⛑️ Medical & First Aid

Plas Heli – The Welsh National Sailing Academy & Events Centre

This Medical & First Aid section follows RYA First Aid guidance, RYA Safety Management principles, and coastal‑venue emergency expectations. It provides clear, calm instructions for volunteers, organisers, race teams, and safety crews.

Volunteers are never expected to diagnose or treat injuries. Their role is to stay calm, provide reassurance, and notify the Event Safety Officer (ESO) and Duty Manager.

1. Medical Roles (RYA‑Aligned)

• Event Medic: Provides first aid, assesses injuries, and determines treatment or escalation.
• Event Safety Officer (ESO): Coordinates medical response and links with Emergency Procedures.
• Duty Manager: Supports access, communication, and ambulance liaison.
• Safety Boat Crews: Provide initial assessment afloat and transport casualties to landing points.
• Volunteers: Provide reassurance, guide people, and report incidents.

2. First Aid Kit Locations

First aid kits are located in:

• Plas Heli Reception
• Plas Heli Office
• Events Manager Room (Room 2)
• Safety Boats and Committee Boats

Volunteers must know these locations.

3. Medical Landing Points (Afloat & Ashore)

Landing points are used for casualties brought ashore by safety boats.

• Primary Landing Point: Emergency Landing Point (as shown on site plan)
• Secondary Landing Point: First Aid Landing Point (as briefed by CSL)
• Ambulance Arrival Point: Roundabout entrance to the quayside
• What3Words: ///slices.booms.fruity

Safety boats must be briefed on landing points before launching.

4. Medical Centres (Local NHS Provision)

Main Emergency Department:
Ysbyty Gwynedd, Penrhosgarnedd, Bangor LL57 2PW
03000 840 840
What3Words: ///collect.golden.slipping

Minor Injuries Unit (MIU):
Bryn Beryl Hospital, Caernarfon Road, Pwllheli LL53 6TT
03000 850014
Open 7 days, 08:00–20:00
What3Words: ///humans.measuring.clinked

To avoid unnecessary pressure on the NHS, event personnel should be seen initially by the Event Medic.

5. Responding to Injuries (RYA‑Aligned)

Minor Injuries:

• Provide reassurance.
• Guide the person to the Event Medic.
• Record the incident in the Duty Manager log.

Significant Injuries:

• Do not move the casualty unless instructed.
• Notify ESO and Duty Manager immediately.
• Safety boats bring casualties to the Emergency Landing Point.
• Medic meets casualty at landing point.

Life‑Threatening Injuries:

• Use radio: “Priority message”.
• Give location and brief description.
• ESO makes the 999 call (unless immediate danger).
• Volunteers keep access routes clear.

6. Afloat Medical Response

• Safety boat conducts initial assessment.
• CSL decides whether to transport casualty ashore.
• Bridge Team logs incident and coordinates communication.
• ESO meets casualty at landing point.
• RNLI involvement follows Emergency Procedures.

7. Ashore Medical Response

• Guide casualty to Event Medic.
• Clear space around the casualty.
• Ensure privacy where possible.
• Duty Manager coordinates ambulance access if required.

8. Volunteer Guidance (Medical)

Volunteers are never expected to:

• Diagnose injuries.
• Provide medical treatment.
• Move casualties with suspected fractures or spinal injuries.

Volunteers should:

• Stay calm and reassuring.
• Notify ESO and Duty Manager.
• Guide people safely to the Medic.
• Report anything unusual.

9. Recording Medical Incidents

All medical incidents must be recorded in the Plas Heli Online Accident Book.

Online Accident Book:
Open Accident Book

Document Control

Document Title: Medical & First Aid
Version: 1.0 (RYA‑aligned medical structure)
Review Cycle: Annual or post‑major event