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Automated External Defibrillators to be included in First Aid Training – Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are becoming more prevalent within the wider community.  For example there are national strategies in place actively promoting their placement in schools; public places such as stations. Many workplaces have voluntarily invested in this equipment.

Evidence suggests that where Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have been used the outcomes are far more favourable for an individual who suffers from a heart attack than if it is delayed until the arrival of the emergency services.

In June 2016 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) published a First Aid Bulletin stating that the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) should be taught on all workplace first aid courses by the start of 2017. Shortly after this announcement, our awarding body, Qualsafe Awards introduced Lesson Plans that demonstrated how to incorporate this into courses, and our CPR Practical Assessment Papers were changed to include the option to assess Learners in this subject.

Automated External Defibrillators now mandatory for First Aid Training

Automated External Defibrillators to be included in First Aid Training – While the majority of Centres have already started delivering and assessing the safe use of Automated External Defibrillators(AEDs) within their courses, it is important to note this will become mandatory for all Centres from 1st January 2017. On this date, all our documentation will be changed to reflect this and the optional assessments for this subject will become compulsory for Learners.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the First Aid Awarding Organisations Forum have clarified that 1 AED trainer will be required per manikin (minimum of 1 per 4 Learners) in order to ensure that Learners have sufficient hands-on practise.

As a registered training centre with Qualsafe Awards you can be assured that the training you receive from us are up to date and conform to the latest requirements from the Health and Safety Executive.

What’s more, as a regulated qualification, employers can book this course for their employees and rest assured that they have fulfilled their legal responsibilities for providing quality first aid training, without having to undertake any lengthy due diligence checks introduced in the recent HSE changes.

For employers this does not mean you have to purchase an Automated External Defibrillator for your workplace as the requirement for a defibrillator is still dependent on your needs assessment.  Neither do you have to retrain all your existing first aiders as they will be updated in this skill when they re-qualify.

As well as incorporating Automated External Defibrillators into our 1 Day Emergency First Aid at Work Training and 3 Day First Aid at Work Training, we also offer the following training specific to Automated External Defibrillators as below:

Basic Life Support and Safe use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)