NIMASA STCW EFA study plan

NIMASA STCW EFA · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Elementary First Aid (STCW basic safety training)

Define the first aider's role and the chain of survival on board ship, listing the sequence of actions from scene recognition to handover to a medical facility by radio medical advice.
Label the contents of a standard ship's first aid kit and state the purpose of each item, including dressings, bandages, splints, tourniquet, airway adjuncts, bag-valve mask, and automated external defibrillator.
Demonstrate the primary survey sequence (danger, response, airway, breathing, circulation) on a simulated casualty and verbalise each step aloud.
Explain the legal and STCW obligations that require a designated first aider on board and the duty to record treatment given in the medical log.

A one-page personal checklist of the primary survey sequence and kit contents, written from memory and self-scored against the course notes.

Week 2

Perform adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the correct rate and depth on a manikin, including compression-to-ventilation ratio and full chest recoil.
Describe how to attach and operate an automated external defibrillator, including pad placement, when to clear the casualty, and when not to shock.
Recognise the signs of choking in a responsive and an unresponsive adult and select the correct sequence of back blows, abdominal thrusts, and CPR.
Explain how CPR technique is modified for a drowning casualty and why rescue breathing is prioritised in that case.

A timed practical log recording three cycles of CPR performed on a manikin with rate, depth, and ratio self-assessed against the checklist.

Week 3

Assess and manage a casualty with severe external bleeding using direct pressure, pressure dressing, and tourniquet as a last resort.
Identify the signs and symptoms of shock and describe positioning, warming, and monitoring actions while awaiting evacuation.
Describe the first aid for burns and scalds by depth and extent, including cooling duration, covering, and when not to remove adherent clothing.
Explain the immediate management of a suspected fracture, including immobilisation with a splint and the checks performed before and after splinting.

A written scenario response for a bleeding and shock casualty, at least 300 words, marked against a self-made checklist of required actions.

Week 4

Demonstrate the recovery position and justify its use for an unresponsive but breathing casualty.
Describe the recognition and first aid of a casualty with a suspected head or spinal injury, including when to avoid moving the casualty.
Explain the management of a diabetic emergency, distinguishing hypoglycaemia from hyperglycaemia and stating when to give sugar.
Outline the first aid for a suspected heart attack and for a stroke, including the urgent actions and the information to pass to radio medical advice.

A mid-point practical assessment: recovery position plus one medical emergency scenario performed and scored against a criteria sheet.

Week 5

Describe the first aid for eye injuries, including chemical splash irrigation and the removal of a foreign body from the eye surface.
Explain the first aid for a casualty who has inhaled smoke or been exposed to a hazardous substance in an enclosed space, including safe rescue without entering.
Describe the management of hypothermia and heat illness on board, including rewarming methods and the risks of rapid rewarming.
Outline the first aid for a casualty with a suspected abdominal injury and the actions to take if organs are exposed.

A set of five short written scenarios covering eye, inhalation, thermal, and abdominal injuries, each answered in under 150 words.

Week 6

Explain how to conduct a secondary survey, including history taking and a head-to-toe examination, and record findings clearly.
Describe the first aid for a casualty with an amputation and the correct handling and labelling of the severed part.
Explain the management of a casualty with an allergic reaction, including when adrenaline is indicated and how it is administered.
Outline the first aid for a casualty with a suspected poisoning and the role of the poison information centre or radio medical advice.

A completed sample casualty report form for a simulated multi-injury case, including history, findings, treatment given, and timings.

Week 7

Describe the psychological first aid response to a distressed or panicking casualty and the actions that calm rather than escalate.
Explain how to prepare a casualty for evacuation by helicopter or stretcher, including immobilisation, securing, and communication with the rescue team.
Describe the first aid for a casualty with a suspected spinal injury in the water and the principles of in-water immobilisation.
Outline the treatment of minor wounds, blisters, and infections that commonly occur during a voyage, including when to escalate to the master.

A written evacuation handover script covering casualty condition, treatment given, and ongoing risks, rehearsed aloud and timed under three minutes.

Week 8

Recall the full primary survey, CPR sequence, and recovery position steps without notes and in the correct order.
Answer practice questions across all topics at a pass standard, reviewing every wrong answer back to the source material.
Perform a full practical scenario from scene arrival to handover, integrating assessment, treatment, and reporting.
Identify the weakest three topics from the practice results and re-study them before the assessment.

A full mock assessment: written paper plus one integrated practical scenario, scored and compared with the week 4 result.

Week 2: Perform adult CPR and use an automated external defibrillator on a manikin without prompting, meeting rate, depth, and ratio criteria.

Week 4: Complete the mid-point practical covering recovery position and one medical emergency scenario at pass standard.

Week 6: Produce a complete, legible casualty report for a multi-injury scenario with all required fields filled.

Week 8: Score at or above the pass mark on the full mock written paper and complete the integrated practical scenario without critical errors.