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Newsletter 10 June 2009
IN THIS ISSUE
Medical Director's Desk
Medical kit changes & revisions
Telemedicine - New product
Medical Matters -
Swine Flu & Diarrhoea
OMI sponsors sportfish yacht 'Get Lit'
Zoll Defibrillator - Batteries
TheFirstCall Advises
James Bond
New Agents & Offices
Phone: +34 629 818 826
Fax: +34 971 719 581
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OMI Agents & Reps
France
Holland
Australia
Marine Industry
Association Members
TheFirstCall
24/7 Emergency Support
- Medical Director's Desk
Many people are affected by the global economic crisis, with reports of increasing unemployment and businesses in financial difficulties in many countries. At Ocean Medical International we see the current economic climate as a challenge, and are pleased to announce in this newsletter new agents and products which will maintain our position as the leading medical suppliers to the yachting industry.
I am particularly pleased with the telemedicine system which we have chosen after looking in detail at all the options available. I believe the Safe Patient Systems unit is an outstanding product which will further improve the level of care available in emergency or serious medical situations when away from land-based services. As usual, our medical advice service partners, TheFirstCall, will be providing essential support for the effective use of the telemedicine system.
Another Mediterranean summer season is fast approaching and it is time to make sure your medical supplies are all re-stocked and up-to date, if you have not done so already. Of course, we hope you never have to use them, but our philosophy is to make sure you have the facilities to treat the widest range of medical problems in a safe and efficient manner.
Happy cruising!
Dr Ian Marshall, Medical Director
· Medical kit changes & revisions
We have made the following kit revisions/improvements
- Adrenaline/Epinephrine – This is now provided in a quick response dedicated pack with syringes, needles & Instructions included – located in the Grab Bag Orange medications pouch
- Glucose tablets have been replaced by glucose gel
- We have added a Used Drugs Pouch, so you can easily track and record medications usage
- We have added a Controlled Drug Register to record the controlled drugs onboard, Note: We have had reports that French customs & authorities have been conducting extensive checks on yachts regarding controlled medications and are giving out fines for infractions. US authorities also maintain close scrutiny of controlled medicines and these medicines are not always available for restock while in the US. Be advised, controlled medications should be kept locked in the Masters safe. Contact us for a listing of controlled drugs and their location in the kit.
- Telemedicine - New product
We now provide telemedicine as a new option – What is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine devices allow for real time transmission of vital medical information to TheFirstCall Medical Advice Centre for expert interpretation and advice with management of serious medical problems when in remote situations, or away from land-based medical services. The Safe Patients Systems (SPS) telemedicine unit we provide is user-friendly, requires minimal training, and utilises state of the art technology. Functions include full diagnostic 12-lead ECG, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, and temperature measurement. All packaged in the Yuma rugged tablet, which features an ingress protection rating of 67 (IP67), meaning it’s sealed against dust and has been water immersion tested for 30 minutes at a depth of one meter. Contact us for detailed information and pricing.
How the Telemedicine System works
- For emergency medical advice call the medical professionals at TheFirstCall.
- Follow the doctor’s instructions as to what measurements to make and equipment to use.
- Transmission of data is ‘live’ in a secure encrypted form to a web server for immediate onward transmission to TheFirstCall emergency centre.
- Transmission of data is achieved by using a simple touch screen interface. The system is linked wirelessly (Bluetooth or Wi-Fi) to patent monitoring devices; patient vital signs are automatically recorded in real time including: 12 lead ECG, oxygen and carbon dioxide (CO2) saturation levels, respiratory rate, blood pressure & temperature.
- The system also captures and relays still & video images of the patient and incident scene to further support clinical decision-making.
The system provides a wide range of data for clinical decision support, including drug administration, but it is the doctors at TheFirstCall who make the decisions on what to do, not the technology.
- Medical Matters - Swine Flu & Diarrhoea
SWINE FLU (Influenza A H1N1)
The situation with swine flu continues to evolve with more countries across the world reporting confirmed cases. Advice to our yacht crews remains essentially the same as the email we sent to you on this subject in May.
Seek medical advice if you have recently (up to seven days) returned from a country where Influenza A, H1N1 has been reported, or if you have been in contact with a confirmed case and you experience any of the following
- Fever or chills
- Sore throat
- Coughing or sneezing
- Headache or body aches
- Fatigue
Your OMI medical kit contains everything you need for the symptomatic treatment of the above.
Crew on boats with our TheFirstCall medical service may contact the service for up to date advice. Others who are in a port with access to land-based medical facilities should contact a local doctor.
If influenza or another respiratory infection is suspected:
- you should avoid close contact with others
- avoid going out in public or crowded places
- cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you sneeze or cough
- dispose of used tissues immediately after use
- always wash your hands after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose
- always wash your hands after you have been to the toilet; after being in contact with someone with a cold or flu; before touching your face; before preparing food or eating
- don’t share personal items such as towels, toothbrushes, eating & drinking utensils (unless washed first), food or drinks
- clean surfaces that an infected person has been in contact with.
