How to Become a First Responder
Anyone can become a first responder in the UK as long as certain requirements are met. To become a First Aid Responder, you need to meet the following requirements:
- A full UK driving licence with few penalty points (usually no more than 3-6 points, depending on the service).
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Enhanced DBS check.
- Be physically fit enough to do CPR and other tasks that may be physically challenging.
- Have good communication and people skills.
- Stay calm in stressful situations.
- Be willing to commit time:
- At least 16-20 hours per month for on-call duties.
- Attend regular training sessions and yearly updates.
- Have access to a reliable vehicle when on duty.
- Complete the required first responder training:
- Usually, a Level 3 Certificate in Ambulance Service First Responding or something similar.
- Pass an occupational health assessment.
- Provide professional references.
- Keep patient information confidential.
- Live or work in the area where the scheme is based.
- Follow the organisation’s policies and procedures.
These requirements ensure that Community First Responders are well-prepared to provide important emergency care in their communities.
Table of contents
Who is a First Aid Responder?
A First Aid Responder is someone trained to provide immediate assistance or care to people who are injured, ill, or in distress until professional medical help arrives.
They are often the first on the scene in emergencies and play an important part in stabilising a person’s condition, preventing further harm, and potentially saving lives.
First aid responders are among the first to arrive and provide assistance at the scene of an emergency.
In cases of medical emergencies, first responders are skilled to help people who:
- Have heart problems or chest pain
- Show signs of a stroke
- Have serious injuries
- Have trouble breathing
- Have allergic reactions
- Have falls or accidents
- Need urgent medical help
First Responders:
- Respond quickly to emergencies.
- Give immediate care before the ambulance arrives.
- Regularly update their skills through training.
Their main goal is to save lives by providing essential care during the first moments of an emergency.
Types of First Responders
First responders play an important role in saving lives, protecting property, and keeping people safe.
Here are some types of first responders:
- Emergency Medical Responders (EMR): These are people trained to give basic life-saving help, like CPR or mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, until more advanced help arrives.
- Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT): EMTs can use ambulance equipment to help with different emergencies. They are trained to manage a variety of situations.
- Paramedics: The most highly trained emergency medical workers, paramedics can use advanced life-saving skills and give medications. They also know how to use complex medical equipment.
- Police Officers: Police officers often get to an emergency first and can give basic first aid or CPR.
- Firefighters: Firefighters put out fires but also help with rescues and provide first aid. They can handle emergencies like natural disasters and chemical spills.
- First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: These people manage the police and detective teams and make sure everything is running smoothly.
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers: These supervisors manage firefighting teams, making sure all operations are safe and effective.
- Wilderness First Responders: Trained to help in remote areas, these responders know how to care for patients and transport them when no motorised transport is available.
- Public Works Employees: These workers clean up after natural disasters, plough snow, and help maintain roads. They can be called in during emergencies.
- Military Personnel: In some places, military personnel are considered first responders and can provide help in emergencies.
Each of these first responders plays a key role in managing and helping during emergencies.
Skills needed to be a first aid responder
Because a first responder is required to effectively and efficiently handle emergencies before an ambulance gets there, they would need a combination of technical skills and personal qualities to provide immediate, life-saving care.
The combination of both medical (technical) and personal skills make the work more doable.
Essential medical skills
You must know how to:
- do CPR (chest compressions and rescue breaths)
- use an AED (defibrillator)
- give basic life support
- stop serious bleeding
- help someone who is choking
- treat burns
- handle broken bones
- keep airways clear
Personal qualities
You need to be:
- good at talking to people who are unwell or injured
- calm in stressful situations
- careful and thorough
- able to take charge when needed
- quick to make decisions
- good at following instructions.
Additional skills needed
You will need to be good at:
- writing clear reports about what happened
- recording medical information accurately
- following health and safety rules
- reading maps and finding locations quickly
- working as part of a team
- understanding basic medical terms
- keeping patient information private
- using communications equipment
- checking and maintaining medical supplies
- knowing when someone or situation is getting worse
- knowing your own limits and when to get help
- managing your time during emergencies
Training Requirements
You will need to:
- complete a certified first aid responder course
- practice using medical equipment such as AED.
- learn the latest medical guidelines.
- get hands-on training from skilled trainers like ours.
- keep learning new skills.
Getting help in the first hour after an emergency is very important. Learning these skills means you can give emergency care when it’s needed most.
Common courses include:
- First Response Emergency Care Level 3 (FREC3)
- First Aid Responder Level 3 (VTQ)
- First Responder on Scene (FROS)
These courses offer more in-depth training than the standard first aid qualification, giving responders the skills to handle many different emergency situations well.
If you require advanced first aid training for responder, please discuss with our team. We only offer group first aid courses.
📚Do you need first aid training?
We are a Qualsafe Centre, offering a range of first aid courses, including the Emergency First Aid Level 3 Award (1 day), Paediatric First Aid Level 3 Award (2 days), Mental Health First Aid Training (1 and 2 days), Basic Life Support Training, Anaphylaxis Training, and the First Aid at Work Level 3 Award (3 days).
What is First Responder Training?
First responder training is a course that prepares people to handle emergencies before professional medical person arrives.
Some of the common training in the UK for responders include First Response Emergency Care Level 3 (FREC3) and First Responder on Scene (FROS). These courses are usually completed in person over 3-5 days.
They cannot be taken solely online, as they require practical skills to be learned and demonstrated.
