Ebola_Staying_Safe_576p

[K V H] [orchestra music] [KVH MEDIA GROUP TRAININGlink] [ONBOARD] [ONSHORE] [ONLINE] [TRAINING FROM VIDEOTEL] ♫ [Virus spreads] [New port restrictions] [Death toll rises] [EBOLA] [Staying Safe] [What is Ebola?] Ebola is one of the worlds most dangerous diseases. Its been around for decades largely in East and Central Africa but recently, West Africa has been at the center of the largest Ebola outbreak in history. Several countries have been effected so far and the disease could be spread further still through international travel. [airplane engines roaring] The Ebola virus can incubate for a long period. Someone who has been infected may not display symptoms for up to three weeks. When symptoms do develop, they are often similar to flu. [Dr Joe Baker Medical Director Medical Rescue International] Fever, headache, aching limbs. In a very short time they develop a sore throat and then rapidly to go on to have bleeding within the internal organs which gives rise to a severe diarrhea and vomiting. The disease can lead to fluid loss, the failure of multiple organs in the body, shock and finally, in as many as 9 out of 10 cases, death. Within 10 days a fortnight, the patient is usually dead. What's more? Currently, there is no vaccination and no cure. Infusions of fluid and antibiotics to save secondary infections from the virus are the only treatment available. [Martin Turner Syndicate Manager Claims Steamship Mutual] People are simply cared for if they fall ill but there is no actual drug treatment that's being given to them to help them be cured or to recover. It's a matter of whether their body simply fights it off itself. [Now wash your hands] However, despite the grim statistics, it only takes the kind of basic health protection measures set out in international regulations and World Health Organization guidance strictly applied, to avoid contracting the disease and limit its spread. And although there's no cure, the disease is survivable if diagnosed and treated early enough. In this program we're going to show you what everyone from every single member of a ships crew to masters, ship owners and managers can do to make sure that everyone on board any ship visiting an affected area stays safe. [How the virus spreads] So, how do people contract the disease? From contact with an infected persons' body secretions. As distinct from other viruses which are air born. The major way is through physical contact with an infected person [blood sweat vomit saliva faeces] which includes coming into contact with any of their bodily fluids. [mucus urine tears corpses semen] One of the ways this can occur is through sexual activity with an infected person. The virus can also spread through unsafe medical procedures such as using contaminated needles, syringes, tattoo equipment and so on. Wild animals can carry the disease and eating meat from an animal that has not been adequately cooked can also result in infection. [sizzle] Later in the program, we'll look at what can be done if someone does contract the disease. But first, lets look at what everyone involved can do to protect themselves and each other. [Reducing your risk of becoming infected] If a ship has to visit a port in an infected area, there are a number of steps everyone aboard must take. People shouldn't be going ashore perhaps to phone home or to buy local produce. The should, where at all possible, stay on board the ship. However, whether they are going ashore or not, the most important precaution to take is to avoid physical contact with anyone who has or may have the disease. Any form of contact of a close, personal, physical nature runs the risk of them being exposed to the virus. That also means avoiding any sexual activity. Even using a condom is not going to prevent you getting this Ebola virus. The method of transmission is wider. It can involve other bodily secretions— saliva, sweat, mucus. It is highly contagious. [buzz] Avoid needles, syringes, tattoo equipment or anything which can pierce the skin unless you are sure it's sterile for instance in a reputable medical center. Don't have any contact with wild animals whether alive or dead. Many can carry the disease and the virus does not die with the animal. For this reason, don't handle or eat bush meat. And wherever you are, wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Basic techniques of looking after yourself using personal hygiene methods will protect you. Once the ship is en route from an affected port, everyone on board should look out for any Ebola like symptoms in themselves or in others and report any concerns to whoever is in charge of medical care, immediately. [If someone on board shows symptoms...] If anyone on board develops symptoms which resemble Ebola, get medical advice from a shore based facility. Under free pratique regulations it may be possible to transport them to a shore based facility for treatment or to airlift someone out to the ship to provide medical assistance. If the ship carries testing kits for other diseases with similar symptoms such as Malaria, it may be possible to identify the illness and react appropriately. Wherever the patient is, if Ebola is recognized and treated early enough, it can be survived. The giving of intravenous fluids at an early stage to combat the severe fluid loss that sufferers often experience, is vital. If on board ship, the person receiving treatment must be kept totally isolated from the moment the symptoms are recognized. Isolate that individual and also reduce the number of people who will be in contact with them. There are very strict precautions which must be fully understood by anyone who has to have contact with them to avoid further transmission of the