Are Online First Aid courses legitimate?
Yes and No.
To explain further, online first aid training is a convenient way to learn the basics of first aid. It typically consists of a series of video tutorials, quizzes, and interactive activities designed to help you learn the basics of first aid such as how to assess an injury, how to administer CPR, how to treat common injuries and what should be in a first aid box.
So can you learn first online? Yes. This may be appropriate for when you want to have an idea of what first aid is about and get the knowledge. However, we advise that you get practical skills to complete your knowledge.
If you need First Aid for work – no matter where you work – then the short answer is No – you can’t just complete an online course. Appropriate First Aid training must include face to face training and assessment of practical skills. There are a number of other criteria that must be met too.
Why can’t I do my First Aid training online for Workplace Requirements?
There are are a variety of First Aid trainings we offer for the workplace with online training options (see our certifications trainings here). The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) oversee First Aid at Work. They say that to satisfy due diligence requirements, you must ensure that:
‘…sufficient time is allocated to classroom based learning and assessment of the practical elements of the syllabus.’
They also remind us that:
‘…elements of the syllabus requiring practical demonstration of First-Aid administration should be assessed by direct observation to ensure the competence of candidates…’
At Levande, we emphasize on practical skills assessment as a MUST before certificates are issued. For us, our certificates are a measure of your competency to act quickly and confidently, with the right knowledge and skills to help anyone in a medical emergency.
Online First Aid courses can’t meet the requirements of the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, even if the training provider claims that their course does. Simply put, the HSE do not allow or recognize online First Aid trainings.
Online Paediatric First Aid Trainings
At Levande, we have only 1 certification paediatric first aid training for people working with children – Emergency First Aid Training. We follow Ofsted requirements and the criteria set out in Annex A of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) document. Annex A of the EYFS documents requires:
‘The Emergency Paediatric First Aid course should be undertaken face-to-face and last for a minimum of 6 hours (excluding breaks)…’
‘Adequate resuscitation and other equipment including baby and junior models must be provided, so that all trainees are able to practice and demonstrate techniques.’
‘The full Paediatric First Aid course should last for a minimum of 12 hours…’
Online Paediatric First Aid trainings can give an awareness of First Aid to parents and family members, like our First Aid for Baby and Child training, but can’t and do not qualify you to be a First Aider in your workplace.
Employers should do their due diligence
Employers are legally responsible for ensuring adequate First Aid provision is in place. They are legally required to complete due diligence on any First Aid training providers used and ensure any First Aid certificates people already hold are fit for purpose. Online First Aid certificates are not acceptable and are not suitable.
However, the Nigerian first aid training for the workplace landscape has not yet developed and understood the essentials in doing their due diligence to make a decision. For now, they look for a provider whose certificate is “international“, not that such a qualification.
You have to know that the certificates being issued to your first aiders are suitable. To help you with this, click on the links below to know the following:
Learn More About the Methods of First Aid Certifications
First Aid Certification: Who Is Your First Aid Trainer?
Fully compliant First Aid Trainings from First Aid by Levande
Being a First Aider isn’t just about having a First Aid certificate. It’s about having the knowledge, skills and confidence to give someone the best chance in their particular situation. That takes more than watching a video, reading a few pdfs and printing your own certificate.
Due to the fact that first aid training is not common in Nigerian, First Aid by Levande doesn’t have a scheduled training calendar that any one can book and walk-in for. This is because there might just be 1 person that day and that is not conducive for a 7 – 9 hour training day.
Therefore, we offer blended training formats (both online and physical skills sessions) to take care of the few that show up once a while. When we have on-site trainings, for a minimum of 8 people, we can have a wholly physical training at your venue.
Good, competent, confident First Aiders save lives – every day. Give First Aid training the time and attention it deserves – the life you save might be your own – and get the right training from the right training provider. However, an online training alone is never going to replace face to face training where you learn, then practice First Aid skills whilst receiving ongoing constructive feedback and direction from a qualified, experienced trainer.
Check out our range of trainings to suit a variety of different environments and needs and get in touch if you have any questions – we can’t wait to hear from you.
