Which First Aid course should I choose?

In the UK, it is a legal requirement for businesses to take reasonable steps to protect their employees. This includes implementing a first aid policy, and having a number of trained first aiders in the building - the number depends on the amount of staff at the business.

As well as complying with the law, sending team members on a first aid course helps protect the safety of your staff - but which first aid course should you choose?

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)

One of the most popular courses in the UK is the one-day Emergency First Aid at Work course, which covers common medical emergencies that can happen in the workplace. This includes treating an unconscious and unresponsive casualty, treating a major wound, burns, and choking.

This course is slightly less intensive that the First Aid at Work course and is intended to educate staff on the most serious of medical emergencies only.

First Aid at Work (FAW)

This three-day course earns learners a more rounded qualification - covering all the medical emergencies from the EFAW course, as well as more injuries and illnesses that can take place in any workplace.

These include: minor injuries, shock, anaphylaxis, poisoning and more. St John’s Ambulance Service emphasises that there are very few circumstances in which the Emergency First Aid course is more suitable than the First Aid course.

Paediatric First Aid at Work

If working in an environment where children under the age of 18, it is important that staff are educated in first aid techniques for children - as they can vary greatly to those for adults.

This two-day course covers how to respond if a child’s airway becomes blocked, how to use a defibrillator on a child in cardiac arrest, treating febrile convulsions, and more.

Workers in any environment with children present e.g. schools, nurseries, and supermarkets, should choose this course alongside a regular First Aid at Work course.

Level 2 Award in CPR and AED

This four hour course gives learners some hands-on experience with administering CPR to a manikin as well as the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

Many people may not have seen a defibrillator up close, so this hands-on course is helpful in building confidence should an AED shock ever be required in the workplace.

Defibrillator Familiarisation

Similar to the CPR and AED course, this relatively short course gives learners an in-depth knowledge of defibrillators and performing CPR. This course is suitable for any business, and is also run as a public course by Imperative Training.

Those in the local community of Irlam and Cadishead can make use of Imperative’s free Defibrillator Familiarisation course in partnership with the Hamilton Davies Trust - learn more here.

First Aid Refresher

The annual First Aid Refresher course is designed to keep learners up-to-date with any changes to best practice in first aid, and keep their skills and knowledge fresh.

Offering the Highest Standard of Training

With a choice of providers for your first aid training, it can be difficult to work out which is the right fit for you.

Imperative Training offers courses that are accredited to the highest possible standard in the UK - TQUK Diamond Approved.

Courses offered through Imperative are available in-house, reducing the disruption to your business and making training as convenient as possible by bringing the trainer to a venue of your choosing - your own workplace if suitable.

You can speak to our experienced team on 01617767420 or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.