What is PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid?

PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid is a practical first aid course designed for people who want essential emergency-response skills without requiring the full First Aid Response qualification.

The course follows the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) First Aid Essentials education and training standard.

Learners develop the skills to assess someone who becomes suddenly ill or injured, provide appropriate first aid and support the person until emergency medical services arrive.

Cardiac First Response Community is included as a core component of the programme, so practical CPR, AED and choking training form part of the course.

Who is the Basic First Aid course for?

PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid is suitable for individuals and organisations that want recognised, practical first aid training.

It is particularly suitable for:

  • Members of the public
  • Workplace employees
  • Small businesses
  • Community and voluntary organisations
  • Sports clubs and activity groups
  • Schools and education settings
  • Youth organisations
  • Clubs and societies
  • Organisations providing additional emergency preparedness training
  • Anyone who wants practical first aid, CPR and AED skills

No previous first aid qualification or experience is required.

Is FAE Basic First Aid an occupational first aid qualification?

No.

PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid and PHECC First Aid Response (FAR) are different courses designed for different purposes.

FAE Basic First Aid is a one-day programme for people who want practical first aid and emergency-response skills.

First Aid Response (FAR) is the course to consider when someone will act as a designated occupational First Aid Responder and the employer requires the HSA-recognised workplace first aid standard.

If you are unsure which course your organisation needs, talk to UFAS before booking.

What will I learn?

The course combines essential first aid knowledge with practical skills training and emergency scenarios.

Introduction to first aid

  • The role and responsibilities of the first aider
  • Scene safety and emergency management
  • Effective communication during an emergency
  • Patient consent and capacity
  • Recognising safeguarding concerns
  • Supporting first aider wellbeing

Patient assessment

  • Primary patient assessment
  • Secondary assessment
  • Assessing vital signs
  • Recognising life-threatening conditions
  • Monitoring an injured or suddenly ill person
  • Effective handover to emergency medical services

Cardiac First Response Community

  • Recognising cardiac arrest
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
  • Adult, child and infant CPR
  • Safe use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
  • Responding to choking
  • Recognising heart attack and stroke
  • Activating the emergency medical services

Injury management

  • Controlling external bleeding
  • Wound care
  • Burns and scalds
  • Limb injuries
  • Fractures, sprains and dislocations
  • Supporting an injured person until further medical help arrives

Common medical emergencies

  • Asthma
  • Diabetes-related emergencies
  • Seizures
  • Fainting
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Poisoning
  • Sepsis
  • Altered levels of consciousness

Practical, scenario-based first aid training

First aid skills are best learned through practice.

Throughout the course, learners take part in instructor demonstrations, hands-on skills practice and realistic emergency scenarios.

Participants have time to practise CPR, AED use, patient assessment and first aid techniques while receiving feedback and guidance from their instructor.

The aim is to help learners recognise when something is wrong, decide what action is needed and provide appropriate first aid until professional help arrives.

Course duration and class size

PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid contains 6.5 contact hours and is normally completed in one day.

The maximum instructor-to-learner ratio is 1 instructor to 8 learners.

The small-group format provides learners with time for practical participation, feedback and completion of the required assessments.

Assessment

Assessment is practical and forms part of the course.

Learners are assessed on the required Cardiac First Response Community and First Aid Essentials practical skills.

All required course and assessment components must be successfully completed before certification can be issued.

PHECC certification

Learners who successfully complete the course receive the PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid digital certificate.

The certificate is valid for two years.

Cardiac First Response Community is included as a core component of the programme. Certification is issued for the First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid course completed.

UFAS is a PHECC Recognised Institution. You can verify our approval and approved course list on the PHECC register.

PHECC Basic First Aid training for organisations

UFAS can arrange First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid training for organisations and groups throughout Ireland.

Training is suitable for:

  • Workplaces
  • Small businesses
  • Schools
  • Sports clubs
  • Community groups
  • Voluntary organisations
  • Youth groups
  • Activity providers
  • Other organisations that want staff or members to develop practical first aid skills

On-site training allows your team to complete the course together at a suitable workplace or venue.

For current course availability and pricing, contact UFAS.

