The emergency first aid course should last at least 6 contact hours, excluding breaks.

On completion of training, successful candidates should be able to:

• understand the role of the first aider including reference to the use of available equipment and the need for recording incidents and actions;

• understand the importance of basic hygiene in first aid procedures;

• assess the situation and circumstances in order to act safely, promptly and effectively in an emergency;

• demonstrate how to administer first aid safely, promptly and effectively to a casualty who is unconscious and/or in seizure;

• demonstrate how to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation promptly and effectively;

• demonstrate how to administer first aid safely, promptly and effectively to a casualty who is wounded or bleeding and/or in shock;

• administer first aid safely, promptly and effectively to a casualty who is choking;

• provide appropriate first aid for minor injuries.

From HSE web site:

Introduction

This note, aimed mainly at HSE approved first aid at work training providers, focuses on the introduction of three interim changes related to their work.  The first of these is relevant to the provision of first aiders by employers.  In addition, the note considers the delivery of current and future first aid at work (FAW) and emergency first aid at work (EFAW) training courses by third parties.

Interim changes

During a recent consultation exercise, HSE invited comments on a number of specific issues. Overall, consultees supported a number of proposals, including the following:

• Paramedics registered with the Health Professions Council are exempt from the requirement to hold a valid FAW certificate to administer first aid in the workplace.
  
• Paramedics registered with the Health Professions Council are exempt from the requirement to hold a valid FAW certificate to be trainers/ assessors for FAW courses, providing they can demonstrate their competence to train/ assess.
  
• One assessor can conduct assessments on an FAW course with no more than six students.

HSE will introduce these three changes to current arrangements from 1 September 2008.

Delivery of FAW training by third parties

Currently, HSE approved training providers are permitted to develop arrangements with a third party for the delivery of FAW training courses.  In effect, the third party runs FAW courses on behalf of the HSE approved organisation but is not approved in its own right.  It is often referred to as ‘franchising’, although this term is probably inappropriate.  It encompasses a spectrum of arrangements from relatively informal to formal (supported by a written contract).  The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, do not prevent the provision of FAW training in this way.   

For the purposes of approval and monitoring, the HSE approved training organisation is responsible for the quality of FAW training delivered by third parties on its behalf.  On this basis, the third party offers a way of accessing suitably qualified trainers and assessors and is acting as an additional site from which FAW courses can be run.  To safeguard the quality of FAW training, all the following conditions should be met:

• The HSE approved training provider should conduct FAW courses in its own right and is responsible for ensuring that all FAW courses run by a third party meet the requirements defined in HSE’s guidance: How to gain and maintain approval for first aid at work training under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 [200KB]).
• The HSE approved provider should internally verify that all trainers and assessors used by the third party are appropriately qualified and experienced and should monitor their skills at least once a year.  Each trainer and assessor should have a personal portfolio containing relevant information that supports this verification.
• Only the HSE approved provider can issue FAW certificates.  Therefore, any training delivered by the third party will be supported by a certificate bearing the name of the approved provider.
• There needs to be a good, regular level of communication between the approved provider and the third party.
• The third party should make it clear that it provides FAW courses on behalf of the approved provider and is not HSE approved in its own right.     

Where the above conditions are met, third parties will be able to deliver FAW and EFAW courses in the future.  To support the change to a new training regime, HSE intends to ask its Contractor (SCOUT Enterprises (Western) Ltd) to collect relevant information when they conduct post approval monitoring visits.  It will cover the number of training courses being run and the number of sites from which the approved provider delivers them, including third parties.  Where organisations are operating from ‘multiple sites’ they may require more than one monitoring visit every five years in accordance with guidance on HSE’s website.  The approved training provider will be charged for each monitoring visit.

If a monitoring visit identifies any problems with the provision of FAW training by a third party, HSE will work with the approved provider to resolve them.  In the event that major problems are found which are not addressed and which relate to inadequate oversight by the approved provider, HSE may revoke the Certificate of Approval.

The collection of information on numbers of first aid training courses and training sites is likely to start before the end of 2008. 

From HSE

First aid at work stakeholder meeting,  2 May 2008

Redgrave court, Bootle

Summary note of meeting

Attendees

• David Arnold, Patrick Spry – Association of First Aiders (AoFA)
  
• Peter Pocock, Ian Irwin – Association of Independent First Aid at Work Training Organisations (AIFAWTO)
  
• Ian Kershaw, Paul Walker – Federation of First Aid Training Organisations (FOFATO)
  
• Audrey Edwards, Steve Best – First Aid at Work Council (FWC)
  
• Elaine Wilde, John Lavery – Qualifications and Curriculum Authority/ Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (QCA/ Ofqual)
  
• George Brown – Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA)
  
• Janet Hulbert, Steve Cressey – EDI/ ASET
  
• Peter Baker (Chair), Dil Sen, Richard Elliott, Mark Woods, Andrew Moore, Richard Moss, Christine Bethell, Sheila Brennan – Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Overview

Peter Baker introduced the meeting and emphasised the need for change and the potential advantages for:

• employer duty holders in accessing competent first aid, providing a proportionate response to their first aid needs and reducing burdens on business;
• first aiders in building or adding to a portfolio of skills and introducing them to lifelong learning;
• first aid training providers in presenting the opportunity to deliver a range of courses leading to QCA/ SQA accredited qualifications and influencing the standards and quality of general first aid training.

