First Aid Council For Training

The Association of Independent First Aid At Work Training Organisations (AIFAWTO) was the longest established association concerned with first aid at work training delivered by independent companies.  Prior to 1994 the private sector had no representation; the view was that only two organisations; Red Cross and St. Johns, could train people in first aid techniques and custom dictated that only these groups were consulted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

The Association was formed following the Harrogate conference in 1994 when HSE announced changes without consultation.  The aim of the Association was to provide necessary links with government and HSE to keep informed on how the independent sector handled first aid.  That organisation provided a link for its members for many years, and the Council seeks to strengthen those contacts to heighten awareness of first aid training in all its aspects.

We believe it is time to move forward as in recent years Pre Hospital Emergency Care has developed with Paramedics, Emergency Medical Technicians etc. and with changes in qualifications the public expect the practitioners to be well trained.  The industry also needs a comprehensive database of currently qualified trainers and assessors to be available for scrutiny.

The organisation has been, and the Council will be non profit making; it is for the members, managed by the members and thus representative of the membership.  The Council will be non-aligned politically and is purely to represent the members and focus on development of best practice within the industry.

The Council is a member of the Trade Industry Forum and is recognised as an independent representative voice for the first aid training industry.

The First Aid Council for Training is committed to professional standards in the training of First Aid for those who are required to practice first aid.  The Council will develop with professional standards, requirements for continuing professional development and will be creating a registration process for training organisations, trainers and first aiders.  Members will be equipped with the skills and resources required to maximise their individual potential or business success.

The Aims of the Council are to:

• Promote best practice
• Provide a networking opportunity
• Provide integration for the industry
• Foster professionalism in the industry
• Collect and disseminate information through events and publications

The Council will remain in contact with the other organisations involved in first aid and have regular discussions with the Association Of First Aiders (AOFA) and the First Aid at Work Council (FWC) which is the body that includes St John and the British Red Cross.  Our work over the past sixteen years has been seen as sufficiently important that our President Peter Pocock was awarded an MBE in 2009 for his services to First Aid.