Frequently asked questions
Teaching first aid
A. First aid is the immediate help we can give to a sick or injured person. It involves helping with the physical injury or illness and also with other care, including being kind, comforting and supportive of people who are upset. The IFRC guidebook says that the purpose of first aid is to "preserve life, alleviate suffering, prevent further illness or injury and promote recovery."
When helping others remember to think about your own safety. To learn more about why first aid is important go to the First aid skills primary and secondary homepages.
A. There are many reasons to learn first aid. It can help to prepare you for challenging situations and increase awareness of your own safety and wellbeing. It can also help develop problem solving and decision making skills. Learning first aid will give you the skills and confidence needed to help injured and upset people. Using first aid to help people can increase their chance of survival and how quickly and well they recover. Treating minor injuries at home with first aid can also help lower the number of people going to hospital if they don't need to go.
A. Anyone can use First aid champions to learn and teach first aid. Teachers and educators don’t need any special first aid qualifications or training to teach first aid. We know that for some, the idea of teaching first aid can be quite daunting, but don’t worry, at the British Red Cross our approach is simple. Use the website and guidance to build confidence and understanding of the skills. In this toolkit you’ll find all the supporting materials, ideas and resources you need to teach first aid effectively.
A. No, you don’t need to give demonstrations. The resources are designed to show you and your learners how to help an ill or injured person, using simple language and supporting imagery or films.
If you choose to, you can give demonstrations to support your sessions. Ensure that you use a manikin for any actions that involve force, such as back blows, or chest compressions. We recommend that chest compressions are only taught to young people of secondary school age or above.
A. You can order a manikin from a range of different providers. Here is a link to a provider.
A. No. You may not always have access to a first aid kit in an emergency. There are many alternative ways you can provide first aid treatment using everyday items. For example, use frozen peas wrapped in a tea-towel to apply to a head injury, a t-shirt to put pressure on a bleeding wound, or water to cool a burn.
About First aid champions
A. For more than 100 years, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has been a world-leader in establishing first aid training standards, including developing procedures and guidelines. We have used our extensive experience to help shape and improve first aid around the world.
As part of the world’s largest provider of first aid, the British Red Cross educates tens of thousands of people in the UK every year. This helps to build resilience within communities and prepares people to cope with all types of emergency.
A. You’ll find a variety of engaging and impactful tools for you to pick and choose from. This includes activities, films, PowerPoint presentations, quizzes and photographs to create engaging first aid learning sessions.
A. The resources are structured into a modular online toolkit to make them easy to navigate, so you can pick and choose content to design sessions that are right for your group. The modules follow a ‘learn and practise’ approach, with interactive content and downloadable teaching activities to help children develop understanding and then try out what they have learned. The primary resource includes:
- Introductory activities that introduce the Red Cross, the characters children will learn with throughout the resources and why first aid is important
- First aid skills - explore eight different skills and what key action to take when someone needs first aid
- Kindness and coping – focus on what inspires people to help, emotions and how to keep calm, decision making and words of kindness and comfort
- Safety - learn how to call 999, keep safe when helping others and how to spot dangers
- Share - ideas for children to share their learning with others
There is also a My groups section that offers you the opportunity to register your groups and track their progress, as well as teaching guidance and support.
A. The resources are structured into a modular online toolkit to make them easy to navigate, so you can pick and choose content to design sessions that are right for your group. The modules follow a ‘learn and practise’ approach, with interactive content and downloadable teaching activities to help young people develop understanding and then try out what they have learned. The secondary resource includes:
- Introductory activities that introduce the Red Cross and why first aid is important
- First aid skills - explore seventeen different first aid skills and what key action to take when someone needs first aid
- Helping others – learn what inspires people to help and the qualities of those that do help
- Safety and well-being – focus on calling 999, emotional and practical first aid, staying safe and coping techniques to help keep calm
- Share and remember - ideas for young people to consolidate and then share their learning with others.
There is also a My groups section that offers you the opportunity to register your groups and track their progress, as well as teaching guidance and support.
A. First aid champion certificates do not reflect an official first aid qualification, they serve as a recognition of learning and progression through the website. To be a qualified first aider in a workplace in the UK you must re-qualify every 3 years, to learn more about official qualifications look at our Red cross training website.
A. In order to remember a skill it is important to practice it often. Children and young people can use First aid champions to continuously learn, practice and share their first aid knowledge.
For questions about first aid at work qualifications and training please visit our Red cross training website.
Support for schools
A. We are able to deliver first aid education for specific groups of children and young people aged 10-18 in certain areas - to find out if your school or youth group qualifies, please contact: youtheducation@redcross.org.uk or call 0844 412 2734
A. In order to remember a skill, it is important to practice it often. Children and young people can use First aid champions to continuously learn, practice and share their first aid knowledge. If you want to gain a first aid at work certificate please visit our Red cross training website.
A. We can offer CPD for teachers and youth workers who work with specific groups of young people in certain areas – to find out if you qualify please contact: youtheducation@redcross.org.uk or call 0844 412 2734
A. If you are struggling to login or need any further technical assistance with the resource please email youtheducation@redcross.org.uk
A. The British Red Cross offers a range of ways for adults to learn first aid. You can:
- download one of our free first aid apps,
- learn first aid online by visiting our website
- attend a first aid training course
A. Yes, we are one of the UK's leading first aid course training providers and offer courses nationally. Whether you are interested in first aid training at work or outside the workplace, we have a course for you.
Book a course in your local area.
A. The British Red Cross offers curriculum-linked resources on humanitarianism, conflict and its consequences, disasters and emergencies, refugees and migration and more. Browse our teaching resources homepage to find free teaching resources for both primary and secondary schools.
Get involved
A. We’d love to hear about your real-life first aid stories. Contact yourstory@redcross.org.uk with your name, telephone number and some brief details about what happened. To find out more about how we use your personal data, please look at our privacy policy.
A. From volunteering, to fundraising and work experience, we have plenty of opportunities for young people to engage with the Red Cross. Find out more.