What is the single most useful lesson for any skipper from this incident?

A. First aid training is only useful for professional sailors, not ordinary skippers or crew

B. Medical emergencies on a boat cannot be prepared for in any way and simply have to be dealt with as they happen

C. Only people with no known medical conditions should ever be taken sailing

D. Know your crew before you sail — a brief conversation about allergies, medical conditions, and medication, plus knowing where any emergency medicine is kept, costs almost nothing in time but can be the difference between a quickly managed emergency and a much more serious outcome

A. Give them a strong coffee to help them feel more alert

B. Wait calmly to see if the swelling goes down on its own over the next hour

C. Tell them to lie completely flat on their back immediately, regardless of how they are breathing

D. Recognise this as a possible severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) and act immediately — check if they carry their own auto-injector (such as an EpiPen) and help them use it straight away if they have one, following the instructions printed on it

A. Assume the auto-injector has completely solved the problem and no further help is needed

B. Wait several hours to see whether the symptoms come back before calling anyone

C. Only call for help if a second auto-injector is not available on board

D. Call for emergency medical help immediately — even after using an auto-injector, the person needs proper medical assessment, since symptoms can return after the medicine wears off. Call the Coastguard on VHF (or 999/112 if in range) and explain a severe allergic reaction has occurred