Medical / Medical Emergencies

Preparation Before Leaving Home to Cruise - Your Most Important Step

Preparations with Your Regular Medical Professionals
  • Make arrangements with your principal medical professionals for a way to reach them by phone and email in a medical emergency. Most doctors will make special provisions for cruisers to get direct access in an emergency.
  • Before leaving home on your cruise, discuss with your doctor a set of prescriptions for emergency drugs for you to carry aboard to use in case of emergency - after getting additional medical advice for your specific problem. Get these filled before departure and store carefully.
  • Carry emergency phone numbers for the medical professionals you see when home and other sources for emergency medical advice.
  • If you take drugs regularly, be sure to get prescriptions filled that will cover the duration of your cruise - OR make provision to receive them by mail / express shipment.
  • Carry back up prescriptions that you can get filled locally in one of the Bahamian cities / settlements with pharmacies.

Medical Kits
  • Invest in a good medical kit.
  • Discuss with your doctor suggestions for augmenting it.
  • Take a quantity of normal saliine solution (IV bags of saline are great).
  • Make an inventory so you can find what you need under stressful conditions.

Emergency Medicines
  • Outside of the larger Bahamian cities / settlements, it may be difficult to get a specific antibiotic or other drug so it is best to have a supply of emergency medicals aboard.
  • Before leaving home on your cruise, discuss with your doctor a set of prescriptions for emergency drugs for you to carry aboard to use in case of emergency after getting additional medical advice for your specific problem. Get these filled before departure and store carefully.
  • If you have received medical advice that requires a specific drug that you do not have aboard, there is a good possibility that another cruiser may have a supply. Use the above VHF advice to seek a potential source.

Medical Assistance in the Bahamas

Access to Bahamian Medical Clinics, Doctors and Nurses.
  • The Guide lists the location and phone numbers for Bahamian medical clinics and doctors on the webpage for each cay/cruising area.
  • Use the Geographic Index to find the webpage(s) for the area you are cruising.
  • The Bahamian government has established medical clinics in most of the larger settlements. These are usually staffed by nurses. Doctors make periodic visits. There are doctors in residence in some of the larger settlements.
  • Pharmacies are available only in the larger settlements.

Medivac
  • The United States has an agreement with the Bahamas that the US Coast Guard will provide medivac assistance when the medical condition is severe. The Bahamas Defense Force should initiate the contact.

Medical Ambulance Services
  • Air Ambulance; 954-491-0555. Service from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
  • American Jets Air Ambulance; 772-465-0893. Service from Ft. Pierce.
  • Divers Alert Network; 800-446-2671/ 919-684-8111. Service from Duke U., Durham NC.
  • Life Flight; 888-543-3358; 305-663-6859. Service from Opalocka FL; pediatrics only.
  • Medical Air Services Association; 800-423-3226.
  • National Air Ambulance;800-327-3710; 954-359-9400. Service from Fort Lauderdale.
  • U.S. Air Ambulance; 800-948-1215; 941-536-2000. Service from FL.

Medical Advice and Assistance from Medical Professionals Cruising in the Bahamas
  • One of the best sources of near-by medical advice is a medical professional who happens to be cruising or in residence nearby. These individuals are best contacted through emergency medical broadcasts on VHF or SSB.

Embassy Assistance
  • Foreign Embassies can provide travelers with assistance. See Embassies for contact information.

Communications

Cell Phone:
  • User your Bahamas GSM cell phone to call one of the local clinics, local police, or local marina / hotel for their local knowledge of the location of professional help.

Satphone:
  • Carry emergency phone numbers for the medical professionals you see when home and other sources for emergency medical advice.
  • Even if you do not have a satphone, It is highly likely that someone nearby will have one and be willing to assist you.

VHF:
  • Use VHF Ch-16 to make an "all stations" call requesting assistance from any vessel within range.
  • Call one of the high-power shore stations in your area (marina, restaurant, etc.) and ask their assistance in rebroadcasting your request.
  • In the Abacos or George Town, use the cruisers nets to make a request for assistance. See relevant webpage in the Guide.

SSB:
  • SSB is a great tool for contacting vessels in a broader area than can be reached by VHF.
  • Use established SSB nets and ask the net controller to put out a broadcast for a station to assist you. Then move to another frequency to conduct the conversation.
  • If you do not have an SSB, make a request on VHF for a near-by vessel to assist you with their SSB.
  • Note: In an emergency you may transmit on a Ham (non-marine) SSB frequency without a Ham license.

SSB Nets:
  • Waterways Net: 7268 KHz; LSB; Simplex; Ham SSB; at 0730.
  • Cruzheimers Net: 6227 KHz; USB; Simplex; Marine SSB; at 0830.

Updated: 23 Dec 10