Which First Aid Course Do I Need?

Choosing the right first aid training course for your workplace can feel confusing — but it doesn’t need to be.

In the UK, first aid provision is based on your organisation’s First Aid Needs Assessment, as outlined by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

This assessment considers:

• The type of work you carry out
• The size of your workforce
• The level of risk in your environment
• Whether your team works in remote or high-risk locations

By completing a needs assessment, you can determine:

• How many trained first aiders you require
• The level of training needed
• Which first aid course is most appropriate

You can view the official HSE guidance on completing a first aid needs assessment here: Managing risks and risk assessment at work – Overview -HSE.

Special requirements for offshore work

Some industries have additional legal requirements, including:

• Offshore installations
• Pipeline works
• Remote or hazardous environments

These sectors must follow specific legislation such as the:
Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (First Aid) Regulations 1989

You can see the HSE Offshore Installations and Pipeline Works (First Aid) Regulations 1989  Approved Code of Practice and guidance here: Legislation - First aid at work (hse.gov.uk).

First Aid Training Courses Available

With such a large number of first aid courses available, we have broken them down into groups to make the selection easier.

🟢 For Low-Risk Workplaces

• Appointed Person First Aid is designed for low-risk workplaces, providing essential knowledge to manage first aid arrangements and respond to minor incidents
• Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) – For those who need to an Appointed Person to provide first aid in the workplace, or an individual to provide emergency first aid cover

🔵 For Medium to High-Risk Workplaces

• Qualified First Aider at Work  – these courses are suitable for employees in a workplace where one or more trained First Aiders are required. This level of training goes beyond that of the one-day Emergency First Aid course
• First Aid at Work Requalification  – Requalification courses available to renew a delegate’s First Aid at Work certificate

🟠 For Existing First Aiders

• First Aid Annual Skills Update – Suitable (and HSE recommended) for all first aiders holding a valid First Aid at Work or Emergency First Aid at Work certificate - This course can be completed 100% online. Please browse our online courses.

👶 For Childcare & Education

• Paediatric First Aid  – Paediatric first aid courses are for those who work with children (such as in a nursery or pre-school environment) or for those who wish to learn more about paediatric first aid in general

🚑 For Specialist Roles

• Trauma and Casualty Care First Aid (First Responders)  – These First Responder courses are more specialist first aid courses for those who potentially have to administer emergency treatment for life threatening conditions including those in the emergency services, construction and search and rescue teams

🧠 For Workplace Wellbeing

• Mental Health in the Workplace  – This category covers a wide range of mental health first aid courses covering all areas, including managing mental health in the workplace, Dementia awareness and wellbeing