Specialist Outdoor First Aid and remote casualty management training for activity centres, adventure sports providers and Duke of Edinburgh operators across Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire.
Outdoor activity centres operate in environments where the normal rules of workplace first aid simply don't apply. When a casualty needs help on a climbing wall, a mountain bike trail, a lake or a forest orienteering course, the first aider faces challenges that no office or factory first aid course prepares them for: difficult access, uncertain timelines for emergency service response, limited equipment and the need to continue managing a group of participants simultaneously.
Standard first aid courses — even the full 3-day First Aid at Work — are designed for workplace environments where casualties can be stabilised and emergency services typically arrive within minutes. For outdoor activity providers, the reality can be very different: a casualty in a remote field or on a river may need to be managed for 30 minutes or more before help arrives. That requires a different mindset, different skills and specific training.
Trainer Paul Chandler brings a unique and genuinely relevant background to outdoor first aid training. With extensive experience in Search and Rescue operations, Paul has provided real first aid in exactly the remote, challenging conditions that outdoor activity staff need to be prepared for. His training draws on authentic experience, not just textbook knowledge.
The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) regulates certain adventure activities — including climbing, watersports, trekking and caving — when provided to young people under 18 in England and Wales. Licensed providers must demonstrate that they have adequate safety management systems in place, and first aid provision is a key component of that assessment. Instructors and activity leaders are expected to hold relevant first aid qualifications appropriate to the activities they deliver.
Even for activities that don't fall under AALA licensing — such as those provided exclusively to adults — the Activity Centres (Young Persons' Safety) Act 1995 and the associated HSE guidance set a clear expectation of appropriate risk management and first aid provision. Outdoor centres operating without adequate first aid training expose themselves to significant legal and reputational risk if an incident occurs.
National Governing Bodies (NGBs) for individual outdoor sports — including British Canoeing, British Mountaineering Council, British Cycling and British Orienteering — also have requirements for coaches and instructors regarding first aid qualifications. Many require a current Outdoor First Aid certificate or equivalent as a condition of holding an instructor award.
The gold standard for outdoor activity staff. Covers remote casualty management, hypothermia, improvised splinting and stretchers, water incident aftercare, and managing emergencies with delayed emergency service response.
Learn more →Essential for centres working primarily with young people. Covers child-specific emergencies and is a requirement for centres working under AALA or providing activities to schools and youth groups.
Learn more →Cardiac arrest can occur during strenuous activity. Ensure your centre team is confident with CPR and knows how to use your AED. Can be delivered as a standalone session or combined with other training.
Learn more →Outdoor first aid skills must be kept sharp. Annual refresher training ensures your team remains confident and competent between formal recertification cycles.
Learn more →Get a free quote for Outdoor First Aid training at your activity centre.
Get a Free Quote 📞 07555 938144Get a free quote for Outdoor First Aid training at your activity centre. Serving providers across Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire.