First Aid / Basic Life Support training
This module covers the essential knowledge you need to respond safely and effectively to medical emergencies in our care setting. You will learn when and how to get help, how to assess a resident's condition, and the principles behind basic life support. Remember: this module covers knowledge only—you must also complete practical, observed competency assessments to demonstrate your skills in real situations.
What This Training Covers
A clear, practical grounding in first aid / basic life support.
This module covers the essential knowledge you need to respond safely and effectively to medical emergencies in our care setting. You will learn when and how to get help, how to assess a resident's condition, and the principles behind basic life support. Remember: this module covers knowledge only—you must also complete practical, observed competency assessments to demonstrate your skills in real situations.
Learning Outcomes
By the end, your staff will be able to:
What Your Team Will Learn
A closer look at the first aid / basic life support module.
The module is built in short, practical sections. Each one teaches a part of the topic, then applies it to a real care scenario and checks understanding before moving on.
Recognising a Medical Emergency
A medical emergency is any situation where a resident's life may be at risk or their condition is rapidly getting worse. Common signs include unresponsiveness, not breathing normally, severe bleeding, choking, chest pain, or sudden collapse. Your first action is always to stay calm, ensure safety, and call for help immediately. Never assume someone else has already called 999 or alerted senior staff. In the care setting, we treat everyone with dignity and respect even in emergencies, and we follow any advance care plans or DNACPR decisions that are in place.
Checking Responsiveness and Breathing
When you find someone who appears unresponsive, you must quickly check two things: are they responsive and are they breathing normally. To check responsiveness, speak loudly and clearly, asking 'Are you alright?' and gently shake their shoulders. To check breathing, tilt their head back slightly, lift their chin, and look, listen and feel for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds. Occasional gasps are not normal breathing. If they are unresponsive and not breathing normally, this is a cardiac arrest and you must start CPR immediately while someone calls 999, unless a valid DNACPR order is in place.
Understanding CPR and DNACPR Decisions
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) means chest compressions and rescue breaths to keep blood and oxygen flowing when someone's heart has stopped. In the care setting, we must always check if a resident has a DNACPR (Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) order before starting CPR. A DNACPR is a medical decision made with the resident or their representative that CPR should not be attempted because it would not be successful or would not be in line with their wishes. Our end-of-life care policy requires us to respect these decisions and treat residents with dignity. DNACPR orders must be clearly documented and communicated to all staff. If there is no DNACPR in place, you must start CPR immediately in a cardiac arrest.
Performing Chest Compressions
If a resident is in cardiac arrest and has no DNACPR order, start chest compressions immediately. Place the heel of one hand in the centre of their chest, place your other hand on top, interlock your fingers, and keep your arms straight. Push down hard and fast—at least 5 to 6 centimetres deep—at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. Allow the chest to come back up fully between compressions. Continue until help arrives, the person starts breathing normally, or you are too exhausted to continue. If an automated external defibrillator (AED) is available, turn it on and follow its instructions. Chest compressions are tiring, so swap with another trained person every 2 minutes if possible to maintain quality.
Using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
An AED is a device that can deliver an electric shock to restart the heart in certain types of cardiac arrest. AEDs are designed to be simple and safe—they give clear voice instructions and will only allow a shock if one is needed. When an AED arrives, turn it on immediately and follow the spoken instructions. Attach the pads to the person's bare chest as shown in the pictures on the pads. Do not stop chest compressions except when the AED is analysing the heart rhythm or delivering a shock. The AED will tell you when to stop touching the person. After any shock, immediately restart chest compressions and continue following the AED's instructions until paramedics arrive.
Common Medical Emergencies and First Responses
Besides cardiac arrest, you must recognise and respond to other emergencies. Choking: if someone cannot breathe, cough or speak, give up to 5 back blows between the shoulder blades, then up to 5 abdominal thrusts, and repeat. Severe bleeding: apply direct pressure with a clean pad and call 999. Stroke (sudden face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty): call 999 immediately—note the time symptoms started. Seizure: protect from injury, cushion the head, time the seizure, and call 999 if it lasts more than 5 minutes or it is their first seizure. Falls: do not move them if they may have injured their spine or broken bones—keep them warm and comfortable and call 999. Always prioritise calling for professional help while providing immediate care.
Key Points Covered
The things your team must remember.
- Always call for help immediately in a medical emergency—press the call button, shout for assistance, and ensure someone calls 999 when needed
- Check responsiveness by speaking loudly and shaking shoulders; check breathing by tilting the head back and looking, listening and feeling for no more than 10 seconds
- Start CPR immediately if someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, unless they have a valid DNACPR order in place
- Chest compressions should be hard and fast—at least 5-6cm deep at a rate of 100-120 per minute—and continue until help arrives or the person starts breathing
- Always check for and respect DNACPR orders and advance care plans as part of our end-of-life care policy—these decisions must be clearly documented and followed
- Use an AED as soon as it arrives—turn it on, follow the voice instructions, and only stop compressions when told to do so
Who and how often
First Aid / Basic Life Support is refreshed every year, for the staff in your care setting whose roles require it. It includes a practical sign-off.
CQC and standards
Supports the training evidence CQC expects to see for a well-run, safe care setting.
How CareStream Delivers It
Not a slideshow once a year. Training that sticks.
CareStream delivers first aid / basic life support training in the hub your team already uses, grounded in best practice and your own policies, so it fits your care setting and not a generic template.
Teach, then assess
Short teaching sections and a real care scenario, then an assessment that checks understanding.
In any language
Staff complete it in over 60 languages, while your records stay in English.
Learn and retry
A wrong answer triggers a short follow-up lesson and a fresh question, so the gap is closed.
Renewals handled
Automatic reminders at 90, 30 and 7 days, with a live compliance dashboard.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions.
Give your team first aid / basic life support training that actually sticks.
See how CareStream delivers your mandatory training in the hub, in any language.