Description

The RYA First Aid course is a one-day course covering all the usual first aid subjects, but from a boating perspective. It is aimed at anyone who goes afloat, whether on inland waters, rivers, estuaries or on cross channel passages.

In a medical emergency a little first aid knowledge and immediate action can save lives, especially in remote locations. This one-day 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:

• professional skippers of small craft working within 60 miles of a safe haven, including Boatmasters;
• the Senior First Aid certificate needed by offshore racers subject to ISAF’s regulations on first aid training (OSR 4.08.4).

The course is recommended by the MCA and HSE.

The subjects specific to boating include:

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

Courses are held in Wickford, Essex. 10 minutes from Junc 29 of the M25 or by train, 35 minutes from London Liverpool St.

The course costs £120 and includes the RYA pack that will help you through the day and which you will take away with you. Your certificate is also included.

Full RYA First Aid Syllabus

The RYA First Aid course is designed to provide a working knowledge of first aid for all those who go afloat, on inland waters or up to 60 miles offshore. The syllabus is based on the recommendations of the HSE and the MCA.

Course content:

Assessment, immediate actions and the priorities within first aid
Unconsciousness and the recovery position
CPR
Drowning
Breathing difficulties
Failure of the circulation: shock
Blood loss and the control of bleeding
Recognition of internal bleeding
Angina and heart attack
Levels of response and the AVPU scale
Head injury: concussion and compression
Immersion hypothermia and cold shock
Burns, including sunburn.
Exposure hypothermia/hyperthermia
Seasickness and dehydration
Diabetic emergency
Seizures
Fractures, including spinal injuries
First aid kits
Advice or assistance by radio
Medivac… the evacuation of a casualty by helicopter
For the skippers of MCA coded boats:
The contents and use of the category C first aid kit, including the pocket mask