First Aid While on the Boat

[timjet]

Thanks to all who have contributed and especially to AC for his insight and the link to his slides. Because of this thread my wife and I are signed up for a red cross 1st aid course this weekend.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Peter B

Put like that Andy, and BandB, you have a point. However, I seriously doubt, (but would be happy to be proved wrong), that you could get an auto defib here in Oz for as little as $1000. If so, then yes, it is certainly worth looking into.

AED outlet and a few others advertise recertified for around $1000 with some less. Now I don't know if they'll ship to Australia or what the local pricing there is like.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by timjet

Thanks to all who have contributed and especially to AC for his insight and the link to his slides. Because of this thread my wife and I are signed up for a red cross 1st aid course this weekend.

That's great to hear. I think you're probably like me as I recall reading about the course at the Maritime school and thinking how it was just something I should have done long before.

That plus having a medical kit on board do give us more comfort. Now we are going to the extreme I guess in subscribing to the services of MedAire. We figured on it as a form of insurance.

For those looking at medical kits, here's an interesting flyer and while it is an advertising piece it has some good information on types of injuries for which they receive calls. Also I found it interesting that 65% of the requests for medical assistance occur when the vessel is not cruising.

http://www.medaire.com/docs/default-...l.pdf?sfvrsn=2

[Jeffrey S]

Originally Posted by BandB

AED outlet and a few others advertise recertified for around $1000 with some less. Now I don't know if they'll ship to Australia or what the local pricing there is like.

AED's are regulated medical devices. In the US, they required FDA approval before they can be sold. Australia has their own medical device registration requirements. A reseller cannot just ship them without having them potentially confiscated.

Australian prices for AED's will probably be double the US price.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by ActiveCaptain

AED's are regulated medical devices. In the US, they required FDA approval before they can be sold. Australia has their own medical device registration requirements. A reseller cannot just ship them without having them potentially confiscated.

Australian prices for AED's will probably be double the US price.

In most states there must be a Medical Director. This is not unlike ordering the prescription medications part of a medical kit. We got ours through MedAire and part of the process was having had training and credentials necessary.

Once you get this or any other regulated devices and/or medications it is essential too that you maintain records and control much as a medical facility would do. For a device it includes maintenance records. For medications it includes date and quantity purchased and all records of use leading to current on hand quantity. There is a responsibility that comes with all of this.

I just chatted with AED and here is their response on ordering. Cut and paste including misspelling.

Yes, we provide the prescription needed to own the AED. But, we do reccommend you purchase the AED management program that we offer through En-pro which does provide medical direction and a medical director. If not purchased that must be taken care of on your end. It would be your responsibility to make sure you had a medical director.

So you can just order and they will ship and leave it to you to fulfill any obligation of having a medical director.

[AusCan]

Originally Posted by Peter B

Put like that Andy, and BandB, you have a point. However, I seriously doubt, (but would be happy to be proved wrong), that you could get an auto defib here in Oz for as little as $1000. If so, then yes, it is certainly worth looking into.

They are around $2400 in Australia from St John's Ambulance. Available to anyone; although a short training course is recommended.

I'm lucky to have had dozens of work related safety courses including First Aid, CPR, Defib use, firefighting etc, and even luckier that I have had limited opportunity to seriously using it. Only once at work and once on the street.

I think one of the most useful aspects of regular first aid training is that it helps you stay calm in the midst of a stressful situation. You have some idea of what to do; you take control and act in the best way you know how, rather than adding to the panic or just being a stunned onlooker.

I would highly recommend a first aid course and a GOOD first aid kit on any boat. Most department store type kits aren't very well stocked.

[dannc]

Originally Posted by ActiveCaptain

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the US - higher than any of the trauma events you mentioned. The rate is equivalent to about 5 jumbo jets crashing every day. It's not unreasonable to prepare yourself for that especially given the age and demographics of the typical trawler cruising couple.

That is true, but the context of my comment was regarding people making comments about the safety of cruising on a boat, ie, pirates, storms, sinking boats, icebergs, sea monsters, etc. People are far more likely to have a heart attack than die boating. People under rate their chances of a heart attack, the familiar, vs dieing in a hurricane while fighting off pirates to port and sea monsters to starboard, all the while dodging icebergs ie, the unfamiliar.

Originally Posted by ActiveCaptain

... It's not unreasonable to prepare yourself for that especially given the age and demographics of the typical trawler cruising couple.

I have been pondering this since this thread was carved out the other discussion....

My IMPRESSION, right or wrong, is that a many/most of the people cruising in trawlers are older. That certainly will be true in our case. If this is true, having CPR training and and AED handy could easily save someone's life. We might be the only nearby boat that can quickly render aide.

Later,
Dan

[dannc]

Amazon sells AEDs and I worked through ordering one. I was not asked to provide any documentation, just money.

Quite a few interesting comments on Amazon about lives being saved with an AED.

Later,
Dan

[Nsail]

We're constantly reminded here about the possible liability one assumes regarding boat damage when someone attempts to assist a fellow boater in need, such as towing.

What exposure is there, if any, with attempting medical assistance?

Personally, if I was the best option to help someone in need, I wouldn't hesitate, liability or not.

It's a shame that this issue even needs addressing.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Nsail

We're constantly reminded here about the possible liability one assumes regarding boat damage when someone attempts to assist a fellow boater in need, such as towing.

What exposure is there, if any, with attempting medical assistance?

Personally, if I was the best option to help someone in need, I wouldn't hesitate, liability or not.

It's a shame that this issue even needs addressing.

There is definitely risk of liability. We're trained, using a service directing us, the right equipment, but if it comes to a life vs. worrying about liability, saving the person always wins.

Also, the suits against "Good Samaritans" have been mostly eliminated with changes of laws in many places, although those laws don't generally apply to trained professionals. Actually more the risk of liability in being trained to assist and having the equipment but not trying.

[dannc]

Originally Posted by Nsail

We're constantly reminded here about the possible liability one assumes regarding boat damage when someone attempts to assist a fellow boater in need, such as towing.

What exposure is there, if any, with attempting medical assistance?

Personally, if I was the best option to help someone in need, I wouldn't hesitate, liability or not.

It's a shame that this issue even needs addressing.

It is a shame but it is a good question.

The answer depends on the law in a given US state or other country. Some states have Good Samaritan's laws which protects a person rendering aide to others.

Later,
Dan

[Bill Ranson]

Active Captin.....Does Defender carry AEDs? Discount? I thought there ere some that were made for wet conditions or maybe just the continer or case is water proofed.