These trainings would cover topics such as managing a scene, assessing a patient, performing CPR, using an AED, treating injuries, dealing with medical emergencies, and providing oxygen therapy.
Upon completing the 3-5 day course, participants will be able to respond to a variety of emergencies, including heart attacks, breathing problems, and unconscious patients.
These courses are for people who are often the first to arrive at emergencies, such as police officers, firefighters, and security staff.
To join, candidates must be at least 18 years old, have a drivers license and have a basic understanding of English. Previous first aid experience is helpful but not always required.
Training required to become a first responder
First note, if you want to become a community first aid responder, you will need to get proper information from your local ambulance service. Each station or location has their guideline.
Generally, to become a first aid responder, including community first aid responder, you will need the following explained below:
Core training courses
- First aid certification (3-5 days)
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- CPR and AED use
- Medical emergency response
- Patient assessment skills
Specialty training
- Trauma care
- Advanced cardiac care
- Pediatric emergencies
- Mental health awareness
- Manual handling
Legal requirements
- Health and Safety training
- Data protection
- Safeguarding
- Infection control
- Risk assessment
Regular updates needed
- Annual CPR recertification
- Quarterly skills assessments
- Regular practice scenarios
- Equipment updates
- Protocol changes
Professional development
- Advanced first aid qualifications
- Emergency driving courses
- Leadership training
- Communication skills
- Team management
First Aid Responder Training usually takes 3-5 days to complete initial certification, with ongoing learning throughout your role.
Steps to Become a Community First Responder
Now, to become a community first aid responder, you can follow the steps listed below:
1. Contact your local ambulance service
Get in touch with your local ambulance service to ask about their Community First Responder (CFR) scheme. Every service runs its own scheme, and they will explain what you need to do.
2. Complete the application process
To apply, you’ll need to:
- Fill out an application form
- Attend an interview
- Provide references
- Complete a fitness check
- Pass an Enhanced Disclosure check
- Show your communication skills
- Demonstrate your ability to stay calm under pressure
3. Complete required training
The training will usually cover:
- Basic life support and CPR
- Using an automated external defibrillator (AED)
- Assessing patients
- Giving oxygen therapy
- Managing bleeding and injuries
- Dealing with common medical emergencies
- Communication skills and working on yourself to stay calm during emergencies. You can be nervous or restless in such situations.
What Happens Next
After you complete your training, you will:
- Receive a uniform and equipment.
- Work alongside experienced first responders.
- Be given a rota for your shifts.
- Complete regular refresher training.
- Be supported by the ambulance service.
Time Commitment
Most schemes ask for:
- Regular availability during evenings or weekends.
- Quick response times to emergencies in your area.
- Attendance at training sessions and meetings.
- Long-term commitment to the role.
- Ongoing professional development.
Support and Development
You will get:
- Ongoing training and support.
- Regular updates on medical guidelines.
- Opportunities to develop new skills.
- Supervision from ambulance service staff.
- A chance to improve your first aid knowledge.
Contact and Support:
If you need training on emergency first aid or any first aid courses, you can reach out to our course advisors enquiries@caringforcare.co.uk or call the number above. We are a Qualsafe center, Skills for Care and CPD UK endorsed.
What Are the Differences Between First Responders and Community First Responders (CFRs)?
Yes, first responders are different from Community First Responders (CFRs).
The main differences are:
- Professional status: First responders are usually paid professionals, such as paramedics, firefighters, and police officers. CFRs are trained volunteers from the local community.
- Training level: First responders have more advanced training and can provide a higher level of care. CFRs receive basic training in life-saving techniques.
- Scope of response: First responders deal with a wider range of emergencies. CFRs mainly focus on medical emergencies in their local area, like heart attacks, breathing problems, and unconscious patients.
- Dispatch method: CFRs are called by ambulance control centres to assist professional emergency services, not replace them.
- Role in the emergency response system: First responders are key members of professional emergency services. Community first responders help bridge the gap between when an emergency happens and when professional medical teams arrive, giving important help in the early moments.
Both roles provide quick help in emergencies, but CFRs are volunteers supporting their community, while first responders are professional emergency service workers.
📌Related Page: onsite first aid training for organisations.
FAQs
A Community First Responder (CFR) is a trained volunteer who gives emergency medical help in their local area before an ambulance arrives.
CFRs are called by ambulance control centres to respond to emergencies nearby, often getting there first because they live close.
They are trained to handle different emergencies, such as heart attacks, breathing problems, and unconscious people, offering important help that can make a big difference to the patient’s recovery.
Community First Responders (CFRs) are trained to deal with different types of serious emergencies.
These include heart attacks, strokes, cardiac arrests, breathing problems, and unconscious patients.
CFRs can also help with choking, diabetic emergencies, chest pain, and seizures.
Their main job is to provide quick life-saving care in the first few minutes before an ambulance arrives, especially in situations where every second matters.
Do I need prior medical experience to become a first responder?
While having medical experience or first aid training can be helpful, it’s not always needed. Some courses may recommend having basic first aid knowledge before starting more advanced first responder training.
How long does first responder training take?
Most first responder courses last 3-5 days. Some courses may also require extra study before the course begins. For example, the FREC3 course includes about 19 hours of study through workbooks and online materials.
How often do I need to renew my first responder certification?
Most first responder certifications are valid for 3 years. You may also need to attend annual training or refresher courses to keep your skills up to date.
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