First Response courses and existing qualifications
Who needs First Response Training?
First Response learning is currently required by volunteers who work directly with young people or may be reasonably expected to work directly with young people will require First Response.
We encourage everybody in Scouts to complete First Response learning whether they require it or not. We are proud of how many of our members have completed first aid learning, it is a benefit to Scouting and it is a benefit to our communities.
The definitive guide to who is required to complete the First Response learning is in POR Chapter 16: Roles Table.
First Response learning, once completed, must be renewed every three years. The renewal date is determined by the completion date of 10A.
Requirements for meetings and adventurous activities
All activities must have access to someone holding a relevant and current first aid qualification and access to suitable first aid materials.
The minimum first aid required at Scouts is First Response, but higher levels of qualification are needed if delivering first aid or leading certain kinds of activities in remote environments.
Consideration in the planning of an activity should be given to if skills or knowledge different to First Response is required and this should then be planned for as part of the activity.
The Volunteer in Charge must make sure that suitable first aid materials are available at every activity (POR rule 9.1), based on the risk assessment.
All groups undertaking activities in remote environments (as defined in POR rule 9.7) must have immediate access to someone holding a relevant and current first aid certificate. The details of the first aid skills required will be identified by the risk assessment.
There is no requirement for the permit holder to be the person with the activity group holding a first aid certificate.
Using external first aid qualifications in Scouts
If you have completed any other course other than a First Response then you will need to provide evidence of the qualification, along with the syllabus so that a First Aid trainer can check that you have met the minimum requirements of First Response. (Requirement since August 2024).
If you have done a course which does not fully meet the requirements (for example First Aid at Work), you will need to either speak to an accredited First Response trainer or complete a conversion course.
Please e-mail a copy of your certificate and your syllabus to firstaid@cycscouts.org.uk. A First Aid trainer will do a comparison between the two syllabuses and be in touch to arrange for any gaps in the learning and validation of any missing elements.