• Medical Director's Desk 

This has been a great year of expansion and development for Ocean Medical International. Perhaps the most exciting has been the establishment of a new office in Fort Lauderdale., with the ability to supply our kits from America as well as UK We have been very lucky to have Rebecca Castellano join us in Florida. Becky is a trained nurse with many years experience in the yachting industry, as well as being a keen sailor herself. She will be assisting with re-supplying boats in the Caribbean or USA, as well as developing new business.

This year we have exhibited at Monaco, METS and Fort Lauderdale boat shows,  and had a presence at the St Maarten show. Many of you will have met or been visited by Nick Stael von Holstein, our European Manager, or Becky at these events. We are there and always available to help and advise you in any matter relating to your medical supplies, no matter how small.

As the holiday season approaches I would like to wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year.

Dr Ian Marshall,  Medical Director

• Re-stocking Medical Kits - USA & UK
  

We are now able to re-stock medical kit supplies from the US and the UK, depending on where you are located at the time.  For those yachts in the US & Caribbean we will re-supply from the USA, all other locations will be supplied from the UK as before.

Please be aware that not all sources of medications are the same in each country and where there is a difference we have provided an equivalent medication, which will be indicated to you on your inventory.  All medications remain in English.  Due to US laws, controlled medications cannot be supplied to a vessel in US waters.  However, when the yacht is out of US waters we can supply the controlled medications from our UK headquarters. Controlled medications in the US include tramadol injections (morphine substitute), all forms of codeine, all forms of diazepam (valium), & Metronidazole suppositories.

• New - Zoll Defibrillator
  

We have added a second defibrillator option to our product range:

                 

The Zoll defibrillator – a great defibrillator with a host of additional features

• One piece ‘padz’ – One piece pad unit allows for fast pad application to patient. Chest depression unit that measures depths & speed of compression accompanied with audio & visual guidance of greater speed or deeper compression if necessary. LCD visual display. Will only advise shock delivery when heart rhythm capable of defibrillation is detected
• 5 year life on Lithium batteries and “padz”, back–up redundancy battery bank
• Programmable in 25 languages
• Infrared port allows reprogramming for changes in CPR protocol
• Free replacement of batteries & padz if unit used in an incident, in exchange for data involving the incident

Follow the link for more details: http://www.oceanmedicalinternational.com/me_zoll-defib.htm
 

• New - Sportfish Medical Kit

Associated with our new Ft Lauderdale office, we have developed the new Sportfish medical kit, exclusively for private and charter Sportfish yachts.  Ideal for Sportfish yachts that travel extensively to participate and compete in bill fish tournaments.

Specially designed and equipped for Sportfishing boats, and containing additional equipment & instructions on methods of fishhook removal. Organised in a water-resistant Grab Bag with comprehensive Instruction Guides on treatment of injuries & illnesses, and use & administration of medications.

Follow the link for more details:
http://www.oceanmedicalinternational.com/mk_sportsfish.htm

Also strongly recommended are defibrillator and oxygen units which can be provided as optional extras.

• Medical Matters

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA

MRSA has been in the news recently with reports of infections on several boats

Yacht crew may be at increased risk of staphylococcal skin infections because of the somewhat cramped living conditions in which they may be living.   Factors that have been associated with the spread of MRSA skin infections include:  close skin-to-skin contact, openings in the skin such as cuts or abrasions, contaminated items and surfaces, crowded living conditions, and poor hygiene.

Prevention of staphylococcal or MRSA skin infection is best achieved by the practice of good hygiene:

1. Keep hands clean by washing thoroughly with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. Keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered with a bandage until healed.
3. Avoid contact with other people’s wounds or bandages.
4. Avoid sharing personal items such as towels or razors.

More information on MRSA and infections on yachts will be found in an article by Dr Ian Marshall in the January 2008 edition of The Crew Report.  

• New Membership Association
  

We are now Members of the US Superyacht Association, Marine Industries Ass. of South Florida, & Florida Yacht Brokers Ass., as well as continuing our membership with the British Marine Federation & Superyacht UK Association.