FAQs

General
▶ Is funding available for courses?
Funding may be available to you for some of our courses. Ministry of Defence funding may be available to you if you are serving forces personnel - you have a budget available for the MOD for annual training and personal development. Some LEA and charitable funding may also be available for non-military personnel and will generally be available from them direct. Our team will be willing to help you find funding wherever possible - please call us.
▶ Are you insured?
Our team are fully insured - we hold insurance including public liability and medical negligence. We are insured to teach and provide event cover. We have never had to make a claim.
▶ What experience must I have?
As a rule our courses are available to anyone regardless of experience. Two notable exceptions are: 1. HSE FAW Requalifier - as per HSE rules this is only available to those who already have a current FAW certificate. 2. Mountain Medical Student - Generally this is only available to med students of year two and above.
▶ How long will certificates last?
Most certificates remain valid for three years though there are some exceptions due to industry policies and professional responsibility, notably that an AED (Defibrillator) certificate remains valid for one year. HSE courses remain valid for three years though the HSE recommend that those holding the EFAW and FAW qualifications undertake some form of annual refreshment. Every certificate we issue has a start and expiry date, information on qualification duration is shown on our course pages and of course you can call us with questions. We'll also do our best to remind you when your qualification gets near to expiration.
▶ Do you offer discounts?
We are pleased to offer discounts where possible, as a rule we discount for groups who book bespoke courses, friends/organisations that send several people on the same or separate courses and to members of certain organisations such as: BMC, MOD, NUS, Rescue Volunteers The discounts may be in the form of a percentage off the price or a free part of the course or training.
▶ Are your courses assessed?
All of our courses are assessed in some form. Some (like the HSE EFAW) are continually assessed by the instructor throughout the training others like the HSE First Aid at Work and Outdoor courses are assessed more formally with practical assessments and written papers. We believe that assessment is important to not only prove competency to those who observe you but also to provide confidence in your own capability. All of our assessments are carried out in a relaxed atmosphere and with support for those who may be a little nervous. You will NEVER be tested on issues that have not been fully taught and prepared.
▶ When will I get my certificate?
This depends upon the course type. Most of the outdoor courses provide a course CD and other resources so we send the certificates with them in the post a day or so after the training - this also means that it arrives clean and wrinkle free. For HSE courses we usually post the certificate so that it arrives approximately seven days after the course. However in every case the qualification that you earn begins on the day of the final assessment or the end of the course. We will be happy to immediately provide a paper or email letter to prove you hold the new qualification until the certificate arrives - please call our team if you have further questions about this.
Outdoor Course Questions
▶ What do I need to bring?
When you book onto an outdoor first aid course you will receive an advised packing list and may vary slightly by course. However they contain items generally necessary for outdoor living such as: Sturdy Outdoor Footwear, Full Waterproofs, Warm Clothing, Hat and Gloves, Suncream, Sunglasses, Insect Repellent, Torch, Sleeping Bag, Waterbottle, Small Daysack, Toiletries, Basic Note Taking Stationary.
▶ Where do your courses run?
We haven open workplace courses that are listed on the course dates page of this website. Generally these will be in Mid Wales at Aberystwyth, Cardiff, Shrewsbury or Chester. Our open outdoor courses are available in Mid Wales and the Peak District. For bespoke training we will consider going anywhere - we've held training in places like Turkey, London, Scotland and Canada.
▶ Do I need to be fit?
Obviously our outdoor courses take place in rural area and a large proportion of the training is outside - a reasonable state of general health will help with this however these are educational courses designed to teach you skills not run you ragged. We have an equal opportunities policy however some courses, workplace and outdoor, may have requirements that are unsuitable for some less able people - such as being capable of reaching a casualty on the floor or rolling them over. If you have any concerns please call our team
▶ Do BMC members get a discount?
Yes, we provide discounts for BMC members and other individuals and groups. This may be in the form of a percentage off the price or free elements of the training/resources or accommodation. You will find the discount rate on the course information pages on this site or by speaking to our team.
