How to become a First Aider
Ideally people volunteer to be First Aiders, sometimes after a ‘recruitment drive’ by the DSO or Head of Department. There are limited funds in the Occupational Health and Safety Service to pay for the training of First Aiders and applications should be made to Mrs Andrea Eccles, Safety Adviser. A decision will be based on the relative risk within a department, the number of existing First Aiders in the area and availability of funds.
In order to become a University First Aider a person should:
- Be of suitable character and motivation to be a first aider;
- Have the physical and mental ability to pass the rigorous training;
- Be a full-time employee;
- Usually be available for most of the day and year;
- Not be on a fixed short-term contract (although in some departments this may apply to all the staff and exceptions may be made)
- Have approval from their line manager
To be eligible for Safety Office funded training you must meet criteria that has been set out by the Working Group for First Aid.
If Safety Office funding is not available at the time of the request, a person can still become a First Aider if the department is willing to fund the training. This will also apply to people who do not fit the criteria but who still wish to be trained as First Aiders such as a part-time worker or a student.
The Safety Office arranges training and at present it is usual to train with St John Ambulance, although other training organisations are sometimes used. A First Aid at Work course is undertaken and the certificate is valid for three years.
If a person wishes to continue being a First Aider after three years, a requalification course may be undertaken although it is important to note that this course must be completed before the original certificate runs out. This is especially significant to people who have previously been First Aiders, but whose qualification has lapsed, as they will need to do the full three-day First Aid at Work course.