Question 1

How to choose the correct First Aid course?

Accepted Answer

When you decide to order a First Aid course, it's important to choose a course that meets your needs. The Basic First Aid course is always a safe choice, as it is comprehensive and it is also the course recommended by the Regional State Administrative Agency for most workplaces. If you wish, you can opt for a shorter course, the Lifesaving First Aid course. If you have recently completed the Basic First Aid course (or EA1) and your certificate is still valid, the Lifesaving First Aid course is suitable as a refresher course. You can choose the 4-hour, 6-hour or 8-hour course. This course will renew your Basic First Aid certification for another three years. If your workplace has any specific needs, you can find suitable courses for that as well. For those working with children, such as daycares and schools, there is our KIDS First Aid course. For electrical companies, there is an Emergency First Aid course for electricians. Professional drivers have the option of an Emergency First Aid course for Professional Drivers or a Basic First Aid course, which is conducted as a so called EU Directive course, allowing participants to earn required periodic training (Traficom). You can choose a on-site course, online course, webinar or hybrid course. You can compare different teaching methods here.

Question 2

Is Lifesaving First Aid course the same as EA1?

Accepted Answer

The Basic First Aid course (or EA1) and the Lifesaving First Aid course are two different courses. The Basic First Aid course always includes lifesaving first aid as well. All first aid courses always cover CPR, unconsciousness, bleeding, and choking, even in the 4 h Lifesaving First Aid course. In addition, seizures and/or wounds are also covered in the 6 h Lifesaving First Aid course. The 8 h Lifesaving First Aid course covers both seizures and wounds. The Basic First Aid course is the most comprehensive of the common first aid courses and in addition to these subjects, burns, joint injuries, fractures, intoxication, and traffic accidents are also thoroughly covered in the course. You can easily compare the content of different first aid courses here.

Question 3

What is a Lifesaving First Aid Course?

Accepted Answer

An course in lifesaving first aid gives the participants basic knowledge and skills for providing first aid in emergency situations. The aim of the course is to equip participants with practical skills needed when accidents or medical emergencies occur, where the person in need is reliant on the helper's assistance. In such situations, it is crucial to act quickly and correctly, as the right actions may even save the person's life. The course covers various emergency scenarios, what a person may look like or how they behave in an emergency, and teaches how to act as a helper in these situations. On the Lifesaving First Aid course we focus on lifesaving maneuvers. The  Lifesaving First Aid courses are of varying lengths. The content depends on the extent of the course. The shortest emergency first aid course is a 4 h Lifesaving First Aid course and covers the following situations: unconsciousness, CPR, stopping bleeding and circulatory shock, as well as choking. Additionally, as a bonus, there is a traffic accident simulation with our VR glasses and administering an adrenaline auto-injector during an anaphylactic reaction. The 6 h Lifesaving First Aid course also includes various wounds or medical episodes. The 8 h Lifesaving First Aid course includes all of the above mentioned topics. The first aid course can be completed entirely as an on-site course, entirely as an online course, entirely as a webinar, or as a hybrid course combining an online or remote course and an on-site course. During the on-site session, everyone gets to practice with, among other things, a CPR simulator, VR glasses, a defibrillator, and a choking simulation vest. The Lifesaving First Aid course is designed for everyone and also serves as a refresher course. It provides confidence to act in critical situations. Here you can compare the topics in the different first aid courses to find a course that suits you best.

Question 4

Can EA1 First Aid course be completed as an online course?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Completing the Basic first aid course and lifesaving first aid courses can also easily be done online. You can complete the online course at your own pace, either in one go or in small sections, even on different days or weeks. The online course always remembers where you last left off. The online course consists of a diverse range of our instructor's teaching videos, videos of events, multiple-choice tasks, informative text, exercises, and tips. The first aid course can be completed online in Finnish, Swedish, or English.

Question 5

How long is the EA1 card valid?

Accepted Answer

First aid courses are always valid for three (3) years. If you have last completed the Basic First Aid course or the Advanced course (First Aid 1, EA1, or First Aid 2, EA2), you can refresh the course with an emergency first aid course, after which the Basic First Aid or Advanced First Aid course will be valid again for another three years. If you last completed a course in lifesaving first aid, you can choose either another emergency first aid course or the more comprehensive Basic First Aid course for your next course.

Question 6

What does the law say about first aid courses in the workplace?

Accepted Answer

The Occupational Safety and Health Act stipulates that the employer must ensure the provision of first aid for employees and other persons present at the workplace. This includes first aid training and supplies. When choosing how many of the employees should attend a first aid course, the nature of the work and the working conditions are taken into account. The law does not specify the extent of the first aid course. For this, there are separate recommendations from AVI (Aluehallintovirasto), the Regional State Administrative Agency in Finland. AVI considers the Basic First Aid course as a recommended course and we also recommend this course as the primary choice. The Basic First Aid course covers both lifesaving measures and the first aid procedures for more common injuries and medical emergencies. If the risk of accidents at the workplace is low (e.g., in an office environment), the Lifesaving First Aid course is also an option. Here you can read more about the First Aid readiness at workplaces.

Question 7

Do I dare to assist in a first aid situation?

Accepted Answer

Dare to help! Usually, the person who is on site is the most important link. The law in Finland also obliges you to help. So dare to help in an emergency! By calling the Emergency Response Center at number 112 or using the 112 Suomi application, you can get support in emergency situations. On a good first aid course you learn to analyze the situation correctly, know how to react to different symptoms, learn to provide even lifesaving first aid on the spot, and learn what to do while waiting for the ambulance. Choose the 4 h Lifesaving First Aid course, the broader 8 h Lifesaving First Aid course or the comprehensive Basic First Aid course.

Question 8

Is first aid training mandatory at workplaces?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there should be a sufficient number of first aid trained staff at every workplace. The Occupational Safety And Health Act stipulates that it is the employer's responsibility to ensure that there is preparedness at the workplace to provide first aid. This means that a sufficient number of staff are trained with first aid courses and that appropriate and adequate first aid materials are procured for the workplace. The number of first aid trained individuals depends on the workplace's risk of accidents and the number of employees. Workplaces are divided into three accident risk groups. The first aid course is valid for three years, which means that the courses are organized regularly. The first aid course can be arranged either as an on-site course at one's own workplace, as an online course at one's own pace regardless of time and place, simultaneously from different locations as a webinar, and as a combination of these, a hybrid course.

Question 9

Do you get a first aid card or an electronic certificate from the first aid course?

Accepted Answer

You can choose whether you want a traditional plastic first aid card or an electronic certificate for the first aid course you have completed. The electronic certificate will be sent directly to your email after the course. The electronic certificate is a pdf that can be digitally verified. The certificate has a unique QR code, which, when scanned, confirms that the certificate is genuine and valid.

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