mountain 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.

Eight Outdoor First Aid courses a month

High Peak First Aid has eight outdoor first aid courses a month held at our training facility in the Peak District.  These 16hr first aid courses meet the requirements for a number of governing bodies.  Following the links to these organisations will demonstrate the requirements for each sport. Hillwalking and climbing activities are supported by the Mountain Training Association and paddle sport by British Canoeing.

Mountain biking has a number of awarding bodies such as MIAS (Mountain-bike Instructors Award Scheme).  British Cycling states that training providers should meet criteria as laid down by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).  Mountain Bike Coaching (MBC UK) also lays down clear guidelines.

High Peak First Aid 16hr first aid courses for the outdoors are not limited to the above sports, so please contact us if further details are needed.  All of our first aid courses offer you the opportunity to learn in two dedicated classrooms before skills are transferred to a variety of wilderness terrain.  We are lucky to be situiated in the middle of private land in the Hope Valley, Peak District which gives us immediate access to the outdoors.

We are not limited to outdoor first aid for the UK.  There is the opportunity to take a three day first aid training course for expedition leaders. The Wilderness First Aid Modules 1-3 is popular for those taking expeditions overseas and is currently accepted by a number of leading expedition providers.  If you are short on time, it is possible to attend the Wilderness First Aid Module 3 for one day to add on to your existing first aid training.

There is also the option of taking your first aid training up a notch to attend the First Response Emergency Care suite of qualifications.  High Peak First Aid is a Qualsafe approved centre (no: 906483) for the provision of the First Response Emergency Care Level 3 and the First Response Emergency Care Level 4.   To complete your guided learning hours High Peak First Aid can offer you modules from the range of courses to include topics such as altitude illness, bites and stings, and expedition medical kits. This approach makes a truly unique outdoor qualification that not only prepares you for working in a remote seeting but may just give you the edge when applying for a post as an expedition leader.  Your guided learning hours can demonstrate your interests and knowledge.

All of the above first aid courses include training in the use of haemostats and tourniquets as laid down in the current European Resuscitation Council Guidelines. To find out more about the first aid courses, please look at the following links or contact High Peak First Aid on 01433 621484 where our receptionist will be happy to help.  We take calls outside office hours or you can email on info@highpeakfirstaid.co.uk

 

 

 

 

Free Outdoor First Aid Training 16hrs

Free outdoor first aid training is currently available for anyone who is considering taking the First Response Emergency Care Level 3 at High Peak First Aid. The outdoor first aid courses have been recognised by the major governing bodies for outdoor education for the past twenty years.  Details for the outdoor first aid courses can be seen here.  The First Response Emergency Care Level 3 is a five day regulated qualification plus guided learning hours.  The FREC 3 is an ideal opportunity to gain a regulated qualification combined with guided learning hours orientated to the outdoor environment and specific to the individual. The High Peak Wilderness First Aid 16hr course can be used as part of the guided learning hours and we offer full support for free after the FREC 3 to complete the learning.

This would be an ideal opportunity for a person who hopes to gain expedition work in the uk or overseas, for event first aiders who are likely to work in more remote prehospital settings and for those who provide first aid cover at motocross events.  It would be ideally suited to security consultants working on contracts in remote or hostile environments where help may be delayed.  If you are interested in this great opportunity please contact info@highpeakfirstaid.co.uk

 

Free Celox Training

Free Celox training is available for any previous participant on a High Peak First Aid course.  This offer is limited until October 2016:  after this date a course fee will apply.  However, the Celox training can be taken as a bolt on Module to First Aid at Work, and is incorporated into Wilderness First Aid Expedition Leader Module 3, 4 and 5.

For people who have not attended a course at High Peak First Aid, you are welcome to join us and pay the course joining fee for Celox training.  By charging a fee we can provide courses for small numbers and do not have to wait for a course to fill to make it viable.  Staff are working in the office, so to take a break and provide training is no trouble at all. The course fee also covers certification, tea and coffee and the use of the Celox in the practical sessions.

 

Expedition First Aid Training

The High Peak Wilderness First Aid 40hr course has another date added to the calendar as the October course is now fully booked.  This expedition first aid training course is modular to enable participants to progress as far as required to satisfy due diligence for expedition companies, those working in hostile environments and companies who send employees who are critical to the day to day operation of a business overseas.  An employer may have undertaken a risk assessment and realised that the expedition, company or employee is at risk of an environmental hazard such as earthquake, GLOF, fire, tsunami or tornado.  At High Peak First Aid we place an emphasis on active and experiential learning using simulations or scenarios as a tool to ensure that participants are given the skills and confidence to deal with an accident, emergency, disaster or near miss in an urban, remote or hostile environment.

If you haven’t the foggiest of the difference between an accident, emergency, disaster or near miss: we can make sure you do after attending the High Peak Wilderness First Aid 40hr course.    Heinrich’s accident theory will make sense along with normal accidents…what is normal about an accident you may ask?  This first aid course starts with core competencies in basic first aid.  The basic skills matter as you will find out when we refer to the trimodal distribution of death and the platinum 10 minutes. As you progress you will be able to manage basic first aid occurrences in your workplace whether that is based in an urban, remote or hostile environment.  Regardless of where you work in the United Kingdom you still need to comply with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines. Reporting of accidents, COSHH and RIDDOR is common sense after you have attended this course. At High Peak First Aid we are pretty good at sneaking in the legislation that could send you to sleep. We also offer courses for clients overseas who have high standards and although not regulated by the HSE, they know and like to advertise that they adhere to the best possible safety standards.

Before you know it legislation will seem like common sense and is a small part of the course.  You will spend most of your time interacting with the Tutors who are highly qualified and experienced.  We are pretty fussy about who we employ as we expect our Tutors to work hard to impart all of their knowledge for you. As you progress on this course and you become competent at more advanced skills we never forget the basics.  The basic skills such as the primary survey, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and treatment of bleeds are what counts when an accident happens.  If you need to know when, why and how haemostatic dressings, Celox and tourniquets are needed, we can tell you, show you and have you practise.

You might be working at altitude so need to know how to recognise and treat altitude illness.  It’s not all about high altitude mountaineering: you may have a business client and be driving at altitude on the way to a factory. Attend a course with us and you will be able to recognise the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE).  You will be able to act fast as you will have undertaken a comprehensive risk assessment and  be carrying a first aid kit complete with drugs for altitude illness. If you are leading a group overseas and altitude illness strikes you will also know how to use oxygen, a pulse oximeter and an oxygen concentrator.

Depending on your place of work or expedition your skills may be needed to aid a medical professional in a remote environment where help is likely to be delayed.  We cannot give you a licence to practise but can ensure you have  been trained to recognised guidelines and are competent to assist a medical professional.  You will be sharing this expedition first aid training with other like minded people who have a desire to advanced their first aid training.  We hope you never need to use the skills learnt during first aid training but we know we can give you the skills to feel confident and step forward when it counts.

This course is available in the UK for individuals and for groups in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.