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How to become a First Aider

First Aider

Career progression and salary expectations for a First Aider

Provides immediate care in emergencies, including CPR and wound treatment, and ensures the safety of the patient until professional help arrives.
Health and Safety Officers manage health and safety protocols, conduct risk assessments, and implement safety measures across the workplace or organisation. This role involves a broader focus on preventive care and compliance.
Offers advanced medical care, conducts health assessments, and provides advice on health and wellness in a workplace setting. This role requires more specialised medical training and involves more comprehensive health management responsibilities.

The role of a First Aider

Quick to react in emergencies? Always carry plasters? Know how to fashion a bandage out of literally anything? You should become a First Aider… 

A First Aider provides immediate and essential care to people who have suffered an injury or sudden illness. Whether first aid is their primary role, or they carry out first aid in addition to other tasks and duties, they're responsible for stabilising the patient until professional medical help arrives.

First Aiders are often the first responders in emergency situations, and it’s their job to assess the situation, offer basic medical assistance, and ensure the safety of the patient and others in the vicinity - whether it’s in a workplace setting or a public environment.

Tasks and responsibilities for a First Aider include:

  • Evaluating the scene for safety and determining the nature of the emergency
  • Administering basic first aid treatments such as CPR, wound dressing, and managing fractures
  • Keeping the patient calm and comfortable while preventing further injury
  • Continuously checking the patient’s vital signs and condition
  • Relaying important information to emergency medical personnel upon their arrival
  • Ensuring that the first aid kit is fully stocked and items are up-to-date
  • Documenting the incident and treatment provided for workplace records or legal purposes
  • Regularly updating first aid skills and knowledge through first aid training
  • Providing basic first aid training or information to colleagues or the public
  • Assisting Paramedics or other emergency responders as needed
To become a First Aider, you’ll need a solid understanding of first aid techniques like CPR, wound care, and handling fractures.

You’ll also need to be able to stay calm under pressure, whilst communicating effectively with patients and emergency personnel. This means you’ll need to be good at giving clear instructions, providing reassurance, and accurately reporting the patient’s condition and the care provided.

Other key skills and attributes for a First Aider include: 

  • Empathy
  • Physical stamina
  • Problem-solving skills
  • Teamwork
  • Time management
  • Adaptability
  • Reliability
  • Basic medical knowledge
  • First aid kit management
"Being a First Aider means staying level-headed in stressful situations, making quick decisions, and offering immediate care when it's needed most. It can be intense and unpredictable, but knowing you’ve made a real difference for someone makes it all worthwhile."

Get qualified as a First Aider

To become a First Aider, you typically need to complete a recognised first aid training course. The most common certification is the First Aid at Work course, which covers essential skills such as CPR, wound treatment, and handling medical emergencies. Regular refresher courses for recertification every three years is also essential to ensuring your skills remain up-to-date.

Recommended First aid courses

  • First Aid Training Course

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    Free PDF & Hardcopy Certificate + 4 Free Courses | Level 3 | CPD QS Accredited | Free Retake Exam | Lifetime Access
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    [Updated 2024] *** Limited Time Offer: Get 4 FREE Courses with PDF + Hard Copy Certificate as a Gift *** Knowing the basics of first aid is an essential skill to have, whether you’re in a workplace environment or at home. It could be a case of saving someone’s life, so it’s never …
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  • Health and Safety in the Workplace Level 3 with First Aid at Work

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    The Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 requires UK companies to focus on guaranteeing the safety of their employees. This may present specialists with the option to work as a Health and Safety Executive - HSE officer and earn an average salary of £24,999 to £56, …
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