February 26, 2021

United States Coast Guard CPR Requirement for Sea Captains.

As a sea captain the responsibility of your crew lies on your shoulders. It is also your responsibility to abide by the rules of the United States Coast Guard who licenses commercial or passenger carrying ships. At CPR of America we offer high quality American Heart Association First Aid and CPR training that complies with the USCG’s STCW  Code Table A-VI/1-3 which required elementary First Aid.  

To register for an upcoming course please contact us directly at 781-854-8015. We can answer all of your questions over the phone and register you for an upcoming course. 

At our trainings, our priority is making sure that you will know how to react on your vessel in a medical emergency. Every minute that goes by exponentially decreases the chance of survival; our American Heart Association First Aid class will equip you with the tools to save a life.

In the First Aid and CPR course we begin with the American Heart Association’s guidelines for scene safety and assessment, which include checking for responsiveness, calling for help & an AED, and checking for breathing. These are the steps which that you would take before administering chest compressions to a victim.

Next we review how to deliver adequate chest compressions to a victim.

·        Making sure our arms are straight.

·        Having our body over the body of the victim

·        Compressions at a depth of 2-2.4 inches

·        Going at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute

·        Allowing chest recoil, which will allow the heart to refill between compressions.

After the chest compressions students will be able to practice providing ventilations with a pocket mask or in some cases mouth to mouth breathing. The American Heart Association advises that we only give mouth to mouth breaths if it is a close friend or family member. If you do not feel comfortable breaths without a barrier device provide compressions only CPR.

Furthermore, we will review the steps to using an AED or Automated External Defibrillator. This portable device provides an electrical shock which can potentially reverse pulseless ventricular tachycardia or ventricular defibrillation. An AED is extremely valuable to have on your vessel and can be purchased directly through CPR of America at the lowest guaranteed rate.

These devices are simple to use just follow theses steps.

How to use an AED

1.      Turn the device on- some of them will turn on when you open the lid others you will need to manually turn on by holding down a circle.

2.      Put the AED pads on the victim.

3.      Plug the cord into the AED.

4.      Stand Clear

5.      When commanded hit the shock button.

After the CPR and AED modules we will move on to the First Aid section which includes 

1.      Safety removing gloves and disposing of them properly in a biohazard bag

2.      Using an Epi Pen to treat anaphylaxis

3.      Properly bandaging a cut using gauze and cloth

4.      Using a tourniquet to stop a severe bleed.