First Aid Requirements
First aid readiness is a non-negotiable component of professional parkour coaching. This page sets out the qualifications accepted by ADAPT, the requirements by certification level and coaching context, approved providers by country, and our own Movement First Aid Certification.
Why first aid matters in parkour
Parkour involves real physical risk. Falls, sprains, impacts, and in rarer cases more serious injuries are part of training in any movement discipline that engages meaningfully with challenge. A coach who is not equipped to respond when something goes wrong is not ready to lead a session — regardless of how technically skilled or pedagogically sophisticated they are.
First aid training is not about preparing for the worst possible outcome. It is about being professionally prepared for the full range of situations that arise in coached parkour sessions — from a twisted ankle on a precision landing to a suspected concussion after an unexpected fall. Being able to respond calmly, competently, and correctly in those moments is part of what it means to be an ADAPT-certified coach.
A first aid qualification does not make you a medical professional — and it is critical that coaches do not act beyond the scope of their training. What it does is prepare you to assess a situation accurately, stabilise it, and get the right help to the right person as quickly as possible.
Requirements by coaching level and context
| Role / Context | Minimum Requirement | Recommended | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADAPT Level 1 Coach (assisting under Level 2) | Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) or equivalent | ADAPT Movement First Aid Certification — satisfies the EFAW requirement and adds a full day of movement-specific content. The recommended choice for any coach in a movement discipline. | Every 3 years |
| ADAPT Level 2 Coach (leading sessions independently) | First Aid at Work (FAW) or equivalent | FAW + Paediatric if coaching under-18s. The ADAPT Movement First Aid Certification is recommended alongside FAW to add movement-specific injury knowledge that a standard FAW course does not cover. | Every 3 years |
| Sessions with under-18s | Paediatric First Aid (PFA) or combined FAW+PFA | Combined course covering both | Every 3 years |
| Outdoor / remote sessions | FAW + Outdoor First Aid (OFA) | Wilderness First Aid where applicable | Every 3 years |
| ADAPT Tutor | FAW current | FAW + Paediatric. The ADAPT Movement First Aid Certification is also recommended — Tutors are responsible for the safety of certification course environments and benefit directly from movement-specific first aid knowledge. | Every 3 years |
| Host organisations | At least one FAW-qualified person at all events | Named First Aider on every course day | Annual venue check |
Coaches regularly working in remote outdoor environments — mountain, forest, or rural settings with limited emergency service access — should complete an Outdoor First Aid or Wilderness First Aid qualification in addition to their standard FAW. Response times in these environments place different demands on the first-aider than urban coaching contexts.
What you must have at every session
First aid kit
A stocked, accessible first aid kit appropriate to your setting. Check contents before every session. Replace any items used immediately after use.
Emergency contacts
Emergency contact details for every participant accessible during the session. For minors, this is mandatory. Store securely in line with your data protection policy.
Nearest emergency care
Know the address and fastest route to the nearest A&E or emergency care facility before every session. For outdoor settings, confirm this in advance — do not rely on real-time navigation.
Mobile signal
Confirm mobile phone signal at your coaching location before the session begins. For outdoor or remote venues where signal is poor, carry a charged backup device or arrange an agreed check-in procedure.
Medical information
Know of any relevant medical conditions, allergies, or health considerations for participants before the session begins. Collect this at registration and have it accessible — not stored on a device that requires a password under pressure.
Incident record
A means of recording any incident in writing immediately after it occurs. This can be a paper form, a digital template, or a structured written record. See ADAPT's Incident Reporting page for templates.
Approved providers by country
The following are recognised first aid training providers suitable for ADAPT coaches. ADAPT does not endorse any specific commercial provider — coaches should select a provider whose qualification is nationally recognised in their country of practice and appropriate to their coaching context.
First Aid at Work (FAW) Minimum — Level 2 coaches
Three-day regulated qualification. Delivered by HSE-approved providers. Valid 3 years. Required for all Level 2 ADAPT coaches working independently.
Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) Minimum — Level 1 coaches
One-day regulated qualification. Delivered by HSE-approved providers. Suitable for Level 1 coaches assisting under a qualified Level 2.
Paediatric First Aid (PFA) Required — coaching under-18s
Two-day qualification. Many providers offer combined FAW + PFA courses. Required for all coaches working with children and young people.
