Marine Medical Emergencies - Episode 30
This is an unusual episode in that it does skip forward from our usual timeline to the Torres Straits in Northern Queensland, but we wanted to present this information sooner rather than later for yachties who may be departing soon. Also, as Pascale is away at the moment, it is sadly lacking her charm!
Future episodes will resume from the start of the crossing of the Gulf of Carpenteria.
Here we've had the good fortune to meet one of the excellent medical officers practising in this remote and challenging region. For doctors and nurses in the Torres Straits, arrival to an emergency by helicopter and dealing with severe marine related injuries are a common occurrence.
We take the opportunity to talk with Dr. Scott about what we can do as long range sailors to address a number of injuries that may occur on board- as well as get a demonstration on stitching a wound and two methods of removing embedded fish hooks.
We wish to thank Dr. Scott for the time he granted us for this discussion as well as some great, inventive, practical instruction! We are also grateful for his selfless hospitality and the chance to meet his lovely family.
All topics discussed are the opinion of Dr. Scott in an informal setting and in no way represent the official policy of the Queensland Health Department. None of this information can, or is intended to substitute for professional medical advice, with your specific circumstances being considered. Again, we encourage everyone venturing offshore to seek First Aid Training from an accredited training provider and to seek further advice from your Doctor.
Topics covered:
3:09 - Using super-glue to close lacerations
8:13 - Demonstrating stitching a wound
13:30 - Pain relief advice
17:05 - Wound cleaning and care
19:30 - Signs of infection
20:00 - Open wound management
23:11 - Stingray sting and other venomous puncture wound treatment
26:39 - Demonstrating two techniques for the removal of embedded fish hooks.
Cruising Medical Emergencies - Free Range Sailing Ep 30 (YouTube)
Comments (18)
Hi Troy, I have had the fishing line trick performed on myself as well as performed it on others. It is an excellent way to get a hook removed at sea. No pain to speak of, in fact a sense of relief when the foreign object leaves the body. Love your videos, thanks.
Thanks Joshua. It was a great way to practice first aid if a little odd and I was most fortunate to have Dr Scott give so much of his time.
Hey Mr Fisher. p.s One of my best friends just went fishing in NZ anywhay they caught massive kingfish - my friend was sore for days reeling them in - they smoked them in Manuka insane taste - way to go. Luve the smoking fish.
Pascual's Rice Pudding... with cinemon
Health and safety essay! There's a lot of good info in there Scott. I have been a fan of Zinc Oxide for a long time and not just as sunscreen. We clean the boat with vinegar and recently have been using it diluted with fresh water as a deodorising body wash when on water rations. It's use on sunburn was unknown to me. We carry steristrips and a type of breathable dressing by the trademark Hypafix. It's incredible and will even stay fixed when wet. I reckon the best action we take is always excercising some type of risk management and thanks to Pascale, eating enough healthy food that our body's immune and repair systems are in really great shape. It can't be underestimated.
It’s my job, I am a Registered Nurse, Wound Care. I have even used medical maggots before to debride wounds. Cannot over emphasize the use of bleach simply because a small amount goes a very long way. With half gallon bleach you can prepare gallons of wound irrigant but it’s imperative to dilute it with water and buffer it with baking soda and never use it for more than 7 days. Do it correctly under a Doctor’s supervision only. Bleach is also a very good household cleaner but never use it straight, always dilute it. Vinegar is wonderful as a household cleaner. Gallon of warm water, cup of vinegar and just a few drops of dish soap and you’ll never buy glass cleaner again. Very cheap and works great! As a mechanic, you know diesel or mo-gas will burn ya if you leave it on your skin long enough. Clean it up real well and throw on zinc oxide. One of the best hot and cold burn creams especially for any type of blister, don’t pop it! Just put zinc oxide on it. : )
Regular old Clorox bleach + baking soda + fresh boiled water = Dakins solution. Do not use over a week for wound irrigation/packing. Only use under supervision of MD via radio. That’s why I’m not giving mixing instructions. Always carry good quality zinc oxide cream, to many uses to mention. Steri strips can be an alternative to stitches in some instances. Acetic acid (vinegar). Great for wound debridement denaturing agent. Also great topical for sunburns. Makes you smell like a pickle but you recover much quicker. Get good gauze rolls and as much as you can. Make sure you get the woven rolls, you do not want to leave particles in the wound as you are dressing it. Wet to dry wound packing is great. Moisten (not dripping) first packing material then leave top dry. This works like a wick and pulls “junk” out of the base of the wound. Check wound base, if you see tan or black tissue this could be non viable tissue. If you see a clean pink moist wound base with things that look like taste buds, that’s a good thing! As time goes by, you may still see a little pink/blood on the bandage as you pull it out, do not worry! That’s angiogenesis, your body making new blood flow. Stink is bad, to much bleeding is bad. Any type of wound close to a joint I see a doctor immediately. You can also find udder balm that works great on cracked feet and hands. Just make sure you are not allergic to ingredients like lanolin. If you are in US buy Corona (yep just like the beer). I have to wash my hands constantly at my job. Use to have very cracked dry hands during winter. No more. Use it one time a week, thick as pond tar about a dime size. It’s amazing stuff!!
Thanks Troy, a very good video on an important subject. I really like your tip on getting the fish hook out, my daughter got one in her arm when she was young and we took her too a doctor who didn't know what he was doing. He was pulling it and her skin up over an inch from the rest of the arm. I got so mad I was ready to punch him out.
I have been finding your videos absolutely fantastic, keep up the Technical aspects.
Thanks Walter. We have a lot of info we want to convey so your wish is our command
Thanks, we learned a lot! We've added items to our medical kit list based on this.
Great! Was it Super Glue?
Well Done!
I've also had the pleasure of pushing a hook all the way through and I don't remember it fondly. I would like to see the cattle prod method in action!
and Suture with beer is another important lesson :-D
Great stuff. keep en coming, thanks Troy and Doc.
What a great video guys and on an important topic. Good work and thank you :-)
We really are grateful to Andrew for sharing his time and knowledge so freely. He is a wonderful person.