RYA First Aid

• Required experience – None
• Minimum duration – 8 hours plus exam time
• Minimum age – 16
• Format – This course is based in the classroom.

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

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

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