Question 1

Everyone is on deck. One crew member has a red, painful hand from touching the hot pan handle. What first aid is needed?

Accepted Answer

Cool the burn under cool (not ice-cold) running water or a wet cloth for at least 10 minutes. Remove rings/watches near the burn before it swells. Cover loosely with cling film or a clean non-fluffy dressing — do not apply butter, cream, or ice Cool running water for 10+ minutes is the correct first aid for burns — it stops the burn going deeper. Ice causes further tissue damage (too cold). Butter and oils trap heat and risk infection. Never pop blisters — this increases infection risk. If the burn is large, blistered badly, or on the face/hands, get medical advice via the Coastguard.

Question 2

SUNBEAM is cooking lunch. A pan of oil catches fire and flames are climbing above the pan. What do you do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Shout "FIRE!" so everyone knows, then turn off the gas/stove if you can reach it safely without leaning over the flames Tell people first — a fire spreads fast in a small space and everyone needs to know. Turning off the gas stops it getting worse, but only do this if you can reach the control safely. NEVER throw water on a fat/oil fire — it explodes into a fireball. Never carry a flaming pan — you will spill it on yourself or the boat.

Question 3

The gas is off but the pan is still burning. There is a fire blanket clipped near the galley. What now?

Accepted Answer

Pull out the fire blanket, hold it in front of you like a shield, and lay it gently over the pan to cut off the air supply. Leave it in place — do not peek A fire blanket smothers a small pan fire by cutting off oxygen — exactly what it is designed for. Leave it in place for several minutes so the pan cools. A dry powder extinguisher works too but can blast burning oil around the galley. Any liquid (water or drinks) on an oil fire causes a dangerous fireball. Opening hatches feeds the fire more air — close them if anything, once the fire is out.