February 2021 HSE first aid at work update

Surrey First Aid Training Ltd - Specialists in First Aid Courses since 2000

Health and Safety Executive have also announced that they support the decision of the Resuscitation Council UK to exclude rescue breaths for most First Aid at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work training courses.

HSE have said ‘’This is a precautionary measure and any first aid training provider who is satisfied that they can safely deliver the practical teaching and assessment of rescue breaths may continue to do so.

Rescue breaths should continue to be practically demonstrated and assessed on training courses for the following courses; Paediatric First Aid training, front-line emergency services or if the first aider is someone who is expected to treat someone who is drowning, for example, a lifeguard.’’

Any First Aid at Work or Emergency First Aid at Work training or requalification courses which are delivered excluding the practical teaching of rescue breaths, must include:

  • a practical demonstration of the rescue breath technique by the trainer and/or a video demonstration
  • full training in the theory for giving rescue breaths
  • assurance from the first aid training provider that the student is competent to give rescue breaths, as far as they can be expected without being practically assessed

HSE always strongly recommend that workplace first aiders undertake annual refresher training, and if any first aid training or requalification training taken during the COVID19 outbreak excluded the practical training and assessment of rescue breaths, employers should ensure that rescue breaths are included in the next refresher training course.

Please note - this guidance will be reviewed as transmission and infection rates improve.

For more news on first aid cover and qualifications during the Coronavirus pandemic, please click here.