First aid

​One person at every unit meeting must have a valid first aid qualification. Find out more about requirements for named first aider in your unit on the national website.
Jump to:

What is 1st response?

​1st response is Girlguiding's own first aid course. It will train you to provide first aid to members in emergencies - in or outside your unit meeting place. The course was created specifically for members of Girlguiding and The Scout Association.

1st response training modules

The First Response training consists of four modules as follows:
  • Module 1: Life support
  • Module 2: Trauma and injury
  • Module 3: Major illness
  • Module 4: Environmental emergencies
​Training in Gloucestershire takes place face to face. The sessions contain all the training content in a theoretical and practical way. As well as the required safe approach and CPR practical, we are also able to have a go at other elements such as recovery position, tourniquets and abdominal thrusts. 
​A set of videos has been put together to support your learning. The details of these videos and other useful links can be found on this webpage. 

eLearning

​The eLearning must be completed in order to be recognised as a first aider in Girlguiding. This includes being completed by those who are using an external first aid course for guiding. The eLearning takes approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

The eLearning can be found via the Girlguiding learning platform. Follow the link and log into the platform. If you have not logged in before, follow our simple guide to gain access. Once in, click on the 'Course Catalogue' image and then use the search box to find the 1st Response eLearning.

Booking a 1st response course

All our 1st response courses can be booked via our training box office. There is a small charge to cover the cost of the course, but our trainers are Girlguiding volunteers who give their time freely, and by the bucket load to ensure we can deliver safe sessions across the county.

External first aid qualifications

If you already have a first aid qualification, you may not need to attend our 1st response course. Find out what external first aid qualifications are accepted by Girlguiding as equivalent to 1st response.
To get your 1st aid qualification added to go, you will need to follow the procedure detailed on the region website.
We're seeing an increased number of queries to county about external first aid qualifications that have been uploaded via the learning platform, where the region verifier has declined to add them to GO. This is because they do not cover all the elements of the 1st response course. 

Booking an external course: If you are booking an external course exclusively for Girlguiding use, please ensure you check the syllabus before you sign up. See the details below about whether it is likely to fulfil the Girlguiding requirements. Please also consider the costs of an external course, which are much higher than our volunteer-run training. Is this a sensible use of your unit funds?

If you already carry out first aid training through your work or other volunteering, then here's a bit more information about the kind of course you might take and how it might align with Girlguiding requirements:
  • Emergency First Aid at Work (one day course) - The typical syllabus for this course is missing a large number of the topics on our 1st response syllabus. It is highly unlikely that this course will be accepted without significant additional learning. With the number of topics missing, it's not possible for our small number of volunteer 1st response trainers to top you up individually. You will need to attend a 1st response course in full.
  • First aid at work (three day course or the 2 day refresher course) - This is more closely aligned with the 1st reponse course syllabus, but there is still likely to be some additional learning needed. It may be possible to 'top up' your learning without the need for an additional course.
  • Paediatric first aid course - As this course focuses on children, it will not cover adult CPR or a lot of the topics in the 1st response syllabus. It is highly unlikley to be sufficient for Girlguiding use. We recommend you book onto a 1st response course for your Girlguiding needs.
  • Outdoor first aid (2 day course) - This external course is probably the most closely aligned with the 1st response course, however there will still be a small amount of additional learning required. This can be supported by the county training team.
 
When uploading external qualifications to the learning platform, please remember the region's first aid verifiers are volunteers, so please leave plenty of time to allow them to check it and come back with any queries if you have a deadline by which you wish to act as a Girlguiding first aider. 

Renewals and keeping your knowledge up to date

​It is a requirement to renew your first aid training after three years if you wish to continue to act as a first aider in guiding. To do this, you will need to complete the course again, as detailed above.
​
It is good practice to keep your skills up to date between your required training. The Resuscitation Council have an excellent, free online tool entitles 'Lifesaver' which is a great refresher to do annually. It is a crisis simulator where you decide what happens next. 

Visit the Lifesaver website or download the app from the Apple AppStore or Google Play.

Badges

​Did you know the county has its very own 1st response cloth badge?

​It's just for fun and is available from our online shop for those that would like to purchase one.

Useful Links

There are lots of useful web pages and links mentioned in the 1st response course. We have listed them below in one handy place.

What to do in an emergency with a link to the emergency file forms down the right hand side: https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/making-guiding-happen/running-your-unit/safeguarding-and-risk/what-to-do-in-an-emergency/

Emergency file checklist: https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/globalassets/docs-and-resources/finance-insurance-and-property/emergency_file_checklist_mar2021_v2b.pdf

Sprains: Additional information can be found here: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/sprains-strains/management/management/

Adjustment plans: Template plans for young members, for volunteers and for events are linked about half way down the page: https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/making-guiding-happen/running-your-unit/including-all/including-members-with-additional-needs/making-reasonable-adjustments/

Asthma: For more information please see
https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/child/asthma-attacks/
https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/inhalers-medicines-treatments/inhalers-and-spacers/reliever/

Auto-injectors: For more information about auto injectors, please see:
https://www.allergyuk.org/severe-allergy-and-anaphylaxis/adrenaline-auto-injectors

Diabetes 'bionic body parts': The Guide talking about her diabetic pump starts at 2:35
​www.youtube.com/watch?v=BciOBLzyB2U

Meningitis: Meningitis Now website is very good with information and downloadable cards, posters, etc. to help you spot signs and symptoms: 
www.meningitisnow.org/how-we-help/resources/view-download-order/signs-and-symptoms-cards/

First aid manual: This is the book that is recommended. Latest edition is the 11th Edition. This link is for Amazon but it can be bought from all good bookshops.
​https://www.amazon.co.uk/First-Aid-Manual-11th-Authorised/dp/0241446309/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=11th+Edition+Manual+First+Aid&qid=1660932434&sr=8-2

What3Words App: https://what3words.com/