First Aid Training?

[jviss]

I would like to get some first aid training, with an emphasis on trauma and being alone. I know that's probably too narrow. But I want to be able to survive, at least until the USCG or someone else can get to me, in case I suffer a serious accident on board. I have even toyed with the idea of getting a defibrillator, as I have cardiovascular disease, but I don't know that one can administer this to oneself.

I've even considered just taking EMT training, in my retirement which will come soon.

Any ideas or recommendations?

Thanks,

jv

 

[Skipper J]

Hi JV,

I have had friends find value in the Wilderness First Responder course. Maybe you can find one near you. Concerning the cardiac issues, you might consider carrying an inexpensive Kardia mobile device, which can let you email your EKG to a medical professional.

I have spent many hours solo outdoors, and the only emergency I had was a burn when I didn't grab my portable stove pot correctly and it tipped boiling water on my wrist. I pulled the camping chair up to the spigot and held my wrist under the cool running water for 20 minutes. The blisters looked nasty a few days later but healed without scars.

Cheers,
Skipper J

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

Although it is not all inclusive, most red cross offices give basic first aid courses.

 

[Tally Ho]

This will be an interesting topic…self-administered first aid. I am CPR and AED trained…but I am not too sure I can perform them on myself!

Burns, cuts, broken bones, etc would seem the most common issues.
Assuming you are still conscious from what ever mishap you had, you should be able to apply bandages (from that over-priced first aid kit we are discussing on your other thread), disinfect wounds, maybe do some stitches or a tourniquet.

Maybe allergic reactions…I keep an Epi-pen on board and can self-inject the epinephrine if needed.

More serious health issues…heart attack, stroke, loss of consciousness…are going to be hard to deal with. Stay calm, eat an aspirin, lie down if possible. Call 911 and wait for help to arrive… not sure you could do much more than that.

You are not talking about being weeks at sea, so amputation or other really serious medical procedures are presumably out of scope.

Will follow this thread with interest!


Greg

 

[mermike]

CPR is a good skill to have.

on the Wilderness First Responder.

 

[BigEasy]

I would like to get some first aid training, with an emphasis on trauma and being alone. But I want to be able to survive, at least until the USCG or someone else can get to me, in case I suffer a serious accident on board. I have even toyed with the idea of getting a defibrillator, as I have cardiovascular disease, but I don't know that one can administer this to oneself.

Try the American Red Cross for basic life (BLS) support training. Doubt that they would allow you to take advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) training because of the life saving drugs that need to be administered by medical personnel. Not a bad idea to have a defibrillator (AED) if you have severe cardiac disease; however, there would be a need to have a trained individual apply it & use it, while administering CPR. You can check with local emergency medical services for information about courses & facilities that train first responders if you want to dedicate the time & funds to obtain EMS training.

 

[brazenarticle]

Single hand sailing isn't as dangerous as some (many?) would think. If you are land based without a doubt commuting to work, going to school or driving to the grocery is more risk to your life and limbs than sailing on a reasonably fitted and kept boat.
There are real dangers that need to be accepted - you could run out of butter or beer, the milk could be sour. There will be days when you really need a shower but wet wipes and hope you don't offend will have to do.
If you are in cellphone range as most coastal sailors are update the emergency contacts on your phone. Annoying as it is, consider a smart watch which will think it knows when you've fallen - someday you may. Falling overboard is a different deal - don't do that (as covered in the earlier thread).
For serious stuff most sailors who buy a DSC equipped radio never bother with the MMSI registration that makes it work, if you want help when things go bad do that.
In the US Tow Boat and I assume Sea Tow will come to your aid or get local authorities or Coast Guard involved if needed . These folks are local to where you may have a problem, they can connect you with local Fire, EMT, Police, get you to a hospital and take care of your boat too.
Single handed sailing is a piece o' cake - just don't fall overboard, down the companionway, cut off a limb or try CPR on yourself.

 

[dLj]

The wilderness training mentioned above is excellent. It is based on not being able to get to a hospital in a short time. It's the only course I'm aware of with that kind of focus, quite what one needs on a boat far from shore.

If you are looking for a medical kit, I'd recommend the MedAire product. It's not cheap but quite comprehensive. They also offer training and offer a subscription to have medical personnel essentially "on call" should the need arise. Both are not inexpensive.

Their medical kit must be licensed to the boat. I think you may need a USCG documented boat, but as i have one, I'm not sure of that requirement. I just know i had to fill out a bunch of paperwork with both the boats and my credentials to get the kit. It's a serious kit.

dj

 

[Penntrails1]

I am a former wilderness emt, ranger and current Red Cross certified trainer for Basic Life Support, CPR, AED. I also taught Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder for many years.
My recommendations, given you what you have stated in your posting;
(1) Take a Red Cross Adult CPR/AED course. Easy to locate and register online, in your area.
(2) ONLY AFTER you take that course, then consider purchasing a AED. Not for self administration, as that is unlikely to accomplish yourself if you actually needed it, BUT ratehr, that you would take on board and clearly mark what and where it is for others to use if they needed to for you or someone else.
(3) Consider taking a Wilderness First Responder course, which takes several days to complete, but provides more understanding and hands-on learning (with a qualified, accredited organization) that a basic first aid course can.

