Cruise Planning and Cruising Course Chapter 12 Emergencies and Medical United States Power Squadrons ® Instructors and Students Please Note: Post-release.

Cruise Planning and Cruising Course

Chapter 12Emergencies and Medical

United States Power Squadrons ®

Instructors and Students Please Note:Post-release corrections, notes, and updates are posted at:http://www.usps.org/national/eddept/cp/main.htmPlease check the site in order to have the best available materials.

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Summary – Part I

Severe weather Equipment damage Fire Collision Man overboard Sinking Abandoning ship Other

Summary – Part II

Seasickness Diarrhea Sunburn Injuries Stings Shock Hyperthermia Hypothermia CPR First Aid Kit

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Severe Weather

Weather “windows”• Cruising when the weather is favorable• Minimize schedule demands

Plan action before severe weather• PFD’s• Foul weather gear• Jacklines and harnesses• Secure boat gear on deck or remove below

During storm• Know your position• Maintain radio watch

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Equipment Damage

Engine loss• Drop anchor, if possible• Maintain spare parts and tools onboard• Insurance policy that includes towing

Rudder loss• Drop anchor, if possible• Emergency tiller• Spare parts

Dismasting• Regular inspections to prevent loss• Tools

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Fire

Fire extinguishers Types of fire

• Type A• Type B• Type C

Spontaneous combustion• Ignition with or without spark• Control storage of soaked rags

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Collision

Shipping lanes• Large ships in narrow channels cannot

maneuver• Small vessels often not observed

Contact commercial vessels Use your vessel’s electronics to avoid

collision Keep a lookout!

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Man Overboard

Drills are important Practice for the event

• Difficult to see a person in the water

From a powerboat, difficult to hear the person overboard

In sailboats, use the quick-stop method Determine how you will retrieve the

person

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Man Overboard

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Sinking

Plug holes to reduce inflow Dewatering is failing or has failed Issue Mayday calls

• Use DSC radio• Call on channel 16• Know boat’s position

Prepare to abandon ship

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Abandoning Ship

Life raft vs. dinghy EPIRB onboard Check equipment on life raft Emergency kit (ditch bag) Navigation equipment too “Step up into the life raft”

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Other Emergencies

Grounding• Severity will depend upon location

Fouled propeller• Crab and lobster pots abound• Stop engines or drop sails• Anchor if possible• Go overboard to cut line

Loss of Electrical Power• Consider backup means

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Part II - Medical PreparednessSeasickness

Boat motionsickness Symptoms

• Skin pallor• Cold sweating• Headache• Dizziness• Nausea and vomiting

Several over the counter medications available• Try different ones• Use before boarding

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Diarrhea

Food and water contamination Viral or bacterial Dehyration Over the counter medications can reduce

and halt bowel movements

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Sunburn

Sunlight is essential to the body Excessive sun causes burn Protection is key

• Clothing• Lotions: SPF 30 is sufficient

Protect eyes with sunglasses For burns, aloe based lotions

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Injuries

Bumps, bruises, fractures, cuts, and burns Wounds

• Fish hooks, knife cuts, scrapes• Stop bleeding first• Use soap and water to clean a wound• Then bandage

Fractures• Splinting to immobilize

Burns• Use cold water• Ointment• If severe, use non-adhering pads and bandage

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Stings

Jellyfish and related groups are numerous If stung, …

• Remove tentacles• Use stiff card to scrape the skin clean• Apply alcohol to neutralize remaining toxins• Take pain reliever for discomfort

Some species are different• Portuguese Man-of-War or Bluebottle

Not a jellyfish, but a colony of organisms called siphonophore Remove tentacles with gloves and treat with salt water,

followed by hot water

• May require emergency medical treatment for severe pain

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Shock

Severe injury can bring on shock A condition where the circulatory system

collapses See emergency medical treatment

immediately While waiting for help,

• Place in a reclined position and elevate feet (unless a head injury)

• Cover victim with blankets to increase body temperature

• Have victim take sips of water• Try to keep victim awake

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Hyperthermia

Overheating of the body Heat cramps

• Painful contractions of the muscles• Caused by salt loss

Heat exhaustion• Loss of fluids or insufficient intake• Symptoms are profuse sweating, nausea, or

dizziness• Rest in cool place and drink liquids• Apply cool, wet cloths to cool the body

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Hyperthermia

Heat stroke or sun stroke• Sweating ceases and body temperature rises• Symptoms include nausea, vomiting and

headache• Very high body temperature (105 degrees

plus)• Cool victim as soon as possible• Seek emergency medical care

Prevention is key• When perspiration begins, drink plenty of

liquids

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Hypothermia

Body temperature is too cool Commonly associated with man

overboard situations Symptoms include mental confusion,

drowsiness and slurred speech Get person onboard and in dry, warm

clothes Warm the body slowly Can affect elderly and small children in

cold weather on land

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CPR and First Aid

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)• Course offered by the American Heart

Association and the American Red Cross• USPS has partnered with these organizations• First aid training is usually part of the program

First Aid Kit• Must have for any type of cruising• Kits available for cruise types

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Extra Slides

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Losing Power

Three causes of engine/power shutdowns •Fuel problems

Trash or water present•Electrical system problems

Dead battery Dirty spark plugs

•Cooling system problems Closed seacock Weeds in strainer Damaged impeller

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Broken Rigging

Temporary Repairs

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Steering Failures

Jury-rigged rudders

Self Steering

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Steering Failures

Emergency tiller

Using engines

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Plug the Hole

Check the bilge• Seacocks and hoses

Wooden plugs• Tapered softwood

Heel and cover • Sails, cushion or

mattress

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Taking On Water

Uses the Engine water pump to augment the normal bilge pumps

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