first aid courses

Outdoor First Aid Blended Learning

Blended Outdoor First Aid Course

Learn First Aid Skills for Outdoor and Remote Environments

At High Peak First Aid, we specialise in Outdoor First Aid and Wilderness First Aid. With over 24 years of experience delivering training for remote and challenging environments, we understand how important it is to stay up to date.

The COVID pandemic brought significant changes to how we train. In response, we now offer a blended learning version of our 16-hour Outdoor First Aid course. This format allows you to complete part of the training online before attending a one-day practical session at our centre in the Peak District.

Why Choose Our Blended Outdoor First Aid Course

Flexible and High Quality

This option allows you to learn vital skills while staying safe. Many learners need to requalify to stay in work, especially in sectors that do not allow for furlough or remote alternatives. Some regulated qualifications received extensions, but Outdoor First Aid did not. That makes flexible access to accredited training more important than ever.

We have already delivered many successful blended FREC 3 courses. Building on that success, we are proud to offer the same approach for Outdoor First Aid.

Recognised by Leading Organisations

We worked closely with national organisations to ensure this course meets all expected standards. These include:

  • The Institute for Outdoor Learning
  • The First Aid Awarding Organisations Forum
  • The Health and Safety Executive

Although there is no strict rule on how much content can be online, our fifty-fifty structure provides a strong balance between digital learning and practical experience.

What the Course Includes

Our blended Outdoor First Aid course includes:

  • Four hours of live Zoom training with a qualified tutor
  • Four hours of self-paced online learning through our platform
  • One full day of in-person, scenario-based practical training

You can revisit the online content at any time for up to three years. If illness or changing restrictions affect your attendance, we will move your booking at no extra cost.

Hands-On Training with Safety in Mind

You will still receive the same high-quality practical instruction. We use full-body training mannequins, realistic outdoor scenarios, and a purpose-built immersive classroom. Group sizes are kept small, with a maximum of six learners, to ensure personalised support and a safe learning environment.

This is not just a basic video course. You will engage fully with outdoor-focused scenarios, tutor feedback, and interactive learning.

Why We Combine Indoor and Outdoor Learning

We have delivered fully outdoor training in the past. While it can be effective in summer, colder weather often reduces focus and learning. That is why we now combine indoor learning with outdoor scenarios on our private land. This approach provides the best learning outcomes year-round.

Our Peak District Training Centre

Our facilities include:

  • A spacious, well-ventilated classroom
  • A purpose-built immersive training room
  • Direct access to private woodland and open terrain

This environment allows us to simulate outdoor incidents while keeping your learning experience focused and practical.

A Trusted Provider with Proven Results

We have trained over 36,000 learners in Outdoor First Aid. Our lead trainer holds a postgraduate degree in Risk and Crisis Management and is known for delivering training that prepares people to respond effectively in outdoor and remote environments.

We do not aim to be the cheapest. Our goal is to deliver lasting confidence and excellent value.

Why You Should Book Now

COVID continues to influence how we work and train. Many professionals still require valid first aid certification, especially those working outdoors or in remote locations. As activity increases again, demand for courses is rising.

Booking now helps you stay compliant with Health and Safety Executive guidance. If you need local accommodation, we can recommend trusted providers who welcome bookings for work or education purposes.

Book Your Outdoor First Aid Course Today

Stay safe. Stay prepared. Choose High Peak First Aid for trusted, professional training tailored to outdoor and remote environments.

Open for training

New opportunities for learning. Due to local and possible national impending restrictions, we are offering blended learning on our courses for those who cannot or do not want to travel. This is being activated over the next 7 days to coincide with our new website.

The first qualification with this option is First Response Emergency Care (FREC 3). We are approved by Qualsafe to hold theory modules via your PC, combined with two days practical training at our three classrooms in the Peak District.

This interactive and tutor lead experience means you can interact via PC from the comfort of your own home, paying for FREC 3 modules as you go and at a time to suit as we have day, weekend and evening slots available. You can see details of how this works for the FREC 3 here

Further details will be released over the next few days for other first aid and prehospital care qualifications.

