Marine First Aid Level 4 (VTQ)
Course Content
- Course Introduction
- Human anatomy and physiology for immediate emergency care
- Safety and Calling for Help
- What3Words - location app
- Marine band radios
- Marine VHF Radios
- Common Coastal Water Dangers
- Common Fresh Water Marine Dangers
- Emergency Flares
- LED Flares
- The Coastguard
- The Air Ambulance
- Personal Location Beacons
- Accident Prevention
- Boat Safety
- Calling for help
- Water safety tubes
- Types of Blankets
- Emergency response for hybrid and electric boats
- First Aid and Safety Equipment\
- Initial Assessment and Care
- Basic airway management in emergency care
- CPR
- AED
- Administration of oxygen therapy
- Drowning
- Choking
- Shock
- Bleeding
- Catastrophic Injury
- Injuries
- Hypothermia
- Illness
- FIrst Responder - Management of injuries
- Prioritising first aid
- Pelvic Injuries
- Spinal Injuries
- Rapid Extrication
- SAM Pelvic Sling
- Box Splints
- Spinal Injury
- Stabilising the spine
- Spinal Recovery Position
- Introduction to Spinal Boards
- The spinal board
- Using the Spinal Board
- The Scoop Stretcher
- Using the scoop stretcher
- Cervical collars
- Vertical C-Spine Immobilisation
- Joint examination
- Adult fractures
- Types of fracture
- First Responder - Management of trauma
- Elevated Slings
- Lower limb immobilisation
- Elevation Techniques
- Helmet Removal
- Different Types of Helmets
- The Carry Chair
- Applying Plasters
- Strains and Sprains and the RICE procedure
- Eye Injuries
- Electrical Injuries
- Foreign objects in the eye, ears or nose
- Nose bleeds
- Bites and stings
- Chest Injuries
- Foxseal chest seals
- Abdominal Injuries
- Treating Snake Bites
- Types of head injury and consciousness
- Dislocated Shoulders and Joints
- Other Types of Injury
- Dental Injuries
- First Responder - Management of medical conditions
- Asthma
- Asthma Spacers
- When an Asthma inhaler is not available
- Accuhaler®
- Heart Attack
- Warning signs of cardiac arrest and heart attack
- Heart Attack Position
- Aspirin and the Aspod
- Stable angina
- Hypertension
- Pulse Oximetry
- Epilepsy
- Epilepsy treatment
- Meningitis
- Diabetes
- Blood Sugar Testing
- Poisons and Food Poisoning
- Shock
- Near and secondary drowning
- Cold water shock
- Allergic Reactions and Anaphylaxis
- Course Summary
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Get StartedDifferent types of trauma
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In this film, we are going to look at treating different types of injury. Now, there is lots of different things that can happen on a boat and lots of ways people can get cut. Some are going to be mild. Some are going to be more severe. And some, we classify as catastrophic. Now, with the catastrophic bleeds, to start with those, that is where we are looking at using tourniquets and haemostatic dressings and trauma dressings, because we need to stop that bleed very, very quickly, and a conventional first aid kit just will not manage it. So, let us start to look at these trauma type injuries. If there is a catastrophic bleed to a limb, then you need to stop the bleed. And probably, the only easy way of doing that is to apply a tourniquet. So, a tourniquet is applied above the injury site, but not over a joint. So, we need to apply tourniquets tight. So, we will look at how to apply tourniquets in other videos. If the bleed is not quite so bad and you have got a very deep laceration, then I would apply a haemostatic agent. Now, if it is a cut, then you are going to need to use something like wound cloth, because you are going to apply that on the wound. If there is a large lump of skin missing and a lot of blood coming out, maybe into the calf muscle, you may well need to pack the haemostatic agent into the wound and then apply a trauma dressing on the outside. Now, remember trauma dressings will take a lot of blood. So, just because you cannot see blood coming out straight away does not mean that you have fixed the bleed. You just need to monitor it for an extended period of time and obviously get help as quick as you can. Other types of injury could be a puncture wound. It may well be something shot through and literally gone into the body. If you have got something entering into the body, then you do not remove it. Just leave it there. Because it is damaged when it went in and it would damage when it comes out of the body. So, leave it there. If it is inside the body and it is enclosed, then you would literally just put the haemostatic agent over the top, apply bandaging, obviously get them to help as soon as possible. If there is something still coming out of the body, again, no matter what happens, you need to leave it in there. Because if you remove it, you are going to do more damage when you pull it out. But also, while it is in the body, it is actually going to be blocking up the hole. So, it forms a plug. So, we need to make sure that stays in. But you can also keep it in place by taking conventional dressings and leave them rolled up, apply either side of the injury, the item in the body, and then apply another one over the top just to hold that in place. Other areas you could get injuries could be a puncture wound that is going straight through the lungs. Now, you are going to