Choosing which First Aid course is right for your business can be a little confusing, so we’ve made you the ultimate first aid course guide for your workplace. Here we will compare two of the most popular options for First Aid, Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) and First Aid at Work (FAW). Both courses aim to equip individuals with essential lifesaving skills, but they cater to different needs and environments.
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)
Overview: The EFAW course provides basic first aid knowledge and skills to handle immediate medical emergencies in the workplace. It’s perfect for lower-risk environments and smaller organisations.
Who Needs This Qualification? This course is ideal for offices, shops, and organisations with fewer than 100 employees. It’s also suitable for individuals who have taken on the role of an emergency first aider in their workplace.
Why Is This Training Important? Having the skills to administer emergency first aid is vital for an organisation’s emergency plans and procedures. This course equips delegates with the knowledge to deal with life-threatening conditions until professional help arrives. Plus, it ensures compliance with the H&S (First Aid) regulations 1981.
Course Content: The course covers the role and responsibility of a first aider, assessing incidents, conducting a scene survey, managing unresponsive casualties, using an AED, handling seizures, choking, external bleeding, shock, burns, scalds, minor injuries, bites, and stings.
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, learners will understand the role and responsibility of a first aider, assess and manage incidents, and provide first aid for various emergencies including unresponsiveness, choking, bleeding, and minor injuries.
Benefits: EFAW offers quick and focused training suitable for low-risk environments. It’s also cost-effective for smaller businesses.
Drawbacks: The course has a limited scope compared to more comprehensive options and may not cover all potential workplace hazards.
First Aid At Work (FAW)
Overview: The FAW course offers comprehensive first aid training, covering a wide range of medical emergencies and injuries. It’s suitable for higher-risk environments and larger organisations.
Who Needs This Qualification? This course is perfect for staff wanting to become designated first aiders in their workplace. It’s ideal for environments with higher risks or larger employee numbers.
Why Is This Training Important? FAW provides in-depth knowledge and practical skills to handle a variety of medical emergencies. It ensures compliance with the H&S (First Aid) regulations 1981.
Course Content: The course includes the role and responsibility of a first aider, assessing incidents, conducting a scene survey, managing unresponsive casualties, using an AED, handling seizures, choking, external bleeding, shock, burns, scalds, minor injuries, bites, and stings. It also covers injuries to bones, muscles, joints, eye injuries, poisoning, anaphylaxis, major illnesses (heart attack, stroke, epilepsy, asthma, diabetic emergencies).
Learning Outcomes: Learners will understand the role and responsibility of a first aider, assess and manage incidents, and provide first aid for a wide range of emergencies including major illnesses and injuries.
Benefits: FAW offers comprehensive training covering a broad spectrum of emergencies, making it suitable for high-risk environments and larger organisations.
Drawbacks: The course is more time-consuming and potentially more expensive. It may also be more than necessary for low-risk environments.
Conclusion
Choosing between EFAW and FAW depends on your workplace’s specific needs. For lower-risk environments with fewer employees, the Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course is a cost-effective and efficient option. However, for higher-risk environments or larger organisations, the First Aid at Work (FAW) course provides more comprehensive training. This ensures that first aiders are well-prepared for a wider range of emergencies.
We hope this Ouch L&D Ultimate First Aid course guide for your workplace has helped. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and talk to one of our learning advisors.