First Aid Basics

Heat Related Injuries | Bleeding Situations | Broken Bones |
Disclaimer | Who is "The Coastie"?

I wish I could come up with a funny introduction to this article, but medical emergencies are not a laughing matter.

There have been many articles written on First Aid, of course. However, there are some basics notions that every charterer should definitely know. I am only going to touch on 3 basic problems one could encounter: Heat related injuries, bleeding and broken bones.

One thing to remember: Treat for shock every time! Moving very gently,
move the victim to a location where he/she can lay down. Elevate the legs about 8 to 12 inches; get a blanket to keep the body warm.

I - Heat related injuries

While the medical community breaks down heat-related injuries into various categories, we can split this into two basic ones.

1. Basic heat related emergencies

The beginnings of heat problems can move up to a real serious problem, so keep in mind that you must keep your eye on your "victim".

• Early signs of problems include:
• Muscle cramps
• Sweating
• Headache
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Tingling in the extremities

First things first, drink a lot of water! When I am sailing in the Caribbean or any very warm area, I throw down at least one bottle of water when I get up in the morning. You need to get ahead of the "curve".
Many people like to have drinks in the evening. Remember that alcohol dehydrates the body. Therefore, one MUST replace the lost water. Sports drinks are great, but will you have those available to you were you are chartering at? If you do, fantastic, buy it up and make your crew drink it.

Things you can do for early signs of heat problems:
Move the victim to a cool or shady area
Loosen or remove tight clothing
Spray the victim with cool water (not cold, do not pour ice water
over the victim)
See if he/she can drink some water

2. Heatstroke

Signs include:

• Confusion or unusual behavior
• Skin is hot to the touch, red in color and dry
• Victim can have seizures, or completely pass out

Things you can do for a heatstroke:
Same as above for early signs, but do not give water to the victim if
he/she is vomiting. (Should be obvious)
CALL THE COAST GUARD or any available help! This is time for a medical evacuation!

II - Bleeding

Most of the time you are just looking at a band-aid, but if the cut is
deep, you need to be prepared. What can you do?

• Direct pressure
• Pressure points
• Elevation

Nope, I did not bring up the tourniquet. You could loose the part of the body below the tourniquet, so it should only be done by a professional. However, if someone cuts off a leg or an arm, yes, you can keep him /zher from dying by using one. Only in an extreme situation should this be considered.

Direct pressure

Just like it sounds, put pressure on the area bleeding. If you have a bandage, and the victim is conscious, place the bandage in the hand of the victim, and have him/her place the bandage on the effected area. That gives you time to get more bandages together. NEVER remove the first bandage! If the bleeding does not stop, keep putting more bandages over the first one.

Pressure points

Think about where the arteries are near the wound. What you are looking for is the major artery closest to the cut. I really should use the term "gash". You should only use this method of stopping the bleeding when direct pressure is not enough.
Press on the artery, and keep direct pressure on the wound.

Elevation

Just what it says. Elevate the area that is bleeding, period.

Warning! Stopping blood from flowing to a wound (pressure points) will also stop blood from flowing to any area near the wound, and could cause damage to that area. THINK before you act!

III - Broken bones

Immobilize the area. Other than treating for shock, that is all you can really do. Get creative: duct tape and two halves of a paddle could easily be a splint. A T-shirt can be a sling. Do not exercise a lot of pressure on the area, just stabilize the break.
Oh yes: CALL THE COAST GUARD! Treat for shock!

One final note, if you are not sure if you should call the Coast Guard or not, go ahead and call. Worst thing that will happen is that they give you some advice.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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