Are there any Blood Donors On Board …???

This is not an announcement that you would expect on board your cruise but a passenger told me that this unusual request was made on her recent Azamara cruise

Unless a passenger has a specific medical requirement or condition that needs treatment that can be pre planned it is not probably something that you give a second thought to when you book your cruise, my daughter had an accident last week jumping off a climbing frame and needed stitches in hospital at A&E and this got me thinking about what medical facilities are available on board cruise ships in case of accidents or illness

Cruise ships are essentially floating cities and are well equipped with a Medical Centre that  doubles up as an infirmary with staff available 24 hours a day to care for passengers – all will have at least one doctor and two nurses on board. Many larger ships sail with two doctors and three or four nurses

Ship facilities are not intended or designed to provide ongoing treatment of pre-existing medical conditions but most have an in-patient ward, 24 hr Emergency Medical Services, carry a variety of medication and can administer injections (e.g insulin)

These facilities are typically equipped to treat only minor non emergency conditions giving sea sickness tablets, medication for an upset stomach or dressings for minor injuries – all usually for a fee

The staff are fully trained to perform advanced life support practices, emergency cardiovascular care and minor surgical procedures. Doctors and nurses are also required to be fluent in the predominant language of the ship so language is never a problem

But what if a life-threatening injury or illness, such as a serious fall or heart attack, occurs? How capable are cruise ships of handling these scary situations?

In addition to standard lifesaving equipment such as defibrillators and external pacemakers,   medical centers carry some of the latest in medical technology including thrombolytic therapy, electrocardiograph machines, lab equipment, pulse oximetry and x-ray machines ECG, Nebuliser, Oxygen,  Pathology including blood tests such as INR, FBC (full blood count), U&E (urea & electrolytes) and LTF (Liver function test)

In a life threatening situation if a passenger needs urgent care that can’t be administered on board they would be air lifted to a land medical facility to get care.

So I think it is safe to say that whatever may happen on board either medically or by accident the ships Doctors are suitably equipped to deal with the situation – just make sure you are fully insured as treatment could literally cost an arm and a leg!!