These should contain:

  • iodine solution
  • one large standard dressing
  • two medium standard dressings
  • four small standard dressings
  • eight triangular bandages
  • cotton wool
  • safety pins
  • sticking plaster
  • scissors
  • pencil and paper

One kit should be stored in the ship’s medicine locker for rapid use. Additional kits may be placed in strategic locations, especially on large ships. However, these may be misused or tampered with, so regular checks are essential.

Emergency medical outfits

On merchant vessels and fishing vessels with crews over 20, an emergency medical outfit should be available in case the main medical supplies are destroyed or inaccessible.

This emergency kit should be stored away from the ship’s main medical cabinet or hospital.

Oxygen administration (oxygen therapy)

Oxygen is essential for life and is used when the body cannot obtain sufficient oxygen due to lung damage or conditions such as suffocation or carbon monoxide poisoning.

Oxygen must be administered carefully, especially in patients with long-term breathing problems such as chronic bronchitis, as excessive oxygen may be harmful.

Oxygen should only be administered as recommended. It is typically given to patients who are breathing but are unconscious or cyanotic (bluish skin), and to those exposed to toxic gases.

There are two stages where oxygen may be required:

  1. During rescue
  2. In the ship’s sick-bay

During rescue

Use portable oxygen equipment with a mask placed over the patient’s face. Turn on the oxygen supply and continue administration until the patient reaches the sick-bay.

In the ship’s sick-bay

The unconscious patient

  1. Ensure the airway is clear and an airway device is inserted.
  2. Place a mask delivering 35% oxygen over the nose and mouth and secure it. Ensure equipment is correctly assembled and the cylinder contains sufficient oxygen.
  3. Connect to the flowmeter and set it to 4 litres per minute. Continue until breathing improves and normal colour returns.

The conscious patient

  1. Ask if the patient has chronic breathing problems such as severe bronchitis.
    • If yes, administer 24% oxygen at 4 litres per minute.
  2. All other patients should receive 35% oxygen at 4 litres per minute.
  3. Place and secure the mask over the nose and mouth.
  4. Position the patient sitting upright.
  5. Ensure equipment is correctly assembled and the oxygen supply is sufficient.
  6. Start oxygen at 4 litres per minute and continue until recovery.

If breathing difficulty persists or bluish discoloration remains beyond 15–20 minutes, complications may be present. Seek RADIO MEDICAL ADVICE.

WARNING: Smoking, open flames, or sparks must not be present during oxygen administration due to fire risk.

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