First Aid & CPR Certification Course in Singapore: A Complete Guide
Medical emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere. This guide gives you a clear, practical overview of first aid, CPR and AED use — what they are, how they differ, and why they matter.
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What Is First Aid?
- Preserve life: Act swiftly in emergencies
- Prevent further injury: Ensure casualty's safety
- Promote recovery: Minimise lasting harm
- Provide comfort: Pain management & reassurance
Why Is First Aid Important?
Proper first aid can prevent minor injuries from becoming serious. In life-threatening situations such as cardiac arrest, immediate CPR can double or triple a person's chance of survival. Simple measures like immobilising a fracture or cooling a burn reduce pain and prevent further harm.
Who Can Perform First Aid?
Anyone can and should provide basic first aid if it is safe to do so. The level of care depends on training. Certified first aiders are preferred in organised settings, and Occupational First Aid (OFA) training is required in higher-risk industries.
What Is CPR and AED?
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
CPR is a life-saving procedure used when a person's heart stops beating due to cardiac arrest. It keeps blood flowing to the brain and vital organs until medical help arrives. Without CPR, brain damage can begin within 4–6 minutes.
CPR involves pushing hard and fast in the centre of the chest. Members of the public are encouraged to perform Hands-Only CPR, while trained responders may also provide ventilations using a Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) or the standard 30:2 method.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
An AED is a portable device that analyses a person's heart rhythm and delivers an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat if needed. AEDs are designed for public use, providing clear voice and visual instructions.
How CPR Works Together with AED
CPR keeps blood and oxygen circulating while the AED corrects the heart's electrical problem. After calling 995, start CPR at 100–120 compressions per minute. When an AED arrives, follow its prompts and resume CPR immediately after delivering a shock.
CPR, AED and Emergency Response Skills: What's the Difference?
| Skill | Used For | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| First Aid | Injuries & sudden illnesses | A broad skill set covering bleeding, burns, fractures, choking, and heat emergencies. Goal is to stabilise the person and provide care until professional help arrives. |
| CPR & AED | Cardiac arrest | CPR maintains blood and oxygen flow to the brain when the heart has stopped, while an AED analyses the heart rhythm and delivers a shock if needed. |
Why First Aid and CPR Skills Matter
Emergencies can happen without warning — at home, at work, or in public. An early response in situations such as cardiac arrest can mean the difference between life and death. First aid and CPR bridge the gap before emergency services arrive, stabilising the person and preventing further harm.
Everyone benefits from these skills. Beyond workplace requirements, first aid knowledge reflects community responsibility, enabling you to assist vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, or people with medical conditions.
Common Emergencies and What to Look Out For
Recognising emergencies quickly allows for timely intervention:
Life-Threatening Collapse & Breathing
Unresponsiveness, choking, asthma attacks, or drowning. Look for abnormal breathing, gasping, wheezing, or bluish lips. Call 995 and start CPR if not breathing.
Severe Bleeding & Injuries
Heavy bleeding, fractures, or major falls. Apply firm pressure, immobilise injuries, and call emergency services if serious.
Burns, Scalds & Chemical Exposure
Redness, blistering, pain, or dizziness. Cool or flush affected areas with water for at least 20 minutes and call 995 if severe.
Heat-Related Emergencies
Dizziness, nausea, or confusion. Move the person to a cooler area, help them hydrate, and seek medical help if symptoms worsen.
Key Skills You'll Learn in a First Aid, CPR and AED Course
First Aid Skills for Different Groups and Settings
| Group / Setting | Special Considerations |
|---|---|
| Infants & Children | Smaller bodies and limited communication require tailored techniques. |
| Older Adults | Higher risk of falls, cardiac events, and chronic conditions require specialised attention. |
| Pets (Cats & Dogs) | Animals need different CPR, bandaging, and handling techniques. |
| Workplace Settings | Offices, industrial sites, construction areas, and public-facing roles have unique hazards. |
Should You Get CPR or First Aid Certified in Singapore?
Knowing how to give effective first aid can significantly improve outcomes during an emergency. Early intervention — including prompt CPR and AED use — can greatly increase a person's chances of survival in situations such as sudden cardiac arrest.
While formal certification is not required to perform CPR or use an AED in Singapore, training builds the confidence and competence to respond correctly. Certification is strongly recommended and is mandatory in many workplaces to meet Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) requirements.
Workplace First Aid Requirements in Singapore
| Workplace Regulations | Governed by the Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Regulations. |
| First Aid Coverage | Employers must provide adequately stocked first-aid boxes and ensure sufficient first-aid coverage at the workplace. |
| Minimum Personnel | Workplaces with more than 25 employees must appoint at least one trained first-aider, with ratios adjusted for shift work or larger staff numbers. |
| Training Requirements | Appointed first-aiders must complete WSH-approved training and maintain treatment records. |
| Responsibilities | Trained first aiders must maintain treatment records and be clearly identified within the organisation. |
| Course Suitability | Employers must ensure the course meets WSH standards and is appropriate for the workplace's risk profile. Type of training depends on industry hazards and appointed responsibilities. |
How to Choose the Right First Aid or CPR Course
Choosing the appropriate course depends on your role, responsibilities, and the situations you may encounter. Singapore Red Cross Academy offers both SRFAC-accredited certification courses and general first aid awareness courses.
