4d (edited) • General discussions
First Aid & Other Safety Recommendations for Aromatherapists
Often, when people are writing articles or book chapters on the subject of what materials and items they need to have to begin an Aromatherapy Clinic/Dispensary, as well as what qualifications are required to become a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist (CCA), they often leave out one of the most important things: First Aid and Safety Qualifications.
First Aid can be a bit of a tricky subject to discuss for the simple fact that, depending on where your business is operating from (state, country, etc), the qualifications, safety regulations, etc. surrounding First Aid can greatly differ.
Though I will be pointing out some General Workplace First Aid information here with an Aromatherapy twist, it is important that, as a Clinical Practitioner, you attain the necessary qualifications and skills as set out by your local educational and regulatory bodies on the subject.
As I am Australian, this article will lean more towards Australian practice than any other, though I have attempted to discuss First Aid certification from the USA and the UK. Please check with your local Aromatherapy/CAM association or Regulatory bodies, as I am not an expert on these countries.
This article will start by giving a summary of certifications you may be required to undertake as a Clinical in Australia, the United Kingdom, or in the United States of America (Outside of your Aromatherapy certification).
Some Aromatherapy Certifications and Associations recognized Aromatherapy certifications will require students to learn these as part of the various modules/subjects taught within their Aromatherapy Qualification. Some Aromatherapy Certifications and Associations do not include these additional training modules/subjects at all.
After this, I will provide a summary of some common first aid procedures specific to Aromatherapy.
When in doubt, or even when you're confident in how to handle these adverse reactions or situations that may come up, it’s a good idea to call the following relevant numbers during an incident:
Australia (AUS)
· National poisons information hotline: 13 11 26.
· Or call 000 for an ambulance.
United Kingdom (UK)
· England and Scotland: dial 111 for emergency poison information.
· In the Republic of Ireland, dial 01 809 2166.
United States of America (USA)
· Call 1-800-222-1222. There are 60 poison control centres, but this is a centralized emergency hotline.
· Or call 911.
Getting First Aid & Safety Certified in Australia:
Getting first aid certified in Australia involves completing a nationally recognised course through a registered training organization (RTO).
The standard process requires online pre-course study followed by a few hours of hands-on, face-to-face practical assessment.
There are typically two main certifications in Australia for First Aid, both of which are really important to undertake for Clinicians:
· HLTAID011 Provide First Aid: The most common general-purpose certificate. It covers basic emergency life support and CPR.
· HLTAID009 Provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): A shorter course focusing solely on CPR techniques.
These two qualifications, upon completion, are valid for only a specific period of time and therefore require renewal to be recertified. As of July 2026, this is set as:
· CPR (HLTAID009): Must be renewed every 12 months.
· First Aid (HLTAID011): Valid for 3 years, but you must refresh your CPR component annually to remain compliant.
Though not mandatory, the following two qualifications are highly recommended to be attained for a Clinical Setting:
· 22578VIC Course in First Aid Management of Anaphylaxis (State of Victoria) A highly specific, Victorian-accredited short course focusing purely on the prevention, recognition, and emergency treatment of severe allergic reactions using adrenaline autoinjectors (EpiPens). This is very useful in case of a rare event, if a client has had a severe allergic reaction to a formulation.
· Mental Health First Aid (MHFA): While not an "HLTAID" clinical code, this internationally recognized certification is highly valued across all Australian industries. It teaches you how to recognize signs of mental health issues (such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse) and safely support someone experiencing a mental health crisis until professional help is secured.
Some RTOs offer ‘bite-size’ mini courses, workshops, or training modules on specific First Aid issues, for example, St John Ambulance Victoria offers a Course in Facial and Eye Injuries, either due to trauma or chemical contamination. Imagine if a client accidentally got an essential oil in the eye – what should you do? A mini-course like this would be very useful for a Clinician to know.
In Australia, as CAM Associations such as ANTA or ATMS only recognise Clinical Aromatherapy qualifications taken from an RTO School which teaches the HLT52315 – Diploma of Clinical Aromatherapy and the extension course HLTSS00046 Aromatic Therapies Skill Set, qualifications which include Aromatic Massage.
