Crew's Medical information

[Wandering Star]

I have a shotgun on board for medical emergencies, only had to use it a couple of occasions and one of those wasn't actually medical it was more for securing some peace and quiet when one of the crew suffered from severe seasickness and was starting to depress me.

Cheers, Brian.

 

[capnsensible]

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!

Don't run a commercial boat, you may explode with indignation....

 

[jimi]

I have a shotgun on board for medical emergencies, only had to use it a couple of occasions and one of those wasn't actually medical it was more for securing some peace and quiet when one of the crew suffered from severe seasickness and was starting to depress me.

Cheers, Brian.

Comatose John still bears the scars ...

 

[onesea]

Don't run a commercial boat, you may explode with indignation....

Don't know what you mean, not like in the last 6 months I have had 3 medicals, including chest x rays etc... and I am below the age required for tread mill tests and such like...

On the not of the Penicillin I did not make a fuss on day sailing only longer passages. I have now grown out of it. I was not going to sue any one just felt some one should know. I would hate to have I wish some one told me...

If some one was diabetic I would expect you know I am a diabetic? Can you manage it? yes? End off. If sailing with a friend who knows that they are, that is also fine by me also as long as some one knows...

It does not take much, I hope you realized I was trying to be funny about the Tattoo's...

 

[fireball]

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!!!!!

As Skipper - if ppl decide to tell me what life dependant meds they're on then that's up to them - it would make it much easier if when handing them over to the medics you could let them know that the casualty is diabetic (type1 or2?) or takes certain meds. It also helps if they have a condition that requires application of a medication on certain events - I know a chap who has a spray that has to be sprayed in his mouth if something goes wrong with his heart - far more helpful if I can assist with that. If they decide not to tell me then I can't help or pass on information to medics should the need arise.

As Crew - I know what medication I need to keep me alive - I pass that info onto the skipper - exact dose doesn't matter - just the fact that the condition exists is enough - so if I get airlifted with a serious injury and I cannot communicate at least the docs should be aware of other issues. It's for my own benefit.

TBH, I wouldn't think it often matters about medication for temporary conditions - like antibiotics etc etc - so "embarrassing" creams and ointments can remain a secret as far as I'm concerned - unless it's life threatening.

Is it control freakery - nope - just simple self preservation!

 

[colind3782]

As soon as people find out I'm a Paramedic I tend to be regaled with stories of every medical condition they have, they have had and they think they might have in the future without any prompting at all!

 

[Amulet]

...it is in every individual's interest to take reasonable steps to ensure that any important information is available...

Fer chrisakes! Nobody has to divulge anything about their deformed willy. All Ken is doing is giving them the opportunity. You can make no envelope, or even put buger all on the bit of paper. It's an opportunity not a demand.

I wouldn't want my dear wife going undocumented into a medical situation - radiologists who see her chest xray unprepped are likely to have a heart attack.

I'm in reasonable health (despite my best efforts) - but I'd want medication for a couple of boring things continued if I ended up in a foreign hospital.

 

[alant]

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?!

Important to know, particularly when going well offshore, even more important if you are skipper on a 'commercial vessel', including any recreational.

I've had to put a crew ashore, due to diabeties & continued the delivery alone, rather than have him collapse in the heads & find myself unable to extract him ( he was feeling wobbly & we had ducked into Dartmouth, just in case).

Also, during safety brief, always asked the question regarding medication, with sometimes suprising results from some who rattled with pills they were taking. If any females, worth mentioning seasickness 'might' negate any 'regular' pills any of them might be taking (not sure if vomiting would, but best to be sure).

 

[BruceDanforth]

If I have to get winched into a helicopter then I expect a proper full blown crisis not one mitigated and spoiled by an envelope.

 

[Shakemeister]

As soon as people find out I'm a Paramedic I tend to be regaled with stories of every medical condition they have, they have had and they think they might have in the future without any prompting at all!

+1

 

[[70521]]

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!!!!!

My rescue experiences are with Mountain Rescue Teams and I struggle to see your view point. Many mountaineering accidents are caused due to the failure of a casualty to take the meds they need to take or because they have exerted their self beyond the active period of the meds they have taken.

Zipping somebody's loved one into a body bag it is never easy, especially when you know that had you the right information you might, just might, have been able to save a life and yes I've zipped a chap who had a heart attack into a body bag. Perhaps sending that Mayday saying that you or a crew member is having a heart attack and they are on a particular drug just might help the lifeboat or helicopter crew work out more effective response. Its not control "freakereakey", as a skipper or mountain leader you have a duty of care to the people who are on the water or on the hill with you. Anybody stepping on board my boat will be asked if there is any medical condition that I need to know about, including mal de mer, so that I can make decisions about what we do after all I will be called on by the MAIB to give evidence if there is a incident that they investigate and of course "trial by forum".

I shall be more than happy to wave as we leave you ashore.

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

Not so, IF a skipper is subject to the DPA, and a legal opinion on this would be interesting, then as long as the data was secure then that is all that is needed.

 

[DogWatch]

*Dreamy*

 

[jimi]

I'd have thought anyone with a potentially life threatening medical condition should be wearing a medi-alert anyway.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

I'd have thought anyone with a potentially life threatening medical condition should be wearing a medi-alert anyway.

not everybody knows they have something wrong with them and if they have just been fished out of a cold sea, they might be finding out for the first time !

 

[charles_reed]

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!

I'll just keep on sailing single-handed: seems much more sensible - just have people to stay for the weekend.
And I was up in arms with the CA cruise agreement!!

 

[BlueSkyNick]

If I have to get winched into a helicopter then I expect a proper full blown crisis not one mitigated and spoiled by an envelope.

The chopper crew will ask for the casualty's details. Better to not waste time writing them down mid incident, at risk of forgetting something.

It was only a tip - not a suggestion that it should be written into SOLAS V.

 

[BruceDanforth]

Sorry. I was trying to highlight the daftness of opposing the idea. Perhaps it was a bit flippant for a serious thread.

The chopper crew will ask for the casualty's details. Better to not waste time writing them down mid incident, at risk of forgetting something.

It was only a tip - not a suggestion that it should be written into SOLAS V.

 

[DogWatch]

 

[mjcoon]

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!!!!!

Many of the comments, including this one, reminds me of the "Blood Donor" episode of Hancock's Half Hour.

Not the famous quote "A pint?! That's nearly an armful!", but before that, when he is asked whether he has had any of the diseases on a check-sheet. He says "no he hasn't" - "and especially not that one!".

Mike.

 

[A1Sailor]

Been thinking - how about a big canvas envelope, one for each crew, with their names on them? Just in case...