Notes based on Liz Fiebusch’s talk, DCA London Winter meeting November 1990.

About half the audience had received some first aid training in the past. Liz’s talk provided a valuable update directly related to the dinghy cruiser’s needs. A resuscitation dummy was provided for mouth/nose resuscitation and cardiac compression practice and Liz brought her own very comprehensive first aid kit, as carried when cruising in her Wayfarer. There was also a Royal Navy video on hypothermia which is perhaps the greatest danger in dinghy cruising. The following very brief notes are simply intended to stimulate interest and to indicate where readers who have done first aid in the past may need to update their knowledge in line with latest practice.

WHAT IS THE SIMPLEST WAY OF SAVING SOMEONE’S LIFE? Tilt the casualty’s head back and thus open the airway.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY OF SAVING A DINGHY CRUISING PERSON’S LIFE? Keep fit, and then you will be better able to cope with contingencies and are therefore less likely to become a casualty yourself. For instance, swim in the winter off-season.

WHAT IS THE FIRST QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF BEFORE ATTEMPTING FIRST AID OR RESCUE? Is it safe to do so? Do not become a second casualty. Also ask yourself if the casualty is in a situation of danger. Think before acting.

Useful general tips: Do not attempt too much treatment; do not remove clothing (but loosen it if necessary); never give anything by mouth; get someone to summon help and make them return to confirm that they have done so (witnesses may be in shock and just wander off); never leave a casualty unattended (unless there is no alternative); watch and record any change of condition (useful to doctors).

HYPOTHERMIA (EXPOSURE) — the real sailor killer The commonest cause of death in boating accidents is not drowning, but hypothermia, which may, of course, lead to drowning. Death can occur within 3-4 minutes in freezing water, but if casualty is wearing warm clothes under oilskins sealed at wrists and ankles, survival in cold water can be prolonged to 1½ to 5 hours. Body needs core temperature of 36.9ºC for survival. Therefore needs clothes to survive in non-tropical areas. Wind and water remove the trapped-air insulation from clothes so they lose effectiveness. However, clothing still helps in water. Generally speaking, the more clothing the better.

RESUSCITATION Symptoms of breathing failure: look for ‘blueing’ of extremities (fingertips, ears, lips, inside of lips show blueing even on black people). Presume casualty alive until doctor confirms death, even up to one hour after breathing has stopped (coldness of water sometimes allows casualty to be revived after 40 minutes non-breathing without brain damage!) — tilt head back, lift chin; commence resuscitation at once (airway usually clears); mouth to mouth, mouth to nose or, with small children, mouth to their mouth and nose together — younger children breathe more quickly. Basis: we breathe in 21% oxygen and breathe out 17% oxygen — thus ‘second-hand’ air is still usable!

SEASICKNESS Rare in dinghies, but if crew feels queasy allow dry food intake, but no drink; keep them busy until actually sick; fixing gaze on fixed object often helps; tie casualty in to boat, get them to vomit into bucket not over side (otherwise they could go overboard); if they are taking medication, check whether they have vomited it up.

BLEEDING Close sides of wound with fingers, raise limb; tourniquets definitely out now, use direct pressure to wound. If this is not possible apply pressure to pressure point for maximum of 15 minutes at a time.

BURNS All burns, including sunburn, can be relieved by immersion in water for up to 10 minutes; deep burns which do not hurt may be worse than shallow painful burns; leave burnt clothing on, do not burst blisters.

FIRST AID BOX On her Wayfarer, Liz carries a large waterproof plastic box (about 2ft³) within a polythene bag. The contents are very comprehensive and include items such as toothache tincture, magnesium sulphate (for drawing out splinters, etc).

REFERENCE St John’s and British Red Cross First Aid Manual (make sure you get 5th edition) — available from bookshops. RYA first aid, ref G6 £2 available from DCA library. Leaflets: ‘How to treat shock/recovery position’ ref 47 ‘Resuscitation’, ref HBD/SC/R1 ‘Hypothermia and cold injury’ ref HBD/SC/H1