FIRM – Field Incident & Risk Management Training for Journalists

Four-Day Safety & Medical Training for Media Professionals Working in High-Risk Environments

Journalists and media teams increasingly operate in environments where the risks go far beyond routine reporting. Political unrest, organised crime, public disorder, hostile surveillance, targeted harassment, road traffic incidents, medical emergencies and natural disasters can all place media workers at significant personal risk.

Lazarus Training’s FIRM (Field Incident & Risk Management) course is a comprehensive four-day programme designed to help journalists, producers, camera operators and support staff work more safely in challenging environments whilst maintaining operational effectiveness.

FIRM combines practical safety training with internationally recognised trauma first aid principles, helping participants build confidence, resilience and decision-making skills under pressure.

Designed for Real-World Media Operations

Unlike generic classroom first aid courses, FIRM is built specifically around the realities faced by journalists and media workers.

The programme combines:

• Trauma first aid training
• Personal safety and risk management
• Situational awareness
• Counter-surveillance awareness
• Vehicle and movement safety
• Incident response
• Communications and planning
• Scenario-based exercises

Training is practical, realistic and designed around the operational environments participants may encounter.

Medical Training Built Around the MARCH Protocol

Approximately 50% of the course focuses on medical skills and emergency casualty care.

Participants learn how to:

• Identify life-threatening injuries
• Control catastrophic bleeding
• Use tourniquets and haemostatic dressings
• Manage airway and breathing emergencies
• Treat trauma casualties until evacuation
• Conduct casualty assessments
• Manage shock and environmental injuries
• Work with Individual First Aid Kits (IFAKs)

The medical element follows the internationally recognised MARCH trauma care framework used in hostile environment and tactical medical training.

Training is delivered using realistic scenarios and casualty simulation to help participants perform effectively under stress.

Personal Safety & Risk Management

The safety component of FIRM focuses on helping participants recognise, avoid and manage threats before incidents escalate.

Topics may include:

• Situational awareness
• Dynamic risk assessment
• Movement planning
• Working during demonstrations and unrest
• Managing aggressive behaviour
• Surveillance awareness
• Digital and information security awareness
• Hotel and accommodation safety
• Vehicle safety and road movement
• Checkpoints and restricted areas
• Team communication and emergency planning

The focus is always on practical, proportionate decision-making suitable for media professionals.

Scenario-Led Training

Lazarus Training strongly believes that realistic practice improves confidence and retention.

FIRM includes practical exercises and scenarios designed to replicate the pressures and distractions of real-world incidents.

Participants may work through:

• Casualty care under pressure
• Crowd and protest scenarios
• Vehicle incidents
• Emergency extraction exercises
• Communications challenges
• Multi-casualty situations
• Low-information decision making

Scenarios are adapted to the operational context, experience level and location of the participants.

Delivered Internationally

Lazarus Training has delivered hostile environment, medical and safety training internationally for:

• Journalists
• Broadcasters
• International media organisations
• NGOs and civil society organisations
• Diplomatic personnel
• Investigators and field teams

Our instructors have operational experience across a wide range of challenging environments, including conflict zones, disaster areas and politically sensitive regions.

Flexible & Adaptable Delivery

FIRM is normally delivered as a four-day programme, providing a balanced combination of medical training, personal safety and realistic practical exercises.

Training can be adapted to reflect:

• Regional or country-specific risks
• Local threat environments
• Election coverage
• Disaster reporting
• Investigative journalism
• Documentary production
• Freelance journalist requirements
• Female journalist programmes
• Organisational operating procedures

Courses can be delivered internationally or within the UK, either at client venues or residential training locations.

Why Lazarus Training?

Lazarus Training specialises in realistic medical and safety training for people operating in demanding environments.

Our approach focuses on:

• Practical learning
• Realistic scenarios
• Operational credibility
• Modern trauma care principles
• Supportive instruction
• Building confidence under pressure

We do not believe in “tick-box” training. Our courses are designed to provide participants with practical skills they can realistically apply in the field.

Contact Lazarus Training

To discuss FIRM training for your organisation, newsroom or project team, please contact us.