It’s that time of the year again when the onboard medical kit needs a review and re-stock as another season rapidly approaches. Crew are also best advised to conduct a first aid refresher to brush up on first aid skills and techniques.
The key to an organised and comprehensive medical kit is simplicity of design. It should be organised in a logical, user-friendly and intuitive format with a quick access layout so that an item can be located easily and efficiently.
Each yacht has different needs so a pragmatic view should be taken to arranging the kit to suite the yachts specific requirements. Apart from statutory requirements for commercial vessels, consideration should be taken for duration and route of voyaging, type of cruising (inshore, offshore, bluewater and/or racing), number of crew, and medical expertise onboard. Naturally, the further away from shore or professional medical care the more comprehensive the kit needs to be.
A medical kit should be systematically arranged following a body system scheme (such as heart, skin, gut etc):
- Skin Repair
- Eye/Ear/Nose, Mouth
- Antibiotics for infections
- Gut & Seasickness
- Analgesics & Painkillers
- Trauma – Dressings & Splints
- Emergency & Allergy
Equipment to be arranged as:
- First Aid
- Equipment & Hardware – Defibrillator, Stretcher, Large splints
- Airway & Oxygen
- IV Fluids
Storage bags should be compact and ideally waterproof and organised accordingly in storage cases/bags as follows:
- First Aid (for everyday use in salon crew area)
Simple painkillers, seasickness meds, bandages & dressings.
- Medical Grab Bag for emergency primary response & life raft for abandoning ship.
This should contain emergency analgesics, antibiotics, suture kit, seasickness & rehydration salts, dressings and splints.
- Storage Bag 1 (for frequently used items)
Body system bags, emergency resuscitation kit, medical reference manual.
- Storage Bag 2 (large & heavy equipment, not often used)
IV fluids, Large splints and neck collars, oxygen, medical stores for replenishment.
Keep in mind, a complete medical solution for a yacht comprises of 3 elements: the medical kit, medical training and 24/7 Telemedical Support with direct access to a Doctor experienced and medical support offshore. Ideally, the Doctor will have knowledge of the kit set-up and contents.
This forms a Triad of medical care, so it’s not just about a medical kit on its own.
Nicholas Stael Von Holstein
Medical Support OffShore
0 Comments