Crew's Medical information

[Ariadne]

If somebody is being MEDIVAC in the UK then not too many problems - the envelope idea is well worth using, maybe putting it in ziplock bag.

If you are in the big blue ocean where the casualty is off to foreign counties you need a bit more info from them as from you. I'd suggest adding their passport and some $US so they have money ashore if it's needed. You need to know where they going to be taken (which country, city & hospital), you need to make (if feasible) to the nearest port in same country, notify the British Embassy/Consulate or that of another EU country so they can assist when the casualty arrives.

You'll possibly still have to clear them with the authorities, etc Embassy help may be good here...

You need to make copious notes in the ships log with all the info about the casualty, the medivac, everything about has happened and how you dealt with it.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

My wife and I both have conditions that any medic dealing with us needs to know about; indeed, in my wife's case, any person administering first aid needs to know. Neither are problems in everyday life; but for my wife, even a small cut must be taken seriously. So, if I were on another person's boat for more than a short day sail, I'd make sure they knew about them, and would think I was behaving irresponsibly if I didn't.

 

[DogWatch]

Do you people carry body bags in the cockpit lockers too?

 

[jimi]

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 !

In that case there's a logical difficulty about them sticking it on a bit of paper and giving it to you beforehand ;-)

 

[colind3782]

Do you people carry body bags in the cockpit lockers too?

Basic safety equipment for any self respecting gin palace. We get ours from Waitrose.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

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

Conditions might well be "need to know" for the medics without being in the least life-threatening. That's our status; neither of us is in the least danger from our medical conditions - provided medics know about them when they treat us! My wife does carry documentation, but it's not for emergency doctors - it's to show why she can't go through an airport scanner!

 

[johnalison]

If anyone comes on my boat, I would be mortified if I later found that they had put me and my crew's safety and convenience at risk by having a significant medical condition without mentioning it. We sailed for many years with our diabetic child and a regular guest has a severe allergy to eggs. Luckily, we have never had to call on outside help, though friends of ours were less fortunate last year when a crew member will a history of angina and diabetes had a heart attack while they were abroad. Medical emergencies do occur, regularly, and I am grateful to the OP for reminding me that we need to run our ships responsibly.

 

[DogWatch]

What in your considered opinions would be notifiable diseases?

 

[jimi]

yellow Fever is not good!

 

[DogWatch]

Irritable bowel syndrome and excessive ear wax too. Also I reckon you should notify for 'Asperger syndrome' but that would mean most of the contributors to this bizarro thread.

 

[DogWatch]

Ok, I've added 'Jumping Frenchmen of Maine' to my envelope

 

[bikedaft]

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.


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.

do you have any statistics for the number of mountain rescue incidents caused by failure to take medication, or overdue in taking same?

granted MRC and MRCofS do not collect that info, but they do collect a lot of other onfo about causes of callouts; (and personally i have never come across it up the hills)

for 2011, MRC; 6.8% callouts due to "medical collapse or illness" http://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/assets/files/AnnualStatisticsReports/MREW Incident Report 2011.pdf (page 8)

MRCofS 8% callouts due to "illness" http://www.mcofs.org.uk/assets/mrcofs annual report 2011 v5final.pdf (page 19)

(as usual the most number of callouts, slips, stumbles, lower limb injuries, and overdue and lost)

what i'm getting at is that there has to be a balance between what some people want (or not) to disclose, what some people may wish to know, obviously affected by intended cruising ground (solent vs greenland), and that there are many people out there with pre existing medical conditions who live very active lives, and should be encouraged to do the same.

most people are however pretty relaxed about sharing their medical info, but i don't think you can ask as a skipper for blanket disclosure, and many people for many reasons may not tell you any/all of it. again the balance between personal responsibility for own health or skipper/mountain leader taking the responsibility for it.

in the unlikely chance something happens, you still need to assess the incident, and gain AMPLE info at the time.

please don't rely on helicopters when sailing in uk coastal waters - weather, retasking to higher priority, mechanical or fuel issues all mean no helo, so always consider time to nearest port.

complex area, depends on skipper/crew, and intended destination

(the data protection act does not apply to paper records, unless you intend to computerise them.)

