Health & Safety Training

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) Course

A one-day, FAIB-accredited course that prepares a workplace first aider to give emergency first aid, delivered in-company at your premises.

1 day · at your site In-company UK-wide FAIB-accredited, 3-year certificate No prior experience needed
Key facts at a glance
1 day
Course lengthdelivered at your premises
FAIB
AccreditationFirst Aid Industry Body
3 years
Certificate validitythen requalify
No experience
Who it is forneeded to attend
The course
Quick answer

What is Emergency First Aid at Work training?

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) is a one-day course that prepares a workplace first aider to give emergency first aid to someone who is injured or becomes ill at work. KeyOstas delivers it in-company, and it is accredited by the First Aid Industry Body (FAIB) with a certificate valid for three years.

A one-day course for a workplace emergency first aider
FAIB-accredited, with a certificate valid for three years
Covers CPR, the unconscious casualty, bleeding, shock and more
Helps meet your duty under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations
Every employer must make sure there is adequate first aid provision for staff who are injured or become ill at work. Emergency First Aid at Work is the one-day course that trains the first aiders for that. It suits lower-risk workplaces, or it can sit alongside fuller First Aid at Work cover in a larger organisation. The course is hands-on and assessed by continual practical demonstration, and it is accredited by the First Aid Industry Body, so delegates leave with a recognised, three-year certificate.
1 day
to a workplace first aider
FAIB
accredits the course
3 years
the certificate lasts
Is it right for you

Is this course right for your workplace?

Your first-aid needs assessment shows how many first aiders you need, and at what level.

Right for you if…

Your first-aid needs assessment points to emergency first aid cover
You run a lower-risk workplace, such as an office or shop
You need first aiders trained quickly, in a single day
You want a recognised, FAIB-accredited certificate
You are training new first aiders or adding to your cover

A different course fits better if…

Your needs assessment calls for the fuller cover: see First Aid at Work
Your first aiders already hold a current certificate and need to renew it
You only need defibrillator-focused training: see AED training
After the course

What you will be able to do

By the end of the day, every delegate will be able to do the following.

Respond to an emergency

Assess the situation

Assess an emergency, take the appropriate action and inform the emergency services.

Give CPR

Carry out artificial ventilations and chest compressions, and use a defibrillator.

Manage the unconscious casualty

Use the recovery position, and clear an obstructed airway.

Take a history

Carry out primary and secondary assessment and history taking.

Treat common conditions

Control bleeding and shock

Control severe bleeding, and recognise and treat shock.

Treat burns and scalds

Recognise and deal with burns and scalds.

Manage seizures and choking

Recognise and respond to seizures and choking.

Use the first aid kit

Know what a first aid kit should contain and how to report an accident.

Course content

What the course covers

One hands-on day of emergency first aid, assessed by practical demonstration.

01

Assessing & the casualty

  • Assessing an emergency situation
  • The unconscious casualty and the recovery position
  • Primary and secondary assessment, and history taking
02

Life support

  • Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
  • Defibrillation
  • Seizures and choking
03

Common conditions

  • Bleeding and shock
  • Burns and scalds
  • Recognising and treating illness
04

The first aider's kit & duties

  • The first aid kit and what it should contain
  • Reporting procedures for a workplace accident
  • Continual practical assessment of competence
Assessment

How the course is assessed and certificated

Hands-on and practical, assessed throughout the day.

Format

Instructor-led, in-company

A KeyOstas tutor delivers the day at your premises, on a date that suits your team.

Assessment

Continual practical assessment

Competence is assessed continually through practical demonstration across the day.

Certificate

FAIB-accredited certificate

Delegates receive an Emergency First Aid at Work certificate, accredited by FAIB and valid for three years.

The certificate is valid for three years. Before it expires, the first aider should attend a course to renew it. The HSE also recommends a short annual refresher to keep skills current.
Choosing a course

Which first aid course does your workplace need?

KeyOstas runs three FAIB-accredited first aid courses. Your first-aid needs assessment tells you which your workplace needs.

Emergency First Aid at Work

Lower-risk workplaces
Length
1 day
For
A first aider where the risk is lower
Covers
Emergency first aid: the life-saving basics
Certificate
FAIB-accredited, valid 3 years

First Aid at Work

Higher-risk or larger workplaces
Length
3 days
For
The full workplace first aider
Covers
The complete first aid at work syllabus
Certificate
FAIB-accredited, valid 3 years

First Aid at Work Requalification

Renewing a FAW certificate
Length
2 days
For
Existing first aiders renewing FAW
Covers
Refreshing and re-assessing the FAW skills
Certificate
FAIB-accredited, renews for 3 years
A first-aid needs assessment under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 decides whether your workplace needs Emergency First Aid at Work or the fuller First Aid at Work. Requalification renews an existing First Aid at Work certificate before it expires.
Why KeyOstas

Why train with KeyOstas

Four decades of practical, in-company health & safety training.

01

Delivered at your site

We come to you, anywhere in the UK, and train your team on a date that suits.

02

FAIB-accredited

A recognised first aid qualification, not just a certificate of attendance.

03

Hands-on practice

Delegates practise the skills so they are ready to respond for real.

04

Specialists since 1984

Four decades of training UK workforces with practical instruction, not generic e-learning.

FAQ

Emergency First Aid at Work training: frequently asked questions

Is Emergency First Aid at Work a legal requirement?
Employers must provide adequate first aid cover. A first-aid needs assessment shows how many first aiders you need and at what level. Emergency First Aid at Work is the one-day course that trains them, and it helps you meet the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981.
How long is the course?
One day, delivered in-company at your premises.
Is the course accredited?
Yes. It is accredited by the First Aid Industry Body (FAIB), so delegates leave with a recognised certificate, not just a certificate of attendance.
How long is the certificate valid?
Three years. Before it expires the first aider should attend a course to renew it.
What is the difference between EFAW and First Aid at Work?
Emergency First Aid at Work is one day and covers the emergency basics, suited to lower-risk workplaces. First Aid at Work is three days and covers a fuller syllabus for higher-risk or larger workplaces. Your needs assessment decides which you need.
Do delegates need any prior experience?
No. The course is designed for people with no prior first aid experience.
How many delegates can attend?
First aid courses run best as a practical group. Tell us your numbers and we will advise.
Should first aiders refresh their skills between certificates?
Yes. The HSE recommends a short annual refresher so first aiders keep their skills and confidence current between three-yearly certificates.

Train your emergency first aiders

Tell us how many first aiders you need and your preferred dates, and we will put together a quote for the one-day course delivered at your site.

Last reviewed: May 2026. Checked against current UK health & safety legislation and HSE guidance.