EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Emergency Calls Only (24hr) Free Call 1800 625 800

INMARSAT Calls +61 8 94176364

Via Telephone Free Call 1800 641 792

Via VHF/MF/HF Radio/ INMARSAT

INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL ACCESS CODE ECG & DSC

32 = Medical Advice

38 = Medical Assistance i.e Evacuation

39 = Maratime Assistance (Rescue Co-ordination Centre)

WHAT ARE THE AUSTRALIAN REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL KITS

MARINE ORDERS 10

www.amsa.gov.au

Section 125 of the Navigation Act 1912 deals with the medicines, medical and surgical stores and appliances and anti-scorbutics that must be provided on a ship. Under the section, it is an offence for the master of a ship to take it to sea unless it is provided with medical supplies, and instructions for their use, in accordance with the regulations.

“ The master of a ship shall not take the ship to sea, and the owner or agent of the ship shall not permit the ship to be taken to sea, unless the ship is provided in accordance with the regulations, with:

To the extent that is reasonable, adequate medical supplies and appropriately competent persons must be available to treat injuries and diseases aboard ship, until a patient can be transferred to the care of a medical practitioner.

There is no internationally agreed list of medical supplies that should be carried on a ship. (Guidance notes on medical facilities aboard ships can be provided by Marine Medical Kits for further informaiton). The Ship Captain's Medical Guide also contains information to assist ships' crews in diagnosing and treating sick and injured seafarers.

It is the responsibility of the operator of a ship to arrange for the provision of such medical supplies as are reasonably necessary to ensure that persons on board the ship have access to adequate first-aid. What constitutes "reasonably necessary" will depend on circumstances and the operator will need to take into account a number of factors including the following:

· the number and sex of persons who will be on board ship at any particular time;

· the type of ship and the particular health hazards of the cargoes being carried;

· the length of the proposed voyage;

· the facilities available for communication with shore-based advice;

· the distance the ship will be from medical facilities on shore and the capacity for evacuation of sick or injured persons in an emergency.

The operator of a ship must also ensure that medical supplies are capable of being stored on board the ship in such a way that they are adequately protected from premature deterioration. Storage should be secure enough to prevent misuse, while ensuring that prompt access to them is available when they are required.

The operator of a ship must ensure that the master and crew of the ship are provided with a list of medical supplies on the ship, written instructions and adequate training on the proper use of medical supplies. The instructions must cover the obtaining of advice from qualified medical personnel.

The operator of a ship must not send the ship to sea, or allow the ship to be taken to sea, unless the operator has met the requirements

WHAT ARE THE UK REGULATIONS FOR MEDICAL KITS?

SHIPS’ MEDICAL STORES

www.mcga.gov.uk

Application of the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995 / 1802) and the Merchant Shipping and Fishing Vessels (Medical Stores) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/2821)

Notice to Ship Owners, Agents, Masters, Skippers of Fishing Vessels and all seafarers.

This Notice should be read in conjunction with Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1768 (M+F)

For a printable version of this document click here ( PDF Document 103kB)

Here's How:

1. Stay Safe! The worst thing a rescuer can do is become another victim. Follow universal precautions and wear personal protective equipment if you have it. Use common sense and stay away from potential hazards.

2. Attempt to wake victim. Briskly rub your knuckles against the victim's sternum. If the victim does not wake, and proceed to step 3. If the victim wakes, moans, or moves, then CPR is not necessary at this time. Call 000/911or Radio if the victim is confused or not able to speak.

3. Begin rescue breathing. Open the victim's airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift method. Put your ear to the victim's open mouth:
   • look for chest movement
   • listen for air flowing through the mouth or nose
   • feel for air on your cheek
   If there is no breathing, pinch the victim's nose; make a seal over the victim's mouth with yours. Use a CPR mask if available. Give the victim a breath big enough to make the chest rise. Let the chest fall, then repeat the rescue breath once more.

4. Begin chest compressions. Place the heel of your hand in the middle of the victim's chest. Put your other hand on top of the first with your fingers interlaced. Compress the chest about 1-1/2 to 2 inches (4-5 cm). Allow the chest to completely recoil before the next compression. Compress the chest at a rate equal to 100/minute. Perform 30 compressions at this rate.

5. Repeat rescue breaths. Open the airway with head-tilt, chin-lift again. This time, go directly to rescue breaths without checking for breathing again. Give one breath, making sure the chest rises and falls, then give another.

6. Perform 30 more chest compressions. Repeat steps 5 and 6 for about two minutes.

7. Stop compressions and recheck victim for breathing. If the victim is not breathing, continue chest compressions and rescue breaths.

8. Keep going until help arrives.

Tips:

1. If you have acces to an automated external defibrillator, attach it to the victim after approximately one minute of CPR (chest compressions and rescue breaths).
2. Chest compressions are extremely important. If you are not comfortable giving rescue breaths, still perform chest compressions!
3. It's normal to feel pops and snaps when you first begin chest compressions - DON'T STOP! You aren't going to make the victim any worse. Cardiac arrest is as bad as it gets.
4. When performing chest compressions, do not let your hands bounce. Let the chest fully recoil, but keep the heel of your hand in contact with the sternum at all times.
5. For more information on these steps go to the Emergency Cardiac Care (ECC) Guidelines from the American Heart Association.

   Reference:
   2005 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care. Circulation. 2005 Dec 13;112(24 Suppl):IV1-203. Epub 2005 Nov 28

What You Need:

• CPR and mouth-to-mouth barrier.

1) OBSERVE :

• The Number of breaths per minute, the rhythm of the breath and what muscles the person is using to breathe.
• Skin Colour (including lips & nail beds)
• Sound of the breaths (are they wheezy)
• Can the person speak in a full sentence

2) ASSESS: The persons pulse rate, Temperature, Conscious State

3) Obtain history of symptoms eg. Cough, Asthma, Emphysema, Smoker. Find out what person was doing when they became Short of Breath

4) Sit Person upright to help the lungs expand & Check vital Signs (Respiratory rate, Temperature & Pulse every 30 minutes).

5) Possible Causes:

• Asthma
• Exertion
• Pneumonia
• Pleural Effusion’s
• Pulmonary Embolus
• Pneumothorax
• Diabetic Ketoacidosis
• Toxic Gas/Chemical Exposure
• Left Ventricular Failure
• Pneumothorax
• Haemoptysis
• Anaemia
• Chest Infection
• Inhaled Foreign Body
• Hyperventilation
• Smoke Inhalation
• Drowning/Aspiration