• University of Glasgow

Basic First Aid: How to Be an Everyday Hero

Get an introduction to basic first aid, including how to help someone who is choking, with this first aid course.

64,069 enrolled on this course

Basic First Aid: How to Be an Everyday Hero

64,069 enrolled on this course

  • 2 weeks

  • 1 hour per week

  • Digital certificate when eligible

  • Open level

Find out more about how to join this course

Learn first aid - you could save someone’s life

Thousands of lives a year could be saved if more of us knew basic first aid. This 2-week course is a basic guide to first aid.

You will learn how to recognise and manage emergencies and build a foundation of first aid knowledge and skills to build on. Whether it’s how to help someone who’s choking, helping someone who has passed out, or helping someone with a severe cut, this course will give you the confidence to deal with basic first aid problems.

This course will hopefully provide you with a solid foundation of basic first aid skills and knowledge but it is by no means a substitute for official First Aid training.

Download video: standard or HD

Skip to 0 minutes and 17 seconds If someone is able to do first aid, they have a set of skills that range from being able to deal with someone who has fainted or bandage up any of your body parts to potentially saving someone’s life who suffered a cardiac arrest. It really has something that anyone can learn. By helping someone in those vital minutes before help arrives, you aid the chain of survival. The quicker first aid is provided, the better the chance of recovery. Covering events for Andrews. First aid means I have to use my first aid skills all the time. However, there have also been a few instances where I’ve had to use it in the public.

Skip to 0 minutes and 49 seconds Most recently I witnessed a guy fall in the street and go into a seizure. Luckily for us, there was a few of us around who knew how to do first aid and we were able to keep the guy safe until the ambulance arrived.

What topics will you cover?

  • Explain why first aid is a vital skill and know when to apply it
  • Describe how to recognise and manage the non-breathing unconscious patient
  • Describe how to recognise and manage the breathing unconscious patient
  • Describe how to manage an acute bleed
  • Summarise how to help someone who is choking
  • Discuss how to build on first aid skills

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explain why first aid is a vital skill and know when to apply it
  • Describe how to recognize and manage the breathing unconscious patient
  • Describe how to recognize and manage the non-breathing unconscious patient
  • Summarise how to help someone who is choking
  • Describe how to manage an acute bleed
  • Discuss how to build on first aid knowledge through other resources

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone interested in learning first aid, you don’t need any medical experience.

While the Educators themselves aren’t available to facilitate this run, we encourage you to engage with other learners and there are opportunities to do this throughout the course.

Who will you learn with?

My PhD was in Developmental Medicine and I am currently a Senior Lecturer in Medical Genetics at the University of Glasgow. I have also been a Senior Fellow of the HEA since 2016.

Who developed the course?

The University of Glasgow

Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities.

  • Established

    1451
  • Location

    Glasgow, Scotland, UK
  • World ranking

    Top 70Source: QS World University Rankings 2020

Ways to learn

Buy this course

Subscribe & save

Limited access

Choose the best way to learn for you!

$109/one-off payment

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Free

Fulfill your current learning needDevelop skills to further your careerSample the course materials
Access to this courseticktick

Access expires 2 Apr 2024

Access to 1,000+ coursescrosstickcross
Learn at your own paceticktickcross
Discuss your learning in commentstickticktick
Certificate when you're eligiblePrinted and digitalDigital onlycross
Continue & Upgrade

Cancel for free anytime

Ways to learn

Choose the best way to learn for you!

Subscribe & save

$27.99

For the first two months. Automatically renews

Develop skills to further your career

  • Access to this course
  • Access to 1,000+ courses
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Digital certificate when you're eligible

Cancel for free anytime

Buy this course

$109/one-off payment

Fulfill your current learning need

  • Access to this course
  • Learn at your own pace
  • Discuss your learning in comments
  • Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible

Limited access

Free

Sample the course materials

  • Access expires 2 Apr 2024

Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)

T&Cs apply.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Learner reviews

Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

You can use the hashtag #FLbasicfirstaid to talk about this course on social media.