Sometimes captains forget who a lot of our clients are. Older men. Who often don't like to admit that they may have a past medical history or are really out of shape. We are in a comfort zone on our own boats and don't realize what can happen to someone who doesn't do this all the time. Not to mention that we are most often hours from medical help. Hoping that never happens to anyone on my boat, or anybody elses for that matter. But, that is why it is important for every captain to maintain his CPR certificate. It really does help to be refreshed often. Does anybody know what the current ratio for CPR is right now? 30/2. The best medicine in any first aid kit on a boat is aspirin. Baby aspirin is the best but any will do. It more than triples a patients survival rate to chew a baby aspirin during the first symptoms of cardiac arrest (chest pain,numbness in arm).
That is sad to hear. It happens every day and working in the EMS business, I know that the only thing that can save someone having a heart attack is time. That is one thing that you lose when you're offshore. We have the luxury of a paramedic and 3 volunteer firemen that work on our boat along with a well stocked aid bag. Some pointers for folks:
Signs and symptoms
1. Chest pain that can radiate into the arms, neck, jaw and back
2. profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath
3. These folks just look down right sick
Treatment
1. 4 baby (81mg) baby aspirin, or 1 (325mg) adult aspirin
2. Oxygen (we carry a D size cylinder on the boat)
3. If the person takes Nitroglycerin and they have it, give them 1 tablet under the tongue every 5 minutes. Make sure the person is conscious and lying down when you do this. This medicine will drop the person's blood pressure because it makes blood vessels dilate. Rule of thumb, If they have a pulse at the wrist they have a good enough blood pressure for Nitroglycerine
4. Run like hell to the nearest hospital!!! These folks need the blockage removed. Time is heart muscle!!!!
CPR
There has been new science that shows that good CPR will save lives more than anything else. The proof is in the numbers. The new motto is push hard and push fast. The new breath to compression ratio is 30:2. Our 911 dispatchers are giving CPR information over the phone that is all compressions and no breaths. That's how important good compressions are. AED's still save lives in the witnessed arrest, but I don't know of many AED's on the open ocean. Call your local American Heart Association office to line up a class and learn the updated CPR guidelines.
One thing to remember in all of this is the first rule of EMS: People are going to die. There are those folks that can't be saved no matter what you do. That's why we pray and believe!!
If you guys have any questions feel free to ask.
Kevin
A friend and I were on the water while it happened, and listened to the Coast Guard repeat the "be on a sharp lookout" message many times. We were concerned that the CG was not responding, but obviously that was not the case. I am sorry they were too late.
I did not know the man, but I hope it is safe and fair to say he passed away doing something he loved.
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