Medical Courses

Level 1 First Aid Award

Course Overview

The FAW Emergency Aid course aims to provide the participant with the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to be able to attend a conscious or unconscious casualty, ensuring that appropriate care is given until the emergency medical services arrive and takeover, or until an alternative healthcare professional(s), assumes responsibility for the casualty. It will offer basic advice on how to limit the effects of injury and promote recovery.

Course Duration

3 hours (online)

Course Prerequisites

Participants must be a minimum of 16 years old on the date of the start of the course.

Who is it for?

The course is for individuals, e.g. team managers, coaches, teachers, parents, volunteers and others, who have the responsibility for the provision of basic life support. It is highly recommended that course participants undertake the FAW FRS course to complement the skills they acquire during this course. Accreditation of prior learning (APL) is awarded for the Emergency Aid component of the course.

Course Content

• Principles of first aid
• Emergency action planning
• Reacting to an incident/approaching a casualty
• Primary survey/secondary survey
• The recovery position
• Cardiac arrest
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for adults/children
• Use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s)
• Choking
• Asthma
• Head Injuries
• After an emergency incident

Currency of Qualification

Due to the nature and responsibility associated with first aid provision, and in line with current UK guidelines, the currency of this certificate for use as a first aid qualification will be limited to three years. However, it is strongly advised that the Emergency Aid course is undertaken on an annual basis as a form of ‘refresher’ training. To remain qualified and ‘in date’ the holder must complete a further FAW Emergency Aid course within the final three months prior to expiry of the qualification.

Level 2 First Responder for Sport (FRS)

Course Overview

The FAW Level 2 First Responder for Sports (FRS) course aims to provide the participants to build upon the knowledge and content of the FAW Level 1 Emergency Aid course. It aims to provide more thorough knowledge and understanding for First Aiders who will be the first on scene at any First Aid incident.

It will provide further learning for those who are within a sport or leisure environment for dealing with medical emergencies. It will also provide excellent underpinning knowledge for when a First Aider may be supporting a Health Care Professional. For example, coaches, parents or volunteers assisting a pitch side emergency practitioner.

Course Content

To provide you with the knowledge, practical skills and confidence to:

• Attend a conscious or unconscious casualty
• Ensure that appropriate care is given until the emergency medical services arrive and take over
• Ensure appropriate care is given until an alternate Health Care Professional assumes responsibility for the casualty
• Thorough understanding of Cardiac Arrest
• Thorough understanding of medical emergencies in a sport setting 

Course Duration

7.5 hours

Course Prerequisites

The course is applicable to coaches, team managers, parents, teachers, volunteers and carers. The course is not suitable for participants under the age of 16. This course has the equivalency to the 1 day English FA Emergency First Aid in Football (EFAiF) course.

Level 3 First Aid at Work-Sport

Course Overview

The course is aimed at pre-graduate medical and allied health care professionals and those working within a sports setting. This includes Coaches, Managers, Sports Scientists, Strength and Conditioning Coaches and Sports Masseurs that may find themselves working with players in their role and helping the medical team where appropriate.

The skills delivered on this course will give the first aider a comprehensive understanding of life-threatening conditions within sport. The first aider will be able to provide and support lifesaving first aid when alone or when assisting a pitch side emergency practitioner.

Course Content

• Emergency action planning, roles, and responsibilities
• Reacting to an incident/approaching a casualty (including spinal trauma)
• Primary A-E approach of the injured player
• Sudden cardiac arrest in pre-hospital environments
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for adults/children
• Use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s)
• Medical emergencies in a pre-hospital environment
• Wounds and bleeding/shock
• Limb threatening injuries/dislocations/fracture and the management process
• Head Injuries and concussion management
• Spinal trauma management and extrication
• Communication and teamwork with Health Care Professionals
• After an emergency incident

Course Duration

8 hours plus online

Course Prerequisites

The course is applicable to coaches, managers, sports team staff, health care professionals (students and post-graduate). The course is not suitable for participants under the age of 18.

Level 4 UEFA FDEP Pitch-Side Trauma Course

Course Overview

The course aims to provide health care practitioners with the skills, knowledge and understanding to effectively deal with life threatening and limb threatening scenarios.

The skills delivered on this course will significantly reduce the potential risk placed on a club and health care professionals in the event of a catastrophic incident involving players or staff. Those appointed medical staff currently practicing without pre-hospital trauma training are potentially at risk. Not just to the club and themselves but also to the well-being of those in their working environment.

Course Content

• Medico-Legal issues and the duty of care of the medical staff
• Medical team leadership
• Emergency Action planning for a sporting environment
• Primary A-E approach of the injured player
• Sudden Cardiac arrest in pre-hospital environments
• Airway management and Oxygen therapy
• Limb threatening injuries/dislocations/fractures and the management process
• Head Injuries and Concussion management
• Spinal Injury management and extrication
• Medical emergencies in a pre-hospital environment

Course Duration

2 days

Course Prerequisites

• Pre-graduate medical and allied health care professionals (studying their final year at Level 6 or Level 7)
• Post-graduate medical and allied health care professionals
• To include those registered with the GMC, HCPC, RCN, SST, BASRaT

Special consideration will also be given to those who are working and assisting with the medical team at a club e.g. sports scientist, sports masseuses etc. For applications to be successful, these practitioners will also have to have completed the FAW Level 3.

The UEFA Football Doctors Education Programme (FDEP) Pre-Hospital Trauma Workshop is endorsed and recognised by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.

This course has the equivalency of the English FA Intermediate Trauma Medical Management in Football (ITMMiF) course.