Forty-year-old Sarah Young was buried at sea after being swept overboard in the Clipper race. At least we know now that burial at sea is possible. May she rest in peace.

http://www.practical-sailor.com/blog/Clipper-Fatality-Highlights-Adventure-Sail-Risks-11988-1.html?ET=practicalsailor%3Ae31880%3A125771a%3A&st=email&s=p_waypoints040616#post

http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/lectronicday.lasso?date=2016-04-04&dayid=1351#Story4

Vice Commodore, OCC 

Caroline,

Unfortunately there is no way of predicting who or when someone will develop this condition. The NHS Choices website does give good advice on recognition etc and I am sure it is covered in the various handbooks. http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Appendicitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

The important thing is to be able to recognise the symptoms and distinguish them from less serious conditions. I would thoroughly recommend having access to reliable long range communication such as email, Iridium, SSB etc so that Falmouth can connect you through to real time advice. It is very unlikely that any of us would carry enough iv fluids and antibiotics to cope with a perforated or gangrenous appendix so the emphasis will need to be on seeking outside help via Falmouth if you are a UK citizen.

If it is any consolation appendicitis seems to be much rarer than it used to be for reasons that I don 't think anyone understands.

Simon

Simon
A question - how can the likelihood of appendicitis be done/assessed?
Sorry for the rather delayed interest in these subjects, but we are working up to an Atlantic crossing and whilst we undertaken a 2weeks non stop cruise, we were probably only 2/3 days from land. This issue of appendicitis is probably the one that causes us most sleepless nights
Thanks
Caroline & Robert

[quote="jgbailey" post=1817]Where can you buy a body bag?[/quote]

You can buy just about anything online. http://www.extrapackaging.com/bodybags/

Vice Commodore, OCC 

No we don 't carry a defib.

Sadly, there has just been a death reported aboard a vessel in the Marion to Bermuda race. http://www.bwsailing.com/cc/tragedy-and-triumph-during-marion-bermuda-race/

Out of curiosity, does anyone have a defibrillator aboard?

Vice Commodore, OCC 

Where can you buy a body bag?

The only reason for calling to Falmouth is if you are about to step UP into your liferaft.
Once out on the ocean, you must rely on your own experience and common sense, with possible help from nearby yachtsmen.
Julia and I were on the '99 crossing and heard the complete story on the SSB of how two crew plus a nurse were transferred to the casualty, the nurse assessed the patient and called for advice, a sailing doctor 500 miles away prescribed treatment, a further yacht transferred the necessary drugs, the hospital in St Lucia could not cope with the seriousness so he was flown to Martinique where a leading French heart specialist just happened to be on holiday...three months later the patient was drinking gin in our cockpit...a most fantastic story of co-operation and sheer common sense from fellow yachtsmen.
My family have always known that if the worst happened, I would not return and they would assume that I was enjoying myself with the mermaids.
When Julia and I were preparing for our first long passage together, I made the point forcefully to her children that should she die at sea, I would give her the smartest burial I could and they would have to trust me...I do not care a damn for officialdom and their rules. However, in view of the questioning expected, I would have made for the nearest British Consulate downwind where I could have explained in my own language, though I do think that Frances 's idea of saying they fell overboard has merit!

I just located two references about death at sea. Both pertain more to merchant vessels but give some useful guidance I believe. One is the WHO Medical Guide for Ships (pdf attached). And the other is a blog entry. See text below.

Note that the WHO document does provide instructions for burial at sea.


[attachment=170]WHOMedicalGuideforShips3rdEdition.pdf[/attachment]



What to Do in Case of Death of a Person Onboard Ship?

NOVEMBER 9, 2012 BY RAUNEK 1 COMMENT

Death on board ships as a result of any kind of adversity is an extreme form of emergency situation. In case of such unfortunate event, the crew and master of the ship must take all the necessary steps that are mentioned in WHO’s International medical guide for ships or according to the procedures given by the radio medical personnel.

The master of the ship would inform the company about the deceased person along with other necessary details that are required in the form of evidence.

Death in Ship

Important details required as evidence are:

Date, time, and position of the vessel when the death occurred
Location of the death if it occurred because of an accident
Record of the working hours of the deceased
Details of the condition of the body
Complete eye witness statement that is taken immediately after the incident
Type of medical treatment given to the person before death
Details of the person who gave medical treatment
Details on indication of intoxication, if found
Details of tools, wires, equipment etc. which was the cause of death
Timed photographs of the place where deceased was found
Details of telemedicine assistance, if available and provided
Any other information asked by the company
The company is responsible to inform the next-of-kin of the deceased person. Also, it is to note that in case the incident occurs when the ship is at port or anchor, the procedures according to the laws of that particular country needs to be followed.

If at port, the master should inform the local agents, medical personnel, and concerned persons of the P & I club. The local agent would guide the master regarding the procedures to be followed as required by the authorities of that particular country.

Death of a Person Onboard Ship

If the accident has taken place at the sea, the procedures and guidelines as provided by the company are followed. The company might ask to preserve the body in an emptied refer compartment. Also, the agent of the next port of call must be informed beforehand so that the necessary information is provided to the local authorities, the consulate of the ship’s flag state, and the correspondence of P & I club.

As per the rules, all the belongings of the deceased person should be packed and handed over to the agent to be sent to the company, which would eventually forward it to the next-of-kin along with a copy of inventory list of belongings.

All the details are to be noted in the official log book for later reference.

Kindly note that this is just a general overview of the practice that is followed in such situations, the full procedures/guidelines to be followed in case of death on board ships would vary according to the company policies and laws of country in which the death occurred.

Vice Commodore, OCC 

I suppose that laws may differ in different jurisdictions relative to a body and declaration of death at sea, or is there a provision in Admiralty Law that prevails? Do we have any law specialists here? Is there a place one might plan to make landfall that would serve best? Does a Master Mariner have any special requirements or legal obligations?

Vice Commodore, OCC