First Aid Training Team
SASU Managers: Martin David & Brian Murphy
Designated County First Aid Adviser: Chris Rowley
A First Aid qualification is required for all Leaders. It must not be allowed to lapse and is to be renewed every three years. A number of Adventurous Activities require a high level of First Aid qualification.
First Aid provision within Surrey Scouts is coordinated through its own 1st Aid Team who:
- Provide advice on First Aid requirements and training.
- Supports a network of County First Aid trainers, the majority of whom operate within specific Districts or Clusters.
- Delivers courses across the county at a wide variety of levels.
- Offers training & development for existing and prospective First Aid trainers
Scout First Aid Requirements
Leaders, managers and supporters in Scouting must hold a current first aid qualification at the time of gaining their Wood Badge and then renew this at intervals of no more than every three years
The minimum first aid required is First Response also known as Module 10, but higher levels of qualification are needed if delivering first aid training or leading certain kinds of activities in remote environments.
First Response
Who needs first response?
- All adults in scouting holding a Leader, Manager or Supporter appointment.
- The First Response Certificate is designed specifically for adults in The Scouts and Girlguiding, based on the situations and issues that occur within those roles. It is not, therefore, externally recognised.
- Certificate must be valid when Wood Badge is issued and then renew this at intervals of no more than every three years (see transition guidance in first aid updates).
- All groups undertaking activities in remote environments (as defined in POR rule 9.7i) must have immediate access to someone holding a relevant and current Full First Aid Certificate.
Length of course
- First response – 6 hours (can be three 2-hour sessions)
- Full first aid – 14 hours/ two days
Criteria for course
All first aid training must cover the below criteria. The level of detail and time spent on each subject will vary, depending on whether it is a First Response or Full First Aid course.
- Principles of first aid and initial response (arriving and managing an incident)
- Initial response to a first aid situation
- Management of an unconscious casualty (child or adult)
- CPR, including technique for children and an explanation of what AED is and how to use it
- Choking
- Shock
- Bleeding
- Fractures (ambulance imminent and non-imminent) and sprains
- Head injuries
- Dental incidents
- Burns
- Asthma
- Anaphylaxis
- Heart Attack
- Stroke
- Seizures
- Diabetes
- Sepsis / Meningitis
Alternative Qualifications
Scouts recognises that members may well hold alternative First Aid qualifications and is happy to recognise them as long as they meet the requirements of the organisation. Some qualifications may require some additional training.
Further information is available at:
Professions with First Aid experience | Scouts
or contact one of the team.
First Aid for Adventurous Activities
All groups undertaking adventurous activities must have immediate access to someone holding a relevant and current first aid qualification. This need not be the permit holder. The detail of the first aid skills required will be identified by the risk assessment, but the minimum qualifications (or equivalents) are:
- A full first aid certificate as defined at Module 10 – First Response | Scouts is required for all remote activities, where travelling time is 3 hours or more (in the method of travel being used) to a point of refuge including;
- a road which carries a normal road-going ambulance
- a building which is occupied (such as a farm or harbour);
- or another means of calling help (such as a telephone box)
- First Response is required for all other adventurous activities.
The default First Aid qualification that many Adventurous Activity Instructors hold is the 16 Hour Outdoor First Aid Course.
The SASU run a number of these each year at Bentley Copse in association with an external provider. These are offered at a heavily discounted price and are completely Scout Activity focussed. For more details contact Martin David.
First Aid Trainers
The SASU are always pleased to hear from existing or prospective First Aid trainers who would be interested in delivering First Response. All new trainers will be accredited as County Trainers though will be free to base themselves in a specific district.
In order to run a First Response course, the trainer is required to be either an externally qualified First Aid trainer, or hold a Full First Aid Certificate and The Scouts Presenting and Facilitating modules.
First Response Training Courses
For details of planned courses in the first instance please contact your District / Local Learning Manager.
Open County Courses are advertised on: County Training Diary
More Information
If you want to find out more then you can look at the Scouts Website: First Aid Training | Scouts or contact one of the SASU team.
