Courses
First Aid at Work (FAW): 3-Day Course
The standard for higher-risk workplaces in construction, manufacturing, energy, transport, and heavy industry. Covers major trauma, severe bleeding, burns, fractures, spinal injuries, cardiac arrest, and resuscitation. Delegates practise on realistic manikins and scenario-based exercises that replicate the pressure of a genuine emergency. Certificates valid for three years.
The FAW qualification is the one HSE expects for workplaces where the risk assessment identifies significant hazards. If your employees operate machinery, work at height, handle chemicals, or work in physically demanding environments, FAW-trained first aiders are the minimum standard.
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW): 1-Day Course
Designed for lower-risk environments such as offices, retail, and professional services. Covers CPR, choking, minor wounds, seizure management, and the initial response to medical emergencies until ambulance services arrive. A cost-effective way to meet your statutory obligations in environments where serious injuries are less likely.
EFAW is also suitable as a foundation qualification for all employees in higher-risk environments, supplementing the more comprehensively trained FAW holders.
Defibrillator (AED) Training
Using an AED within three to five minutes of cardiac arrest increases survival rates from approximately 6% to 74%. That statistic alone makes AED training one of the highest-impact interventions available to any employer. This standalone module teaches safe, confident AED use alongside effective CPR technique. It’s suitable for all staff, regardless of their existing first aid qualifications.
Why Train with MCL Medics
Active practitioners. Instructors who currently work in clinical and emergency settings. Your staff learn from people who have managed the situations they’re teaching, not from trainers who last saw a real casualty a decade ago.
Practical focus. Courses prioritise hands-on practice over classroom theory. Delegates practise CPR, bandaging, splinting, and casualty management in realistic scenarios. They leave with muscle memory and the confidence to act under pressure, not just a certificate.
Flexible delivery. Onsite at your premises anywhere in the UK, or at our dedicated training centres. We schedule around your operations, including shift patterns, seasonal pressures, and site access constraints.
Part of a wider framework. First aid training integrates with our Occupational Health, EAP, and Critical Incident services. Your first aiders know exactly how to escalate into our clinical pathways when something serious happens. They’re not operating in isolation — they’re the first link in a governed clinical chain.
How Many First Aiders Do You Need?
The answer depends on your risk assessment, not a generic formula. However, HSE provides general guidance:
For low-risk workplaces (offices, shops, libraries): at least one EFAW-trained person per 50 employees, or one FAW-trained person for workplaces with more than 100 employees.
For higher-risk workplaces (construction, manufacturing, warehousing): at least one FAW-trained person per 5 to 50 employees, depending on the specific hazards.
These are minimum standards. If your workforce includes shift workers, remote locations, or multiple buildings, you may need additional provision to ensure someone is always available during working hours. We can review your risk assessment and recommend the appropriate numbers and qualification levels.
Certificate Management
First Aid certificates are valid for three years. HSE recommends annual refresher training to maintain confidence and competence, but full requalification is required every three years. We track certificate expiry dates for contracted clients and notify you in advance of upcoming renewals.
If a certificate expires, the holder is no longer considered competent by HSE. If the certificate has been expired for less than 28 days, a two-day requalification course is sufficient. Beyond 28 days, the full three-day FAW course must be completed again.
What This Means for Your Business
The statutory requirement is clear, but the commercial case goes beyond compliance. A first aider who can manage a cardiac arrest, control severe bleeding, or stabilise a spinal injury changes outcomes. The difference between a trained response and an untrained one can be measured in survival rates, injury severity, absence duration, and the compensation claims that follow workplace incidents.
