In October 2021, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) introduced new first aid requirements to promote public safety following recommendations made by the Manchester Inquiry.
Background
On 22nd May 2017, twenty‑two innocent people were murdered in Manchester at the end of a concert performed by the American artist, Ariana Grande. Hundreds of others were injured, and many suffered life‑changing physical and psychological harm.
The subsequent Inquiry made the following recommendations in June 2021:
Mandatory first aid training for staff of those under Protect Duty.
Protect Duty‑holders are required to ensure that employees are trained in first aid relevant to injuries which are particularly likely to occur during a terrorist attack.
Today, the current national terrorist threat level is substantial (an attack is likely).
Response
The SIA have now made it mandatory for all individuals to have an Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) qualification or equivalent to become a licensed security professional (including those renewing their licence from October 2021). Furthermore, applicants for a close protection licence are now expected to complete a first aid qualification at Level 3 or above before taking their licence-linked training.
Door supervisors and security guards
The SIA has provided examples of appropriate qualifications here and included generic Emergency First Aid at Work courses along with First Person on Scene (FPOS) and First Response Emergency Care (FREC) courses as suggestions.
Why not consider FTACC-E instead?
First Aid Trauma and Casualty Care – Emergency (FTACC-E) is the first step on a new generation of pre-hospital trauma courses: the ATACC Integrated Emergency Care Programme (IECP).
FTACC-E is a dynamic, engaging and effective one day course developed by leading healthcare professionals for first aid providers. It is trauma focused, with skills stations covering tourniquet application, wound packing, pressure dressings and more along with more standard first aid. This is a fantastic training opportunity for security personnel who are more likely to assess and treat traumatic injuries in their line of work. This also meets the Manchester Inquiry recommendations of responders being trained in first aid relevant to injuries which are particularly likely to occur during a terrorist attack.
FTACC-E is a QNUK accredited course and complies with the Faculty of Pre-hospital Care (FPHC), Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM) guidelines level B of The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh and is an equivalent to Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW). This therefore meets SIA requirements for Door Supervisors and Security Guards.
FTACC-E candidates experience practical and immersive training, live casualties, fake blood and education from emergency service experts. There is no 'death by PowerPoint' here - this is a first aid course with a difference.
FTACC-E courses meet and exceed Health and Safety Executive (HSE) standards by supplementing theoretical lessons with practical and immersive scenarios using moulage and high-fidelity prosthetics. This realistic and hands-on approach is designed to give learners confidence in their skills and optimise knowledge retention to improve patient outcomes.
FTACC-E is significantly less expensive than the EFAW courses offered by voluntary aid societies such as St John and Red Cross. FPOS and FREC courses are also far more expensive and tend to be run over four to five days, whereas FTACC-E is run over one day and still meets SIA requirements.
Code Red Training can create a range of bespoke training packages and emergency scenarios specific to workplaces or sites to meet the learning needs of security staff.
How do all the courses compare?
We’ve created a table to explain more:
Close Protection Operatives (CPOs)
For CPOs, Code Red Training can provide a three-day Level 3 First Aid Trauma and Casualty Care (FTACC) course or a three-day Level 3 Rescue Trauma and Casualty Care (RTACC) course which both meet close protection SIA requirements.
Which course should you choose?
Out of all the Level 3 courses, RTACC is the most advanced pre-hospital trauma course available in the UK. RTACC has the highest PHEM framework (E) and teaches operatives how to care for patients as a primary (rather than secondary) role with more advanced knowledge and skills.
RTACC is also taught over fewer days than FREC and FPOSi, resulting in less disruption to candidates’ lives and work commitments. Furthermore, a quick online search shows numerous companies advertising the FREC and FPOSi courses for a range of prices – many of which are more expensive than the Code Red Training RTACC price.
With so many FREC and FPOSi providers available, it is also harder to guarantee quality training compared to the select number of affiliate ATACC training centres. Code Red Training can also provide bespoke RTACC courses which include a range of emergency scenarios tailored to meet specific CPO learning needs and will equip operatives with the knowledge, skills and confidence to alleviate suffering and save lives. This flexibility ensures the CPO responders are appropriately trained in triage and the management of traumatic injuries commonly seen during a terrorist attack in line with the Manchester Inquiry recommendations.
Here's another table comparison:
*Level 3 First Person on Scene – Intermediate (FPOSi) RQF by AoFAQ has been discontinued.
Other reasons to choose RTACC
RTACC courses are delivered using high fidelity simulation training – there is no ‘death by PowerPoint’ here. Candidates are fully immersed into scenarios using live actors to replicate the reality and pressure of dealing with critically injured patients. Our actors will bleed, scream, faint and even fight back - just as an injured person would. You will see it, feel it and deal with it. This realistic and hands-on approach is designed to give learners confidence to deal with life threatening situations and optimise knowledge retention to improve patient outcomes.
Only a select few companies offer RTACC courses in the UK, as The ATACC Group are extremely selective when affiliating with other training centres - instructors must be experienced and credible subject matter experts.
RTACC is endorsed by the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) Faculty of Pre-hospital Care. This means the content has been externally scrutinised in line with current best practice and approved by the UK’s most credible advisory body on pre-hospital care.
The RTACC course was clinically underwritten by experienced Critical Care Doctors and Prehospital Care Clinicians within The ATACC Faculty and backed by the expert Medical Advisory Group.
RTACC has become the course of choice for Police (D13), Fire and Rescue Services and industrial first aid/emergency medical response teams who operate in high-risk, remote or hostile environments – not only in the UK, but across the world.
The maximum trainer to learner ratio for RTACC courses is 1:6 with a maximum of 2 trainers to 12 students. This ensures all candidates experience quality hands-on training.
The RTACC qualification develops both technical and non-technical knowledge and skills involved in casualty care.
All RTACC candidates receive an in-depth manual and MARCH prompt/record card to aid knowledge retention and confidence in future practice.
Why choose Code Red Training?
One of our Code Red trainers, Steph, is a HCPC registered paramedic with eight years experience - the last five of those have been spent working in a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). Within her HART role, Steph works closely with authorised firearms officers, provides support to security operations and is trained in marauding terrorist attack response.
Code Red Training runs courses at the amazing Lifeskills Create Centre in Bristol - you will not find a more realistic training venue for a Level 3 course in the Southwest.
Code Red Training is also able to provide bespoke on-site training packages with emergency scenarios specific to workplaces to meet the learning needs of staff and responders.
Interested?
Learn more about our new generation of pre-hospital trauma courses: the ATACC Integrated Emergency Care Programme (IECP) here.
Have more questions?
Head over to our FAQ page here, contact us on LinkedIn or email info@coderedtraining.co.uk