know that because if you look at the wound, you will see bubbling as the air is coming out of the lungs. And also, you will see very, very bright red blood. Because the blood in there is very highly oxygenated, because it is coming out of the lungs. So with these types of injuries, if you have a vented chest seal, then definitely, you can apply that on. So, clean the worst of the blood up and apply that on. That will allow excess air to exit from the lungs. Because the problem when you have got a injury to the lungs is that the air can get trapped inside the lungs applying pressure. So, it basically collapses the lungs. And you have what is called a pneumothorax. And eventually, the lungs will get small and just will not have any effect at all. And this is extremely uncomfortable and painful for the patient. So, the general advice now is if you do not have chest seals, then you just leave that open and obviously get them to help as quick as possible. Now, you really do. This is a serious incident, something you need to deal with. But if you do have chest seals, then you can apply those to the patient. Other areas you may well find get injured could be the head. The advantage of head wounds is typically that the skull will protect the head fairly well. Hopefully, that hasn't been damaged. But the disadvantage of the skull is you have a very thin layer of skin over bone. So, what can happen is it very easily cuts, very easily opens and because of the blood flow, you get a very, very messy cut. So, again, something like that, the use of something like wound cloth to put onto the injury site to control the bleeding and then put a bandage in place, then that will keep the injury site as protected as possible and also stop the bleed itself. If you are looking at other traumas, injuries that could maybe happen on a boat, it could be an amputation. It may well be someone's fingers gets caught in a windlass or in a rope or something like that, or they are involved near an engine or a prop and they get a complete amputation, then you need to assess the scene. Depending on how much blood flow is coming through would depend on what you are actually be doing. It may well be in order to stop the blood flow. You can do that with direct pressure and haemostatic agents. Maybe just fingers coming off. If it is a complete limb amputation, it may well be you need to put a tourniquet on, because it is the only thing that is going to stop the bleeding. So, with the traumatic type injuries, it does not really matter where it is. Just think about, if it is a limb, consider tourniquets and consider haemostatic agents as well. If it is in the torso or the head, then consider the use of haemostatic agents and also trauma dressing some bandages. If you need any help, remember you can dial the Emergency Services, you can contact the Coast Guard. And there will usually be someone there who can help you and talk you through what to do. But the key thing is being ready for it. So, make sure that before you go out on a boat, you consider looking at and buying bleed kits and comprehensive first aid kits. Because that way, if there was an accident and an injury occurred that is a catastrophic bleed, you can deal with any trauma that you are likely to be faced with. If you need to know more information on haemostatic agents, tourniquets or bleed kits, please contact us.
Treating Injuries on a Boat: Essential First Aid Techniques
Introduction to Treating Boat Injuries
Boating activities can lead to various injuries, ranging from minor cuts to severe trauma. Here, we discuss essential first aid techniques for treating injuries encountered on boats.
Types of Boat Injuries
Catastrophic Bleeds
For severe bleeds, such as limb injuries, immediate action is crucial:
- Tourniquet Application: Apply above the injury site, avoiding joints, to halt bleeding rapidly.
- Haemostatic Agents: Use for deep lacerations or wounds where direct pressure may not suffice.
- Trauma Dressings: Pack wounds with haemostatic agents and apply trauma dressings for effective wound management.
Puncture Wounds and Foreign Objects
Handle wounds with embedded objects cautiously:
- Do Not Remove Object: Leave in place to avoid further damage; secure with haemostatic agents and bandaging.
Chest Injuries
Recognise and treat injuries involving the lungs:
- Vented Chest Seals: Use to manage wounds causing air leaks from the lungs; monitor closely for pneumothorax.
Head Injuries
Address head wounds effectively:
- Wound Cloth and Bandages: Apply to control bleeding and protect the injury site.
Amputations
Handle traumatic amputations with immediate action:
- Assess Severity: Apply direct pressure or tourniquets as necessary to control bleeding.
Emergency Response and Preparation
Be prepared for emergencies:
- Contact Emergency Services: Dial emergency numbers or contact the Coast Guard for guidance and assistance.
- Preparation: Equip your boat with comprehensive first aid kits and bleed kits before setting sail.
Conclusion
Understanding these first aid techniques and having the appropriate equipment on board can significantly improve response and outcomes in the event of boating injuries.
For more information on haemostatic agents, tourniquets, or bleed kits, please contact us.