Top 10 First Aid Course Questions Answered

No matter your age or occupation, enrolling in a first aid course is always an excellent decision. The training you will receive in a first aid course will provide you with essential first aid skills that will allow you to assist anyone in any type of medical emergency. If you are interested in first aid courses but are feeling uncertain, read through our brief guide on our answers to the top 10 questions about first aid courses. EMCARE offers first aid courses that will provide you with the practical and theoretical skills to offer expert first aid care.

First Aid Course Q&A:

Whether you are required to complete first aid training for your career or you are eager to be prepared for any medical emergency to keep your family safe, enrolling in a first aid course is one of the best steps you can take. If you have never completed a first aid course before and have some questions about what will be covered, how much it will cost, and why you should take time out of your day to do this course, we have you covered. We have answered 10 of the most common questions about first aid courses.

1) What is a Basic First Aid Course?

A basic first aid course will provide you with entry-level first aid training. This basic introduction to first aid care will cover all the essential aspects of first aid to provide you with practical and theoretical skills to assist someone in a medical emergency. In the EMCARE Basic First Aid / First Aid Refresher Course, you will learn about fractures, artificial respiration, burns, one rescuer adult CPR, shock, unconsciousness, fainting, head and spinal injuries, choking, and wounds and bleeding. Also covered in this course are the principles of emergency care and safety, emergency scene management, emergency care equipment, and legal implications and ethics relating to emergency care.

2) What is Covered in the Different First Aid Levels?

There are three first aid levels that you can complete. At EMCARE, you can gain expert training for First Aid Level 1, First Aid Level 2, and First Aid Level 3. We have briefly outlined what is covered in each different EMCARE first aid level course.

1. First Aid Level 1 Course: First Aid Level 1 is an introduction to emergency first aid care. This course covers shock, unconsciousness, and fainting, fractures, artificial respiration, burns, one rescuer adult CPR, head and spinal injuries, choking, wounds and bleeding, principles of emergency care and safety, emergency scene management, emergency care equipment, legal implications and ethics related to emergency care, and additional information.
2. First Aid Level 2 Course: First Aid Level 2 will provide you with an intermediate level of first aid understanding and skills. The start of this course is a revision of all of the practical skills learned in the First Aid Level 1 Course. This course will then cover one and two-person rescuer CPR, child and infant CPR, joint injuries (sports injuries), chest and eye injuries, multiple injury management, abdominal pelvic injuries, poisoning, bites, and stings, chest pain, diabetes, epilepsy, and convulsions, drowning and diving accidents, environmental illnesses and injuries, rescue carries, and elementary and applied anatomy and physiology.
3. First Aid Level 3 Course: First Aid Level 3 ensures you receive advanced first aid training. At the beginning of this course, you will revise everything that was learned in the First Aid Level 1 Course and First Aid Level 2 Course. The additional modules covered in this course are emergency childbirth, water-related emergencies, behavioural emergencies, special patients, and emergency oxygen therapy. The First Aid Level 3 Course will include practical exams, written tests, and practical demonstrations and exercises.

3) How Long Do the Different First Aid Courses Take to Complete?

Many people put off enrolling in first aid training due to the assumption that it will be too time-consuming to complete the course. Luckily, you can gain all the important first aid skills in a short time frame with EMCARE’s first aid courses. We have listed the amount of time that it will take for you to complete the different EMCARE first aid courses.

1. Basic First Aid / First Aid Refresher Course: 1 day to complete.
2. First Aid Level 1 Course: 2 days to complete.
3. First Aid Level 2 Course: 3 days to complete.
4. First Aid Level 3 Course: 4 days to complete.

4) Which First Aid Course Should I Do?

With so many different first aid courses to choose between, it can be difficult to decide which first aid course is relevant to your needs. As an individual interested in obtaining expert first aid skills, you can do all of the first aid courses offered at EMCARE. We have outlined who the different EMCARE first aid courses are ideally suited to.

1. Basic First Aid / First Aid Refresher Course: This EMCARE course is ideal for schools, community groups, and families looking for an introductory understanding of first aid care.
2. First Aid Level 1 Course: If you are required to have first aid training for your workplace, the First Aid Level 1 Course is sufficient.
3. First Aid Level 2 Course: If your work includes children and you need to be able to perform paediatric first aid, the First Aid Level 2 Course is for you.
4. First Aid Level 3 Course: The First Aid Level 3 Course is designed for Emergency Response Team leaders, medical teams, first responders, such as firemen or policemen, security professionals, lifeguards, teachers, and education professionals. If you work in a hazardous workplace, are a workplace supervisor, or do not have easy access to healthcare services, this course is also highly recommended.

5) Can I Complete First Aid Level 3 Without Doing the Previous First Aid Courses?

You cannot complete a First Aid Level 3 without completing the First Aid Level 1 and First Aid Level 2 courses. Each first aid level course builds on top of each other to further your understanding of first aid and to provide you with total confidence in your first aid skills. You can however start an EMCARE First Aid Level 1 Course without completing the Basic First Aid / First Aid Refresher Course.

6) Can I Do First Aid Courses Online?

There are a variety of online first aid courses available. These online first aid courses will include introductory-level theoretical information around first aid and potentially include videos or diagrams explaining how to perform first aid for wounds, choking, burns, or any of the other aspects of first aid. Online first aid courses will provide you with a basic grasp of first aid, but can never replace the practicality, personal training, and experience of an in-person first aid course. If you are needing to perform a first aid course for your employment, are interested in pursuing a career in the emergency medical field, or need to gain a certificate for paediatric first aid, an online first aid course is not sufficient.

7) Can I Study First Aid Without a Matric?

With EMCARE, you can study any of our first aid courses without a Matric certificate. We are dedicated to equipping people with essential health and safety skills, which is why we ensure that anyone can enrol in our first aid courses. The one pre-requisite you will need to enrol in the EMCARE first aid courses is proficiency in reading and writing in English.

8) How Much Does a First Aid Course Cost in South Africa?

On average, a First Aid Level 1 Course will cost R650 per person. The cost will vary according to your selected first aid course training provider, the first aid course you have selected, the number of people in your training group, and whether you receive your first aid training at their facility or your selected location.

9) For How Long is a First Aid Certificate Valid in South Africa?

All first aid certificates are valid for three years in South Africa, including the certificate you will receive when you complete any of the EMCARE first aid courses. The three-year validity is to ensure that you remain up to date with your practical and theoretical first aid skills. When your first aid certificate expires, you will need to enrol in a refresher first aid course to receive a valid certificate.

10) Why Should I Complete a First Aid Course?

The most important reason to enrol in a first aid course is that the skills you learn will allow you to save a person’s life if you are ever faced with a medical emergency. From a person choking in a restaurant to your spouse suffering from shock after a traumatic experience to a colleague suffering from a fractured arm after slipping in the workplace, you will be equipped to administer expert first aid care that will reduce their pain or risk of a life-threatening experience. In addition to gaining the skills from first aid training to keep those around you safe, you can also complete a first aid course to elevate your chances of gaining employment and be able to prevent any medical emergencies in your workplace or household.

About EMCARE’s First Aid Courses:

EMCARE is a health and safety training company with fully equipped facilities conveniently located across South Africa. You can easily enrol in your selected EMCARE first aid course and receive theoretical and practical first aid training at any EMCARE facility. We strive to make our first aid courses accessible, professional, and enjoyable so that anyone interested in first aid training can confidently select EMCARE as their expert first aid trainer.

Enrol in an EMCARE first aid course today to gain essential first aid skills and confidence.