First Aid requirements for Scout activities
Information about first aid requirements during meetings, adventurous activities, remote activities, and the definition of first aid qualification.
FS120052 (Published March 2026, replacing March 2025)
Requirements for First Aid during all Scouting Activities
At a minimum, all activities must have a Scout member with a valid First Response skill and access to suitable emergency equipment, including First Aid Kits.
In addition to First Response, further training and skills may be needed depending on factors such as the activity, location, and group.
Your activity risk assessment should identify whether any additional first aid qualifications, skills or emergency equipment are needed. This should consider individual needs, the nature of the activity, and the likelihood of injury or illness.
For all activities, it should be clear who the designated first aider(s) are.
Adventurous Activities and Nights Away
Individuals undertaking Adventurous Activities (as defined in POR 9.7) and Nights Away must have immediate access to a first aider and suitable emergency equipment.
Immediate access means that the first aider and the necessary equipment are within hearing distance or within 3 minutes of any casualty. There are 3 exceptions to this:
- Where remote supervision is in place through a Supervisory Permit.
- Where remote supervision is in place through a Nights Away Passport.
- When personal permits are in use.
For all 3 exceptions, all participants must have appropriate training and emergency equipment for the activity, as defined in the risk assessment. Training could include Stage 4 of the Emergency Aid Staged Activity Badge, the Young Leaders Module K learning or DofE Expedition Training.
There is no requirement for the Leader In Charge or Permit Holder to be the first aider.
Where remote supervision is being used, a first aider must be available and follow the same supervision requirements (including distance and time) as the supervisor and be able to effectively reach the group in the event of an emergency.
Remote Activity
Remote Activity is where travelling time is three hours or more (by the slowest member of the group in the method of travel being used) to a point of refuge, including at least one of:
- a road which carries a normal road-going ambulance
- a building which is occupied (such as a farm or harbour)
- another means of calling for help (such as a telephone box)
Groups undertaking Remote Activity must hold a ‘full first aid certificate’. This is a 16-hour First Aid qualification (or equivalent) from a regulated body. Preferably, this will cover the activity and environment as defined in your Risk Assessment.
The certificate must be uploaded and used to credit the First Aid (16 hour course) in my learning.
Please note, it is likely that ‘remote’ activities will also be ‘adventures’ and as such each remote group must have immediate access to someone with a full first aid certificate and appropriate emergency equipment.
Regulated First Aid Qualifications
To be able to accept a qualification as evidence of existing learning, it must be from one of the following bodies:
- British Red Cross
- Girlguiding UK
- St John Ambulance
- Or be delivered by an organisation which is regulated by an authorised body such as Qualsafe, Ofqual, etc.
*Other regulated bodies are available.
For more details of other providers of qualifications (including Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), check the Joint Council for Qualifications.
First Aid Insurance
The Scouts Public Liability policy arranged by The Scout Association (as referenced in POR chapter 8) includes cover for first aid provided by members during Scouts activities.
Members using items such as defibrillators are covered, as these are publicly available and designed for anyone to use to provide the emergency assistance required to an individual.
It does not cover the provision of first aid at non-Scout events or wider medical treatment.
Additional Public Liability and Medical Insurance
The Scout Association does not carry medical malpractice insurance.
Any Unit or group of individuals established to provide care beyond this (either by providing first aid cover at non-member events or by extending the treatment provided so that it is no longer defined as first aid) will not be covered by the policy and will therefore require their own medical malpractice policy.
It should be noted that many Health Care Professionals (such as Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, etc.) may have their own personal Medical Malpractice cover in place as part of their professional registration, which is unlikely to extend to Groups/ Districts/ Counties/ Areas, etc. Trustees and organisers of events and activities must make sure that sufficient insurance cover is in place.
Insurance questions and answers
Yes, but the Scout Association policy would not provide cover beyond first aid.
Yes, as the Scout Association insurance policy does not provide cover beyond first aid. If you wish to provide medical cover, additional insurance would be required.
This'll depend on the event's expectations and needs. For large jamboree-type events, the risk assessment is likely to highlight the need for a multidisciplinary team providing care beyond first aid, in which case additional insurance will be required.
Yes, this is not a Scouts activity and is therefore outside the insurance policy's coverage.
No, but you must make sure that the medical provider has sufficient insurance cover for your event.
Please do ask them for help; however, their extended skills will not be covered by Scouts' insurance.
Unity Insurance offer specialist insurance services to the Scouts. They can provide further advice and guidance regarding insurance cover. You can contact them on 0345 040 7703.