FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between the 1 Day Emergency First Aid at Work Course and the 3 Day First Aid at Work Course?
The main difference between the two, apart from the duration, is the amount of detail each respective course covers. The 1 Day Emergency First Aid at Work course is the most basic accredited course we offer at Vanguard Training and is most suitable for people working in corporate, retail, education and low-risk sports environments.
On the other hand, our 3 Day First Aid course is the most thorough course we have on offer. This course is most suitable for industries functioning in a high-risk environment such as construction, manufacturing, sports and warehousing.
How long is a First Aid course?
Our 1 Day Emergency First Aid at Work Course lasts approximately 6 hours.
Our 2 day First Aid Re-qualification course last approximately 12 hours and is covered over two days.
The 3 Day First Aid course is an 18-hour long course spread over three days, 1 of which is covered by an e-learning package that you must complete prior to attending in person.
The Annual First Aid refresher course is a 3-hour long course.
The Fire Marshal Training course is a 6-hour long course.
What’s the difference between a “re-qualification” course and a “refresher” course?
The 2-day First Aid Re-qualification course is specifically designed for those with an expiring certificate who are looking to extend their certification without having to sit the 3 day First Aid at Work course.
The Annual First Aid Refresher, on the other hand, is a half day course. (3 hours) People who hold a current certificate choose to undergo the course annually to freshen up on their First Aid skills, techniques and knowledge on the subject matter.
When do I need to refresh my First Aid certificate?
As mentioned above, the 2 day First Aid re-qualification course must be undertaken to extend certification and to avoid having to sit the full 3 day First Aid course once again. As all First Aid certificates expire three years from issue, the 2 days First Aid re-qualification course must be undertaken within a month of expiry. If it is left any longer then you may no longer qualify to sit this course and instead must sit the full three-day course.
The annual First Aid refresher course, on the other hand, is a voluntary course that allows you to brush up on your First Aid skills. Although this is not a mandatory course, the HSE does recommend every qualified First Aider to undergo this course annually to ensure all knowledge and First Aider skills are kept at a high level for every individual First Aider.
Take the example, a first aider who hasn’t been trained for nearly three years when something goes wrong. Let’s say, the first aider is attending to poor Fred in cardiac arrest, but instead of depressing the chest, the first aider is depressing the stomach – outcome death!
A few months later, we are in Court with the aggrieved widow seeking legal redress. The first aider under questioning admits that he had forgotten most of his training and hence was unsure what to do, but he was the first aider and under pressure by his on-looking work colleagues to do something…
The legal eagle reads out in Court references to studies and reports on skill fade and knowledge retention and further reads out the HSE recommendation on refresher courses.
Question to an employer “why did you ignore the HSE” if you had not done so, Fred could well be alive and providing an income for his widow (crying) and their three young children?
Out comes the chequebook.
The HSE ‘recommend’ could also be interpreted as ‘do or do equivalent to’.
Why are Vanguard’s prices so cheap?
One of our most frequently asked questions is why exactly Vanguard Training is so cheap compared to the rest of our competitors. This is a simple one, our oldest competitors at St John’s Ambulance and British Red Cross operate as registered charities. Being a private company, Vanguard Training can afford to be as competitive as possible, which means passing great savings onto our customers. We believe that life-saving training should not cost an arm and a leg.
Which Paediatric course do I need?
As you may have already seen, we run two different paediatric courses here at Vanguard Training; the Emergency Paediatric course and the Paediatric First Aid course – OFSTED approved. The main difference between the two is the OFSTED course is an extended course which covers more subject areas. The course is designed to comply with OFSTED regulations, as such the course is most suited for teachers working in schools, nannies and au pairs. While the Basic Emergency Paediatric First Aid course is best suited to private nannies and parents.
Why is the OFSTED approved paediatric course no longer a 2 day Course?
From the 1st of January, the HSE has approved the use of blended learning as a credible First Aid Training teaching tool. As such Vanguard Training has adopted an eLearning format which serves to shorten the length of the course and reduce the total amount of class time. However, rest assured that all the practical learning elements that we strongly believe in remain an integral part of our training experience.
Can I have a hard copy of my certificate?
If you need a hard copy of your certificate, please email a member of our team (contact@vanguardtraining.co.uk) with your address you would like this delivered – Your certificate will be sent out the same day and arrive within 2-3 working days.
