrophic blood loss through direct pressure and elevation to prevent the casualty from developing Hypovolemic Shock. |
| Suffering from shock |
Recognising the signs of circulatory shock (often caused by severe bleeding, heart attack, or allergic reaction) and knowing how to treat it (e.g., lying the person down, keeping them warm). |
| Choking |
Knowing the correct sequence of back blows and abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre) to clear an airway obstruction. |
| Suffering from a heart attack |
Recognising the signs (e.g., chest pain, shortness of breath), calling for immediate help, and assisting the person into a comfortable position while potentially administering aspirin (if protocols allow). |
In summary, this course is a versatile, intermediate-level online training course, that effectively bridges the gap between the very minimal requirements for an Appointed Person and the full three-day FAW qualification providing the theory only, while also serving as the essential annual update for fully qualified first aiders.
