Crew's Medical information

[BlueSkyNick]

Just been listening to a presentation by a Solent CG rep which included a reminder about helicoptor rescue procedure. One point made was that the casualty's medical history and drugs should be written down and handed to the winch wire man.

I usually ask new crew to tell me if they have any medical conditions which are relevant, eg diabetes, not other things which they may prefer to keep to themselves, eg STD's. So if I suddenly have to ask him for all information while the helicoptor is en route, it is going to add to his stress and distress.

So I have just had a bright idea ..... before departure, each crew member should write down all their conditions and medicines on a piece of paper and put it into an evelope, then seal it with their name on the front. They are all kept in a safe place known to all on board, and returned at the end of the successful trip.

If needed in emergency, anybody can just pass the envelope to the rescue services.

Great idea, eh?!

 

[Flossdog]

What a good idea!

 

[Mariner69]

+1

 

[zzyyxx]

Just issue dog-tags.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Just issue dog-tags.

??

 

[sailorman]

View attachment 28931

http://www.medicaltags.co.uk/sos-talisman.html

 

[BlueSkyNick]

View attachment 28931

http://www.medicaltags.co.uk/sos-talisman.html

How much!!!!!????

I have many better ways of sending my boating non-budget on something I am never going to use.

Paper and an envelope will do me fine

 

[jerrytug]

Good point Nick. If I let people get away with muttering "I'm on tablets" that isn't enough,but of course it feels intrusive to probe in detail. Pretty much all medical complaints are embarrassing to admit to a mixed crew in a small space,let alone galloping chalfonts or chronic thrush.
Excellent suggestion mate cheers Jerry
mind you when we come back from the pub we will open all the envelopes and laugh at the disgusting complaints everyone has

 

[KenMcCulloch]

I have done this for years. I started doing it after an experience of only discovering at the end of a week's cruise that one of the crew was diabetic. Suddenly his tendency to mood swings and erratic consumption of Mars bars made complete sense.

 

[A1Sailor]

Paper and an envelope will do me fine

Need to make sure it doesn't blow away in the down draught from the helicopter...

 

[Stork_III]

Need to make sure it doesn't blow away in the down draught from the helicopter...

Staple gun applied to the forehead shoulg sort that.

 

[bikedaft]

its a good point - even if nothing medical can be done for the casualty, there is plenty to be done assessing them/handing over info to helo

A allergies
M medicines
P previous medical history
L last ate or drank
E events leading up to accident/medical event

if you've thought about it before the emergency arises, a bit easier to do when put on the spot

helo likes written sheet - laminated card and indelible pen are often easy to find on board, and fare better in wet weather

like the idea of opening the envelopes on return from the pub

 

[oldbilbo]

That's a damn good idea, moodyNick.

One might consider having a second, larger envelope into which one could put the casualty's passport and EHIC - perhaps this should be included in the first - together with NIK contact details.

 

[clyst]

Where do you stop ?? next of kin ? Religion ?

 

[DogWatch]

control freakereakery. If you asked for my medics I would suggest you took a running jump. If someone needs to inform a doc about meds they will make that provision without you acting as a nosey busy body middle man. Seriously people, don't get involved, you're the boat owner not the nanny!!!!!

 

[Bav34]

Shouldn't this envelope be carried at all times whether on a boat or ashore? What if I trip, bang my head and can't talk to the ambulance crew? Why is that different to being airlifted from a boat?

Perhaps there could be a handy pocket for it sewed into the hi-viz vest we're all expected to wear in case we get hit by a driver insured by Churchill

 

[onesea]

Shouldn't this envelope be carried at all times whether on a boat or ashore?

Maybe it should be Tattooed to your left fore arms and right buttock (in case injury is serious and one is unreadable).

IMHO the Diabetic that did not tell the skipper was stupid, its the crews responsibility to raise any significant issues.

As a kid I was allergic to penicillin, if I was sailing with a skipper that did not know I would let him know... Its not a big fuss.

If you are not prepared to tell/ trust some one onboard about your illness/ problems maybe you should not go sailing with that crew?

Although I always try and have contact details with a third party that knows my crews family, just in case.

 

[DogWatch]

Maybe it should be Tattooed to your left fore arms and right buttock (in case injury is serious and one is unreadable).

IMHO the Diabetic that did not tell the skipper was stupid, its the crews responsibility to raise any significant issues.

As a kid I was allergic to penicillin, if I was sailing with a skipper that did not know I would let him know... Its not a big fuss.
do you mention it to taxi drivers, train drivers or the usherette at the cinema?
If you are not prepared to tell/ trust some one onboard about your illness/ problems maybe you should not go sailing with that crew?
If you're not my GP, keep your nose out of what doesn't concern you. At which point should people be obliged to divulge confidential and personal information to you, do you demand it if you give people a lift in your car? Do you have a list of notifiable deseases, or are you just adding to the captain Bligh feel of this thread?
Although I always try and have contact details with a third party that knows my crews family, just in case.

Are you serious, the diabetic chap obviously managed to limp through life without telling everyone he met. I imagine that a full medivac and crash team on standby to cross the 2 miles to the Isle of Wigot seems appealing to the desk managers sat in the dreary London offices at the end of February, but fer god's sake people you're starting to get scary now. Should we submit a urine and blood sample at the pontoon, DNA swab; what about a GP's letter confirming the likelihood of keeling over due to the stress of a sunny afternoon on a friends power trip, er boat. Have you considered contacting credit agencies, CV references, vicars, CRB etc.

I am starting to wonder if any of you have ever actually received guests in real life because there seems to be a serious misunderstanding of social boundaries running through this thread.

I bet some of you have printed off lists of rules to give out to these fictitious friends when they step onto your boats. Do your guests have to sign your boat's COSHH forms before you set off?

If I thought you people were being serious I would worry for you!

 

[DogWatch]

How much!!!!!????

I have many better ways of sending my boating non-budget on something I am never going to use.

Paper and an envelope will do me fine

But you'll need a safe on board, have you considered the DATA protection act?

 

[KenMcCulloch]

Are you serious, the diabetic chap obviously managed to limp through life without telling everyone he met. I imagine that a full medivac and crash team on standby to cross the 2 miles to the Isle of Wigot seems appealing to the desk managers sat in the dreary London offices at the end of February, but fer god's sake people you're starting to get scary now. Should we submit a urine and blood sample at the pontoon, DNA swab; what about a GP's letter confirming the likelihood of keeling over due to the stress of a sunny afternoon on a friends power trip, er boat. Have you considered contacting credit agencies, CV references, vicars, CRB etc.

I am starting to wonder if any of you have ever actually received guests in real life because there seems to be a serious misunderstanding of social boundaries running through this thread.

I bet some of you have printed off lists of rules to give out to these fictitious friends when they step onto your boats. Do your guests have to sign your boat's COSHH forms before you set off?

If I thought you people were being serious I would worry for you!

The analogy with taxi drivers etc is laughable, frankly. The point about going to sea is that access to medical support if needed is much more difficult to organise and that it is in every individual's interest to take reasonable steps to ensure that any important information is available. If I collapse I want my mates to know there is an envelope in the chart table containing information about my history of and medication for heart disease. I wouldn't consider it any more intrusive to be asked about these matters by another skipper, any more than I would expect a diver to be offended by being asked to certify fitness. I don't ask people to tell me anything, I just say if there's anything it might be important to know, write it down, put it in an envelope in the chart table and we will only open it in an emergency. I wouldn't do it for a daysail but certainly if going offshore.

The diabetic chap mentioned in my earlier post is no longer with us. He had a hypo while hillwalking on his own and died from hypothermia.