Approaches to Medical Emergencies on Commercial Flights.

In-flight medical incidents are becoming increasingly critical as passengers with diverse health profiles increase in the skies. In this paper, we reviewed how airlines, aviation authorities, and healthcare professionals respond to such emergencies. The analysis was focused on the strategies developed by the top ten airlines in the world by examining training in basic first aid, collaboration with ground-based medical support, and use of onboard medical equipment.

Survey on smoking habits among seafarers.

Background: Populations living in stressful environments experience higher mortality from lung cancer and chronic diseases. Work-related stress was identified as important determinant of smoking together to health problems caused by a incorrect lifestyles. Aim of the work was to analyze tobacco smoking addiction in seafarers working on merchant ships.

Design and evolution of the Seafarer's Health Passport for supporting (tele)-medical assistance to seafarers.

Background: Seafarers undergo periodic medical examination for their employment. This information inmost cases is not effectively used when requesting for medical assistance during service on board ships.The medical history of an individual is important for provision of medical care and can be critical to theoutcome.

Food safety on board tankers. Results of analysis from 'Healthy Ship' project.

Background: Microbiological monitoring of surfaces used for food preparation, as required by the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan, is important in risky conditions as those observed in the kitchens of ships. Limits to introduce a classification of risk levels and methods to adopt in conditions as those occurring in tankers have not been investigated. This paper presents the results of the "Healthy Ship" project on HACCP monitoring of surfaces used in food preparation on Italian flag tankers.

Identification of World Health Organisation ship's medicine chest contents by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification codes.

Background: Ships should carry mandatory given amounts of medicinal products and basic first aid items, collectively known as the ship's medicine chest. Type and quantities of these products/items are suggested by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and regulated by individual flag states. In countries that lack national legislation, it is assumed that ships should follow WHO indications.

Development of software for handling ship's pharmacy.

Background: Ships are required to carry a given amount of medicinal products and medications depending on the flag and the type of vessel. These medicines are stored in the so called ship's "medicine chest" or more properly - a ship pharmacy. Owing to the progress of medical sciences and to the increase in the mean age of seafarers employed on board ships, the number of pharmaceutical products and medical devices required by regulations to be carried on board ships is increasing.

Dental hygiene habits and oral health status of seafarers.

Background: This study has assessed the dental hygiene habits and problems of seafarers and their attitudes/ perceptions regarding oral hygiene using a dental hygiene/habits questionnaire.

Materials And Methods: A research questionnaire on oral hygiene habits was prepared along with a summary of all the questions and sent to ships via e-mail by Centro Internazionale Radio Medico (CIRM) networks. CIRM, is the Italian Telemedical Maritime Assistance Service (TMAS), and represents the Centre with the largest number of seafarers assisted on board ships worldwide.

The Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) for assessing stress of seafarers on board merchant ships.

Background: In their working activity, seafarers are exposed to high levels of stress that should be accuratelyinvestigated, measured, followed up and, if possible, countered. This is also required by regulations recently entered into force such as the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, recommending to consider special physiological or psychological problems created by the shipboard environment. The choice of the tools for this evaluation is challenging, and a common basic standard usable in a large scale should be identified.

Recommendations for assessing water quality and safety on board merchant ships.

Introduction: Health and diseases on board ships may depend on water. Interventions to improve the quality of water may bring to significant benefits to health and water stores/supply and should be controlledto protect health. This paper has reviewed the main regulations for the control of water safety and qualityon board ships and presents some practical recommendations for keeping water healthy and safe in passenger and cargo merchant ships.