COVID-19

As companies return to work, the provision of first aid in the workplace remains a vital responsibility of employers.  COVID-19 poses particular requirements, which we can assist you with and they include:

• Guidance to first aiders on COVID-19 safety measures.
• Resuscitation Council (UK)’s COVID-19 safety measures for providing CPR.
• Hygiene and cross-contamination control for the safety of patients and first aiders.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use and provision.
• Revisions or additions to your First Aid Policy and Procedures.

The key points from the HSE's latest guidance for First Aid at Work during COVID-19:

• Certificates that have expired after 16-Mar-20, are valid to 31-Oct-20 or 6 months from expiry, whichever is later.  Requalification must, however, be completed by 31-Mar-21.
• If unable to get face to face refresher training, the HSE supports online training. It does, however, still strongly recommend that the practical elements of actual FAW, EFAW and requalification courses are delivered face to face.
• Share first aiders with neighbouring companies if you cannot achieve the necessary cover because of isolating, working from home or unable to train first aiders.

Please see the full HSE guidance details here.

Contact us for more information and to discuss how we can help with your needs.

All of our courses will resume as soon as cases of COVID-19 are at a safe level and the govenrment's advice allows.  We will announce this as soon as it happens.

Our courses are run in a friendly atmosphere and are made fun and relevant by our enthusiastic trainers. They can either be run at your site or, if you prefer, we can arrange suitable external venues to suit your requirements.

All teaching is delivered in accordance with currently accepted first aid practice, the Resuscitation Council (UK) Guidelines 2015 and in accordance with The Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.

First aid at work - The Law
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide suitable first-aid equipment, facilities and personnel to enable immediate assistance to be given to employees if they are injured or become ill at work. Regulation 3(2) states that in order to provide first aid to injured or ill employees, "...a person shall not be suitable unless he has undergone -

1) such training and has such qualifications as the Health and Safety Executive may approve for the time being in respect of that case or class of case, and

2) such additional training, if any, as may be appropriate in the circumstances of that case"

The document, www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/l74, on the HSE website provides further information.

Training courses
If you have identified that first-aiders are needed in your workplace, they must have a valid certificate of competence in FAW or emergency first aid at work (EFAW). EFAW training enables a first-aider to give emergency first aid to someone who is injured or becomes ill while at work. FAW training includes EFAW and also equips the first-aider to apply first aid to a range of specific injuries and illnesses. The findings of the first-aid needs assessment can help you decide whether your first-aiders should be trained in FAW or EFAW.

The table on the HSE website, www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg214, suggests what first-aid personnel to provide under different circumstances.(source: The Health and Safety Executive website).

Please explore our courses below, which we offer at very competitive prices, to find the one most suited to your needs. Contact us for further information and we would be delighted to discuss your needs and help you choose the perfect course for your requirements:

• First Aid at Work (FAW) - Three Day course

  FAW courses involve at least 18 hours of training and are run over a minimum of three days

• Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) - One Day course

  EFAW courses last for at least six hours of training and are run over a minimum of one day.

• AED (Automated External Defibrillator) - Half Day course

  A short course run over three hours