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When is a bruise not just a bruise?
I have a confession to make… Below Deck is my guilty pleasure! There it’s out! Everyone knows! But seriously, this blog has been created in response to an incident I saw on Below Deck Med, where a deck hand slipped and fell, resulting in a large and painful bruise on his thigh.
Anyone who has spent time on and around boats will be familiar with the ‘giraffe pattern’ of bruising that inevitably happens. I’ve often got no idea what I’ve bumped into in order to create bruises, especially out on deck where there are a thousand and one sticky out bits just waiting for unwary toes and shins! Normally bruises are small and clear up as nature intended. But what if they’re not ‘normal’? How would you know? And what can you do to treat them?
Everyone will get bruises at some time and we all know what they look like. Most heal with no intervention and don’t need any worry, but others can be a sign or something more serious so it’s good to know the difference.
When the body’s soft tissues experience trauma, the small veins and capillaries under the skin can be damaged, allowing blood to leak out. But if the skin isn’t broken the blood has nowhere to go so it pools, forms clots and collects under the skin, turning it red, blue, purple or black. The size and severity of the bruise, or contusion, depends on the force and mechanism of injury and it may be tender or quite painful.
It’s also worth remembering that bone is also a tissue and can bruise. Some medical conditions such as arthritis can make someone more susceptible to bone bruises. Symptoms are the same, pain, discomfort, colour change, swelling. But, it’s likely to be more painful and last longer. Treat in the same way as other bruises.
What do the colours of a bruise mean?
Bruises change colour and you can often estimate the age from the colour. The body breaks down the blood cells as part of the natural healing process, but should fade completely within 2 weeks. Typical colours are:
- Red - Bruises often begin as a red mark on the skin because fresh, oxygen-rich blood has pooled under the skin.
- Blue, purple or black - After 1-2 days the blood that has leaked out begins to lose oxygen and change color. Depending on the size, location and severity of your bruise, it could appear shades of blue, purple or black.
- Yellow or green - Between 5-10 days after the initial trauma your bruise will begin to turn a yellow or green shade as the body breaks down hemoglobin (blood).
- Yellowish-brown or light brown - This is the final stage of bruising and typically occurs between 10-14 days after the initial trauma.
What’s the difference between bruises, contusions and haematoma’s?
Bruises are also known as contusions and happen when blood leaks into the top layers of skin (Ecchymosis). A haemotoma occurs when clotted blood forms a lump under your skin which is swollen, raised and painful - an ‘egg’ on your head following a bump is a good example. Haematomas are more serious, can develop quickly, and you should be wary of haematomas on the head, face and abdomen.
- Head - hematomas may cause headaches, vomiting, nausea, and in severe cases, slurred speech and confusion.
- Face - Septal hematomas make the nose and area under the eyes swell and bruise. They can also cause nosebleeds or clear fluid draining from the nose.
- Abdomen - Abdominal hematomas may not initially cause any symptoms but can lead to swelling, tenderness and pain. They can also be a sign of internal organ damage.
How to treat bruises
Mild to moderate bruises typically heal after 2 weeks, though some may heal more quickly. There are a few treatments that you can try to encourage the healing process and reduce pain.
- Over the counter pain relief
Paracetamol is a ‘wonder drug’ and should be the first line of defence in tackling mild to moderate pain following an injury. It’s much underused but we recommend it, taken according to the instructions, for bruising. Anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are not recommended in the first 48 hours after an injury as evidence shows they can slow down the inflammatory process which is a vital part of healing. - Cold compress
Icing the affected area can help a bruise to heal more quickly. Wrap the ice pack (frozen peas will do!) in a clean, dry cloth and place over the bruise. Cold slows the bleeding by constricting blood vessels and reducing inflammation, which can help reduce the size of the bruise too. - Topical creams
Over-the-counter topical healing creams like arnica, quercetin, vitamin B3, or vitamin K offer anti-inflammatory benefits to help speed up healing times providing the skin isn’t broken. Take advice on what would be best for you, or what to carry if you’re planning a longer voyage. - Compression
A soft elastic wrap for the first 1-2 days, during waking hours, can help decrease pain and bruising. The wrap should be firm, but not too tight. If you notice any numbness, tingling or increased discomfort, loosen or remove the wrap. - Elevation
Elevating the bruised area comfortably, above heart level, can offer similar healing benefits to a cold compress. It helps slow the bleeding and may reduce the size of the bruising.