Course details

Course
PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid

Certification
PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid digital certificate on successful completion

Duration
6.5 contact hours

Format
Instructor-led, practical first aid training

CFR training
Cardiac First Response Community included as a core component

Assessment
Practical PHECC CFR Community and First Aid Essentials skills assessments

Class size
Maximum 8 learners per instructor

Certificate validity
2 years

Previous experience
No previous first aid experience required

Location
UFAS venue or on-site at a suitable workplace or venue

Price
Contact UFAS for current individual and group pricing

FAE Basic First Aid or First Aid Response?

Not sure which course you need?

Choose PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid if:

  • You want practical general first aid skills
  • You want to learn CPR and AED use
  • You want a recognised PHECC first aid course completed in one day
  • Your organisation wants additional staff trained in emergency first aid
  • You do not need to act as a designated occupational First Aid Responder

Choose PHECC First Aid Response (FAR) if:

  • You will act as a designated workplace First Aid Responder
  • Your employer requires the HSA-recognised occupational first aid standard
  • Your workplace risk assessment identifies a requirement for trained First Aid Responders
  • You need the more comprehensive 18-hour First Aid Response programme

If you are unsure which course is appropriate, talk to UFAS before booking and we will help you choose the right level of training.

View First Aid Response

Basic First Aid or Paediatric First Aid?

PHECC First Aid Essentials includes different course streams designed for different training needs.

FAE Basic First Aid provides general first aid skills for the wider population, workplaces, community groups and organisations.

FAE Paediatric First Aid focuses specifically on first aid involving babies and children and is the First Aid Essentials course to consider where paediatric first aid is the primary requirement.

If you work in a pre-school or early years service and require a qualification to meet Tusla’s first aid requirements, ask UFAS about PHECC First Aid Essentials – Paediatric First Aid.

View FAE Paediatric First Aid

PHECC Basic First Aid FAQs

What is First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid?

First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid is a PHECC first aid course designed to provide practical first aid, CPR, AED and emergency-response skills in a one-day programme.

How long is the course?

The course contains 6.5 contact hours and is normally completed in one day.

Do I need previous first aid experience?

No.

There are no formal previous first aid qualifications required to attend the course.

Does the course include CPR?

Yes.

Cardiac First Response Community is included as a core part of the programme and includes practical CPR training.

Will I learn how to use a defibrillator?

Yes.

Practical use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is included through the Cardiac First Response Community component.

Does the course include choking training?

Yes.

The CFR Community component includes practical training in recognising and responding to airway obstruction and choking.

Is there a written examination?

The mandatory assessments are practical skills assessments using the relevant PHECC Cardiac First Response Community and First Aid Essentials assessment process.

How many learners can attend?

The maximum instructor-to-learner ratio is one instructor to eight learners.

If your organisation needs to train more people, contact UFAS to discuss additional instructors or multiple course dates.

What certificate will I receive?

Following successful completion, learners receive the PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid digital certificate.

How long is the certificate valid?

The certificate is valid for two years.

Is FAE Basic First Aid recognised as occupational first aid?

No.

PHECC First Aid Response (FAR) is the recognised training standard for occupational first aid in Irish workplaces.

FAE Basic First Aid can provide valuable additional first aid skills for employees but does not replace FAR where a designated occupational First Aid Responder is required.

Is FAE Basic First Aid recognised by Tusla for pre-school services?

The Tusla recognition introduced in September 2026 applies specifically to PHECC First Aid Essentials – Paediatric First Aid, not FAE Basic First Aid.

If you require first aid training for a registered pre-school or early years service, talk to UFAS about the Paediatric First Aid stream.

Can UFAS deliver the course at our workplace?

Yes.

On-site training can be arranged at suitable workplaces and venues.

Contact UFAS with your location, number of learners and preferred dates and we will advise on availability.

How much does the course cost?

Contact UFAS for current individual and group course pricing.

Book Basic First Aid Training Get a Group Quote

Book PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid

Develop practical first aid, CPR and AED skills with PHECC First Aid Essentials – Basic First Aid training from UFAS.

Whether you are booking for yourself or arranging first aid training for a workplace, club, school or community organisation, contact UFAS for upcoming course availability, on-site training and current pricing.

Call 01 699 1126
Email info@ufas.ie