FREC 3 Course Devon

Practical five-day training for those working or progressing into emergency care, security, event medical and high-risk roles

£550 All-Inclusive | 5 Days | Newton Abbot, Devon | Payment Options 

Upcoming Courses

Scheduled courses are held at our Newton Abbot training centre:
Optimal First Aid, Kingdom Business Centre, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 4PB.

FREC 3 Training in Devon

The Qualsafe Level 3 Award in First Response Emergency Care (RQF) is delivered at our Newton Abbot training centre in Devon.

Learners attend from Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay, Cornwall, Dorset, Somerset and across the South West for practical, scenario-based pre-hospital emergency care training

What Is FREC 3?

FREC 3 is a nationally recognised, regulated pre-hospital care qualification for people who may need to assess and manage serious illness or injury before an ambulance arrives.

It provides a broader range of clinical and trauma-management skills than workplace first aid qualifications, including structured patient assessment, airway management, emergency oxygen and the management of serious trauma and medical emergencies.

Successful completion also provides a progression route to the FREC 4 qualification.

Who Should Attend?

FREC 3 is suitable for:

  • Event medical staff and first responders
  • Security and close protection operatives
  • Outdoor and expedition professionals
  • Film and production teams working remotely
  • Industrial and higher-risk response teams
  • People beginning or developing a career in pre-hospital care
  • Organisations requiring enhanced emergency response capability

Benefits of FREC 3 Training

Enhanced Clinical Capability

Learners develop a structured approach to assessing patients and managing serious trauma and medical emergencies.

Confidence in Higher-Risk Environments

Practical scenarios prepare learners to make decisions and provide effective care in demanding or time-critical situations.

Progression in Pre-Hospital Care

FREC 3 provides a recognised foundation for event medical and responder roles and progression to more advanced training, including FREC 4.

What Will You Learn?

The course combines practical skills, clinical knowledge and realistic scenarios covering:

Patient Assessment

  • Scene and incident assessment
  • Primary and secondary surveys
  • Structured patient assessment
  • Monitoring and recording observations
  • Prioritising treatment and providing an effective handover

Airway and Resuscitation

  • Airway assessment and management
  • Adult and child resuscitation
  • Safe use of an AED
  • Emergency oxygen administration
  • Managing an unresponsive patient

Trauma Emergencies

  • Life-threatening bleeding
  • Wounds and shock
  • Chest injuries
  • Burns and scalds
  • Head and spinal injuries
  • Musculoskeletal injuries
  • Eye injuries

Medical and Environmental Emergencies

  • Breathing difficulties
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Suspected major illness
  • Seizures and convulsions
  • Poisoning
  • Hypothermia, heat illness and environmental exposure

Learners practise structured casualty management, communication and clinical decision-making throughout the course.

On-Site FREC 3 Training

Private FREC 3 courses can be delivered for organisations across Devon and throughout the UK.

Training your team together can:

  • Reduce staff travel and operational disruption
  • Be arranged around your organisation
  • Use scenarios relevant to your operational environment
  • Develop consistent assessment and response procedures
  • Build confidence across the whole team

Private delivery is particularly suitable for security companies, event medical providers, production teams and specialist response organisations.

Why Choose Optimal First Aid?

Optimal First Aid specialises in practical training for pre-hospital, higher-risk, outdoor and remote environments.

Our instructors have operational care backgrounds and use realistic exercises to develop structured patient assessment, clinical decision-making and confident emergency response.

Training is not limited to passing the assessments. Learners practise applying their skills in realistic situations where communication, prioritisation and effective casualty management all matter.

Find Out More About Us

Book your FREC 3 course in Devon

If you’re ready to gain a recognised qualification and real-world medical skills, our FREC 3 course in Newton Abbot is the next step.

Train with professionals. Learn skills that matter. Be ready when it counts.

Our courses are delivered at:

Optimal First Aid, Newton Abbot. Devon. TQ12 4PB

FAQ

FREC 3 (First Response Emergency Care Level 3) is a nationally recognised prehospital care qualification designed for individuals working in high-risk, remote, and operational environments. It provides advanced casualty assessment, trauma management, and medical emergency skills beyond standard workplace first aid training.

The FREC 3 course is typically delivered over 5 days and combines classroom learning with practical scenario-based training and formal assessments.

The FREC 3 qualification is valid for 3 years. After this period, learners must complete refresher or requalification training to remain current and operationally competent.