Outdoor First Aid 16hrs

High Peak Outdoor First Aid Courses are scheduled to take place 8-10 times a month in the picturesque Peak District. This regular schedule ensures that you have plenty of opportunities to join us. Our immersive classroom and diverse wilderness terrain provide the perfect setting for outdoor lessons.

Our courses offer extensive practical training, particularly in the use of haemostats and tourniquets. Skill stations are set up outdoors, on the lawn or in the woods, to simulate real-life scenarios. We are committed to managing the COVID-19 situation effectively, providing face masks for indoor activities or when working within a metre of others outside, ensuring access to hot soap and water for hand washing.

Course dates can be seen by clicking Outdoor First Aid.

Immersive learning for all First Aid Training

The first week back to full-time first aid training and introducing our immersive classroom. After 23 years of providing first aid training for urban and remote environments it has been amazing to see the results of immersive learning on our participants. The reduced group size due to COVID-19 has meant more time for practical work in and out of the classroom. Rotating through five individual scenarios for Primary Survey, CPR with management of Hypo and Hyperthermia has been incredible as it is possible to put every lesson into context if needed along with group discussions. This is active learnings at it’s best.

About five years ago, I thought an MSc in Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management at the University of Leicester seemed like a good idea. It did not cross my mind it would be a mammoth undertaking by distance learning whilst managing a very busy company. I survived: just. I concocted a dissertation that stated, ” Does competency in wilderness first aid training increase by using simulations involving injects and reflective feedback after active and experiential learning?”

The title seemed a good idea at the time until I found that there was only one, yes, only one other piece of literature available after a very extensive search. Staff at The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in the USA had written a paper. I figured they were the first and managed it so I could be the second. It worked, I passed and it wasn’t too shabby as I screamed into the finish line on time.

The immersive classroom though, is the final piece in the jigsaw. After one week of training I am amazed at the results I am having on our first aid courses. I also know that the first week has only scratched the surface of what can be achieved.

The first people to use the immersive classroom were the Wilderness First Aid 16hr courses. The next course will be First Response Emergency Care (FREC3) Having to adapt all first aid training due to COVID-19 was challenging but easily overcome by a combination of immersive classroom and the ability to step straight outside into wilderness terrain when needed.

I have spent a lot on PPE and specialized, sanitation products as safety is first over profit. I am extending this ethos to provide boxes of face masks at cost to participants for themselves and families. This week will also see the introduction of fill your own empty hand sanitizer bottles from our stock at High Peak First Aid, again at cost.

Last but not least, a big thank you to all the people who kept bookings at High Peak First Aid. As a Ltd Company Director I took the decision to not furlough as I could not have worked on the company and kept my customer service available.

I have personally trained over 23,000 people. I think I have it in me for another 23,000!


Twenty two years of first aid and pre-hospital care training

High Peak First Aid is now in their 22nd year of trading thanks to all of our clients. For 2019 we have made a significant investment into our training facility and equipment along with introducing new courses.

One of our key investments has been high fidelity moulage and models for wound packing and tourniquet training.  The treatment of life threatening bleeds is a feature on the High Peak Wilderness First Aid Courses.  The Wilderness First Aid courses are modular and range from 8-24hrs long and are suitable for use in the UK and overseas.  The High Peak Wilderness First Aid Module 1 is UK based and used by support staff on the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and for some Governing Body Awards.  Module 1 and 2 or the High Peak Wilderness First Aid 16hr course is an outdoor first aid course for use in the UK and overseas. Module 3 or the High Peak Wilderness First Aid Expedition Leader module can be added at any time or completed as a three day course held once a month at our training facility in the Peak District.

In addition we have an onsite shop with a steadily growing product range including the full range of Celox products.  If you are attending an outdoor first aid course, First Response Emergency Care 3 (FREC 3), or First Response Emergency Care 4 (FREC 4) for example, we have twenty two years of experience to supply you with either a bespoke first aid kit or a full on pre-hospital care bag for use in the UK or in remote areas overseas.