title: Basic life support on small boats at sea.
abstract: The present study examined the ability of the crew of small fast rescue boats to perform basic life support (BLS) at sea. Tests were undertaken aboard a 67m emergency response and rescue vessel (ERRV), a 9.1m (30ft) and 11.6m (38ft) fast rescue craft ("daughter craft" (DC)). It was hypothesised that the ability to perform BLS on a DC would be significantly impaired when compared with that seen on the ERRV. Nine DC crew volunteered for the study. These tests were undertaken in sea states ranging from 0.5 to 6 (13cm to 4m wave height). Wind speeds ranged between 0 and 35knots. The deterioration observed in the performance of BLS on board the DC compared to that seen on the ERRV was significant (P<0.05) and was due, in part, to a tendency to over-inflate during rescue breathing, and under-compress during BLS when on the DC. Chest compression (CC) was impaired significantly above a sea state 3 (wave height 61-92cm). It is concluded that the performance of BLS on small boats, in particular rescue breathing, is significantly adversely affected by two major factors, motion-induced interruption and early fatigue. As a consequence, the likelihood of conducting fully effective continuous BLS on a small boat in a seaway for any length of time, with a good chance of a successful outcome, is considered to be poor. However, this should not deter rescuers from attempting to make such efforts where practicable.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical & Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Sport & Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, UK. michael.tipton@port.ac.uk
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tipton
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eglin
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Golden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D008021:Life Support Systems / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D018635:Rescue Work / Q000379:methods*; D012767:Ships