Learn first aid

Learn the key first aid skills to use in an emergency

Learning even the simplest first aid skill can make the difference in an emergency.

On this page, you can find:

  • learn first aid skills online
  • first aid courses and workshops
  • first aid app by British Red Cross 
  • first aid for babies and children
  • first aid teaching resources for teachers

Stay safe while giving first aid

Always consider your personal safety when giving first aid. Look out for any dangers and only act when you're confident it's safe.


 

Learn first aid skills online

Be confident to help someone in an emergency. Each skill provides clear instructions to help you learn first aid.

Allergic reaction (severe) - anaphylaxis

Asthma attack

Bleeding (severe)

Broken bones - fractures

Burns

Choking

Dehydration

Diabetic emergency

Distress

Epileptic seizure

Head injury

Heart attack

Heatstroke

Heat exhaustion

Hypothermia

Meningitis

Strain or sprain

Stroke

Swallowed something harmful

Unresponsive and breathing

Unresponsive and not breathing

Unresponsive and not breathing when an AED (defibrillator) is available

Unresponsive and not breathing with Covid-19 or other respiratory infection

Other ways to learn first aid

First Aid Training session

First aid videos

Challenge yourself by taking a few minutes out of your day to learn five skills from our videos. Follow along to learn essential skills to help someone in an emergency.

Watch first aid videos
Recreating chest compression on a test dummy

Free first aid workshop for youth (ages 10-19)

A workshop where students will learn essential first aid skills. We will help them to build the confidence and willingness to help someone in an emergency, using everyday objects.

Book a youth first aid workshop
Someone holding someone's wrists

Free first aid workshop for adults (ages 19+)

These free workshops do not give you a first aid qualification, but equip you with basic skills to help in a first aid emergency. Online and face-to-face sessions are available for adults and youth people (ages 10+). 

Book an adult first aid workshop
First aid demonstration

Try a first aid course

Whether you need to learn first aid for work or want to know how to help friends or family. Courses include mental health and specific training for babies and children.

Book a first aid course
Close-up shot of a man's hands holding an iPhone with the British Red Cross First Aid App open on the screen

Access first aid advice easily

Download our free first aid app to learn and practise first aid. With our digital helper, you can have first aid skills with you wherever you go.

Download first aid app

First aid for babies and children: free online learning

First Aid mother and child on playground

Learn first aid skills to help a baby or child

Easy-to-follow first aid skills for anyone who wants to know how to help a baby or child in an emergency. You can complete these free online learning resources at any time and at your own pace.

Learn the skills

Teach first aid: resources for teachers

first-aid-champions-promo-box-resized

First aid champions

Help children to learn first aid through interactive activities, film scenarios, information sheets and quizzes.

Find out more
Children from Ark Oval Primary Academy School in South London practise first aid on dummies on the lawn in front of the UK Houses of Parliament.

First aid curriculum for teachers

Learn the basic guidelines for teaching first aid in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Our first aid workshops, resources, and First aid Champions website help you to meet your curriculum requirements.

First aid curriculums

More free educational support

Visit the Red Cross free education page to discover more ways we can support your learning

Adolescents engaging during a workshop

Red Cross free education materials and workshops

Education resources and workshops to build skills, confidence and empathy across a range of topics from first aid and wellbeing to humanitarianism and educator development

Browse free education resources

Donate to help communities cope in a crisis

Our free online resources and workshops teach lifesaving first aid and wellbeing skills to millions of people. We rely on donations to make this possible.

Donate to support community education

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True stories

Have you helped someone with first aid? Share your own story with us and read our real-life first aid stories.

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Learn and share your first aid skills

If you can learn one simple first aid skill and share it with others, you can help us save more lives.

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Don’t stop at 999

Up to 59% of deaths from injury may have been prevented if first aid was given before the emergency services arrived.

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Only one in 20

Just one in 20 people would know what to do in a first aid emergency, British Red Cross research has found.

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