Maria
It was very good to talk about your plans yesterday and I am very much looking forward to seeing the outcomes. It will be fascinating to see if there are differences between ARC participants and OCC members when it comes to designing medical stores. Please use the OCC events at the start and finish of the ARC to promote your survey. Augustin Martin (our Gran Canaria P.O.) will, I am sure, be only too pleased to assist.
Simon

Maria,
That’s great news. I have been getting a significant number of enquiries through this thread and a more structured approach is probably long overdue. Can we talk it over? I can make anytime this weekend for a call if that’s of any use.
Simon

Hi Maria,
There are a number of good ideas embedded in your comment and much worth pursuing.
In addition to the training that you correctly pointed out was necessary for the use of certain procedures (suturing for ex.), there is another piece of the challenge to a crew being prepared for medical emergencies. That is to find the compromise between choosing the skills to learn while also being aware that anything complicated needs to be practiced with some degree of regularity to be useful in an emergency. It has been my observation that many crews are gung ho for training in the year prior to their departure, but that, as the cruise goes on, few cruisers push themselves to any semblance of “continuing ed” or even a review of their training.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

I am interested in taking part in the OCC Medical Project.
A few general thoughts about medical kit:
Suture/catheter/rectal infusion kit is useless/dangerous unless one has had some training. The STCW course is the minimum needed to use this equipment. This is an internationally certified course.
I recommend downloading the full Cat A kit list and then working backwards deleting the drugs which will almost certainly not be needed e.g. Ergometrine with Oxytocin for post-delivery/miscarriage bleeding if no child-bearing age women are part of the crew, or Phytomenadione if no new-born babies expected.This way there is less chance of overlooking something useful.
The International Radio Medical Advice Centre (C.I.R.M.) provides a free radio medical advice service to ships of any nationality navigating on all seas of the world. Its HQ is in Rome. They also include arrangements for the transfer, if necessary of a patient to a ship with a doctor on board. Doctors are continuously on duty at the CIRM. Email telesoccorso@cirm.it or telephone +39 06592 90263.
This subject is of interest to me because I am a retired doctor who has recently (2017-18) completed an Atlantic circuit and whose co-skipper did the STCW MCAS course. I am just starting doing research on this subject for a Masters in Medical Education and I could incorporate FAQs into the research.

James,
Finally found some Wi-fi!

Below is a link to an earlier thread on medical kits. Others have posted their kits as have I. As you know I am happy to help with the prescription only stuff if you need it when back in the UK from 31st July.
Simon

https://forum.oceancruisingclub.org/topic1531-medical-seminar-for-occ-members.aspx?Page=1

Hi Simon,
Much appreciated. in my professional capacity we use Medaire but i dont have teh funds nor the space to purchase everything they suggest!!
Where on the forum will i find your list please?
I'll take a look and get in touch. We depart August 11/15th from Plymouth UK for the Islands
James.

James ours is listed on the Forum and I am happy to help with access to prescription only items when back in the UK early August. Pick what you want.

I am getting the final items together before our departure from the UK in August '18.
We are off to Canaries and then ARC to St Lucia in November. A winter around the Islands and then maybe Pacific bound or back to work.....

Ive researched med kits online and they range from the sublime to the ridiculous in size, value, contents etc.
I am trained to a reasonably high standard (MCA/STCW '10 Advanced medical Care Aboard ship) but still require doctors advice from ashore.
Does anyone have a sensible medical kit list that has worked for them. Most off the shelf ones seem to have items i don't need and are missing items i do want to carry.
Many thanks in advance.
James
S/Y Gitana
edited by james.fiske on 7/10/2018