Medical

Question 1

Medivac actions

Answer 1

• Notify helicopter of position, course and speed and pick up point on the vessel
• Relay all medical details
• Patient near the pick up point with medical details, passports etc attached
• Patient to be strapped face up with a life jacket if possible
• Crew briefed and wearing correct PPE
• Heli deck cleared
• Wind on port bow, speed to reduce motion
• Allow tag line to ground before touching. Only grab once cleared by heli
• Coil tag line into box as it comes down. Do not make off to the vessel
• Hand signals to heli once clear to hoist
• Pay out tag line as it winches up

Question 2

Inmarsat satellite communications

Answer 2

Inmarsat systems offer three special access codes which can be used for telemedical advice at sea.
- SAC 32 (dr who) - medical advice
- SAC 38 (evacuate) - Medical assistance/evacuation required
- SAC 39 - Maritime assistance and routed to RCC

Question 3

Glasgow Coma Scale

Answer 3

Scores a patients consciousness based on their eye movements, verbal and motor functions.

Low score (3) = deep unconsciousness
3-15 = some level of unconsciousness

Question 4

Info to be sent with medivac

Answer 4

• Vessel details
• Masters name and nationality
• Shipowner / operator, nationality and contact details
• Patients name, age, gender, nationality and language
• Patients vitals
• Location of pain
• Nature of illness or injury
• Symptoms
• Time, type and form of medications administered
• Able to eat/drink etc
• How accident occured
• Medical supplies and doctor onboard
• Name, address and number of vessels agent
• Last port of call, next port of call and ETA

Question 5

Shipowners responsibility towards an injured crewmember

Answer 5

Under MLC, shipowners are required to provide seafarers with medical care onboard their ships. This includes the provision of medical stores and trained medical personnel. If onboard care is insufficient, they have the right to go ashore for treatment.

Wages:
Must pay wages in full until:
- The seafarer recovers
- SEA expires
- 16 weeks

Compensation for injury/death:
Seafarers also have a right to be compensated to the amount payable as set out in the SEA. It must be paid within 14 days, or in interim payments if the seafarer is experiencing hardship

Repatriation:
MLC requires shipowners to make provision for the repatriation of seafarers.

Insurance:
Certificate of financial responsibility towards crew liabilities for vessels >500GT will ensure insurance is in place to cover this.

Question 6

How would you call for assistance?

Answer 6

VHF or MF - Pan Pan
or SAC 32

Question 7

You are undocking the boat, their is an accident on the foredeck, what are your actions?

Answer 7

• Attend to the crewmember (DR ABCs)
• Treat the immediate injury
• Reconnect to shore
• Contact shore side medical facilities
• Send relevant paperwork along with crewmembers
• Ensure he has good medical care
• Repatriate crewmember and find replacement