Inuvik (Sep 12/03) - Some Inuvik safety workers will feel a lot more confident performing water rescues following completion of a class at Aurora College held last week.

Course instructor Terry Simcox is a coxswain for the Canadian Coast Guard and is in charge of a search and rescue cutter in Manitoba, but is no stranger to the cold water of the North.

"I spent two seasons on the water up here: one on the river, on the Jock McNiven and one season on the outside," Simcox said.

Marine Emergency Duties A-1 (MEDA-1) course was a three-day training course held at Aurora College.

The A-2 course is offered for people working on ships over 150 tonnes, the A-3 is for deck crew on smaller commercial vessels was held on Tuesday. The A-4 is a two-day program offered to compliment the A-3 course, but for operators of commercial pleasure craft.

The MED A-1 course teaches everything to do with proper use of safety equipment and safety procedures aboard ships. Simcox said they also learn about marine firefighting.

"They try out an assortment of equipment and just gain confidence in the ability to put on that equipment in the water," he said.

In many cases, he said people don't have the opportunity to try out the equipment until an emergency situation arises.

"Most don't even know what a life raft looks like," he said.

"They see that plastic shell on the ship, but they don't know what's inside."

Students also learned how to put on immersion and survival suits while in the swimming pool.

Simcox said the course is designed for any type of commercial marine operation.

"Be it outfitters, guides, hunters, fishermen ... any type of commercial operation," he said.

The program is developed by Georgian College and offered by Simcox's company, Interlake Safety.

On completion of the course, students receive the VXN24, a certificate from Transport Canada, that the holder never has to renew.