What Happens on a First Aid at Work Course? A Complete 3-Day Breakdown

What Is the First Aid at Work Course?

The First Aid at Work (FAW) course is a 3-day, Ofqual Level 3 qualification that satisfies the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981 for higher-hazard workplaces. It is required — rather than merely recommended — in environments where the HSE's workplace risk assessment indicates that the 1-day EFAW is insufficient. This includes construction sites, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, logistics operations, and any workplace where there is a significant risk of serious injury.

Skills 42U delivers the FAW course at your premises across Kent and the South East. The course runs across 3 full days — typically Monday to Wednesday or three days agreed in advance — and is priced at £1,300 for up to 12 delegates for the full three-day programme. All equipment is brought to your site, and certificates are issued at the end of Day 3. If you are unsure whether your business needs FAW or EFAW, our guide on EFAW vs First Aid at Work explains exactly how to decide.

The Full FAW Syllabus — What Is Covered Across 3 Days

The FAW syllabus is regulated by Ofqual and must include the following topics. Every UK training provider approved to deliver FAW covers the same mandatory content. Skills 42U delivers all of the following:

Day 1 — Emergency Response Foundations

1. The role and responsibilities of a workplace first aider

Delegates begin by understanding what a first aider is legally required to do under the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981, the limits of their role, the importance of calling emergency services at the right moment, and how to complete accurate incident records. This session sets the professional framework for everything that follows.

2. Managing an unresponsive casualty — primary survey

The Danger-Response-Airway-Breathing-Circulation (DR ABC) primary survey is taught in full and practised repeatedly. Delegates learn to assess a casualty systematically, open a blocked airway, and place a breathing but unresponsive casualty safely in the recovery position. This is covered on both Day 1 and revisited on Day 3 in more complex scenario work.

3. CPR and AED use — adults

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation to the current Resuscitation Council UK guidelines (30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths) is practised on adult manikins until technique is consistent. AED operation — attaching pads, interpreting voice prompts, and delivering a training shock — is also covered. This session typically takes the largest portion of Day 1, because CPR is the skill where hands-on repetition matters most.

4. Choking — adults, children, and infants

Mild vs severe airway obstruction, back blows, abdominal thrusts (Heimlich manoeuvre), and the modified technique for infants are all covered in the afternoon of Day 1. Delegates practise on adult, child, and infant manikins.

Day 2 — Medical Emergencies and Injury Management

5. Bleeding, wound management, and shock

Controlling severe haemorrhage using direct pressure, wound dressings, packing, and tourniquet application (where appropriate in an occupational context). The physiological signs of hypovolaemic shock are covered in detail, along with the correct first aid response — this is particularly relevant for construction, manufacturing, and logistics sites where penetrating injuries occur.

6. Burns and scalds

Immediate treatment for thermal burns (20 minutes of cool running water), what not to apply, burn depth and extent assessment, and when to call an ambulance. Chemical burns, electrical burns, and inhalation injuries are also covered — particularly relevant for manufacturing and construction environments.

7. Bone and joint injuries — fractures, sprains, and dislocations

Recognising and managing suspected fractures, including how to immobilise an injured limb, when to call an ambulance versus when to arrange transport to hospital, and what NOT to do (attempting to straighten a displaced fracture). Splinting techniques are practised using the training equipment provided.

8. Head and spinal injuries

This is a key area where the FAW goes significantly beyond the EFAW syllabus. Delegates learn to recognise the signs of a serious head injury (altered consciousness, unequal pupils, clear fluid from the nose or ears), how to manage an unresponsive casualty with a suspected spinal injury, and the circumstances under which the airway takes priority over spinal precautions — a nuanced but critical decision point.

9. Eye injuries

Correct irrigation technique for chemical splash to the eye, managing embedded objects, and when to cover versus irrigate. Particularly relevant for manufacturing, construction, and workshop environments.

Day 3 — Medical Conditions, Scenarios, and Assessment

10. Medical emergencies — heart attack, angina, stroke

The signs of a heart attack (FAST does not cover all presentations — delegates learn the full range of symptoms including atypical presentations in women), the difference between a heart attack and angina, and how to use the FAST acronym for stroke recognition. The importance of aspirin administration by a first aider — where it is appropriate — is covered.

11. Diabetes and hypoglycaemia

Recognising hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) in a conscious and an unresponsive casualty, and the correct first aid response — including when glucose can be given safely and when it cannot. Diabetes is one of the most common medical conditions in the UK working-age population, making this section directly relevant to almost every employer.

12. Epilepsy and seizures

Recognising different seizure types, what to do during and after a seizure (including the extended post-ictal phase), and when to call an ambulance. Common dangerous myths — restraining the person, placing objects in the mouth — are explicitly addressed.

13. Asthma and anaphylaxis

Managing an acute asthma attack, when to call 999, and assisting with an inhaler. Anaphylaxis recognition and the correct use of an auto-injector (EpiPen). Delegates practise the anaphylaxis response on training auto-injectors.

14. Scenario-based practical assessment

The final afternoon of Day 3 involves multi-casualty and complex scenario exercises that bring together all three days of learning. Delegates are assessed on their ability to prioritise, communicate, and manage realistic emergencies — workplace accidents, collapses, and medical events. This is where the FAW separates itself from shorter qualifications: the scenarios are demanding, realistic, and designed to produce genuinely confident first aiders.

How the 3-Day FAW Is Structured — Day by Day

How Delegates Are Assessed on the FAW

The FAW has two formal assessment components:

Continuous practical assessment (Days 1–3): The trainer observes each delegate performing skills throughout the three days — CPR technique, wound management, casualty assessment, scenario response. This is a formative assessment that allows the trainer to identify delegates who need additional support before the final session.

Written knowledge assessment (Day 3 afternoon): A written paper covering the full FAW syllabus. It includes multiple-choice questions and short-answer questions requiring delegates to explain their actions in a given scenario. Pass mark is 75%. Delegates who have engaged fully with the three days — the practical sessions in particular — typically find this assessment straightforward.

Delegates who pass both components receive their Ofqual Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work certificate on the afternoon of Day 3. The certificate is valid for three years. For guidance on renewal timelines, see our post on how often first aid certificates need renewing.

Who Needs the FAW — and Who Can Do the EFAW Instead?

The decision between FAW and EFAW is made by completing the HSE's workplace first aid needs assessment. As a general rule: if your workplace is low-to-medium hazard (offices, retail, schools, hospitality), the 1-day EFAW course is usually sufficient. If your workplace involves significant machinery, construction activity, chemical hazards, or a high headcount without easy emergency service access, the 3-day FAW is required.

Skills 42U delivers the FAW course at your premises across Kent, including Medway, Maidstone, Dartford, Gravesend, Ashford, and across the county.

If you're not certain which course your business needs, call us on 07481 344486. We will advise you in under 5 minutes at no charge, based on your industry, workplace size, and HSE risk assessment requirements.