When to get a bruise checked
As we’ve mentioned, bruising is normally superficial and disappears after 2 weeks, but if it’s due to a more significant trauma or injury, or lingering after 2 weeks, you’ll need to seek advice. So, ask for help if
- You think a sprain or broken bone may have caused the bruise.
- The cause was trauma to the head or neck.
- It keeps getting bigger after the first day.
- It makes your arm or leg numb, tingly, swollen or tight.
- It lasts for more than a couple of weeks or shows up again for no reason.
- It’s around your eye and you have a hard time seeing or looking in different directions.
- You got it from hitting your head, trunk, or belly.
- A lump develops under the bruise.
- The pain lasts longer than 2-3 days.
- The bruising is unexplained or random, especially in the abdomen, chest or head as it may indicate an internal injury.
Increased risk of bruising
There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of bruising and as always we’d recommend having a list of crew medical conditions and medications they take available for emergencies.
- People taking prescription blood thinners (anti-coagulants).
- 50 years or older - thinner skin means there’s no ‘cushion’ of fatty tissue to protect you.
- Known bleeding disorders such as liver disease, Vitamin K deficiency or a genetic disorder.
- Blood vessel defects.
- Platelet disorders.
- Kidney disease.
- Leukaemia.
- Malnutrition.
- Haemophilia A or B.
- Cushings Syndrome.
If the bruise looks like tiny dark red/purple spots or patches (large - pupura, small - petechiae), seek medical advice straight away, especially if the casualty appears unwell.
How to prevent bruises
Well, you could always stay wrapped up in cotton wool?
Or, just think about the most likely situations onboard when bumps and therefore bruises might occur. Remove trip hazards, keep lines tidy, be aware of the boom and use correct tacking/jibing commands to communicate what’s happening. Use a torch or head torch (hands free!) at night. Keep two points of contact at all times when moving around in rough seas. Communicate with each other. Wear appropriate clothing and footwear. Plan your actions before moving, especially on deck.
Of course, if you’d like to know more about staying safe at sea and how to treat minor injuries, give us a call to chat about our specialist onboard training for commercial, cruise, superyacht, leisure sailors and powerboaters. You never know when you might need medical skills and we can help to make sure you’re prepared for any eventuality.
Welcome to our latest guest blog where we’ve been chatting to James Griffiths, General Manager of Ocean Operations for Scenic Group and finding out more about what happens behind the scenes in order to keep a fleet of luxury expedition ships running. Here’s what James told us… As General Manager of Ocean Operations, I’m responsible for the operations of our fleet which includes four ships in service with around 850 colleagues. I currently live in Mumbles, near Swansea in the UK, but due to the nature of my work I spend a significant amount of time living in Croatia. Prior to this role, I spent many years working at sea and worked up through the ranks to Captain and over the last 15 years, my main focus has been on polar expedition travel. I hold a master mariner certificate of competency in addition to a degree in engineering and a post graduate diploma in law. Part of my job is to work with our medical service provider (Red Square Medical) to ensure that our ships are offering medical services that are appropriate for their deployment, and this can often be to some of the most extreme and remote locations around the world. It’s extremely varied, though during the COVID-19 pandemic, I came ashore when our operations paused for a significant period of time. I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to lead the restart of our Ocean Operations, which included setting up everything from a company to manage the ships, to selecting our crewing, medical, helicopter and submarine partners and providers, amongst many other things. Our areas of operation, and the nature of our cruises (expedition), plus having aircraft and submersibles onboard some, do mean additional elements involved in the management of these ships. You could say that this current position is more of a happy coincidence than one that I actually planned for! In some ways this is a great positive - I do think it’s possible to plan a little too much and then be disappointed if things don’t go quite the way you had imagined. But there’s no danger of that here!
