HWN Suggests

I Know What Drives People to the Depths of the Ocean

I dive into the unknown because the ocean is unique, magical and mysterious. It sustains all of life on Earth. In the endless void of space, our fragile blue planet harbors virtually all life that we know, cherish and depend on. The ocean is Earth’s life support system, without which we cannot exist. There is no other known planet that can sustain our species. It is a miracle of nature that we are here.

Most seemingly mundane tasks our body performs to sustain life are possible thanks to living in a liquid world. About 50 percent or more of oxygen comes from the sea, generated by trillions of microscopic plants and animals (phytoplankton) that call it home. The closed-loop nature…

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Featured

 Introduction to Maritime Medicine

The field of interest of Maritime medicine partly overlaps with occupational medicine, tropical medicine, and travel medicine.

Articles of Interest

Medicines From the Sea

When you’ve got a bacterial infection like pink eye or strep throat, your doctor will usually write a prescription for antibiotics to make you feel better. But have you ever wondered where these medicines come from?

Doctor of the Deep: The Challenges of Shipboard Medicine

Sudden life-threatening emergencies like internal bleeding, heart attacks, strokes and broken bones can leave little, if any, time to divert a ship to the nearest port. The challenge for a ship's doctor is to stabilize a patient until the ship reaches land.

Emergen-Sea Medicine: Overview of Marine Envenomations

Surf and turf, anyone? And when I say “surf,” I am, of course, referring to our ocean-dwelling friends who “turf” water sport enthusiasts to the emergency department with their various bites and stings.

How to Handle a Medical Emergency at Sea

The sea offers many experiences that you cannot find on land, but they are not all positive. Sickness and nausea can happen quickly, and on top of that, it is not as easy to get to the hospital when you are surrounded by water. To help you out, we have some tips and guidance for how you can be prepared before your next excursion at sea.

Lack of Medical Equipment on Vessels: Know Your Rights

When maritime workers are injured at sea, shipowners have a duty to provide prompt and adequate medical care. If a vessel’s medical team does not have adequate equipment to deal with an injury, or care is not provided in a timely manner, shipowners might be found negligent under the Jones Act.

Lost at Sea: Seafarers and Mental Health

The life of a seafarer can be a difficult one. Whether they fish, haul cargo, or haul passengers, it is often, by definition, a life away from friends and family. While life at sea can be immensely rewarding for some, there can be a high cost. Mental health in the maritime industry is a growing concern for mariners and their families, employers, fellow shipmates, and government organizations like the United States Coast Guard. Thankfully there has been an increasing trend in efforts to understand the issue and provide support to mariners

Managing Medical Emergencies at Sea: Risks and Responses

Maritime emergencies of all types and magnitude occur on a regular basis. From ship wrecks to piracy, from fire to a medical emergency, there are many situations that can arise on board that pose a risk to the seafarer, the ship itself, the ship owner and insurance company and the environment

Maritime health care

Maritime medicine refers to providing medical care for seafarers including the people working in the merchant marine, the commercial fishing fleets, offshore oil platforms, and the cruise ship industry, the segment best known to most of us. It also includes provision of care through shore based pre-employment and seafarer consultation clinics. These various maritime medical practices present very different alternatives to the clinics, emergency rooms, and hospital environments where most of us practice. They may provide a working vacation (often emphasis on “work”), a few months sabbatical, or a career.

Maritime Medical Emergencies

At sea, medical emergencies are rarely routine. The inaccessibility of the open ocean makes commercial seamen uniquely dependent on their own resources when medical emergencies occur. Without the fast access to professional medical support that is taken for granted in the shoreside workplace, seamen must undertake not simply the immediate response to a medical crisis, but often the burden of providing extended care for the hours or days required to effect a medical evacuation or ship diversion.

Medicine at sea can be under par

Most people don't think about needing medical care before taking a cruise, so you're making a smart move by informing yourself beforehand.

