There are many different types of qualifications for first aid courses out there, and it can be confusing as to which one you should complete.
Whether you are required to complete a first aid qualification due to the work you do, would like to complete one so that you know what to do in an emergency situation, or need an Ofsted approved first aid qualification because you work within an early years setting, then there is a first aid qualification out there for you.
Little Ones offers 3 different types of First Aid qualifications. Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW), Emergency Paediatric First Aid and the full 12 hour, Ofsted Compliant Paediatric First Aid (PFA).
Two of our courses fall under the ‘emergency first aid course’ name. The difference between emergency first aid and standard first aid is the time it takes to complete and your responsibilities. With an emergency first aid course, you will learn how to assess an emergency situation and maintain life.
The correct first aid course for you will depend on why you are completing a first aid qualification. If you are looking for a course to be prepared for emergency situations, or if you require a first aid qualification for your work, but are not the designated first aider within your company or setting, then completing an Emergency First Aid course could be the right choice for you.
The difference between Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) and a standard First Aid at Work (FAW) qualification is time and content. The Emergency First Aid at Work course can be completed in 1 day (9:30-4:30), compared to the First Aid at Work Course which takes 3 days to complete, with more in depth content and responsibilities.
A person who has completed an Emergency First Aid at Work Course has a role to maintain life and prevent the situation from worsening while waiting for the emergency services to arrive. This is different to a first-aider who has completed a 3 day First Aid at Work (FAW) qualification, who in addition to the role of the emergency first aider, should also be able to recognise and diagnose injuries and illnesses, as well as understanding how to administer emergency treatment and life support.
The Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course is designed for workplaces that fall into a low risk category and smaller workplaces, compared to workplaces that fall into a higher risk category (e.g. engineering, manufacturing, warehousing, construction, chemicals, hospitality, commercial kitchens, etc.) and for a workplace with a variety of underlying health conditions (e.g. heart problems, diabetes anaphylaxis, high blood pressure, etc) where employees should be trained via the 3 day First Aid at Work course.
The Emergency First Aid at Work course can also be used for staff required to be emergency first aiders or for those who wish to support a designated first aider trained via the First Aid at Work (FAW) course.
When it comes to Paediatric First Aid, every setting (whether it is a nursery, crèche or childminders home) is required to have at least one person on site at all times who has completed the full 12 hour, Ofsted Compliant Paediatric First Aid Course.
For childminder assistants and other early years settings such as nurseries, creches or playgroups, every newly qualified Level 2 or 3 practitioner needs to also be trained in Emergency First Aid under the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and the Ofsted guidelines. A setting will also be awarded a Millie’s Mark if all their staff who work within the setting have completed an emergency first aid course.
This allows all members of staff who have completed an Emergency First Aid course to act and administer emergency first aid where needed and support the designated first aider on site.
Emergency First Aid at Work is a comprehensive course that will provide learners with an extensive set of skills needed to feel confident in real life situations.
Emergency First Aid at Work is beneficial to the workplace. This course is suitable for people aged 16+ who might need to provide first aid by responding to a wide range of accidents, injuries and illnesses that they could encounter in their workplace.
An emergency first aider’s (EFAW) role is to maintain life and prevent the situation from worsening while waiting for the emergency services to arrive.
Covered in this 1 day emergency first aid course (9:30am - 4:30pm), which is the most common workplace first aid course, are all of the major life threatening scenarios and is suitable for shops, restaurants, gyms, hotels, warehouses, catering, office environment, transport, security, entertainment, etc.
On completion of the course the attendee will receive a certificate confirming they have completed the Emergency First Aid at Work course that is valid for three (3) years.
This Emergency First Aid Course Covers:
You will also learn the equipment you should keep within your emergency first aid kit contents.
On completion of the emergency first aid course, you will be equipped to respond to emergency situations, maintain life and prevent the situation from worsening while waiting for the emergency services to arrive.
Remember the difference between emergency first aid and a standard first aid course is that you can deal with emergency situations only. You are not equipped to recognise and diagnose injuries and illnesses.
