Who is FREC 4 Suitable for?

The QA Level 4 Certificate in First Response Emergency Care – FREC 4 is a regulated and nationally recognised prehospital care qualification specifically designed for those looking to progress their career within the NHS or private ambulance services as an emergency care assistant, intermediate ambulance practitioner, event medical provider, associate practitioner or healthcare assistant. It is also ideal for those who are looking to work within specialist roles in the military, police and fire services.

Fulfilling the competencies set out in the PHEM skills framework at descriptor level E, this fantastic qualification providers learners with the knowledge and skills needed to be able to respond to a wide range of prehospital care emergencies, such as: major incidents, fracture immobilisation, sick and injured children, mental health crisis and more.

This the next step for those who have completed the QA Level 3 Certificate in First Response Emergency Care (RQF), this qualification provides learners with a wider scope of practice in prehospital care emergencies, allowing for greater employment opportunities. It also forms part of a progressive suite of prehospital care qualifications that lead to the QA Level 6 Diploma in Paramedic Practice (RQF).

What’s Covered in FREC 4?

• Initial patient assessment
• Physiological observations
• Anatomy and physiology
• Heart disease
• Electrocardiogram application and monitoring
• Managing a patient’s airway – supraglottic airways
• Medical gases – including dosages and administration
• Thoracic trauma
• Sepsis
• Maternity care
• Respiratory disorders and infections
• Mechanisms of injury and kinetics
• Triage
• Full body and limb immobilisation
• Sexual assault
• Major incidents
• Psychosocial development in children
• Emergency care for sick and injured children
• Mental health crisis
• Assisting the clinician with clinical interventions

Entry Requirements

QA Level 4 Certificate in First Response Emergency Care (FREC 4) is a in depth course and students must be willing to attend the full course and have the enthusiasm to get the most out of it. Learners must:

• Be at least 18 years old on the first day of the training.
• Have successfully completed FREC 3 – Award in First Response Emergency Care qualification or a QA recognised equivalent.
• There are no other formal entry requirements but to benefit from the learning we advise that Learners have a minimum of Level 2 in literacy and numeracy or equivalent.

Curriculum

Learners must complete all assessments successfully within the registration period to achieve the qualification. The maximum period to achieve this qualification, including any referrals is 12 months.

1. Component 1 Patient assessment and management
• 1.1 Be able to assess and manage injury and illness.
• 1.2 Understand the structure and function of the heart including the cardiac conduction system.
• 1.3 Understand pathological changes associated with heart disease.
• 1.4 Know how to use electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring on a patient.
• 1.5 Be able to manage a patient’s airway.
• 1.6 Know how to manage a patient using medical gases.
• 1.7 Be able to administer medical gases in line with current practice.

2. Component 2 Emergency Trauma Care
• 2.1 Understand the function of components of the respiratory system.
• 2.2 Be able to assess and treat thoracic trauma.
• 2.3 Understand the function of the musculoskeletal system.
• 2.4 Understand the key characteristics of the nervous system.
• 2.5 Understand mechanisms of injury and kinetics.
• 2.6 Be able to provide emergency care to traumatically injured patients.
• 2.7 Know how to manage cases of actual or suspected sexual assault.
• 2.8 Know how to provide first response emergency care at a major incident.

3. Component 3 Focused Emergency and Urgent Care
• 3.1 Understand the physical and psychosocial development in children.
• 3.2 Know how to provide emergency care to sick and injured children.
• 3.3 Understand how to deal with a patient displaying signs of mental health problems.
• 3.4 Understand how to deal with common respiratory conditions.
• 3.5 Understand the structure and function of the digestive system.
• 3.6 Know how to assess and initially manage sepsis.
• 3.7 Know how to manage childbirth.
• 3.8 Be able to assist a clinician performing clinical interventions.