Working in the private security industry means being prepared to respond when something goes wrong. Security guards and door supervisors may be among the first people present when someone becomes injured, loses consciousness or requires urgent assistance.
This is one reason Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) training is an important part of the training pathway for security professionals. For people applying for a Door Supervisor or Security Guard licence, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) requires an appropriate first aid qualification before the relevant licence-linked training can be completed.
But what does EFAW training actually teach, and why does it matter to someone working in security?
What Is EFAW Training?
Emergency First Aid at Work, commonly shortened to EFAW, is a form of workplace first aid training designed to give people the knowledge and practical skills needed to respond to an emergency.
For security professionals, this can include situations such as:
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A person collapsing or becoming unconscious
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Serious bleeding
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Breathing difficulties
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Cardiac arrest
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Injuries occurring during an incident
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Other situations requiring immediate first aid assistance
The purpose is not to turn a security professional into a medical practitioner. Instead, EFAW provides practical emergency first aid skills that can be used while appropriate emergency medical assistance is being arranged.
The SIA's current guidance states that first aid training for security licence applicants must meet specified requirements. It also states that training must explicitly cover responding to life-threatening bleeding and keeping airways open.
Why Is EFAW Training Important for Security Guards and Door Supervisors?
EFAW training is particularly relevant to security work because security personnel often work in environments where incidents can happen unexpectedly.
A security guard might be working alone at a construction site, commercial property or vacant building. A door supervisor may work around busy entrances, queues, crowds and licensed premises.
In these environments, an incident requiring immediate assistance can happen before an ambulance or other emergency service arrives.
Having appropriate first aid knowledge can help a security professional:
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Recognise an emergency
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Assess the situation
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Take appropriate immediate action
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Help manage serious bleeding
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Support a person who is unconscious
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Help maintain an open airway
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Begin appropriate emergency procedures
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Communicate relevant information to emergency services
The value of the training is therefore not limited to the workplace. The skills learned may also be relevant when responding to emergencies involving members of the public.
Is EFAW Required for an SIA Door Supervisor or Security Guard Licence?
Yes. If you are applying for the training required for an SIA Door Supervisor or Security Guard licence, you must have an appropriate first aid qualification before taking the relevant licence-linked training.
The SIA currently states that the first aid qualification must be valid for at least another 12 months when the licence-linked training begins. An existing qualification may be accepted if it meets the SIA's requirements.
This means first aid should not be treated as an optional extra when planning your route into security work.
If you are unsure whether an existing first aid certificate is acceptable, check its details with your training provider before starting your licence-linked training.
How EFAW Fits Into the Security Training Pathway
For someone entering the private security industry, it is useful to understand the relationship between first aid training and SIA licence-linked training.
The process generally involves:
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Choosing the relevant security role.
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Obtaining an appropriate first aid qualification.
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Completing the required SIA licence-linked training.
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Applying for the relevant SIA licence where eligible.
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Completing any future refresher training required for licence renewal.
The exact route depends on the licence and the individual's circumstances.
For example, a person applying for a Door Supervisor licence needs the appropriate Door Supervisor qualification, while someone applying for a Security Guard licence needs the relevant Security Guard qualification. Both routes have first aid requirements.
What Does EFAW Training Teach?
The precise course structure depends on the training programme and provider, but EFAW focuses on practical emergency response skills.
Important areas can include:
Responding to Emergencies
Learners are introduced to ways of responding appropriately when an emergency occurs. This includes assessing the situation and taking suitable action.
CPR and Resuscitation
Learners can develop practical skills for responding to a person who is not breathing normally and requiring emergency assistance.
Serious Bleeding
Current SIA requirements specifically require relevant first aid training to cover responses to life-threatening bleeding. Practical first aid training may include techniques such as the use of tourniquets and haemostatic dressings where appropriate.
Airway Management
Training also needs to cover how to keep or open an airway when appropriate. This is particularly important when responding to an unconscious casualty.
Recognising When Emergency Help Is Needed
First aid training also helps learners understand when a situation requires urgent medical assistance and how to respond while waiting for professional help.
Read Related Article: What Should You Know Before Taking EFAW Training in Wembley
Why Is First Aid Particularly Relevant to Door Supervisors?
Door supervisors often work in environments where there can be large numbers of people, alcohol consumption, queues, physical altercations and other unpredictable situations.
This does not mean every incident will require first aid, but the possibility of an injury or medical emergency makes basic emergency response knowledge highly relevant.
A door supervisor may encounter someone who has fallen, suffered an injury, become unconscious or experienced another medical emergency. Knowing how to respond appropriately can help the situation remain controlled while emergency services are contacted.
First aid training therefore complements other areas of door supervisor training rather than replacing them.
Why Is First Aid Important for Security Guards?
Security guards can work across a wide range of environments, including construction sites, offices, warehouses, retail premises, commercial buildings and vacant properties.
The risks can vary significantly between workplaces.
For example, a security guard working at a construction site may encounter different hazards from someone protecting an office building. However, emergencies can occur in any workplace, and having appropriate first aid knowledge gives the security professional a foundation for responding to urgent situations.
The SIA's first aid requirement applies to security guarding licence applicants because the requirement is linked to the licensable activity rather than simply whether the role involves direct contact with the public.
What Should Learners Look for in an EFAW Course?
Choosing a suitable course is about more than finding the shortest or cheapest option.
Before booking, learners should consider:
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Whether the course meets the relevant first aid requirements
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Whether practical training and assessment are included
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Whether the qualification will be accepted for the intended SIA training route
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Whether the certificate will have sufficient validity when the SIA training starts
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Whether the training provider can explain how the qualification fits into the learner's intended security pathway
The SIA states that practical elements of acceptable first aid training should be delivered and assessed face to face, subject to the applicable requirements and circumstances.
If you are researching the subject in more detail, Efaw Training in Wembley can provide a useful route to information about EFAW training.
What Happens After EFAW Training?
Completing EFAW does not itself give someone an SIA licence.
Instead, for Door Supervisor and Security Guard applicants, the appropriate first aid qualification is part of the requirements that must be satisfied before undertaking the relevant SIA licence-linked training.
After completing the required training, the learner can follow the relevant SIA licensing process, assuming they meet the other requirements.
It is important to keep these stages separate:
EFAW qualification → SIA licence-linked training → SIA licence application
Completing one stage does not automatically mean that the other stages have been completed.
Does EFAW Matter When Renewing an SIA Licence?
Yes. First aid remains relevant when security professionals reach the refresher stage.
Since 1 April 2025, Door Supervisor and Security Guard licence holders need to complete the relevant refresher qualification before renewing their licence. They must also hold an up-to-date Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, or an accepted equivalent, before taking the refresher training.
The SIA states that the first aid qualification must normally have at least 12 months of validity remaining when the refresher training begins.
This makes it important for existing security professionals to check their first aid qualification before booking refresher training.
Common Mistakes Learners Make About EFAW
Assuming Any First Aid Certificate Will Be Accepted
Not every first aid course automatically meets the requirements for SIA training. Learners should check that their qualification meets the relevant requirements before relying on it.
Leaving First Aid Until the Last Minute
Because the first aid qualification needs to be in place before the relevant SIA training, leaving it until the last minute can create unnecessary delays.
Confusing EFAW With an SIA Licence
EFAW is a first aid qualification. It is not an SIA licence and does not give someone permission to carry out licensable security activities.
Assuming the Rules Never Change
SIA training and licensing requirements can be updated. The SIA has already introduced changes to refresher training and first aid requirements in recent years, so learners should check current guidance rather than relying solely on older information.
