Learn basic first aid skills with our PHECC First Aid Essentials (FAE) course.
Our 1-day Basic First Aid course is delivered to the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) First Aid Essentials standard. In 6.5 hours of training you will learn how to assess a casualty, control bleeding, manage burns and limb injuries, respond to common medical emergencies, and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
PLEASE NOTE: Completing this 1-day course does not meet the requirements under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act for a designated first aider in the workplace. Your onsite designated First Aiders will still need to complete the PHECC First Aid Response 3-day course, and every 2 years, complete a 2-day recertification course, for that requirement.
Who should complete First Aid Essentials (FAE) – Basic First Aid?
The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) First Aid Essentials (FAE) – Basic First Aid course is aimed at the general public, community groups, volunteers, and workers in general environments who need a foundational, high-impact first aid skill set but do not require the full, intensive 3-day First Aid Response (FAR) certification
- General Public: Individuals wanting the confidence and capability to respond to everyday medical or trauma emergencies at home or in public.
- Community Groups & Volunteers: Club members, local organisers, and charity workers.
- General Workplaces: Staff members who require basic lifesaving and safety awareness without a high-risk occupational mandate.
Role and responsibility of a Basic First Aider
The First Aider possesses defined skills in the management of a patient who has become suddenly ill or injured in the pre-hospital environment until the arrival of emergency medical services (EMS). The First Aider is able to provide an initial response to assess and manage these patients in accordance with PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). The First Aid Essentials Standard adopts a uniform approach to interacting with patients and other emergency medical services in the pre-hospital setting. Finally, Basic First Aiders are required to maintain their skill levels in First Aid Essentials including CFR-C every two years.
First Aid Essentials Standard Rationale
The First Aider will possess the following general skills. The ability to:
- deal with life threatening or potentially life-threatening conditions in the pre-hospital environment until arrival of emergency medical services.
- provide First Aid Response for conditions not thought to be life-threatening but are necessary to prevent further harm before the emergency medical services arrive.
- provide pre-hospital First Aid Response in a wide range of environments including home, recreational and workplace settings
- display the requisite personal skills including composure, competence and self-confidence while understanding their limitations.
What you will learn…
The course covers four core areas, with plenty of hands-on practice throughout.
1. Introduction to first aid:
Your role as a first aider before the ambulance arrives, how to check a scene is safe, communicating clearly under pressure, asking for consent to treat someone, the legal protections that apply to people who help in an emergency in Ireland, recognising signs of abuse or neglect, and looking after your own wellbeing afterwards.
2. Patient assessment
How to carry out a primary survey and a secondary survey, how to check and interpret vital signs such as breathing, circulation, skin colour and level of consciousness, how to take a casualty history, and how to spot the warning signs of a possible spinal injury.
3. Injury management
Recognising and controlling serious bleeding at different wound sites, treating a nosebleed, identifying and supporting broken bones and other muscle and joint injuries, caring for a suspected spinal injury, and assessing and treating burns.
4. Common medical emergencies
Recognising and responding to diabetic emergencies, asthma attacks, seizures, poisoning, anaphylaxis, sepsis and fainting, plus how to care for someone whose level of consciousness has changed.
Included as standard: Cardiac First Response, Community
Every First Aid Essentials course includes the full Cardiac First Response, Community module. You will practise chest compressions, rescue breaths, choking management and defibrillator use on a manikin until you are comfortable doing it.
Why choose our PHECC First Aid Essentials (FAE) – Basic First Aid course?
- ✅ Nationally Certified: Fully accredited by PHECC (Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council) — Ireland’s regulatory body for pre-hospital emergency care
- ✅ Small Group Sizes: Maximum 1:8 trainer-to-learner ratio — more hands-on practice, better results
- ✅ Expert Trainers: All courses delivered by qualified emergency care professionals with real-world experience
- ✅ PHECC Approved Training Institution (ATI) with QQI and IOSH accreditation and ISO 9001:2015 certification
Renewing your PHECC First Aid Essentials (FAE) Certificate
Your PHECC certificate is valid for 2 years. To remain a certified in Ireland, you must complete the course again before your certificate expires. Don’t let your qualification lapse — staying certified means staying ready.
Book your Basic First Aid course today!
Don’t wait for an emergency to find out you’re not prepared. First aid training saves lives, and with availability to deliver courses onsite nationwide, there’s never been an easier time to get your team or staff member certified.
Contact us now to book your place on a public course or to arrange onsite first aid essentials training for your team.
Frequently asked questions
Does this course replace the 3-day First Aid Response course?
NO. Completing this 1-day course does not meet the requirements under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act for a designated first aider in the workplace. Your onsite designated First Aiders will still need to complete the PHECC First Aid Response 3-day course, and every 2 years, complete a 2-day recertification course, for that requirement.
How long is a Basic First Aid course?
One day, with a minimum of 6.5 hours of teaching and assessment.
How long does the certificate last?
Two years from the date of certification. After that you must complete the course again to recertify and for your qualification to remain valid.
Is CPR and defibrillator training included?
Yes. Cardiac First Response, Community is a mandatory part of every First Aid Essentials course, so CPR, choking and defibrillator use are all covered and practised.
Is there a written exam?
No. You are assessed on your practical skills during the course, using the assessment sheets published by PHECC.
Is there a minimum age?
No. Learners of any age can take the course, provided they can understand the material and complete the practical assessment.
What is the difference between Basic First Aid and First Aid Response?
Basic First Aid is a one-day course covering essential skills for the general public and workplaces. PHECC First Aid Response is a 3-day course, recognised by the HSA and TUSLA as the standard for first Aid in the workplace in Ireland. It is a more detailed course, usually required where a designated workplace occupational first aider is needed. We can advise on which one fits your obligations.
Do you deliver this course on our site?
Yes. We deliver nationwide at your premises, provided there is a suitable room for practical work and space for a maximum of eight learners per instructor.
