MMI September 2010 - mmi home

30 Service Sector First Aid & Medical Training
First
on the scene
Remote locations, limited resources
and a lack of specialist equipment
can render medical emergencies at
sea as truly distinct from those which occur
on land. The potential for illness or injury
should be taken seriously in any
environment but if an individual breaks
their leg in an English suburb, they can be
fairly confident that on contacting the
emergency services, an ambulance will
arrive promptly with appropriate painkillers,
splintage and a stretcher, ready to transport
them to the nearest hospital. Conversely, a
lack of advanced first aid equipment and
medically trained individuals onboard some
vessels continues to result in unnecessary
medical complications and the expensive
burden of repatriation costs.
For many, first aid training is an issue which
raises concerns over factors of responsibility
and liability but companies cannot escape
the fact that crew access to quality first aid
training is essential in complying with
important regulations while ensuring
seafarers are safely and adequately prepared
for emergencies.
Stan Farrington, director of Orion Training,
said: “What I would say is that anyone who
goes to a remote environment should have
the skills to help their colleagues. It is also part
of the requirements of international maritime
law and the Maritime Coastguard Agency in
Indian Coastguard
the UK. Obviously when you’re onboard you
don’t have the facilities of the National Health
Service. If you’re a self-contained unit in the
middle of the Atlantic or Pacific Ocean, you’ve
got to have extended skills, hence the reason
for elementary first aid.”
Specialist maritime colleges have also
responded positively to the demand for
medically trained seafarers who are able to
approach accidents and health emergencies
sensibly. When selecting appropriate training,
shipping companies must ensure appropriate
regulations are being followed, as Sandra
Roberts, senior lecturer at the Warsash
Maritime Academy explained: “The
international convention on standards of
training, certification and watchkeeping of
seafarers sets qualification standards for
masters, officers and watch personnel on
seagoing merchant ships.”
For example, STCW 95 regulations state
that all crew members must complete ‘Basic
Safety Training’ – a five day course focused on
basic fire fighting, personal survival, personal
safety and social responsibility, and
elementary first aid.” Ms Roberts added: “STCW
training and assessment activities must be
continuously monitored through a quality
standards system to ensure achievement of
defined objectives, including those
concerning the qualifications and experience
of instructors and assessors.”
In Britain, the Merchant Navy Training
Board sets out guidelines for all medical and
first aid training and permission to provide
this training is granted by the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency, which also audits
training providers to ensure compliance.
According to the MNTB’s guidelines, on
completion of the board’s ‘Training for
Medical First Aid Onboard Ship’ course,
trainees will “be able to apply immediate first
aid in the event of an accident or illness
onboard” and “have knowledge of reference
materials and first aid and medical equipment
maritime medical international ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ september 2010