Close Protection Paramedics; a Force Multiplier or an unnecessary expense?

The Landscape:

Close Protection Paramedics, or CPP’s are a relatively novel concept within the UK’s Security and Close Protection Operations’ landscape. In recent decades, the Close Protection industry has undergone an unprecedented surge in popularity and prominence, amongst both operators joining the profession and the ever-increasing demand for their services; the latter fuelling the former. This is likely linked, at least in part, to the ever-evolving threats, perceived or actual, Ultra-High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWI) and their families may face in the modern World.

So, what is a Close Protection Paramedic?:

Close Protection Paramedics (CPPs) are, as the name suggests, highly skilled, dual-qualified individuals that possess an abundance of skills, knowledge and experience in the fields of, but not limited to, Security Management, Risk Management, Close Protection Operations and Advanced Medical Care.

A CPP operating in the UK should hold a valid SIA Frontline Close Protection Operations Licence, as well as being a registrant whose name appears on the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) register as a Paramedic. The word ‘Paramedic’ is a protected title in the UK, meaning that only those whose name appears on the aforementioned register may legally call themselves a Paramedic. As a registered, practicing Paramedic, they should also hold an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate, maintain clinical competency and Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and also hold some form of indemnity insurance too.

The ’Security’ Bit…

Although not a regulatory requirement, it stands to reason that most (although not all) people entering the Close Protection Industry today do so with a ‘security background’ of some description. That background will almost exclusively be former UK Armed Forces, along with a smattering of former overseas Armed Forces and former Police personnel mixed in. This background will be wildly varied but should at least form the foundations for the individual to develop from, building their knowledge, understanding and expertise within the niche World of Close Protection Operations. Depending on their background and route to becoming a Paramedic, the individual will likely, although not exclusively, have a reasonably extensive background in advanced driving techniques too; something a CPO straight from their SIA training course is unlikely to possess.

The ’Paramedic’ Bit…

Becoming a HCPC registered Paramedic in the UK, for the most part, is not a simple process, and for very good reason. You cannot simply ‘go on a quick course’ with minimal to no entry criteria and become a Paramedic. You cannot ‘do a bit of CPD’ and become a Paramedic. Currently in the UK, the route to becoming a Paramedic is now all but limited to those who are willing to commit to a 3-year University programme in order to gain the necessary skills, knowledge, experience and qualifications required to apply for entry to the HCPC Paramedic Register. Although vocational routes into Paramedicine were once an option in some way, shape or form, these are progressively becoming a thing of the past. Almost exclusively these days, existing vocational routes to becoming a Paramedic are associated with NHS Ambulance Service Trusts, who in-turn are associated with Universities that run accredited programmes. Despite much (inaccurate) discussion within the Close Protection industry and beyond, claiming that ‘FREC is a pathway to becoming a Paramedic’, this is technically not true at this moment in time. Now obviously, as with everything in life, some people are ‘better’ than others. However, you should be able to hold some degree of confidence in the robust training system in place, that a person who has attained the required qualifications to gain entry to the HCPC register and therefore become a Paramedic, has the necessary skills required to operate at that level of clinical competence.

So, what can a CPP bring to a UHNWI CP Team?:

As mentioned above, a CPP is a highly qualified, dual-trained individual. By having a CPP as a member of the CP Team, this can add value in a multitude of ways:

Firstly, above all, they are a CPO – a Protector. They are a CP trained individual who is technically trained to the same standard as the rest of the team. They can take up any role within the team just like the next person can – they are not simply an ‘add-on’ sitting at the back. They could, for example, be employed to drive the Principal’s backing vehicle, fulfilling a useful role, not taking up a space unnecessarily, yet also being immediately available to act in either capacity at a moment’s notice.

Secondly, they are an immediately available advanced medical resource. When we think of Close Protection and Medical, we always think of the High Acuity, Low Occurrence (HALO) scenarios – ‘the Principal has been shot – bust out the chest seal’, or ‘their leg is missing – break out the tourniquet’. Don’t get me wrong, of course these events need to be managed effectively should they occur. But I can also tell you from experience that these events are also extremelyrare, particularly in UK-based operations. What is far more common is Primary Care presentations. Maybe the Principal simply ‘feels unwell’, or has a complex medical history, or has Chest Pain where a 12-lead ECG would be hugely beneficial. These are the times when a highly experienced Paramedic can step-up, leaning on their years of patient assessment skills, history taking, communication, diagnosis and treatment. Depending on location and a whole host of other variables, calling 999 and requesting an ambulance may not be the simple solution to all of your medical woes that the Risk Assessment may have you believe. A well-equipped CPP will be able to conduct a thorough clinical assessment, develop a management plan and also initiate complex treatment, potentially including life-saving medications or effective analgesia long before an ambulance arrives.

Many CPP’s are typically trained to a higher level of competence than their NHS Ambulance Service counterparts. This means that in the unlikely event of a HALO incident occurring with the Principal, advanced-level care is being administered to the casualty immediately. This could be in the form of advanced life support in the event of a cardiac arrest, advanced trauma care in the event of a Road Traffic Collison (RTC) or advanced assessment, diagnosis and management in the casualty who is suffering a Heart Attack. Interventions typically at the CPP’s disposal could include advanced airway management, intra-venous or intra-osseous access, delivery of advanced medications and analgesia such as Morphine.

Thirdly, an-house CPP can potentially take care of the entire team’s clinical governance and medical training needs. Depending on their background and experience, they can potentially conduct clinical risk assessments, develop or review medical SOPs and procedures, conduct hospital recce’s, liaise with medical providers and even deliver in-house, fully regulated medical training to the team to either develop or refresh clinical competence. The value of this alone, not just in monetary terms, but also in developing a cohesive group that function as a highly effective team, who understand how to operate effectively in emergency medical situations and who can deliver Paramedic-level care to their Principal within an immediate timeframe cannot be underestimated.

Conclusion:

So in conclusion, a Close Protection Paramedic is a highly skilled, dual-qualified individual who can bring a diverse and extremely valuable skillset to any Close Protection Team. As with any walk of life, you get some incredibly talented CPOs, and you get some who you would flatly refuse to work with ever again. You also get some Paramedics who blow you away with their skills, knowledge and shear presence when dealing with a high-acuity medical emergency such as a Traumatic Cardiac Arrest, and you also get some whom you question they have ever passed their exams, or whether they’re ‘actually a Paramedic’ – this is life.

But… if you can find a highly skilled, highly experienced Close Protection Paramedic who is genuinely a master of their craft, who fits in well with small, high functioning teams and who doesn’t have an ego that matches their impressively vast skillset, then I would suggest you’re potentially onto a winner.

So, are Close Protection Paramedics a force multiplier or an unnecessary expense? I’ll let you decide.