Does Paediatric First Aid training cover adults? Not as its primary purpose. Paediatric First Aid is designed to prepare people to respond to emergencies involving babies and children.

However, many of the underlying first aid principles you learn can also help you respond to an adult emergency.

The important distinction is between having useful first aid skills and holding the appropriate first aid qualification for your workplace.

If you work in a nursery, school or another organisation where both adults and children are present, you may need Paediatric First Aid alongside a workplace first aid qualification such as Emergency First Aid at Work or First Aid at Work.

In this guide for Does Paediatric First Aid Training Cover Adults? we explain where the qualifications overlap, where they differ and when an organisation may need both.

What Is Paediatric First Aid Designed For?

Paediatric First Aid is specifically designed for people responsible for babies and children.

The current Early Years Foundation Stage criteria state that Paediatric First Aid training should be designed for workers caring for young children in the absence of their parents and appropriate to the age of the children being cared for.

Consequently, the course concentrates on emergencies involving babies and children.

Depending on whether you complete Emergency or Full Paediatric First Aid, training can include:

Infant and child CPR
Using an AED
Choking
Unconscious casualties
Seizures
Bleeding
Shock
Anaphylaxis
Asthma
Burns and scalds
Poisoning
Fractures
Head, neck and spinal injuries
Diabetes
Meningitis and sepsis
Febrile convulsions
Bites and stings
Heat and cold emergencies

You can see the syllabus in more detail in our guide to what Paediatric First Aid covers.

Can You Use Paediatric First Aid Skills on an Adult?

Yes, many of the principles you learn remain useful if an adult suddenly becomes ill or injured.

For example, a trained person should still understand the importance of:

Checking for danger
Assessing a casualty
Calling 999 or 112 when appropriate
Recognising an unconscious casualty
Monitoring breathing
Controlling serious bleeding
Recognising shock
Responding to seizures
Recognising anaphylaxis
Getting an AED quickly during a cardiac arrest

First aid is about responding to the casualty in front of you.

Therefore, having Paediatric First Aid knowledge could certainly help you take appropriate action if an adult became ill or injured.

However, that does not mean a Paediatric First Aid qualification automatically replaces the workplace first aid training identified by an employer’s first aid needs assessment.

Is Adult CPR Taught on a Paediatric First Aid Course?

The core practical focus of Paediatric First Aid is infant and child resuscitation.

That distinction matters because CPR techniques change according to the casualty’s age and physical development.

During Paediatric First Aid training, learners practise techniques appropriate to babies and children.

The Resuscitation Council UK publishes separate guidance covering adult and paediatric basic life support because there are important differences between them.

For example, paediatric resuscitation places particular emphasis on rescue breaths because cardiac arrest in children is more commonly associated with respiratory problems.

Adult basic life support, meanwhile, is designed around the circumstances more commonly associated with adult cardiac arrest.

A PFA learner may have previous knowledge of adult CPR, and a trainer may discuss differences during training. However, the qualification itself should not be confused with a workplace first aid qualification designed to assess adult first aid competence.

Paediatric First Aid and Adult Emergencies — #image_title

Does Paediatric First Aid Include Adult Choking?

Again, the qualification concentrates on babies and children.

Choking treatment changes according to the casualty.

For example, an infant who has a severe airway obstruction may require back blows followed by chest thrusts.

Abdominal thrusts are not used on infants.

Older children are treated differently.

Understanding these differences is an important part of Paediatric First Aid training and one of the reasons learners practise with appropriate paediatric training equipment.

Our guide to what age Paediatric First Aid covers explains how first aid techniques change as children develop.

Is Paediatric First Aid the Same as Emergency First Aid at Work?

No.

Paediatric First Aid and Emergency First Aid at Work are different qualifications with different purposes.

Emergency First Aid at Work, commonly called EFAW, is designed around workplace first aid.

Paediatric First Aid is designed around emergencies involving babies and children.

There is some natural overlap.

Both can involve skills such as:

Assessing an emergency
Managing an unconscious casualty
CPR
AED use
Choking
Seizures
Bleeding
Shock

However, the casualty groups, practical techniques and qualification requirements are different.

