Forget Forgetting: How Our First Aid Courses Help Lock In Life-Saving Skills for Good
- Brent Lethbridge
- Apr 4
- 4 min read
Have you ever completed a first aid course, felt super confident… and then a few months later found yourself thinking, “Wait… what do I do if someone’s choking?” If that’s you, don’t worry—you’re not alone, and it doesn't mean you're a bad student.
As a first aid trainer with an Emergency Services background, I hear this all the time. People care deeply about being prepared to help family and friends in a crisis, but life gets in the way. You finish your course, you hang your certificate on the fridge, and then work, family, and life take over.
Why It’s Totally Normal to Forget First Aid
First things first: our brains are wired to forget. Especially when it comes to things we don’t use every day.
You might remember learning how to do CPR or what to do if someone has a seizure, but without practice, those details get fuzzy - fast. In fact, research shows that CPR skills can decline as much as 50% within just a few months after training.
Think about it—most people don’t perform CPR daily (thankfully). So unless you're reviewing or practicing, your brain starts to file it away under “stuff I don’t use often.”
But here’s the great news: if you participated in (or are about to take) a course with blended assessment - online learning and face to face practical - you’re in a better spot than you might think.
Our First Aid Courses Help You Lock In Life-Saving Skills for Good
🎥 You Can Rewatch Lessons Anytime (Even Once the Course is Over)
One of the biggest advantages of having the theory component of your learning online? You can hit rewind. Didn’t quite catch how to apply a compression bandage? Rewatch that section. Forgot the ratio of compressions to breaths for CPR? It’s just a click away.
🧠 Bite-Sized Learning = Better Memory
Online courses are typically broken up into short, focused modules. This makes it easier for your brain to digest and retain what you're learning—especially compared to a full-day, in-person course where you’re hit with everything at once.
⏱ You Learn at Your Own Pace
Online training lets you slow down when you need to. There’s no pressure to keep up with a group or feel embarrassed if you want to rewatch something. Learning at your own pace = learning that sticks.
📚 You Get Bonus Materials for Review
Most good online first aid providers include downloadable guides, digital first aid manuals, infographics, or recap summaries that you can keep. These are perfect for quick refreshers without having to redo the whole course. We at SALT Training Academy give access to a FREE Comprehensive First Aid Manual to anyone who signs up to a First Aid course with us and is also available when you sign up to our monthly newsletter - 'The Pulse’.
✨ We Personalise - We Make it Work For YOU.
With our dedicated small group learning environment Brent (our Lead Trainer) is able to tailor the learning experience to focus on the specific incidents that you may come across in the environments where you work & play. We don’t want to waste your time dishing out generalised facts and neglect the nuance that makes knowing first aid and CPR useful for your life.
Feel Like You’re Forgetting? Try These 5 Quick Refreshers
If you’re feeling a little rusty, don’t panic. Here are 5 easy, free (or super low-cost) ways to refresh your first aid knowledge without signing up for a full course again:
✅ 1. Log Back Into Your Course Portal
If you did your training with SALT Training Academy (Student Portal) you will have access to your course material even after the course is finished. So go ahead and log back in for a refresher!
📱 2. Use a Free First Aid App
Apps like the Red Cross First Aid app or St John’s First Aid app are awesome for quick refreshers. They’re easy to use and perfect for brushing up on scenarios like choking, bleeding, or CPR.
📺 3. Watch Short Recap Videos on YouTube
Search for reliable channels (we’ll be launching ours soon 👀) that offer short how-to videos on key first aid skills. Watching a real-life demo—even for just 2–3 minutes—can bring everything flooding back (we also love watching Tacmed Australia's YouTube channel).
💡 4. Sign up to 'The Pulse' or Follow reputable First Aid providers
We have a monthly newsletter 'The Pulse" and post regular tips, bite-sized lessons, and real-life first aid stories to help our followers keep their knowledge fresh. Follow providers you trust, and you’ll passively reinforce your learning as you scroll.
🗓 5. Set a Monthly “First Aid Check-In”
Add a recurring 10-minute reminder to your calendar each month. Use it to review one skill—like CPR, recovery position, or treating a burn. It’s quick, and it works.
When You Should Do a Full Refresher Course
Sometimes, a full course or refresher course is the best option. Here’s when it’s worth booking in:
✅ You have never completed a first aid course or CPR course before that includes a face-to-face assessment.
✅ It’s been more than 12 months since your last CPR course (the standard renewal recommendation).
✅ You work in a role where first aid compliance is a must—childcare, construction, NDIS, etc.
✅ You don’t feel confident should an emergency situation occur.
✅ Your certificate is close to expiry and you need to stay current.
In these cases completing a full course / refresher with blended learning, online theory with face to face practical is your best option to stay compliant and confident.
Final Words…
So give yourself a little grace. Don’t wait until your certificate expires or you’re in an emergency to brush up. Use the tools you already have to keep your skills sharp—because you never know when someone might need you to step up. Book in with us and leave with new skills, confidence and info that ‘sticks’.
Reach out anytime—we’re here to help you feel confident and capable.
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