The HSE has never approved outdoor first aid courses. It used to approve providers of first aid at work courses, but as of October 2013 this has ceased to be the case.

As a result of this, an organisation has more flexibility to choose how it meets it's first aid requirements, but also a responsibility to ensure that what is provided is appropriate and that the provider and awarding body are competent. You can read about this on the HSE website.

To maintain its independence and flexibility to deliver courses to suit outdoor clients, rather than delivering a set script, REC has chosen to go down the self-certification route. A document demonstrating how REC meets the requirements of due diligence can be found on the REC website by following this link.