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JUNE 2026
jor vessel can become fatal in minutes, and in the maritime 
environment, a Coast Guard medevac or EMS response is 
rarely minutes away. That means your crew is, by default, 
the medical first line. Whether they are equipped to fulfill 
that role is entirely a function of whether you have invested 
in their training beforehand.
At a minimum, every vessel crew member should be 
trained in bleeding control. The core skills include direct 
pressure application, wound packing with gauze, and 
tourniquet application on extremity wounds. Commer-
cially available bleeding control kits can be mounted in 
accessible locations throughout a vessel and cost less than 
most organizations spend on a single day of administra-
tive printing.
Beyond bleeding control, crew members should be familiar 
with the basics of shock management, keeping a wounded 
person warm and as calm as possible while awaiting ad-
vanced medical care could mean the difference between 
recovery and tragedy. Do not underestimate the value of 
calm, confident presence. As I tell every group I train: 
“When you walk into a crisis projecting competence, you 
reduce the physiological fear response in everyone around 
you.” That matters.
Ask nearby passengers to help. In any mass casualty situa-
tion, your crew will be quickly overwhelmed. Ask clearly 
and specifically: “Is anyone here a nurse, doctor, or first 
responder?” Most people want to help in a crisis. Give them 
a role and they will step up. Medical training, whether for-
mal or informal, should be embedded into your annual 
preparedness calendar, not treated as optional.
SUMMONING HELP 
AND MANAGING THE SCENE
As soon as conditions safely allow, your distress call to the 
Coast Guard should be made. Provide your position, the 
nature of the incident, the number and severity of inju-
ries, and your vessel’s heading and speed. Do not wait un-
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