Defibrillator Project

Seafarer physical health, welfare, and mental illness have been regular challenges within the maritime sector. Cardio Vascular Disease is an important area that requires attention and is one of the largest killers at sea. A stopped heart results in lack of oxygenated blood being circulated to the brain, meaning victims may die unless a defibrillator is used immediately. The occurrence of heart attacks and other similar health-related incidents, due to high blood pressure may not be a surprise given the increasing age of seafarers as essentially, common onshore ‘middle-age’ health problems are being taken to sea. According to the British Heart Foundation, the single most influential factor in improving survival is treatment with a life-saving defibrillation shock from an AED. Conditions for defibrillation are optimal for only a few minutes after the onset of VF and the best way of ensuring prompt defibrillation is having an AED nearby:

Using an AED is easy and can cause no harm; the Resuscitation Council (UK) states – “An AED [defibrillator] can be used safely and effectively without previous training” (RCUK Guidelines, 2010). AEDs are compact, portable, effective, require little maintenance and can be stored for long periods.

The national defibrillator database which was rolled out by the NHS clearly shows that the more people who know about defibrillators and how to use them, undoubtedly increases the number of saved lived. Last year an average of 460 people a day died due to heart and circulatory problems, this equates to 170,000 people a year.

This project will place 20 AED devices in ports and seafarers’ centres, and run a healthy lifestyle campaign to raise awareness of heart disease. The project is funded by the MNWB as is important as it can save lives.

Emergency Dental Grant Scheme

The shortage of NHS dental appointments has impacted people on low incomes hardest, meaning they are less likely to have dental treatment than those on higher incomes which essentially is driving health inequalities higher. Nationally there is limited funding for the provision of NHS dentistry, in Cornwall alone there are at least 48,000 patients waiting for an NHS dental appointment. Many people can sometimes wait for years before their name comes to the top of that list and once it does, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will be seen close to where they live – sometimes the NHS spaces that become available are elsewhere in the county. This is especially difficult for seafarers as they may not be able to make the appointment due to being at sea and many cannot afford the immediate costs of private treatment.

That is why SHS have set up an Emergency Dental Grant Scheme, funded by the MNWB, for working MN seafarers and fishermen who need urgent dental treatment which they cannot access on the NHS.