Tactical First Aid

Includes:

• Level 3 Outdoor First Aid (RQF) – NUCO Accredited & Regulated

• Life‑Threatening Bleeding Control – NUCO Regulated 

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Duration: 2.5 Days

 

Certification Validity: 3 Years (Outdoor First Aid) / 1 Year (Bleeding Control)

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Course Overview

The Tactical First Aid programme is an intensive 2.5‑day course designed for individuals operating in high‑risk, remote, or hostile environments. Combining the full Level 3 Outdoor First Aid (RQF) qualification with NUCO’s Life‑Threatening Bleeding Control course, learners gain advanced skills to manage trauma, environmental injuries, catastrophic bleeding, and prolonged casualty care when medical support may be delayed or unavailable.

This course is ideal for:

• Military personnel

• Police, security, and emergency services

• Journalists, reporters, and media teams travelling to conflict zones

• NGO workers, expedition leaders, and high‑risk environment travellers

• Anyone requiring robust, tactical‑level first aid capability

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Course Content

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Day 1 – Outdoor First Aid Foundations (L3 Outdoor First Aid)

• Roles and responsibilities of an outdoor/tactical first aider

• Incident management in remote, hostile, or unstable environments

• Dynamic risk assessment under pressure

• Communication, signalling, and casualty location in the field

• Primary and secondary surveys

• Managing unresponsive casualties

• CPR for adults

• Safe use of an AED in outdoor conditions

• Choking management

• Recognising and treating shock

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Day 2 – Trauma, Environmental Injuries & Prolonged Care

• Major bleeding and wound care

• Improvised bandaging, splinting, and stabilisation

• Fractures, sprains, strains, and dislocations

• Head, neck, and spinal injuries

• Chest injuries and compromised breathing

• Crush injuries and embedded objects

• Hypothermia, heat illness, and environmental exposure

• Burns (thermal, chemical, electrical)

• Bites, stings, poisoning, and hazardous plants

• Water‑related incidents

• Medical emergencies: seizures, asthma, diabetes, anaphylaxis, stroke, cardiac events

• Prolonged casualty care and monitoring

• Improvised shelter, protection, and evacuation planning

• Tactical movement of casualties under threat

• Field‑based scenario simulations

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Day 3 (Half Day) – Life‑Threatening Bleeding Control (NUCO)

A focused module dedicated to catastrophic haemorrhage control, including:

• Identifying life‑threatening bleeding

• Catastrophic bleed management principles

• Tourniquet selection, application, and safety

• Haemostatic dressings and wound packing

• Pressure dressings and improvised solutions

• Managing junctional bleeding

• Tactical considerations: cover, concealment, and casualty extraction

• Integrating bleeding control into wider trauma management

• High‑intensity practical drills and realistic simulations

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Assessment & Certification

Learners are assessed through:

• Practical demonstrations

• Outdoor and tactical scenario‑based activities

• A short multiple‑choice theory test (Outdoor First Aid)

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Successful candidates receive:

• Level 3 Outdoor First Aid (RQF) – NUCO Accredited & Regulated (Valid 3 Years)

• Life‑Threatening Bleeding Control Certificate – NUCO Regulated (Valid 1 Year)

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Why Choose Grit & Gauze Academy?

• NUCO‑accredited, regulated qualification

• Realistic tactical and outdoor simulations

• Instructors with operational, military, and emergency services backgrounds

• Training tailored for hostile‑environment operations

• UK‑specific, practical, and field‑ready skills