This popular and continuously updated seminar is now in its 29th year, offering practical medical training for cruisers and racing sailors operating out of range of rapid rescue and professional medical assistance. The program requires 12 – 36 hours of pre-course reading, study, and on-line testing followed by three days of on-site training. The only training prerequisite is completion of a CPR course, but a basic first aid or wilderness medicine course is also recommended.
Offshore Emergency Medicine Certification is awarded by Wilderness Medical Associates International, and earns 36 hours CME for EMTs and Paramedics. Offshore Emergency Medicine is Coast Guard approved under CFR 46 and has been used to satisfy the medical training requirements for the Newport – Bermuda, Marion – Bermuda, TRANSPAC, Vendee Globe, and other ocean racing and rally events as well as the medical training requirements for RYA certification and non-STCW USCG licenses.
Classroom instruction is tied to the student’s own experience through the liberal use of case studies, scenarios, and hands-on assessment problems in a marine context. This course is taught by the men who wrote the book, Wilderness & Rescue Medicine 8th edition by Jeffrey Isaac, PA-C & Tom Isaac.
Student are required to purchase the course textbook and complete approximately 12 hours of preparatory reading and complete an on-line examination before arriving for on-site training.
Full attendance is required for certification.
Day 1 – 9 hours – Course logistics, introduction, general principles in wilderness medicine, critical body systems, the patient assessment system, basic life support at sea, CPR and AED discussion, airway and ventilation skills, anaphylaxis and asthma, injection training, PAS practice and case studies.
Day 2 – 9 hours – Pain control, musculoskeletal injuries, dislocations, extrication, splinting lab, wound care, wound care lab.
Day 3 – 9 hours – Environmental emergencies, offshore medicine, diagnostic tools, specific disease states, sea sickness, medical kits, special interest topics, debrief, test, adjourn.
CERTIFICATION
Offshore Emergency Medicine Certification is awarded by Wilderness Medical Associates International, and earns 36 hours CME for EMTs and Paramedics. Offshore Emergency Medicine is Coast Guard approved under CFR 46 and has been used to satisfy the medical training requirements for the Newport – Bermuda, Marion – Bermuda, TRANSPAC, Vendee Globe, and other ocean racing and rally events as well as the medical training requirements for RYA certification and non-STCW USCG licenses.
Cost: $1,520/student
Multi-day admission to the Annapolis Powerboat Show (10/8-10/11, 2026) and the Annapolis Sailboat Show (10/15 – 10/18/2026) is included with your Emergency Offshore Medicine registration, as well as breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks during the 3 days of class. The class will be held The Historic Inns of Annapolis, 58 State Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401.