FISA Strongly Recommend first aid training to be face-to-face

Forestry work is often undertaken in remote settings and in an incident the first aider may have to manage the situation for a longer period.  During first aid training/first aid renewal new methods are taught with the trainer reviewing/showing attendees how to use the equipment for example practice defibrillators.

HSE response further supports the need for face-to-face first aid training:

"As all employers are only required to provide first aid provision that is adequate and appropriate for their circumstances to meet their responsibilities under the relevant regulations, HSE (and the regulations) cannot be prescriptive on this issue.

However, guidance accompanying the regulations states that HSE strongly recommends that if an employer determines in their first aid needs assessment that they need to have at least one trained first aider, then we strongly recommend that practical elements of the training and student assessment are conducted face to face.  This position, and information on other safeguards when commissioning blended first aid training is set out in paragraph 24 in our guidance leaflet: GEIS3 - Selecting a first aid training provider - A guide for employers."