▶ Are courses NGB suitable?
Our outdoor courses satisfy most NGB requirements for outdoor instructors. These include ML, SPA, WGL, BCU, WCA, RYA, SMBLT, BASI amongst others. This is because of our course duration, content, assessment and the fact that we deliver HSE accredited courses. If you don't see the NGB listed please contact us for advice.
▶ Why include food and accommodation?
Most outdoor first aid providers do not include food and accommodation in the price - we do. This costs us extra more than it costs you however we choose to include it because it greatly improves the experience. Having everyone living on site means everyone remains for the duration of training, provides opportunity to include additional extras if the group ask, ensures you are focused on the course and not picking up the kids. It also gives us the time and flexibility to include exercises, simulations including first aid at night. Not to mention saving you the hassle and cost of getting accommodation near our training venues. Food is prepared freshly on site by our cook, it is nutritious, tasty and plentiful - we cater for all dietary requirements (as long as you tell us before you arrive!)
Workplace Course Questions
▶ How many first aiders do I need?
The number of first aiders required in each workplace depends upon the number of staff present and the risks associated with your working environment as directed in the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981. You need to account for shifts, staff illness or holidays and staff who work away from the main site when assessing your first aid responsibilities. While your obligations under the regulations as an employer are directed towards your staff a responsible employer will also consider external visitors to the site, such as customers, when establishing a first plan. Our staff will be happy to offer advice to you about your specific requirements or you can view information direct from the HSE website here: - HSE Guide to Regulations: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l74.htm - HSE Guide to First Aid at Work Leaflet: http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg214.pdf - HSE Online Tool to help you assess your workplace needs: http://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/assessmenttool.htm
▶ Will I know when my certificates expire?
Your certificate will have the expiry date printed on it, the course information pages on this website also show the certificate duration. Additionally we will do our best to contact you when your certificate is near to expiry so that you can renew it if necessary.
▶ What is the maximum number on a course?
As a rule, we will not teach more than twelve people per instructor. However as long as the venue and teaching aids are suitable we can always use multiple instructors. We have a history of teaching large groups WITHOUT COMPROMISING TRAINING EFFECTIVEMESS - even up to 68 one the same day!
▶ Are courses practical?
Yes, very - we do not believe in death by powerpoint. Ultimately first aid is a practical skill and therefore every course that we run has a massive emphasis on practical training and this is something our clients are continually providing excellent feedback for. Obviously a few lessons need to be theoretical but our instructors find exercises and means of keeping these lessons interactive and entertaining. Most multi day courses even include casualty simulation!
▶ Will Casualty Simulation leave a mess?
When we hold casualty simulations at your site we guarantee to leave the premises as we find it. We will remove delicate/expendable items prior to the start and replace them immediately at the end. We leave no rubbish, no stains, no damage - you would not know we have been there.
▶ Will the training be relevant?
Always. We guarantee that whether you pick a standard course or a bespoke programme our training team will do their utmost to include any relevant issues specific to the client and their environments. The vast medical and operational backgrounds of our team make this possible.
▶ Can courses be held at my site?
We regularly hold training at a clients own site even as far away as Turkey although due to venue requirements this more commonly for the non-outdoor course types. Generally our only requirements are that the venue are safe, comfortable and suitable for the group size as we bring all our training materials with us. Please contact our team to discuss your requirements.
▶ Are your courses HSE accredited?
Our Emergency First Aid at Work, First Aid at Work and First Aid at Work Requalifier are accredited by the HSE in partnership with Aid Training and Operations under HSE accreditation number 99/99. Besides one or two other specialist medical courses that are only available to medically experienced personnel these are the only courses that the HSE actually accredit. Outdoor courses are never accredited by the HSE however National Governing Bodies for outdoor activities often request that outdoor first aid course providers are able to teach HSE accredited courses - this is purely used as a benchmark to indicate that the training provider is of a reasonable standard of efficiency and accuracy. Our outdoor courses do satisfy the vast majority of NGB requirements.