iFish6

Commercial fishing is a dangerous occupation. In the United States each fishing vessel has at least one crew member trained in CPR/First Aid to meet US Coast Guard requirements. However, in many regions of the US the available community-level CPR/First Aid trainings lack information and skill training applicable to work environment out at sea, which can be hours if not days away from emergency medical care. In this panel discussion, we bring together practitioners from four different organizations (OSU/Oregon Sea Grant, AMSEA, FPSS, and California Sea Grant) to discuss their collaboration (2019-present) to develop, deliver, and build capacity for advanced first aid trainings based on the principles of austere medicine in four regions across the United States (Alaska, West Coast, East Coast). Each organization serves as a regional independent training hub, connecting commercial fishing communities to a variety of tailored safety training, workforce development, and other wellness programs. A critical feature of the collaboration has been a supportive community of practice for fishing first-aid trainers and practitioners, which has synergized each individual organization’s efforts through peer mentoring, sharing best practices, lessons learned, iterative refinements, and novel teaching approaches while retaining flexibility to customize training approaches and curriculum based on local needs and constraints. The collegial sharing of resources, regular exchange of ideas, and supportive acknowledgement of excellence has accelerated the team’s success in developing regionally relevant, culturally specific trainings that reached over 488 commercial fishermen during September, 2022 to August, 2023. We present this connected network as a model for other regions interested in advancing local safety training efforts and invite others interested in commercial fishing first aid training to join our community of practice. Tentative Panelists (potential to split into two panels, if meeting organizers prefer) Perspectives from the Program Organizers – short presentations (20 minutes total) Amanda Gladics, Oregon State University, Oregon Sea Grant. Ms. Gladics, the current PI on the project, will moderate the panel and share the origin and framework of the FFAST course, resources provided to participants, required training for instructors, and how the community of practice functions. Leann Fay Cyr, Alaska Marine Safety Education Association. Dr. Cyr will discuss how AMSEA, an organization with a deep history in marine safety training, has utilized the partnership to increase capacity of their existing Mariner’s First Aid Course and address emerging issues such as opioid overdoses, musculoskeletal disorders, and fishermen’s mental health. John Roberts, Fishing Partnership Support Services. Mr. Roberts will discuss FPSS’s efforts to update and greatly expand their fisherman’s first aid course, incorporating emergency medical communications, medical evacuation procedures, and stress inoculation as well as the key factors in their success in recruiting commercial fishermen to participate in these voluntary trainings. Perspectives from the Trainers – moderated Q&A (25 minutes total) Shannon Eldredge and Russell Kingman, Fishing Partnership Support Services. Ms. Eldredge and Mr. Kingman will share their perspectives as commercial fisherman turned first aid and safety training instructors on the value of connectivity to the success of the FPSS Safety Training program. Ashleigh Palinkas, California Sea Grant. Ms. Palinkas will share her perspective as the newest addition to the West Coast FFAST instructor team, and how FFAST training fits into California Sea Grant’s existing efforts to advance a commercial fishing apprenticeship program in California. Angee Doerr, Oregon Sea Grant. Dr. Doerr will share her perspective as a seasoned instructor on what makes the OSU/OSG FFAST training effective and her experience with the successful onboarding of new instructors. Full panel open Q & A (15 minutes total)