Having him sit or stand up will help both
bleeding and awakeness. No fluids, no painkillers.

katysails wrote:
I disagree...on a thrashing boat (remember...you have a problem going on)
unless you have a way to keep gim from toppling over or falling, he's better
off immobilzed...

Put him below! The problem with letting him lay down is that he will
become unconscious and may stop breathing. Keep him at least sitting up,
and have somebody talk to him, pinch him. If you elevate the legs then
head bleeding will be a problem, and may raise intracranial pressure
which is really really bad.

... head injuries often come with spinal colimn
injuries...lying down would be better....

If a spinal injury, then yes. But unless there is good reason to suspect
spinal injury then aggravating the life-threatening head injury serves
no purpose and may kill him.

First aid isn't an exact science, I wouldn't argue with your treatment
if you were on the scene... unless it was my boat or my wife who was
injured

Now might be a good time to remind everybody to take a refresher course
in first aid, and in CPR.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King