FREC 3 training is ideal for:

  • Security and close protection operatives
  • Event medical staff
  • Outdoor instructors and expedition leaders
  • Forestry and remote workers
  • Emergency response personnel
  • Anyone operating in higher-risk or remote environments

Many learners choose Optimal First Aid because of our experienced instructors, practical scenario-based training, and convenient course dates. Our Newton Abbot training centre is easily accessible from across Devon and the South West, making it an excellent choice for those searching for a FREC 3 course near them.

FREC 3 provides a significantly higher level of medical and trauma training compared to First Aid at Work (FAW). It includes enhanced patient assessment, trauma care, airway management, medical emergency response, and incident management skills designed for operational and high-risk roles.

Our FREC 3 courses in Devon are delivered at:

Optimal First Aid Ltd
Kingdom House
Newton Abbot
Devon

We also provide onsite FREC 3 training for organisations across Devon, Cornwall, the South West, and the wider UK.

 

Yes. FREC 3 is widely recognised within the security and close protection industry as an appropriate level of medical training for operational roles where enhanced casualty management and trauma response skills may be required.

Yes. The course includes extensive hands-on practical training and scenario-based exercises designed to replicate realistic medical emergencies and operational incidents, helping learners build confidence in high-pressure environments.

EXCELLENT
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Based on 306 reviews
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Martin Stronach profile picture
Martin Stronach
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Having recently completed my FREC 3 re-qualification with Toby Osbourne at Optimal First Aid; I can sincerely say. ​Three years ago, when I first completed FREC 3 with a different provider, the mindset was strictly transactional, it was treated as a box-ticking exercise just to secure the licence required for my field. ​Fast forward to today, and my perspective has completely shifted. FREC 3 isn't just about maintaining a licence to operate; it’s about honing a vital skill set. Toby and the team at Optimal First Aid reinforced this from day one. ​Within just two days of training, I felt more competent, confident, and current in my scope of practice than I have in the last three years. ​Same qualification, but a completely different level of delivery: ​Realistic Scenarios: The practical exercises are as close to real-life operations as it gets. ​Exceptional Instruction: The level of knowledge and teaching standard is truly commendable. ​Exceptional equipment: Fully operational, kit, required for first responders. ​Realistic Props: Immersive scenario setups, reinforceing the realities of operational environments. ​Toby and Optimal First Aid have completely transformed my approach. FREC 3 isn't a means to an end, when taught correctly, it ensures operators are mentally and physically prepared to handle real emergencies effectively. A massive thank you Toby, and I will definitely be back for subsequent training. I can wholeheartedly reccomend Toby, and Optimal First Aid to anyone looking to excel as a Responder.
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becky walker profile picture
becky walker
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I’ve done my FREC 3 course this week and wow! Absolutely amazing! Very impressed with delivery, equipment availability, knowledge of the instructor! Highly recommend! Thank you to the team @optimalfirstaid!
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Diako Serwd profile picture
Diako Serwd
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Absolutely amazing FREC 3 course . Toby kept us engaged throughout the whole course and had a lot of hands on training. This course ISNT PowerPoint death . Will definitely be back for my FREC 4
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J Stelfox profile picture
J Stelfox
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Fantastic experience on the 5 day FREC 3 course. Toby delivers the content in away that keep you constantly engaged and every practical scenario has something new and challenging to focus on. Very supportive environment with so much to learn. Thank you for the experience it has been very valuable!
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Joe Newton profile picture
Joe Newton
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Extremely well run FREC-3 course, very engaging and would highly recommend. Feel very confident following the course putting it all into practise
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Sophie Edwards profile picture
Sophie Edwards
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Really enjoyed completing my FREC 3 course with Optimal First Aid. The instructors were knowledgeable, friendly and made the whole course enjoyable while still keeping it professional and challenging. There was a good mix of theory and hands-on training, and everything was explained clearly with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and practise the skills. I came away feeling much more confident in dealing with different situations. Would definitely recommend Optimal First Aid to anyone looking to complete their FREC 3.
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Lianne Evans profile picture
Lianne Evans
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Today I took part in a first aid course with optimal first aid limited. It was thorough, informative and engaging. Our trainer, Toby was friendly and professional.
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Suzy Crane profile picture
Suzy Crane
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Fantastic explanations given during this First Aid training in Devon. Best I’ve had.
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Ethan Paynter profile picture
Ethan Paynter
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Excellent day of First aid training. Toby came out to our work place and was very competent in his delivery. All content was very well taught. There was a real emphasis on being practical and hands on especially with the CPR training and AED training. Im confident I can apply what ive learnt today Would recommend
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Chloe Lee profile picture
Chloe Lee
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Great first aid training, informative, fun and hugely helpful.
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