It is easy to get into a mindset thinking that injuries or accidents won’t occur at your workplace but it is not entirely true. Accidents happen all the time and a workplace is no different; even if your workplace is not dangerous, you and your colleagues are responsible to keep it safe by providing first aid effectively. If you are not trained properly, you will be unable to react; in such an event, learning basic first aid for the workplace is essential.
Importance of First Aid Training
First aid training can be extremely important mainly for two reasons: first aid can save and preserve someone’s life as they are able to receive immediate medical attention and it prepares first aiders to respond, assess and administer various emergencies effectively. For instance, if someone has severely injured themselves, the blood must be stopped and the wound must be covered immediately. Therefore, first aid training is highly important for the employees as well as they can respond timely and prevent further risk of injury or infection until the medical experts arrive.
Legal Requirements
Different workplaces have varying levels of risk, but in the UK, employers are legally obligated to provide their employees with first aid equipment and facilities to ensure their safety in case of illness or injury, regardless of the nature of the work. To determine this, they have to make sure all employees receive adequate and appropriate training to provide first aid at work in any situation. So, to become first aiders or emergency first aiders, they can enrol on the Level 3 Award in First Aid at Work.
What is FAW and EFAW?
To become a qualified first aider, learners may choose to enrol on two types of courses: First Aid at Work (FAW) or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW).
1. What is FAW?
First Aid at Work, often referred to as level 3 qualification, is suitable for employees who want to become qualified first aiders to effectively respond to numerous accidents, illnesses or injuries at work including the ones not categorised as emergencies.
| Eligibility Criteria | Time Duration to Complete the Course | You May have the Ability to Administer: |
|---|---|---|
|
• The learner must be 16 to 18 years old |
• 18 hours to 3 days |
• Injuries to bones, joints or
muscles, • Chest injuries, • Burns or scalds, • Hypothermia or heat exhaustion, • Cardiac arrest, • Severe allergic reaction, • Stroke or diabetic emergency. |
2. What is EFAW?
EFAW is defined by HSE (Health and Safety Executive) as training that enables learners to respond to common emergencies occurred at work. An EFAW course teaches significant techniques like managing minor injuries like bleeding, minor burns or small splinter. Once completed, you will be able to prevent the risk of further infection, use available equipment accordingly and act promptly in an emergency.
| Eligibility Criteria | Time Duration to Complete the Course | You May have the Ability to Administer Someone; |
|---|---|---|
|
• The learner must be 16 years old |
• 6 hours to 1 day |
• who is choking, bleeding or wounded,, • suffering from shock • who is unconscious or unresponsive, • Acquired minor cuts, grazes, minor burns or bruises. |
Difference between FAW & EFAW
Though both courses equip learners to provide first aid to someone who is injured or wounded at work, there are some significant differences and similarities between both courses which should be known by learners.
For more clarity and understanding, both differences and similarities are shown in the tables below:
For more clarity and understanding, both differences and similarities are shown in the tables below:
| Aspect | FAW | EFAW |
|---|---|---|
|
Focus Course Content Skills Duration Legal Requirements Application |
Let’s you assess and deal with a number of emergencies. Covers extensive topics Covers various first-aid techniques 6 hours to 1 day Required by specific workplaces and industries Suitable for workplaces with higher risks of injury and hazards |
Only deal with common workplace emergencies Covers fewer topics Focus on skills like CRP to deal with life-threatening situations 18 hours to 3 days Offers basic compliance with workplace safety regulations Suitable for workplaces with lower risks of injury and hazards |
Similarities between FAW and EFAW
Similarities between First at Work and Emergency First Aid at Work are mentioned below; both courses:
- Provide training in first aid and enable learners to preserve someone’s life at the workplace and prepare them for responding immediately,
- Are designed for the workplace setting or environment,
- Include training in AED and CPR for immediate response,
- Teach techniques for controlling excessive bleeding,
- Assist students in dealing with emergencies confidently.
What Qualification Suits Best to My Role?
The choice between FAW and EFAW mainly depends on the nature of your role and responsibilities. If you are working in a workplace where the risk of injuries is minimal and there are fewer employees to deal with, EFAW (Emergency First Aid at Work) course will be ideal.
On the other hand, if the risk of injuries and hazards is comparatively greater and there are, say more than 25 employees, you may want to enrol on a FAW (First Aid at Work) course; this will provide you with a deeper understanding of how to face several situations and teach you to deal with a broad spectrum of injuries.
Conclusion
To conclude, the difference between FAW and EFAW focuses on different approaches to effectively navigate and administer emergencies. While FAW teaches learners extensive knowledge and skills, suited for higher-risk workplaces, EFAW focuses on immediate lifesaving skills suitable for lower-risk workplaces. Ultimately, both courses help equip learners with the skills required to save and preserve someone’s life in an emergency.