Course Comparison at a Glance
| If your role is… | Recommended Course | What You Will Cover | CPR Component |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coaches, Teachers, Community Responders | Standard First Aid (SFA) | Full adult first aid — injuries, sudden illness, burns, fractures, bleeding & respiratory issues | Hands-Only CPR + AED |
| Preschool Staff, Educators, Parents | Child First Aid (CFA) | Full adult first aid plus child and infant emergencies | Adult CPR + Infant CPR + 30:2 + AED |
| CERT Teams, Schools, Organisations | Basic First Aid (BFA) + AED | Essential first aid for common workplace and everyday incidents | Hands-Only or 30:2 + AED |
| Healthcare Roles, ERT, Frontline Staff | BCLS + AED | Focused resuscitation for cardiac and choking emergencies | 30:2 CPR + BVM + AED |
| Workplace First Aiders, Safety Officers | Occupational First Aid (OFA) | Workplace-focused emergency response and WSH compliance | 30:2 CPR + Mask + AED |
Equips learners with full adult first aid skills to manage a wide range of medical emergencies — fractures, burns, bleeding, sudden illness, and collapse — including CPR (Hands-Only) and AED use.
- First Aid Kit
- Casualty Assessment & Management
- Heat Disorders, Fits, Fainting, Stroke
- Adult Foreign Body Airway Obstruction
- Asthma, Hyperventilation, Fumes Inhalation, Allergic Reaction
- Fracture, Dislocation & Soft Tissue Injuries
- Bandaging
- Scalding, Radiation, Chemical, Electrical & Thermal
- Eye Injuries, Nose Bleed, Poisoning
- Casualty Transportation
Covers full adult first aid alongside child- and infant-specific emergencies — infant CPR, airway obstruction management, and common childhood injuries — recognising that children require different assessment and response techniques.
- First Aid Kit
- Casualty Assessment & Management
- Heat Disorders, Fits, Fainting, Stroke
- Adult and Infant Foreign Body Airway Obstruction
- Asthma, Hyperventilation, Fumes Inhalation, Allergic Reaction
- Fracture, Dislocation & Soft Tissue Injuries
- Bandaging
- Scalding, Radiation, Chemical, Electrical & Thermal
- Eye Injuries, Nose Bleed, Poisoning
- Casualty Transportation
- Adult CPR + AED
- Infant CPR
Focuses on workplace-specific first aid response — industrial injuries, hazardous exposure, emergency procedures, and legal responsibilities — alongside CPR and AED use.
- Definition & responsibilities of a first aider
- Universal precautions
- First aid kit contents and use
- Primary and secondary survey
- Emergency Action Plan
- Records and reporting
- Types of bleeding
- Management of bleeding, shock, bites and stings
- Bandaging techniques and practical application
- Signs and symptoms of fractures, sprains, strains
- Management and bandaging/splinting practical
- Safe handling techniques
- Methods of transporting casualties
- Common causes, signs & symptoms
- Eye examination and case studies
- Electrical and dry burn signs & symptoms
- Assessment of burn severity and management
- Choking, fumes inhalation, hyperventilation, asthma, drowning
- Heimlich Manoeuvre practical session
- Heat disorders, electric shock, fainting, stroke, diabetic emergencies
- Practical case scenarios
- Requirements under WSH Act
- WSH (First Aid) Regulation
- Routes of chemical entry, importance of SDS
- Case scenarios with hazardous exposure
- Common industrial accidents and unsafe procedures
- Role of the first aider
- Chain of survival, resuscitation sequence
- AED features, placement, procedure & troubleshooting
- Practical session
Equips learners with core life-saving skills for cardiac and choking emergencies. Focuses on high-quality CPR, AED use, and airway obstruction management for adults and infants — without covering the full scope of general first aid.
Covers essential first aid skills alongside CPR and AED use, enabling response to common injuries and medical emergencies — bleeding, burns, sprains, fractures, and sudden illness — before professional help arrives.
- Theory of CPR + AED
- Adult 1-man CPR + AED
- Introduction to Basic First Aid
- Common conditions: Fainting, heat injuries, burns, bleeding, sprains, fractures, breathing emergencies, stroke
- Improvised carrying techniques
Explore Singapore Red Cross Academy's Courses
First aid knowledge is a vital life skill at home, at work, and in the community. The Singapore Red Cross Academy offers a wide range of first aid, resuscitation, and emergency preparedness courses for different ages, roles, and needs — supporting the national goal of having at least one trained first aider in every home.
In addition to First Aid & Resuscitation courses, the Academy also offers Psychological First Aid (PFA+), equipping individuals to provide emotional and psychological support during crises.
Many programmes are SkillsFuture Credit (SFC) claimable and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)-subsidised, making it more accessible to gain life-saving skills.
Ready to Get Trained?
Explore the full range of courses at Red Cross Academy and make a real difference in your community.