About the course

Every part of this course is built around real outdoor situations, where help may be a long way off and you need to manage with what you have. You’ll spend much of your time outside, working through realistic scenarios that build the confidence to take charge, keep your casualty safe and make good decisions until help arrives.

Locations

• Harcombe House, Haldon Forest, Chudleigh, TQ13 0DG (Directions open here)
• Dartmoor Activity Centre, Haytor, TQ13 9XS
• Heatree Activity Centre, Dartmoor, TQ13 9XE

Used by

Mountain Training award holders, Paddle UK, BASI, AALA licensed activity leaders, Forest School leaders, Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh's Award leaders, outdoor instructors, expedition leaders, rangers, ecologists and field workers.

Also acknowledged by forestry professionals, environmentalists, and individuals involved in field studies, research and conservation, among others.

Preparation

Day two is mostly outdoors, so bring waterproofs, warm layers, sturdy footwear, a packed lunch and a drink. Expect to kneel and work on the ground. No prior experience needed.

What you’ll cover

Taking charge in a remote setting: managing an incident, primary and secondary survey, calling for help and planning an evacuation
Life saving skills: CPR and defibrillation, airway and breathing problems, bleeding control and shock
Injuries: head, spinal and chest injuries, fractures, improvised splinting and improvised traction
Environmental emergencies: hypothermia, hyperthermia and heat illness, drowning and cold water immersion
Bites and stings: ticks, snakes, insects and allergic reactions
Medical emergencies: asthma, diabetes, anaphylaxis and seizures
Prolonged casualty care: looking after someone for hours, not minutes, while waiting for rescue
Outdoor scenarios: realistic incidents with several casualties, so you practise prioritising under pressure

Add more to your course

Get even more from your two days by adding an extra qualification at checkout. Simply open Add extra +F, +P, +FAW when you book, or give us a call on 0800 861 1901 if you’re not sure which is right for you.

Choose from:

+P Paediatric First Aid: add a paediatric qualification, ideal for Forest School leaders, outdoor educators and anyone working with early years and children.

+F Forestry First Aid: add the forestry endorsement for tree surgeons, arborists, land managers and anyone working with chainsaws or in woodland.

+FAW-R First Aid at Work: renew your First Aid at Work alongside your Outdoor First Aid. You can requalify if your current FAW certificate is still in date or expired less than a month ago, so you leave with both qualifications from one course.

+FAW: add your full First Aid at Work qualification. Includes two extra hours of training, which we’ll arrange with you before or after each course day.

Staying over?

Coming from further afield? We’re happy to suggest local places to stay to suit every budget, from camping and campervan sites to local hotels and B&Bs.

Harcombe House also has rooms available to hire, so you can stay on site. Just ask when you book and we’ll point you in the right direction.