Because of the massage and the topical prescribing (and if you are an Aromatic Medicine Practitioner, internal use), you must hold in addition the following specific safety competencies:
· HLTINF005 Maintain Infection Prevention and Control: This unit is standardly embedded in all accredited remedial massage diplomas (like the Diploma of Remedial Massage). If you trained overseas or completed an older qualification, associations like the Association of Massage Therapists (AMT) mandate completing this unit. It covers blood-borne virus protocols, managing skin-to-skin barrier breaches, and disinfecting clinical equipment.
· Red Flag & Contraindication Screening: While not a standalone certificate, you must have formal, documented training in identifying clinical contraindications. For a massage therapist, this means recognizing signs of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), infectious skin conditions, or acute inflammation where massage is dangerous. For a naturopath, it means screening for dangerous herb-drug interactions using professional databases.
· Working with Children Check (WWCC): You must hold a valid, paid Employee/Business Owner WWCC in your state (e.g., Working with Children Check Victoria). Private health funds will instantly suspend your provider status if this check lapses.
· National Police Check: Required by major associations upon initial enrolment and usually refreshed every 3 to 5 years.
· National Code of Conduct for Healthcare Workers: You must display the official Code of Conduct summary and your clinic's complaints policy clearly on your reception or clinic room wall.
Other Certifications Required:
In Australia, health information is classified as "sensitive data" and is heavily protected under federal law.
The Core Legislation: The Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
The Training/Certification Name: Australian Privacy Act Compliance Training (often specifically tailored as Healthcare Privacy and APP Training).
Specific Healthcare Laws: If your clinic integrates with digital health records, staff must be certified in My Health Record System Compliance under the My Health Records Act 2012.
Who Needs It: Any private practice collecting medical histories, lifestyle details, or health insurance information. If your business has an annual turnover under $3 million, you are normally exempt from the Privacy Act—unless you provide a health service. Because naturopaths, aromatherapists, and massage therapists provide a health service, you must comply regardless of your business size.
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Getting First Aid Certified in the United Kingdom:
The mandatory first aid and safety certifications for establishing a clinical aromatherapy, naturopathy, or massage practice in the United Kingdom are governed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and voluntary regulatory registries rather than a single unified healthcare board.
Because the UK system relies heavily on professional registries—such as the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) and the International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA)—specific compliance milestones must be met to practice safely.
To obtain Professional Indemnity Insurance and maintain registration with elite UK professional bodies, you must hold a regulated, HSE-compliant first aid certificate.
The Baseline Standard: Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) Level 3: This is the most common 1-day (6.5-hour) face-to-face course. It covers CPR, automated external defibrillators (AEDs), choking, heavy bleeding, shock, minor burns, and general clinic injuries. Leading professional networks like the International Federation of Aromatherapists (IFA) require an EFAW certificate or a dedicated "First Aid for Complementary Therapists" equivalent.
The Employer Standard: First Aid at Work (FAW) Level 3: If you open a physical clinic and employ multiple practitioners or administrative staff, the HSE First Aid Regulations require you to transition to the comprehensive 3-day FAW course. This covers advanced illness management, head and spinal injuries, and skeletal fractures.
Currency Rule: Unlike Australia's annual CPR refreshes, UK certificates are standardly valid for 3 years before a full face-to-face re-qualification course is required.
Because clinical aromatherapy, naturopathy, and massage involve direct physical touch, topical products, and botanical compounding, you will need to fulfill several additional clinical safety requirements:
Infection Control & Clinical Hygiene: You must hold a qualification that explicitly proves competence in Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) and general clinical hygiene. For bodyworkers, this is typically integrated directly into a standard VTCT or ITEC Level 3/4 Diploma in Massage or Aromatherapy. It covers cross-contamination prevention, linen sanitisation, and handling bodily fluids.
Red Flag Symptom Recognition: Specialized UK clinical providers often attach a "Red Flag" recognition course to basic first aid. This trains natural medicine practitioners to spot signs of life-threatening issues (like deep vein thrombosis, malignant skin lesions, or neurological failures) that require immediate referral to an NHS general practitioner or emergency department.
To open your workspace to a broad client demographic, the following statutory safety screenings are necessary:
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check: If you intend to treat vulnerable adults or minors, you must secure an Enhanced DBS Check (the UK equivalent to a Working with Children Check). Professional associations will not issue full practitioner status without a clear, up-to-date DBS disclosure on file.
· Local Government Special Treatment Licenses: If you operate a dedicated brick-and-mortar clinic in London or other metropolitan boroughs, your local council will require a Massage and Special Treatment License. Council inspectors physically audit your clinic to verify that emergency fire escapes, first aid boxes, and clean ventilation protocols meet local safety bylaws.
