How to obtain a decent medical kit and the training to use it?

[jollysailor17]

I am in the planning stages for a single handed passage from the UK to the South Atlantic. I expect to be at sea for many months and if a medical emergency arises such as a broken bone or my gashing my arm/leg and needing stitches, I would like to be able to set the limb or sew up the wound, without calling for assistance.

I carry a pretty comprehensive mountaineers first aid kit, but at present do not carry anti biotics or sedatives and do not have any medical training in how to use them.

I have asked my GP who suggested I contact St Johns Ambulance who were no help at all. I called the Ocean Cruising Club, who suggested I call the RYA who in turn put me on to the MCA. At present I am no further on.

Is there a sailing doctor who could advise me, if I can obtain and legally carry the kit I need and if there is some sort of basic course I could attend?

I wondered if I could carry the kit, about arranging a bonded locker, where it could be placed and sealed up, like the old duty free stores used to be, so that if I needed to make port en route, I could show an inventory of the medical stores, but could prove that they were stored away under lock and key.

Presumably other single-handers have been here before and someone must know of a solution to the problem.

The MCA told me that if this was a commercially sponsored voyage and not a private venture, that they could help me no probs.

Many thanks.
Dawn

 

[FishyInverness]

Dawn, a little bit of a guesswork suggestion - but my mind is drifting towards asking Ocean Safety, based in southampton. I did have some dealings with them for supply of a CAT B first aid kit and one time and they seemed fairly knowledgable on the certification and requirements you need in order to actually carry that kit. Might be a start at least.

 

[st599]

I am in the planning stages for a single handed passage from the UK to the South Atlantic. I expect to be at sea for many months and if a medical emergency arises such as a broken bone or my gashing my arm/leg and needing stitches, I would like to be able to set the limb or sew up the wound, without calling for assistance.

I carry a pretty comprehensive mountaineers first aid kit, but at present do not carry anti biotics or sedatives and do not have any medical training in how to use them.

I have asked my GP who suggested I contact St Johns Ambulance who were no help at all. I called the Ocean Cruising Club, who suggested I call the RYA who in turn put me on to the MCA. At present I am no further on.

Is there a sailing doctor who could advise me, if I can obtain and legally carry the kit I need and if there is some sort of basic course I could attend?

I wondered if I could carry the kit, about arranging a bonded locker, where it could be placed and sealed up, like the old duty free stores used to be, so that if I needed to make port en route, I could show an inventory of the medical stores, but could prove that they were stored away under lock and key.

Presumably other single-handers have been here before and someone must know of a solution to the problem.

The MCA told me that if this was a commercially sponsored voyage and not a private venture, that they could help me no probs.

Many thanks.
Dawn

Have a look at the STCW95 Medical First Aid and Medical Care courses. They cover that sort of thing and will inform you how to buy the drugs.

 

[Reverend Ludd]

You'll have to pay for it but this or somewhere else similar will sort you out.

Linky thing

 

[jwilson]

I am in the planning stages for a single handed passage from the UK to the South Atlantic. I expect to be at sea for many months and if a medical emergency arises such as a broken bone or my gashing my arm/leg and needing stitches, I would like to be able to set the limb or sew up the wound, without calling for assistance.

I carry a pretty comprehensive mountaineers first aid kit, but at present do not carry anti biotics or sedatives and do not have any medical training in how to use them.

I have asked my GP who suggested I contact St Johns Ambulance who were no help at all. I called the Ocean Cruising Club, who suggested I call the RYA who in turn put me on to the MCA. At present I am no further on.

Is there a sailing doctor who could advise me, if I can obtain and legally carry the kit I need and if there is some sort of basic course I could attend?

I wondered if I could carry the kit, about arranging a bonded locker, where it could be placed and sealed up, like the old duty free stores used to be, so that if I needed to make port en route, I could show an inventory of the medical stores, but could prove that they were stored away under lock and key.

Presumably other single-handers have been here before and someone must know of a solution to the problem.

