Two first aid emergencies for Marine Rescue Cottage Point

by Ken McManus ESM on 9 May 2011 While patrolling their local areas, Marine Rescue vessels are often the first responders to incidents and accidents on the waterways. This is particularly the case in areas where road access is poor as in the popular, National Park fringed waters of Broken Bay.

On Saturday 7th May Marine Rescue Cottage Point was kept busy with two serious medical emergencies. The first incident involved a man who had suffered a deep (3cm) slice in his ear his ear while climbing from his dinghy on to his cruiser. Water Police alerted the Marine Rescue team and CP 20 raced to the scene where the badly bleeding man was transferred to their vessel. His wound was bandaged and he was taken to a waiting ambulance at Cottage Point.

The second, more serious incident involved a young man who had been injured in an accident on a local houseboat. Initial response to the scene was hampered by the confusing messages from the houseboat radio and the desperate caller’s lack of any clear idea where their houseboat was located. The Cottage Point radio operator was finally able to calm the caller and obtain sufficient clues to identify their location and CP 30 was despatched at speed to attend.

On arrival, the team found a 27 year old man named Matt on deck with a deep wound to his forehead and obvious face and jaw injuries. He was barely conscious and in considerable pain. His friends advised that Matt had misjudged a dive from the top deck of the houseboat and struck his head heavily on the vessel outboard engine cover and fibreglass propeller guard. They had pulled their semi-conscious friend from the water, but had little first aid training or experience.

The Cottage Point team assessed that the patient had suffered obvious deep head and facial wounds with a probable broken jaw and broken ribs from the accident. Given the force of the impact, there was also a possibility of other internal injuries and lung damage. A neck brace was fitted before the crew carefully moved the patient to their Stokes Litter and transferred him onboard CP 30 where he was placed on oxygen therapy. This was done with great care to help ensure that any neck or back injuries were not exacerbated and to minimise the patient’s pain. Quick passage was then made to nearby Parsley Bay where Marine Rescue Hawkesbury had arranged for an ambulance to meet CP 30.

Given the seriousness of his injuries, the ambulance officers treated the patient onboard CP 30 for some time before transferring him to their ambulance. They confirmed the likely injuries and praised the Cottage Point team’s careful and skilful patient management.

Unit Commander David White was also full of praise for his crew - John Bensley, Paul Millar, Luke Andrews and Luke Hogarth, who performed with great professionalism on the day ensuring that the injured man was properly cared for. The patient care and empathy from John Bensley was particularly noteworthy in keeping the injured patient calm and comforted throughout.

The following day we received an update from both patients. The man with the lacerated ear was released from hospital early on Sunday morning, and returned to his vessel to enjoy the day on the water with his friends. The more seriously injured Matt remained in North Shore Hospital with a badly broken jaw, missing teeth, broken ribs, punctured lung and concussion. Despite the seriousness of his fall, he suffered no neck or spinal injuries.

Incidents such as this show how easily a day on the water can turn into a tragedy and that great care needs to be shown by vessel skippers in ensuring the safety of their passengers.

It also demonstrates the importance of having well trained and equipped Marine Rescue crews and vessels available for emergencies on the waterways.

David White
Unit Commander Marine Rescue Cottage Marine Rescue NSW website