First Aid
A minute can make a difference.
Only 4 in 10 people in the UK would feel confident helping someone in a first aid emergency. Together, we can learn how to respond to emergencies.
Would you know how to respond in a first aid emergency?
The British Red Cross offers free online workshops and resources to learn or teach first aid. We’re here to help you build skills and confidence to save lives.
Please always consider your personal safety when giving first aid. Look out for any dangers and only act when you're confident it is safe to do so.
On this page you can:
- Learn or teach simple first aid skills
- Find a free first aid workshop
- Book a paid first aid course with Red Cross Training
- Download our free first aid app
- Read true first aid stories
Learn and teach
Use our free online resources to learn simple first aid skills or teach first aid in classrooms.
Free first aid resources, workshops and self-directed learning to support your learning in a way that suits you. You can also learn first aid for babies and children.
Teach first aid
Curriculum information and free resources to teach life-saving first aid skills to students and test their knowledge. Also available in Welsh.
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.
First aid workshops and Red Cross Training courses
What is the difference between a workshop and a course?
- Workshop: free first aid workshops for individuals and schools that empower learners with basic first aid skills using everyday objects. These workshops are free but unaccredited.
- Course: accredited first aid courses (provided by Red Cross Training) that require payment and give learners a valuable first aid qualification.
Free first aid workshops
Free workshops, online or face-to-face, to learn basic first aid skills. These workshops are unaccredited, but equip you with basic skills to respond in a first aid emergency.
Paid first aid courses
Learn about health and safety, first aid at work, mental health training and more. These accredited courses by Red Cross Training require payment and will give you a valuable first aid qualification.
Donate to help us provide first aid training
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.
Free first aid app by British Red Cross
A free app developed by the British Red Cross to help you learn and practise first aid.
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.
True first aid stories
Read about times where simple first aid skills helped save real lives.
"Knowing first aid helped me save a motorcyclist's life."
Not everyone could handle the sight of a bloodied motorcyclist with a badly severed leg. Helen Cowan could, and her British Red Cross first aid knowledge saved a man’s life.
How to help a 10-month old baby with burns
It took less than 10 seconds for baby Tamzin to be in a life-threatening situation.
See all first aid true stories
Do you really need to learn first aid skills? How useful could they be in your day-to-day life? Read our true stories and see for yourself.
Buy first aid products
Get high-quality automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and manuals from the British Red Cross.
Buy approved first aid products