This is a 3 day FETAC level 5 course which covers all the essential aspects of occupational first aid as laid out in the module D20188 and was introduced on 1 September 2008.

Under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work ( General Application) Regulations 2007 employers have a duty based on a risk assessment to have a sufficient number of Occupational First Aiders trained in the workplace.

The course now includes Cardiac First Responder defibrillator training and the administration of aspirin for heart attack patients. It is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to provide emergency first aid both in the home and in the workplace.

The course consists of 8 units as listed below:

Unit 1: First aid in the workplace. This module covers the role of the occupational first aider in the workplace, the legal requirements and how to ensure the safety of the first aider in the workplace.

Unit 2: Patient Assessment. After this module, the candidate will be able to do a primary survey on a potential casualty. They will be able to take vitals (pulse, breathing etc) signs and treat a casualty with a suspected neck injury.

Unit 3: Respiratory Emergencies: This module covers the functions of the respiratory system and shows the Occupational First Aider how to manage a choking patient as well as how to do mouth to mouth ventilations.

Unit 4: Cardiac First Response: After this module the student will understand the chain of survival and will be able to activate their links, by calling for an ambulance, starting CPR and using a Defibrillator effectively.

Unit 5: Wounds and Bleeding: This module teaches the student how to deal with blood injuries. They will know how to recognise the different types of wounds and know how to treat them. They will be able to deal with head, eye and facial injuries as well as effectively minimising the consequences of internal bleeding.

Unit 6: Altered Levels of Consciousness: The student learns how to treat shock and how to do the recovery position. This will allow them to treat a casualty who has reduced or lost consciousness.

Unit 7: Musculoskeletal injuries: At the end the student will be able to treat patients who have fractured (broken) bones as well as deal effectively with casualties who have strains, sprains or dislocations.

Unit 8: Burns, scalds , chemicals and electric shock: this module covers the treatment of major and minor burns as well as the many different causes of burns. It also covers poisoning and how to treat someone who has been poisoned. The student will cover electric shock and how to manage a patient who has been electrocuted.