BLUEMOMENT

In an effort to get round to learning about boats after 25+ years of owning various seabed-dodging hulks, I have decided that 2010 is the year of the shiny certificate and have booked myself on one of the newly-named 'Yachtmaster Coastal' (Coastal Skipper in old money) courses, followed by an exam. I know that you need a VHF certificate (tick) and a First Aid certificate (sadly lacking). The RYA website states that it should be 'A valid first aid certificate (first aid qualifications held by Police, Fire and Armed Services are acceptable)'.

Can anyone please tell me what counts as valid? And what's the cheapest, quickest way of getting something valid? [awaits torrent of abuse about irresponsibility etc etc] but I don't have the time to spend more than a day on one. Just make sure you don't suffer a life-threatening condition in my vicinity.

Thanks...

Anything approved by HSE/ elfin safety.
I did one with the Red Cross when I started with a RYA commercial endorsement- 5 day initial, then one day refresher after (I think) 5 years.
No doubt the refresh rate has changed to make a few quid more out of 'training'.

.

Anything approved by HSE/ elfin safety.

Not so I am afraid. The course must include hypothermia and drowning, and the standard courses designed for workplaces don't - for obvious reasons.

Nick,
You are correct- its around 10 years since I did the red cross version which did include hypothermia and drowning, but it seems the syllabus has changed again.
The RYA site asks for ''Elementary first aid (STCW A-V1/1-3) '' which I also hold... as I recall it was a one day course at the local tech/ nautical college. I did this one as part of another job not connected with the RYA ticket.

I will have to check- the renewal for my own is due soon!

Edit- this is for the commercial endorsement- probably better to email the RYA to clarify what is acceptable nowadays.

See here-
http://www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/c ... staid.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Quote -
"Our one-day course covers 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"

HTH
edit. This one seems to be in your neck of the woods -
http://www.westwardquest.co.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Update from the RYA:

We can accept any First Aid as long as the course has the following requirements:-

* The course must be at least 8 hours long
* Covers Hyperthermia and Drowning
* and is Health and Safety executive approved

Shuggy wrote:Update from the RYA:

We can accept any First Aid as long as the course has the following requirements:-

* The course must be at least 8 hours long
* Covers Hyperthermia and Drowning
* and is Health and Safety executive approved

I went round this loop last year. None of the commonly available courses fulfil these requirements - you will almost certainly have to go to one that is run by a sailing school.

Shuggy wrote:Update from the RYA:

We can accept any First Aid as long as the course has the following requirements:-
[SNIP]
* Covers Hyperthermia and Drowning

I would have thought hypothermia would have been much more relevant.