When Every Second Counts, Be Ready to Act.

Medical emergencies do not wait until you are back on shore. Are you prepared?

Whether you’re a crew member, aspiring skipper, or experienced mariner, knowing how to respond to a medical emergency at sea can make all the difference. These skills are valuable during local regattas, on cruising superyachts, during day charters, or far out at sea on circumnavigations. Emergencies can happen anytime.

Join us at Second Star Sailing in Antigua for our RYA and MCA maritime medical training courses, designed to equip you with the practical knowledge, skills, and confidence to respond when it matters most. The courses also qualify seafarers with STCW training requirements on board vessels.

Group of trainees in lifejackets sitting in a liferaft
Instructor teaching a class with medical training equipment on the table

Learn from an Experienced Maritime Medical Professional

Expert Training with Sue Johnson

Our maritime medical courses are led by Sue Johnson, an experienced medical instructor with over 15 years of teaching experience.

As a Registered Nurse, Midwife, Health Visitor, and approved MCA instructor, Sue brings extensive clinical knowledge and practical experience to every course.

Having trained professionals across the maritime and superyacht industries, Sue combines real-world expertise with a relaxed, hands-on teaching approach.

Gain the knowledge, practical skills, and confidence to respond effectively to medical emergencies at sea.

Explore Our Medical Training Courses

STCW / MCA Medical First Aid Aboard Ship (MFAS)

Duration: 4 Days

Learn the essential skills needed to assess, manage, and respond to medical emergencies at sea in this extensive First Aid at Sea course.

What You’ll Learn:

  • CPR, resuscitation, and defibrillator use.
  • Managing bleeding, shock, burns, and fractures.
  • Recognising heart attacks, strokes, seizures, and allergic reactions.
  • Treating injuries and medical emergencies.
  • Using first aid equipment and obtaining emergency medical assistance.

Build the confidence to take action when help is miles away.

View MFAS Course
Instructor practising with a defibrillator on a CPR training manikin
Crew helping a casualty in a rescue harness on the deck of a yacht

STCW / MCA Proficiency in Medical Care Aboard Ship (MCAS)

Duration: 5 Days

Take your medical knowledge further with advanced training focused on caring for seriously ill or injured individuals at sea. This course requires prior completion of the MFAS.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Patient assessment and vital-sign monitoring.
  • Advanced emergency care and oxygen administration.
  • Wound closure, including suturing and stapling.
  • Injections and other practical clinical procedures.
  • Managing medications and onboard medical supplies.
  • Providing ongoing care and coordinating medical assistance.

Develop the skills to manage more complex medical situations while offshore.

View MCAS Course

Medical Care Refresher

Duration: 3 Days

After the course refreshes your medical knowledge, revisit essential procedures, and maintain your confidence in responding to onboard emergencies.

This practical refresher reinforces patient assessment, emergency response, medical care procedures, and the management of illness and injury at sea.

Instructor demonstrating safety equipment to students beside a pool
Trainees in lifejackets learning to use a liferaft

Why Train With Second Star Sailing?

  • Experienced maritime medical instructors.
  • Practical, hands-on learning with an extensive kit.
  • Training designed around real onboard emergencies.
  • Professional instruction in Antigua, Caribbean.
  • Skills that help you become a more capable and prepared crew member.

Be Ready When It Matters Most.

When you’re miles from shore, preparation is everything. Invest in the knowledge and practical skills that could make a life-saving difference.