Practical medical guidance for laymen (non-doctors) working on board a ship. This is the 22nd edition, which is the most up-to-date and complete.
Documents
Detail
Overview
This manual is written for laymen (non-doctors) working on board a ship. It contains a wide range of authoritative advice and will help you:
- assess and treat injuries
- diagnose and treat illness
- on journeys where you won’t have quick access to professional medical advice
Medical stores to carry on a UK flag ship
For information on:
- the use
- potential side effects
- precautions
associated with the medical stores, download merchant shipping notice (MSN) 1768 and its list of corrections (corrigendum).
Both contain essential information, so it’s a good idea to have them both saved or printed out to keep with the medical guide.
Relevant links
- Seafarers: medical certification guidance
- Read more about health and safety on ships
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-ship-captains-medical-guide
I had a doctor who was formerly tasked with relaying instructions by radio for medical and surgical procedures on ships, but I think most U.S. Navy ships are big enough to warrant having their own doctor on board.
But then again, would any good doctor work on a ship (or in a prison)? You might be better off with the captain trying his best.