Before departure in Blue Water Sailing, it is necessary to prepare well. Preparing the boat, yes, but also interested in the issue of health on board: training at the medical level, provide the right equipment and surround yourself with the right people – to make sure you stay safe.
Medical preparation, essential before travel
Health check-ups and vaccinations
Before leaving Blue Water SailingIt is recommended that each crew member perform a medical check-up. In the general practitioner, but also in the cardiologist, the ophthalmologist, the dentist, the gynecologist... Carrying out a complete check-up before leaving allows to identify the pathologies already present or in development, and to reduce the risks, then, in navigation.
Depending on the navigation zones and the intended ports of call by the crew, it is also always useful to take stock of vaccinations. If necessary, the future traveller will visit an international vaccination service.
Then, among the indispensables before departure, there is the constitution of a Personal medical records, shared with Maritime Medical Consultation Centre Toulouse. This French service, also known as CCMM, is responsible for medically advising mariners at a distance. It can be reached 24 hours a day, from any destination.
Dr. Emilie Dehours, Hospital Practitioner and Medical Officer in charge of the CCMM, explains: « The file must be sent to us before you leave, so that we have all the necessary information in our hands, if necessary, when the crew is in navigation. There is a boat file, including details of the on-board medical supply – medicines and care equipment – as well as a medical record for each passenger. We know the blood type, weight, height, vaccination status, health history, allergies and chronic treatments of each, to intervene as best possible.
If a new crew member arrives on board, you have to fill out a new form and let us know: we will add it to the ship's record ».
Also read: Atlantic Tour sailing: why, when and how to welcome a crew member?
« On the recordMedical treatment for pleasure that we also transmit to the crews, we make some reminders: it is specified how to examine someone, how to do first aid gestures and how to immobilize a member ».
The pharmacy of Blue Water Sailing and medical training in sailing
Constitute a pharmacy Blue Water Sailing Complete is also a key stage before departure.
Antiseptics, painkillers, analgesics, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, corticosteroids, antihistamines, anti-emetics, antidiarrhoeals, muscle relaxants, antibiotics, antifungals... all situations will have to be considered, if necessary with the help of a healthcare professional.
Mariners following chronic treatment will anticipate supply difficulties abroad and ensure that they leave with a sufficient amount of medication.
« When the Blue Water Sailing is well prepared, boaters contact us before leaving. We have an advisory role on the medical supply to be boarded This must correspond to the navigational route and the passengers, and must also include, inter alia, instruments, medical equipment, examination and injection », explains the head of CCMM.
Future browsers should follow a Medical training sailing adapted to the navigation project. Indeed, the medical training for Blue Water Sailing enables us to design a complete pharmacy, acquire first aid gestures, simulate emergency scenarios and learn how to react well in case of medical problems on board. With good knowledge of sea medicine, team members gain autonomy and are often able to control most situations.
Health on board: prevention, monitoring, care
Good gestures in everyday life
In Blue Water Sailing, remain vigilant, actively monitor the health status of everyone and adopt certain good behaviours often avoid risk. Here are several good reflexes :
- Physical preparation before departure – especially for nautical activities such as diving,wingfoil or kitesurfing – and stay cautious, both at sea and on land.
- Maintain strict hygiene rules, including in general navigation.
- Protecting from heat, UV radiation, sea sickness, mosquito and midge bites.
- Systematicly disinfect wounds and cuts, even slight, to avoid infections.
- In tropical regions, beware Ciguatera, leptospirosis and other bacterial infections by not eating coral fish, drinking by tap or bottle, or eating fruit fallen from the ground.
In addition to medicines and care equipment, it is recommended to embark sunscreen, a mosquito repellent, a calming cream for injections and hydrocolloid dressings. The essential oils of tea tree or lavender aspic do not require medical prescription, but can also be useful in everyday life.
Specific risks Blue Water Sailing : know how to anticipate and react
Accidents and first aid
The deck of a sailboat is an accidental terrain. On board, deep fractures, sprains, dislocations or cuts occur. But these are not the most common medical problems:
« Contrary to what is often thought, the first pathology encountered at sea is not traumatology. Most often, we are contacted for dermatological problems related to the marine environment or lack of hygiene, for dentistry, for osteoarticular pain, or because of the effects of dehydration. We receive a lot of requests for children, but the CCMM's accompaniment of course concerns all crew members.
Often, boaters who contact us are poorly prepared at the medical level. However, by anticipating a little more the Blue Water SailingThese are situations they could have avoided » points out Dr. Émilie Dehours.
Stopover consultation and teleconsultation
Despite all the precautions, some medical cases – urgent or not – require a medical opinion.
« We recommend, where possible, to always go consult a physician on shoreAt the station. If a consultation is possible within 6 hours, on call, the browsers should prefer to consult on shore. » indicates Dr. Emilie Dehours.
When medical appointments can be scheduled, browsers can choose strategic stops, for example to take advantage of Panama, Tahiti or Nouméa medical centres.
« At sea, however, when conditions do not allow access to shore within a reasonable time, it is the CCMM doctor who replaces the general practitioner – between 8am and 6pm French time, Monday to Friday.
If there is vital emergency or that the same situation on land would have justified the call of the UAS, contact CCMM without hesitation – without waiting, whatever the time. »
The health staff will then be able to guide the crew to make a diagnosis, have first aid procedures performed, decide on the administration of medicines and/or prepare a medical evacuation (EVASAN).
« Some people contact us, too, because they can't handle loneliness on board. In this case, we redirect them to the Centre ressource d'aide psychologique en mer (CRAPEM), in Saint-Nazaire » Complete the doctor.
Surroundings for a serene journey
Health Blue Water Sailing and specialized insurance
In Blue Water Sailing, equipping and training is not always enough. It is also recommended to surround yourself! A good networkhealth support, for example, will be able to assist you effectively if necessary. It is advisable to purchase medical insurance for offshore navigation, with coverage including care abroad and access to teleconsultation services. Well-prepared medical records and an effective satellite connection will also help you...
An ally in the medical preparation of your cruise
Whether you're going alone, a duet, a family or a friend, the question of your health during your next Blue Water Sailing is not to be neglected.
Do you need help building your flight pharmacy, or identifying risks in your next navigation areas? Are you looking to get around yourself and to make a proper preparation? To secure the medical dimension of your project, our team proposes to accompany you.