Ebola_Staying_Safe_576p
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[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]]