What is Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)?

What is Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW)?

First Aid is the immediate assistance given to a victim before the emergency services arrive.  This is a critical time and the correct actions can safe a life!

Emergency First Aid at Work training or EFAW is a syllabus devised by the UK HSE that covers ‘appropriate’ workplace training for those who may have to respond to a life-threatening emergency at work.  For example, heart attacks, cardiac arrest and strokes.

Recent research shows only 1 in 20 adults have the confidence and skill to provide first aid in emergency situations.  And because even a basic knowledge of First Aid can enable a lifesaving intervention it is incumbent on employers to ensure an appropriate response.

Even in ‘safe’ environment such as offices workers staff can experience life-threatening emergencies.  Heart attacks, cardiac arrest and strokes are often caused by what are referred to as ‘natural causes’ but still employers have a legal responsibility to respond in an ‘adequate and appropriate’ way.

This means appropriate first-aid arrangements, including staff training must be in place.

The decision about what training arrangements are appropriate for a given business will be determined by the first aid needs assessment.

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) training is a great choice for businesses in low-risk workplaces where cuts and bruises are less likely.  First Aid at Work training includes all EFAW content but in addition covers how to respond to non-life-threatening emergencies.

EFAW Vs FAW Course Content?

First Aid at Work (FAW) training covers the full Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) and includes how to deal with minor injuries like cuts and bruises.

Both the FAW and EFAW syllabuses are defined by the UK HSE.  Training providers follow the defined syllabuses when making their training.  This way employers can be sure their trained first-aiders understand all that they need to know.  And following these syllabuses help employers meet legal first aid training obligations in the UK.  However employers can make their own First Aid courses up if they wish.  So long as ‘appropriate’ training is provided.

First Aid Legal Training Requirement

To stay compliant with The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, all UK businesses must be in a position to provide staff who become ill or are injured at work with adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel.

This helps ensure that, should an emergency occur, employees will receive immediate attention.  

But what does ‘adequate’ mean?

‘Adequate’ is the legal term used in the Regulations.  There are no specific requirements set out, instead businesses must determine for themselves what is adequate within their particular context.

This is achieved by undertaking a first aid needs assessment.

For low risk businesses, a first aid needs assessment does not need to be a difficult or time-consuming process. When assessing your first-aid needs, you should consider:

• the nature of the work done
• workplace hazards and risks (including specific hazards requiring special arrangements)
• the nature and size of the workforce
• the work patterns of staff
• holiday and other absences of those who will be first-aiders and appointed persons
• the organisation’s history of accidents

As a minimum, all businesses must have:

• a suitably stocked first-aid kit
• an appointed person to take charge of first-aid arrangements (eg keeping the first aid kit stocked and calling the emergency services);
• information for all employees giving details of first-aid arrangements.

For some low risk businesses, the above may be all that is required to ensure first aid provision is adequate and appropriate.

However, if the needs assessment identifies more significant health and safety risks, it is adequate and appropriate for a business to ensure there are a sufficient number of appropriately trained first aiders. It may also be necessary to arrange additional equipment and facilities.

As noted previously, any first-aiders must have undertaken training appropriate to the need of the workplace. The training could be a custom made course but would typically follow the syllabuses of either Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) or First Aid at Work (FAW).

What are Workplace First Aid courses for?

All Workplace First Aid courses have the same goal.  They provide the knowledge needed to give emergency first aid to a victim in the critical period before the emergency services arrive.

First Aid at Work courses, in addition to covering emergency first aid, also equips a first-aider to apply first aid in a wider range of situations, beyond initial emergency situations.

Emergency First Aid at Work may sound scary and the natural inclination is to worry that by intervening with a victim before emergency services arrive that more harm will be caused.

How Long does Emergency First Aid at Work last

The HSE recommends 6 hours face-to-face training to gain an EMAW certification.  The certificate is valid for 3 years.  Online EFAW courses can be used to ‘blend’ training with face-to-face courses, potentially as ‘refresher’ training or as an option for all staff.

What Does Emergency First Aid at Work cover?

Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) courses cover the first aid needed to attend the life-threatening emergencies.

The emergency situations these courses will cover typically include:

• Falling unconscious, and either

1. breathing
2. not-breathing
3. not-breathing and no circulation

• Cardiac Emergencies
• Stroke
• Bleeding
• Allergic reaction
• Diabetes and Epilepsy
• Burns
• Breaks and Fractures

In nearly every case, of course, the first action is to call the emergency services immediately.

The goal of EFAW courses is to explain the simple steps to take before the emergency services arrive. To this end, EFAW courses are often short and concise.

The echo3education EFAW course teaches first-aiders that, once the emergency services have been called, they need to first think Primary Survey, followed by a Secondary Survey.

The Primary Survey, or initial assessment, is designed to help the first-aider detect immediate threats to life. Immediate life threats typically involve the patient’s ABC: Airways, Breathing and Circulation. For example, if someone collapses at work, first-aiders will know to check if victim’s airways are clear.  If not, they will tilt the head back to help air to pass into the lungs.

This very simple step could save a life.  It’s not difficult or complicated.

Once any life-threatening problems have been found and corrected, for example through the application of CPR, then a Secondary Survey is undertaken which involves a rapid examination of the entire body to check for any bleeding or fractures.

Emergency first aid is about ensuring victims receive the help they need in the vital minutes before the emergency services arrive. Emergency First Aid training ensures equip first-aiders with the knowledge they need to provide this help.