Proficiency in Medical First Aid (A-VI/4 1-3)

To give Seafarers who are designated to provide Medical First Aid on board ship the required training. In practical terms this is an advanced First Aid Course for leisure and commercial sailors and motor boaters venturing offshore. It is also required by super yacht officers training towards their Chief Mate's Certificate of Competence.

This course is popular with blue water sailors, ocean yachtsmen and those planning on spending substantial time at sea away from the support network of the UK and European authorities.

This certificate is required if you want to go onto the STCW Medical Care On Board Ship Course (often referred to as Ship Captain's Medical). We generally run the two back to back.

If you are a Commercial Yachtmaster Certificate of Competence holder and only hold one of the one day First Aid certificates you will be restricted to operating commercially up to 60 miles from a safe haven. If you also hold this, and the STCW Medical Care Certificate your operating area will extend to 150 miles from a safe haven for Yachtmaster Offshore holders and worlwide for Yachtmaster Ocean holders.

Course Structure

This course covers practical First Aid at Sea, use of category B Medical Supplies and caring for patients who may be with you for some time. It includes:

Examination of a casualty or patient

Basic life support

Clearing an obstructed airway

Use of inhalers when treating asthma

Use of the face shield, pocket mask and plastic airway

Immobilisation of neck injuries

Lifting casualties into stretchers

Immobilisation and using splints

Pharmacology and drugs

Layout and content of the Ship Captain's Medical Guide

Useful Information

Pre Requisites:

STCW Elementary First Aid taken within the last three years

Minimum age 16

In order to be awarded the STCW Certificate you must hold the earlier STCW certificate. Many sailors wish to take this course for their own peace of mind, despite not holding the STCW EFA certificate. In this instance, we still issue a certificate, it just excludes the STCW endorsement.