International maritime health
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Global travel and transport play a critical role in the spread of infections. We see this clearly in the first two pandemics of the 21st century: SARS and influenza H1N1-2009. Although air travel contributed to dissemination in these two pandemics, the travel restrictions, quarantines, and heightened vigilance which resulted had an impact on maritime health. ⋯ No effective vaccine exists for SARS at this time, whereas countries were able to deploy millions of doses of pandemic influenza vaccine within 7 months after the outbreak was first recognized in Mexico. The lack of a protective vaccine and the higher case fatality rate in SARS will mean that stringent quarantine measures may still be required for outbreak control if SARS ever occurs again. Compliance with international health regulations, and the ability to adapt these to maritime health needs, will be important in the shipping industry.
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Shift work is associated with sleep and health problems. Tolerance to shift work is reported to decrease with age. Shift work tolerance should be considered in different shift work populations. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between age, shift work exposure, shift type, and morningness and sleep/health problems in oil rig shift workers. ⋯ Older workers may tolerate shift work well. Age, shift work exposure time, and shift type seemed not to affect shift work tolerance in this population. However, this may be due to a healthy worker effect and/or selection bias.
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Air ambulance operations in the Arctic have to deal with remote locations, long distances, rough weather conditions, seasonable darkness, and almost no alternative for landing. Despite these challenges, people expect high quality, specialist health care. ⋯ Air ambulance operations in the Arctic experience significant challenges. In the near future more shipping and polar adventure operations together with new oil and gas installations will increase the demand for health care support. Telemedical installations onboard vessels and rigs will be important for remote consultation and treatment.
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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.