Skills Bootcamp: First Response Emergency Care Level 3

The biggest difference is that FREC 3 starts developing someone as an emergency care responder rather than simply a workplace first aider.

Instead of learning isolated first-aid interventions, learners are expected to assess a patient systematically, identify priorities, use appropriate emergency care equipment, provide treatment and then continue managing and reassessing that patient while awaiting further clinical support.

This makes it particularly useful for people who could find themselves providing care for longer periods or in environments where an ambulance may not immediately be at the patient’s side.

The course combines classroom learning with a significant amount of practical skills, scenarios and assessment. Typical areas include:

• Scene and patient assessment – scene safety, primary and secondary surveys, structured casualty assessment, history taking, observations and recognising deterioration.
• Airway management – recognising airway compromise, positioning, suction and appropriate basic airway adjuncts.
• Breathing emergencies – assessment of breathing, oxygen therapy, respiratory emergencies and recognition of serious chest problems.
• Resuscitation – adult, child and infant CPR, AED use and management of the unconscious patient.
• Major bleeding and shock – haemorrhage control, wound packing, pressure dressings and tourniquet use. Qualsafe’s current FREC training equipment specifically includes items such as tourniquets, haemostatic training gauze and trauma dressings.
• Trauma – assessment and management of wounds, fractures, burns, head injuries, spinal concerns and other significant traumatic injuries.
• Medical emergencies – including conditions such as heart attack, stroke, asthma, anaphylaxis, diabetes, seizures and other causes of sudden illness.
• Patient monitoring and ongoing care – taking and interpreting basic observations, reassessing the patient and identifying changes in their condition.
• Communication and handover – communicating effectively with patients, other responders and ambulance clinicians, including structured casualty handovers.
• Practical casualty management – bringing all of the individual skills together to assess, treat, monitor and hand over casualties during realistic scenarios.

The equipment associated with Qualsafe’s FREC programme reflects the practical nature of the qualification, including airway-capable manikins, BVMs, AED trainers, trauma dressings, haemostatic gauze, tourniquets and splinting equipment.

Learners should bring:

• Valid photographic ID
• Comfortable clothing suitable for practical exercises
• Writing materials
• Evidence of previous qualifications (if requested)

No specialist PPE or medical equipment is required, although learners may choose to bring personal clinical equipment for familiarisation where appropriate.

Pre-course learning materials may be provided before attendance.

Learners are assessed throughout the course using:

• Practical observations
• Simulated casualty scenarios
• Ongoing competency assessment
• Written assessments (where required by the awarding organisation)

Successful completion of this course can lead you onto Qualsafe Level 4 Award in First Response Emergency Care (RQF).