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 and sources of food

 4. Survival craft ailments

5. Raft Management

·          Azimuth stabilization 

6. Search and rescue

·          Rescue by helicopter or vessel

·          Role of HM Coastguard

·          UK and International SAR Organisation 

·          Other services