On These Small Islands, Medical Care Arrives One Ship at a Time

Much of rural South Korea has seen its population rapidly decline and age. For some communities off the coast, doctors traveling by boat have become a lifeline for the old and sick.

Paradox on the High Seas: Evasive Standards of Medical Care

The mistreatment of people aboard ship, whether passengers or crew, is not rare, and persists as a modern embarrassment to all nations that are involved in international maritime commerce. Many passengers and seafarers would undoubtedly be surprised to discover that there are no international standards for medical care on passenger cruise ships (or any other type of ship), nor is there even a requirement that a physician be on board.

Pediatric Emergencies in Maritime Environments

The 5G technology and the devices used in this pilot, such as the high-resolution tablet, the ultra-portable Philips Lumify ultrasound scanner or the 5G mobile phone, make possible to arrive in time to attend the first minutes of a pediatric emergency and connect with the hospital to stabilise the patient even in a maritime environment.

Scientists fear impact of deep-sea mining on search for new medicines

Bacteria from the ocean floor can beat superbugs and cancer. But habitats are at risk from the hunger for marine minerals.

Seafarers on the shore: issues raised by Australian doctors treating seafarers

Seafarers spend long periods at sea, with a lack of primary care and variable pre‐employment screening. Resultant delayed malignancy recognition and non‐communicable disease diagnosis are common. In addition, patients may present with escalating pain and constitutional symptoms.

Stranded at sea: COVID-19 and its toll on mariners

The global pandemic, and increased demand by consumers and industry, has disrupted the supply chain and revealed an occupational health and safety crisis among seafarers.

The Historic Healing Power of the Beach

When doctors prescribed sun and sea to improve circulation and contract tumors.

Resources

Maritime Medicine Online

Our Core Maritime curriculum is now offered as a convenient and captivating online course that can be accessed 24/7. Learn about traumatic, medical, and maritime emergencies, gain access to documents/ quick guides, and review insightful knowledge with the experts. Become a more prepared mariner.

Textbook of Maritime Health

The Textbook of Maritime Health is a comprehensive online publication, aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of maritime health to all those with an interest in the field.

International Maritime Health Association

The International Medical Health Association is an organisation operating world-wide, joining professionals in the field of maritime medicine.

Intro to Marine Medicine

Mission: To expose students to the different careers in marine medicine, marine biology, medicine, and biology fields and inspire them to follow their passions.

MarineLink

The undisputed maritime news authority, delivering the world’s largest maritime audience.

Maritime Logistics Professional

Maritime Professional is a unique global business resource, delivering a world-class news and insight

Maritime Medical Management

Maritime Medical Management is there to provide assistance in determining the appropriate length of stay for a medical, surgical admission based on the diagnosis and course of care thus reducing the costly inpatient admission and continued outpatient care.

Maritime Medicine Institute

Maritime Medicine Institute provides comprehensive, convenient and efficient medical care to the crew members of cruise ships, shipping vessels and yachts. Our experienced team of service representatives and medical professionals are dedicated to meeting the special needs of the maritime industry.

Naval Institute of Maritime Medicine

The Naval Institute of Maritime Medicine is the German Navy’s medical competence centre – both in the areas of research and emergency medicine.

Cruise Ship Medicine

Emergency physicians who have expertise or a special interest in providing medical care aboard cruise ships, or within the cruise industry, are invited to join the Cruise Ship Medicine Section to discuss and develop ideas to improve patient care. Cruise Ship Health Care Guidelines are regularly updated to help guide the industry as best practices evolve.

Offshore Emergency Medicine

Offshore Emergency Medicine offers relevant and practical training for the largest and most remote wilderness on earth. As with all our courses, we emphasize the understanding of body systems and principles of care to best prepare the medical officer to improvise and adapt to the infinite variety of challenges that the open sea can present. It is designed for voyaging sailors as well as professional mariners.

The First Call

Delivering maritime medical advice throughout the worlds oceans and seas. The sea is a unique and demanding environment, in which to deliver care for an acute medical incident. There may be no medical professionals available, and physical access to qualified medical care may be hours or days away.