FFAST: Fishermen First Aid & Safety Training

FFAST resources and training are designed for the specific needs of fishermen and the unique conditions they can encounter at sea.

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Astoria FFAST | Port Orford FFAST | Newport FFAST

Fall 2024 Training Schedule

FFAST trainings include two full days of interactive safety training. There is a combination of lectures in the classroom and hands-on scenario training on vessels. 

Astoria

What: Astoria FFAST + AMSEA Drill Conductor Trainings

When: October 29-31, 2024, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. all three days

Where: Columbia River Maritime Museum, Barbey Maritime Center in Astoria

Registration Contact OSU Extension - Clatsop County, (503) 325-8573 to register. Preference given to commercial fishermen who register as a full crew.

*Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made by 10/24/2024 to Amanda Gladics, (503) 325-8573

Newport

When: November 5-6, 2024, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. both days

Where: OSU Extension Lincoln County Office, 1211 SE Bay Blvd., Newport, OR 97365

Registration Contact OSU Extension - Clatsop County, (503) 325-8573 to register. Preference given to commercial fishermen who register as a full crew.

*Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made by 10/25/2023 to Amelia Vaughan, (541) 351-8061

Port Orford (New Location)

When: October 24-25, 2024, 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. both days

Where: OSU Port Orford Field Station, 444 Jackson St, Port Orford, OR 97465.

Registration: Contact OSU Extension - Clatsop County, (503) 325-8573 to register. Deadline to reach minimum of 6 participants is 10/18/2024, otherwise course will be rescheduled. Port of Port Orford offering $100 mooring fee credit for vessels that register as a full crew.

*Accommodation requests related to a disability should be made by 10/18/2024 to Amanda Gladics, (503) 325-8573

Image
 Jason Jones (right) assesses the condition of participant during a simulation aboard a boat in Newport.

FFAST Course Description:

The Fishermen First Aid and Safety Training (FFAST) course a two-day intensive first aid course. It is built around the principles of wilderness first aid to help commercial fishermen prevent and treat injuries they are likely to encounter at sea.

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.

The course takes 16 hours and includes basic CPR. The training 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 pass the course, students must demonstrate basic skill and scenario proficiency and pass a final exam with a minimum score of 70 percent.

The FFAST course was created by a team from Oregon State University's Occupational Safety and Health Laboratory and Oregon Sea Grant. For additional resources, visit the Fishermen Led Injury Prevention Program or FLIPP in the College of Public Health and Human Services.

FFAST training includes:

  • How to respond to common fishery injuries and illnesses ranging from minor issues like seasickness or chapped hands to life-threatening injuries such as crush injuries or hypothermia
  • Hands-on first aid skills
  • Simulated accident or illness scenarios to practice your new first aid knowledge and skills.
  • CPR
  • One day in class instruction and one day practice on a boat

Oregon Sea Grant's Angee Doerr and Oregon State University's Kevin Buch simulate injuries on a fishing boat during a first-aid training for fishermen. Jason Jones, Charles Cromer and Kien Jones treated them using knowledge they gained in the class. (video clip by Tiffany Woods)