Common cases
- Burns, wounds, fractures and crush injuries from shipboard work and machinery.
- Hypothermia and heat illness, and the effects of chemicals, fumes and enclosed-space atmospheres.
- Sudden illness: chest pain, unconsciousness, stroke, and severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
- Obtaining radio-medical advice early, and preparing for evacuation if the case demands it.
A ship is a hazardous workplace far from a hospital, so the first aider must handle the injuries of heavy work — burns, wounds, fractures, crush injuries — and the illnesses that strike without warning. The key judgement is recognising when a case is beyond simple first aid and getting radio-medical advice early: a trained doctor ashore can guide treatment and advise whether the casualty needs to be evacuated. Delaying that call to see if the casualty improves can cost a life.
NOTE — Get radio-medical advice early For any serious case, obtain radio-medical advice without delay. A doctor ashore will guide treatment with the ship's medical resources and advise on whether and how to evacuate the casualty.
WARNING — Recognise the serious case Chest pain, unconsciousness, severe bleeding, an anaphylactic reaction or a serious injury are beyond simple first aid. Recognising them and getting help early, rather than waiting, is what saves lives at sea.