[PUP] Medical Training

[Milt Baker]

Ken,

In getting ready for Med Bound 2007, Judy and I took an excellent 3-day class
at Maritime Professional Training in Fort Lauderdale.  It was aimed at
providing the skills needed to be an assistant to the the medical provider on
a merchant ship--the usual stuff: CPR, AED, airways, trauma, burns, wound
management, etc.  Lots of lectures supplemented with hands-on using maniquens.
David Bock of the N55 Salty Dawg took the whole 10-day class (our three-day
intro plus seven more), which involved several days of hands-on experience in
the emergency room of one of Fort Lauderdale's big hospitals.  His class was
aimed at certification as the "Medical Person in Charge" (MPIC) on a merchant
ship.  It represents the "next step" you refer to--not cheap but then what
that's worthwhile really is?   You might want to e-mail David for more on his
take, but he's told me he feels it was an excellent investment of time and
money.  More information at:
http://www.mptusa.com/courses/medical_person_in_charge_care_at_sea.html

Full disclosure: no connection with Maritime Professional Training other than
as a student who paid full fare for the three-day class and felt I got my way
more than my money's worth.  I'd think other training companies closer to you
provide something equivalent.  Caveat emptor . . .

Cheers,

--Milt Baker, N47 Bluewater


On 3/31/07, Ken Williams <kenw@seanet.com> wrote:
>
> I've been reading the captain's blog from Earthrace regarding their tragic
> collision in Guatemala. http://www.earthrace.net
>
>
>
> They had an eight hour run to shore, with no help in sight, and a badly
> injured fisherman who was quickly losing blood pressure. Luckily, they had
> a
> medic onboard who was able to set up a saline IV and save the guys life.
>
>
>
> I've been through the CPR and First Aid courses (twice) but have no where
> near the training required for dealing with such a situation. I did some
> searching to see if there is a course that is the next step up in first
> aid
> training and haven't found anything. I've looked at several training
> programs for EMTs and paramedics, but all are year-long courses. I'd like
> to
> find an intensive one-week course, preferably offered on the west coast.
>
>
>
> Has anyone taken, or know of, a course they can recommend? We're planning
> to
> circumnavigate, and I expect we'll be plenty of places where some degree
> of
> medical training is a necessity.
>
>
>
> -Ken Williams
>
> Nordhavn68.com
> _______________________________________________