Pharmacy-specific first-aid training

Practical Level 3 VTQ course

Emergency First Aid at Work for Pharmacists Level 3 (VTQ)

Build the practical confidence to respond to serious and minor emergencies that may occur in a pharmacy, consultation room or wider healthcare environment. The course includes the core EFAW syllabus together with additional subjects selected for pharmacists.

Emergency First Aid at Work training designed for pharmacists
Pharmacy-focused practical learning Core workplace first aid with additional emergencies relevant to pharmacists and patient-facing practice.
1 DAY One-day course Face-to-face instruction, practical exercises and assessment.
8 Eight CPD hours Includes a downloadable certified CPD statement.
AED AED training included Hands-on CPR and defibrillator practice.
3 YRS Three-year certificate Requalification is required before the certificate expires.

Course overview

First-aid training that reflects pharmacy practice

Pharmacists work in a patient-facing environment where someone may become injured, collapse or experience a sudden medical emergency without warning.

This course develops the core skills required by an emergency workplace first aider while extending the learning to include additional incidents pharmacists may encounter through their professional work.

Learners are shown how to assess an incident, summon appropriate assistance and provide immediate care within the limits of their training. Practical activities are used throughout the day to turn knowledge into usable skills.

The course covers CPR, AED use, choking, bleeding, shock, burns and seizures, together with subjects including poisoning, overdose, diabetic emergencies, allergic reactions, head injuries, eye contamination and severe unexplained pain.

Eligibility

Please confirm pharmacist status before attending

This course and its pharmacy-specific certificate are intended for pharmacists. Eligibility should therefore be confirmed before the learner is registered.

Who can attend?

Pharmacists undertaking the pharmacy course

Learners must be able to provide suitable identification or qualification evidence confirming their pharmacist status.

Evidence should be provided when requested so the correct course, assessment and certificate can be allocated.

Why evidence is required

The pharmacy course includes a separate assessment and produces a certificate identifying completion of the pharmacist-specific programme.

  • Confirms eligibility for the pharmacist course
  • Ensures the correct end-of-course assessment is issued
  • Ensures the correct course title appears on certification

Group-course arrangements: pharmacist learners may undertake the practical training alongside learners completing another EFAW route. However, pharmacists must complete the pharmacy-specific assessment and meet the eligibility requirements for the pharmacy certificate.

Learner outcomes

Confidence to act during the first critical minutes

The course helps pharmacists organise their response, identify urgent risks and provide immediate assistance until further clinical or emergency help is available.

01

Assess an emergency

Check for danger, identify immediate risks and complete a structured primary survey.

02

Summon appropriate help

Contact emergency services, provide useful information and organise assistance from colleagues.

03

Deliver CPR

Recognise cardiac arrest and provide effective CPR using current first-aid principles.

04

Use an AED

Apply and operate a training defibrillator safely while continuing effective CPR.

05

Recognise medical emergencies

Identify warning signs that require urgent escalation and immediate supportive care.

06

Monitor and hand over

Reassure the casualty, monitor changes and provide a clear handover when further help arrives.

Pharmacy-specific content

How this differs from a standard EFAW course

The pharmacy route retains the recognised emergency workplace first-aid foundation and adds subjects relevant to pharmacy and healthcare-facing practice.

Core EFAW learning

Essential emergency response skills

  • Scene safety and primary survey
  • Recovery position
  • CPR and AED use
  • Choking
  • Serious bleeding and shock
  • Burns, seizures and minor injuries
Additional pharmacy subjects

Broader patient-facing emergencies

  • Overdose and poisoning
  • Hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia
  • Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis awareness
  • Foreign bodies and chemicals in the eye
  • Head injury and concussion
  • Severe head, chest or abdominal pain

Course content

What pharmacists will cover

The syllabus is divided into clear learning areas so customers and learners can review the complete scope without navigating one long list.

01 The first aider and workplace responsibilities
  • About first aid
  • The role of the first aider
  • Acts, regulations and guidance
  • First-aider duties and limitations
  • Workplace first-aid provision
  • First-aid kits
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Accident and incident reporting
  • RIDDOR awareness
  • Patient consent
  • Fears and barriers to taking action
  • Preserve life, prevent deterioration and promote recovery
02 Assessing an incident and getting help
  • Scene safety
  • The importance of acting quickly
  • Initial assessment and primary survey
  • Checking and opening the airway
  • Checking for normal breathing
  • Calling for emergency help
  • Call first and call fast considerations
  • Using what3words to identify a location
  • Recovery position
  • Spinal injury considerations
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Monitoring and casualty handover
03 CPR, AED and airway emergencies
  • The chain of survival
  • Heart attack recognition
  • Sudden cardiac arrest
  • Adult CPR
  • CPR with rescue breaths
  • Compression-only CPR
  • Mouth-to-nose rescue breaths
  • Agonal breathing
  • CPR during or following a seizure
  • CPR considerations for a pregnant casualty
  • Child CPR considerations from one to eighteen years
  • AED operation and safety
  • Combined CPR and AED practice
  • Airway obstruction and choking
04 Bleeding, shock, burns and injuries
  • The circulatory system
  • Minor bleeding
  • Serious bleeding
  • Life-threatening bleeding
  • Wound care
  • Dressings and bandages
  • Nosebleeds
  • Recognition and treatment of shock
  • Electric shock
  • Burns and scalds
  • Minor burns
  • Injuries to bones, muscles and joints
05 Pharmacy-relevant medical emergencies
  • Overdose and poisoning
  • Epilepsy and seizures
  • Hypoglycaemia
  • Hyperglycaemia
  • Fainting and mild shock
  • Allergic reactions
  • Severe allergic reactions
  • Head injuries and concussion
  • Severe pain in the head, chest or abdomen
  • Foreign bodies or chemicals in the eye
06 Practical application and assessment
  • Practical CPR assessment
  • AED skills assessment
  • Recovery-position assessment
  • Choking response practice
  • Bleeding-control practice
  • Casualty communication
  • Realistic pharmacy scenarios
  • End-of-course knowledge assessment