disease. Briefly, these involve keeping contact with the patient to an absolute minimum. Anyone entering the isolation area must wear very full person protective equipment or PPE, including a face mask, gloves and a waterproof apron to protect the body. Think operating theater. No area of their skin should be allowed to come into contact with the patient under any circumstances. After use, this PPE must be removed and disposed of with extreme care. The workbook which comes with this program gives more details of the procedures that must be followed by anyone entering the isolation area. Anyone doing so, must be fully briefed about these procedures first, understand them and follow them in every detail. [What Masters can do to help] Before arriving in an affected port, the Master should gather as much information as possible about the local situation. He can seek advice from the local port agent as to the extent of the outbreak that may be occurring in that country and the type of controls that he will be allowed to exercise with regard to persons boarding the ship. One measure which will help protect everyone on board is to keep the amount of contact between the crew and the local population to a minimum. But there are some practical considerations. In West African ports, a lot of cargo's are break bulk cargo's. Our floating those cargoes or taking cargoes on has to involve stevedores and port officials coming on board the ships. Indeed, in certain areas there's gotta be maritime security providers who are locals who come on board. So, what measures can the master take? First of all, the master must make sure that all crew members are aware of the risks and their part in helping to reduce them. Where possible, the master should discourage shore leave and avoid sending crew members ashore to purchase supplies for instance unless it is absolutely necessary. As well as this, the master should look to control and minimize the number of people coming on board their level of access to the ship and the amount of physical contact they have with crew members. It's worth baring in mine that in the current circumstances, the risk of unauthorized people attempting to board the vessel may be higher than normal. So, ISPS requirements that no unauthorized personnel board the vessel must be strictly enforced. And, the master should review and update the vessel security plan and consider taking extra measures. Before stevedores come on board a ship, the master should agree with the stevedore company or their foreman, what the arrangements for comfort breaks and meals will be. Where possible, these should be taken off the ship. The aim should be to keep stevedore access to the ship's accommodation to an absolute minimum. The master should arrange for soap and water or hand sanitizer to be provided at the base of the gangway for stevedores to use before boarding the ship. It may also be necessary for the ship to provide them with latrine facilities on board. The master should also make sure that any area stevedores do use, including latrines, gangway railings and cargo handling gear such as the ships wench and hatch controls, are cleaned afterwards with disinfectant or bleach. Once en route from an affected port, the master must report any incidents of symptoms on board to the ships managers. They must then contact appropriate marine medical providers for assistance. [What ship owners and managers can do to help] Every now and again we have these situations where the crew are potentially exposed to a greater harm and the employer has got to take note of that. He's got to do a risk assessment, they've got to put in place measures which reduces the exposure of the crew to that risk. Ship owners and managers are receiving advice from organizations like the World Health Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping, and from the various clubs within the international group. That information and that advice is going to be evolving and continuous. Here are just some of the measures owners and managers can take. Crew changes should not be made in affected ports unless it is absolutely unavoidable. Managers and masters should make sure that a ships supplies of fuel, water, food, and other critical supplies are sufficient to cope with any delays or diversions. Similarly, they should also check that every ship has adequate stocks of personal protective equipment, or PPE, sanitation and medical supplies. For instance, face masks, gloves, disposable gowns, and testing kits for diseases with Ebola like symptoms like Malaria for example. Crew medical records, vaccinations and so on, must be kept up to date. Medical professionals or port state officials may require that information. And ships must be ready to meet any other port state requirements such as a maritime deceleration of health or ship sanitation control exemption control certificate either in affected ports or other ports the ship may visit after calling at an affected port. It's going to be beholden on owners and the managers and the masters to absolutely understand the threat so that everything they do on board meets the evolving threat. Remember, Ebola is a deadly disease, so everyone involved with a ship, from the owners and managers to the master and every single member of the crew needs to play their part to make sure that everyone on board stays safe. [EBOLA Staying Safe A Videotel Production in association with STEAMSHIP MUTUAL] [The producers would like to acknowledge the assistance of] [Medical Rescue International, MSC Cruises, Topaz Marine, Ince & Co LLP, International Chamber of Shipping [ICS]] [International Maritime Organization [IMO], INTERTANKO, International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network [ISWAN]]