RYA First Aid at Sea

Course details

The one-day first aid course provides first aid training from a boating perspective. It is aimed at anyone who takes to the water whether powerboat, sailing or commercial fishing vessel.

Knowing how to deal with a medical emergency at sea is very important as the emergency services may take some time to reach you, a little first aid knowledge and immediate action can save lives.  The course is designed to provide a working knowledge of first aid for people using small craft and to support skippers.  

It fulfils the requirements for:

• first aid training for vessels working up to area Category 2 under the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Codes of Practice for Small Vessels Operated Commercially;
• first aid training needed by offshore racers subject to World Sailing's Offshore Special Regulation OSR 6.05.2; 
• the Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations, 1981 for the purposes of Emergency First Aid at Work.

The subjects specific to boating include:

• the recovery position in a confined space
• CPR, including the drowning protocol
• cold shock and hypothermia from immersion and/or exposure
• seasickness and dehydration
• medical assistance or advice by VHF
• helicopter rescue