Back in February 2022, we brought you one of our very first guest blogs from Simon Lawton, a Paramedic who has swapped out his ambulance for a Superyacht! You can read the original blog here: https://www.redsquaremedical.com/superyacht-paramedic-a-guest-blog-from-simon-lawton Over the last 2+ years, we’ve followed Simon’s career, and some of you may even recognise him as he does put a Red Square Medical instructor hat on from time to time. But, as for all healthcare professionals, Simon has to keep his skills up to date. So, we asked him to tell us a bit more about how he juggles this along with a rota onboard. Here’s what he told us… I’m originally from Stoke-on-Trent in the UK and trained as a HCPC registered Paramedic. I’ve spent almost 5 years working at sea now, with almost continuous employment on three different vessels, after leaving the ambulance service in 2019. My first role was as a Paramedic/Deck hand on Superyachts, and I now work as a Medical Officer on a maritime vessel. Even before I applied to become a Paramedic, I intended to complete my studies to help find employment in a remote or offshore environment. I had always been attracted to the idea of being able to travel the world while earning a salary. Working at sea has meant that I have travelled extensively, earnt a higher salary, and have a better work/rest balance than would be possible in a role on land. Note: At the time of writing, a qualified Paramedic’s starting pay in the UK was £28,407 and Simon’s old rota was 2 days, 2 nights (all 12 hours) and 4 days off with very inflexible annual leave. This year I decided to carry out some continual professional development (CPD) at a hospital in Mexico, to keep my skills up to date. I was interested in travelling to find out more about how healthcare services are provided outside the UK and Europe. The CPD activity in Mexico allowed me to do exactly that, while caring for and treating a wide variety of patients who had either self-presented in the emergency department, or been conveyed to hospital by ambulance.
Welcome to our September blog, and as we all start (in the UK at least!) to think about adding a few layers for warmth, we’d like to talk about getting naked! Well, to be more specific, getting bra’s off. Fact: Women are dying because bystanders are less likely to carry out CPR on women than men. Research shows that women are 27% less likely to receive CPR than men and if a defibrillator is used, their chance of survival is affected by bra’s being left on. Most of us have never had the chance to train using a female manikin. The #BraOffDefibOn campaign aims to address the inequality in CPR for women and we’re supporting it.
In August, we brought you a Guest Blog from Mark Hannaford, the founder of World Extreme Medicine. This month, it’s the turn of another of the key WEM faculty members… introducing Dr Will Duffin. Hello everyone, I’m Dr Will Duffin and I’m a GP in Devon in the UK. I’m the Joint Medical Director of World Extreme Medicine (WEM) and the Lead Medic for the US CBS TV show ‘Survivor’ - for Seasons 43, 44, 46 and 48, which is also through WEM. Extreme Medicine is healthcare that is delivered across the full spectrum of remote, austere and challenging environments. This includes high mountains, deep oceans, jungles, deserts, polar, low earth orbit and refugee camps… the list is endless. Being a part of the wider Extreme Medicine community through WEM has been a portal into new worlds of possibility and opportunity in my medical career as an NHS GP. It’s a huge privilege to treat patients in a remote setting. You get to do proper ‘hands on’ medicine that truly tests your clinical skills, risk management and decision making. Even basic techniques and principles done well can transform patient outcomes. That’s the big reward. I graduated from Bristol Medical School in 2008 and completed my GP Training in Cornwall, UK in 2016. In between, I spent 18 months in Australia to gain as much emergency department experience as I could, whilst doing Wilderness Medicine Courses. I landed my first expedition gig 12 years ago when I was post-FY2 (Foundation Years follow on after qualifying as a doctor). I covered a Kilimanjaro Trek after another doctor dropped out at the last minute. Once I had this under my belt, I was able to leverage this experience to get the next trip. So, I soon found myself providing regular medical cover for various commercial and charity sector expeditions. These expeditions have taken me all over the world: Kilimanjaro, the Peruvian Andes, the Himalayas, Northern China, Eastern Europe, Myanmar and Madagascar. One highlight was working as the private doctor for a Luxury Trans-Siberian Train! Though I became frustrated having to constantly wrangle annual leave to go away, so I made the switch to being a freelance (locum) GP, which has given me the flexibility I need. I joined WEM in 2018 after responding to a Facebook Ad for the ‘Survivor’ job. I was invited to a selection weekend in the Peak District, which is when I first met Mark Hannaford WEM founder and CEO and Dr Joe Rowles, WEM’s other Medical Director, and it all went on from there. Early on, I was given the opportunity to lead on the content for the annual World Extreme Medicine Conference and our various podcasts and webinars. Through doing this, I have met a colourful cast of characters; other extreme medics who are as audacious as they are inspirational! We have a lot of fun at the conference every year, learning from one another. https://worldextrememedicine.com/registration/wem-conference-2024 (Note from the RSM team – the conference is highly recommended and well worth a visit!)
