"Valid First Aid Certificate" RYA

Moscowman100

Moscowman100

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Anyone know what constitutes a valid certificate for the RYA? Specifically does it have to be issued by a UK trainer or do they accept International Red Cross First Aid qualifications - a 2 day vs 1 day RYA course?
TX
 
Moscowman100 said:
Anyone know what constitutes a valid certificate for the RYA? Specifically does it have to be issued by a UK trainer or do they accept International Red Cross First Aid qualifications - a 2 day vs 1 day RYA course?
TX
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Being in a similar situation, I once asked the RYA and they said foreign certificates are acceptable provided they include Hypothermia and Drowning, which is not included in the International Red Cross First Aid courses given here in France.
This information is a couple of year old so it might well need to be refreshed.



Also, if you need the commercial endorsement for a YM certificate, the medical has to be done by a MCA approved doctor, there are often British doctors abroad that can issue a valid certificate, but it is useful to check in advance. As far as I recall, in France there were a couple based in Antibes or whereabouts. Again, this was a few years ago.
 
RYA Requirement Details

http://www.rya.org.uk/coursestraining/courses/specialist/pages/firstaid.aspx

The above explains it. One day only. I have used a course from "International First Responder" taken in Oman and supplied that as evidence when renewing my instructors certificate. It was accepted as it covered the Hypothermia and Drowning aspects.

Text below as it not a big article: -

First Aid

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.
In a medical emergency a little first aid knowledge and immediate action can save lives, especially in remote locations. This one-day course is designed to provide a working knowledge of first aid for people using small craft and to support skippers.

It fulfils the requirements for:
professional skippers of small craft working within 60 miles of a safe haven, including Boatmasters;
the Senior First Aid certificate needed by offshore racers subject to ISAF's regulations on first aid training (OSR 4.08.4).
The course is recommended by the MCA and HSE.

The subjects specific to boating include:
the recovery position in a confined space
CPR, including the drowning protocol
cold shock and hypothermia fromimmersion and/or exposure
seasickness and dehydration
medical assistance or advice by VHF
helicopter rescue
 
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I think the RYA are quite flexible, or they certainly used to be.

I knew someone who got a cert on the basis of his employer's first aiders cert.

My first aid cert was out of date when I sat the YM exam. I was original going to do the RYA course the weekend before but it fell through. The RYA just held on to my YM cert until I got the first aid cert. I did the STCW Elementary First Aid course which they accepted.

Have to admit the STCW course wasn't big on either hypothermia or drowning. Everyone else on the course was crewing for a large ferry company and it had a definite bias towards personal safety of the first aider.

Anyway, try contacting the Training Dept at the RYA. I've always found the RYA will respond pretty quickly when you contact them.
 
JCP said:
I've always found the RYA will respond pretty quickly when you contact them.
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They must also have an impressive internal mail forwarding system: when I used the general form on the web site to contact them, I received the answer the following day (I call that very quick, by continental standards at least) and by looking at the various RYA email addresses that were written on the message heading, my original one had been forwarded to three four people one after the other, until the last one eventually answered :smile:
 
Roberto said:
... if you need the commercial endorsement for a YM certificate, the medical has to be done by a MCA approved doctor, there are often British doctors abroad that can issue a valid certificate, but it is useful to check in advance. As far as I recall, in France there were a couple based in Antibes or whereabouts. Again, this was a few years ago.
Click to expand...

Not entirely true, the ML5 medical used by plenty of Yachtmasters can be done by any GP, (does not even have to be a British GP).

It is only if you go for the ENG1 medical that you need a MCA Approved Doctor.

The ML5 (any doctor) lasts longer than the ENG1 (5yrs vs 2yrs) however does restrict you to craft under 24m and to staying within 60NM of shore (safe haven).
 
Doug_Stormforce said:
Not entirely true, the ML5 medical used by plenty of Yachtmasters can be done by any GP, (does not even have to be a British GP).

It is only if you go for the ENG1 medical that you need a MCA Approved Doctor.

The ML5 (any doctor) lasts longer than the ENG1 (5yrs vs 2yrs) however does restrict you to craft under 24m and to staying within 60NM of shore (safe haven).
Click to expand...

Have just downloaded a ML5 application form from the MCA website which clearly states that the doctor must be registered with the UK General Medical Council.

Also it would appear that for over 65's the medical exam must be done every year and a commercial endorsement only lasts for 1yr?

S**t, I hate getting old!!!!
 
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