The MCA told me that if this was a commercially sponsored voyage and not a private venture, that they could help me no probs.

Many thanks.
Dawn

I have carried more than normal DOT Cat C medical kits, long time ago, just needed a prescription from a doctor for what was needed to add to a standard Cat C kit. Did not need to keep it in a sealed locker.

Extra items included injectable painkillers (Pethidine) and stitching kit. I have given an injection once, never had to stitch a human, though lots of sails!

 

[Neil_Y]

I talked to a paramedic, who suggested some very useful items that were purchased from the same medical supplier they used. http://www.spservices.co.uk/ some items like airway kits would be useless for simgle handed!

His advice and that of a local doctor (friend)
Burns treatment gel pads, some you can put you whole arm in.
Suture kits for sticthing up
Antibiotics I carried three different types, Internal infections, skin infections and urinary infections. I had enough for max adult dose x 3 full courses. These I managed to get a prescription for and my firsty trip was not commercial. I also got scopoderm on prescription.

Pain killers were codeine based.

Broken bones, I guess an inflatable splint might be useful, but (I think) you'd be stupid not to call for help if you could.

Loss of fluid could be an issue and being able to put a saline line in may be a life saver but if you're in that bad shape you'd be calling for help, you may be able to get this training from a local paramedic and you can buy the kit from SPS.

I don't think there were any issues carrying the kit we had, most cruisers carry quite a broad selection of drugs.

 

[rickym]

Try these guys

http://www.e-med.co.uk/medipac.html#3

 

[Rigger Mortice]

The MCA first aid bumph seems to be well done....no punches pulled and it deals with all sorts right through to dealing with death and the dying. http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga-seaf.../mcga-dqs_st_shs_ships_capt_medical_guide.htm

The section on diseases of fishermen is pretty gruesome. It all makes for happy bedtime reading!

 

[KellysEye]

If you want the top seagoing medical course do the Ship's captain medical course. If you do a search a number of places do it. The book of what is taught is available online free but a monster download here http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga-seaf.../mcga-dqs_st_shs_ships_capt_medical_guide.htm It's a must carry book.

We talked to a number of companies that claim to sell ocean going medical kit. None were comprehensive enough. I recently posted a list of drugs we carried for long distance sailing but if you want the whole list beyond drugs PM me and I'll send it. The post is in the Lounge the title is 'drugs' which you can search for. We talked to our doctor about what we were going to do and why we needed the list of drugs etc we gave her. She changed a few things and gave prescriptions for some drugs.

 

[rickym]

Jeez just seen Kellys eye post in the lounge. Not sure I have come accross most of that kit in my life.
We are off on a long cruise next year and while not suggesting that a few plasters and a bottle of asprin is sufficient I would be interested to know how much of the medical kit was actually used.

 

[Seajet]

If you are a member of a sailing club, how about suggesting getting a paramedic in to do a talk ?

There are usually club sailing people in contact via NHS, Armed Forces etc -, and maybe have a quiet word with them later re. advice & supplies; it worked for me and of course helps other members ( why First Aid & further training isn't mandatory at school & beyond remains a mystery to me ! ).

 

[prv]

why First Aid & further training isn't mandatory at school & beyond remains a mystery to me !

I thought they did teach first aid in schools these days? Mine did 15 years ago, anyway.

Pete

 

[Porthandbuoy]

I suggest you check out the Cruising Association. They run a number of courses over the winter including First Aid. You'd need to contact them to see how in-depth the courses are though. Cruising Association Courses

 

[Quandary]

First Aid Recommendation

A couple of years ago I and half a dozen others from our kids dinghy club did a course with the local Red Cross branch, there were other guys there from some local companies, forestry, etc. A lot of the talks were given by the local paramedics who had a fairly robust attitude to managing risk. Not expensive, about ten two hour sessions, you got a handbook and a certificate at the end and you could do a more advanced course if you opted for it It is a large part of what the Red Cross exists for. It was a lot more hands on than just reading a book but it was interesting and I enjoyed doing it. My only complaint is that if you do not live in an environment which gives you the opportunity to practice you soon begin to forget stuff and some of the chain saw accidents were really gruesome. With hindsight the syllabus was mainly targeted at accidental injuries rather than the debilitating lergy that might affect a long term cruiser.