Where is the online learning link?
Once booked on to the Paediatric OFSTED approved the course, you will receive your online learning link within your confirmation email. Please read the email thoroughly so you know how to register for this part of the course.
When will I get my certificate?
You will receive your certificate within 3-5 days of passing the course.
Can I leave early?
To retain your fully accredited First Aid certificate you MUST have 6 hours contact time with your trainer. Full attendance is essential to meet the legal requirements to pass this course.
Do I have to do the practical elements?
Yes. You must show you are competent enough to deliver life-saving skills. Practical elements must be completed to meet the legal requirements to pass this course.
Can I reschedule?
In order to reschedule your course free of charge, we must have 7 days’ notice prior to your training. Within 7 days and 48 hours prior to your course, you will be charged a 50% rescheduling fee. Anything within 48 hours, you will be charged a 100% rescheduling fee. If you fall sick on the day, a signed doctor’s note must be provided in order to reschedule free of charge.
Is there parking available?
There is paid parking available at our Mount Pleasant Multi-storey carpark.
Can I get an ID card certificate?
In order to ensure that our certificate processing times are kept to a minimum and kept within our green policy, we only provide PDF certificates which can be shown on your smartphone or desktop.
Can I pay on the day?
All payments must be made before the course is due to take place.
When do I have to pay my invoice by?
All invoices must be paid within 30 days to secure your booking. Invoices can only be accepted from Business’ only.
Can I pay by cash?
We do not accept cash. Only card payments over the phone or via our website.
When does online learning have to be completed by?
If booked on to the Paediatric OFSTED approved course or 3 day FAW course, your online training will need to be completed before your face to face practical. If this cannot be done, please let a member of our team know.
What is the difference between ‘Emergency Paediatric’ and ‘Paediatric OFSTED’?
-The Emergency Paediatric course is a 6-hour long course – ideal for Mums, Dads Grandparents or private nannies and Au-pairs.
-The Paediatric OFSTED training is a blend of online distance learning (6 hours) as well as a day of practical learning in the classroom with our expert instructors (6 hours) – Must be completed by all persons working with children at some capacity in an official setting.
Why can’t it be done in 2 days instead of 3?
Our First Aid at Work course is 18 hours in total which usually spans 3 days. You must have 18 hours of contact time in order to abide by the legal requirements to pass this course. We do offer a 2-day condensed course over 2 weekends every month.
I lost my certificate; can I get a replacement?
Yes. Please email into the office at ‘contact@Vanguardtraining.co.uk’ – and a Vanguard Team member will help with your request.
Do you provide lunch?
We do not provide lunch. There are plenty of shops and restaurants around our city centre venue and a café onsite.
What do I need to wear?
Please arrive in comfortable clothing that allows you to engage in the practical side of First Aid.
I don’t want to do mouth to mouth; can I still pass?
No. You must take part in all practical elements to show you are competent to deliver life-saving skills. All our manakins are cleaned after each use and your trainer can also present you with a mouth shield to perform this.
What is the minimum age to take part in a First Aid course?
You are never too young to learn first aid. However, in order to retain a fully accredited certificate, you must be 16 years old or over. We welcome those that are under-age onto our courses to still attend as it is an important life-saving skill to have. However, due to legal requirements, we can only offer an attendance certificate.
How often do First Aiders need to re-qualify?
First aiders should re-qualify every three years under the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines. If an individual has an expired certificate after 3 years, they will no longer be considered competent to act as a first aider and they will no longer be counted towards the required numbers of first aiders in your workplace.
If I am late can I still pass?
All our courses start at 0930. If you arrive later than this, there is a high possibility you will not be accepted on to the course.
Can I bring my baby to the course?
Due to insurance policies and Health and Safety, you are not required to bring children along to your course with you.
I bought the wrong course, what do I do?
If you realised you have booked on to a course that is not most suited to you and you wish to change this, please call the Vanguard office on 0151 318 1177 where a member of our team will be happy to help with your request. We recommend you do this shortly after purchase.
What happens if I fail that exam?
At the end of First Aid courses, you must complete a multiple-choice question paper. If you fail this, you will have one opportunity to retake. If failed a second time, you will need to book and sit the course again, giving you 2 more opportunities to retake.
English is my second language; will I be OK?
In an emergency situation, you will need to communicate with the emergency services, therefore First Aid courses must be completed in English.