MED A 3 + MARINE FIRST AID

[fishingbc]

Just thought i would put this up as there seems to be some confusion on these two requirements for TC....as of June 30th 2009 you MUST have your marine first aid AND Med A3....
this from TC Kelowna

"Yes first aid came into effect June 30, 2009. It was brought to our attention that it needed to be enforced"

[BearCove]

I have also read that the Marine First Aid is good for 5 yrs not 3yrs. I am trying to find the the link to the TC site where I read it. I will post the bulletin number so you can read it and print it off.

Bear Cove Cottages Sportsfishing Destination
www.bearcovecottages.ca

[Fishing Guide]

Cheers,

Currently TC recognizes that Marine Standard First Aid is valid for 4 years despite most Standard or Marine Standard First Aid having a certificate validity date of only 3 years.

It will be interesting what will occur if a person with a 3 year certificate treats a medical problem in the 4th year - especially if something 'goes wrong'. Liability? Not sure but it doesn't make a lot of sense to not tie the TC requirement to the certificate validity date. Again, simply another case of making what should be fairly straight forward requirement more obscure.

For personal comfort and liability issues, I will be doing a re-cert after 3 years simply to keep peace of mind. Priceless.





Fishing Guide
www.invictuscharters.com
BC Outdoors Pro Staff
www.fishingvancouverisland.org

[BearCove]

Found the link to where it states the basic Marine First Aid is good for 5 yrs, not 3yrs. Hope I cut and paste it right.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/bulletins-2009-03-eng.htm.

If it doesn`t work you can go to Tc website, search Ships Safety Bulletins. Date you will need is 03 2009 and the RDIMS number is 4957270.

Training Requirements For the Person Designated to Provide First Aid on Board a Vessel and Period of Validity of First Aid Training Courses Recognized By a Province or Territory, Marine First Aid and Marine Medical Care Training Certificates

One less thing we have to do every three yrs.



Bear Cove Cottages Sportsfishing Destination
www.bearcovecottages.ca

[BearCove]

Sorry link didn`t work, here is the way I found it. Go to TC website, click on search. Next page will have helpful links, click on Publications, on that page scroll down to Marine Ships Safety Bulletins. Here is where you need to put in the month and year, which is 03 2009 into the bulletin number spot.

Should bring it up, half way doen the page it states that if you have taken the 16 hr Marine First Aid couse it is good for 5 yrs.

Cheers

Bear Cove Cottages Sportsfishing Destination
www.bearcovecottages.ca

[Island Fish Lifter]

I was under the understanding that standard level one is enough?

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee90/daveeyx/untitled.jpg
Fill the dam tub!

[BearCove]

From what I heard they are going to honour the standard level one if you already have it. When it is up for renewal you will need to get your Marine First Aid.

Also, from what I read in the Marine Ships Safety, if you take the 16 hr Marine First Aid course it is good for 5 yrs. Did anyone else read this on the TC site? Want to know if I am reading it right?

W

Bear Cove Cottages Sportsfishing Destination
www.bearcovecottages.ca

[Captain Dudds]

Only reason the link didn't work is because you have a period on the end. Here it is again:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/bulletins-2009-03-eng.htm



Captain Dudds

[Captain Dudds]

On another note I had no idea Marine First Aid was needed. I'm all signed up for the ROC-M, MED-A3, and SVOP - but now I also have to take this? Any ideas on the cost and duration of MFA?

[BearCove]

The course I just took is a 16 hr, painful to sit through but is needed. I believe I paid about $185 for it.

Bear Cove Cottages Sportsfishing Destination
www.bearcovecottages.ca

[SerengetiGuide]

It's so back and forth about what we hear from TC...it's ridiculous...as last year I was under the impression that MEDA3 is no longer valid and all commercial operators need MEDA2 at the very least...

www.serengetifishingcharters.com

*NEW VIDEO*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlEzuNC59ck

[beemer]

Hey Serengeti , MedA3 for passenger vessels 6 and under. MedA2 for passenger vessels carrying more than 6.

This is the unofficial TC Victoria office interpretation!!

For those new to this thread MED refers to "Marine Emergency Duties" it is not first aid related.

