Retail Advanced First Aid Programme (RAFA)

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.

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.

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