Proper emergency medical training may prevent loss of life incidents

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued report including recommendations about emergency medical training of crew members after a loss of life incident that happened in the Atlantic Ocean, in 2015.

The incident

On December 3, 2015, at 2018 local time, the commercial fishing vessel Orin C sank in the Atlantic Ocean about 13 miles east of Cape Ann, Massachusetts. All three crewmembers abandoned the vessel just prior to the sinking and were recovered by US Coast Guard motor lifeboat 47259. However, the captain of the Orin C became unconscious in the water before being pulled to the motor lifeboat by a Coast Guard crewman.

When examined aboard the motor lifeboat, the captain had no pulse. In response, Coast Guard crewmembers performed CPR, but he could not be revived. There were no other injuries and no reports of pollution. The Orin C sank in about 300
feet of water and was not salvaged.

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Findings

The report says that it is unlikely that use of an automated external defibrillator would have saved Sutherland’s life.

Coast Guard officials, referencing the Coast Guard Emergency Medical Services Manual, stated that boat crews are supplemented with personnel with a higher level of medical training when responding to designated medical emergencies. At the time the motor lifeboat was dispatched to aid the Orin C, the mission was to assist a stricken fishing vessel; there were no reports of injuries or specific medical requests.

Furthermore, the National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the sinking of the Orin C was the structural failure of the disabled vessel’s wooden hull and subsequent flooding of the vessel while being towed in adverse conditions.

Recommendations
As a result of its investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board makes the following recommendations to the US Coast Guard:

1. Ensure that, at all times, at least one crewmember on board each type of response boat is adequately trained in the types of medical emergencies expected in a marine environment and qualified in the use of all first-aid and/or trauma equipment carried on board.

2. Develop a standard for the contents of First-Aid and Trauma (FAT) kits for each type of Coast Guard response vessel

Find out more by reading the report herebelow