Last year, the Red Square Medical team descended on the World Extreme Medicine (WEM) conference for the very first time. We’d been aware of this unique organisation for many years, but just not had the chance to get involved. Liz was involved in a panel discussion and spoke at the conference, and we came away literally buzzing with enthusiasm - our first impressions were that WEM is a place with no ego’s, where everyone wants to learn, and is willing to share. We met some of the most fascinating people ever and can’t wait to go back this year. But what about the person who started it all… We spoke to Mark Hannaford, founder of World Extreme Medicine and its far reaching impact. Here’s what he had to say. I’ve been involved in expeditions, working in low resource environments and extreme medicine for the past three decades! My family was made up of generations of seafarers from Cornwall although I was brought up variously in Devon, Antigua in the Caribbean and the Middle East; reflecting my father’s job as a Master Mariner. My father was at one time the youngest captain aboard the UK’s largest registered vessel, and my grandfather was Harbour Master for Malta and the first in that role in Plymouth at the start of Queen Elizabeth’s reign. I wear a number of hats but primarily I am the founder and CEO of World Extreme Medicine, and the annual WEM Conference. I also founded the MSc in Extreme Medicine at the University of Exeter and Graduate Certificate program at Bouvré College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston.
Women’s health is a huge topic, while it’s true that in the maritime sector women make up just 2% of seafarers at sea, up to 34% of the shore based staff are female. Looking at the bigger picture, women’s health directly affects just under half of our population globally, and indirectly (whether you like it or not!) the other half, we thought it was worth a blog about some of the issues, and the taboo’s, that could be affecting our maritime workforce and the women in our lives. It's common knowledge that women experience huge hormonal changes at puberty and menopause, both of which can have significant physical and mental health impacts. In the UK, there is a growing discussion and openness about peri-menopause (the years before periods stop altogether) and how for some women, this has devastating effects across all aspects of their lives, including work. Of course men experience changes at puberty, but their later life changes are less significant and generally don’t affect their ability to work. In December 2023 the World Health Organisation (WHO) issued a statement to advise that every year, at least 40 million women are likely to experience a long term health problem caused by childbirth. So there’s a good chance that we all know one or more women affected, or if you are female… this could be you. As part of a special series on maternal health, the study showed a high burden of postnatal conditions that persist in the months and years after giving birth. These issues include more than a third of women experiencing pain during intercourse, urinary incontinence (8-31%), anal incontinence (19%), anxiety (9-24%), depression (11-17%), perineal pain (11%), a fear of childbirth (6-15%) and secondary infertility (11%). All in all it doesn’t paint a great picture of life after childbirth for some women. If any of your workers experience these issues, either on or off shore, it could have a significant impact on areas of their working life and it’s something they may be reluctant to open up about. Even before childbirth, we may take it for granted that contraception is available, certainly in the developed world. But in developing countries where sexual violence is not uncommon, contraception is considered lifesaving due to the high level of unsafe abortions carried out. Around 13 million women (and girls) under 20 give birth annually and complications in the pregnancy and birth is a leading cause of death. Consequently abortion is an option, but this carries its own huge risks.
