Cruising World - November - December 2016

HANDS-ON SAILOR

96

november/december 2016

cruisingworld.com

with them an encyclopedia of

pre-existing medical condi-

tions, from obesity and age to

heart disease and diabetes. All

are compounded by the isola-

tion of a vessel at sea.

“The majority of sailors

are not prepared for medical

emergencies,” says Dr. Miles

Poor, a surgeon, of shore

sailing veteran, and longtime

fl eet surgeon to the Caribbean

1500. Because Americans are
      used to a “911 mindset,” he
      says, we forget that even a mile
      of shore, we must be our own

fi rst responders. Yet most of

us are untrained.

According to the U.S. Coast

Guard, in 2015 in U.S. waters,

5,560 boats were involved

in accidents with injuries or

deaths. Only fi ve — fi ve! —

of the skippers involved had

American Red Cross fi rst-aid

training.

“People get drawn toward

gadgets: Do I have the right

sails? Do I have the right navi-

gation tools? That’s great. But

we need to think through the

medical side of things, too. Is

my fi rst-aid kit appropriate?

Do I know how to use it? Do

I know what is in it?” says Dr.

Jef rey Wisch, a sailor, hema-

tologist, and oncologist at the

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

in Boston, and the fl eet sur-

geon of the Cruising Club

of America, which runs the

Newport Bermuda Race.

One study of transatlantic

sailors by a French physi-

cian found that half of them

waited until the fi nal month

prior to departure to think

about a fi rst-aid kit. Fifteen

percent didn’t deal with it

until two weeks before set-

ting sail, reports David Hayes,

a University of Quebec chiro-

practic professor and sailor

who teaches seminars for the

World Cruising Club.

Hayes’ own survey of hun-

dreds of sailors in the World

Cruising Club’s rallies indi-

cates that 65 percent wait

least 20 days at sea with her

husband and children.

“If there’s an emergency, you

won’t have time to pick up a

book,” Hayes says. “There are

steps you need to take, that

you need to be trained for.”

Medical experts can ruin

your daydreams with accounts

of of shore emergencies: fi n-

gers cut of by fi shing line,

then cauterized in a frying pan

in the middle of the Indian

Ocean; a painful, untended

dislocated shoulder during

15-foot waves from Hurricane

Mitch; a mid-Atlantic lurch

that knocked a sailor into a

winch and left him brain-dead;

Suture strips are a quick and easy way to address cuts or

wounds temporarily without the need for actual sutures

or surgery needles (top). Also known as butterfl y closures,

these adhesive bandage strips are applied across the lac-

eration in a manner that pulls the skin on each side of the

wound together. The American Red Cross is yet another

organization that of ers compact fi rst-aid kits (above).

MEDICAL TIP

Master these easily

learned first-aid

sail: taking vital signs,

treating burns, making

splints and stopping

bleeding.

STEPHEN FRINK; COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS (BOTTOM)

A FIRST AID

CHECKLIST

Are you prepared for health

emergencies when you go

sailing? Here is a checklist of

procedures and practices that

can help:



First-aid or wilderness

training. Two days is

recommended for the skipper

and another crewmember

designated as health oi cer.



A fi rst-aid kit with fresh

supplies that match crew

training and expertise. Include

latex gloves, face masks

and CPR barriers. Check

expiration dates, because some

medicines, such as Tylenol 3

and Vicodin, become toxic

when outdated.



A satellite phone, cellphone,

VHF or working email account

to call for advice, help or

evacuation. Crew must be

trained on these tools’ use. Post

telephone numbers and email

addresses somewhere visible.



A written crew health

history including pre-existing

conditions and medicines.



Injury-prevention tools,

including PFDs, jacklines,

shoes, gloves, water and dry

clothing.



Pot clamps for galley stoves.

Also use a pressure cooker

and galley straps. Wear a long

apron when cooking, and put

knives away. If seas are rough,

eat peanut butter sandwiches

rather than light the stove.



Handholds throughout the

boat. Many boats usually need

more.



Practice “what if ” scenarios

— as you would for equipment

failures — involving a range of

injuries and conditions.



Take any injury seriously,

especially if it impacts the

head.



Try seasickness medicine

ashore for possible side

ef ects. Get fi t. Bring enough

prescription meds.



Learn how to use a blood

pressure cuf , take a pulse, and

take a temperature. Learn basic

anatomy and the language of

fi rst aid. When you are beyond

your knowledge and not

comfortable, call for help.