[SerengetiGuide]

Weird...my Dad took the MEDA3 and was told by someone in the Nanaimo office for our 4.89GT Grady which carries no more than 4 passengers he had to take MEDA2 infact...so then he took that as well...they just want our money, nothing else matters really.

www.serengetifishingcharters.com

*NEW VIDEO*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlEzuNC59ck

[searun]

Read the TC Self Inspection Program Guide and it will tell you that the level of MED course required depends upon where you operate. MED A2 for sheltered waters and MED A3 for off shore. Size of vessel only comes in if you are over 5 GT. I would get the MED A3 course rather than mess around.

Searun

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/LastCastGuiding/th_067.jpg

[SerengetiGuide]

searun, I think you mean the other way around...MedA2 for offshore as it is a higher qualification. And that may of been why my dad had to get it instead of A3. I had to get the MedA1/A2...however, it's essentially A2 as that is for passenger carrying vessels.

www.serengetifishingcharters.com

*NEW VIDEO*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlEzuNC59ck

[searun]

OOPS, you are correct I got them backwards....its A2 that you want. I do agree with your earlier note, which was essentially when all this rolled out in 2006 TC was telling us that we needed the A3 course, when in fact the A2 is what they landed on. Do you know what the difference between the two courses is??

Searun

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/LastCastGuiding/th_067.jpg

[SerengetiGuide]

quote:Originally posted by searun

OOPS, you are correct I got them backwards....its A2 that you want. I do agree with your earlier note, which was essentially when all this rolled out in 2006 TC was telling us that we needed the A3 course, when in fact the A2 is what they landed on. Do you know what the difference between the two courses is??

Searun

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/LastCastGuiding/th_067.jpg


The price... [:p] Med A2 is a little more in depth, it includes a pool session etc...Med A3 is fairly useless from my understanding...medA2 actually at least has a little information in er.

www.serengetifishingcharters.com

*NEW VIDEO*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlEzuNC59ck

[Fishing Guide]

Cheers All,

Sadly I must state that TC has overstepped its boundaries here. They are NOT qualified to either instruct or examine Standard or Marine Standard First Aid. Extremely qualified personnel have determined that a Standard or a Marine Standard First Aid is good for 3 years and then must be redone as either the standards have changed or the holder requires refreshing. Most guides taking the Marine Standard First Aid Course will recognize that they (thankfully) do not have enough practice in 3 years in which to keep proficient. As a holder of OFA I redo my ticket even though I spend a lot more time practicing the skills in real life events.

For TC to step outside of its stated expertise and provide such a significant extension to the rated certificate only compounds the mistrust guides feel about the current requirements of TC.



Fishing Guide
www.invictuscharters.com
BC Outdoors Pro Staff
www.fishingvancouverisland.org

[richmake]

quote:Originally posted by Fishing Guide

Cheers All,

Sadly I must state that TC has overstepped its boundaries here. They are NOT qualified to either instruct or examine Standard or Marine Standard First Aid. Extremely qualified personnel have determined that a Standard or a Marine Standard First Aid is good for 3 years and then must be redone as either the standards have changed or the holder requires refreshing. Most guides taking the Marine Standard First Aid Course will recognize that they (thankfully) do not have enough practice in 3 years in which to keep proficient. As a holder of OFA I redo my ticket even though I spend a lot more time practicing the skills in real life events.

For TC to step outside of its stated expertise and provide such a significant extension to the rated certificate only compounds the mistrust guides feel about the current requirements of TC.



Fishing Guide
www.invictuscharters.com
BC Outdoors Pro Staff
www.fishingvancouverisland.org





Now were getting somewhere...or not...
This whole process is hilarious and I'm just glad I've gotten all my **** done last year cause I knew this was comming.
TC is just like every other facit of goverment...pretty much incompetent!

www.coastwidesportsfishing.com

http://ca.video.yahoo.com/watch/4726988?fr=yvmtf

[Fishing Guide]

Cheers All,

Might as well finish my thoughts as for the Med-A2 Vs A3 difference and the qualifcations for guides in BC.

Essentially the A3 course is the basic Marine Emergency Duties and the A2 was designed with a pool component which includes the care, operation and use with practice of Immersion Suits as well as life rafts. Each is suited for diffent coastal requirements NC2, NC1, Unlimited etc...as well as boat description (i.e., vessel over min length requires life rafts, survival suites).

