Do you know what actions to take if your crew is taken ill or hit on the head by the boom? A finger caught in a windlass? A rope burn?

This is a one day course to provide the seafarer with a little basic first aid knowledge to help recognise and prevent some of the common problems that we account at sea. The course also includes training in emergency procedures where immediate action can save lives.

The emphasis is on FIRST aid where the seafarer is within 60 miles of a safe haven and can be in VHF contact with a doctor as well as within the range of a helicopter rescue.

The course is valid for three years when it is necessary to retake the day to keep the certificate valid.

It is highly recommended for all skippers to hold a First Aid certificate and a requirement for both Coastal and Yachtmaster candidates before they take the practical exam.

All skippers and instructors working in the commercial field are required to hold a valid certificate.

The day is broken down into lecture time, questions, with the opportunity to practise and improve the emergency skills on a dummy. There is ample opportunity to practise new bandaging skills on each other and to talk about prevention of hypothermia or infection in an open wound.

This is a good opportunity to look at the contents of a first aid box and ask questions about what is most suitable to carry on your own yacht.

We are also able to discuss the practicalities of updated new equipment available on the market

At Cowes Sailing School our classroom is situated to the west of Cowes with a commanding view of the western Solent. We offer tuition in small groups and often offer one to one tuition which enables the course to be run around the pressures of your work, either in our classroom or we can come to you.