Qualsafe’s Administering Emergency Medical Gases course gives you the knowledge and skills carry out your role & responsibilities, in line with agreed ways of working when administering emergency medical gases.
If you have a specific responsibility to be able to safely administer and monitor the effects of emergency medical gases within your scope of practice in a prehospital environment, this qualification will provide you with the practical skills and underpinning knowledge to do so safely. Examples roles are first aiders in high-risk workplaces, community first responders, fire, police & other emergency services personnel.
This qualification and learning outcomes are based on the guidance of:
- Resuscitation Council (UK)
- Skills for Health Assessment Principles for First Aid Qualifications
- The British Thoracic Society
- UK Ambulance Services Clinical Practice Guidelines
By the end of the course, you’ll be able to demonstrate the administration of safe, prompt and effective use of emergency medical gases which can arise when providing emergency treatment and/or management in prehospital care situations.
This course is an ideal add-on for FREC3 holders, looking for event work.
We can also run this course at your premises. If you have 4-12 staff members interested in this qualification, please email training@promed999.co.uk or call 03333 445442 to discuss.
These courses are provided by our training partner, STC Training Solutions, a Qualsafe Awards Registered Centre No. 0907391.
Administering Emergency Medical Gases qualification details
This qualification contains 2 mandatory units with a Total Qualification Time (TQT) of 10 hours. This is made up of 6 Guided Learning Hours (GLH); the time your are being taught and assessed under the immediate guidance of a trainer/assessor. The remaining 4 hours are what you will reasonably spend preparing & studying and towards assessment, directed (but not supervised) by a trainer/assessor.
The credit value for this qualification is 1 credit at level 3.
Topics covered
We’ll make sure that you understand the use of oxygen therapy including the health & safety principles, benefits, indication & dangers. You’ll learn how to administer oxygen, including the requirements for pre-operational inspections. We cover the clinical need for oxygen therapy in trauma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and hypoxaemia. The different delivery devices will be clearly explained.
You’ll also learn about the use of a mixture of nitrous oxide & oxygen, and how to administer it.
Assessment
You must complete all assessments & skills tests in the unit successfully within the registration period to achieve the qualification. The maximum period to achieve this qualification, including any referrals is 4 weeks
Assessment of performance is carried out on a 1:1 basis.
1 x practical assessment:
- Administrating emergency medical gases
1 x theory assessment:
- Workbook 1
Pre-requisites
- Have successfully completed the QA Level 3 First Aid at Work (QCF) or a QA recognised equivalent qualification
- Knowledge/awareness of an automated external defibrillator (AED)
- Be at least 16 years old on the first day of the training
QA Level 3 Award in Administering Emergency Medical Gases (RQF) certificate
You’ll receive your Qualsafe Awards Level 3 Award in Administering Emergency Medical Gases (RQF) e-certificate soon after your results have been submitted. We’ll also post a printed certificate within a few weeks of the course ending.
We’ll issue you with an interim ecertificate confirming what you have been assessed on to cover the time from our Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) confirming your have met the requirement for the award until your certificate is issued. You can show this to employers pending the certificate from the awarding body.
Recommended reading
The awarding body recommends that you are familiar with the HSE’s risk management website.
You should also look at Confined Spaces: A Brief Guide to Working Safely (ISBN 9780717664894). The Oxygen Use in the Workplace: Fire and Explosion Hazards (ISBN 9780717665617) explains the hazards from using oxygen and the precautions to take when using it.
The following British Standards are also suggested:
- BS EN ISO 2503:2009+A1:2015 Gas welding equipment. Pressure regulators and pressure regulators with flow-metering devices for gas cylinders used in welding, cutting and allied processes up to 300 bar (30 MPa) (ISBN 9780580833663)
- BS EN ISO 3821:2019 Gas welding equipment. Rubber hoses for welding, cutting and allied processes (ISBN 9780539005400)
- BS EN ISO 5359:2014+A1:2017 Anaesthetic and respiratory equipment. Low-pressure hose assemblies for use with medical gases (ISBN 9780580900051)
- BS EN ISO 10524-1:2019 Pressure regulators for use with medical gases. Pressure regulators and pressure regulators with flow-metering devices (ISBN 9780580877049)
- BS EN ISO 10524-2:2019 Pressure regulators for use with medical gases. Manifold and line pressure regulators (ISBN 9780580870248)
- BS EN ISO 10524-3:2019 Pressure regulators for use with medical gases. Pressure regulators integrated with cylinder valves (VIPRs) (ISBN 9780580870255)
- BS EN ISO 10524-4:2008 Pressure regulators for use with medical gases. Low-pressure regulators (ISBN 9780580659294)
Further reading
You could also read HSG139 The Safe Use of Compressed Gases in Welding, Flame Cutting and Allied Processes (ISBN 9780717606801).
The following Codes of Practice (CP) from the British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) are also suggested:
- CP4 Gas supply and distribution systems (excluding acetylene). Revision 5: 2020
- CP7 The safe use of oxy-fuel gas equipment (individual portable or mobile cylinder supply). Revision 8 2018.
- CP44 The storage of gas cylinders. 2016
Requalification
Your QA Level 3 Award in Administering Emergency Medical Gases (RQF) certificate is valid for 1 year. This is dated when you achieve the final unit.
You need to retake the qualification before the certificate expiry date to remain qualified.
Important information
While achievement of this qualification confirms learners have met both the theoretical and practical requirements, this does not imply a ‘license to practice’ – the scope of practice will be determined by the organisation responsible for medical gases provision. This qualification does not allow a learner to obtain, store or administer medical gases without clinical governance.