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RYA SEA SURVIVAL COURSE SYLLABUS

(reproduced from the RYA Cruising Scheme Syllabus and Logbook (G15/03) with the kind permission of the RYA)

The Course

The aim of the course is to give an understanding of how to use the safety equipment carried on small boats, including a practical session in launching and boarding a liferaft.

The instructor will have attended an RYA or other approved training course.

The maximum number of students will be twice the liferaft capacity (normally 12 to 16).

Course duration

The course duration is one day including a two hour practical session with a liferaft in the water.

Pre-course Knowledge

Nil

1.  Preparation for sea survival

• Survival difficulties

• Survival requirements

• Equipment available

• Actions prior to abandonment

2.  Lifejackets and liferafts

• Lifejacket design and construction - correct donning procedure, purpose and use of lifejackets

• Safety harness - purpose in use

• Liferafts - towage and containment on board - types, design and construction, launching - abandoning the vessel and boarding liferaft - righting a capsized liferaft - liferaft equipment - initial actions to be taken in a liferaft

3.  Principles of survival

• Methods to increase chances of survival

• Signs, symptoms and treatment of hypothermia

• Symptoms, method of treatment for sunburn, heat exhaustion and heatstroke

• Survival routines to aid location

• Correct use of pyrotechnics and other location aids

• Water rationing - procedures

• Dehydration and preventative measures

• Food rationing

• Sources of food

4.  Survival craft ailments

5.  Raft management

6.  Search and rescue

• Rescue by helicopter or vessel

• Role of HM Coastguard

• UK and International SAR Organisation

• Other services