Outdoor First Aid Course Devon
2‑day Outdoor First Aid Devon training course delivered at our Dartmoor training venue
16‑Hour Outdoor First Aid Courses in Devon
Our Outdoor First Aid Course Devon delivers 16 hours of practical, scenario-based training for outdoor instructors, guides, and expedition leaders on Dartmoor. This course equips participants to confidently manage casualties in remote environments, where emergency services may be delayed, while meeting National Governing Body (NGB) requirements.
Training takes place at our Dartmoor venue in Devon, where you’ll learn to assess, manage, and treat casualties in genuinely remote settings. You’ll work with limited resources, unpredictable weather, and delayed emergency response, the same challenges outdoor professionals face every day.
Looking for a course in Cornwall? View our Outdoor First Aid Training in Cornwall page.
We also offer on-site delivery anywhere across the South West. Whether you’re an outdoor instructor, Duke of Edinburgh leader, adventure guide, or responsible for groups in remote terrain, this course provides the practical skills and confidence to keep people safe.
Participants receive a fully accredited 16-hour Outdoor First Aid qualification, recognised across the UK outdoor industry, accepted by the Forest School Association for Level 3, valid for three years, and assessed through practical scenario exercises and a multiple-choice examination.
Built for leaders in demanding outdoor environments
Whether you’re operating across remote moorland and challenging terrain, coastal and cliff-side environments, woodland and Forest School settings, rural locations with limited access, or busy outdoor education and activity sites, this qualification equips you with the skills and confidence to lead safely in Devon, whether that’s supporting expeditions like Ten Tors or delivering programmes such as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
For those needing a higher clinical qualification, our FREC 3 course in Devon provides advanced pre‑hospital care training.
Outdoor First Aid Course Content
The course uses immersive, scenario-led exercises. Delegates also practice structured casualty management, prioritisation, and effective communication, building confidence in outdoor and remote settings.
Outdoor Incident Management
Assessing incidents in remote environments
Managing multiple casualties
Communication and emergency planning
When and how to call for help
Environmental and Outdoor‑Specific Injuries
Hypothermia and cold exposure
Heat illness and dehydration
Bites, stings, and environmental hazards
Trauma and Medical Emergencies
Bleeding control and wound management
Fractures, sprains, and dislocations
Head, neck, and spinal considerations
Asthma, anaphylaxis, seizures, diabetes
Improvised Techniques
Using outdoor kit to stabilise injuries
Improvised splints and slings
Casualty movement on uneven terrain
Training content is fully aligned with the UK Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2025.
Who This Course Is For?
This course is designed for any outdoor professional operating in Devon who needs practical first aid skills, including:
Mountain leaders and walking guides
Outdoor instructors and activity leaders
Duke of Edinburgh expedition supervisors
Forest School leaders and outdoor educators
Expedition and adventure tourism leaders
Scout and youth group leaders
Many roles require a 16-Hour Outdoor First Aid qualification, making this course suitable for both achieving and maintaining NGB awards.
For instructors working outside Devon, explore our main Outdoor First Aid page for all course locations.
For those needing a higher clinical qualification, our FREC 3 course in Devon provides advanced pre‑hospital care training.
Browse our upcoming courses
Optimal First Aid are your Outdoor First Aid specialists. All our trainers are seasoned practitioners with extensive field experience and expert teaching skills. That means every course is practical, memorable, and genuinely enjoyable.
As Devon’s trusted provider of hands-on two-day Outdoor First Aid courses, we run regular sessions across the region, so there’s almost certainly a course starting near you soon.
Book a private course
Our private first aid courses can be delivered wherever you need, at a time and location that suits you, anywhere across the UK.
We bring the training to you and tailor every course to your organisation’s specific requirements.
With a maximum of 12 participants per trainer, our private courses are hands-on, personalised, and excellent value.
Why train with Optimal First Aid?
Our Outdoor First Aid programme is developed and overseen by a former military medic with extensive operational experience in outdoor environments, outdoor education, and mountain leadership. This ensures the course reflects real‑world challenges and practical, effective solutions.
Delivered on Dartmoor, Devon, or directly at your premises, this accredited course provides practical, hands-on training from experienced instructors.
You benefit from:
- Training built on real‑world trauma and outdoor experience
- A consistent, high‑quality syllabus across all instructors
- Clear, practical teaching focused on confidence and competence
- Small groups for maximum hands‑on time
- Realistic outdoor scenarios tailored to Devon’s terrain
- Trusted by schools, outdoor centres, and Forest School providers across the Southwest
Join us at our Dartmoor training centre, or we can bring the Outdoor course to your site anywhere across Devon, Exeter, Torquay, Newton Abbot, as well as North Devon locations such as Barnstaple, Bideford, and Ilfracombe.
