International maritime health
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Review
"SAR-First-Responder Sea" - backgrounds to a medical education concept in German SAR service.
We present backgrounds to a medical education concept for the full-time rescue men on the vessels of the German Maritime Search and Rescue Service (DGzRS, English: GSRS). In contrast to land-bound emergency services, the daily work spectrum of the GSRS rescue men is mainly characterised by technical assistance for sea-going ships, and searching procedures but not medical emergencies. Nevertheless, severe medical exigencies might occur aboard sea-going ships, with immediate need of professional medical treatment. Thus, a professional medical training course adapted to the needs and costs of maritime search and rescue procedures at German Coasts was set up and has now been unveiled.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of alertness levels in ship crew. An experiment on rotating versus fixed watch schedules.
A short pilot study was conducted during a shipboard training deployment to compare alertness levels in the same crew members while working a fixed watch schedule, and then a rotating watch schedule. Alertness levels were assessed before and after each duty watch using measurements of oculomotor function (Fitness Impairment Tester). Saccadic velocity was shown to have the greatest correlation with duration of sleep deprivation and was significantly slower (indicating decreased alertness) in the crew working the rotating watch schedule than the crew working the fixed watch schedule. This pilot study corroborates previous studies' recommendations that fixed watch schedules allow better acclimatization of sleep patterns, thus minimizing fatigue and increasing operational alertness.