Outdoor First Aid

If you’re looking for a shorter, one-day course focused on essential emergency response skills, see Emergency Outdoor First Aid.

Meets the outdoor first aid requirements for many National Governing Bodies (NGBs).

This two-day Outdoor First Aid course provides the practical skills, knowledge, and decision-making confidence needed to manage incidents involving others in outdoor and remote environments.

On successful completion, learners achieve the FAA Level 3 Award in Outdoor First Aid (RQF) — a nationally recognised qualification widely required for outdoor instructors, leaders, and organisations.

Designed for people who work, lead, or spend extended time outdoors, the course focuses on realistic scenarios where emergency medical assistance may be delayed. Training is delivered by experienced outdoor instructors, with a strong emphasis on hands-on learning and spending as much time outdoors as conditions allow.

What Happens

The course runs over two days (16 hours total), typically from 9:00am to 5:00pm each day, and combines short classroom-based sessions with practical, scenario-led learning outdoors.

You’ll work through realistic incidents that reflect the environments you operate in, developing the skills to assess situations, manage casualties, and make sound decisions when help may be some distance away.

The pace is structured, calm, and supportive, with time built in for discussion, questions, and hands-on practice throughout.

The course runs in most weather conditions, with indoor space available as needed.

What You’ll Learn

Across the course, you’ll cover a broad range of outdoor first aid topics, including:

• What outdoor first aid is and how it differs from workplace first aid

• Incident management and scene survey

• Primary and secondary casualty surveys

• Ongoing monitoring of a casualty

• Managing an unresponsive casualty

• CPR and resuscitation

• Disorders of respiration

• Major illnesses and medical conditions

• Anaphylaxis

• Hypovolaemic shock

• Major bleeding, wounds, and soft tissue injuries

• Bones, joints, and muscle injuries

• Head and spinal injuries

• Chest and abdominal injuries

• Burns and scalds

• Eye injuries

• Bites and stings

• Poisoning

• Extreme heat and cold injuries

• First aid equipment and its use in outdoor settings

• When and how to move a casualty

• Summoning assistance in remote environments

Learning is reinforced through practical demonstrations, realistic outdoor scenarios, and instructor-led discussion.

Who It’s For

This course is designed for people with a duty of care for others in outdoor settings, including:

• Outdoor instructors and leaders

• Bushcraft practitioners

• Teachers and youth workers

• Expedition supervisors and volunteers

• Group leaders and outdoor professionals

• Individuals who regularly work or recreate outdoors

• Participants must be aged 16 or over

No previous first aid qualification is required.

Staying Over

If you are travelling from further afield, local accommodation options are available. Details will be provided upon booking.

Certification

On successful completion, you’ll be awarded the Level 3 Award in Outdoor First Aid, an Ofqual-regulated qualification awarded by First Aid Awards Ltd (FAA), valid for three years.

You’ll be issued with both a digital certificate and a physical certificate, confirming successful completion of the course. Assessment is carried out through practical demonstration, oral questioning, and a short written assessment paper.