About First Aid and Safety Training
About Us
Trusted First Aid Training for Real Life. Not Just the Workplace
At First Aid and Safety Training, we believe that first aid is not just a workplace requirement, it’s a set of life skills that can save real lives whenever and wherever an emergency happens.
Whether you’re at work, at home, on the coast, in the car, or out with family and friends, most of us spend far more time outside of work than inside it and that’s exactly where accidents and medical emergencies often occur.
Our training prepares you for both regulated workplace needs and real, everyday situations.
About First Aid and Safety Training In South Shields
All of our open-to-the-public First Aid courses are completed at our First Aid Training Centre in South Shields. Here we complete numerous First Aid courses every month, including the 1-day Emergency First Aid at Work Course, the 3-day First Aid at Work Course plus Paediatric First Aid Training, some of these courses include blended (online) learning so you can learn at your own pace and attend our First Aid Training Centre in South Shields to complete the practical elements and assessments of the course.
About Us. The People Behind The Team
First Aid and Safety Training is a local business that supports local businesses, people and charities wherever we can with Ofqual Regulated Qualifications via our Qualsafe Training Centre and via our Community Workshops.
Adam McKinnon
Adam is the founder and lead instructor. With extensive real-world experience, Adam has served in:
Royal Military Police
Military Provost Guard Service
Royal Military Police (Reserves)
Wing Instructor for the Northumbria University Officer Training Corps (NUOTC)
Adam also holds professional qualifications such as:
Level 4 Training and Education
Level 4 Internal Quality Assurer (IQA)
Battlefield Casualty Care
Trauma Casualty Care
Police Safety Training
His training expertise is underpinned by a commitment to practical, realistic first aid and emergency response learning.
Helen McKinnon
Helen is the person you’ll deal with for most enquiries, bookings, questions, and ongoing support.
As First Aid Trainer and Admin Manager, Helen ensures that:
Your enquiries are answered promptly
You get clear guidance on course choice
Your paperwork and certification is managed smoothly
All aspects of your training experience are professional and supportive
Helen’s role makes sure that behind every course is consistent organisation, clarity, and quality from start to finish.
If you have a question or want to book a course, you can call 0191 7166601 or visit the contact page.
Our Training Is Focused On Practical Skills for Real Life
While our courses are approved and regulated for workplace compliance, we always emphasise that first aid is a life skill, not just a work requirement. The reality is that many emergencies happen:
- Away from work
- Without warning
- With family members
- In public places
- At events, on roads, or by the coast
Our approach is to teach skills in a way that’s easily remembered, relevant to everyday life, not just a classroom setting.
Emergency Situations in the North East & Beyond
(Real examples that show why first aid matters outside the workplace)
Across Tyne and Wear and the wider North East region, emergency services are regularly called to serious incidents where first aid skills can make a difference:
Road Collisions
In South Tyneside, a tragic crash on John Reid Road claimed the lives of a father and son when a car left the road in 2025, requiring the involvement of police and ambulance crews.
Stabbing & Violence
Local communities continue to feel the impact of knife crime. In Sunderland, the family of Connor Brown, a young man fatally stabbed, local people worked with paramedics on scene in the critical moments after his injury.
Water Emergencies
People routinely get into trouble at beaches and coastal areas. Around the east coast, emergency teams, including RNLI, coastguard, and air ambulance respond to incidents when swimmers or family members get into difficulty and need immediate help.
Drowning Incidents in Rivers
In County Durham, emergency responders, including fire services and the Great North Air Ambulance Service, recovered a 20-year-old man after he got into difficulty in the River Tees during a summer outing.
These aren’t just “statistics”, they’re reminders that life-threatening situations can happen wherever people are living, working, or playing.
Community Commitment & Public Education
We’re not just a first aid training provider, we’re part of the community.
We work closely with First Aid Saves Lives CIC, where we deliver:
- Save A Life Community Workshops
- Stop the Bleed Awareness Courses
- Public CPR & defibrillator training
These programmes are designed to empower everyday people with lifesaving skills and confidence, reinforcing the idea that first aid should be part of all our lives — not just our jobs.
Who We Train
We provide courses for:
- Businesses of all sizes
- Community groups and volunteers
- Parents and carers
- Schools and childcare providers
- Outdoor and activity leaders
- Anyone who wants to be prepared for real life emergencies
Courses are delivered:
- On-site at your location
- In our training venues
- As blended learning (where available)
Our Commitment to Quality & Safety
All training is aligned with:
- Qualsafe Awards (RQF regulated)
- Ofqual recognised standards
- HSE guidance for workplace first aid
- EYFS expectations for paediatric training
We focus on practical competency, real scenarios, and life-long confidence, not just passing an assessment.
Speak to First Aid and Safety Training
Whether you’re booking a course, asking about first aid compliance, HSE, EYFS or choosing what training is right for you, Helen and Adam are here to help.
Contact us to get the advice and support you deserve.
