When Iglu Sauna got in touch, they weren’t looking for a standard first aid course with the word sauna added to the front.

They wanted something that genuinely understood the world of sauna.

A course that recognised people come to a sauna to slow down, breathe deeply, connect with others and leave feeling better than when they arrived. Somewhere that feels calm, welcoming and restorative – not clinical.

Already Iglu members who sauna regularly and understand the benefits of such a wonderful, relaxed environment, we were really keen to take on this challenge. 

The team at Iglu Sauna were brilliant. They were open, honest and full of ideas, and together we built something completely different from a traditional first aid course.

Because this wasn’t about ticking a compliance box.

It was about giving sauna hosts the confidence to quietly look after people without changing the atmosphere that makes sauna so magical.

One message came up again and again throughout the day…

This isn’t about making sauna feel dangerous.

It’s about helping great hosts become even more confident.

The vast majority of guests will have an amazing experience. They’ll move between the heat and the cold, chat with others, unwind and leave feeling fantastic.

That’s exactly what we’re trying to protect.

Our job isn’t to create nervous hosts who see danger everywhere… or an environment crowded with signs!

It’s to help them recognise when something doesn’t quite look right, start a friendly conversation before a situation develops, and know exactly what to do if the unexpected happens.

One phrase from the workshop seemed to stick with everyone:

“Intervene early. A polite conversation is often the best first aid you’ll give all day.

Every scenario sparked brilliant discussions before we explored the evidence-based first aid response together.

Just as importantly, we talked about prevention.

How do you spot early warning signs?

When should you start a conversation?

How can you prevent an emergency before it ever becomes one?

That practical, site-specific approach was exactly what made the biggest difference for the team.

As they told us afterwards:

“Rather than delivering a generic course, they worked through real scenarios in our own environment, helping the team practise procedures exactly as they would happen in real life. That practical approach has given everyone far greater confidence and created muscle memory for responding in an emergency.”

Saunas and cold water immersion are growing rapidly across the UK, and it’s brilliant to see more people discovering the physical and mental wellbeing benefits.

With that growth comes responsibility.

Serious emergencies remain rare, but they could happen.

The combination of heat, cold immersion and underlying medical conditions can occasionally create situations where a calm, confident response really matters.

The good news?

Preparation doesn’t mean creating fear.

It means giving your team the confidence to recognise concerns early, respond calmly and keep your guests safe while protecting the welcoming atmosphere that makes sauna culture so special.

One of the things that really stood out in Iglu Sauna’s feedback was the value of making the training completely site-specific.

As Charlie from Iglu said:

“The thing I drew most value from was how you adapted the course to fit our site and that we tried real procedures out. In terms of building muscle memory response within the team, it couldn’t have been better.”

This session isn’t a generic course, It’s a workshop built around your people, your environment and your procedures.

Rather than asking your team to imagine how first aid might work in your setting, we practise it where it actually happens. That way, if the unexpected does happen, your team already knows what good looks like.

We’re incredibly proud of this feedback from the team at Iglu Sauna:

“Since the course, our team has shown more confidence, a focus on prevention and awareness, and we’ve been able to strengthen our emergency procedures across the business.”

“It has been a valuable investment and, in an ideal world, we’d have Splat in every month for a refresher. We’d recommend the course to any sauna operator looking for practical, high-quality first aid training that’s specifically designed for the sauna industry.”

We’re incredibly grateful to the team at Iglu Sauna for trusting us to deliver the very first version of this workshop, for challenging us to think differently, and for helping shape what we believe is the future of first aid training for the sauna industry.

If you run a sauna, cold plunge or wellness space, we’d love to chat.

Whether you’re opening your first site or have an experienced team, we’ll build a workshop around your environment, your procedures and your people – because no two saunas are the same.