PHECC First Aid Essentials Basic Course Overview

The PHECC First Aid Essentials Basic course is an introductory programme designed for people with little or no previous first aid experience. It gives you the essential knowledge and practical skills to respond calmly and safely when someone becomes ill or injured at work, at home, or in your community. The course follows recognised PHECC guidelines, using clear explanations and simple, step‑by‑step methods.

This course is ideal for employees, community volunteers, carers, parents, and anyone who wants to be prepared for everyday emergencies. You do not need any medical background. By the end of the course, you will feel more confident about what to do in the first critical minutes before professional help arrives, helping to create a safer environment for colleagues, family, and the public.

Completing the course supports workplace health and safety compliance and shows a clear commitment to staff and community wellbeing. You will learn how to assess a situation, protect yourself and others, and give effective first aid without causing harm. The focus is on practical, realistic skills that you can use immediately in real‑life situations.

• Checking scene safety and personal protection
• How and when to call emergency services
• Basic life support, CPR and AED awareness
• Managing bleeding and shock
• First aid for burns and scalds
• Recognising and responding to common medical emergencies (e.g. chest pain, stroke, seizures, choking, fainting)

With supportive instruction and plenty of time for questions, this course helps you stay calm, act quickly, and provide safe, effective first aid when it matters most.

PHECC First Aid Essentials – Learning Outcomes & Core Modules

Our PHECC First Aid Essentials Basic course is designed to build strong, practical skills so you can respond calmly and confidently in real-life emergencies. Through demonstrations, guided practice and realistic scenarios, you will learn how to assess a scene, protect yourself and others, and provide effective first aid until professional help arrives. By the end of the course, you will understand your role as a first aider and be able to apply simple, life-saving techniques in the home, workplace and community.

• Roles and responsibilities of a first aider
  Understand the legal and ethical responsibilities of a first aider, including consent, confidentiality and record keeping. Learn how to assess risks, ensure personal safety and use standard precautions to prevent infection. You will practise how to approach a casualty, communicate clearly with bystanders and emergency services, and stay calm under pressure.
• Primary survey (DRABC)
  Learn and practise the DRABC approach: Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and Circulation. You will carry out full primary surveys on manikins and volunteer casualties, checking for responsiveness, opening the airway, assessing breathing and identifying life-threatening conditions. Scenarios will help you prioritise actions and decide when to call 112/999.
• Dealing with unconscious casualties
  Recognise the causes and risks of unconsciousness and how to manage an unresponsive casualty who is breathing normally. You will practise placing adults and children into the recovery position safely, maintaining an open airway and monitoring breathing until help arrives. Emphasis is placed on spinal care, ongoing observation and reassuring family or bystanders.
• CPR overview
  Gain a clear overview of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for adults and children in line with current guidelines. You will practise chest compressions and rescue breaths on manikins, focusing on correct hand position, depth, rate and sequence. The course highlights early recognition of cardiac arrest, calling for help quickly and working as a team during resuscitation.
• Choking
  Identify the signs of mild and severe airway obstruction in adults and children. You will practise back blows and abdominal thrusts on training aids, and learn how to adapt your approach for different ages and situations. Realistic scenarios help you decide when to continue, when to stop and when to seek urgent medical assistance.
• Bleeding and wounds
  Understand different types of bleeding and how to control them using direct pressure, elevation and dressings. You will practise applying bandages, using improvised materials and managing nosebleeds, grazes, cuts and more serious wounds. The module also covers recognising internal bleeding and when to treat for shock.
• Shock
  Learn what shock is, common causes and early warning signs. You will practise positioning and reassuring a casualty in shock, protecting them from heat loss and monitoring their condition while waiting for emergency services. The focus is on simple, effective actions that can make a critical difference.
• Burns and scalds
  Recognise different types and severities of burns, including thermal, chemical and electrical injuries. You will practise cooling burns correctly, protecting the area with appropriate dressings and avoiding common mistakes. Special attention is given to burns on the face, hands, joints and in children, and when to seek urgent medical help.
• Fractures, sprains and soft tissue injuries
  Identify the signs of possible fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains. You will learn simple support and immobilisation techniques using slings and padding, and how to make the casualty comfortable while avoiding further harm. Scenarios include slips, trips, falls and sports-related injuries.
• Basic medical emergencies
  Gain an overview of common medical emergencies such as heart attack, angina, stroke, asthma, diabetic emergencies and seizures. You will learn to recognise key warning signs, provide reassurance, position the casualty safely and support them until professional help arrives. Case-based discussions and role-play build confidence in making quick, informed decisions.
• Practical, scenario-based learning
  Throughout the course, you will take part in hands-on practice, group exercises and realistic scenarios that mirror everyday situations at home, work and in public places. By repeatedly applying your skills in a safe learning environment, you will leave the course feeling prepared, capable and ready to act when it matters most.