As you advance in your yachting career, your medical responsibilities will grow, making it essential to be capable and confident in providing medical care to those onboard. Learning and maintaining the medical skills needed for your position requires a combination of regulatory classes and frequent refreshers and drills. This blog by MedAire looks at the STCW’10 regulatory courses.
There are 3 different courses available, as set by the STCW and keeping your qualifications up to date will form part of your requirements for your position onboard. These courses are: Elementary First Aid, Proficiency in Medical First Aid and Proficiency in Medical Care Onboard.
MedAire is uniquely certified by the MCA to provide each level of training, onboard your yacht.
A RECAP OF THE STCW MEDICAL COMPETENCY LEVELS
Up to 12 crew members can upgrade or recertify their qualifications altogether with MedAire’s unique 5-day STCW’10 class, onboard your vessel, using the equipment you have on board.
Here’s how it works:
Day 1-2: Elementary First Aid (EFA) covers first aid basics from CPR to wound management, oxygen administration and the use of an AED.
– Anyone is eligible to join the first two days and receive Elementary First Aid (EFA) or renew their First Aid certificate.
Day 1-3 (plus e-learning) Proficiency in Medical First Aid (PMFA): A more in-depth course that builds upon EFA, including chest pain management and musculoskeletal injuries.
– Those who have already taken EFA will attend days 1-3 plus an e-learning module, to receive their Proficiency in Medical First Aid (PMFA)
Day 1-5 Proficiency in Medical Care Onboard: The highest level of medical certification that teaches the responder not only how to handle a medical situation, but also to sustain life onboard.
– Those who already have their PMFA or Proficiency in Medical Care on Board (PMCOB) certification prior to this training will complete all 5 days to certify (or recertify) in Proficiency in Medical Care on Board.
All crew members can attend the full five days regardless of whether they want to expand their medical knowledge (although the certification received will of course depend on the pre-requisites having been met).
BESPOKE TRAINING COURSES
Of course, regulatory training is just one part of ensuring safety and well-being on board. Whether your crew needs a refresher, you have children or elderly guests on board, or you want to provide crewmembers with strategies to help develop mental resilience, MedAire has a solution to support your needs.
To find out more about MedAire training courses click here.
WHY CHOOSE MEDAIRE?
Aside from the fact that MedAire’s instructors are specialised in providing medical care within remote environments, their training:
– Incorporates your medical kit into the training, so in the event of a medical situation, you will be more familiar with your own equipment.
– Includes scenarios into the training, creating an engaging course, with plenty of one-on-one time with a medical professional.
– They’re trusted by hundreds of crew members every year.
