Basic Life Support and AED for Adults, Children and Infants

Qualsafe Level 3 Award | One-Day Course

Gain the practical skills and confidence required to recognise cardiac arrest, perform effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation and use an automated external defibrillator safely on adults, children and infants.

The Qualsafe Level 3 Award in Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillation for Adults, Children and Infants (RQF) is a nationally regulated qualification designed for people who may have a workplace, professional, voluntary or community responsibility to respond to a life-threatening emergency.

The qualification develops the practical competencies required to provide basic life support and automated external defibrillation across all three age groups. Its learning outcomes are informed by Resuscitation Council UK recommendations and expert emergency-care guidance.

Course Overview

This one-day course combines essential theory with extensive hands-on practice. Candidates learn how to assess an emergency safely, recognise an unresponsive casualty, summon appropriate help and provide effective CPR until emergency medical assistance arrives.

The training covers the important differences between adult, child and infant resuscitation, enabling candidates to adapt their approach appropriately according to the casualty’s age and condition.

Candidates also practise using an AED in realistic emergency scenarios and learn how to deliver a shock safely while continuing high-quality CPR.

What You Will Learn

During the course, candidates learn how to:

• Assess an emergency scene safely

• Reduce risks to themselves, the casualty and bystanders

• Check a casualty’s response

• Open and maintain the airway

• Assess normal and abnormal breathing

• Recognise cardiorespiratory arrest

• Contact the emergency services promptly

• Perform high-quality adult CPR

• Perform child CPR

• Perform infant CPR

• Deliver effective rescue breaths

• Use an automated external defibrillator safely

• Follow AED voice and visual instructions

• Position AED pads correctly

• Adapt AED use for children and infants

• Minimise interruptions to chest compressions

• Place a breathing casualty in the recovery position

• Monitor the casualty until professional help arrives

• Respond appropriately if a casualty vomits or regurgitates

• Recognise when CPR should be continued or stopped

• Work calmly and effectively during an emergency

Adult Basic Life Support

Candidates practise a structured approach to an unresponsive adult, including:

• Checking for danger

• Assessing responsiveness

• Opening the airway

• Checking breathing

• Calling 999 or 112

• Starting chest compressions

• Delivering rescue breaths

• Requesting and using an AED

• Continuing CPR until help arrives

Practical training allows candidates to develop the correct compression position, depth, rate and recoil while minimising unnecessary interruptions.

Child and Infant Basic Life Support

The course explains and demonstrates the important differences between adult, child and infant resuscitation.

Candidates practise:

• Safe airway positioning

• Initial rescue breaths

• Child chest-compression techniques

• Infant chest-compression techniques

• Appropriate compression depth

• Effective ventilation

• Calling for emergency assistance

• Continuing CPR safely until help arrives

Automated External Defibrillator Training

Candidates learn how an AED analyses the heart rhythm and provides instructions to deliver a shock when appropriate.

Training includes:

• Switching on the AED

• Preparing the casualty’s chest

• Correct pad placement

• Following the AED prompts

• Ensuring nobody touches the casualty during analysis

• Delivering a shock safely

• Resuming CPR immediately

• Using paediatric pads or settings where available

• Managing practical considerations such as wet chests, excessive chest hair, medication patches and implanted devices

The objective is to prepare learners to use an AED safely and provide basic life support to adults, children and infants during an emergency.

Who Is This Course For?

This qualification is suitable for people who have a particular interest or responsibility to provide basic life support and use an AED in the workplace, during voluntary activities or within the community.

It may be appropriate for:

• Doctors and nurses

• Healthcare assistants

• Dental professionals

• Pharmacists and pharmacy staff

• Allied healthcare professionals

• Care-home and domiciliary-care staff

• School and nursery staff

• Sports coaches and fitness professionals

• Workplace first aiders

• Community and voluntary-sector workers

• Security and public-facing staff

• Parents and carers

• Members of the public seeking accredited resuscitation training

Candidates are responsible for confirming that the qualification meets the requirements of their employer, regulator or professional body.

Course Format

The course is delivered over one day and includes:

• Instructor-led teaching

• Demonstrations

• Adult CPR practice

• Child CPR practice

• Infant CPR practice

• AED training

• Recovery-position practice

• Scenario-based exercises

• Practical assessment

• Constructive instructor feedback

The course is highly practical. Candidates should be prepared to kneel, bend and perform CPR at floor level.

Assessment

Candidates are assessed through practical demonstrations and ongoing observation during the course.

To successfully complete the qualification, candidates must demonstrate that they can:

• Assess an emergency safely

• Recognise an unresponsive casualty

• Perform effective adult CPR

• Perform effective child CPR

• Perform effective infant CPR

• Use an AED safely

• Follow an appropriate emergency sequence

• Demonstrate safe and competent practical performance

Booking or attending the course does not automatically guarantee successful completion.

Certification

Candidates who successfully complete the required learning and assessment receive the relevant Qualsafe Level 3 regulated qualification certificate.

Candidates should retain their certificate as evidence of training and check with their employer or professional body regarding any required refresher-training frequency.

Why Train With PLAB Guide Training Centre?

PLAB Guide Training Centre provides practical, supportive and professionally delivered emergency-care training at our Manchester centre.

Candidates benefit from:

• Qualified and experienced instructors

• Adult, child and infant resuscitation manikins

• Hands-on AED training

• Realistic emergency scenarios

• Small-group practical learning

• Structured instructor feedback

• A professional and inclusive training environment

• Free dedicated parking

• Free on-road parking nearby

• Convenient access by road and public transport

• Training suitable for individuals and organisations

Our aim is to ensure that candidates leave with practical competence and the confidence to take immediate action during a life-threatening emergency.

Book Your BLS and AED Course in Manchester

Learn how to provide effective basic life support and use an AED for casualties of all ages.

Book your Qualsafe Level 3 Basic Life Support and AED course for Adults, Children and Infants with PLAB Guide Training Centre.

Individual and group bookings are available. Training can also be arranged for healthcare organisations, schools, care providers, businesses and community groups.