Checking the tide: Have you ever had to use your medical training?

Feb 15, 2014 by Lucy Chabot Reed

Have you ever had to use your medical training?


Whether its medical first aid or the one-day primer during the STCW, all yacht crew have had some sort of medical training. We were curious to know if they have ever had to call upon that training in a medical emergency onboard.

Most of the crew we talked to yesterday hadn’t, and felt glad and lucky about that. A few had gone through some medical emergencies, but those tended to be off the boat. And Capt./Eng. Alex Lasassier of M/Y Never Say Never used his medical training on himself when his left pointer finger got crushed in a hatch door. (Read how he handled it in his answer below. Leave it to an engineer to break out the Super Glue.)

— Lucy Chabot Reed

Deckhand Ricky Brigman

M/Y Chosen One

120′ Intermarine

Yes, actually. I had to use it on a friend who was in a scooter accident. I’ve never had a problem on a boat, thank God.


Mate Piers Fleming

M/Y Antonia II

105′ Azimut

I have not had to use it, and that’s a good thing. I’m confident [in his training], although a refresher course wouldn’t be bad.


Capt./Eng. Alex Lesassier

M/Y Never Say Never

122′ Oceanfast

On myself. I caught this finger in that hatch door at the beginning of a charter. I ended up supergluing it, put wood around it, and Duct tape and went on with the charter.


Eng. Jorge Camacho

M/Y Lady Sheila

145′ Benetti

So far, no. We drill to make sure we’re ready, so I’m confident I would be ready.


Capt. Ed Snowden

M/Y JW

130′ Westport

A little bit, but no heart attacks or anything like that. I’ve never had anybody fall out on me.


Eng. Harry Olivier

M/Y Horizons II

145′ NQEA

No. Touch wood, not yet.


First Officer Courtney Robertson

M/Y Carpe Diem II

150′ Trinity

Never, thank goodness, but I would be ready.


First Mate Bob Saunders

M/Y Scott Free

120′ Northcoast

No, but I did some before I got in yachting. I’m confident in my training, though. I just redid it three weeks ago.


Capt. Angus Grey

M/Y MiMu

113′ Codecasa

Not on a boat, but in a boatyard, I did CPR on the dock. The drills you do and the discussions you have onboard are really important. The more you discuss it, the more likely you are to react properly. Panic has no place on a yacht. You have to be cool, calm and collected.

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About Lucy Chabot Reed

Lucy Chabot Reed is publisher and founding editor of The Triton.

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