What To Do in a Medical Emergency on a Cruising Sailboat

(I) PRIOR TO PASSAGE

Familiarize everyone with Red Cross cheat sheets (we kept them in wall pocket above the Nav Station)
Familiarize everyone with the medical references on board (on bookshelf in cabin port side, and Merck manual in V-berth)
Familiarize everyone with First Aid kit and material (Kit under starboard porthole of V-berth, right hand cupboard, lower shelf, above head sink, and under head sink).
Familiarize everyone with drug and drug indication list, and drugstore inventory (Hangind in the Head)
Familiarize everyone with how to get help over the radio
Make sure each person knows the others' medical history

(II) IN AN EMERGENCY

Make sure you do not put yourself into danger while responding to the situation
Determine if the casualty is conscious or not
Check the victim's heartbeat.
Check the casualty's airways and make sure they are clear
If the victim is not breathing, do Rescue Breathing
If there is no pulse, do CPR
If the casualty is breathing and has a pulse but is unconscious, put him/her in the Recovery Position
Look for bleeding and stop it if you find it
Check for fractures and immobilize any
Once you have evaluated the casualty's condition, decide if you need help
Get help if necessary by making a Pan Pan Medico on the VHF radio (See Distress Calls)
If you get no response to the VHF, start listening to the Ham and Marine frequencies on the SSB (see Distress calls) and make a Pan Pan Medico call.

Medical Emergencies