No matter how short the trip, never leave shore without a basic understanding of how to handle a medical emergency. In the blink of an eye, a toddler can go from laughing to choking, and an adult may suddenly be unable to lift an arm. What do you do?
Though medical predicaments are unexpected, this article deals with what to do at the onset of a medical situation. While you’re not expected to possess the skills of a physician, someone aboard should possess a fundamental knowledge of first aid care during the time it takes to get back to shore or await the arrival of emergency assistance (when in doubt, always radio the U.S. Coast Guard via VHF channel 16). Take a first aid class that includes CPR, keep a well-stocked first aid kit and a manual aboard, and if your crew is a regular one, run occasional drills about handling emergencies aboard.
Lacerations: clean the wound and apply a sterile dressing. In the case of excessive or severe bleeding, a pressure dressing using an ace bandage on top of the dressing can staunch the blood flow while awaiting instructions from emergency personnel.
Burns: cool things down with cool or even warm fresh water (do not use ice) and apply a sterile dressing. The goal at first is to cool the skin, so save the burn cream for later.
Sprains, bumps, and bruises: apply ice to the affected area. Hold a chemical cold pack or ice sealed in a plastic bag in place with an ace bandage. Analgesics such as Motrin or Tylenol will reduce pain and swelling (unless the person has allergies or takes medications that conflict).
Seasickness: prevention using over-the-counter or prescription anti-motion sickness medications or aids is the best approach, but if seasickness strikes anyway, the seasick individual should go to the calmest part of the vessel, sip ginger ale (or other products with ginger) and nibble on dry crackers.
Severe chest, arm, and/or jaw pain: always assume it’s a heart attack and seek emergency assistance immediately (the pain of indigestion can mimic a heart attack, but let a trained medical person make the call). Trained in CPR? Start right away. If you don’t have the training, the American Heart Association recommends making sure the person’s airway is unobstructed and then applying uninterrupted chest compressions of 100 to 120 a minute until medial assistance arrives.
Choking: the most common signs include grasping of the throat, coughing, wheezing, an inability to talk, and/or turning blue in the face. Take action if the person cannot expel the object right away. The Red Cross recommends the following action: stand to the side and just behind a choking adult, or kneel down behind a child. Place one arm across the person’s chest and bend the person over at the waist (the upper body is parallel with the ground). Deliver five separate back blows between the person’s shoulder blades with the heel of your hand, then five abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver), alternating until the blockage is dislodged.
Stroke: suspect the person is having a stroke if there’s a sudden loss of balance; difficulty with coordination; a change in vision (loss, blurriness, or abnormal eye movements); a request for the person to smile reveals asymmetry or drooping of the face; a weakness or inability to raise their arms; and/or an inability of the person to understand, or to reply with garbled or nonsensical speech. Not all symptoms need be present for someone to be having a stroke, so seek help immediately. In the interim, the person should lie down with their head slightly elevated.
Hypothermia (cold water immersion): remove the person’s wet clothes and keep them warm, dry, and still until assistance arrives.
When the emergency responders arrive, share all that you know, including when (and what) symptoms started, any known prior medical history, medications, and allergies. If the person ate or drank alcohol before the symptoms started, and/or took some medication for seasickness, inform them of that as well. Some medications may mimic the signs of a stroke and alcohol may mask symptoms, or vice versa.
Administering first aid aboard cannot replace proper medical attention; injured or ill boaters should head to an emergency room or see a doctor as soon as possible.
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