Practical learning

Training built around participation

Learners see each skill demonstrated, practise it for themselves and then apply it within scenarios requiring assessment, communication and action.

1:1

One CPR manikin per learner

Each learner has dedicated access during CPR practice, supporting repetition, individual feedback and less waiting to share.

AED

Multiple-manufacturer AED trainers

Learners practise with training defibrillators from leading manufacturers and develop skills that transfer between different devices.

Stand-up choking manikins

Two stand-up choking manikins are shared during the choking module for realistic back-blow and abdominal-thrust practice.

360°

Pharmacy-based scenarios

Scenarios help learners respond to incidents involving patients, customers, colleagues and consultation-room environments.

Certification

Clear evidence of pharmacy-specific training

Successful learners receive certification identifying completion of the Emergency First Aid at Work for Pharmacists Level 3 (VTQ) course.

The certificate is normally valid for three years. Learners should complete requalification training before expiry where they need to retain current workplace first-aid certification.

The course also provides eight certified CPD hours, supporting the learner in recording and reflecting on relevant professional development.

Workplace provision

Supporting first-aid arrangements within a pharmacy

The course provides emergency workplace first-aid training, but each employer remains responsible for deciding what provision is appropriate for its premises, services, staffing and identified risks.

RA

Complete a needs assessment

Consider staffing levels, opening hours, patient contact, services delivered, workplace hazards and access to emergency assistance.

TEAM

Plan adequate cover

Ensure appropriate first-aid cover remains available during absences, holidays, sickness and extended opening hours.

KIT

Maintain workplace resources

Provide appropriate first-aid equipment, clear emergency procedures and accessible incident-reporting arrangements.

Course suitability: the appropriate level of first-aid training should be determined through the employer’s first-aid needs assessment. A higher-hazard, larger or more complex workplace may require the three-day First Aid at Work course and/or additional specialist training.

Arranging your course

A clear route from enquiry to delivery

Training can be delivered at your workplace or another suitable venue arranged by your organisation, reducing travel and allowing scenarios to reflect the working environment.

1

Tell us about your learners

Provide the location, preferred dates, learner numbers and confirmation that those taking the pharmacy route meet its eligibility requirements.

2

Receive a clear quotation

We will review your requirements, confirm availability and provide a quotation without obligation.

3

Confirm the arrangements

Once the quotation is accepted, complete the detailed booking form. The booking is confirmed after the invoice has been paid and cleared.

Common questions

Helpful information before you enquire

Is this a TQUK regulated qualification?

No. This page relates to Emergency First Aid at Work for Pharmacists Level 3 (VTQ), delivered through the ProTrainings training and certification system.

Who can receive the pharmacy-specific certificate?

The course is intended for pharmacists. Learners must provide suitable identification or qualification evidence confirming their pharmacist status when requested.

Can pharmacists train alongside other EFAW learners?

The practical elements may be delivered concurrently with another EFAW group where suitable. Pharmacists must, however, complete the correct pharmacy-specific assessment and meet the relevant eligibility requirements.

How is this different from standard EFAW?

It includes the core Emergency First Aid at Work syllabus together with additional topics such as poisoning, overdose, diabetic emergencies, allergic reactions, eye contamination, head injuries and severe unexplained pain.

Is AED training included?

Yes. Learners practise CPR and the safe use of automated external defibrillators during the course.

How long is the certificate valid?

The certificate is normally valid for three years. Requalification should be completed before expiry where current workplace first-aid certification is required.

Where is the course delivered?

Courses are delivered at the customer’s workplace or a suitable venue arranged by the customer. The room must provide sufficient space for floor-based practical activities.

When is the booking confirmed?

An enquiry or submitted booking form does not itself confirm a date. The booking is confirmed once the quotation has been accepted and the issued invoice has been paid and cleared.

Ready to train your pharmacists?

Bring pharmacy-focused first-aid training to your workplace

Tell us where the training is required, how many pharmacists need to attend and your preferred dates. We will review the requirements and respond with clear next steps.

Already accepted a first-aid quotation? Complete the booking form

Eligibility, course suitability and any additional training requirements should be checked against the pharmacist’s role, the organisation’s first-aid needs assessment and any applicable professional or contractual requirements.