News & Updates

Following the publication of the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines, Safety Training Awards (STA) has updated the qualification resources manuals, qualification resources and where applicable, qualification assessment materials to reflect the new guidelines and industry standards for all regulated first aid and lifesaving qualifications.

The updated resources must be used for any courses starting on or after Wednesday 1st April 2026.

Note: STA Award for Pool Emergency Responder, STA Award for Safety Award for Teachers and STA Award for Open Water Safety qualification resources have been updated to reflect the new guidelines and also include some branding and imagery updates. A full review of these qualifications is being undertaken this year in line with qualification development procedures. If you would like to be part of the working group for these qualifications or have any feedback, please email technical@sta.co.uk

Updated resources include:

Qualification Specifications

Where applicable, all first aid and lifesaving qualification specifications have been updated to reflect the changes.

There are no changes to the overall qualification objectives, learning outcomes and assessment criteria.

Suggested Timetables

All first aid and lifesaving qualification suggested timetables have been reviewed and updated accordingly.

There are no changes to qualification delivery, guided learning hours and total qualification times.

Resource Manuals

The updated eManuals will be live within the STA Swim Shop from Wednesday 1st April 2026. Hard copy manuals posted will contain a printed addendum insert sheet which is also available to download from STA Online. This sheet can also be sent to learners who have recently completed the qualification to update them accordingly. Once new hard copy manuals are in stock, they will contain all of the updates and so will not require the addendum.

There are no changes to the overall qualification syllabuses. Current manuals can still be used with the addendum sheet included.

PowerPoints

The updated qualification PowerPoints are available now within STA Online.

STA qualification PowerPoints are created utilising the contents of the manual for consistency across all STA qualifications and to support tutors in ensuring all learning outcomes and assessment criteria are covered within the course so that nothing is missed that could put learners at a disadvantage going into the assessment. They contain comprehensive content to support both tutors and learners throughout course delivery. We’ve included page references to aid tutors in navigating the material, eliminating the need for every tutor to create their own from scratch. To further support delivery, we’ve also integrated videos and visual aids for learners who benefit from a more visual approach. While these resources offer a solid foundation, we fully encourage tutors to incorporate their own activities, games, and practical elements into their delivery.

The PowerPoints are fully adaptable. Tutors are encouraged to amend, reorder, or remove slides as needed to suit their delivery style and learner needs. For instance, if CPR is being taught practically, tutors are welcome to remove the corresponding theory slides.

Blended Learning Online Programmes

Blended Learning Online Programmes

• STA Award in Emergency First Aid at Work
• STA Award in First Aid at Work
• STA Award in Paediatric First Aid
• STA Award in Adult and Paediatric First Aid
• STA Award in Activity Emergency First Aid
• STA Award in Activity First Aid
• STA Award for Pool Lifeguards.

Assessment Strategies

All first aid and lifesaving qualification assessment strategies have been updated to reflect the changes.

Tutor Assessed Skills Sheets

Where applicable, all first aid and lifesaving tutor assessed skills sheets have been updated to reflect the changes. Tutors / assessors should ensure learners demonstrate practical skills in line with the updated qualification assessment strategy.

MCQ Assessment Papers

Where applicable, multiple-choice questions on the theory assessment paper have been updated to reflect the changes.

There are no changes to the overall qualification assessment criteria.

Online Tutor Upskill

The STA First Aid and Lifesaving Qualification Updates Following Publication of Resuscitation Council UK 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines webinar recording has been added to the First Aid and Lifesaving tutor upskills.

STA First Aid and Lifesaving Qualification Updates Following Publication of Resuscitation Council UK 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines webinar recording delivered by Helen Done, Qualifications and Business Development Manager at Safety Training Awards, provides more detail on the updated Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines, and is also available now on STA Online.

Note: For STA International Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillation, STA International First Aid, STA International Pool Lifeguard, and STA International Lifesaving Course for Swimming Teachers, please continue to use STA First Aid and Lifesaving Resource Manuals Addendum alongside course resources until updates have been completed.

To review the full guidelines, please visit Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) 2025 Resuscitation Guidelines.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.