Disqualifying crew based on medical

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by webejammin

Differnt states in the USA have different laws about perscription drugs like the west coast. Would folks be welcome aboard if they had a perscription for medical pot for neck pain ? Persionaly as captian of my boat I wouldn't care if they kept it to themselfs and didn't shair with other crew. The only problem with verly fat folks is if they can't fit thru to the aft stateroom door ways, at 16 inches wide they can't come crusing overnight.

If it's in a valid prescription bottle made out to the person holding and taking it -- it's OK, no matter what it is.

SCHOOLS and such often make additional rules, but that's their choice.

[thinwater]

My wife is an insulin dependent diabetic and uses a pump. Though she is in good control, we have learned that some of the equipment (pumps and testers) are not as saltwater compatible as the manufactures would lead you to believe. We learned this after taking a large wave in the wake of a tropical storm, far from any inlet.

If a person is dependent on any electronic equipment, FULL spares are prodent for any real crossing, not just the usual travel spares, and most people do not have full spares.

[roverhi]

Being a diabetic for 20 plus years and a solo passage to Hawaii veteran, wouldn't have a concern about taking a diabetic on a voyage if they are controlling it. Sailing long passages probably will mean changing their normal insulin regimen. I need to reduce my insulin doses at sea to prevent low blood sugar. I usually eat less and just existing on a small boat increases normal exercise level. Any insulin dependent diabetic who is successfully managing it will know what to do.

High blood sugar causes the health problems associated with diabetes but it's a slow progression with little, if any outward manifestations. Most people will have little indication that they are diabetic until a routine blood test picks it up. It's low blood sugar that can make a diabetic act irrationally, pass out, and even die in extreme cases.

Insulin is a two edged sword, not enough results in high blood sugar, just right and things are normal, too much has serious short term consequences. I have no indications that my blood sugar is high other than testing blood. I know right now when my blood sugar is getting low and carry around high sugar snacks to compensate when it happens. Since your brain lives on sugar, a shortage of sugar from the blood impairs mental functioning and can make you act really goofy. For me it's a general feeling of unease progressing to inability to concentrate and complete even simple tasks if it gets too low. Normally I eat something as soon as I begin to feel hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and no one is aware that anything is happening. The only problem is when I don't have my candy stache and don't get some sugar fairly quickly. Never had a serious issue but some diabetics do. Unfortunately, some people lose the ability to sense low blood sugar over the long term progression of the disease and it sneaks up on them. Usually makes the papers when this happens to someone driving a car.

If you are on a boat when a diabetic asks for some sugary food, begins acting wierd or passes out, get sugar in them quickly. Soda, orange juice, milk, or even sugar laced coffee will bring them around within a few minutes.

[Hillbillylad]

Drinkers are the ones that cause me worry.
My plans have been put on hold since i bought the boat because my fiancee got sick. she's been bounced around doctors and specialist for months while they try and decide if she has Hodgkins or Lyme disease. either way it has screwed up my plans to date.
I need to move the boat and have two people that could have come to help me. unfortunately they both drink. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against drinking as I drink myself and am happy to get totally wasted at the right time. but these people don't function without a beer in their hand. They become moody without a drink and useless when they have one.
So before I would take a so called drinker on my boat, they would need to prove they could drink and be sociable but also be sociable sober.

[Rakuflames]

Originally Posted by Hillbillylad

Drinkers are the ones that cause me worry.
My plans have been put on hold since i bought the boat because my fiancee got sick. she's been bounced around doctors and specialist for months while they try and decide if she has Hodgkins or Lyme disease. either way it has screwed up my plans to date.
I need to move the boat and have two people that could have come to help me. unfortunately they both drink. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against drinking as I drink myself and am happy to get totally wasted at the right time. but these people don't function without a beer in their hand. They become moody without a drink and useless when they have one.
So before I would take a so called drinker on my boat, they would need to prove they could drink and be sociable but also be sociable sober.

Bravo for a really good point!

[Piglet]

Originally Posted by Hillbillylad

Drinkers are the ones that cause me worry.
My plans have been put on hold since i bought the boat because my fiancee got sick. she's been bounced around doctors and specialist for months while they try and decide if she has Hodgkins or Lyme disease. either way it has screwed up my plans to date.
I need to move the boat and have two people that could have come to help me. unfortunately they both drink. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against drinking as I drink myself and am happy to get totally wasted at the right time. but these people don't function without a beer in their hand. They become moody without a drink and useless when they have one.
So before I would take a so called drinker on my boat, they would need to prove they could drink and be sociable but also be sociable sober.

Those guys aren't drinkers. They are drunks.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by virginia boy

I no longer use any mind altering substances but don't have anything against them. Except on my boat. One of my greatest fears is having a guest bring drugs on my boat and getting caught. That could be the end of my boat, my lifesavings, my dreams, and possibly my freedom.

A few of my friends will never receive an invitation for that reason. I just can't risk it. Medically prescribed pot or not.

Yup...A few of my friends have smuggled onboard after telling them not to. Too much to loose. How good is a friend that will do this after being told. Not much of a friend.
P.S....I always laugh and shake my head at the medical pot excuse.

[s/v Beth]

Peter O, how do you handle seasickness when you can't get sugar into your body?
I used to handle vetting much more casually. Recent events have shown me that this is a pretty serious topic. Day sails and complete honesty or no sailing for me.

[roverhi]

"They become moody without a drink and useless when they have one." They have a word for that, it's alcoholic.

