May 24

Before trying heroic surgery such as an amputation or even a lesser emergency, when there is time to communicate, please do so.  A little advice might be lifesaving. –John M Levinson, MD

This passage comes from the book Advanced First Aid Afloat.  Jeff and Tim purchased the book shortly before we left San Diego.  The book was first published in 1972; it has been updated 3 times, but the cover artwork looks fantastically original.  The chapters have titles such as,

Compound Fractures, Wounds, and Amputations

Burns, Administration of All Injectable Fluids

Spontaneous Pneumothorax

And my favorite: Inhaled Meat

I had forgotten about this little gem of a book until a few days ago when I was trying to diagnose my broken toe.  It is not a good story; I slipped on the last step of the companionway and stopped my fall with the fourth toe on my left foot.  I was barefoot because, as you recall, I lost my left shoe few weeks ago. This book is amazing!

Each section starts out with a story or situation in which the injury might occur:

You are not likely to be unlucky enough in your cruising to encounter a white whale that mangles the leg of your crew. But it is possible you may have to amputate an arm or leg.

Really?  I’ve been eyeing Jeff’s right leg– it looks a little lame.  Maybe I just need to amputate it. The book tells me I just need to have courage.  Thanks Beth for that leatherman, it will come in really handy during surgery.

Another fantastic chapter is title Miscarriage at Sea.  This chapter is written in ship’s log style and ends with the entry:

1 August, 0800: After examination, Susie is pronounced in the best of health.  Later, over a beer, Susie and Mike make a solemn resolve.  Birth control pills hold a higher priority in their traveling economy than beer or, perhaps, food.

Good plan Mike and Susie.  I have another book for you called Why Didn’t I Think of That, which has helpful tips for people who don’t like to think, such as: To save space in your galley, buy the little bottled spices, not the big ones.

There is also a section on preparing for cruising in Advanced First Aid Afloat.  It discusses being in good health, not using drugs  or deep fat fryers  while underway and practicing good hygiene because People get smelly if unwashed and more importantly, often suffer painful boils and other skin infections. I know people can get smelly, but I thought it was just too many refried beans.  There is also a passage and graphic diagram about treating pinworms in children-but I don’t want to get into that.

The story on delirium could have been any number of days on Oblivion:

On November 6, 1968, Diastole, a 36-ft cutter, headed south out of LA. ..suddenly there was a wild burst of screaming and singing audible even above the whistle of the wind.  Dr. Stritch turned a flashlight aft. Balanced on one foot, holding to the backstay with one hand and gyrating back and forth, stark-naked and yelling at the top of his lungs, was the youngest member. With no hope of reasoning with him, Dr. Art jumped up  and grabbed the lad as he went wheeling off to port with the ship’s roll.  After a struggle. He was safe in the cockpit.  Or was he?  He kept jumping up, eyes rolling wildly.  He was in his own private shrieking world. The others awakened, They wrestled him below, wiped him dry and wrapped him in a blanket.  They managed to take a rectal temperature.  It was 107.  He had the flu.

The Advanced First Aid Afloat had a tiny little passage on broken toes—tape it to the one next to it.  That’s it! No dramatic story. I don’t get to inject any fluids or take Demerol.  I only get the Demerol if I amputate my toe. It hurts, but I don’t think it is gangrenous—yet.  Plus we don’t have any Demerol.  The Doctor in the states only gave us Hydrocodon but we are saving that for recreational use.