PHECC First Aid Response (FAR) Course
Phoenix STS is a PHECC Recognised Institution delivering the 3-day First Aid Response course on-site at workplaces across Ireland. Trains workplace first aiders to PHECC standard, including the full Cardiac First Response Community standard.
Request On-Site PHECC FAR Training
The PHECC First Aid Response course is delivered on-site at your workplace anywhere in Ireland. Contact our team to arrange training for your staff.
PHECC Recognised Institution - Phoenix STS is listed as a Recognised Institution on the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) register for First Aid Response. Joint PHECC/Phoenix STS digital certificate issued on successful completion.
Foundation First Aid Training to PHECC Standard
First Aid Response (FAR) is the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council's foundation first aid course. It trains a workplace responder to provide first aid for a person who becomes suddenly unwell or injured until the arrival of emergency medical services, and includes the full Cardiac First Response (CFR) Community standard. The course is delivered over 18 teaching contact hours, typically as three consecutive days. Tuition combines presentations, demonstrations, and structured practical sessions. Assessment is skills-based with a short multiple-choice exam to reinforce the knowledge and skills learnt on the course. FAR has replaced Occupational First Aid (OFA) as the recognised workplace first aid standard in Ireland. Successful learners receive a joint PHECC/Phoenix STS digital certificate valid for two years.
Who Should Attend
FAR is the recognised standard for designated workplace first aiders, healthcare staff, and responders working in care, public-facing, and high-risk settings.
Designated First Aiders
Employees nominated as workplace first aiders under the General Application Regulations 2007 risk-based requirement.
Care Assistants & Support Staff
Care assistants, healthcare assistants, catering, housekeeping, and other non-clinical support staff in nursing homes, residential settings, and disability services who are nominated as workplace first aiders.
Construction & Industrial
Site workers, supervisors, and safety personnel on construction sites, factories, and industrial facilities.
Schools & Childcare
Teachers, special needs assistants, and creche staff who require a recognised first aid qualification for their role.
Sports & Community
Sports clubs, leisure centres, community first responders, and event volunteers needing a credible foundation qualification.
Hospitality & Retail
Hotel, restaurant, and retail staff in customer-facing roles where first aid readiness is part of duty of care.
Course Topics
Patient assessment and primary survey
Cardiac First Response (CFR) Community standard - adult, child, infant
Use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Choking - adult, child, and infant
Severe bleeding, shock, and wound care
Burns, scalds, and electrical injuries
Fractures, sprains, and head and spinal injury
Medical emergencies - heart attack, stroke, asthma, anaphylaxis, diabetes, seizures
Poisoning, hypothermia, and hyperthermia
Recovery position and airway management
Calling for help and handover to ambulance services
Programme Detail
Foundation First Aid
Builds the responder's knowledge and confidence to manage everyday workplace incidents - bleeding, burns, fractures, and medical emergencies - until paramedics arrive.
Cardiac First Response
The CFR Community module makes up around 4-5 hours of the course and is delivered to the PHECC Cardiac First Response Community standard, including AED use.
Hands-On Practical Sessions
Skills are taught using PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). Learners practise on adult, child, and infant manikins and a training AED throughout the three days.
Assessment
Continuous skills assessment by a PHECC-certified FAR Instructor, plus a short multiple-choice exam covering the FAR knowledge base.
Why Choose the PHECC FAR Course
FAR is the only first aid foundation course recognised by Ireland's pre-hospital emergency care regulator and the standard most healthcare and high-risk employers now specify.
PHECC Recognised
Phoenix STS is on the PHECC register of Recognised Institutions for FAR. Only PHECC RIs may issue valid FAR certification in Ireland.
Includes CFR Community
Course covers the full PHECC Cardiac First Response (Community) standard, including AED use - no separate CFR course needed.
Joint PHECC Certificate
Successful learners receive a joint PHECC/Phoenix STS digital certificate, mandatory for all PHECC Responder courses since 1 March 2025.
Replaces OFA
FAR has replaced Occupational First Aid (OFA) as the workplace first aid standard. Most designated centres, public bodies, and high-risk employers now specify FAR for their nominated first aiders.
