Medicine on board – Two days every skipper should experience
This weekend I completed the "Medicine on Board" course at the Sailing Island sailing school – a topic that one might like to tick off theoretically, but which takes on a completely different dimension on a long voyage.
Especially considering our voyages with the SY Viserion and the planned Atlantic and long-distance sailing projects, one thing is clear: offshore, there is no ambulance. No hospital. No quick help. There is only you, your crew – and your knowledge.
Why this course was important to me
Everything changes at sea:
Distance to the nearest port
Delayed evacuation
Radio medical advice instead of direct medical treatment
Improvisation using readily available resources
The course structure alone demonstrates how practical the content is:
Day 1:
Examination methods, shortness of breath, chest pain, burns, wound care, medication administration, seasickness, drowning, disturbances of consciousness.
Day 2:
Abdominal pain, fractures, resuscitation, defibrillation, communication and rescue – including certification.
This was not about "light first aid", but about serious medical scenarios at sea.
Particularly striking: structure instead of panic
What I particularly liked was the clear system.
Example: The form for radio medical consultation.
The exact question asked there is:
Vital signs (pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate)
State of consciousness
Main symptom (chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, etc.)
Course and triggers
Medications
This structure eliminates the greatest danger in an emergency: chaos in your head.
Practice, practice, practice
We didn't just talk – we took action:
Measuring blood pressure without a stethoscope
Properly treating burn wounds (page 13)
Practicing intramuscular injections
Place subcutaneous access points
Prepare infusion
suturing wounds
Measure blood sugar
Stabilizing fractures with cast splints
Resuscitation & Defibrillation
The wound suture was particularly impressive.
That sounds harmless – but it isn't. Work cleanly, put on sterile gloves correctly, administer local anesthesia, use a single interrupted suture, and tie the knot correctly.
After the weekend I know:
Yes, I believe I can do it – but only with preparation and a clear decision.
Medication logic instead of "bring your own pharmacy"
I found the structured medication recommendation (pages 9–10) very helpful.
The classification into categories:
Category 1 → Standard equipment
Category 2 → for longer trips
Category 3 → only with appropriate competence
That fits perfectly with our long-distance travel plans.
For the Viserion, I will now restructure our onboard medicine kit – no longer just “whatever you have on hand”, but systematically.
The most important moment: resuscitation
The second day focused on life-threatening situations.
Practice CPR, use a defibrillator, and perform the Esmarch maneuver to secure the airway.
These exercises will change something.
They remove the inhibition.
They create certainty in action.
And they also make you humble.
My most important learnings
Structure saves lives.
Forms and checklists are not bureaucratic red tape – they are decision-making tools.
Cleanliness is everything.
Hygiene determines whether there is infection or a cure.
Communication is part of medicine.
Radio medical advice must be prepared, structured, and clear.
Knowledge reduces fear.
The greatest stress arises from uncertainty.
Preparation is the skipper's duty.
Onboard medicine is not an option – it is a responsibility.
Conclusion
For us as long-distance sailors – especially with a view to the Atlantic route or further plans – such a course is part of the basic equipment.
Not because one hopes to need it.
But because you know you need to be prepared.
I can absolutely recommend the course at Sailing Island.
Two intense days.
Lots of practice.
And a significantly better sense of responsibility on board.
For Viserion, this means specifically:
✔ Restructure the onboard pharmacy
✔ Prepare forms
✔ Brief the crew before the start of the voyage
✔ Discuss scenarios
Medical care on board does not begin in an emergency.
It begins with the preparation.
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