On Board Medical Kits

[Laser310]

Some years ago, a boat that I sailed on for an Atlantic crossing had a substantial medical kit, with many medicines - antibiotics, pain meds etc.

In addition, it included the services of an on-call physician.

Importantly, the physician knew the exact contents of the med kit, and it was an easy matter for him to advise us which meds to use.

I am looking for something like that; a kit suitable for several weeks at sea, with the services of a physician.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

 

[Refueler]

Ships have access to Medico system ... basically various Hospitals around the world agree to advise via radio link .. today would be satelite of course ... with Ships having Internationally recognised Medical Locker inventorys.

I'm not sure - but I have suspicion that Round World and Ocean Races may have a similar setup.

Interested to read more if such as OP asks is possible.

 

[davidej]

We had a Brain Surgeon as a crew one year.

Now there is enough kit on board to engage in some emergency trepanning!

 

[DFL1010]

There's a few telemedical suppliers out there.
My old complany used Medaire IIRC, but I think that's more superyacht/ship territory.

Bit of a google suggests that MSOS were involved in Suzie Goodall's bingle in the GOR. NOt sure if they're a bit more used to bigger stuff but doing this as a PR thing, or if they're normal yacht inclined too.


Of course, the other option is to go for an MSN 1905 kit in which case you can just say that's what you've got to the coastguard. Been a while since I've taksed but the CG always had an arrangement with a hospital (Plymouth??) whereby any telemed calls to them would be handled by those docs.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

There's a few telemedical suppliers out there.
My old complany used Medaire IIRC, but I think that's more superyacht/ship territory.

Bit of a google suggests that MSOS were involved in Suzie Goodall's bingle in the GOR. NOt sure if they're a bit more used to bigger stuff but doing this as a PR thing, or if they're normal yacht inclined too.


Of course, the other option is to go for an MSN 1905 kit in which case you can just say that's what you've got to the coastguard. Been a while since I've taksed but the CG always had an arrangement with a hospital (Plymouth??) whereby any telemed calls to them would be handled by those docs.

The Irish Coastguard provides a link to a hospital in Cork for these situations.

 

[Refueler]

The CG links are part of the Medico system ....

 

[jwfrary]

Your after a catagory A first aid kit. These have licenced drugs in them, so you need to have both the training, generally a ships captains medical and a commecial vessel, I haven't known one be issued to a pleasure yacht.

 

[William_H]

It is interesting that recently in Oz GPs moved to specifying an actual drug name on prescriptions the pharamacist can then dispense one of several products which carry their own promotional product name. What that means is that any drug you carry should have a name description that is recognised world wide.
Hence it seems to me that you should be able to describe what you have to a doctor by radio or understand what he is calling for. There are not that many different drugs that you would carry. Which leads me to think you should go for a medical kit that seems adequate to you. ie put in what you want (and can get of course) including specific medication for existing conditions.
Your own training might be more important. Though in my experience regular fist aid courses don't deal with any serious problem when remote. There is however a lot of info on net.
Interesting I had a recent heart attack (Blocked artery to heart muscle) They sent me home with a spray bottle of GTN (glycerine tri Nitro or similar anme) this is used for angina or heart attack to immediately expand arteries. Spray under tongue. I think there are also similar pills used to same effect. I have been told to carry it at all times.
What intrigues me is why this stuff is not carried in all first aid kits. I understand inadvertent use does no real harm except give you a head ache.
Anyway back to original question. Back many years ago the Royal Flying Doctor Service was set to service outback stations. Stations were equiped with a pedal powered later battery powered HF radio and an enormous chest of drugs. Each one given a number. So get on the radio a stockman has a belly ache and the word comes back "give him a dose of number 14"

 

[colind3782]

It is interesting that recently in Oz GPs moved to specifying an actual drug name on prescriptions the pharamacist can then dispense one of several products which carry their own promotional product name. What that means is that any drug you carry should have a name description that is recognised world wide.
Hence it seems to me that you should be able to describe what you have to a doctor by radio or understand what he is calling for. There are not that many different drugs that you would carry. Which leads me to think you should go for a medical kit that seems adequate to you. ie put in what you want (and can get of course) including specific medication for existing conditions.
Your own training might be more important. Though in my experience regular fist aid courses don't deal with any serious problem when remote. There is however a lot of info on net.
Interesting I had a recent heart attack (Blocked artery to heart muscle) They sent me home with a spray bottle of GTN (glycerine tri Nitro or similar anme) this is used for angina or heart attack to immediately expand arteries. Spray under tongue. I think there are also similar pills used to same effect. I have been told to carry it at all times.
What intrigues me is why this stuff is not carried in all first aid kits. I understand inadvertent use does no real harm except give you a head ache.
Anyway back to original question. Back many years ago the Royal Flying Doctor Service was set to service outback stations. Stations were equiped with a pedal powered later battery powered HF radio and an enormous chest of drugs. Each one given a number. So get on the radio a stockman has a belly ache and the word comes back "give him a dose of number 14"

GTN will also drop your blood pressure and can cause you to faint if overused which is why we only give one 400mcg spray at a time for chest pain

 

[Roberto]

We used CIRM, advice in English, both by voice or email, free service. IIRC it's the oldest service of medical radio assistance, dates back to the 30s. They intervened in about 7500 cases during 2021
They are one of the medical authorities in contact with MRCCs and entitled to request medical evacuations.
www.cirmtmas.it

 

[Fr J Hackett]

As mentioned earlier it's all very well having an all encompassing medical kit and recourse to shore based advice but do you have the basic competency to make use of it? Can you suture an open and deep wound or imobilise a fractured bone and limb as a simple examples and probably quite rare occurrences but presumably the sort of stuff that you may be seeking external help for.

