Can you still play the recorder? Why specialist First Aid training needs refreshing

Can you remember learning to play the recorder at school? I can. Like all my classmates, we were armed with plastic instruments and a few simple tunes. “London’s Burning” was the pinnacle of our repertoire, proudly wheezed out in front of pained parents at school assemblies.

That was over 40 years ago. I haven’t picked up a recorder since, and if you handed me one today, I might just scrape together the first few notes… but that’s about it. The muscle memory is gone. The technique, long forgotten.

Now apply that same scenario to your First Aid training.

Specialist First Aid: Not just a box-ticking exercise

Specialist First Aid training is a serious business. It’s expensive, and rightly so. It’s not just about learning to administer CPR or treat a wound. It’s often conducted in hazardous environments, tailored to the real risks people face on site. And it serves a dual purpose: saving the patient’s life and keeping the responder safe. That second part is often overlooked.

The real risks in confined spaces

Let’s take confined spaces as an example. There are thousands of confined space entries across industries every year, utilities, construction, engineering, you name it. Around 15 people in the UK lose their lives annually in these environments. That figure includes trained professionals and those who attempted rescues without the right training or equipment. These aren’t just numbers, they’re reminders of how fast things can go wrong.

But here’s what the stats don’t show: how many near-misses or non-fatal incidents take place. How many workers received emergency treatment in a confined space and survived because someone knew exactly what to do?

A real scenario: Would you know what to do?

Take, for instance, a case reported by the HSE earlier this year. Workers were removing paint from inside a small yacht, when flammable solvent fumes were ignited by an electric sander. The confined space quickly filled with toxic fumes. Two colleagues were inside. You’re nearby, and you hear their shouts for help.

Now what?

You underwent our Confined Space Casualty Care training three years ago. Can you remember what to do first?

Clue: Put on your breathing apparatus.

And make sure it's functioning. Assess the atmosphere. Call for backup. Follow the emergency rescue protocol. In that moment, hesitation could cost a life – theirs or yours.

This isn’t a drill. It’s not theory. It’s real, fast-moving, and terrifying if you’re not confident in your training.

Don’t be complacent – accidents can still happen

If your workplace hasn’t had an incident – well done. But please don’t fall into the trap of thinking it could never happen to you.

No system is foolproof. No checklist, risk assessment, or induction can totally eliminate the element of human error… or human frailty. What if someone has a heart attack in a confined space? What if a colleague is overcome by fumes and collapses before your gas monitor even beeps?

In that moment, the question isn’t whether you had the training once. It’s whether you remember what to do now.

Training is like your First Aid kit – it needs regular checks

We wouldn’t dream of using an expired epi pen from the bottom of a dusty First Aid kit. And yet, many businesses assume that once training is completed, it’s job done. It isn’t. First aid skills degrade over time, especially if they’re not used often (which, ironically, is a good thing). That’s why refresher training matters. It keeps knowledge sharp. It keeps responses instinctive. It saves lives.

Invest in your team’s confidence – and safety

At Brooklyn STS, we’re strong believers in regular, practical refreshers, especially when it comes to high-risk environments like confined spaces. We see First Aid not just as a compliance box to tick, but as a critical layer of protection for both workers and would-be rescuers.

So, if it’s been a while since your team last trained, ask yourself: would they remember the first few notes… or draw a blank?

Make the time. Refresh the training. Keep your people safe.

Talk to us today about bespoke refresher training for your team by completing the form here or giving us a call on 01246 925 100.