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 Siren 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. We do however run a condensed version of this course. Please give us a call to find out more information.
The Annual First Aid refresher course is a 3-hour long course.
The Fire Marshal Training course is a 3-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 Siren’s prices so cheap?
One of our most frequently asked questions is why exactly Siren 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 limited company, Siren 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 and we aim to beat any written quote.
Which Paediatric course do I need?
As you may have already seen, we run two different paediatric courses here at Siren Training; the Basic 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 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 Siren 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 get a VAT receipt?
Yes. Please forward on your course confirmation to info@sirentraining.co.uk. A Siren Team member will then send you a copy of your VAT receipt.
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 (info@sirentraining.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.
What time does the course start and finish?
All courses start at 10 am sharp and finish at approximately 17:00.
This doesn’t apply to Clapham only – this course starts at 11:30 am and finishes at approximately 19:30.
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 the practical’s?
Yes. You must show you are competent enough to deliver life-saving skills. Practicals 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?
We have parking at our Heathrow venue only, there is paid parking available at our Shepherds Bush venue as well.
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.
What is the full address of the venue? (Asked when already received JIs)
Once you have placed your booking you will receive your information pack in your confirmation email. This pack provides the full address of the venue as well as all relevant information regarding your course.
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 24 hours 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, 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 spams over 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 ‘info@sirentraining.co.uk’ – where a Siren Team member will help with your request.
Do you provide lunch?
We do not provide lunch. There are minimal shops around our venues, so it is strongly advised you bring a packed lunch with you.
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 10 am sharp (Clapham Paediatric starts at 11:30 am sharp). If you arrive later than this, there is a high possibility you will not be accepted on to the course.
Where can you buy bandages and first aid kits from?
You can find British Standard first aid equipment from ‘SETON’ – please follow the link provided below;
https://www.seton.co.uk/british-standard-economy-first-aid-kits.html#FAD2061
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. We would strongly recommend you leave your child with a trusted member.
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 Siren office on 0203 740 8088 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.
Do we get the opportunity to use the fire extinguishers?
If you require in-house training, we offer a service of Real Fire Training. This is an additional extra where yourself and your team put out a controlled fire, operated by one of our trained Fire Fighters. You can only conduct this training if you can supply an adequate outdoor space.
If you wish to attend one of our Fire Marshal open courses; at the end of the course, your trainer will take you outside where you will get shown how to use an extinguisher accordingly and you may be able to test it. You will not be putting out a real-life fire in our open courses.