Small Group Format
Phoenix STS delivers FAR with a maximum of 8 learners per course to ensure each learner gets full hands-on practice and instructor attention.
On-Site Nationwide
Delivered at your workplace anywhere in Ireland - all manikins, AED trainers, and learner kits brought to your venue.
What's Included
PHECC FAR Standard Tuition - 18 teaching contact hours delivered by a PHECC-certified FAR Instructor, in line with the current PHECC Education and Training Standard.
All Training Equipment - adult, child, and infant CPR manikins, AED trainer, bandages, dressings, and practical first aid kit brought to your venue.
Course Workbook & PHECC CPGs - learner workbook covering the full FAR knowledge base, aligned to the current PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Continuous Skills Assessment - supervised hands-on assessment of CPR, AED, choking, bleeding control, and patient handling.
Multiple Choice Exam - short MCQ paper at the end of the course confirming theory knowledge.
Joint PHECC Digital Certificate - issued to successful learners; valid for two years from the course completion date.
Recertification Reminder - Phoenix STS issues a renewal reminder before your two-year certificate expires.
Post-Course Support - CPG queries, course content questions, and recertification scheduling are handled by our team after training.
What You Will Learn
Patient Assessment
Conduct a primary survey, recognise life-threatening conditions, and prioritise treatment in line with PHECC Clinical Practice Guidelines.
Cardiac First Response
Perform high-quality CPR on adults, children, and infants. Operate an AED safely and effectively in a workplace cardiac arrest.
Trauma & Bleeding Control
Manage severe external bleeding, shock, fractures, head and spinal injury, and burns using the Phoenix STS practical first aid kit.
Medical Emergencies
Recognise and act on heart attack, stroke, asthma, anaphylaxis, seizures, diabetic emergencies, and poisoning until ambulance services arrive.
Learning Outcomes
Apply scene safety and approach a casualty competently
Perform adult, child, and infant CPR to PHECC standard
Use an AED on a casualty in cardiac arrest
Manage choking in adults, children, and infants
Control severe external bleeding and treat shock
Recognise and respond to common medical emergencies
Provide initial care for fractures, burns, and head injury
Apply the recovery position and maintain a clear airway
Hand over to ambulance services with a clear SAMPLE history
Document the response in line with workplace policy
Three-Day Course Programme
Day 1 - Foundations of First Aid Response
Introduction to PHECC, FAR scope, and the role of the first aid responder
Patient assessment - primary and secondary survey
Adult and child Cardiac First Response (CPR)
Use of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Recovery position and airway management
Day 2 - Trauma, Wounds, and Medical Emergencies
Choking management - adult, child, and infant
Severe bleeding control and shock management
Burns, scalds, and electrical injuries
Fractures, dislocations, sprains, and strains
Head injury, spinal injury, and chest injury
Day 3 - Acute Medical Care and Assessment
Heart attack, stroke, and acute breathing emergencies
Diabetic emergencies, seizures, fainting, and anaphylaxis
Poisoning, hypothermia, and hyperthermia
Infant CPR and infant choking response
Skills review, scenario-based assessment, and PHECC MCQ exam
The 18 contact hours can also be delivered on a modular basis - for example, over three weekends - by agreement with Phoenix STS. The CFR Community element typically takes 4-5 hours and is delivered using PHECC-approved video-led learning.
Legal Context for Workplace First Aid
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005
The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 places a general duty on every employer to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the safety, health, and welfare of employees. Provision of trained first aiders is a key control measure flowing from this duty.
Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007
Chapter 2 of Part 7 of the General Application Regulations 2007 requires the employer to assess the workplace and provide first aid equipment and trained personnel proportionate to the risk. PHECC FAR is the recognised foundation qualification for designated workplace first aiders in Ireland.
Health Act 2007 and HIQA
Designated centres regulated by HIQA under the Health Act 2007 must demonstrate competent first aid response on each shift. PHECC FAR is the recognised first aid response standard for the care assistants and non-clinical support staff nominated as workplace first aiders in nursing homes, residential settings, and disability services. Registered clinical staff (nurses, doctors) hold their own qualifications and do not normally take FAR.
