Due to Scottish Government Covid-19 restrictions, we are currently unable to run first aid courses. We are monitoring the advice and will resume the courses as soon as it is safe to do so.
Want to learn how to handle emergencies confidently? Learn first aid at Edinburgh Napier from expert clinicians with first-hand clinical and trauma experience.
Our courses are comprehensive, flexible, and available for groups
Why do a first aid course at Edinburgh Napier?
Our courses take place in the Simulation and Clinical Skills Centre (SCSC) at Edinburgh Napier University, which is a state-of-the-art facility with specialist equipment.
Our team of first aid instructors are specialist nurses and educators with extensive clinical and educational experience who provide a level of first aid training that rivals our most established competitors.
Our technical team of experienced medical makeup artists create realistic injuries including wounds, lacerations, burns and bruising to better prepare you for real-life emergency situations.
Meet industry regulations in the workplace
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel to ensure their employees receive immediate attention if they are injured or taken ill at work.
Quality assurance
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides a due diligence checklist to ensure quality and the SCSC team meets this requirement. We follow due process with regarding to both internal and external moderation and are quality assured by Good Skills Training
What our participants have to say
“Very good - the instructor kept things simple and relevant and related things back to my own workplace needs.”
“Excellent course presented by professional, credible staff. Good teaching aids and course materials.”
“I thought the experience of the staff was the most valuable part of the course. You felt they really knew what they were talking about and that they were flexible enough to make it a relaxing and encouraging experience. I felt at ease and comfortable throughout."
First Aid at Work
What will I learn in the First Aid at Work Course?
Our first aid courses not only cover all the required fundamentals of first aid, but they will also prepare you to react quickly and calmly under pressure. After completing the course you will:
- Understand the role and responsibility of a first aider
- Be able to assess an incident
- Be able to manage an unresponsive casualty who is breathing normally
- Be able to manage an unresponsive casualty who is not breathing normally, including CPR and AED
- Recognise and assist a casualty who is choking
- Manage a casualty who is wounded and bleeding
- Manage a casualty who is in shock
- Understand how to manage a casualty with a minor injury
- Be able to conduct a secondary survey
- Be able to administer first aid to a casualty with:
- injuries to bones, muscles and joints
- suspected head and spinal injuries
- a suspected chest injury
- burns and scalds
- an eye injury
- sudden poisoning
- anaphylaxis, including use of EpiPen
- suspected major illness
How long does it take?
Three days.
Our First Aid training course and is specifically delivered to be in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The training is delivered over the course of three days with delegates being continually assessed and a certificate awarded upon successful completion. There is a requirement to complete 18 contact hours, but the course can be completed either in three consecutive days or over several (but no more than 10) weeks.
What can I expect during the course?
The First Aid at Work Course is a practical course and we ask all learners to take an active role in the sessions. There will be some kneeling required during the course to carry out CPR and place people in the recovery position. There will also be sessions where you will be required to bandage other members of the course and check them for injuries. Learners are asked to play the part of casualties during the practical sessions; if for any reason you will not be able to be a casualty then please let the instructor know as soon as possible (preferably before the course starts).
If for any reason you will not be able to carry out the practical elements of the course, please let us know prior to the course. This will enable us to talk with you and look at any strategies we may be able to put in place to enable you to have an active part in the course and assess you in first aid.
How will I be assessed?
The First aid at Work Course is an assessed course. You will be assessed at various points throughout the course on you practical application of the syllabus. There are also two multiple choice assessment papers throughout the course.
There will be some theory during the course as well as a multiple-choice assessment. If you have any specific learning needs, such as dyslexia, or if English is your second language, once again please let us know prior to the course.
How do I keep up to date with my First Aid at Work Qualification?
After three years, learners must undertake a two-day First Aid at Work Re-certification Course to keep their First Aid at Work qualification valid. If you allow your qualification to lapse you will not be counted as part of the first aid cover for your place of work.
It is strongly recommended by the HSE that first aiders undergo an annual Three-Hour First Aid Refresher Course to keep their skills up to date, which we provide.
How much does it cost?
£285.
Next available course?
TBC
First Aid at Work Re-Certification
Our First Aid at Work Re-certification course secures your qualification for a further three years and is designed for anyone who has previously completed the three day First Aid at Work qualification and has a current First Aid at Work certificate.
What can I expect?
You will cover the same skills as in the First Aid at Work course.
How long does it take?
Two days. There is a requirement to complete 12 contact hours, but the course can be completed either in two consecutive days or over several (but no more than seven) weeks.
How will I be assessed?
This course is assessed by a mixture of practical assessments and multiple choice examination.
How often do I need to be re-certified?
This two-day re-certification courses secures your qualification for a further three years, at which point the course will need to be undertaken again to keep your qualification valid and to ensure you have the most up-to-date techniques and information.
How much does it cost?
£220.
Next available course?
TBC
Annual three-hour refreshers
Why do a refresher course?
There's a lot to remember after any first aid course, so to ensure you're always prepared we recommend annual three-hour refresher sessions. These short sessions ensure you're up to date with skills, current standards and have effective practice. After three years, you will need to undergo a two-day re-certification course to keep your qualification valid.
How much does it cost?
£50.
Emergency First Aid at Work
A one-day course designed to give delegates the knowledge, skills and confidence to help those that have become unconscious or sustained minor injuries. On successfully completing this course, attendees will be confident, safe, prompt and effective emergency first-aiders.
Who is this course for?
- Those appointed as first aiders in small, lower risk companies, such as office environments.
- Anyone interested in the learning basic first aid techniques.
