How often should you repeat your first aid or workplace emergency response training?

You have completed first aid or workplace emergency response training — congratulations. But how much of that knowledge do you still remember a year later, at the moment it really counts?

Knowledge fades faster than you think

CPR technique, the correct rhythm for chest compressions, the sequence of actions for severe bleeding: without repetition, these skills noticeably decline within one to two years. This is not a question of unwillingness — it is how motor and procedural knowledge works when it is not used regularly.

What the law says about refresher training

• Every year: first aiders follow at least 4 hours of refresher training. After a risk analysis and advice from the occupational physician and the Committee, the employer can reduce this to once every two years.
• Missed a refresher? Make it up within 12 months. Otherwise your knowledge no longer counts as acquired and you take a full basic course again. Read more in Basic first aider training: what does the law say?
• With every major guideline change (such as the ERC Guidelines 2025): an update session, even if your certificate is still valid

Why this concerns employers too, not just employees

Outdated or “forgotten” first aid knowledge among your designated first aiders is, in practice, the same as having no first aider. Scheduling an annual refresher is cheaper and easier than it seems — and it is exactly why P12 Training offers specific refresher courses, separate from the full basic training.

Action cards as a safety net between training courses

Even with a well-maintained training schedule, visual action cards provide a reminder at the moment itself — just when stress increases the chance that someone will forget a step or carry it out incorrectly.

Curious about our refresher courses? Contact us to discuss the options for your team.