Practical Diving First Aid (PDFA) – First Aid Module
Practical Diving First Aid (PDFA) is a vital course for divers working in professional and commercial diving environments. It provides the essential first aid knowledge and practical skills required to respond effectively to medical emergencies that may occur during diving operations.
This course focuses on early recognition, immediate response, and safe management of diving-related injuries and illnesses, helping to reduce risk, prevent further harm, and improve outcomes until advanced medical care is available. PDFA training supports industry safety standards and reinforces the importance of preparedness and responsibility in the diving workplace.
Key areas covered include:
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Recognising the signs and symptoms of common diving-related and non-diving related injuries and medical conditions
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Conducting a rapid and effective casualty assessment
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Applying basic first aid techniques based on casualty priorities
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Managing and stabilising casualties until further medical assistance is available
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Communicating clearly and effectively with emergency services and dive team members during incidents
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Providing appropriate care during the transport of injured divers
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Supporting accident reporting requirements in line with legal and workplace safety obligations
By the end of this course, you will understand how diving-related and non-diving related injuries and medical emergencies occur, how to recognise early warning signs, and how prompt, correct first aid actions reduce risk and improve outcomes.
Course Features
- Lectures 49
- Quizzes 7
- Duration Lifetime access
- Skill level All levels
- Language English
- Students 601
- Certificate Yes
- Assessments Self
- 9 Sections
- 49 Lessons
- Lifetime
- Introduction to First Aid3
- Emergency Scene Management
Objective: Understand the principles of first aid, emergency scene management, personal safety, and legal responsibilities in the diving workplace.
Knowledge: Explain first aid standards, triage, casualty positioning, first aid kit contents, and legal responsibilities including Good Samaritan principles.
Skills: Apply safe scene management, prioritise casualties correctly, and select appropriate first aid resources for emergency response.
8 - Basic Life Support (BLS)
Objective: Apply Basic Life Support principles to manage life-threatening emergencies.
Knowledge: Explain BLS steps, AED use, airway management, and oxygen support principles.
Skills: Demonstrate correct BLS sequence and AED use using best-practice standards.
4 - Standards of Care
Objective: Apply a structured casualty assessment and standards of care to all first aid responses.
Knowledge: Explain primary & secondary survey, shock, unconsciousness management, and documentation.
Skills: Demonstrate casualty assessment and decision-making using the 12-step process.
9 - Basic Anatomy and Physiology
Objective: Understand basic body systems relevant to first aid and injury response.
Knowledge: Explain key systems (respiratory, circulatory, musculoskeletal, nervous) and their relevance to emergencies.
Skills: Apply anatomy knowledge to recognise risks, symptoms, and priorities in casualty care.
5 - Wounds and bleeding
Objective: Manage wounds and bleeding safely using correct first aid procedures and infection control.
Knowledge: Explain bleeding types, infection control, dressings, bandaging, and tourniquet use.
Skills: Demonstrate bleeding control techniques safely and appropriately.
4 - First Aid Management
Objective: Apply first aid management for common injuries and emergencies.
Knowledge: Explain signs, symptoms, and treatment priorities for injuries such as fractures, burns, drowning, choking, and thermal problems.
Skills: Demonstrate correct response actions using scenario-based first aid decision-making.
17- 7.1Sprains and Strains
- 7.2Fractures
- 7.3Spinal Injury
- 7.4Spinal Injury Quiz10 Minutes3 Questions
- 7.5Head injury
- 7.6Head Injury Quiz10 Minutes5 Questions
- 7.7Burns
- 7.8Burns Quiz10 Minutes3 Questions
- 7.9Drowning
- 7.10Choking
- 7.11Eye injuries
- 7.12Eye Injury Quiz10 Minutes2 Questions
- 7.13Nose bleeds
- 7.14Thermal problems
- 7.15Hypothermia
- 7.16Hyperthermia
- 7.17Marine injuries
- General Illnesses
Objective: Recognise and respond appropriately to common illnesses and medical emergencies.
Knowledge: Explain risks and symptoms of diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, hepatitis, and cardiac chest pain.
Skills: Demonstrate correct emergency response priorities and escalation procedures.
5 - Practice Test
Objective: Demonstrate competence in first aid knowledge through formative assessment.
Knowledge: Explain key first aid principles and casualty management procedures.
Skills: Apply first aid reasoning and decision-making to assessment questions and scenarios.
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