FAR Replaced Occupational First Aid
PHECC introduced FAR in 2014 and it has progressively replaced Occupational First Aid (OFA) as the recognised workplace first aid responder qualification. OFA certificates are no longer issued. Most regulators, healthcare commissioners, and large employers now specify FAR.
How Many FAR First Aiders Does Your Workplace Need?
Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, the number of trained first aiders an employer must provide is determined by a workplace risk assessment, not by a fixed regulatory ratio. The risk assessment must consider:
The nature of work and the hazards present
The number of employees and how they are distributed across the premises
Shift patterns and out-of-hours working
The distance and travel time from emergency medical services
The presence of vulnerable people such as children, residents, patients, or members of the public
The Health and Safety Authority publishes general guidance on workplace first aid that sets out a starting framework, with employers expected to scale provision to the assessed risk. Low-risk office environments may need a small proportion of trained responders, while higher-risk workplaces such as construction, manufacturing, hospitality, education, and residential care usually require a higher ratio and cover across every shift.
HIQA-regulated designated centres including nursing homes, disability services, and residential care operate under additional National Standards and inspection guidance that require competent first aid response on every shift, including night cover. In practice this means each shift roster should contain at least one current FAR-certified responder among the care and support staff, with cover for annual leave, sick leave, and shift handover factored into the headcount.
Phoenix STS supports workplace first aid risk assessment as part of our Health and Safety Consultancy service, including responder headcount, equipment provision, signage, and policy alignment.
Benefits for Staff
Nationally recognised PHECC qualification
Confidence to act in a real emergency on or off the job
Joint PHECC digital certificate added to the responder's record
Skills transferable to home, sport, and community settings
Recognised stepping stone toward EFR, EMT, and CFR Instructor pathways
Strengthens an individual's CV and professional credibility
Benefits for Your Organisation
Demonstrable compliance with the SHWW Act 2005 and GAR 2007
Recognised standard for HIQA-regulated and HSE-funded settings
Reduced incident severity through faster, better-quality response
Lower insurance and liability exposure on documented first aid cover
PHECC RI delivery removes ambiguity around certificate validity
Cohort-based on-site delivery minimises lost productive time
Assessment, Certification & Instructors
Assessment
Assessment is a combination of continuous skills assessment by the FAR Instructor and a short multiple-choice question (MCQ) paper covering the FAR knowledge base. Skills assessed include CPR, AED operation, choking management, bleeding control, and patient handover.
Certification
Successful learners receive a joint PHECC/Phoenix STS digital certificate, valid for two years from the course completion date. Since 1 March 2025, PHECC has issued only digital certificates for Responder-level courses, which are verifiable on the PHECC register.
Recertification
Before the two-year expiry, learners may complete a one-day FAR Refresher (FARR) to renew certification for a further two years. If a certificate has lapsed, a full FAR course is required.
Phoenix STS FAR Instructors
All Phoenix STS FAR delivery is led by PHECC-certified FAR Instructors who hold a current CFR Instructor certificate and operate within the Phoenix STS PHECC Recognised Institution scope. Phoenix STS is also a CPD Standards Office accredited training provider, ISO 9001:2015 quality-managed, and ISO 45001:2018 certified.
Assessment Format and Records
Assessment is integrated through the three-day course rather than concentrated at the end. The FAR Instructor continuously assesses skills as they are taught, giving each learner multiple opportunities to demonstrate competence. The multiple-choice paper is delivered toward the end of Day 3 and typically takes 30 to 40 minutes. Phoenix STS issues joint PHECC/Phoenix STS digital certificates to successful learners within 5 working days of course completion and retains attendance and assessment records for the certificate validity period in line with the PHECC Education and Training Standard.
Book Your On-Site PHECC FAR Course
Course size is limited to a maximum of 8 learners per cohort to protect the quality of practical training.
All-inclusive on-site delivery: PHECC-certified instructor, CPR manikins (adult, child, infant), AED trainer, learner workbooks, and joint digital certification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Content last reviewed: May 2026. This page is regularly updated to reflect changes in PHECC standards and Irish legislation.
First Aid Response (FAR) is the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council's foundation first aid course. It is the recognised qualification for workplace first aid responders in Ireland and includes the full Cardiac First Response Community standard. Only PHECC Recognised Institutions may deliver FAR. Phoenix STS is a PHECC Recognised Institution listed on the PHECC register.
