By William C. Winslow
“Duck,” I yelled, but it was too late — the boom struck my crewmember right in the head and knocked him to the deck. Half an hour later, the only damage seemed to be a small bump on his forehead and a headache. He was lucky that there was no concussion.
The American Association of Neurological Surgeons defines a concussion as “an injury to the brain that results in temporary loss of normal function, usually caused by a blow to the head.” It gets a lot of notice when a concussion happens to a pro football player, but it’s a harm that also affects boaters, particularly those on sailboats.
What happened on my boat was as a result of a move called an accidental jibe. To change direction the helmsman either tacks or jibes; the former is safe while the other is potentially dangerous. When you tack, the wind blows across the luff, the part of the sail attached to the mast that controls the sail. That is the opposite of a jibe where the wind first hits the back, or free side, of the sail. Sailors do a controlled jibe all the time by carefully reeling in the sail before jibing, but if the skipper isn’t paying attention to the wind, it can catch that boom and send it violently to the other side. This uncontrolled motion is a menace to any individual standing in its way.
If you are strictly a power boater, you’re not completely out of the woods. Rough seas, wakes, tides, and currents make all vessels unsteady platforms. Crew and guests do take tumbles, and there are few soft edges on a boat. Water skiers, surfers, and wakeboarders are subject to injury, too.
Concussed football players get carted off the field on a stretcher, accompanied by doctors, but on the water, you’re on your own. According to the Mayo Clinic, here’s what to look for:
- Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
- Temporary loss of consciousness
- Confusion or feeling as if in a fog
- Amnesia surrounding the traumatic event
- Dizziness or “seeing stars”
- Ringing in the ears
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Delayed response to questions
- Appearing dazed
- Fatigue
If you spot any signs of a possible concussion or if the person is knocked unconscious, you have to get medical assistance as soon as possible. Alert the authorities via cell phone or marine VHF radio and follow instructions after providing details of the accident and the symptoms.
Should the person who suffered the blow say “I’m fine” and he or she doesn’t display any indicators of a concussion, it’s still wise to be cautious. He or she should stretch out and be wrapped in a blanket with soft pillows cushioning the head. For headaches, provide only acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) as a pain reliever, not ibuprofen (brands include Advil and Motrin IB), as ibuprofen may increase any internal bleeding. Alcohol and caffeinated beverages are no-no’s.
Adults are pretty hard-headed, but not so kids, especially little children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you call your child’s doctor after a blow to the head.
Adults who leave the boat professing they suffered no damage should be on the alert for delayed symptoms, which might show up hours or days after injury: concentration or memory problems, irritability, continued sensitivity to light and noise, sleep disturbances, depression, and/or changes to the ability to taste and smell.
The author is the Division 5 – Staff Officer Public Affairs, First District Southern Region, for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the all-volunteer, non-military arm of the Coast Guard, teaching boating safety education and conducting search and rescue operations. Visit http://cgaux.org/ to join the Auxiliary or for class information.