 

[mjcoon]

Ok, I've added 'Jumping Frenchmen of Maine' to my envelope

I think you should just write "Do not resuscitate"!

Mike.

 

[sailor211]

My father carries a list of medication, dob, GP etc. and I have been to hospital with him and its easy to get him admitted as its all to hand. I have been questioned about the combinations of medication but as it is written there is no mistake on my part. When I had medication I did the same,in case there was a need.

Also be clear about your information. Having been to causality when dad fell on to a cleat on the pontoon tying up, I said at 02:00 hrs on a Sunday morning, "he has not had a drink since about 18:00 " they assumed no alcohol, I meant no fluids since 18:00 as it was rough and is did not make tea and he was a bit sea sick. With a swelling the size of a football, fluid intake was relevant

 

[KenMcCulloch]

Irritable bowel syndrome and excessive ear wax too. Also I reckon you should notify for 'Asperger syndrome' but that would mean most of the contributors to this bizarro thread.

You, sir, are in my opinion a complete arse. This is not, for me, today, a theoretical discussion. Awa, as we say in my locality, and bile yir heid.

 

[DogWatch]

You, sir, are in my opinion a complete arse. This is not, for me, today, a theoretical discussion. Awa, as we say in my locality, and bile yir heid.

it's the ear wax isn't it?

 

[Ariadne]

As the Skipper/Captain/Master you do have the absolute right to ask if somebody has a medical condition, as you are responsible for them. End of, how that person feels about telling the Skipper is irrelevant; you can ask in private, make note of it, seal the info in an envelope and keep it in the logbook just in case. If you feel they are not telling the truth or hiding something, you can leave them ashore.

As the Skipper you are responsible and you need to know the info, you may have to go to court/inquest over it and not asking is no defense.

 

[DogWatch]

As the Skipper/Captain/Master you do have the absolute right to ask if somebody has a medical condition, as you are responsible for them. End of, how that person feels about telling the Skipper is irrelevant; you can ask in private, make note of it, seal the info in an envelope and keep it in the logbook just in case. If you feel they are not telling the truth or hiding something, you can leave them ashore.

As the Skipper you are responsible and you need to know the info, you may have to go to court/inquest over it and not asking is no defense.

 

[onesea]

Not certain I could of said it better but let me try anyway

Firstly regardless to what you may think, as the owner skipper of a pleasure yacht, if you call yourself Captain or Master in any form of even vaguley serious manner you are likey to be thought a grade one twasok by myself and probably one or 2 million others.

If some one is sailing as commercial skipper calling him self master would certainly be in for a high twasok rating...

Secondly as master it is not your absolute right for anything, even an order give at sea must be "lawful" and if its not reasonable will get you held up later...

Thirdly "If you feel they are not telling the truth or hiding something, you can leave them ashore." Yeah and if you are following letter of law you can repatriate them two if they happen to be abroad .

Fourthly "As the Skipper you are responsible and you need to know the info, you may have to go to court/inquest over it and not asking is no defense."

How are you going to prove you asked? or he just did not tell you? Carry on like this and all boats will have to carry 3 or 4 folders of "operating manuals" procedures and checklists kept archived for years...

I must admit given the choice between some one who wants to follow procedures (and hide behind) and some one who is prepared to take reasonable precautions and get on with it. I know which one I would consider a Twasok and which one I would go sailing with..

Dog watch sorry I tried and you beat me

 

[bikedaft]

As the Skipper/Captain/Master you do have the absolute right to ask if somebody has a medical condition, as you are responsible for them. End of, how that person feels about telling the Skipper is irrelevant; you can ask in private, make note of it, seal the info in an envelope and keep it in the logbook just in case. If you feel they are not telling the truth or hiding something, you can leave them ashore.

As the Skipper you are responsible and you need to know the info, you may have to go to court/inquest over it and not asking is no defense.

yes, but (there's always a but!)

not sure how applicable this is to a day sail or even a weekend in the clyde/solent?

also, would be interesting to know if any skipper has ever been criticised by the CG for setting off with crew with a known medical condition on board?

my 2p worth...