Explorer Vessels, Remote & Distance Cruising Itineraries – Medical Preparedness & Requirements
In the advent of the increasingly popular Explorer Yacht era and vessels with an explorer vessel program, an array of activities both water and land-based are being planned for. Global, diverse, and remote off-the beaten track itineraries are on the menu. As well as stunning tropical locations in French Polynesia, the deep pacific and Asia, there are Antarctic and Polar adventures and passages being explored. The list of activities and specialist ‘toys’ is every increasing.
Water sport Toys & Activities
From standard jet skis and seabobs to new electric hover & fly boards, jet or power rocket boats, high speed kiting, laser sailboats, surf boards, SUPs to list but a few. New innovations are developed each year, all representing new challenges. The high-tech hoverboards have razor sharp blades that can slice to the bone in a second, even waterslides can result in trauma injuries. Support vessels and big, fast rib tenders are set up for scuba diving excursions, spearfishing, freediving, and deep-sea fishing with further afield day excursions. And let’s not forget submarines that can dive to 1000m depth, a new realm all together.
Land Toys & Activities
4x4 Motorbikes, rugged terrain Jeeps, electric bikes, and scooters. There is also the hybrid jetski that become a bike on land! Landing craft are employed to transport bigger kit ashore. Challenging hiking excursions into jungles and up-mountain trails are also planned by the more adventurous yacht owners, the more remote the better to get that ‘untouched’ nature experience. Then there are even heli-skiing setups – some yachts are equipped with a specialist ‘ski-room’. Using the on-board helicopter, owners and guests can be transported up a remote virgin snow mountain-top for stunning off-piste deep powder skiing.
An accident with a trauma injury in such a location will be a very real challenge to manage.
All have inherent risk and danger lurking around the corner and involve extensive risk-assessment and emergency action protocols and planning. So how can a vessel and crew be better prepared for managing accidents or injuries for both land and sea-based activities.
The key factors to consider are:
• Time and distance away from professional medical care is the key element to plan around. The more remote the location, the greater the risk and therefore planning emergency response protocols are essential. Evacuation assessment and procedures.
• Training – First response capabilities to stabilise an injured person and preparedness for trauma injuries. This may involve some specialist focus on first aid training and response beyond your standard first aid course. Deck crew should have some measure of lifeguard training to respond to water sport injuries and familiarity with in-water stretchers and recovery cradles (such as Jasons cradle). A rescue diver scuba certification can be very useful.
• Equipment – Stretchers of different kinds; Splinting capability with inflatable or vacuum splints and traction splints. Specialised Trauma 9for injuries) and Wilderness Medical Kits (for land-based excursions) are items that Medical Support Offshore (MSOS) have developed to meet these increasing demands; these are above and beyond standard MCA medical kit requirements.
• Telemedical Support Services – 24/7 access to Doctors and medical professionals.
There are some specialist programs and companies that arrange and manage very detailed expedition planning support. Often, the personnel involved have an ex-military and special forces background with specific skill sets well suited to providing the right kind of support.
The world of yachting is forever evolving and the sea and landscape to navigate is growing, so be prepared with new skill sets to learn to represent the new era of explorer yachting. MSOS are well tasked to support such exciting vessels and programs, and can provide specialised setups and consultation support.
MSOS
Nick Stael Von Holstein
To book onto one of our MSOS training courses, click here.