First Aid Courses for the Aquatic Environment

First aid in the aquatic environment requires specific skills and knowledge that are not taught in regular first aid education. Some topics are unique to aquatics. Target groups for such courses include persons living, playing, or working near or around the water. First aid courses tailored for the aquatic environment contribute to a competent rescue and resuscitation of a drowning victim and to the safety of the lay rescuer [1] or trained rescuer [2]. By including information on water safety awareness, these courses can also contribute to prevention and reduce the drowning burden. The relevance of an aquatic course was first extensively debated at an expert meeting Do we need a special first aid course for drowning victims during the World Congress on Drowning in the Netherlands 2002. Since 2002, first aid courses for the aquatic environment have been successfully organized around the world. This chapter reviews the importance and need of these courses and what has been learned.