Volvo Round the World - Medical Emergency?

by Volvo/Sacha Oswald on 28 Oct 2005 It's all very well in theory, but try stitching someone's head onboard a boat that is heaving and pitching in a heavy sea, with another crew member holding a torch so that you can see what you're doing.

This is the challenge confronting the onboard medics in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06. Under the rules of the race, each boat competing in the world's premier ocean race is required to have two crew members trained in medical matters. And this is not just basic first aid. They have to be able to apply plaster casts, suture skin, give intravenous fluid, and intra muscular and intravenous injections, just to mention just a few requirements.

With the start of the first offshore leg of the race just days away, the onboard medics brushed up on their techniques during the pre-race medical training day held in Sanxenxo, Galicia, this week.

The session took place under the expert eyes of the chief medical advisor Dr Tim Spalding (orthopaedic consultant in Coventry, UK) Dr Mark Tomson (a sailing doctor from Hamble, UK) and the Volvo Ocean Race's travelling medical co-ordinator Timo Malinen (a chiropractor from Hamble, UK).

The event was run with the assistance of Ethicon Spain and the local dental clinic from Portonovo, Eurodental. Ethicon is the supplier of the skin glue and skin sutures as well as the skin stapling equipment. Both Ethicon and Eurodental also provided highly specialised tutors to teach the onboard medics.

The crews were given a refresher on how to make sutures, glue and staple skin, treat common infections and make plaster casts. They also practised temporary dental fillings, putting in intravenous cannulaes to give fluids and medications. Advice was given on subjects such as dehydration, cold injuries, and how to deal withy trauma and common medical problems in sailing.

If it all gets too complicated for those at sea, help is on hand from the British Antarctic Medical Unit at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, UK. 'This is probably the most advanced facility in the world in terms of talking to people who are not comprehensively medically trained,' says Spalding, who cut is his teeth in what he calls 'remote medicine' when working as a Royal Navy doctor.

As well as the three cases of medications, colour-coded to treat injuries of increasing severity, each team is also provided with a set of 'how to' CDs to assist them in a practical situation.

Commenting on the achievements of the day, Timo Malinen said: 'The commitment level among the on-board medics is extremely high. Even though they have not been formally trained, it was encouraging to see how seriously they have been practising their skills. A number of them have spent time in the accident and emergency departments of their local hospitals to learn all the skills necessary. I would feel quite comfortable if one of these guys was treating me.'

And if the worst comes to the worst? 'These boats are so fast that even if we had a floating hospital, we couldn't keep up with them.' explains Mr Malinen. 'They can cover 500 miles or more, roughly the range of a rescue helicopter, in 24 hours. As a back up, we can call on commercial traffic, or we can divert other boats if necessary.'

Event website: http://www.volvooceanrace.org