What Happens on a First Aid Course? A Beginner's Guide

In this blog we’re going to reassure first time attendees by walking them through a typical Train Aid first aid course. 

We’ll cover what you will learn, how our instructors deliver the training and why gaining these skills can make a difference in an emergency. 

Let’s start with what to bring.  We design our First Aid courses to be as interactive and include as much learner activities as possible; with this in mind we strongly recommend wearing comfortable clothing; we will provide you an electronic copy of the latest First Aid Handbook, however you may wish to bring a notepad and pen to make your own notes. 

As you will be receiving a nationally recognized and accredited certificate, you will be required to perform practical exercises on the floor to pass the course, for example CPR on a mannequin, this is done to reflect real world scenarios.

Be ready to ask questions, it’s a great idea to have a think about any First Aid questions you’d really like answering; this can be on anything from minor injuries to CPR; there will be plenty of opportunities to pick the brains of our knowledgeable instructors. 

The most important thing to remember in the run up to a First Aid course is that you don’t need any previous experience or medical qualifications to attend, our instructors will work with you to ensure you are fully competent at the end of the session. 

On the day itself please arrive with good time and take your seat within the training room, the course will start with an Icebreaker activity to find out everyone’s names and previous experience. 

The teaching begins with an outline of the theory behind First Aid, you will be taught the definition and the overall aims of administering First Aid, before moving onto the first practical exercise of the day, understanding and performing the Primary Survey, which, yes, you’ve guessed it, is the First Survey a First Aider undertakes when they’re dealing with a casualty. 

The rest of the morning will then cover the secondary assessment and recovery position, with the opportunity to practice this.  If you are undertaking a paediatric course, the infant protocol will also be taught for dealing with casualties under one. 

Before lunch there will also be an in-depth discussion and practice of the correct CPR, AED and just before the break, Choking protocols. 

Our courses will usually contain a 30-minute lunch break, after which learners will be guided through topics such as: seizures, major bleeding, shock, minor injuries and burns. 

The afternoon session again includes lots of learner activities, such as how to correctly apply a dressing to a wound as well as a timed CPR activity. 

The course concludes with a multiple-choice questionnaire and a practical recap, this is where the instructor will ask you to act out various first aid scenarios.  It’s a great opportunity to put the skills you’ve learnt during the course to the test and reflect on how much you have achieved. 

Please get in touch with our helpful sales team if you have any questions or queries before your course.