First Aid at Work in Edinburgh

Course overview

Our First Aid at Work (FAW) course is the full workplace first aid qualification — the standard of cover that most medium and higher-risk workplaces are required to have in place. Accredited by the First Aid Industry Body (FAIB), it gives your nominated first aiders the skills and confidence to deal with everything from a minor injury to a life-threatening emergency.

The course is delivered in a flexible blended format. You complete around 6 hours of user-friendly e-learning in your own time, then attend 2 days of hands-on practical training in Edinburgh. This approach lets you fit the qualification around a busy working week while still getting plenty of supervised practice on the skills that matter most. The course runs over 3 days in total.

It is designed for those working in medium to higher-risk environments such as construction, manufacturing, warehousing and hospitality. Employers can use their First Aid Needs Assessment to decide whether full First Aid at Work cover is required, or whether the one-day Emergency First Aid at Work course is more appropriate.

What the course covers

• Understand the role and responsibilities of a workplace first aider
• Assess an incident safely and carry out a primary survey
• Perform CPR and use an AED (defibrillator) with confidence
• Place an unresponsive casualty in the recovery position
• Manage choking in adults
• Control external bleeding, dress wounds and treat for shock
• Treat burns, scalds, fractures, sprains and strains
• Respond to head and spinal injuries
• Recognise and manage seizures and epilepsy
• Treat anaphylaxis and severe allergic reactions
• Respond to heart attack, angina and chest pain
• Recognise and respond to stroke, asthma and diabetic emergencies
• Manage incidents and keep records in line with RIDDOR
• Apply good hygiene, infection control and use of first aid equipment

Who is this course for?

This course suits anyone an employer has identified as needing full first aid cover, including designated and appointed workplace first aiders, site supervisors and managers in higher-risk industries, and facilities, warehouse and production staff. It is particularly well suited to medium and higher-risk settings such as construction, manufacturing, warehousing and hospitality.

No previous first aid experience or qualifications are needed — we start from the basics and build every skill from the ground up. If you are not sure whether your team needs the full First Aid at Work course or the shorter Emergency First Aid at Work course, call us on 0131 376 5633 and we will help you decide based on your workplace.

Assessment & certification

There is no daunting written exam to revise for. You are assessed continuously by your trainer throughout the practical sessions, alongside short knowledge questions, so the focus stays on building real, usable skills. In the unlikely event that you do not pass first time, we will arrange additional support and a re-assessment. On successful completion you will receive the FAIB-accredited First Aid at Work certificate, which is valid for 3 years. Before it expires, a FAW Refresher course renews it for a further three years.

Why choose this course?

• FAIB-accredited training delivered by experienced, real-world trainers
• Flexible blended format — around 6 hours of e-learning plus 2 practical days
• Hands-on, supportive sessions with plenty of time to practise
• Recognised, FAIB-accredited certificate valid for 3 years
• Group on-site training available for up to 12 people at your premises