This is why an organisation should not simply assume that having a Paediatric First Aider means all of its workplace first aid requirements have automatically been met.

Does Paediatric First Aid Count as Workplace First Aid?

An employer should determine its workplace first aid provision through a first aid needs assessment.

Under the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981, employers must provide adequate and appropriate equipment, facilities and personnel so employees can receive immediate attention if they are injured or become ill at work.

The Health and Safety Executive explains that the appropriate level of provision depends on the circumstances of the workplace.

Factors can include:

Number of employees
Workplace hazards
Previous accidents
Working patterns
Lone workers
Multiple sites
Distance from emergency medical services
Annual leave and sickness
Members of the public
Children and other non-employees

The outcome may show that an organisation needs Emergency First Aid at Work, First Aid at Work or additional specialist training.

Therefore, employers should not simply substitute Paediatric First Aid for whatever workplace provision their assessment identifies.

Why Might a Nursery Need Both Qualifications?

A nursery provides a good example.

It is an Early Years setting, but it is also a workplace.

The children need suitable Paediatric First Aid provision.

At the same time, the nursery employs adults who could become injured or ill while at work.

The EYFS statutory framework sets specific Paediatric First Aid requirements for Early Years providers.

Meanwhile, the Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations apply to the employer’s provision for employees.

As a result, the nursery needs to consider both groups when planning first aid.

That does not necessarily mean every member of staff needs two qualifications.

Instead, the organisation should consider its staffing structure and first aid needs.

For example, it might have:

Staff holding Full Paediatric First Aid
Staff holding Emergency Paediatric First Aid
Staff holding Emergency First Aid at Work
Staff holding First Aid at Work
Some staff holding both paediatric and workplace qualifications

The right arrangement depends on the setting.

What Are the Paediatric First Aid Requirements for Early Years?

The EYFS contains specific requirements for Early Years providers in England.

At least one person with a current Full Paediatric First Aid certificate must be on the premises and available whenever children are present.

A suitably qualified person must also accompany children on outings.

In addition, while children are eating, a member of staff with a valid Full Paediatric First Aid certificate must be in the room.

Other requirements affect which qualified members of staff can be included within certain staff-to-child ratios.

Our guide to the different types of Paediatric First Aid training explains the difference between Full and Emergency PFA.

What About Schools?

Schools can have an even wider range of first aid needs.

They may be responsible for:

Early Years children
Primary-age children
Teenagers
Teachers
Teaching assistants
Administrative staff
Contractors
Visitors

The Department for Education advises schools and colleges to consider the first aid needs of pupils, students and visitors alongside employees.

Importantly, its guidance specifically notes that standard First Aid at Work training does not include child resuscitation procedures.

Therefore, additional Paediatric First Aid training may be appropriate where workplace first aid provision also needs to cover children.

The reverse is equally important.

A Paediatric First Aid qualification should not simply be assumed to provide all the adult workplace first aid training identified by the school’s needs assessment.

Schools may therefore benefit from having staff with a mixture of adult and paediatric qualifications.

What About Childminders?

For a childminder, the main first aid concern will usually be the children in their care.

The EYFS has specific Paediatric First Aid requirements for childminders and assistants who may have sole responsibility for children.

However, a childminder should still consider the wider circumstances in which they work.

For example, another adult could be present when an emergency occurs.

The first aid skills learned through PFA can certainly be useful, but the qualification remains designed around the care of babies and children.

What About Sports Clubs and Children’s Activities?

Sports clubs are another situation where adult and paediatric first aid can overlap.

A coach might be responsible for:

Young children
Older children
Teenagers
Adult participants
Other coaches
Parents and spectators

The organisation should therefore consider who its first aid provision actually needs to protect.

For a children’s sports club, Paediatric First Aid knowledge may be particularly valuable.

However, if the organisation also employs staff or regularly works with adults, its wider first aid needs should be assessed as well.

The correct solution may be a combination of adult and paediatric first aid training.

Can Someone Hold Both Paediatric and Workplace First Aid Qualifications?

Yes.

In some organisations, this can be an extremely practical solution.

