First aid training for everyone
The first aid course follows the international Emergency First Response (EFR) Primary & Secondary Care programme. You learn to help a person whose life is in danger and to give first aid after an injury or sudden illness until medical help arrives.
The course is for anyone who wants to learn CPR and first aid: divers and their families, teachers, coaches, employees and everyone who spends a lot of time outdoors or near water. For divers it matters in particular: the PADI Rescue Diver course requires EFR Primary & Secondary Care completed within the last 24 months.
What you learn
Primary Care
What to do when a life is in danger:
- Assess the scene and your own safety, use protective barriers
- Check the casualty's condition
- Perform CPR
- Stop serious bleeding
- Recognise shock and a suspected spinal injury
- Help a choking person, conscious or unconscious
You also get to know the automated external defibrillator (AED) and emergency oxygen.
Secondary Care
How to help when a life is not in immediate danger: assess an injury or illness, bandage a wound, splint a dislocation or fracture. You also go through common cases, from allergic reactions and asthma to heat and cold injuries and venomous bites.
How the course runs
Theory is combined with practice: you try every step yourself, and at the end of the course you apply your skills in realistic scenarios. Courses run on weekdays and at weekends; we agree the time with the group.
When you finish you receive an international EFR certificate. EFR recommends refreshing your skills every two years.
What comes next
Divers can go on to the Emergency Oxygen Provider or Rescue Diver course, which focus more on diving injuries.
Frequently asked questions
Is this course only for divers?
No. The EFR programme is for anyone who wants to learn CPR and first aid. No diving experience is needed.
Does it count for the Rescue Diver course?
Yes. The PADI Rescue Diver course requires exactly this EFR Primary & Secondary Care course, completed within the last 24 months. The SDI Rescue Diver course requires equivalent first-aid training plus an oxygen provider course.
How long does the course take?
4–6 academic hours, depending on the number of participants and the amount of practice.
How long is the certificate valid?
EFR recommends refreshing your skills every two years. For the Rescue Diver and Divemaster courses, your first-aid training must be from the last 24 months.