First Aider for Vessel



The First Aider for Vessel course is a specialized first aid program designed for shipboard environments, created for crew members working with limited resources, far from medical facilities, and in high‑risk conditions. This type of course typically meets IMO / STCW requirements and prepares seafarers to act in emergencies before the victim can be handed over to medical personnel or evacuated.
Below is a structured, professional description suitable for a website, training catalog, or presentation.
🎯 Course Objective
To prepare crew members to provide first aid in maritime conditions, where medical help may be unavailable for an extended period and responsibility for the victim’s survival lies with the team.
The course develops skills in assessment, stabilization, management of critical situations, and communication with the captain, shore services, and radio medical consultants.
📘 Course Modules⚓ 1. Specifics of Providing Aid on a Vessel

• Limited resources and confined spaces
• Working in conditions of motion, noise, and vibration
• Setting up a safe treatment area
• Ship’s medical kit and proper use

🩺 2. Primary and Secondary Assessment

• DRABC algorithm adapted for maritime conditions
• Full Head‑to‑Toe examination
• SAMPLE / OPQRST information gathering
• Decision‑making regarding evacuation

❤️ 3. Life‑Threatening Conditions

• Unconsciousness, absence of breathing
• CPR in confined spaces
• Using an AED onboard
• Choking, drowning, hypoxia

🩸 4. Trauma and Bleeding

• Severe bleeding, tourniquets, hemostatic agents
• Head, spine, and fracture injuries
• Immobilization under vessel motion
• Injuries caused by equipment and machinery

🔥 5. Burns, Chemical and Thermal Injuries

• Steam and thermal burns
• Chemical exposure (fuel, reagents)
• Electrical injuries onboard

🌡 6. Medical Emergencies

• Heart attack, stroke
• Anaphylaxis (auto‑injector use)
• Seizures
• Diabetic and asthmatic crises

📡 7. Communication with Shore Services

• Telemedical Assistance (radio medical consultation)
• Preparing a medical condition report
• Decision‑making for MEDEVAC

🧪 Practical Component

• CPR and AED practice in confined spaces
• Immobilization and casualty transport through ladders and narrow passages
• Working with the ship’s medical kit
• Scenario‑based drills: fire, drowning, machinery injuries, chemical burns
• Teamwork within the First Aid Team

⏱ Duration
Typically 8–12 hours, depending on company requirements and crew skill level.
📜 Certification
Upon successful completion, participants receive a First Aider for Vessel / Shipboard First Aid Certificate, meeting maritime safety requirements and shipping industry standards.
🎓 Who This Course Is For

• Crew members of commercial and passenger vessels
• Officers and bosuns
• Cruise ship staff
• Yacht and private vessel personnel
• Fishermen and offshore platform workers

💡 Course Value

• Confidence when acting far from medical facilities
• Skills to stabilize a victim before evacuation
• Understanding of maritime‑specific risks
• Practice closely simulating real shipboard conditions