Everything that is taught via a paediatric first aid (PFA) course and an emergency paediatric first aid course, gives you the skills and hands on learning, via resuscitation dummies and equipment to practice. Children grow rapidly, and it is important to know how to administer CPR to different sizes and ages of a baby, infant and child to comply with Ofsted standards in any emergency first aid course. What is taught in a first aid qualification must be a combination of practical, real life simulation, as well as theory based information. This is why providing resuscitation dummies to fit within the different age groups you will be working with, is imperative due to different techniques need to be practiced dependant on the size and age of the infant.
All Paediatric first aid courses for childminders, nannies and nursery practitioners, including emergency first aid courses, should be taken face-to-face and follow the guidelines set within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework and Ofsted standards.
The Paediatric Emergency First Aid Course Covers;
You will also learn the equipment you should keep within your emergency first aid kit contents.
This helps all early years workers to be prepared for emergency situations and know the steps to be taken to ensure the child/children are safe and action is taken to help them.
Within nurseries, crèches, playgroups and childminder settings, it would be best practice and settings would be awarded the ‘Millie’s Mark’ if all practitioners are trained and have completed an Emergency First Aid course.
For nannies, it is a requirement by most families that nannies, even if unqualified, have completed at least an emergency first aid course.
For all early years workers, certification of any first aid qualification, including the emergency first aid course, is valid for 3 years and should be renewed accordingly.
Keeping your emergency first aid qualification up to date (each qualification is valid for 3 years) is one way to be prepared for emergency situations.
By completing an emergency first aid course every 3 years will help you to maintain how to perform emergency first aid, as well as keeping you up to date on any new techniques or information that may be relevant. It is amazing how renewing your emergency first aid course every 3 years can also fill you with confidence and reassurance to keep calm and deal with any emergency situation.
Another way you can make sure that you are prepared for any emergency situation, is by having an emergency first aid kit available at all times and in all locations where you work.
For early years staff in particular, that means having a permanent emergency first aid kit within the setting and having a separate emergency first aid kit that you take out with you on trips and outings.
Your emergency first aid kit contents are important and must reflect the emergency situations that may arise within your workplace.
It is best to have an allocated emergency first aider in charge of the emergency first aid kit contents so that items are replaced when they have been used, used by dates are checked and items are kept sterile.
All workplaces must have an emergency first aid kit on the premises that is well stocked and accessible in an emergency situation.
According to the NHS, your emergency first aid kit contents should include;
A basic first aid kit may contain:
For trips out, it is important as a nanny, childminder or nursery practitioner to be prepared for any emergency situation which may arise.
Ofsted requires you to carry a first aid kit with you at all times when travelling or on outings with children in your care.
So what should you have in the contents of an emergency first aid kit for babies?
The contents of your first aid kit should include;
You will also need to consider the medical needs of each individual child within your care and have their medical forms and medication with you.
If you have a child who suffers from allergies, then you will need to carry antihistamine medication as well as any prescribed medication such as an EPI-Pen.
You should always have the emergency contact details for each child within the contents of you first aid kit and a working phone to be able to use if an emergency were to arise.
Before any trip, you must get permission from the parents, have signed forms in accordance to your outdoor and trip policies and procedures, and make sure staff and children are within the correct ratio guidelines in accordance to Ofsted.
Keeping emergency first aid kit contents sterile and fully stocked should be a job allocated to a member of staff. Medications also need to be checked for use by dates. For EPI pens and individual medications, parents need to be informed and will need to replace their child’s medications before the expiry date. Some medications also have a shelf life once they have been opened. It is a good idea to use a marker pen to note down the ‘opening date’.
All emergency first aid kit contents should be easy to access for the first aider on site (or emergency first aider) to use.
To book a Paediatric Emergency First Aid, or an Emergency First Aid at Work course, please contact the Little Ones office on 0207 112 8057.
All of our emergency first aid courses are held weekly at our Kings Cross office in central London.
Little Ones is a member of the First Aid Industry Body. A regulatory body ensuring a high quality of service and standard from its members.
First Aid Industry Body registration number 19/16(677)
