Enhanced First Aid Module – REFRESH

GWO Enhanced First Aid Refresher (EFAR) – also known as Enhanced First Aid Refresher – is the refresher course for the Enhanced First Aid (EFA) module. It is designed for individuals working in the wind energy industry (both onshore and offshore) who need to maintain their advanced first aid skills in remote, high-risk environments.

This course refreshes and reinforces the knowledge and skills acquired in the initial EFA course, focusing on providing extended medical care until professional rescue teams arrive (which can take hours or even days in isolated locations).

General Information about Enhanced First Aid Refresher (EFAR)

• Course Aim To enable participants to continue delivering safe and effective enhanced first aid in a wind turbine environment, including managing severe life-threatening emergencies, stabilizing casualties, and coordinating with medical/rescue services.
• Key Learning Objectives (Refresher)
  • Review basic and enhanced first aid delivery in accordance with ERC (European Resuscitation Council) and AHA (American Heart Association) guidelines.
  • Assess risks and casualty condition using the ABCDE method.
  • Manage catastrophic external bleeding and other life-threatening emergencies.
  • Provide enhanced first aid to stabilize the casualty using advanced techniques and equipment (e.g., oxygen therapy, severe trauma management).
  • Handle the casualty, request telemedical consultation, and liaise with emergency/rescue teams for effective handover.
• Course Duration Typically 16–20 hours (2–3 days), shorter than the initial EFA course (3 days / 24 hours). Includes practical and theoretical assessments.
• Certificate Validity24 months (2 years) from the date of completion. The certificate is registered in the GWO WINDA database and recognized worldwide.
• Prerequisites
  • A valid (or recently expired) EFA or EFAR certificate (it is strongly recommended to complete the refresher before expiry).
  • Valid WINDA ID (free registration at winda.globalwindsafety.org).
  • Minimum age 18 and good physical health (medical fitness required for practical exercises).
• Why is the refresher mandatory? Many employers and operators in the wind industry (especially offshore, but also in large onshore projects) require a valid EFA/EFAR certification for roles involving remote work or increased medical responsibility. Without a current certificate, you may not be permitted to perform certain duties or access isolated sites.

If the EFA certificate has been expired for an extended period, most training providers will require you to repeat the full initial EFA course.