Most physical disabilities will not prevent a trainee from successfully passing a first aid course.

Reduced sensory ability (e.g. sight and hearing) does not normally prevent a trainee learning all of the course content, and where appropriate the course material will be adjusted to say ‘sense’ as apposed to look, see, hear, etc.

Reduced physical ability does not often prevent completion of the physical aspects of the course. This will require a trainee to perform CPR and bandaging, which can often be achieved satisfactorily in some way. See Physical Disabilities and CPR / Physical Disabilities and Bandaging below

Most trainees, even with challenging disabilities, will be able to pass this aspect of the course.

The HSE requires that all trainees demonstrate the ability to perform 2 minutes of continuous CPR without assistance, on a person that is lying on the ground, for this aspect of the course to be passed.

Practice can be conducted in a different position, such as on a table, if this is helps. We can also assist a person to get into a suitable position to perform the CPR, as long as the CPR itself is unassisted. CPR can be conducted one handed as long as the required rate and depth of CPR can be achieved.

In the rare instance where a trainee would not be able to pass this section of the course we still consider it valuable training, as they may be able to direct someone else in how to perform successful CPR in an emergency.

Most trainees, even with challenging disabilities, will be able to pass this aspect of the course.

The HSE requires that all trainees demonstrate the ability to apply a dressing to a wound, with adequate pressure to be effective, for this aspect of the course to be passed.

This is usually demonstrated on the forearm of another trainee and in this instance the ‘casualty’ is allowed to assist with holding the dressing and applying pressure. If more convenient, bandaging could be demonstrated on an alternative part of the casualty.

In the rare instance where a trainee would not be able to pass this section of the course we still consider it valuable training as they may be able to direct someone else in how to apply a dressing correctly in the event of an emergency.

Most learning difficulties will not prevent a trainee from successfully passing a first aid course.

Using Individual Learning Plans (ILP’s) we aim to identify any particular aspects of our courses that could be changed to make the learning process easier. This can include the use of colour, removing tables of information, and adjusting the delivery style of the instructor. All aspects of the course are delivered verbally, as well as visually, and good reading skills are not required.

Learning difficulties do not often prevent completion of the knowledge aspects of the assessment. This will require a trainee to prove their knowledge through examination, which can usually be achieved satisfactorily in some way. See Learning Difficulties and Exams below.

Most trainees, even with challenging learning difficulties, will be able to pass the examination aspect of the course.

The HSE requires that all trainees demonstrate their knowledge of First Aid. Proof of this is required to be recoded, often in the form of a completed exam paper.

Usually this is achieved by conducting a written multiple choice exam paper, as this is suitable for many trainees. However, other methods that are more suitable to particular trainees can be used as long as the trainees knowledge can be tested and recorded. This can be through different exam styles, reading out the questions for them, someone else recording the answers for them or any other method. Providing there is proof that this was the trainees own knowledge, and they were not guided towards the answers, this would be an acceptable method of examination. Please note: since the HSE requires recorded proof that knowledge has been tested it may be necessary to record the examination process using sound, video, or both. This would only be done with the trainees consent, and the data would be kept for the duration covered by the First Aid Certificate, usually 3 years.

In the rare instance where a trainee would not be expected to be able to pass this section of the course we consider it valuable training as they may still be able to assist in an emergency.

All trainees are welcome to bring an assistant with them and there will be no additional charge for them to attend the course, unless they also wish to complete the course while they are there.

Assistants can help trainees with any aspect of the course with 2 exceptions,

• They may not help physically or with advice during the 2 minutes of CPR assessment or bandaging assessment as the trainee is required to demonstrate they can do this themselves

• They may not help give, or suggest, answers during the First Aid Knowledge assessment as the trainee is required to demonstrate this is their own knowledge

If a trainee does not manage to pass all the aspects of the training course they will still get a certificate saying they ‘Attended a Course in First Aid.’

In many instances this will be sufficient for the employer as they may only be required to have staff attend a First aid course.

If the trainee has passed some, but not all, of the course, the sections they passed will be listed on their certificate and they will be considered a First Aider in these aspects of First Aid.

In a workplace environment where many employees have physical disabilities or learning difficulties having trainees pass some aspects of the course can be very valuable. See Employers Note on Partially Passed Trainees below.

There are two aspects of First Aid training that trainees can pass, Practical Skills (CPR and bandaging) and Knowledge of First Aid (through an exam process).

Where a trained first aider is required in the workplace HSE allows this to be split over two employees providing one is qualified in Practical Skills and one in the Knowledge of First Aid.

Although this would be challenging to fit around the work timetable, it may be very useful if you regularly employ staff with physical disabilities and learning difficulties that are better at some aspects of first aid than others..