The 2 day (16 hour) Outdoor First Aid course is a standard course for outdoor instructors. This series of blogs will help those who work in the outdoors to learn more about adapting first aid skills to their environment.
Whether taking groups hill walking, mountain biking, canoeing, kayaking or ski-ing this is the course for outdoor instructors. The course is also appropriate for Forest Schools and Outdoor Woodland Learning groups, countryside rangers, ecologists and estate workers.
Camping Trip First Aid Basics Updated August 2026 We all love the great outdoors. Imagine the situation: You’ve arrived at a beautiful, picturesque lake and have just set up camp. You sit to enjoy the view and listen to the tranquil bird song. It is during these idyllic moments that a minor lapse in concentration can…
Camping Trip First Aid Basics Read More »
With many wildfires in the UK and Europe recently, knowing the basics of first aid for smoke inhalation is a useful skill for first aiders. What are the risks of smoke inhalation from wildfires? Smoke inhalation from wildfires is a much more serious threat to health (and life) than smoking a cigarette or sitting next
First aid for smoke inhalation – a wildfire season blog. Read More »
Updated July, 2026. Knowing how to treat a jellyfish sting is useful knowledge – before you need it. Jellyfish are simple sea creatures with a dome and tentacles. They move by pulsating their body but are at the mercy of tides and ocean currents. The tentacles are the ‘business end’ of the animal that contain
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Updated June 2026. How should you perform CPR on a drowning casualty? It’s a different protocol from the ‘normal’ CPR method. Watch our video or read the step by step guide below. How To Perform CPR on a Drowning Casualty in 10 steps: A few points to remember about drowning: Drowning is when your lungs
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Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection contracted from leptospires that exist in the urine of mammals such as rats, cattle, sheep and dogs. Rats are considered the main agent of infection as they urinate as they run, marking their territories as they go. The leptospires from the urine can then be picked up by humans if
Weil’s Disease and Leptospirosis – What you need to know Read More »
Mountain biking and cycling are inherently risky sports – trail & road surfaces, other riders and vehicles, trees, branches and protruding roots, boulders, mechanical failures all present significant hazards no matter how prepared you are or how skilfully you ride. First things first – does your bike fit you? One of the most common causes
5 common cycling injuries and how to prevent – and treat – them Read More »
Updated May, 2026 What is Cold Water Shock? Immersing yourself in cold water is an increasingly popular activity and being touted to provide many health benefits, but sudden immersion in cold water can be very dangerous. ‘Seasoned’ cold water swimmers enjoy repeated visits and as a result their body acclimatises to cold more readily. For others,
Cold Water Shock and Drowning: what you need to know – and do Read More »
Updated March, 2026 Everything you need to know about ticks, tick removal, and Lyme Disease. Why should we be concerned about ticks? Ticks are small arachnids that feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans. They may carry a range of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, protozoans etc) that are then transmitted to the host
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FATC director Cory Jones writes for UKClimbing.com and explores 10 common outdoor first aid myths that could hinder rather than help. “Here are some of the most common – and potentially dangerous – first aid myths you might hear in the outdoors, and what to do instead.“
Outdoor First Aid – 10 Myths That Could Make Things Worse Read More »
FATC director and paddlesports instructor Cory Jones wrote a 3-part series on “First Aid for Paddlesports” for Paddler Magazine this year. Please find the 3 articles below which you can also download as PDF’s should you wish to save or read them later. They contain great first aid advice for all kayakers, canoeists, stand-up paddle
First Aid for Paddlesports Read More »