A person might hold:

Full Paediatric First Aid and Emergency First Aid at Work
Full Paediatric First Aid and First Aid at Work
Emergency Paediatric First Aid and Emergency First Aid at Work

Having staff trained across both areas can be particularly useful for:

Nurseries
Schools
Children’s centres
Sports organisations
Holiday clubs
Activity providers
Community organisations
Businesses regularly working with children

However, qualifications still need to remain current and the organisation must maintain sufficient first aid cover when trained staff are absent.

Can You Complete Combined Adult and Paediatric First Aid Training?

Combined training can sometimes be an efficient option for organisations that genuinely need both areas of competence.

However, a combined course still needs to meet the required learning outcomes, training time and assessment requirements of the qualifications being awarded.

It should not simply be a shortened course that removes important content to save time.

The key question is not:

“How can we get the most certificates with the least training?”

It should be:

“What first aid competence do our staff actually need?”

Once that has been established, the organisation can choose the most efficient appropriate training route.

What Is the Difference Between Paediatric First Aid, EFAW and FAW?

The three qualifications serve different purposes.

Qualification	Main Purpose	Typical Casualties	Minimum Training
Emergency Paediatric First Aid	Immediate paediatric emergencies	Babies and children	6 hours
Full Paediatric First Aid	Wider paediatric emergencies, illnesses and injuries	Babies and children	12 hours
Emergency First Aid at Work	Emergency workplace first aid	Primarily adults in the workplace	6 hours
First Aid at Work	Broader workplace first aid	Primarily adults in the workplace	18 hours

The appropriate qualification depends on your responsibilities and the outcome of any relevant first aid needs assessment.

If you are unsure about the difference between the workplace qualifications, our guide to the different types of first aid training provides a broader comparison.

Does an EFAW or FAW Qualification Cover Children?

This question is just as important as asking whether PFA covers adults.

You should not assume that a workplace first aid qualification provides all the paediatric competence required when caring for children.

Department for Education guidance specifically points out that standard First Aid at Work training does not include child resuscitation procedures.

An organisation responsible for children may therefore identify a need for additional Paediatric First Aid training.

In an Early Years setting, the specific PFA requirements of the EYFS must also be met.

This is why trying to make one qualification “cover everything” can create problems.

The better approach is to identify who could need first aid and then choose training that reflects those casualties.

Which First Aid Course Does My Organisation Need?

Start with the people you are responsible for.

Ask:

Do we care for babies or young children?

You may need Paediatric First Aid, particularly if the EYFS applies.

Do we employ adults?

Your workplace first aid needs assessment should determine the appropriate provision.

Do we care for both children and adults?

You may need a combination of paediatric and workplace first aid skills.

Do we work with specific hazards?

Additional training may be appropriate for risks such as catastrophic bleeding, anaphylaxis or other foreseeable emergencies.

Course selection should follow the risks and responsibilities of the organisation rather than simply choosing the shortest qualification.

Paediatric and Workplace First Aid Training With FAST

First Aid and Safety Training provides practical first aid training for organisations across the North East.

We are an approved Qualsafe Awards Centre, and our relevant courses lead to regulated qualifications awarded by Qualsafe Awards, an Ofqual-recognised awarding organisation.

Training options include:

Emergency First Aid at Work
First Aid at Work
Emergency Paediatric First Aid
Full Paediatric First Aid
Allergy and Anaphylaxis training
Catastrophic bleeding training
Onsite first aid training for organisations

If you are responsible for both children and adults, we can help you identify which training options fit your requirements.

Explore our Paediatric First Aid training or contact First Aid and Safety Training to discuss your organisation.

You can also find First Aid and Safety Training on Google Maps and read feedback from previous learners.

So, Does Paediatric First Aid Training Cover Adults?

Paediatric First Aid gives you skills that may certainly help if an adult becomes ill or injured.

However, Paediatric First Aid training is designed and assessed primarily for emergencies involving babies and children.

It should not automatically be treated as a substitute for the workplace first aid provision identified by an employer’s needs assessment.

Likewise, standard workplace first aid training should not automatically be treated as a substitute for Paediatric First Aid where staff are responsible for children.

For nurseries, schools, sports organisations and other settings responsible for both adults and children, the best solution may be to have suitable competence across both areas.

That way, your first aid provision reflects the people who may actually need your help.