Course overview

PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid is a practical course for people who want the skills and confidence to respond to common injuries and medical emergencies.

The course follows the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council First Aid Essentials education and training standard. It combines essential first aid knowledge with practical exercises and realistic emergency scenarios.

Learners develop the skills required to assess an emergency, provide appropriate first aid and support an injured or suddenly ill person until emergency medical services arrive.

No previous first aid experience is required.

Who this course is for

People who want practical first aid training but do not require the HSA-recognised PHECC First Aid Response (FAR) qualification.

FAE Basic First Aid is suitable for:

• Members of the public
• Employees who would benefit from practical first aid skills
• Community and voluntary organisations
• Sports clubs and activity groups
• Schools and youth organisations
• Small businesses
• Organisations providing additional emergency preparedness training
• People who do not require the full occupational First Aid Response qualification

What you will learn

Introduction to First Aid

• The role and responsibilities of the first aider
• Scene safety and emergency management
• Communicating with children, parents and emergency services
• Patient consent and capacity
• Recognising signs of abuse or neglect
• Supporting responder wellbeing

Patient Assessment

• Conducting a primary survey
• Conducting a secondary survey
• Assessing vital signs
• Recognising life-threatening conditions
• Providing an effective handover to emergency services

Cardiac First Response – Community

• Recognising cardiac arrest
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• Safe use of an automated external defibrillator
• Responding to choking
• Recognising heart attack and stroke
• Adult, child and infant emergency response skills

Injury Management

• Controlling external bleeding
• Wound care
• Burns and scalds
• Limb injuries
• Fractures, sprains and dislocations
• Safe care of a child while awaiting emergency services

Common Medical Emergencies

• Asthma
• Diabetes-related emergencies
• Seizures
• Fainting
• Anaphylaxis
• Poisoning
• Sepsis
• Altered levels of consciousness

Training is practical and scenario-based, giving every learner time to practise and receive instructor feedback.

Duration and Class Size

The course consists of exactly 6.5 contact hours and is normally completed over one day.

The maximum instructor-to-learner ratio is one instructor to eight learners. This supports meaningful practical participation, individual feedback and completion of the required assessments.

What Is Included?

Every learner receives:

• 6.5 contact hours of in-person training
• Practical, scenario-based instruction
• Training from an experienced, appropriately qualified instructor
• An individual learner manual
• Use of the required training equipment
• Practical skills assessment
• The PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid digital certificate following successful completion

The digital certificate is valid for two years from the date of certification.

CFR Community is included as a core component of the programme. Certification is issued for the FAE Basic First Aid course completed.

Course Prices

Public Course — €95 per Person

The public course price includes the learner manual, training equipment, assessment and digital certification following successful completion.

Private On-Site Training — €600

Private training can be delivered at workplaces, schools, sports clubs, community organisations or other suitable venues.

Private on-site training: €600 for up to eight learners within our standard delivery area.

For other locations, any additional travel cost will be confirmed before booking.

The group price includes:

• Training for up to eight learners
• On-site course delivery
• Individual learner manuals
• An experienced, appropriately qualified instructor
• Training and assessment equipment
• Digital certification for successful learners

Is FAE Basic First Aid an Occupational First Aid Qualification?

FAE Basic First Aid and First Aid Response are different PHECC training standards.

FAE Basic First Aid is a one-day course for people who need essential first aid and emergency response skills. It can provide valuable additional training for employees, but it is not the HSA-recognised occupational first aid qualification.

PHECC First Aid Response is the standard recognised by the Health and Safety Authority for occupational first aid in Irish workplaces.

Choose First Aid Response if:

• You will act as a designated occupational first aider
• Your employer requires the HSA-recognised workplace first aid standard
• Your workplace risk assessment identifies a requirement for trained First Aid Responders

PHECC First Aid Response is the training standard recognised by the Health and Safety Authority for occupational first aid in Irish workplaces.

View PHECC First Aid Response Training

Why Choose First Aid Coaching?

• PHECC Approved Training Institution
• Training delivered in conjunction with UFAS
• Experienced instructors with emergency response, healthcare and education backgrounds
• Practical, scenario-based first aid training
• Maximum of eight learners per instructor
• Public and private on-site options
• Individual learner manuals
• Clear pricing
• Nationwide delivery options
• Digital certification valid for two years