 

[Seajet]

I thought they did teach first aid in schools these days? Mine did 15 years ago, anyway.

Pete

Pete,

thanks, that's good news if all youngsters are being taught First Aid, I do worry about older relatives not knowing CPR etc; shows how long since I've been at school, I got the impression most children these days were being taught about gunshot wounds !

 

[john_morris_uk]

If you want the top seagoing medical course do the Ship's captain medical course. If you do a search a number of places do it.

I agree - I did the course a number of years ago and it gives you a little certificate that means you can obtain and carry certain controlled drugs on board. I have carried morphine on a yacht on an ocean passage in the past - just make sure you have the correct documents and the correct sort of locker to secure it in and the customs are very happy - its a regular thing on larger ships. Its also useful to have some local anesthetic for sorting out wounds doing ring blocks etc etc..

The doctor who examined me (so to speak) at the end of the course offered to give any of us prescriptions for the drugs we wished to carry on board. being able to put a canular in and having to practice stitching is a real confidence boost. Not sure how good I would be putting a pipe up a crew members member having only practiced on an anatomic model but I suppose needs must and if it saves a life the you are going to have a go. You do get a doctor on the radio to talk things through in real life - on request through the coastguard if you weren't aware.

 

[VicMallows]

Returning to the OP....

The thing that maddens me is that even if you know, through long experience and research, the precise medications you should carry .... you can not obtain them in the UK unless you know a compliant GP. (quite reasonably this should be a private prescription with associated costs). The 'blame' culture means that finding such GP is likely to be difficult.

I know you can buy some 'restricted' medications quite easily abroad ... but hardly the best solution.

Edit: I take note of the 'ship captain medical course' ... sounds good but probably OTT for most folk.

Vic

 

[prv]

You do get a doctor on the radio to talk things through in real life - on request through the coastguard if you weren't aware.

I was talking to a Second Officer once about this, and she said the shipping company had a contract with a medical service based in Switzerland, which they would talk to via satellite phone in the event of serious illness or injury. As far as she was concerned, the most important part of this service was that the decision to stop trying to resuscitate someone would be made by a doctor not on the ship. Otherwise, with someone they've known and worked with, who decides they can't be saved, and can that person live with themselves afterwards?

Pete

 

[alant]

If you want the top seagoing medical course do the Ship's captain medical course. If you do a search a number of places do it. The book of what is taught is available online free but a monster download here http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga-seaf.../mcga-dqs_st_shs_ships_capt_medical_guide.htm It's a must carry book.

We talked to a number of companies that claim to sell ocean going medical kit. None were comprehensive enough. I recently posted a list of drugs we carried for long distance sailing but if you want the whole list beyond drugs PM me and I'll send it. The post is in the Lounge the title is 'drugs' which you can search for. We talked to our doctor about what we were going to do and why we needed the list of drugs etc we gave her. She changed a few things and gave prescriptions for some drugs.

Don't think its called Ships Captains medical Cert anymore. However, when I did mine, I confirmed with the pharmacist at local Boots Chemist, that I could get morphine on the strength of this qualification, if required for offshore.

 

[Doug_Stormforce]

Dawn

The ships Captains medical course that has been referred to several times was renamed the Medical Care some time ago.

There are basically 2 courses to take but you can do them back to back.

First up is the Medical First Aid aboard ship, this is 3 or 4 days depending upon where you do it. Details of whats involved are at http://www.stormforce.biz/Products/102/MCA-STCW-95-Medical-First-Aid.html It is essentially an advanced first aid course

This is followed up with the Medical Care Course, where you train to take the place of the doctor mid ocean. Extracts from the syllabus are here http://www.stormforce.biz/Products/103/MCA-STCW-95-Medical-Care.html

The medical care course qualifies you in the use of various drugs (when at sea)