Reviews
“A really useful course with practical learning for the outdoor scenario which is so much more useful than just the First Aid at Work course”. R Edmonds
“Very experienced and professional trainer, who clearly really knew his stuff having been a medic in the Army. Trainer was friendly and helpful always able to answer any question and give real examples of incidents he’d dealt with to back up learning” W Dalton
“The practical exercises were brilliant and really gave the feel of an actual emergency” C Andrew
“Attended a great outdoor first aid training course with Toby from Optimal First Aid. Very knowledgeable, hands-on experience. Well-tailored to our workplace. Highly recommend” J Knight
“Great outdoor first aid course hosted at our school we teach at- really engaging and informative” J Cross
Outdoor First Aid Course Devon FAQs
Our Outdoor First Aid courses in Devon are delivered from our Dartmoor training location, with practical scenarios designed around rural, woodland, moorland, and remote inland environments commonly found across Devon.
Yes, the course is highly relevant for those working or operating on Dartmoor and other remote areas of Devon, focusing on casualty management, evacuation planning, and prolonged care where emergency response times may be extended.
We provide Outdoor First Aid training for businesses, outdoor providers, and teams across Devon, including Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay, and surrounding rural locations. Group and on-site delivery can be arranged where required.
Training reflects the varied environments found across Devon, including moorland, woodland, farmland, and remote countryside settings where access, terrain, and weather can impact emergency response and casualty care.
This course is ideal for outdoor instructors, forestry workers, agricultural professionals, expedition leaders, and remote workers who operate in Devon’s outdoor and rural environments.
Unlike standard first aid courses, this Outdoor First Aid training focuses on real-world outdoor incidents, including remote casualty care, environmental exposure, improvised evacuation, and decision-making in locations where immediate medical assistance may not be available.
EXCELLENT Based on 10 reviews Posted on Samantha KeverenTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I attended the FREC 3 Course last week and it was engaging from beginning to end, no death by powerpoint!, just excellent teaching from a trainer with vast experience in the field and with great up to date knowledge. Relaxed daily hands on practical sessions built into the learning schedule with realistic scenarios, which were great for building my confidence and knowledge. Would highly recommend completing training with Toby and I look forward to completing my FREC 4 with Optimal First Aid in the near future.Posted on Alfred MorlandTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Did a FREC 3 course here, great instructor and a good amount of hands-on training which helps seal in the information! Would definitely recommendPosted on Richard EdmondsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A really useful course with practical learning for the outdoor scenario which is somuch more useful than just the First Aid at Work course.Posted on Chris AndrewTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The most relevant first aid course I've ever attended. A course crammed with relevant content that was clearly tailored to the participants. All of the advice and techniques were given by someone who had used them in real situations, not taken from a text book. The practical exercises were brilliant and really gave the feel of an actual emergency (worryingly so!). The course is more costly than a more basic course, but are you ticking boxes or training for an actual situation? As someone who is self employed (and so pays the cost! ) I thought it was well worth the money. I can recommend this course to anyone, especially if you are in a more rural environment. Unfortunately I booked my course on a wet day in January. I still enjoyed the course, but next time I might well choose a warmer time of year.Posted on Joanne KnightTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Attended a great outdoor first aid training course with Toby from Optimal First Aid. Very knowledgeable, hands on experience. Well tailored to our workplace. Highly recommend.Posted on Chloe NunnTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I did their outdoor first aid course in October 2025. It was engaging and informative. The high level of hands on practice and scenario based exercises enhance my confidence. I've previously had comparable training through lifeguarding, and while reminders of the basics was incredibly useful, I also felt that this course gave me skills in situation triage and management which I haven't had before.Posted on Simon BrentTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Toby made the day both interesting and enjoyable. Many thanks. Simon Brent, Area Manager F&W Forestry UK Ltd.Posted on Susie AdamsTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Well organised, concise sessions. Lots of hands on training. Leader very approachable. Highly recommend.Posted on Gabriele WarwickTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. very good course and teaches in a way that makes you remember the content. hands on and practical as well as good theory. the course has helped me respond to first aid scenarios in real life as well as design evacuation plans and first aid kits for different outdoor settings.Posted on Maria HindTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fantastic course! Toby makes the learning achievable and fun ! I wouldn't work with anyone else! Highly recommend 👌
Contact us about our Outdoor Courses
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