Since few of the guides in BC are required to carry either immersion suites (survival) or life rafts, the requirement for guides to have the A2 course makes no sense.

Initially Nanaimo TC requested that Invictus Charters take the A2 course but, when it was pointed out the futility of the requirement as to the regulations, and after some lengthy telephone conversations between Nanaimo TC and Victoria TC, it was determined that MED A3 was sufficent.

It would be professional if everyone in TC was to take a weekend, figure out exactly what is required and then post those standards in PLAIN ENGLISH for all to see - then hold to that standard. The moving target that each guide faces with respect to who they are, who they know, where they live, the TC Inspector - not to mention the phase of the moon - makes trying to comply with regulations almost impossible.

Thank you for your patience. :D

Fishing Guide
www.invictuscharters.com
BC Outdoors Pro Staff
www.fishingvancouverisland.org

[Peahead]

Now I am going to make this even more complicated. When I got my Med A2 several years ago it was a 4 day course and was TC stated it was manditory for guiding period. Even for guides inside in Georgia Strait. Later and more recently the shorter less involved MED A3 course is now the requirement. At the time of my MED 2 coures I was told I had limitations to my distance "offshore" of any land and from home port ( hometrade 1/ 2 etc.) even in Georgia Strait. I think the distance was far enough that you could just barely make the crossing to Gabriola from Vancouver and stay within the "limits".

Anyway my question is that with a MED A2 are the west coast guys dealing with TC limits to the distance offshore that you can operate with clients ?

[Fishing Guide]

Cheers Peahead,

Near Coastal Waters 2 - up to 25 miles offshore.

Fishing Guide
www.invictuscharters.com
BC Outdoors Pro Staff
www.fishingvancouverisland.org

[beemer]

GREAT POST FISHING GUIDE.


quote:Originally posted by Fishing Guide


Cheers All,

Might as well finish my thoughts as for the Med-A2 Vs A3 difference and the qualifcations for guides in BC.

Essentially the A3 course is the basic Marine Emergency Duties and the A2 was designed with a pool component which includes the care, operation and use with practice of Immersion Suits as well as life rafts. Each is suited for diffent coastal requirements NC2, NC1, Unlimited etc...as well as boat description (i.e., vessel over min length requires life rafts, survival suites).

Since few of the guides in BC are required to carry either immersion suites (survival) or life rafts, the requirement for guides to have the A2 course makes no sense.

Initially Nanaimo TC requested that Invictus Charters take the A2 course but, when it was pointed out the futility of the requirement as to the regulations, and after some lengthy telephone conversations between Nanaimo TC and Victoria TC, it was determined that MED A3 was sufficent.

It would be professional if everyone in TC was to take a weekend, figure out exactly what is required and then post those standards in PLAIN ENGLISH for all to see - then hold to that standard. The moving target that each guide faces with respect to who they are, who they know, where they live, the TC Inspector - not to mention the phase of the moon - makes trying to comply with regulations almost impossible.

Thank you for your patience. :D

Fishing Guide
www.invictuscharters.com
BC Outdoors Pro Staff
www.fishingvancouverisland.org

[searun]

Great clarification, but it sounds like the A2 course is better by a large margin. I have the A3 course, but I can't agree that it is a useless course - it covered all the basics. Like many courses I have taken, you can always find at least 10% useful and the way to think about it is if that little bit of new info saves your bacon one day it was worth it.

Searun

http://i434.photobucket.com/albums/qq69/LastCastGuiding/th_067.jpg

[Fishing Guide]

Cheers All,

The TC courses are not designed for those who already know the information within but to ensure that all who carry passengers have the same basic background. Undoubtedly many, many guides in BC already have the background that is contained within but there are many others that are entering the profession that do not. I don't have a problem ensuring I have the same basic background as all other guides in BC. That one chooses to go further or acquire in depth qualifications is up to that individual. I choose to exceed those basic qualifications as it provides not only a safer experience for my guests but additional protection for myself.

Fishing Guide
www.invictuscharters.com
BC Outdoors Pro Staff
www.fishingvancouverisland.org