Welcome to the 1st Aid Site!
Everything First Aid Related...

Why is it so darn difficult to find a first aid course in the UK?

I'm really desperate to do a first aid course for parents. My son's at that age where he's constantly getting into scrapes and situations and I'm panicking that one day he's going to come to some real harm, and I wouldn't know how to do the Heimlich manouvre or CPR if you paid me. I've read plenty of instructions on the internet but I still don't feel comfortable that I'd know how to do it all.

I've been back and forth looking at courses. Emailed my local colleges - all their courses are discontinued. Emailed St. John's Ambulance - no reply, and I've searched in all manner of ways for the parent first aid courses they *say* they offer, and it brings up no results, the only thing I can find is a paediatric first aid course for training professionals and that costs about £100 which I cannot afford and probably couldn't get on to anyway considering I don't work with children, I just, God forbid, raise one!

I've also tried contacting local hospitals and they told me to try St. John's Ambulance argh.

Don't you think it should be something that's more easily accessible to parents!? I don't feel like I should have to hunt around, let alone come to dead ends, for something so basic. Considering the amount of useless pamphlets we parents get through the post for nothing and everything, surely this should be something we are offered. Has anyone else had this trouble, and did you find a solution?!

Public Comments

1. Contact your local social services office and ask them.

They have organisations such as Homestart that are able to hole classes.

2. email is not the best medium for applying for a course. They are usually arranged locally by St John Ambulance and Red Cross branches. Find your nearest branch (from the website) and phone them up. Your local adult education centre may well also do a course - check their website.

3. Get the number of your nearest St. John's Ambulance brigade or Order of Malta ambulance corps. The Red cross also do them. They hold regular courses and will be able to tell you when the next one is happening in your area

4. Have you tried British Red Cross Society? Failing finding a course, join either St J's or Red Cross and attend their weekly meetings. You will learn First Aid and make new friends.

5. Yes, you are right, it shouldn,t be that hard.
Well in my case I HAD to do a short first aid training because my son was premature and before let home from hospital (after 9 weeks) parents have to do this.
It was very basic and I don't remember most of it now after nearly 4 years but we also got a laminated instruction (CPR) to put on wall in case we need it.
Did you try your local health center/ health visitor for more advice? Might worth a try.

6. i know my aunts were offered a first aid course from their childrens school xxx

sorry i cant help any further hun xx