New Section: FIRST AID

The best of cruising plans can be scuppered by an unexpected injury or illness. I think it is important that every sailor take a First Aid course before setting out on a cruise - long or short. The St. John Ambulance, Canadian Red Cross, American Red Cross and other organizations all offer basic First Aid courses.

The reality is that accidents can and do happen and 15 miles offshore is a poor time to try and recall what you may have learned (if at all) 10 or 20 years ago. 

So .... first suggestion is to take a course. If you belong to a yacht club, suggest to the Commodore or Training Officer that such a course might make for a good mid-winter training event. I suspect you would get a favourable response from both the officers and the members of the club.

A new section entitled FIRST AID has been uploaded at http://www.great-lakes-sailing.com/first_aid_tips.html . These pages provide some basic suggestions for common first aid emergencies. But .... they can never substitute for a good first aid course.

Soon to be added to this section will be a suggested FIRST AID kit for a sailboat.

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Fair Winds

Michael