Question 1

A crew member suddenly slurs their speech and cannot lift one arm. How do you assess for stroke and what action is needed?

Accepted Answer

Use the FAST test: Face (asymmetry/drooping), Arms (one drifts down), Speech (slurred/confused), Time (note onset time and call 999/Mayday immediately). Stroke is time-critical — "time is brain". Divert to nearest hospital with stroke unit. Nothing by mouth FAST: Face/Arms/Speech/Time. Any FAST-positive finding = suspected stroke = Mayday/999 and immediate diversion. NOTE: do NOT give aspirin before hospital assessment — if the stroke is haemorrhagic (bleed into brain), aspirin is actively harmful. Note the exact time of symptom onset — thrombolysis ("clot-busting") is only effective within a narrow time window and requires knowing when it started.

Question 2

A crew member recovered from cold water is shivering violently, confused, and pale. What stage of hypothermia is this and what is the correct treatment?

Accepted Answer

Mild to moderate hypothermia (core temp ~32–35°C) — remove wet clothing, insulate from wind and cold, warm with blankets and foil, give warm sweet drinks if conscious and no injury suspected, handle gently and do NOT rub limbs Shivering with confusion = mild-moderate hypothermia. Treatment: protect from environment; remove wet clothing (avoid vigorous movement — cold blood from extremities flushing to core can cause cardiac arrest); insulate; warm externally; do NOT rub limbs; give warm fluids only if conscious and uninjured. Severe hypothermia (rigid, no shivering) — treat as cardiac arrest, CPR may be needed.

Question 3

A near-drowning casualty has been recovered from the water. They are unconscious and not breathing. What is the immediate priority?

Accepted Answer

Start rescue breaths (5 initial breaths) immediately, then begin standard CPR (30 compressions : 2 breaths) — airway and breathing take priority as drowning is a hypoxic event Drowning is a hypoxic (oxygen deprivation) emergency. Unlike cardiac arrest in adults, rescue breaths are critical — give 5 initial rescue breaths, then 30:2 CPR. Continue until breathing resumes or help arrives. If on a vessel with no AED, focus on quality CPR with rescue breaths. Do NOT attempt to drain water from the lungs — it delays oxygenation and is ineffective.