A 2007 WHO publication, the third edition of the International Medical Guide for Ships shows designated first-aid providers how to diagnose, treat, and prevent the health problems of seafarers on board ship. Since its first publication in 1967, the International Medical Guide for Ships has been a standard reference for medical care on board ships.
The second edition, written in 1988, was translated into more than 30 languages, and has been used in tens of thousands of ships. This, the third edition, contains fully updated recommendations aimed to promote and protect the health of seafarers, and is consistent with the latest revisions of both the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and the International Health Regulations.
The International Labour Organization’s Maritime Labour Convention 2006 stipulates that all ships shall carry a medicine chest, medical equipment and a medical guide. The International Medical Guide for Ships supports a main principal of that convention; to ensure that seafarers are given health protection and medical care as comparable as possible to that which is generally available to workers ashore.
By carrying this guide on board ships, and following its instructions, countries can both fulfill their obligations under the terms of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006, and ensure the best possible health outcomes for their seafaring population.
An 2011 ILO publication is one of the key guidelines on medical care for seafarers.
These Guidelines will assist medical practitioners, shipowners, seafarers’ representatives, seafarers and other relevant persons with the conduct of medical fitness examinations of serving seafarers and seafarer candidates.
A November 2020 ISWAN publication on the mental health of seafarers.
Iswan has recently updated its publications with the release of the new book “Mentally Healthy Ships“. The purpose of the book is to be a guide for companies on developing and implementing mental health policies on board.
There are a number of factors that have a major impact on the mental health of seafarers, such as work stress, family pressures and limited shore leave. Being away at sea can also make access to support difficult. Iswan has developed a range of personal resources to help seafarers manage and cope with low mood, stress and fatigue and to maximize their overall psychological well-being.
Resources for seafarers include a series of self-help guides, a series of mental health and wellbeing infographics and an audio relaxation exercise.
THE SEAFARER’S MIND
The Questions I’ve Always Wanted to Ask
Martin Otto