Retail Advanced First Aid Programme (RAFA)

Retail Advanced First Aid Programme (RAFA)

The Retail Advanced First Aid (RAFA) programme has been developed by experts in pre-hospital care alongside industry specialists. The RAFA programme comprises of the following elements :-



  • First Aid Needs Assessment which factors in today’s risks

  • The 3-day RAFA training course which is the most advanced first aid course available for non-health care professionals. The RAFA course has interchangeable modules depending upon your site specific risks

  • RAFA clinical governance, empowering your organisation to operate at a level that fits your risk profile and providing ongoing assurance that your teams are providing first aid care at the appropriate standard

  • RAFA maintenance of skills instructor training, enabling members of your team to continuously refresh their skills

  • RAFA advanced first aid equipment comprising :-


– Emergency response kits

– Public access AEDs

– Public access / self-help “stop the bleed” kits

– Major incident / marauding terrorism fire arm response kits.


Aim of this programme

The aim of the course is to reduce preventable pre-hospital deaths by training learners to identify and treat life-threatening emergencies and prepare casualties for rapid evacuation to hospital.

Course delivery

The RAFA course is delivered as an intensive three-day advanced first aid and trauma course. It includes specific modules for burns, paediatrics, penetrating trauma, and further modules can be tailored to suit your specific organisational risks.

Prior to the course learners undertake a comprehensive E-Learning package which underpins the theoretical knowledge required. This enables the face-to-face element of the course to be almost completely focused on the practical skills required and scenario based learning. The use of high fidelity manikins and “live” actors as casualties further adds to the overall experience of the course.

The RAFA course is equivalent to PHEM (Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine) Level C, as defined by the Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care for providers. Upon completion, students are awarded a RAFA Practitioner certificate.

RAFA Practitioners are certified to deliver RAFA skills for 3 years. This is subject to a maintenance of skills schedule, and requalification before the expiry of their certificates by attending a 2-day requalification course.

Candidates also have the option to receive a First Aid at Work certificate, subject to an additional fee.

Summary of syllabus

The syllabus includes the following :-

  • Kinematics – How to perform a ‘SCENE’ approach and predict injuries based on the forces and motion involved.
  • Catastrophic bleeding control – Learn to manage catastrophic external bleeding with the use of advanced pressure dressings, tourniquets and haemostatic dressings.
  • Airway management – Develop skills in identifying and managing airway obstructions, including the use of suction devices and adjuncts such as oral & nasal airways
  • Breathing – Study serious chest injuries and their management, including Oxygen therapy
  • Circulation – Examine how the circulatory system works and how to identify and treat shock
  • Disability – Identify and treat head injuries and learn how to prevent secondary brain injuries
  • Extremity Trauma – Identify and treat fractures and soft tissue injury using a wide range of splints
  • Burns – Understand the different types, severity, and treatment of burns
  • Packaging and evacuation – Learn the different ways of packaging casualties for rapid evacuation and choose appropriate extrication and transport equipment for time-critical patients
  • Special Circumstances – Discuss adaptations for treatment in specific casualty groups ( elderly, bariatrics, pregnancy)
  • Paediatrics – Understand the differences between adults and children and adaptations required when assessing and treating the ill or injured child.
  • CPR and AEDs – Learn the Resuscitation Council UK 2021 guidelines and the safest and most effective way to use AEDs

Mass Casualty Event Responder (MACER) course

The Mass Casualty Event Responder MACER Programme is designed to prepare Zero Responders to bridge “the care gap” and become a vital component part of Emergency Response Planning & Resilience for areas of high occupancy in the UK. The programme incorporates training, equipment, and clinical governance.


It is widely recognised that staff who work and operate in and around areas of mass occupancy, such as sports stadia, public transport hubs and retail real-estate, will be the first people on hand to deliver immediate life-saving skills when a major incident occurs on site.


Basic first aid is no longer considered to be an adequate level of training for staff members who work in these areas, due to the risk and hazards they will unfortunately face, and the likely injuries that are often associated with major incidents.


The MACER programme has been designed to bridge the gap to ensure staff operating in these areas are prepared to deliver important lifesaving interventions. The MACER course is  normally held on client’s own premises, and delivered in a single day by experts who really know their subject. The emphasis is on skills development, backed by sound theory / knowledge.


Aim of this course

The intended audience for the MACER course may include :-

  • Retail and Event Sector personnel
  • SIA Security Team Members
  • Stadium Support Service Staff
  • Public Transportation Operators.

MACER focuses upon providing participants with the knowledge, understanding and skills in :-

  • The application of the Ten Second Triage (TST) Tool
  • Immediate lifesaving interventions including major haemorrhage control and airway management
  • Priming effective planning
  • Preparation.

This leads to high performing team members, who improve patient outcomes when responding to any emergency situation that may occur.

Course delivery

The MACER course is  normally held on client’s own premises, and delivered in 1 day by experts who really know their subject. The emphasis is on skills development, backed by sound theory / knowledge,

Upon completion of the course, students will be awarded both MACER and Emergency First Aid at Work (EFAW) certificates, both of which are valid for 3 years.

Summary of syllabus

The course syllabus places emphasis on :-

  • Introduction to the MACER basic algorithm, equipment & terminology
  • Catastrophic bleeding management
  • Basic airway management techniques
  • Triage – Utilising the TST tool
  • Basic Life Support (CPR, AED, choking, recovery position)
  • Scenario based training
  • PAcT kit application

It also includes EFAW elements such as :-

  • Accident Management
  • DRSABCD
  • CPR
  • AED
  • Secondary Survey
  • Unconscious Casualty
  • Seizures
  • Choking
  • Bleeding Control
  • Shock
  • Burns & Scalds
  • Heart Attacks

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