What will I learn?
- What is first aid
- Legal requirements of first aid in workplaces
- Responsibilities of the emergency first aider
- Primary survey
- CPR
- Basic principles of automated external defibrillator (AED) use – turning AED on, pad placement and following instructions
- Recovery position
- Choking
- Shock
- Bleeding
- Minor injuries – includes superficial burns, splinters, scrapes and grazes
How long does it take?
One day (six contact hours).
The course can be run over multiple days, however, this costs more. Please let us know when booking the course that you require more than one session.
What's included?
- Training to national standards
- Manual for each learner
- Certificates on successfully completing the course and assessments for each person
How will I be assessed?
- Practical assessments to ensure competency in each assessment criteria
- Written multiple choice examination
- 30-minute examination at the end of the course
My Emergency First Aid at Work Qualification?
- After three years, learners must undertake another Emergency First Aid at Work 1 day course to keep their First Aid at Work qualification valid. If you allow your qualification to lapse you will not be counted as part of the first aid cover for your place of work.
- It is strongly recommended by the HSE that all first aiders undergo an annual Three-Hour First Aid Refresher Course to keep their skills up to date, which we provide.
How much does it cost?
£110.
Next available course?
TBC
Paediatric First Aid
A comprehensive, two-day course designed for those working with children in an early years setting. On successfully completing this course, attendees will be confident, safe, prompt and effective paediatric first aiders.
Who is this course for?
Parents, foster carers and designated first aiders in early years settings, including:
- Nursery workers
- Childminders
- Staff working in early years in primary schools
- Others who work with children, or would like a comprehensive knowledge of how to administer first aid to children and babies
What will I learn?
- What is first aid?
- Legal requirements of first aid in workplaces
- Responsibilities of the emergency first aider
- Primary survey
- CPR
- Basic principles of automated external defibrillator (AED) use – turning AED on, pad placement and following instructions
- Recovery position
- Choking
- Shock
- Bleeding
- Minor injuries – includes superficial burns, splinters, scrapes and grazes
How long does it take?
Two days (12 contact hours).
The course can be run in consecutive days, or over two weeks
What's included?
- Training to national standards
- Manual for each learner
- Certificates on successfully completing the course and assessments for each person
How will I be assessed?
- Practical assessments to ensure competency in each assessment criteria
- Written multiple choice examination
- 30-minute examination at the end of the course
- 20 questions
- A "pass" mark is 15
How much does it cost?
£130.
How to book
We can tailor our courses to a time that suits you, and we also cater for organisations and larger groups (of up to 12 candidates per class to ensure a high level of individual attention). For more information or to arrange a course, please contact the team at FirstAidTraining@napier.ac.uk.
Simulation and Clinical Skills Centre
Edinburgh Napier University
Sighthill Campus
Sighthill Court
Edinburgh EH11 4BN
0131 455 3206
FirstAidTraining@napier.ac.uk
Getting here
Our Sighthill campus is well-served by public transport to and from the centre of the city, including the Edinburgh Trams system, and is less than five miles from Edinburgh airport. In addition, there are numerous cycle paths in the area and bike storage facilities on site.
By bus
Several Lothian Buses services from the city centre and Edinburgh Airport stop close to the campus:
- Services 3,21,25,32,34, 36 and Citylink 300 from the city centre stop at bus stop 'Sighthill Shops' on Calder Road.
- Services 2,12 and 22 from the city centre stop at bus stop 'Bankhead (W)' on Bankhead Drive.
- Citylink 300 from Edinburgh Airport (Stance F) stops at bus stop 'Sighthill' on Calder Road.
- Service 36 serves all three of our campuses.
Edinburgh boasts a very efficient network of environmentally friendly buses that will take you all across the city and out to the suburbs. All our campuses are served by Lothian Buses offers for a flat-rate fare throughout the city, making getting to university cheap and easy. What's more, full-time students are also eligible for a Student Ridacard offering discounted travel.
A Transport for Edinburgh app is available free for smartphones and offers live bus information and electronic ticketing.
By tram
The Edinburgh Trams service is a great way to travel across the city. From Newhaven, through Leith, along Princes Street, past Haymarket and out to the airport, the tram is direct and also operates on a flat rate fare or you can use your Ridacard.
Getting to our Sighthill campus by tram is easy – just get off at the 'Bankhead' stop. To get here from Edinburgh Airport, take the tram with the destination 'Newhaven' and alight at the 'Bankhead' stop (approximately 16 minutes). Cross Bankhead Drive, and continue walking up to the University (approximately 10 minutes on foot).
A Transport for Edinburgh app is available free for smartphones and offers live tram information and electronic ticketing.
By train
Edinburgh Park railway station is around 1.5km away while Edinburgh Waverley and Haymarket are situated in the city centre. From Edinburgh Waverley, take a Lothian Bus 3, 22 or 25 from Princes Street, or you can get bus number 3 or 25 at Haymarket, from the Dalry Road stop, or an Edinburgh Tram from directly outside the station.
Timetables and further information on rail services can be found through National Rail Enquiries.
By bike
Edinburgh is home to an expanding network of cycle paths and covered and secure bike storage as well as shower facilities are available at the campus. The City of Edinburgh Council publishes useful information on planning cycle routes within the city.
By car
The campus is situated on the main A71 road to the west of the city. It is easily accessible from the M8, M9 and Edinburgh City Bypass. Please note that on-campus parking is strictly by permit only, with limited on-street parking available in the surrounding area.
Disabled access guide
For a detailed access guide to our Sighthill campus, please visit here.