Stockpiling of anti-viral agents such as Tamiflu or Relenza is not recommended in most cases. However, if a boat must visit a port where influenza has been reported, or will be visiting a location where access to good land-based medical facilities is limited and anti-viral agents may not be available, consideration should be given to adding an anti-viral agent to the boat’s medical kit.
If swine flu is suspected or confirmed by medical or public health authorities in a crew member or guest, you will be advised by them on measures to be taken to reduce spread of the disease, which may include a period of isolation and the use of masks.
Up to date information on Influenza A,H1N1 can be found at
Management of diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is one of the most common medical complaints and can be caused by a wide range of conditions, most of which are not serious and will resolve without any specific treatment, although the experience for the patient can be distressing and debilitating.
Gastro-enteritis is the medical term for what is often called “food poisoning” or stomach flu, and this tells us clearly one source of the problem. Vomiting is often the first symptom with the onset of diarrhoea a few hours later. This may persist for one to three or more days, although usually with diminishing frequency. Unless absolutely necessary I would caution against taking a preparation to stop bowel movements. This leads to the infection staying in the bowel with a recurrence of the symptoms, which are often worse, when the effects wear off. In general, it is better to allow the diarrhoea to continue, in order to “flush out” the infection. Although it should go without saying, hand washing is essential after every trip to the bathroom.
The mainstay of treatment is to replace the fluids that have been lost due to vomiting and diarrhoea, and through sweating if a temperature is also present. Once the vomiting has stopped, oral fluids should be given. When fluid loss is not great, water will suffice but if symptoms persist, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) should be used.
There are other options for treatment including anti-spasmodics, analgesics and sometimes antibiotics, but these should only be used after discussion of the case with a doctor. Each case should also be assessed to exclude serious underlying pathology which may require investigation or referral for hospitalisation or specialist advice.
Dr Ian Marshall - Medical Director
- Zoll Defibrillator - Batteries
Zoll about AED battery resistance. The increase of internal battery resistance occurs after long periods of standby use. The problem is more likely to develop in batteries that have been installed in devices for over three years.
• Not all batteries experience this increase in internal resistance but it is difficult to predict which batteries will become problematic.
ZOLL Medical Corporation is informing owners of all AED Plus devices with serial numbers below “X_ _ _200000” to upgrade the device with new software.
Obtain the new software for your AEDs at no cost at www.ZOLLAEDPlusbatteryhelp.com and update your devices as soon as possible.
After updating your device software, change your device batteries when prompted to do so by the AED Plus. Remove any battery replacement reminder labels.
Units above serial number “X_ _ _200000” are not affected by this corrective action as they contain the updated software that can detect this battery condition and identify when batteries require replacement.
- OMI sponsored team “GET LIT” wins World Sailfish Championship in Key West, Florida
Miami angler Kitt Toomey, won Key West's World Sailfish Championship, the boat’s owner stated it was all about preparedness, focus, responding quickly to unexpected adversity.
“Get Lit” is owned by Toomey and captained by Quinton Dieterle, they took the championship and $340,825 after the team released 22 sailfish during three fishing days. Other teammates were Peter Miller, Jon Cooper, Claudio Martinez, Kelly Mayo and Cap Hinckley.
"We never ate on the boat during the entire tournament — we were very focused," said Toomey, whose team also won the championship in 2003 and 2007. "It's how you react when things go wrong that can result in extra fish, and every fish counts."
Sponsor Ocean Medical International’s Sportfish Kit, has been aboard throughout the Billfish Tournament season. Angler Peter Miller said this is the most thorough kit he has ever seen. “Knowing that we can keep fishing and winning because we have the ability to respond quickly and easily to injuries that might otherwise cause us to return to shore, it definitely gave us an advantage and the feeling of safety”.
“This team is ferociously competitive and it has been a real pleasure to witness the team’s success knowing our medical kit was on board.” said OMI’s US Sales Manager Rebecca Castellano.
- TheFirstCall Advise James Bond!
TheFirstCall our 24/7 medical emergency assistance provider announces that they are official sponsors & partners to the James Bond movies. The doctors at the International Centre for Emergency Medicine have been appointed as the Advanced Medicine advisors to the James Bond movies.
- New Agents & Offices
With new represenation in two new locations we have broaden our international network
Cairns, Australia - Kraken Marine provides a range of yacht support services and conducts yacht and refit management.
St. Maartin, NA – Myles Nowek of Top Secret Excursions, a long time resident, provides a range of yacht services.
New Dutch Agent - In a change of representation in Holland, de Wolf Products – safety & survival equipment suppliers, are now our official Agents in Holland.