Dil Sen presented an overview of the findings of the recent consultation exercise followed by consideration of the implementation plan working towards delivery of the changes to first aid training and approval arrangements.

There was a period of discussion during which a number of legitimate issues were raised by training provider organisations, particularly in relation to the QCA/ SQA Awarding Bodies offering the emergency first aid at work (EFAW) qualification.  These included:

• the potential for dual standards between HSE approved training providers and Awarding Body approved training centres;
• the cost of gaining Awarding Body approval;
• the administration associated with Awarding Body approval;
• monitoring standards;
• funding.

Key points made in discussion

During the discussion, all participants had the opportunity to raise any concerns or questions.  The following points were emphasised:

• HSE will remain the standard setting body for first aid at work (FAW) and EFAW.
• HSE has discussed costs with the QCA, SQA and Awarding Bodies.  Both cost and administration should not present a significant impediment to training centres gaining approval with an Awarding Body.  While costs may vary between Awarding Bodies, a training centre may expect to be charged around £400 for initial approval and a certification fee of approximately £15.  Depending on the number of courses delivered, the certification fee will cover the cost of annual monitoring. 
• HSE is working with the QCA, SQA, Skills for Health and Awarding Bodies to ensure that HSE’s requirements are met for both the standard of training and monitoring of approved training centres, in delivering EFAW.
  

Overall, the meeting was positive and the following points were confirmed:

• By the end of the meeting, valid issues raised by stakeholders were addressed by participants.  Having fully considered the points made and responses to them, HSE intends to progress the QCA/ SQA model for new training providers wishing to run EFAW courses.
• The date for introducing the changes to first aid training arrangements will be 1 October 2009.  This is the date from which employer duty holders will be expected to implement the changes.
• Awarding Bodies will work towards establishing the EFAW qualification from 1 April 2009 so that training centres can obtain approval in advance of 1 October 2009.    

In closing the meeting, Peter Baker stressed that HSE would have to focus its limited resources to achieve the desired outcomes by 1 October 2009.  HSE needed the help and cooperation of all of the industry representative bodies to do this, and that success relied on all groups working positively and constructively together with HSE to achieve this goal.

The reality

We’ve often heard of teachers, volunteers and carers being told to ask parents for permission, or even requiring parents to drive over and put the plaster on themselves. This persistent myth causes a lot of unnecessary hassle and worry.

There is no rule that says a responsible adult can’t put a plaster on a child's minor cut. Some children do have an allergy to normal plasters; using them can cause a rash but is not serious. If you know a child is allergic you can use the Hypo-allergenic type of plaster. The important thing is to clean and cover the cut to stop it getting infected.

• Download a printable poster version [223KB]

Do I need to record incidents requiring the attention of a first aider?

HSE recommends that it is good practice to provide your first aiders/ appointed persons with a book in which to record incidents that required their attendance. The information kept can help you identify accident trends and possible areas for improvement in the control of health and safety risks. It can also be used for reference in future first aid needs assessments. This record book is not the same as the statutory accident book though the two could be combined.

There is a legal requirement to report accidents and ill health at work. Information on the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 is given in the HSE leaflet RIDDOR Ring and Report (MISC769) [117kb] .

What information should be recorded?

Useful information to record might include:

• date, time and place of incident;
• name and job of the injured or ill person;
• details of the injury/illness and what first aid was given;
• what happened to the person immediately afterwards (for example went home, went back to work, went to hospital);
• name and signature of the first aider or person dealing with the incident.

Who is responsible for keeping the records?

It is usually the first aider or appointed person who looks after the book. However, employers have overall responsibility.

Do I need to make first aid provision for members of the public?

The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 do not oblige employers to provide first aid for members of the public. However, many organisations provide a service for others, for example places of entertainment, fairgrounds and shops, and HSE strongly recommends that employers include the public and others on their premises when making their assessment of first aid needs.

Do the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 cover large events such as concerts?

Only in so far as employers are responsible for providing first aid for their employees. At an event, for example a pop concert, it is the organiser’s responsibility to ensure that there is adequate first aid provision. HSE has produced guidance, The event safety guide, which provides further details.

We have currently some 20 applicants for Board membership. We will be contacting applicants shortly.

When should first aiders be trained in the use of oxygen?

Before 1987, the use of oxygen by first aiders was included under ‘special hazards’ in the Approved Code of Practice on first aid. This was largely intended to cover certain requirements of the Factories Act 1961, concerning the rescue of people from confined spaces. The use of oxygen in this context is now covered by the Confined Spaces Regulations 1997 and if these apply to your premises, you should consult the Approved Code of Practice, Regulations and Guidance: Safe work in confined spaces L101.

Administration of oxygen may also be recommended as part of the first aid treatment of certain chemical incidents, eg cyanide poisoning. Therefore, a requirement for training might emerge from your assessment of first aid needs. This training can be undertaken as an extension to basic first aid training or as a separate course. It does not need approval from HSE.

Oxygen may also be administered as part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and there are several types of mechanical resuscitation aid which administer oxygen. The use of these is optional, not essential. There are no circumstances in which HSE requires you to provide such equipment but you may do so provided that first aiders are given appropriate training in the use of the equipment. Such training is usually offered by the manufacturers or suppliers and does not need HSE approval.