What Goes Into a First Aid Course? A Behind-the-Scenes Look at City First Aid

You see us arrive wrestling 18 manikins, suitcases of AEDs and first aid kits, and enough paperwork to sink a battleship!. What you don't see is everything that happens before and after. For every hour you spend learning with us, there are many more hours of work behind the scenes, covering the resources in your hands, the manikins on the floor, the standards behind your certificate, the ongoing training of the people teaching you, and the care that goes into making the room feel safe enough to learn in.

What happens before you walk in the door?

Long before the kettle goes on, we've looked at who's coming, why, and if there are any special considerations for us to be aware of in class (eg, can't kneel, recent loss, interpreter attending too).

We do this because a room full of early childhood teachers needs different examples from a crew of arborists. The practise scenarios, stories and pace are shaped around the people booked in. Resources are printed and checked, AED trainers are checked and batteries charged, and the room is set up so everyone can see, move safely around each other and the gear, and practise without feeling on display.

Why are the manikins always so clean?

Our manikins get a lot of love, and not always the gentle kind. After a hard day at work in the classroom, they're cleaned and disinfected, their filters are changed, and anything worn or damaged is repaired or replaced. Like many of us, they need regular spa day treatments when things are deep cleaned and completely changed out. Then there are the 72 bandages and slings that are soaked, cleaned, and rerolled to perfection. It's quiet, unglamorous work, but it means the only thing you need to think about on the day is getting your compressions right.

Who checks the people doing the teaching?

City First Aid is an NZQA-registered training provider, so our assessments are moderated and signed off to make sure the certificate you walk away with means something. Every one of our instructors renews their Emergency Care Instructor certification each year, and we keep up with changes to the ANZCOR resuscitation guidelines, so what you learn matches current best practice.

Every three months, our whole team also trains together on how adults learn, trauma-aware practice, learner-centred teaching and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We go to conferences, share what we've learned, and keep asking how we can do this better.

What about the people in the room?

This is the part we care about most. Adults bring their whole lives to class, and first aid content can land heavily, especially for anyone who has lived through an emergency or a loss. So at the start of every course, we let people know it's okay to step out, take a breath, and come back when they're ready. We also talk about checking your own weather, noticing how you're arriving today, and looking after yourself and each other, both in class and out in the real world.

Last Wednesday, a learner shared this in their takeaway:

"What I appreciated most was, well, I've been to many first aid courses and no one has ever talked about checking our own weather, and taking care of ourselves and others, and giving permission to look after ourselves if something does come up. Thank you for your work."

That's why the hours behind the scenes matter. The skills are essential, and so is the room you learn them in. We know first aid can be a vulnerable topic, so we notice what's happening in the room, respond with care, and keep the learning going for everyone.

It matters so much to us that we wrote it into our Code of Practice.

Ready to see it for yourself?

We have Foundation First Aid, First Aid Basics and revalidation courses coming up, as well as our New Zealand First Aid Certificate, running on 21 and 22 October.

If you'd rather train as a team, we can also bring a private course to your workplace, school or community group, shaped around the risks you're most likely to face. Book HERE

Gail,

Head of Training, City First Aid