There are lots of 1st aid courses out there, and several that offer 'Advanced' or 'Extended Skills.' Some of these courses are really only relevant to overseas expeditioning, where the user can apply some of the more surgical techniques.
Here at Sea Kayak Argyll and Bute, we also run an Advanced Course. We aim the course at people who already have some experience of outdoors courses, ideally having completed two or more 16 hour courses in the past five years. The course seeks to revise the course content of the standard 16 hour course, but also add a new set of skills and enable better decisions making. We do introduce new kit, but it is not about the kit - the kit serves as a useful tool to better understand physiology. The overall aim is that you would be confident to not only deal with the emergency, but to provide extended care for your patient.
Key course content includes catastrophic bleeding; airway management; breathing and chest examinations;
splinting, medical emergencies, CPR with defibrillator training, as well as bag valve masks and airways.
We demonstrate techniques using real rescue equipment such as vacuum splints, pelvic splints and stretchers, so that you understand what it is you are trying in to improvise. We place great emphasis on managing the environmental threat, teaching you how to protect the casualty from the cold, and how to monitor the casualty for a protracted period of time, not only monitoring the vital signs, but really understanding what they mean.
We tend to run the courses in the winter, so that many of the serials are run in the dark, regardless of the weather.
If you are a working outdoor professional, or seek to push your knowledge and skills in a realistic, supportive but challenging environment, this course could be for you. The course is certified by Rescue Emergency Care and provides a three year certificate recognised by all of the National Governing Bodies.
Follow this link to our latest events to find the next Rescue Emergency Care Level 4 Advanced 1st Aid Course.