FAQs Training

On 9th May of this year, the government, in conjunction with Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the Health Services Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation published a “Return to Work Safely Protocol”. This protocol guides employers to help safeguard their workers when returning to the workplace. 

This protocol advises:

“Workers with a specific role in acting as first responders should be provided with updated training on infection prevention and control principles including performance of hand hygiene and appropriate use of personal protective equipment when delivering first aid”

In light of this protocol and the ongoing pandemic, St John Ambulance Ireland has developed a 1.5-hour online instructor-led course that will equip first aiders with the up-to-date information and procedures on Covid-19 for first aiders.

Further details on this course can be found on our courses page by clicking the link https://www.stjohn.ie/first-aid-courses/firstaidcovid-19-2/

In light of COVID-19, St John Ambulance Ireland has developed a 1.5-hour online upskilling course. This course is instructor-led and will equip first aiders with the up to date information and procedures on Covid-19 for first aiders. Further information on this course can be found on our courses page https://www.stjohn.ie/first-aid-courses/firstaidcovid-19-2/

We offer training in first aid, manual handling and fire safety.

We run first aid courses developed by St John Ambulance:

• 1-day Emergency First Aid
• 4 hour Baby & Toddler course

We also run first aid courses that were developed by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC):

• 4 hour Cardiac First Response Community (CFR-C)
• 3-day First Aid Response (FAR) – replaced the OFA course
• 2-day First Aid Response-Recertification – (FAR-R)

All of our first aid courses teach CPR and AED training with the exception of our Baby & Toddler course which teaches CPR only.

The specific requirements for first aid provision at work depends on several factors including:

• Size of the workplace
• Numbers employed
• Potential hazards
• Type of work involved   e.g. office vs. construction
• Location of the workplace
• Distance and how long from the medical services e.g. in a city beside a hospital or 50 miles from the nearest hospital etc.

These factors are generally considered when forming the risk assessment section of your Safety statement. It is up to the employer to determine which first aid course is most appropriate based on the risk assessment conducted. The Health & Safety Authority offers guidance on the recommended number of occupational first aiders required for different types of workplaces. This can be found on the Health & Safety Authority website.

Again, this will be assessed in your risk assessment.

The FAR course replaces and improves on the OFA course and it is the recognised standard meeting the requirements of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (S.I.No. 299 of 2007).

Yes, if you have a valid OFA cert you can complete the FAR-R course.

Recertification training should be completed on/before the expiry date of your previous certificate. A grace period of 30 days applies only in exceptional circumstances.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, PHECC (Pre-hospital Emergency Care Council), has allowed a short grace period to allow people to re-certify.  If your First Aid Response (FAR) certificate expired on or after 1st March 2020 you will have until 31st October 2020 to complete a FAR-Recertification course. If you do not complete a FAR-Recertification course by 31st October 2020 you will need to complete the 3-day FAR course in order to hold a FAR certificate.

The PHECC FAR Recertification course is 12 hours of instruction & assessments over 2 days

No.

Yes. The 2-Day Recertification course is open to anyone who currently holds a valid Occupational First Aid or First Aid Response Certificate which is due for renewal. Please provide a copy of your certificate at the time of booking for validation purposes.

We will need to view a copy of your FAR/OFA cert before booking the course. Where you do not have copy of your certificate, please contact the first aid provider and they will be able to email you an electronic copy of the certificate that you can forward to us.

2 years

2 years

No, there are no mutual recognition agreements between Ireland and other countries on occupational first aid. Therefore occupational first aid certificates obtained in other countries are not transferable and are not valid in Ireland. To be a valid occupational first aider in Ireland, you must do the training in Ireland.

Again, there is no mutual recognition agreements between Ireland and other countries on first aid certificates. To be a valid first aider in Ireland, you must do the training in Ireland.

Only those over 18 years of age can participate in our public courses. If you have a group under 18s, we can train them separately.

No, only adults can attend the course.

Yes, to secure the course booking you need to pay before the course date.We accept payment via paypal or if you don’t have an account we accept credit cards, cheque

For most courses we offer discounts if 3 or more people attend a course, please email [email protected]

Cancellations made 5 working days or more before the course commencement date will be entitled to a full refund/credit

Cancellations of less than 5 working days may incur the full cost of the course.