 

[jviss]

The wilderness training mentioned above is excellent. It is based on not being able to get to a hospital in a short time. It's the only course I'm aware of with that kind of focus, quite what one needs on a boat far from shore.

If you are looking for a medical kit, I'd recommend the MedAire product. It's not cheap but quite comprehensive. They also offer training and offer a subscription to have medical personnel essentially "on call" should the need arise. Both are not inexpensive.

Their medical kit must be licensed to the boat. I think you may need a USCG documented boat, but as i have one, I'm not sure of that requirement. I just know i had to fill out a bunch of paperwork with both the boats and my credentials to get the kit. It's a serious kit.

dj

Wow, thanks.

 

[jviss]

I am a former wilderness emt, ranger and current Red Cross certified trainer for Basic Life Support, CPR, AED. I also taught Wilderness First Aid and Wilderness First Responder for many years.
My recommendations, given you what you have stated in your posting;
(1) Take a Red Cross Adult CPR/AED course. Easy to locate and register online, in your area.
(2) ONLY AFTER you take that course, then consider purchasing a AED. Not for self administration, as that is unlikely to accomplish yourself if you actually needed it, BUT ratehr, that you would take on board and clearly mark what and where it is for others to use if they needed to for you or someone else.
(3) Consider taking a Wilderness First Responder course, which takes several days to complete, but provides more understanding and hands-on learning (with a qualified, accredited organization) that a basic first aid course can.

Thank you. I took a Red Cross CPR course but that was over 20 years ago! I think I'll skip the AED, given what folks have said. BTW, my heart is fine, it's that I have some atherosclerosis, and have three stents, but I did cardio rehab, am cleared for exercise, and just started a "couch to 5k" program. My Garmin watch and app say my fitness age is younger than my actual age, and my VO2max is in the good to excellent range, top 30% for my age and gender. So, I'm not so worried about a heart attack, now that we have the artery issues diagnosed and addressed. I'm really most concerned about trauma, like severing a femural artery or something like that. I don't want to bleed out before help arrives.

 

[Crusty Ol Salt]

Thank you. I took a Red Cross CPR course but that was over 20 years ago! I think I'll skip the AED, given what folks have said. BTW, my heart is fine, it's that I have some atherosclerosis, and have three stents, but I did cardio rehab, am cleared for exercise, and just started a "couch to 5k" program. My Garmin watch and app say my fitness age is younger than my actual age, and my VO2max is in the good to excellent range, top 30% for my age and gender. So, I'm not so worried about a heart attack, now that we have the artery issues diagnosed and addressed. I'm really most concerned about trauma, like severing a femural artery or something like that. I don't want to bleed out before help arrives.

Take another Red Cross course, it's a good starting point.

If you sever a femoral artery... Depending on how bad, you have one to five minutes. You would need the tourniquet in your back pocket. Pray you don't go into shock and apply it right the first time. That's if you are solo sailing. If you have friends or family onboard, maybe a little longer, if they have the first aid course and do not freak out or pass out. Never can tell what folks do until SHTF.

 

[PaulK]

We were lucky at our yacht club to have the head of the Emergency Room at a local hospital as a member. He arranged for a Red Cross First Aid and CPR course at the club on a Saturday afternoon. More than twenty people - skippers, crews, spouses, children - came and learned a lot - including the use of a defibrillator. (You can't do it to yourself.) It's about time we had another session.

 

[Penntrails1]

Sounds good, that is the way to do it. I have trained BLS CPR AED for groups from different organizations for years. When you take the training with people whom you know and have similar interests, it can add alot not only to the training, but to the follow on. I always suggest that groups hold a refresher among themselves annually.

 

[MikeHoncho]

As a paramedic for almost 30 years I agree that training is a must due to isolation and limited resources. That being said, the treatment of trauma tends to be pretty basic- stop the bleeding, stabilize the unstable. The real challenge is non-trauma pain and illness. Decided how bad is bad and having a good stock of medications for the unseeable. I would never discourage learning CPR but it’s worthless without a AED and, in most cases, a AED will be ineffective long term without following advanced life support. AEDs are a good idea but they don’t solve all problems. There are many non-life sustaining rhythms that a AED will not shock. I think spending your money on focused medical training associated with self sustained, isolated adventures is where it is at, not EMT. Classes to treat you and not as a responder treating others will be more efficient to your needs. Don’t get me wrong, trauma training is necessary but the value in it is probably more towards getting a better understanding of what you need for equipment and supplies. Hope this helps.