FFAST resources and training are designed for the specific needs of fishermen and the unique conditions they can encounter at sea.
About FFAST
Fishing First Aid and Safety Training (FFAST) combines a USCG-Approved HSI Basic First Aid/CPR/AED training (8 hrs) with a day of additional boat-based scenarios and skills. There is a combination of lectures in the classroom and hands-on scenario training on vessels.
Course Description:
The Fishing First Aid and Safety Training (FFAST) course a two-day intensive first aid course. On Day 1, participants complete a USCG-Approved HSI Basic First Aid/CPR/AED course and are issued a certification that meets the requirements under 46 CFR 28.21.
On Day 2, participants are provided additional training informed by the principles of wilderness first aid to help commercial fishermen prevent and treat injuries they are likely to encounter at sea. Participants get additional practice using first aid skills and opportunity to practice training scenarios onboard a vessel. No additional certification is provided for Day 2 of the training.
The course meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements for onboard first aid training and complements a U.S. Coast Guard required training commonly known as the “Drill Conductor Course,” where fishermen learn how to conduct safety drills regularly to prepare the crew for emergencies.
Our overall approach takes into account the small crews, common injuries, vessel environments, cold water, rough seas and delayed emergency response times typical to Pacific Northwest fisheries.
To obtain their certification, students must participate Day 1 and demonstrate proficiency in first aid skills during training scenarios. We highly encourage entire crews to participate in both days of the training.
History of the FFAST Program:
The FFAST program was created by a team from Oregon State University's Occupational Safety and Health Laboratory and Oregon Sea Grant. From 2018-2023, we delivered an integrated wilderness medicine informed curriculum that was USCG-Approved as "Fishermen First Aid and Safety Training, ORESU-197". November 2023 to present, we deliver the FFAST program as two companion courses. On Day 1, we partner with Rapid Rescue Edu LLC as a local training center for HSI Safety Training to deliver the USCG-Approved HSI Basic First Aid/CPR/AED. In the companion course on Day 2, we present the additional training material we developed including on-vessel scenarios and skills practice, additional first aid in an austere environment, nutrition for the industrial athlete, opioid overdose treatment, and more. For additional resources, visit the Fishermen Led Injury Prevention Program or FLIPP in the College of Public Health and Human Services.
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Contact Matt Solberg at [email protected] to request printable flyers.