We were contracted by Westsail Corp to deliver a W32 from SF to Newport Beach. The owner was going to come along to learn how to sail the boat as he was a complete novice. Fortunately, we went out to dinner with him the night before our departure and learned a little more about him. He was a child of the '60s into Eastern Mystical religion and a follower of Ram Das (Richard Alpert). The guy was so weird and into mental gotchas that he scared the crap out of my wife and I. We decided that we couldn't risk a 4 day sail with someone that was this unhinged. It was really delicate figuring out how to get us or him out of the deal. We were poor cruisers just finishing up building our boat and trying to scrape the bucks together to head for SoPac and had no money to spare. We'd been flown up to SF at Westsail's expense and didn't want to be stuck with repaying them and paying to fly back down to SoCal. We didn't want to hurt Westsails relationship with the guy or the guy himself. Finally just decided to play it straight and to gently tell the gentleman it was him or us. My wife was actually fearing for her life if we were to have him along for the sail. Fortunately, he didn't raise a fuss and agreed to back out of the sail.

Later had to save him and his boat when he tried to single hand in the narrow confines of Newport Beach Harbor in Santa Ana winds. He came sailing into a dead end finger with a concrete bridge at the end under full sail. He managed to stop the boat with full throttle reverse on the engine as I swam out to help him get the sails down. At first he wasn't going to let me aboard claiming he had it under control. A gust nearly put the spreaders in the water and practically washed me aboard. Did almost all the work getting the sails down, bagged and flaked and the boat back in the slip. He didn't even thank me.

To me mental issues are the really serious ones. Unfortunately, most people with them have learned to hide them in the short term. We were fortunate with this guy that a bottle of wine let the real man come through. That's the reason I single hand, wouldn't want anyone to be forced to put up with me except my wife and she won't sail with me.

[roverhi]

You've got a point there. I don't get seasick but have been out with a couple of people who got totally incapacitated as soon the boat hit an ocean swell. If someone has taken their medicine and then throws up all their food, they will get hypoglycemic. Believe that premaid hypodermic needles with glucose are available and I'd be sure a diabetic had them if they get seasick. Other than that keep feeding them sugar laced drinks. The hypoglycemia is caused by either the insulin or the oral diabetes medication. If someone is prone to seasickness, they might want to just not take their medications till things have a time to sort out. If you know you are going to be seasick, you probably wont need the medication. That's not quite true as the body will burn fat in a fasting situation which can also require medication to control blood sugar but at a very reduced amount and of a different type (Lantus vice Humalog insulin). A one or two day abstinance from diabetes medication, especially if you aren't keeping any food down, won't hurt you in the cosmic scheme of things. They can resume their medications when things calm down.

[tartansail]

Originally Posted by roverhi

You've got a point there. I don't get seasick but have been out with a couple of people who got totally incapacitated as soon the boat hit an ocean swell. If someone has taken their medicine and then throws up all their food, they will get hypoglycemic. Believe that premaid hypodermic needles with glucose are available and I'd be sure a diabetic had them if they get seasick. Other than that keep feeding them sugar laced drinks. The hypoglycemia is caused by either the insulin or the oral diabetes medication. If someone is prone to seasickness, they might want to just not take their medications till things have a time to sort out. If you know you are going to be seasick, you probably wont need the medication. That's not quite true as the body will burn fat in a fasting situation which can also require medication to control blood sugar but at a very reduced amount and of a different type (Lantus vice Humalog insulin). A one or two day abstinance from diabetes medication, especially if you aren't keeping any food down, won't hurt you in the cosmic scheme of things. They can resume their medications when things calm down.

The problem with this approach is that dehydration can be a major problem for diabetics with high blood sugar. The combination of too much urination from high blood sugar and losing fluids from vomiting due to seasickness can lead to extraordinarily high blood sugar and a potentially lethal condition known as non-ketotic hyperosmolar coma. Reducing insulin or oral meds isn't a bad idea, but vomiting and dehydration needs to be dealt with aggressively regardless.

Your point about having sugar available for injection is good if you've got someone who can get the needle into a vein. A good alternative (therapeutically, not esthetically) for someone vomiting and needing sugar and fluids is to give them an enema of sugar water. Absorption from the back end is very good. It's also a good route for anti-emetics if the person is vomiting too much to take oral meds.

[s/v Beth]

I would be interested in any body that has actually used ememas to treat dehydration and sea sickness. How did it go? I have the option (being an anesthesiologist) to stick an IV in just about anyone. I think that it the way I would go. But I am interested in the enema for solo sailors and myself, when I am solo.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

I would be interested in any body that has actually used ememas to treat dehydration and sea sickness. How did it go? I have the option (being an anesthesiologist) to stick an IV in just about anyone. I think that it the way I would go. But I am interested in the enema for solo sailors and myself, when I am solo.

practise at home first,use lots of vaseline....................if the wife catches you you got a handy excuse here

[atoll]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

I would be interested in any body that has actually used ememas to treat dehydration and sea sickness. How did it go? I have the option (being an anesthesiologist) to stick an IV in just about anyone. I think that it the way I would go. But I am interested in the enema for solo sailors and myself, when I am solo.

i allways carry a bit of hose and a funnel for enamas this i show to my crew pre departure and tell them if they get seasick i can help.......... very few of my crew ever show signs of sea sickness....

[tartansail]

Originally Posted by s/v Beth

I would be interested in any body that has actually used ememas to treat dehydration and sea sickness. How did it go? I have the option (being an anesthesiologist) to stick an IV in just about anyone. I think that it the way I would go. But I am interested in the enema for solo sailors and myself, when I am solo.

Since I suggested it, I'll acknowledge that, like you, I'm comfortable putting in IV's and would go that route so I haven't done it.