Civilian‑Focused Safety, Risk Management & Medical Preparedness
Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT)
Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) and HEAT+ are practical, civilian‑focused programmes designed to prepare individuals to operate safely, responsibly, and confidently in unstable, unpredictable, or high‑risk environments. These courses develop situational awareness, risk management, safe behaviour, and clear decision‑making under pressure, ensuring participants can recognise threats early and respond proportionately.
HEAT provides certificated hostile environment and first aid training suitable for NGO personnel, journalists, corporate travellers, and security staff operating in challenging contexts. HEAT+ extends this capability further, offering enhanced medical preparedness and advanced response skills for roles where a higher level of intervention may be required before professional medical support is available.
Both programmes emphasise realistic, scenario‑based learning, professional conduct under stress, and the ability to maintain personal safety while supporting organisational duty‑of‑care requirements. The aim is not only to build individual confidence, but to strengthen organisational resilience and reduce operational risk across diverse deployment environments.
Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) + FAW
SIX ‑Day Practical Programme
HEAT + FAW is a civilian‑focused programme designed for individuals working or travelling in unstable, unpredictable, or high‑risk environments. This combined pathway delivers the full 3‑day Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) alongside the regulated Level 3 First Aid at Work (FAW) qualification.
The programme prepares participants to recognise risk early, reduce exposure to danger, and make calm, informed decisions under pressure, while also ensuring they hold a recognised medical qualification suitable for deployments where immediate first aid capability may be required.
Training is non‑military and centres on avoidance, de‑escalation, communication, and professional conduct rather than tactical response.
Who it’s for
Humanitarian and NGO staff, journalists, development personnel, corporate travellers, and other civilians operating in fragile or high‑risk environments who require both hostile environment awareness and a regulated first aid qualification.
Learning Outcomes and Competencies
Graduates will understand how to identify and reduce exposure to risk while carrying out humanitarian, media, or development roles. They will demonstrate safe conduct at checkpoints, maintain situational awareness, manage field movement responsibly, and respond effectively to emergencies without escalating danger.
Medical competencies (FAW Level 3 – Regulated)
- CPR
- AED use
- Management of bleeding
- Management of shock
- Immediate management of anaphylaxis
- Heat & cold injury management
- Casualty assessment
- Stabilisation while awaiting assistance
FAW is a UK Level 3 regulated qualification, recognised internationally and suitable for deployments where a certified first aider is required.
Operational competencies
- Risk and journey management
- Situational awareness and threat recognition
- Personal safety and avoidance strategies
- Checkpoint interaction and safe conduct
- Travel and accommodation safety
- Communication in low‑resource environments
- Cultural awareness and safe community engagement
- Stress management and calm decision‑making
Graduates are prepared to operate safely, ethically, and responsibly during humanitarian, development, or media deployments in volatile or high‑risk environments.and responsibly during humanitarian, development, or media deployments in volatile or high-risk environments.
HEAT + (HEAT with FPOSi Level 3)
SEVEN – Day Integrated Programme
HEAT + FPOSi is a combined programme designed for individuals operating in unstable, unpredictable, or high‑risk environments who require both hostile environment awareness and an intermediate trauma‑focused medical qualification.
This pathway delivers the full 3‑day Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) alongside the regulated Level 3 First Person on Scene (FPOSi) qualification. It prepares participants to recognise risk early, reduce exposure to danger, and make calm, informed decisions under pressure, while also equipping them with the capability to manage trauma and medical emergencies in remote or resource‑limited settings.
Training is non‑military and centres on avoidance, de‑escalation, communication, and professional conduct rather than tactical response.
Who it’s for
Close protection personnel, NGO field teams, journalists, media crews, development personnel, and high‑risk travellers who require intermediate trauma capability beyond basic first aid.
Learning Outcomes and Competencies
Graduates will understand how to identify and reduce exposure to risk while carrying out humanitarian, media, or development roles. They will demonstrate safe conduct at checkpoints, maintain situational awareness, manage field movement responsibly, and respond effectively to emergencies without escalating danger.
Medical competencies (FPOSi Level 3 – Regulated)
FPOSi is a Level 3 regulated pre‑hospital care qualification widely recognised across the security, NGO, and media sectors. It provides a higher level of medical capability than FAW and focuses on trauma, scene safety, and casualty management under pressure.
Competencies include:
- Scene safety and dynamic risk assessment
- Primary survey and structured casualty assessment
- Trauma management
- Airway management
- Catastrophic bleeding control
- Shock management
- Casualty handling in remote environments
- Monitoring and handover to higher medical care
FPOSi is not part of the UK ambulance progression route, but it is respected internationally as a strong intermediate trauma qualification.
Operational competencies
- Risk and journey management
- Situational awareness and threat recognition
- Personal safety and avoidance strategies
- Checkpoint interaction and safe conduct
- Travel and accommodation safety
- Communication in low‑resource environments
- Cultural awareness and safe community engagement
- Stress management and calm decision‑making
Graduates are prepared to operate safely, ethically, and responsibly during humanitarian, development, or media deployments in volatile or high‑risk environments.lated medical capability..
HEAT + (HEAT with FREC Level 3)
EIGHT – Day Integrated Programme
HEAT + FREC 3 is a combined programme designed for individuals deploying into unstable, unpredictable, or high‑risk environments who require both hostile environment awareness and an advanced regulated medical qualification.
This pathway delivers the full 3‑day Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) alongside the regulated Level 3 First Response Emergency Care (FREC 3) qualification. It prepares participants to recognise risk early, reduce exposure to danger, and make calm, informed decisions under pressure, while also equipping them with advanced pre‑hospital care skills suitable for remote, austere, or high‑risk deployments.
Training is non‑military and centres on avoidance, de‑escalation, communication, and professional conduct rather than tactical response.
Who it’s for
High‑risk close protection personnel, oil & gas workers, government contractors, remote‑area teams, NGO specialists, and media professionals who require advanced medical capability and a qualification recognised by UK ambulance services.
Learning Outcomes and Competencies
Graduates will understand how to identify and reduce exposure to risk while carrying out humanitarian, media, or development roles. They will demonstrate safe conduct at checkpoints, maintain situational awareness, manage field movement responsibly, and respond effectively to emergencies without escalating danger.
Medical competencies (FREC 3 Level 3 – Regulated)
FREC 3 is a Level 3 regulated pre‑hospital care qualification and the recognised entry point to the UK ambulance progression route. It provides deeper clinical understanding, advanced trauma management, and the skills required to support casualties for extended periods in remote or hostile environments.
Competencies include:
- Advanced trauma management
- Airway adjuncts (OPA/NPA)
- Oxygen therapy
- Medical emergencies (cardiac, respiratory, diabetic, neurological)
- Patient assessment and monitoring
- Remote and austere care
- Extended casualty management
- Clinical handover to ambulance or higher medical care
FREC 3 forms the foundation of the UK pre‑hospital care pathway:
FREC 3 → FREC 4 → FREC 5 → FREC 6 (Paramedic route)
This makes it the highest Level 3 medical qualification available before progressing to advanced pre‑hospital care.
Operational competencies
- Risk and journey management
- Situational awareness and threat recognition
- Personal safety and avoidance strategies
- Checkpoint interaction and safe conduct
- Travel and accommodation safety
- Communication in low‑resource environments
- Cultural awareness and safe community engagement
- Stress management and calm decision‑making
Graduates are prepared to operate safely, ethically, and responsibly during humanitarian, development, or media deployments in volatile or high‑risk environments.y, and responsibly during humanitarian, development, media, or other civilian deployments in volatile or high-risk environments, with enhanced, regulated medical capability..