First aid
Training
Knives, fishing gear, venomous sea life, galleys and engine spaces – as well as a range of potential accidents – provide endless opportunities for injury on board. It makes a lot of sense to take a first aid course with experts such as St John Ambulance or Red Cross. Of course, back up the training by carrying a suitable first aid kit.
Seasickness
Preventive measures
Check whether your passengers are prone to seasickness. If they usually take medication for it, make sure they take it at the recommended time. For those prone to seasickness consider the following:
- Non-medication remedies work for many people. Eating ginger or wearing an acupuncture band are popular.
- Avoid greasy food and alcohol before and during the trip.
- Sit in the lowest motion part of the boat, usually near the stern.
- Stay in the open air.
If seasickness strikes
Often, people are only prone to seasickness in a stationary boat. If a bad bout comes on, try getting under way again.
Bad seasickness can dehydrate people quickly. Encourage a seasick person to continually sip water.
Hypothermia
This is the result of major heat loss from the body, causing a lowering of the body’s core temperature. Immersion in cold water multiplies the rate of heat loss by many times, and being in wet clothes in cold wind can, over time, also cause hypothermia. Hypothermia is a life threatening condition, most common in survivors of boat capsizes or sinkings, and it is made worse by physical exertion like swimming or treading water. Greatest heat loss is from the head, the armpits and from the crotch.
Huddle/HELP position – lessening the effect
If at all possible get out of the water, or at least get out as much of yourself as you can by climbing onto a capsized hull.
If in the water, wearing a life jacket allows you to protect the heat loss areas.
The Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP) puts your legs together and drawn up, your upper arms tight by the sides of your chest, and your head back.
The Huddle position is adopted by a group of people. Clustering close together in a circle, ribs touching, arms around each other, greatly reduces heat loss.
Treating hypothermia
Usually the circumstances will suggest the possibility of hypothermia if the victim seems drowsy and is cold to the touch.
Other signs include:
- faint, slow pulse;
- shallow breathing;
- confusion, with slurred speech; and
- dilated pupils.
Your aim should be to prevent further heat loss, and gradually warm the victim.
- Move the victim to a sheltered part of the boat.
- Remove wet clothing and wrap in whatever clothing, blankets etc are available.
- Dry the hair and put a beanie or similar on the head.
- Probably the best way to gently warm the victim is to share a sleeping bag and use your body’s own heat. Do not rub or massage.
- Do not give alcohol.
- Make a radio call to Sea Rescue and ask for further advice while heading for shore at your best speed.
