The RYA First Aid course can cost as little as £60/$90/78 EUROS depending on where you take it.
First Aid at sea is often different to what you will find ashore. You don’t have as much room as you do on land. There are specific dangers at sea not often found ashore.
This course will show you how to deal with emergencies afloat that can often mean someone lives long enough to be treated by medical experts – even if you are very far away from immediate help.
A Lifeboat can take an hour to get to you even at full blast, and with recent government cuts to helicopter rescue services, air support isn’t as quick as it once used to be. Having a good First Aid certificate could really mean the difference between life and death for you and your crew.
You will be considered skilled enough to take on an emergency situation up to 60 miles offshore.
The certificate is valid for 3 years so must be renewed at regular intervals. The skills and techniques of First Aid are constantly evolving so a course taken in the 1990’s will not give you the best skills available from a course taken this year.
Don’t expect to learn advanced paramedic skills, but do expect to learn the skills and techniques to keep someone alive in most situations where First Aid skills can save someone’s life.
This course is entirely shorebased, you don't even need to get wet!
Not all RYA training establishments offer this course, so do look around for specialist centres that do.
Yes you can, just contact your nearest RYA accredited training centre.
You do not need any sailing experience though it would be helpful to know your way around a boat. Consider this course as an adjunct to the RYA Competent Crew, Dinghy Level 2 / Powerboat Level 2 or higher qualifications.
Eight hours of tuition carried out in one day.
You will learn all the skills offered in a standard First Aid course with specific skills that apply to doing the techniques afloat.
The specific water borne elements of the First Aid course are:
- The drowning protocol of CPR
- Seasickness and dehydration
- Helicopter rescue
- Recovery position in a confined space
- Medical assistance and advice by VHF
See full details here.
This course is an adjunct to almost every other course offered by the RYA, including professional certification. The course certificate is compulsory if you are to complete certain RYA sailing and motorboating qualifications such as the RYA Yachtmaster and certain safety boat and coaching certificates.
The course is recognised by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF), the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency and the Health and Safety Executive. Ultimately the course is about saving lives, and you don’t need to show a badge to someone before saving their life – you just get on with it.
Look up the RYA First Aid course here, or take a look at the syllabus.