A large number of people need medical care at sea, not only in war but also in peacetime. In terms of peaceful navigation, despite the improved reliability of vessels and the advancement of navigation techniques, shipwrecks and damage of the equipment occur which lead to the need for marine medical specialists to be provided with medical assistance and evacuated to the places of medical assistance. One of the factors of the success of medical care is the speedy transfer of the wounded and sick from the ship to the means of medical evacuation. However, the open sea dictates its difcult conditions in which it is necessary to transfer the injured. Aggravating factors, such as severe weather conditions, sea waves, design features of ships, can significantly affect the timeliness of medical care. The experience gained during the actual and training rescue operations strongly shows that rescue of people at sea is an extremely difcult and demanding task, the success of which requires constant readiness of the forces and means of the search and rescue service, as well as personnel involved in rescue operations. The aim of the study was to assess the possibility of using an evacuation rescue container for the transfer of wounded, sick, injured, cargo from ship to ship in the open sea. The article presents the result of the use of the container evacuation and rescue in the open sea. Rules for the use of evacuation and transport container and typical difculties that may arise in the transfer of the wounded (patient) with the use of this container are described.
Certification for European medical specialists, trainers and training centres run by the UEMS Board of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine
