Marine Basic and Advanced First Aid

Whether you work on the water, guide tours, or operate boats in remote marine areas, emergencies can happen when you least expect them. Marine Basic and Advanced First Aid courses help you stay calm, act quickly, and make smart decisions during time-critical and life-threatening marine emergencies.


These hands-on, interactive courses are designed to meet Transport Canada requirements and teach you how to care for others until help arrives – even when you’re far from shore. You’ll build the confidence to handle everything from minor injuries to major incidents. With practical skills and real-life marine scenarios, this training helps keep you, your crew, and your guests safe at sea.



What You’ll Take Away

  • Skills to recognize and respond to life-threatening marine emergencies
  • Confidence to provide first aid in a remote or water-based setting
  • How to treat breathing, circulation, and airway issues
  • Wound care, head, spine, and bone injuries
  • How to respond to environmental and medical emergencies
  • Patient movement and safe transfers at sea
  • Understanding the EMS system and marine-specific challenges
  • Hands-on scenario training from the marine and fishing industry
  • 3-year Red Cross certification and Transport Canada credentials
  • Knowledge that meets federal marine safety regulations

Who Should Attend?

These courses are designed for people who work or travel in marine environments, including tourism operators, guides, fishing crew, water taxi drivers, and others working on or near the water. If your job puts you on the sea, this training is for you.



Session Details

These are in-person, instructor-led courses with practical hands-on training. Marine Basic First Aid is 16 hours and also available in a blended format (part online, part in person). Marine Advanced First Aid is 31 hours and includes more in-depth training for serious marine emergencies.



Eligibility

Indigenous Tourism BC will cover the full costs of this training for eligible participants:

  • Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, Metis) residing in BC
  • Indigenous-owned tourism businesses (51%+ Indigenous ownership), and employees of
  • First Nations-owned tourism businesses (51%+ First Nations ownership), and employees of
  • First Nations Communities in BC

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites to take either course – just a willingness to learn and the ability to participate in all activities. You must attend 100% of the course and achieve a minimum passing grade to earn certification.



Questions?

We would love to hear from you! Email [email protected]

Training Type
Classroom, Course, In-Person
Training Category
Health and Safety

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