Following Brexit, the UK maintained the strict data standards of Europe but localized them into its own independent legal structure.
· The Core Legislation: The Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) and the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).
· The Training/Certification Name: UK GDPR & Data Protection Compliance Certification (specifically modules addressing Special Category Data).
· Information Commissioner's Office (ICO): As a clinic owner in the UK, you must register as a "Data Controller" with the ICO. Your staff must hold a certificate proving they understand how to handle patient consent, data breaches, and a client's "Right to Be Forgotten."
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Getting First Aid Certified in the United States of America (USA):
Unlike Australia’s single, unified national training system (RTOs), the United States regulates healthcare and complementary medicine at the state level. There is no single federal requirement for safety or first aid qualifications.
Instead, requirements vary wildly by state and by your specific modality.
To become a Certified Aromatherapist (Level 1 – C.A), a Certified Professional Aromatherapist (Level 2, C.P.A the most common certification) or a Certified Clinical Aromatherapist (Level 3, C.C.A) in the USA, you would be required to undertake an Association recognised qualification such as those recognized by NAHA (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy), AIA (Alliance of International Aromatherapists), or IFPA (International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists).
Generally, these USA Aromatherapy Qualifications do not include manual therapy such as Aromatic Massage, as massage in general is highly regulated by state boards in 44 states plus Washington DC in the USA, and differs state by state.
There also does not appear to be any set standards or requirements to obtain First Aid, CPR, or other such license/certification within the Aromatherapy Industry, as self-regulated by the Aromatherapy associations, which I personally think is a mistake.
At a minimum, I believe USA Aromatherapists should obtain the following, which are the standard certifications required for the general public, corporate offices, fitness trainers, and daycare workers.
They are standardly valid for 2 years:
· Adult and Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED: The most common general certificate. It is the direct US equivalent to Australia's HLTAID011. It covers basic life support, choking, using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and managing sudden illnesses or wounds for adults, children, and infants.
· Adult CPR/AED Only: A shorter, specialized course that removes general first aid (like bleeding or burns) and focuses strictly on cardiac arrest response.
· Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers: This is the gold standard for clinical workers. It teaches high-performance CPR, multi-rescuer team dynamics, bag-valve-mask (BVM) ventilation techniques, and advanced airway management.
· Mental Health First Aid (MHFA USA): Managed by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. This certification trains you to identify, understand, and safely respond to signs of mental health challenges or substance use crises in your community or clinic.
If you are also a qualified Massage Therapist who offers Aromatic Massage, you would require the following, or at least your state’s version:
State Board Licensing: Many states (including Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, and Pennsylvania) mandate proof of a current CPR and First Aid certificate to obtain or renew a license. Other states build CPR/First Aid training directly into the mandatory 500-to-750 hours of massage school curriculum.
The Accepted Standard: The universally accepted certificates are American Heart Association (AHA) or
American Red Cross courses:
Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers: Often preferred as it focuses on clinical environment scenarios.
Adult CPR/AED and First Aid: The standard general public and workplace option.
Continuing Education (CE): Some states allow you to count your recurring CPR/First Aid certification toward your mandatory professional development hours (e.g., Delaware allows 2 out of 12 CE hours to be emergency-related).
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030): If your massage therapists or naturopaths perform high-risk modalities like acupuncture, cupping, or if there is any chance of skin barrier breach, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) legally requires the business owner to provide annual Bloodborne Pathogens Training.
Human Trafficking Awareness Training: A rapidly expanding, mandatory law for bodyworkers in states like Florida and Michigan. You cannot get or renew a massage or clinic facility license without completing a state-approved human trafficking safety and reporting module.
HIPAA Compliance Certification: If your naturopathy clinic handles digital client records or coordinates with insurance networks, all clinic staff must complete Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy and data safety training.
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FIRST AID PROCEDURES
Adverse skin reactions:
Topical exposure to some essential oils may cause local skin reactions, including irritation, allergic reactions, and photosensitization. All of these involve burning and redness of the skin, and may include itching, pain, and hives (small blisters).
In rare cases, skin reactions may occur even in remote areas of the body (i.e., not where the essential oils were applied). In very rare cases, anaphylactic shock has occurred, which may include swelling of the lips, tongue, and throat, difficulty breathing, and a dramatic drop in blood pressure. If this appears to be happening, medical care should be sought immediately.
