News
Welcome to the Surrey First Aid Training news page. Here you will be able to find everything you need to know about the recent First Aid regulation updates and any other helpful information from the health and safety industry. We produce regular industry news updates. We hope you find them useful.
Allergy safety in schools
Statutory guidance for governing bodies of maintained schools and proprietors of academies in England July 2026.
Understanding the Drowning Chain of Survival
Every year, thousands of lives are lost to drowning, yet many of these tragedies are preventable. Whether you're a parent, lifeguard, swimming instructor, boat owner, or simply enjoy spending time around water, understanding the Drowning Chain of Survival can help you recognize danger early and take the right actions to save a life.
The Drowning Chain of Survival is a series of five essential steps designed to reduce the risk of drowning and improve survival when an emergency occurs. Each link is equally important, and together they provide a simple framework for preventing fatalities.
What is Benedict's Law?
The term "Benedict's law" most commonly refers to a UK law and policy initiative to improve allergy safety in schools in England, named after Benedict Blythe, a five-year-old boy who died from anaphylaxis at school in 2021 after being accidentally given milk despite having a known allergy. The law was introduced following a campaign by his family and allergy advocacy groups.
HSE Workplace First Aid Compliance in 2026: What UK Employers Need to Know
Employers urged to review first aid arrangements as standards and guidance continue to evolve
With workplace safety remaining a key priority, UK employers are being encouraged to review their first aid arrangements to ensure they continue to meet the requirements of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 and the latest guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
Check Your Defib Week!
Its not too late to Check Your Defib!
A Working Defibrillator Could Save a Life — But Only If It’s Ready
Every year, more than 40,000 people experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK.¹ In these critical moments, survival depends on immediate action and access to a rescue-ready defibrillator.
15–21 June 2026 marks Check Your Defib Week, a national campaign encouraging people to take a few simple steps that could make the difference between life and death.
A first aid instructor thanks paramedics who saved his life
A first aid instructor from Kent has thanked the paramedics who saved his life after he suffered a heart attack.
Michael, from Ramsgate, called for an ambulance on 24 March after experiencing restlessness and aching in his jaw and teeth the previous evening. Although he teaches first aid, he said the symptoms did not immediately suggest he was having a heart attack.
His decision to seek medical help proved vital, revealing a serious and potentially life-threatening heart condition that paramedics from South East Coast Ambulance Service (Secamb) were able to begin treating on the way to William Harvey Hospital.