 

[Laser310]

As mentioned earlier it's all very well having an all encompassing medical kit and recourse to shore based advice but do you have the basic competency to make use of it? Can you suture an open and deep wound or imobilise a fractured bone and limb as a simple examples and probably quite rare occurrences but presumably the sort of stuff that you may be seeking external help for.

no - some things are very simple

a previous incident involved a systemic bacterial infection - fatal in a few days without treatment.

we were in the middle of the atlantic ocean

we called the physician that was on call with our medical kit;

"in the medical kit locate the green zip bag.., open it and find vial #2.., give the patient two pills now and then one every 6 hours for 5 days"

"call me again if you have any questions.., if the patient isn't improving.., or in any case within 24 hours"

I can't overstate the convenience of having a physician who knew the exact contents of the kit.

without that.., their first question would have been ; "what do you have?''

and I would have been trying to read medicine names over the crappy sat phone connection...

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Who diagnosed the bacterial infection?

 

[Invicta_26]

I'm a sailor/General Practitioner and have been wondering how other people approach this issue. For offshore passages I agree it's very sensible to have a good supply of medications including antibiotics etc, and either medical knowledge onboard or the ability to get telemedical advice. I feel that there is quite a big difference between basic trauma management (suturing, splinting etc which can be learned in a few days) and dealing with illness/medical emergencies where more knowledge is needed to make safe decisions.

I put together a fairly comprehensive medical kit for an ARC boat last year. For me this just involved buying the prescription medicines from a pharmacy but without a medical license options would include a private GP consultation (preferably with a doctor with an interest in travel medicine or sailing) or using one of the bigger companies like Nomad Travel or MSOS who provide medical kits for ships. Some NHS GPs are still willing to provide private prescriptions for travel medical kits but this is becoming rarer as the legislation is unsurprisingly quite complex. There's a good review of some of the issues involved in prescribing for expeditions/'what if' use here: DEFINE_ME.

I've wondered in the past whether there would be much interest in a private medical service aimed at yachties to go over travel plans and supply a suitably comprehensive medical kit, medical advice etc. A survey of ARC participants a few years ago suggested that the majority didn't organise their medical supplies until less than a month before departure which made me think perhaps people just don't think about this stuff enough to create a decent market, but if anyone thinks this is a great idea and I'll become rich and retire aboard my new Garcia, do let me know!

 

[Gadget257]

I completed the Maritime Proficiency in Medical Care Course a couple of years ago which although designed for coded commercial vessels does allow the holder to obtain, manage and use/prescribe medication at sea on a non code vessel. A pharmacist friend of mine says the training is often a question on pharmacy examination on who is allowed to prescribed. Useful links:

MSN 1905 (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Microsoft Word - 482 Medical Care (publishing.service.gov.uk)

Yacht providers

MCA STCW Proficiency in Medical Care On Board Ship 5 day MCA STCW Courses (hamble.co.uk)

First Aid at Sea | How to survive your first emergency! - Sailing Britican I can recommend Sue Johnson mentioned in this article.

 

[Roberto]

I understand health care is dealt with in totally different ways in Anglosaxon countries, the services asked by the OP already exist (and are free) in both Italy and France (Rome CIRM and Toulouse CCMM), they both have "recommended" medication sets one can refer to by phone if needed, all type of medications are available with a GP prescription (we even had morphine onboard) though they must be paid for. They also suggest to send all crews medical sensitive information before a cruise, pretty much like the former cg66 for general distress handling.
Some interesting aspects to take inspiration from for a paid-for service where they are not available.

 

[Laser310]

Who diagnosed the bacterial infection?

the on call physician - after inquiring about symptoms.

 

[Sandy]

I'm a sailor/General Practitioner and have been wondering how other people approach this issue.

It might be worth your while contacting Simon Currin, Commodore of the Ocean Cruising Club and GP.

I was a pretty advanced First Aider as a long time ago was a member of a Mountain Rescue Team and extremely interested in the work of David Hillebrandt on the UIAA Medical Committee.

 

[Gerry]

I'm a sailor/General Practitioner and have been wondering how other people approach this issue. For offshore passages I agree it's very sensible to have a good supply of medications including antibiotics etc, and either medical knowledge onboard or the ability to get telemedical advice. I feel that there is quite a big difference between basic trauma management (suturing, splinting etc which can be learned in a few days) and dealing with illness/medical emergencies where more knowledge is needed to make safe decisions.

I put together a fairly comprehensive medical kit for an ARC boat last year. For me this just involved buying the prescription medicines from a pharmacy but without a medical license options would include a private GP consultation (preferably with a doctor with an interest in travel medicine or sailing) or using one of the bigger companies like Nomad Travel or MSOS who provide medical kits for ships. Some NHS GPs are still willing to provide private prescriptions for travel medical kits but this is becoming rarer as the legislation is unsurprisingly quite complex. There's a good review of some of the issues involved in prescribing for expeditions/'what if' use here: DEFINE_ME.

I've wondered in the past whether there would be much interest in a private medical service aimed at yachties to go over travel plans and supply a suitably comprehensive medical kit, medical advice etc. A survey of ARC participants a few years ago suggested that the majority didn't organise their medical supplies until less than a month before departure which made me think perhaps people just don't think about this stuff enough to create a decent market, but if anyone thinks this is a great idea and I'll become rich and retire aboard my new Garcia, do let me know!

Great idea!

 

[Tomaret]

We had a Brain Surgeon as a crew one year.

Now there is enough kit on board to engage in some emergency trepanning!

We had a heart lung transplant specialist and a geriatric medicine consultant on our crossing. The latter was probably more appropriate given the make up of the crew.