REC First Aid & Incident Management Courses for Paddlers

We have designed this unique and comprehensive 4 day course to ensure it offers the very best training for any sea kayaker looking to be able to have the skills and confidence to deal with incidents and first aid situations.

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The course includes the REC Outdoor First Aid / EFAW (16hr) qualification, which satisfies the requirements for National Governing Bodies (Paddle UK etc.)

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Course Aims

• You gain proper hands on experience in the coastal environment (in, around and on the water in sea kayaks), utilising first aid and incident management scenarios which "Keep it Real," and are as in context, and realisitic as possible.

• You aren't just bombarded with technical information and "war stories" - you are given the simple and effective tools, and the confidence to be able to ensure you can do the right thing under pressure.

• You are given the skills to ensure you make good decisions to prevent incidents, backed up by a solid foundation of tried-and-tested rescue techniques in a variety of environments to prevent situations worsening.

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Specific Content

• Key principles and techniques for First Aid situations: basic life support and defibs, primary survey issues, secondary survey issues, medical problems – including diabetes, seizures, strokes, heart problems, anaphylaxis, etc., traumatic injuries – including chest trauma, major bleeds, bone and joint injuries, wounds, etc., spinal injuries, drowning, environmental issues – both hot and cold

• Hands on and In context scenario based learning of all of the above in the marine and coastal environment, with as much time as possible on, in and around the water, in sea kayaks.  We shall use "real life" paddling situations to gain the confidence using these skills: e.g. whilst journeying in sea kayaks and moving around the coastline in a variety of environments (windy conditions, rockhopping, journeying/playing in tide, during rocky or surf landings etc.).  

• Sessions on the key principles of incident prevention - good decision making models, planning skills, safe group paddling and an awareness of human factors.

• Becoming slick and confident with fundamental sea kayak rescue techniques in a variety of situations and environments - tide, wind, waves, surf and rock gardening - to prevent situations worsening.

• A night / darkness based scenario exercise - always a highlight of the course!

• A joint exercise with local Coastguard and/or RNLI teams, to ensure we can contact and work effectively and confidently with these organisations in the event of an emergency or incident.

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​Staffing

We are delighted to be partnering with Leo Hoare at Getafix, who will share his 30+ years of experience delivering these courses.  He will be joined by the Paddle International team: Matt Haydock and Dave Janes to ensure you have 3 highly experienced trainers who have been delivering both first aid and paddlesport training for decades.  Along with this, they are experienced sea kayak guides and coaches who have been working worldwide in advanced environments, so have very much "been there, seen it and done it." 

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2025 Dates: 13th-16th November

2026 Dates: Coming Soon

Price: £400 per person

Based in: Anglesey, North Wales

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Course Combo

This course can also be combined with our 5 day BCAB Sea Kayak Leader and Advanced Sea Kayak Leader Training courses, which are 8th-12th November, at a total price of £800 per person.  Details HERE

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