UNIT 1
HEALTH CARE RESOURCES AT SEA

COASTAL MARITIME HEALTH CENTERS

MEDICAL CARE CENTRES ABROAD

MEDICAL CARE SHIPS AND RADIO-MEDICAL CONSULTATION CENTRES

COORDINATION, EVACUATION, REPATRATION AND OTHER MEASURES

Health care resources at sea are the means at our disposal to deal with any health problem affecting those who work at sea, including prevention as well as medical care. They can be classified as personal, material and/or structural, and economic. Human resources basically consist of crew members. Usually ships do not have health care personnel on board, but we can train those on board to give first aid and contact medical services in several ways (telemedicine). That is to say, from the vessel we can resort to external health care and/or marine rescue personnel in case of emergency. Structural resources refer to the ergonomics of the ship as well as health support and safety material, such as radio, lifeboats, suitable medical supplies, health care guide, etc: we should ensure their presence before embarking. All this is coordinated with economic resources whose source varies in different countries. The resources can be different in each country. Below we will analyze some examples.

Let us consider the structure of the present national Maritime Health program in Spain - España Let's see it as an exemple Others (we are working in them)

Concepts to review: definition, resources in Spain, coastal Maritime Health centres, medical care centres abroad, medical care ships, marine rescue helicopters, conditions for evacuation by helicopter, hyperbaric chambers, merchant navy rescue coordination, cross etel, International Medical Guide, Spanish Guide "Guía sanitaria a bordo", medical chest, ECC Directive 92/29, conditions for on-board medical supplies, go to key statements. Main authors: Dr. M. Luisa Canals and Dr. Jorge Herrador, to consult on the topic ... For assessment ...