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FAQ

Check out some frequently asked questions below.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FREC 3 AND RTACC?

  • RTACC is a similar qualification, but with a higher Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM) skills framework level (E) due to the skills and content taught. Level E teaches non health care professional pre-hospital providers how to care for patients as a primary role e.g. Search and Rescue, some military personnel and specialist certificated police officers and firefighters rather than as a secondary role (Level D).

  • Many companies teach FREC 3 for a range of prices (often more expensive than RTACC). FREC was a popular course as it used to offer a progressive pathway to Paramedic registration, however this has been discontinued. 

  • FREC is run over 5 days, whereas RTACC is run over 3. This minimises disruption to candidates’ lives and work commitments.

  • 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. Conversely, with so many different FREC providers offering courses, it is harder to guarantee quality training.

  • 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.

WHY CHOOSE RTACC OVER FPOS-I FOR SIA LICENSING?

Both First Person on Scene International (FPOSi) and RTACC meet the requirements of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) for Licensed Close Protection officers. Compared to FPOSi, RTACC has a higher 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 FPOSi, resulting in less disruption to candidates’ lives and work commitments. Furthermore, a quick online search shows numerous companies advertising the FPOSi course for a range of prices – many of which are more expensive than the Code Red Training RTACC price.


With so many 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 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.

WHY CHOOSE RTACC OR BTACC?

  • Both courses are 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 and BTACC courses were 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.

  • RTACC meets the requirements of the Security Industry Authority for close protection operatives.

  • The maximum trainer to learner ratio for RTACC and BTACC courses is 1:6 with a maximum of 2 trainers to 12 students. This ensures all candidates experience quality hands-on training.

  • The RTACC and BTACC qualifications develop both technical and non-technical knowledge and skills involved in casualty care. Attending one of these courses would undoubtedly strengthen a university application to study a healthcare related subject such as medicine, paramedic science and nursing.

  • All RTACC and BTACC candidates receive an in-depth manual and MARCH prompt/record card to aid knowledge retention and confidence in future practice.

SHOULD I CHOOSE RTACC OR BTACC?

It depends on the nature and location of your work and the type of course required by your employer. Some companies require staff to have an Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) qualification, whereas others require a full First Aid at Work (FAW) qualification.

  • RTACC maps to a First Aid at Work qualification, is delivered over three days and has more practical scenarios and skill stations. RTACC is a more advanced course designed for those who care for patients as a primary role. Suitable candidates include emergency service workers, security personnel and first responders who operate in commercial and high-risk workplaces. To attend an RTACC course, candidates must have an understanding of basic First Aid and ideally have attended a 1 day FTACC-E or Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) course within the last 3 years. RTACC meets the requirements of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) for Licensed Close Protection officers.

  • BTACC maps to an Emergency First Aid at Work qualification and is delivered over two days. BTACC is designed for those who care for patients as a secondary role. Suitable candidates include emergency service workers and first responders who operate in events and commercial workplaces. BTACC includes more trauma training than FTACC-E and is a great entry-level trauma course for pre-hospital responders. BTACC does not meet the requirements of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) for Licensed Close Protection officers.

WHY CHOOSE FTACC-E OVER A TRADITIONAL EMERGENCY FIRST AID AT WORK (EFAW) COURSE?

  • FTACC-E is a dynamic, engaging and effective one day course developed by leading healthcare professionals for first aid providers.

  • FTACC-E candidates experience practical and immersive training, live casualties 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. 

  • Code Red Training can create a range of emergency scenarios specific to workplaces or sites to meet the learning needs of staff and responders. Bespoke training packages are available for gyms and leisure centres, educational facilities, farms, sports clubs and more. â€‹

  • 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).

WHY CHOOSE CODE RED TRAINING?

  • Our Code Red trainers are Steph, a HCPC registered paramedic with ten years experience (nearly eight of which include working in a Hazardous Area Response Team) and James, who worked for twenty years in the Fire and Rescue Service as an operational firefighter, trainer and manager. James was also a trauma lead and road traffic collision (RTC) instructor with the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO). Steph is still operational within the NHS ambulance service, and has taken clinical leadership of Code Red Training. James left the emergency services in 2023 to become a Leadership and Culture Consultant - check out jamescoomber.com. James now supports Steph in the delivery of courses and maintains his CPD to ensure his knowledge and teaching remains current and evidence based. 
     

  • Code Red Training runs RTACC 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.

WHY DO WE USE LIVE ACTORS AS CASUALTIES?

Our 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.

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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.

HOW ARE THE COURSES ASSESSED?

It depends on the course. Most require each learner to pass a summative theory multiple-choice-question paper and a series of skill stations and scenario-based practical assessments.

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