Nursing at Sea
"Capt" Rob ...
.... the most significant item we carry is the
Philips HeartStart External Defibrillator.
Do you know which symptoms to use it for? Do you know which
conditions it will not help?
Oddly enough, my wife & I were sitting around with some
sailing friends and this exact subject came up. Fortunately
there was a knowledgeable professional present who laid out
the basic facts very plainly.
Bob Crantz wrote:
Do you have a big red cross painted on the side of the ship?
What are you sailing, a hospital boat?
I don't think it's unreasonalbe to carry an AED, especially
for somebody to whom the cost (so important to Bubbles, he
had to mention it first) is trivial.
Why don't your ailing friends get implantable defibrillators? If they are
that prone to heart problems, that's an indication for an implant.
Yeah but then they wouldn't be depending on the generosity &
courage of Bobsprit.
Do you have an on board pulse-ox? Why not?
No, he carries a REAL ox... no wait, that may be a buffalo...
Do you have liability insurance for that defib? Remember, Suzy is a nurse,
she's no longer a good samaritan.
And that's a big big issue, especially in combination with
the requirement for coming to aid of other mariners.
Bobsprit could be sued by any boater nearby who had a
cardiac incident. No wonder he's so unwilling to go far from
his slip!
DSK
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