The Course:

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Delivered by Advanced ClinicalPractitioners who are experienced in  both Military Medical Services & Civilian NHS Emergency Ambulance Operations as well as the primary care setting, the Level 4 FREC Award meets all the competency requirements for non-health care professional pre-hospital providers to care for patients as a primary role, i.e. semi-autonomous practitioners. The course builds on the knowledge and skills acquired on the Level 3 FREC  Course.

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The qualification contains 3 mandatory units with a total value of 16 credits. 

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The  course consists of a MINIMUM of 185 hours of learning consisting of:- 

• pre-course reading of 20 hours.

• directed learning time of 40 hours,

• MINIMUM of 125 hours self directed study.

 

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an assessment of the pre-course reading is undertaken at the start of the course to confirm that learning has taken place.

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The MINIMUM time learners can complete the course in is 3 weeks and the MAXIMIM time to complete is 20 weeks.

We shall run the Level 4 FREC using three methods as shown below:

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1. Option 1.   This option will consist of 5 individual days run over a period not less than 3 and not greater than 12 weeks from the first course day. These individual days shall consist of your attendance being required between 0800hrs and 1700hrs each day. This allows for a minimum of 7 contact learning hours as well as refresher sessions and breaks. The total time on site will be 45hrs including breaks.

2. Option 2. This option will consist of 2 weekends consisting of a Friday Saturday and Sunday followed by another Saturday and Sunday. This option shall have a maximum period of 12 weeks between the weekends but may be run over 2 consecutive weekends. Each day will consist of 9 hours on site allowing for the minimum contact hours as well as additional revision time.

3. Option 3. This is the preferred option and will consist of 1 week of 5 consecutive days. Each day will consist of 9 hours duration. 

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Course prerequisites:

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Candidates must be at least 18 years of age on the first day of training.

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Learners must have successfully completed FREC Level 3 before being allowed onto the FREC Level 4 course. However if you have NHS training at ECA level or above, you can go straight onto FREC 4 provided you can evidence your training and qualification. (This will be checked with the relevant NHS Ambulance Service Training Provider).

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We offer a shortened (3-day FREC Level 3 conversion course from FPoS-I or other APL qualifications on selected dates. For those with no previous medical experience, you will have to do the full 5-day Level 3 before attempting FREC 4. If you are unsure, please contact us before booking to confirm that your prior qualifications are sufficient.

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Level 4 FREC  course content

Be able to perform patient assessment and physiological measures

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• ABCDE approach to conducting an initial patient assessment

•  Perform a patient assessment on a patient with a:   - Life threatening illness/injury  

                                                                                                    - Non-life threatening illness/injury  

• Assess a major incident involving multiple patients with a range of minor and major injuries

• Justify the need to carry out physiological measures

 

Assess a patient’s:

• Level of consciousness  

• Blood pressure   

• Skin temperature, colour and texture   

• Temperature  

• Pupillary response   

• Blood glucose measurement   

• Peak flow measure  

• Saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2)  

• Face, arm and speech

 

Understand the structure and function of the heart including the cardiac conducting system

• Summarise the structure of the heart

• Summarise the function of the heart

• Define the cardiac conduction system

Explain the functions of the:   

• Sinoatrial node  

• Atrioventricular node  

• Autonomic nervous system

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Understand pathological changes associated with heart disease

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• Explain how coronary artery disease can compromise heart functionality

• Explain how heart failure can compromise heart functionality

• Explain how arrhythmias can compromise heart functionality

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Know how to use electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring on a patient

 

• Describe an ECG

• Justify the need to carry out an ECG

• Apply a 3 lead ECG to a patient

• Interpret a 3 lead ECG trace

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Distinguish between:  

• Normal sinus rhythm  

• Ventricular fibrillation  

• Ventricular tachycardia    

• Asystole 

• Pulseless electrical activity  

• Bradycardia  

• Tachycardia

 

• Demonstrate how to use a 12 lead ECG on a patient

• Recognise other basic ECG rhythms

• Distinguish when to use shockable and non-shockable cardiac arrest management

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Other basic ECG rhythms  including:-

• Premature ventricular contractions 

• ST elevation

• R on T

• Supraventricular tachycardia

• Atrial fibrillation

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Invasive skills assistant skills including preperation of:

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• IV canulation equipment & IV fluid bags

• Intra-muscular injection (IM)

• Subcutaneous Injection (SC Injection)

• Supraglottic airways

• Intraoesious Injection using the Bone Injection Gun (BIG) & EZIO

• Endo-trachial intubation

• Magill forceps 

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Be able to manage a patients airway

 

Explain the following characteristics of  supraglottic airway devices:  

• Indications  

• Contraindications  

• Problems   

• Cautions

 

• Demonstrate how to manage a patient’s airway using a range of supraglottic airway devices

• Demonstrate how to select, insert, secure and remove a supraglottic airway device

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Know how to manage a patient using medical gases

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Distinguish between the dosage and administration of:   

• High levels of supplemental oxygen for adults with a critical illness  

• Moderate levels of supplemental oxygen for adults with serious illnesses if the patient  is hypoxaemic  

• Controlled or low-dose supplemental oxygen for adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and other conditions requiring controlled or low-dose oxygen therapy

• Explain the cautions and contra-indications of using oxygen

• Explain the contra-indications of administering 50:50 mixture of  nitrous oxide and oxygen

• Summarise the cautions of administering 50:50 mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen

• Describe the health and safety principles when using 50:50 mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen

• Administer 50:50 mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen to a patient in line with agreed ways of working

• Monitor the effects of administering 50:50 mixture of nitrous oxide and oxygen

 

Other Topics:

• Sexual assault

• Major incidents

• CBRNE

• Other emergency services

• METHANE

• Terrorist incidents

• Thoracic trauma

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Throughout the course, learners will get repeated patient assessment scenarios.

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Course Cost

The cost of the level 4 FREC Course is £499.00 per person.

Candidates must obtain a copy of  the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh "Generic Core Material - Prehospital Emergency Care Course Manual.  

There is no VAT Applicable for this course. The fee quoted is the fee you pay.

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The course fee does not include accommodation which is down to the student to arrange. However we can give a list of local venues which provide accommodation.

Course Manuals

1. Generic Core Material - Pre-hospital Emergency Care Course. Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh 

2. Anatomy and Physiology in Health & Illness. 11th Edition, Ross & Wilson

3. UK Ambulance Services Clinical Practice Guidelines. Latest edition. JRCALC, AACE and University of Warwick

The course fee does not include  cost and supply of manuals . 

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The following manuals are also recommended for further reading:

• Emergency Care in the Streets by Nancy Caroline

• Practical Prehospital Care by Greaves, Porter & Smith

• Assessment Skills for Paramedics by Blaber and Harris.

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To register an interest for the Level 4 FREC Course

• Please telephone 07736 743956 

• E-mail faw@phecta.com after talking to us on the telephone.

• Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/groups/27019474

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