How PRAXES Telemedicine Supports Commercial Fishing Crews Through 5 Key Health Challenges
Life at sea is challenging, and when medical emergencies hit, the stakes are even higher. For commercial fishing crews working miles from shore, even minor health issues can quickly escalate without fast, expert help. That’s where PRAXES steps in.
A key aspect of providing comprehensive medical care onboard any vessel is having a well stocked medical kit. The PRAXES Medical team has designed our “Fishing Vessel Medical Kit” specifically to treat routine and emergency medical issues onboard these types of vessels, operating in challenging marine environments. Our physicians are provided with information about the kit on your vessel whenever you call.
5 Common Medical Emergencies at Sea
1. Shortness of Breath from Infections, Pre-existing Conditions, or Exposure
The Symptoms: Crew members may report feeling winded, tight-chested, or unable to take a full breath. This can result from viral infections like cold or flu, underlying conditions like asthma or COPD, or occupational exposure, such as inhaling steam saturated with shellfish particles. Smoking and poor baseline health can make symptoms worse.
How PRAXES Helps: Our emergency doctors help assess the cause and severity of shortness of breath and guide crews through safe treatment options using onboard medical supplies. If respiratory distress worsens, we can help determine whether the condition is manageable at sea or requires emergency evacuation.
2. Injuries from Deck Accidents
The Symptoms: Cuts, fractures, and crush injuries are common on fishing vessels. Watch for excessive bleeding, visible bone breaks, severe pain, swelling, or inability to move an injured limb. Deep cuts may show signs of infection like redness, warmth, or pus.
How PRAXES Helps: PRAXES emergency doctors are available in less than 2 minutes on average to assist with emergencies. The doctor will walk you through wound assessment, proper cleaning and dressing techniques, and splinting procedures. They can even walk you through suturing procedures if required.
Our PRAXES Connect software allows you to send photos of injuries for better assessment and maintain ongoing communication with the doctor throughout the treatment process.
3. Back and Neck Pain from Physically Demanding Work
The Symptoms: Repetitive lifting, twisting, and long hours on rough seas can lead to acute or chronic pain in the back or neck. Crew may report sharp or radiating pain, stiffness, or difficulty moving comfortably during shifts.
How PRAXES Helps: Our emergency doctors help manage pain flare-ups and assess whether symptoms suggest more serious injury. We guide crew members through the appropriate use of medication from the medical kit and help determine if continued work is safe.
4. Abdominal Pain
The Symptoms: Abdominal pain can indicate a range of potentially serious issues, such as appendicitis, gallbladder disease, bowel blockages, or hernias. Symptoms may include localized or cramping pain, bloating, vomiting, fever, or changes in bowel movements.
How PRAXES Helps: When abdominal pain arises at sea, timely assessment is key. PRAXES emergency doctors work with crews to evaluate the symptoms, guide a focused exam, and suggest safe use of medications from the onboard kit. We continue to monitor symptoms over time to ensure the condition is improving and help determine next steps if the pain persists.
5. Cardiac Events
The Symptoms: Heart problems can show up as chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, or pain radiating to the arm, neck, or jaw. Some people experience dizziness, light-headedness, or sudden fatigue.
How PRAXES Helps: Cardiac emergencies require immediate response. Our emergency doctors evaluate symptoms remotely and guide crew members through critical first aid measures. They’ll determine if life-saving medications from your medical kit should be administered and assess whether the patient needs emergency evacuation.
When a cardiac event is severe enough to require medevac, the PRAXES doctor makes the transport recommendation to the captain. The captain then contacts the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) to organize the evacuation.
In some cases, JRCC contacts the PRAXES doctor for additional clinical details. The PRAXES doctor remains available for ongoing monitoring, support, and care recommendations as needed, supporting both the ship and the medical evacuation team until the patient reaches definitive care.
PRAXES: Your Comprehensive Medical Safety Net
PRAXES provides more than just emergency medical advice. Our complete support system includes:
24/7 Emergency Access
Call our designated number anytime, anywhere in the world to connect with emergency doctors who understand maritime medical challenges.
Medical Kit Support
Your vessel’s medical supplies have been reviewed and approved by our medical directors, specifically for common fishing industry health issues.
PRAXES Connect Platform
This software allows you to message doctors, review case documentation, manage medical inventory, and receive prescriptions. PRAXES Connect is designed to work even in low-connectivity environments.
Protect Your Team: Reduce Medical Risk with 24/7 Telemedicine Support
While commercial fishing will always carry risks, PRAXES ensures your crew never face medical emergencies alone. By integrating our telemedicine solutions into your operations, you’re investing in a safer and more prepared workforce, ready to handle whatever challenges arise.
Ready to provide your crew with comprehensive medical support? Contact PRAXES today to learn how we can help keep your team healthy and safe on the water.
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