Skippers Emergency Handbook

In the Seafaring section of the Healthy Library I have picked books that I can highly recommend as being fit for purpose.

I arranged to meet Dr Spike Briggs  CEng FRCA, the author of the first two books on my preferred list last year after reading one of his articles in the Yachting Monthly on First aid at sea.

I had previously met Spikes colleague Tommo  (with names like Spike and Tommo I would have thought we were either looking at a pair of comedians or a top gun and his wingman! However now that I have met them I think they are a bit of both) on one of our RNLI training weekends at the RNLI Headquarters in Poole. I was intrigued by their company MSOS and indeed by Spike himself and his real hands on (and head to toe soaking and freezing) experience in the round the world yacht race and other amazing trips.

Spike is a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia in the UK. He originally graduated with a degree in civil engineering, worked in the offshore industry for over ten years (including being at Piper Alpha in 1988), and then entered Medical School. He has sailed all his life, including a round the world yacht race in 1996. For the past twenty years, he has been involved in providing medical advice for many yacht races, including the Volvo Ocean Race and the America’s Cup. He is an advisor to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in the UK, and is lead author of the latest edition of the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide. He has also written several other books on remote healthcare at sea and on land. He is a member of the Medical Commission for World Sailing, organising the medical aspects of international competitive sailing, including the Olympic Games. He is the owner and managing director of Medical Support Offshore Ltd, which provides support for super-yachts, racing and leisure yachts, and commercial shipping worldwide.