202502 Heat stroke danger
As edited from MSIU (Malta) report 10/2024
A bulk carrier in ballast was approaching a berth and was expecting to load cargo. The forward mooring team consisted of the chief officer (C/O), bosun and two crew members, while the aft mooring team consisted of the second officer and another two crew members. The air temperature and humidity levels were very high. Air temperature was between 40°C and 45°C with humidity at 76%.
Shortly after the forward spring line was passed ashore, the bosun collapsed on the forecastle deck. The C/O attended the victim and felt his body temperature to be abnormally high. He notified the bridge while crewmembers 1 and 2 carried the bosun to a shaded area on the forecastle deck. Port authorities were advised for medical assistance.
Some minutes later, crewmember 1 also collapsed on the forecastle deck. The C/O reported this to the bridge and he was brought towards the accommodation. On making fast the aft mooring ropes, the second officer sent crew member 3 forward, while he and crewmember 4 assisted in tending to the bosun and crewmember 1, both of whom were unconscious.
The bosun was experiencing difficulty in breathing, while crewmember 1 did not show any signs of breathing at all. Oxygen was provided to the bosun via a portable oxygen resuscitator, while CPR was administered to crewmember 1. Shortly afterwards, Crewmember 3 also collapsed, some 35 minutes after the first casualty.
Crewmember 3 was carried back towards the accommodation by two other crew. After all mooring lines were made fast, the Master updated the local port authorities on the situation. A shore service boat soon arrived at the vessel’s starboard side and Crewmember 1 was evacuated to the terminal. The second officer and an oiler accompanied the victim, continuing to administer CPR until the boat arrived at the terminal. Another service boat arrived soon after and the bosun was evacuated.
A third service boat arrived and took crewmember 3 to the terminal. Shortly after, the C/O was also taken to the terminal by a service boat as he was not feeling well. From the terminal, all four victims (the Chief Officer, the bosun and two crew members) were transferred by ambulance to a local hospital. One victim was later declared deceased having suffered acute respiratory failure due to heat stroke, which led to a cardiac arrest. The other three victims recovered.
Lessons learned
The International Medical Guide for Ships advises the following actions for a patient suffering from heat stroke (or heat exhaustion):
- Move the patient into a cool environment.
- Remove all the patient’s clothing.
- Spray or splash the patient’s whole body with cold water and fan them vigorously or immerse them in a bath of cold water.
- Seek medical advice with a view to evacuation: even if body temperature is brought under control, heat stroke can cause life threatening damage to internal organs.
- If body temperature does not fall below 39˚ within 30 minutes, place the patient in an ice-water bath. Take the patient out of the bath as soon as rectal temperature has fallen to 39˚.
Never underestimate the nefarious effects of heat and humidity. Stay hydrated and ideally use electrolytes with water.
Seek shade whenever possible. Lower your body temperature by dousing with water.