QNUK Level 3 Award in First Person on Scene – International
A practical, scenario-based pre-hospital care course for people who may find themselves first on scene.
First Person on Scene – International (FPOS-I) is a comprehensive Level 3 pre-hospital care qualification designed for people who may be required to provide medical assistance in challenging, remote or higher-risk environments.
This is not a basic first aid course.
FPOS-I develops the knowledge, practical skills and decision-making needed to assess and manage casualties until they can be transferred to a higher level of care. It covers a broad range of medical and traumatic presentations, with a strong emphasis on practical skills and realistic casualty management.
At Square Knot, we focus on making the training relevant to the environment in which you are likely to use it. Whether you’re working at events, in a remote environment, around water, in security, outdoor activities or another higher-risk setting, we can build the practical elements around your operational requirements.
What is FPOS-I?
The QNUK Level 3 Award in First Person on Scene – International is a nationally regulated Level 3 qualification designed for non-healthcare professionals working in roles where enhanced first responder skills may be required.
The four-day course combines classroom-based learning with practical demonstrations, hands-on skills training and realistic casualty scenarios.
You’ll learn how to assess a casualty, identify life-threatening problems, provide appropriate immediate treatment and communicate effectively with emergency services and other responders.
The emphasis is on doing, not just knowing.
Course content
The course covers a wide range of pre-hospital care topics, including:
The pre-hospital environment
- The role and responsibilities of the first responder
- Scene management and dynamic risk assessment
- Personal safety and infection prevention
- Consent and communication
- Working alongside other emergency responders
- Principles of casualty management
Casualty assessment
- Mechanism of injury
- Primary survey
- Systematic patient assessment
- Recognising life-threatening conditions
- Monitoring and reassessment
- Effective handover to higher levels of care
Airway and breathing
- Recognition and management of airway problems
- Airway opening and positioning
- Airway adjuncts
- Choking
- Recognition of respiratory distress
- Oxygen administration
- Pulse oximetry
- Management of common breathing emergencies
Cardiac arrest and defibrillation
- Adult CPR
- Paediatric CPR
- AED use
- Recognition and management of cardiac arrest
- Working effectively as part of a resuscitation team
Circulation and shock
- Recognition and management of shock
- Major haemorrhage
- Catastrophic bleeding
- Tourniquets and haemostatic dressings
- Recognition of different causes of shock
- Ongoing casualty monitoring
Trauma
- Head injuries
- Spinal and pelvic injuries
- Chest injuries
- Abdominal injuries
- Bone and joint injuries
- Burns
- Eye injuries
- Blast and ballistic injuries
- Crush injuries and other significant trauma
Medical emergencies
- Cardiac chest pain
- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Seizures
- Asthma
- Anaphylaxis
- Poisoning
- Altered levels of consciousness
- Other common medical emergencies
Environmental emergencies
- Drowning and immersion incidents
- Hypothermia
- Heat illness
- Dehydration
- Environmental and remote casualty management
Practical training
FPOS-I is a practical qualification, and we believe the training should reflect that.
Alongside the theory, you’ll spend significant time developing hands-on skills and putting them into practice.
You’ll work through realistic scenarios designed to challenge your assessment, treatment and decision-making skills. These scenarios can be adapted to reflect the environments in which our students actually operate.
That might mean managing a casualty at an event, dealing with a traumatic injury in a remote location, treating a medical emergency outdoors or managing multiple problems while waiting for additional resources.
The aim is to build responders who can think, assess and act – not simply remember a sequence from a classroom.
Who is the course for?
FPOS-I is suitable for people who may have a responsibility for providing an enhanced first response to casualties as part of their role.
It is particularly relevant to:
- Event medical and safety teams
- Security and close protection personnel
- Outdoor and adventure professionals
- Remote and expedition teams
- Maritime and water-based organisations
- Search and rescue personnel
- Fire and rescue personnel
- Police and other emergency service roles
- Industrial and high-risk workplaces
- Film and television crews
- Organisations operating in remote environments
Previous first aid experience is useful, although the course can be delivered to candidates from a range of backgrounds.
Assessment
The course includes both theoretical and practical assessment.
Candidates are required to demonstrate their ability to apply the skills taught during the course as well as completing the required knowledge assessment.
The emphasis throughout the training is on developing practical competence rather than simply preparing for an exam.
Certification
Successful candidates receive the:
QNUK Level 3 Award in First Person on Scene – International
The qualification is regulated at Level 3 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).
Delivered where you need it
Square Knot can deliver FPOS-I at your workplace, training venue or a suitable Square Knot training location.
For this type of course, we particularly like to train people in an environment that reflects where they will actually be working.
If you’re operating around water, in a remote environment, at events or within a higher-risk workplace, we can incorporate relevant environments and scenarios into the practical training.
We can also work with organisations to develop scenarios around their own procedures, equipment and operational challenges.
Why Square Knot?
We’re not interested in delivering training that exists purely to tick a box.
Square Knot instructors have real-world experience across pre-hospital care, event medicine, rescue and operational environments. We use that experience to make our courses practical, relevant and engaging.
Our training combines evidence-based medicine with practical experience, using realistic scenarios and hands-on training wherever possible.
Whether you’re looking to qualify an individual responder or train an entire operational team, we’ll work with you to make the course relevant to what you actually do.
Course details
Qualification: QNUK Level 3 Award in First Person on Scene – International
Duration: 4 days
Delivery: At your venue or a suitable Square Knot training location
Assessment: Knowledge and practical assessment
Level: Regulated Level 3 qualification
Group size: Contact us to discuss your requirements
Book FPOS-I
If you’re looking for a higher-level first responder qualification for yourself or your team, get in touch with Square Knot.
We can discuss your requirements, available dates and how FPOS-I can be delivered around your operational environment.
Get in touch to discuss FPOS-I training for your team
Square Knot 