The PHECC standard requires no fewer than 18 teaching contact hours, averaging 6 hours per day. Phoenix STS delivers this as three consecutive days, or modularly (for example, three Saturdays) by agreement. The CFR Community module makes up around 4-5 hours of the course.
Phoenix STS limits FAR cohorts to a maximum of 8 learners per course. This protects the quality of practical training and ensures every learner gets adequate hands-on practice on manikins and the AED trainer.
The joint PHECC/Phoenix STS FAR certificate is valid for two years from the course completion date. Before expiry you may complete a one-day FAR Refresher (FARR) to extend certification for a further two years. If the certificate has lapsed, a full three-day FAR course is required.
Since 1 March 2025, PHECC issues only digital certificates for Responder-level courses, including FAR. Successful learners receive a verifiable digital certificate that can be downloaded, shared with employers, and confirmed against the PHECC register.
FAR is the PHECC-approved foundation first aid course and has replaced OFA as the recognised standard for workplace first aiders in Ireland. OFA certificates are no longer issued. Where an employer or insurer previously specified OFA, PHECC FAR now meets and exceeds that requirement.
Yes. FAR incorporates the full PHECC Cardiac First Response (Community) standard, which covers adult, child, and infant CPR and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator. There is no need to attend a separate CFR or AED course.
Phoenix STS delivers the FAR course on-site at your workplace anywhere in Ireland. We bring all training equipment - CPR manikins, AED trainer, dressings, and learner workbooks. A suitable training room with floor space for practical sessions is required.
There are no formal entry requirements. The course is suited to designated workplace first aiders across all sectors, including teachers, sports coaches, construction workers, hospitality and retail staff, community first responders, and care assistants and non-clinical support staff in nursing homes and residential settings. Registered clinical staff (nurses, doctors) hold their own qualifications and do not normally take FAR. Learners must be able to perform the practical CPR and patient-handling skills required for assessment.
Yes. As a PHECC Recognised Institution, Phoenix STS issues a joint PHECC/Phoenix STS digital FAR certificate to every successful learner. This is the only valid form of FAR certification under the PHECC Education and Training Standard.
Contact Phoenix STS via the Request a Quote button or call 043 334 9611. We will scope the cohort size, dates, and venue requirements, and confirm an instructor and equipment plan.
Yes - for the right staff. PHECC FAR is the recognised first aid response standard for the care assistants, healthcare assistants, and non-clinical support staff nominated as workplace first aiders in HIQA-regulated designated centres. Registered clinical staff (nurses, doctors) hold their own qualifications and do not normally take FAR. Phoenix STS also delivers complementary courses such as Designated Centre Fire Safety Manager and Healthcare Evacuation Instructor.
PHECC First Aid Response (FAR) is the three-day foundation qualification for first-time learners and for responders whose certificate has lapsed. PHECC FAR Refresher (FARR) is a one-day refresher available to responders who hold a current FAR certificate and need to renew before its two-year expiry. Once a FAR certificate has expired, the FARR is no longer available and a full FAR course is required to requalify.
The number of trained first aiders is determined by your workplace risk assessment under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, not by a fixed ratio. Employers consider the nature of work, hazards, employee numbers and distribution, shift patterns, distance to emergency services, and the presence of vulnerable people. Phoenix STS supports workplace first aid risk assessment as part of our Health and Safety Consultancy service.
Yes. PHECC FAR is the recognised foundation first aid qualification in Ireland and is accepted by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) as evidence of trained workplace first aid provision under the SHWW Act 2005 and General Application Regulations 2007. Most Irish insurers and HIQA-regulated services also specify FAR as the recognised standard. Certificates are verifiable on the PHECC register.
No. The PHECC FAR Refresher (FARR) is only available to responders who are still within their current two-year FAR certification window. If your FAR certificate has expired, you must complete a full three-day FAR course to requalify. Phoenix STS can advise on the right pathway based on your certification date.