What to do:
- DO NOT APPLY ESSENTIAL OILS!
- Remove any contaminated clothing.
- Wash the skin gently with (preferably unperfumed) soap and water for at least 10 minutes
- Expose the skin to the air (but not to direct sunlight) to encourage evaporation of remaining essential oil.
- Lukewarm oatmeal baths may help soothe reactions spread over large areas of skin (and see infographic).
- Application of a simple barrier cream or a mild corticosteroid cream is the normal medical approach (although allergic contact dermatitis to topical corticosteroids is possible).
- Oral antihistamines may help reduce itching (topical antihistamines should be avoided because of the risk of allergic contact dermatitis).
- Seek medical attention if irritation persists.
Eye Contact
This generally occurs by accident (touching eyes with oily fingers or using the wrong product instead of eye drops). Undiluted essential oils should never be applied to or very close to the eyes, which are very sensitive to chemical burns.
If essential oils get into the eyes, reddening and lacrimation are likely to occur, and a child may rub their eyes.
What to Do:
1. As soon as possible, flush the eye with copious amounts of water for 15-30 minutes. Within a Clinic, it is best to have a dedicated Saline Eye Wash Station setup to use saline solution to flush the eye. You want an eye wash station containing 500ml (16.90 fl oz) bottles of 0.9% sodium chloride (saline) eye wash. Eye wash stations are generally very affordable (see picture for what they look like).
2. If there are contact lenses, remove them after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing the eye.
3. Ensure adequate flushing of the eyes by separating the eyelids with fingers if needed.
4. After flushing, a drop of a medical-grade sterile pure plain vegetable oil may be applied to the eye.
5. Seek medical advice if irritation persists.
Ingestion
Ingesting large amounts of essential oil, either in one dose or over time, can lead to toxicity. The definition of “large” depends on the essential oil and the body weight of the individual. The most common cause of toxicity due to overdose is in young children who are unsupervised and drink the contents of a bottle of essential oil. Near-fatal cases occur every year. Keep your essential oils away from children!
The initial effects may include mucosal irritation, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, and convulsions, CNS depression, and hepatic and renal failure may follow (Riordan et al 2002).\
What to do:
- Do not induce vomiting (corrosive chemicals may destroy mucous membranes, and there is a risk of aspiration into the victim’s lungs during vomiting).
- If the person is conscious and not convulsing, rinse the mouth with water and immediately call a hospital or poison centre. Avoid alcohol.
- If the person is convulsing or unconscious, do not give anything by mouth, ensure their airway is open, and lay them on their side with the head lower than the body.
- See here for how to put a person into a safe recovery position.
- Contact the local emergency services for evaluation and transport to a hospital as soon as possible.
- Note that activated charcoal is regarded as ineffective for treating essential oil poisoning (Jepsen and Ryan 2005).
Inhalation
The inhalation of essential oil vapours is not generally dangerous, but very intensive inhalation for more than about 20 minutes may lead to respiratory distress and/or neurological symptoms, such as headache, nausea, burning of eyes and throat, cough, shortness of breath, or slowed breathing in young children.
What to do
- Remove the person to fresh air.
- If not breathing, perform artificial respiration.
- Seek medical attention if symptoms are serious.
Nasal instillation
If essential oils have been instilled nasally (dropped into the nose), signs and symptoms of airway irritation are likely, ranging from nasal irritation through various degrees of respiratory oedema and distress to respiratory arrest. If sufficient amounts are absorbed by this route, systemic poisoning may result, as for oral ingestion (Tisserand & Young 2014).
What to do:
- Remove the person to fresh air.
- Use a tissue or dry clean cloth to wipe the area around the nose to remove any spilled oil on the exterior.
- If not breathing, give artificial respiration, preferably mouth-to-mouth, but make sure to use a barrier device such as a COR face shield with a one-way valve or wipe the face, lips, mouth, etc. of the person with a dry, clean cloth before doing mouth-to-mouth.
- Seek medical attention if symptoms are serious.
AND ALWAYS have physical copies in a readily accessible filing cabinet for EVERY ingredient, product, formulation, etc., etc SDS (Safety Data Sheet). These SDS’s typically have sections on advice for first aid pertaining to the product in question. Periodically read these. Emergency services may require you to supply this documentation.
Also, a good idea to get and have within the clinic a Modula easy-to-reach First Aid Kit and/or an AED.
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First Aid & Other Safety Recommendations for Aromatherapists
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