Outdoor First Aid (OFA) Recommended — outdoor sessions
Two-day qualification covering remote and outdoor scenarios. Recommended for coaches regularly delivering sessions in outdoor or rural environments. Providers include MLTUK-approved training centres.
British Red Cross / St John Ambulance / St Andrew's First Aid
All three organisations are established providers of FAW, EFAW, and PFA qualifications. Widely available across the UK. Check for HSE approval on your chosen course.
redcross.org.uk →CPR/AED + First Aid Minimum
Combined CPR, AED, and First Aid certification is the standard baseline for sports coaches in the USA. Must be current (typically renewed every 2 years).
American Red Cross — First Aid/CPR/AED
Widely accepted by sports organisations and schools across the USA. Online + in-person blended options available. Recognised by NASM, ACE, and AFAA — all bodies that recognise ADAPT qualifications.
redcross.org →American Heart Association — Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED
Nationally recognised. Available through instructor-led and blended learning formats.
heart.org →Wilderness First Aid (WFA) / Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Recommended — outdoor sessions
For coaches delivering sessions in remote outdoor environments. NOLS Wilderness Medicine and SOLO Schools of First Aid are leading providers.
Standard First Aid + CPR/AED Minimum
The Standard First Aid qualification (16 hours, Level C CPR/AED) is the baseline for Canadian sports coaches working independently. Renewed every 3 years (CPR component annually).
Canadian Red Cross / St. John Ambulance Canada
Both organisations deliver nationally recognised first aid qualifications across Canada, including Standard First Aid and Childcare First Aid for those working with minors.
redcross.ca →HLTAID011 — Provide First Aid Minimum
The nationally recognised unit of competency for first aid in Australia. Delivered by registered training organisations (RTOs). Renewed every 3 years.
HLTAID012 — Provide First Aid in an Education and Care Setting Required — under-18s
Required for anyone working with children in educational or care settings in Australia, including coaches delivering sessions in school environments.
St John Ambulance Australia / Australian Red Cross
Both are established registered training organisations delivering nationally recognised first aid qualifications across all states and territories.
stjohnambulance.com.au →National Red Cross / Red Crescent Society
Red Cross and Red Crescent societies deliver first aid training in most countries worldwide. Their qualifications are generally accepted as meeting national standards and are the recommended starting point for coaches in any country not listed above.
ifrc.org →Confirmation with ADAPT
If you are unsure whether a first aid qualification obtained in your country meets ADAPT's requirements, contact info@adaptqualifications.com before your course with details of the qualification. ADAPT will confirm acceptance in writing.
The ADAPT Movement First Aid Certification
Generic first aid courses are written for low-risk environments: offices, warehouses, school corridors. They are not written for falls from height, joint dislocations mid-session, concussion assessment, or a participant who goes down hard on a precision landing. For movement coaches, that gap matters.
In partnership with Clarion First Aid, ADAPT runs a two-day Movement First Aid Certification built specifically for coaches of physical movement disciplines. Day one delivers full ITC First Level 3 Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) accreditation to HSE-aligned standard. Day two applies that foundation directly to the injuries, incidents and decisions that generic first aid courses never touch.
The certification is accepted by ADAPT as satisfying the first aid prerequisite for all certification levels. It is the qualification we recommend above all others for movement coaches.
First Aid for Movement Coaches
Two-day accredited first aid — EFAW certification plus a full day of movement-specific content. In partnership with Clarion First Aid. Delivered in small groups by instructors who understand movement training from the inside.
Full EFAW Accreditation
- Primary survey and casualty assessment
- CPR and AED use
- Choking, shock and bleeding control
- Complete ITC First Level 3 EFAW syllabus
- Delivered to HSE-aligned standard
First Aid for Movement Coaches
- Falls from height, apparatus and bad landings
- Joint injuries, dislocations and when to stop movement
- Impact trauma and sub-surface assessment
- Concussion recognition and red flags
- C-spine injuries and protocols
- Breathlessness: asthma, exertion, panic
- Casualty movement: when and how
- Environmental risk: heat, cold, terrain
- Building a useful first aid kit
Pricing
Individual — £295
Full two-day course, all materials and certification included.
Refresher / recertification — £120
Half-day for returning participants recertifying EFAW.
Groups (4–6 people) — £275 per person
Covers your team's duty of care in one booking.
Private cohort (up to 10) — £2,500 flat
Run exclusively for your organisation. Contact us for details.