The Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Response Emergency Care (RQF) is an essential qualification for security professionals, close protection operatives, event security personnel, lone workers, and those who may be required to provide emergency care before the arrival of the ambulance service.

Security personnel are often first on scene when something goes wrong. Whether dealing with a medical emergency, a violent incident, a collapse, a major bleed, a seizure, breathing difficulty, or trauma in a public-facing environment, the ability to respond quickly, safely, and confidently can make a real difference.

This course is designed to give learners the practical skills, knowledge, and confidence to assess incidents, manage patients, provide emergency care, and support the chain of survival in challenging real-world situations.

Throughout the course, learners will develop a structured approach to patient assessment using DRABCDE, helping them identify and manage life-threatening conditions in order of priority. The course covers both trauma and medical emergencies, including catastrophic bleeding, airway management, CPR and AED use, oxygen therapy, chest injuries, burns, poisoning, head and spinal injuries, seizures, asthma, anaphylaxis, shock, and other urgent conditions.

The training is practical, hands-on, and scenario-based. Learners will practise essential response skills and learn how to use emergency care equipment safely and within their scope, including AEDs, oxygen equipment, airway adjuncts, wound care materials, dressings, splints, and other first response equipment.

The course also places strong emphasis on scene safety, dynamic risk assessment, infection control, consent, record keeping, patient dignity, information governance, communication, and effective handover to emergency services using recognised formats such as ATMIST and SBAR.

This qualification is particularly valuable for those working in security because emergencies rarely happen in perfect conditions. Learners will consider how to work safely and effectively in crowds, events, night-time environments, confined spaces, hostile situations, public venues, and other demanding locations where security staff may be expected to take control until further help arrives.

By the end of the course, learners should be able to assess an incident, prioritise treatment, manage life-threatening conditions, provide appropriate emergency care, communicate clearly with colleagues and emergency services, and act within their level of training and responsibility.

This course is not simply about meeting a requirement. It is about preparing learners to act when it matters most, protect life, support the public, and bring confidence and professionalism to emergency situations.

Core areas covered include:

·         Patient assessment and management

·         Dynamic risk assessment and scene safety

·         DRABCDE primary survey

·         Secondary survey and SAMPLE history

·         CPR and AED use

·         Airway management

·         Emergency oxygen administration

·         Catastrophic bleeding control

·         Trauma care

·         Chest injuries

·         Shock and compromised circulation

·         Burns and scalds

·         Poisoning

·         Head, spinal and musculoskeletal injuries

·         Medical emergencies

·         Consent, record keeping and information governance

·         Structured handover to emergency services

The standard expected throughout the course is clear:

Assess safely. Act confidently. Treat within scope. Communicate clearly. Reassess continuously. Handover professionally. Protect life.