Jacqui If you could come back and ask this question on Tuesday next week, it would be an easier and shorter answer!! :) As is stands at the moment (from what I can remember), and talking only about the RLSS NPLQ award, (I have no experience of NARS) - then those that are assessed by an RLSS trainer/assessor who also possess a first aid trainer/assessor certificate can be accredited with an Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate. This indicates that the syllabus covered within the NPLQ is of a standard that, at the very least, equates to the Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate. The RLSS are not approved for delivery of HSE approved courses. Fast forward to Tuesday and with the change in the first aid legislation taking place there is a significant shift on the position outlined above. The deregulation of the approval system and the decision of the RLSS to provide First aid at work courses now means that lifeguards can obtain a First aid at work certificate as part of their lifeguard award. You are correct in saying that pretty much the entire first aid syllabus required for the HSE award is already contained in the NPLQ, so it is not a huge jump to get a First Aid at Work certificate. The RLSS now offer the EFAW course, the FAW standalone course and the FAW refresher course too. All that being said, the level and type of first aid that is to be provided by an organisation is defined by its risk assessment process. From Tuesday (1 Oct) if you are able to demonstrate that the first aid training provided to employees meets the expectations of the HSE and is delivered by a competent organisation (I would say the RLSS easily meet the competency criteria) then it would not be unreasonable to use Pool or Beach lifeguards to deal with employees. I hope this helps, Stuart

Jacqui; Not sure why you believe "First Aid can only be given to employees (unless an life issue) by a qualified First Aider"? ANYONE can 'give' first aid to anyone.... Those with training generally SHOULD give first aid. And those with training will generally give better first aid than those who are untrained (and the higher standard expected will be reflected in the outcome of any theoretical subsequent claim...). There is absolutely no prohibition anywhere that I am aware of (open to correction) that prevents employed first aiders giving first aid to members of the public when necessary. And I would suggest it would be (at the very least) immoral to try and restrict first aid provsion to 'only' employees in any establishment where Members of the public are in the majority! Because the Regs only deal with employers / employees (they don't say you 'must' provide first aid for the public)- they never have addressed the reality for very many workplaces. But they don't prohibit it. Steve