Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Response Emergency Care (RQF)

The Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Response Emergency Care (RQF), commonly known as FREC 3, is the leading prehospital care qualification for individuals operating in demanding and high risk environments.

Delivered by Black Onyx Academy, an approved centre accredited by Qualsafe, this course equips learners with the essential knowledge, confidence and practical skills to manage a wide range of emergency and trauma situations before the arrival of advanced medical support.

This Ofqual regulated qualification exceeds standard HSE First Aid requirements and forms the first step in a progressive pathway of recognised prehospital care qualifications.

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Who Is This Course For?

The FREC 3 course is ideal for anyone who may be required to provide emergency care as part of their role, including:

• Security and close protection operatives
• Event medical and safety personnel
• Emergency services and responders
• Military and defence personnel
• Offshore, energy, construction and industrial workers
• Volunteers or individuals looking to work as a first responder

It is particularly suited to those operating in dynamic, remote or high threat environments where rapid, informed medical intervention can save lives.

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What You Will Learn

Learners will develop the competencies outlined in the Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM) Skills Framework at Descriptor Level D, gaining both theoretical understanding and hands-on capability in areas including:

• Roles and responsibilities of a first responder
• Operational readiness and human factors
• Emergency services capabilities and coordination
• Structured patient assessment and documentation
• Mechanism of injury and incident management
• Control of life threatening catastrophic bleeding
• Airway management and emergency oxygen use
• Breathing difficulties in trauma and medical emergencies
• Prehospital trauma care and emergency medical care
• Primary triage using Ten Second Triage principles
• Responding to changing risks and threats
• Moving and handling in emergency situations
• Environmental exposure, immersion and submersion incidents
• Adult, child and infant Basic Life Support and AED use

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Course Details

• Qualification: Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Response Emergency Care (RQF)
• Duration: 37 hours
• Regulation: Ofqual regulated
• Clinical endorsement: Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
• Certificate validity: 3 years

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Why Train With Black Onyx Academy?

Black Onyx Academy delivers FREC 3 training grounded in real-world operational experience. Our instructors bring frontline backgrounds and a practical, scenario-led approach that ensures learning is relevant, engaging and immediately applicable in high pressure environments.

Whether you are enhancing professional capability or taking your first step into prehospital care, this course provides a robust, respected foundation in emergency response.