First Response: Definition and Equivalents
Item Code FS310547 July/06 Edition no 5 0845 300 1818
The Scout Information Centre
Gilwell Park Chingford London E4 7QW Tel + 44 (0)20 8433 7100 Fax + 44 (0)20 8433 7103 email info.centre@scout.org.uk www.scoutbase.org.uk
This factsheet updates the information
provided in FS310547, dated March 2004.
From January 2005, all warranted adults will need
to hold a current First Aid certificate. While
everyone is encouraged to maintain their
qualification at all times, the certificate must be
valid at the issue of the Wood Badge and for
Warrant renewal. This provision will ensure a
minimum standard of First Aid knowledge and
training across the movement.
The minimum standard for First Aid training is
‘First Response’, a course designed specifically
for adult leaders in The Scout Association and
GirlguidingUK based on the situations and issues
that occur within those roles. This course is not
externally recognised and the training provided
does not provide adults with a full First Aid
qualification. It is important to note however that
‘First Response’ is the minimum standard set and
that The Scout Association both recognises and
encourages its members to undertake equivalent
or more advanced qualifications. The completion
of ‘First Response’ does not entitle people to wear
The Scout Association Adult First Aid badge
which recognises the award of a ‘full’ First Aid
qualification.
First Response
To hold a current ‘First Response’ certificate an
individual must have attended a ‘First Response’
course, or refresher where appropriate, within the
previous three years. The course can be run by
any qualified First Aid trainer from an externally
recognised First Aid organisation. Alternatively,
the course can be run by adults from within The
Scout Association who hold a full First Aid
Certificate and have been awarded either the
Certificates of Competence in Presenting and
Facilitating or have completed Module 28-
Facilitating and Module 29-Presenting from the
new Adult Training Scheme. For those running a
‘First Response’ course the Trainer’s Manual,
notes regarding recent changes in First Aid
procedure and Participant’s Booklets (which
include the certificate) are available from The
Scout Association’s Information Centre.
In outline, the course should last a minimum of six
hours, and should cover the topics indicated in the
chart above.
Individuals will receive a certificate on completion
of the course which needs to be produced at
Appointment (Warrant) renewal.
First Response Refresher
‘First Response’ needs to be renewed every three
years and adults now have the option of taking a
two-hour refresher course. This course is
designed for those who have already completed
the full course and wish to update their training.
This will fulfil the requirements for Warrant
renewal, and participants can receive a further
signature on their original certificate, but it is
suggested that adults only take the two hour
refresher course twice before retaking the full
course again. The refresher course, like the full
First Response course, is valid for three years.
There is no separate literature available for the
refresher course and trainers and participants
should refer to the full course booklets for
information. The refresher course must cover all
relevant topics and any changes to First Aid practice
that have occurred during the last three years.
It is important to note that when providing a
refresher course trainers should check that all
participants have a current edition of the
participants handbook.
Requirements of Equivalent Courses
As previously stated, the award of the Wood
Badge or renewal of a Warrant requires First
Response as a minimum. However, other
externally awarded First Aid qualifications based
on the four points noted below will be considered
as equivalent or greater to First Response and will
satisfy the requirements for the award of a Wood
Badge or Appointment (Warrant) renewal. Equivalent
external qualifications are indicated in the above chart.
This is not a definitive list of equivalent
qualifications. If you have undertaken First Aid
training that covers the four points previously
mentioned then your qualification will fulfil the new
requirements. However, if you require clarification
please contact the Adult Support office at Gilwell
Park.
It is important to note that no external course will
cover the exact syllabus of First Response.
Therefore it is suggested that although the
qualification may be sufficient for Warrant renewal
or the award of a Wood Badge an adult may
require additional training on specific issues
relevant to their role. Topics such as meningitis,
anaphylactic shock and heat exhaustion, heat
stroke and hypothermia are often not covered in
external courses so adults should take the time to
make themselves aware of the signs, symptoms
and treatment of these conditions.
The Scout Association does recognise that some
professions by the nature of the job will have a
first aid element; for example Nurses, Midwifery,
Police Officers, Medical Practitioners, Members of
HM Armed Forces, Ambulance Care -
Assistants/Paramedics/Technicians, etc. These
professions are required to provide evidence of an
up-to-date qualification which should meet the
criteria of what is considered our minimum
standard (as listed earlier in this factsheet). With
regards to ‘evidence’, this can be a certificate or
an official letter confirming that the necessary
areas have been met [This change in rule
recognises the growing number of professions
that undertake regular First Aid training and the
changing standards across those professions].