This qualification is for people who have a specific responsibility at work, or in voluntary and community activities, to provide help to people in a range of emergency first aid situations. 

The learner will:

• Identify the role and responsibilities of a first aider
• Identify how to minimise the risk of infection to self and others
• Identify the need for consent to provide first aid
• Conduct a scene survey
• Conduct a primary survey on:
• • an adult
• Summon appropriate assistance when necessary
• Identify when to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to:
• • an adult
• Demonstrate CPR using:
• • an adult manikin
• Identify when to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with an automated external defibrillator (AED)
• Identify when to place a casualty into the recovery position
• Demonstrate how to place a casualty into the recovery position
• Demonstrate continual monitoring of breathing whilst the casualty is in the recovery position
• Identify how to administer first aid to a casualty who is experiencing a seizure
• Identify when a casualty is choking
• Demonstrate how to administer first aid to:
• • an adult who is choking
• Identify whether external bleeding is life-threatening
• Demonstrate how to administer first aid to a casualty with external bleeding
• (Optional) Demonstrate how to control catastrophic bleeding using:
• • Direct pressure
  • Haemostatic dressings/agents
  • Tourniquets
• Recognise when a casualty suffering from hypovolaemic shock
• Identify how to administer first. aid to a casualty suffering from hypovolaemic shock
• Identify how to administer first aid to a casualty with:
• • small cuts
  • grazes
  • bruises
  • small splinters
  • nosebleeds
• Identify how to administer first aid to a casualty with burns and scalds

The qualification is available to learners aged 14 or over but a learner cannot assume the responsibility of being a first aider in the workplace until they reach the age of 16.

It is recommended that learners hold a minimum of level 1 in literacy or equivalent to undertake this qualification.

It may be possible to grant a reasonable adjustment for a learner who has a disability, medical condition or learning need. For example, assistance could begiven with reading or writing. 

Due to the practical nature of the first aid assessment there are physical demands. Learners must be able to get to the floor unaided and successfully demonstrate all required elements of the practical assessment on their own, with the casualty on the floor, as in a real-life situation. For example, a learner will need to get to the floor unassisted and demonstrate effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a manikin at floor level.

If a learner has any concerns they should contact their training provider to discuss before attending the course.

The qualification has 6 assigned guided learning hours (GLH) and 7 hours total qualification time (TQT).

GLH indicates the number of contact hours that the learner will undertake being taught or assessed under the immediate guidance or supervision of the trainer/assessor in the classroom.

TQT includes GLH but also considers any unsupervised learning or preparation that a learner may undertake independently which could include self-study or the completion of set tasks.

The minimum classroom contact time of 6 hours can be delivered in 1 day or can be completed over a maximum of 4 weeks ensuring that each session is a minimum of two hours.

The learner ratio for the qualification is a maximum of 12 learners to 1 trainer/assessor.

Learners are assessed against the required knowledge, skills and understanding, as detailed in the learning outcomes and assessment criteria shown below. For this qualification there are: 

• Practical assessments – observed by the Trainer throughout the course, with the results of each learning outcome recorded on the practical assessment paperwork. There are 4 mandatory and 1 optional practical assessment for this qualification: 
• • CPR and safe use of an AED 
  • Choking casualty 
  • Unconscious casualty 
  • Wounds, bleeding and shock 
  • Catastrophic bleeding (optional) 
• Theory assessment/multiple choice question paper – there is 1 paper for each Learner and Learners should answer all the questions under ‘examination’ conditions. The maximum time allowed is 25 minutes. The minimum mark is 11 out of 15 in order to be considered for an overall ‘Pass’ 

There are 2 possible grades available of Pass or Fail. All mandatory areas of assessment must individually meet or exceed the required pass criteria/mark for the Learner to achieve this qualification. 

Practical assessment

Scenarios are set recreating a real-life situation as far as possible to enable a learner to demonstrate their knowledge and practical skills. During the practical assessment the learner will be asked set related oral questions by the trainer/assessor.

The practical assessment is ongoing throughout the course with the trainer/assessor making learners aware of when they are being assessed and what they are required to demonstrate.

The Learner needs to retake the qualification and the assessments before the end of the 3 years to remain qualified. 

The qualification is valid for three years from the date of achievement.

It is strongly recommended by the Health and Safety Executive that the learner attends annual refresher training.

Requalification

The HSE guidance states that on expiry of their qualification a first aider is no longer considered competent to act as a first aider in the workplace. It is advisable to arrange requalification before expiry to ensure that a workplace is not left with a shortfall of qualified first aiders.

To requalify learners will need to complete the full 6-hour course again.