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.

Devon Outdoor First Aid
Outdoor First Aid Course Devon
16 Hour Outdoor First Aid

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.

Looking for Outdoor First Aid training in Cornwall? We also deliver specialist Remote & Outdoor courses at our Truro venue.

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.

Contact us about our Outdoor Courses

Have questions or want to book training? Send us a message, and we’ll respond as soon as possible.

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Mobile: 07762 082310

• Some organisations require that course certificates be issued by an Ofqual Regulated Awarding Organisation. • We offer self-certified & Ofqual Accredited courses; the main difference in certification being third party cost. Ofqual Regulated Awarding Organisation certification is currently priced at an additional £12.50pp.
The instructor to candidate ratio is typically 1:12, with some courses being restricted to 1:8 or even 1:6.
If you have a preferred date & time for this course (for example to fit in with staff shift patterns) please let us know.