PHECC FAR course pricing depends on cohort size, location, and delivery format. Phoenix STS provides a fixed cohort price covering up to eight learners, including the PHECC-certified instructor, all training equipment, learner workbooks, and joint PHECC/Phoenix STS digital certification. Contact us for a tailored quotation - call 043 334 9611 or email sales@phoenixsts.ie.
Phoenix STS brings everything needed for the practical course: PHECC-certified FAR Instructor, adult, child, and infant CPR manikins, AED trainer with pads, practical first aid kit including bandages and dressings, learner workbooks, and assessment materials. The customer provides a suitable training room with floor space for practical CPR work, tables and chairs, and a screen or wall for projector display.
Yes. While the standard format is three consecutive days, the 18 contact hours can be delivered across multiple shorter sessions - for example three weekends or six half-days - by agreement with Phoenix STS. This is often the right fit for shift-based workplaces where releasing staff for three consecutive days is difficult.
Following successful assessment, Phoenix STS submits course records to PHECC and issues a joint PHECC/Phoenix STS digital certificate within 5 working days. The certificate is verifiable on the PHECC register and is valid for two years. Phoenix STS will issue a renewal reminder before your certificate expires so you can schedule a FAR Refresher (FARR) or a full FAR course as appropriate.
PHECC FAR Course
Three-day, 18-hour PHECC foundation first aid qualification. Full first aid plus the Cardiac First Response Community standard. Two-year joint PHECC/Phoenix STS digital certificate. Recognised by HIQA-regulated services and the workplace first aid standard for Ireland.
Best for: designated workplace first aiders, healthcare staff, schools, construction, and any organisation needing the recognised PHECC qualification.
First Aid & Heartsaver AED Course
One-day, 6-hour American Heart Association certified course covering CPR, AED, and core first aid. Two-year AHA/Irish Heart Foundation certification. Suited to organisations preferring an AHA-aligned shorter course where PHECC certification is not specified.
Best for: smaller cohorts, refresher needs, or international parent organisations standardising on AHA training.
Choosing Between FAR, FAR Refresher, and BLS
Phoenix STS is often asked which PHECC pathway is the right fit. The summary below helps employers and learners choose between the three most common workplace first aid options in Ireland.
PHECC First Aid Response (FAR) - This Course
The recognised foundation qualification for designated workplace first aiders in Ireland. Required for first-time learners and for any responder whose previous FAR certificate has lapsed. Three days, 18 contact hours, joint PHECC/Phoenix STS digital certificate valid for two years.
PHECC FAR Refresher (FARR)
A one-day refresher for responders who hold a current PHECC FAR certificate and need to renew before its two-year expiry. The FARR cannot renew an expired certificate - if your FAR has lapsed, a full FAR course is required. Successful FARR learners receive a new joint PHECC/Phoenix STS digital certificate valid for a further two years.
Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider
A shorter PHECC-recognised CPR, AED, and choking course aimed at workplaces and learners who require resuscitation skills without the full first aid scope of FAR. BLS does not replace FAR where a workplace risk assessment identifies a designated first aider as required.
PHECC FAR Training Across Ireland
Phoenix STS is based in Longford and delivers PHECC FAR on-site at workplaces throughout the Republic of Ireland. Cohorts are typically delivered over three consecutive days at the customer's premises, with all manikins, AED trainer, and learner kit brought to the venue.
Recent FAR delivery locations include: Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Athlone, Sligo, Letterkenny, Tullamore, Mullingar, Kilkenny, Wexford, Drogheda, Dundalk, and Carlow.
To request on-site FAR training: call 043 334 9611 or email sales@phoenixsts.ie.
Related Courses & Services
Why Choose Phoenix STS
PHECC Recognised Institution, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 certified, and CPD Standards Office accredited training provider.
Experienced Team
Over 15 years delivering accredited training to healthcare facilities, schools, and businesses across Ireland. Our PHECC-certified FAR Instructors are practising clinicians and emergency responders.
Irish Owned
A proudly Irish-owned company based in Longford, serving clients nationwide. Courses are tailored to Irish legislative requirements and PHECC standards.
Experts in Health & Safety
PHECC Recognised Institution, ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 9001:2015 certified, CPD-accredited training provider. All courses meet HIQA, HSA, and PHECC requirements.