We just love speaking to and finding out more about the people who inspire us and we guarantee that this month’s blog will not disappoint! We first got in touch with Wendy Sullivan via LinkedIn and thought she seemed like a pretty awesome human. Wendy and her company, Maritime Medical Solutions in Australia, certainly share the same outlook as Red Square Medical. Fast forward a couple of years and we’re now collaborating on a project in Australia and the Pacific Islands. What we’ve learnt along the way is simply fascinating and Wendy has kindly agreed to share her story with us… Here is Wendy’s Guest Blog: I was born in Canada, grew up in Africa and now call Australia my home. I feel lucky to live in paradise where the weather allows us to be on the water year-round. I had to work hard to gain my Australian citizenship and I credit my work in the marine industry with giving me a pathway to stay in Australia permanently. It took years of hard work and uncertainty to gain my residency and is still one of the achievements I am most proud of. I started sailing in Canada and since emigrating to Australia gained my professional and commercial qualifications as a vessel master, marine engine driver, trainer and assessor. I also have a Diploma of Paramedical Science, ship masters medical qualifications, business administration and development and there is still so much more to come.
Working at sea can be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling careers. But you can’t gloss over the fact that it can be dangerous. Whether you’re working on a tanker, ploughing up and down the oceans, a Superyacht enjoying a busy season of charters, or any vessel in between; our love/hate relationship buddy Neptune takes no prisoners! The Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS) Convention in its successive forms is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant and other vessels. The first version was adopted in 1914, in response to the Titanic disaster, and went through several iterations up to 1974. The Convention in force today is generally referred to as SOLAS 1974, as amended. SOLAS regulations cover all areas of safety at sea, including construction, fire prevention and detection, life saving equipment, cargo carriage, navigation, communications and a host of other areas. Regulation 33 of the SOLAS Convention applies to all ships, and places an obligation on Masters to respond to distress calls at sea and proceed ‘with all speed’ to their assistance. Anyone working in the maritime sector, hopes that they are never on the receiving end of this regulation, but we’ve experienced two quite different instances, where the ships we work with have responded and our Medical teams have played an important part in rendering aid.
This week’s blog is an introduction to telemedicine as although it’s probably been around for longer than you think, you might not be familiar with what’s available to help you. So whether you’re a leisure sailor taking on the ARC; work in commercial shipping, spend your time on a Superyacht, or anything in between, read on for more information… According to the UKs National Institute for Clinical Excellence, (NICE: https://www.nice.org.uk/), ships being on the water for months at a time mean that health can be a life-threatening challenge for sailors and seafarers. Access to healthcare providers has always been one of the most critical issues for offshore crews and it’s worth remembering that the International Labour Organization (ILO), dictates that access to medical treatments and health services should be guaranteed to seafarers in the same way as for people working ashore. Nowadays, telemedicine technology has emerged to improve healthcare delivery in many remote areas where there is no direct access to healthcare services using telecommunication services. Among them, maritime Telemedical Assistance Services (TMAS) have become more readily available and are now considered an integral part of a shipowner's emergency response operations. The advent and uptake of Starlink in both the commercial and leisure sectors can only be a positive from a medical perspective. So, what is Telemedicine? What does it do and how does it work? Telemedicine is a term that’s becoming more and more common in the maritime world. Quite simply, it is the provision of remote clinical services, via real-time two-way communication between the onboard medic (trained crew or healthcare professionals) and/or the patient themselves, and a shore-based healthcare professional, using electronic audio and visual means. The modern history of Telemedicine can be traced back as far as 1905, when a Dutch physician used long distance transfer of ECGs (electrocardiograms) to be read remotely. But as early as the 1920s onwards, radio communications were being used to pass medical information to patients at sea on ships and on remote islands. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought Telemedicine to the forefront of healthcare. Though we may not easily recognise what it actually is, the majority of GPs (certainly in the UK) and other allied healthcare professionals in the non-acute world, such as Physiotherapists and Mental Health support, have relied heavily on telephone and video consultations since March 2020. A survey conducted by Nautilus International and Martek Marine (2017) showed that a staggering 98% of seafarers believed that greater access to Telemedicine support would save lives at sea. Of those questioned, 68% had been on a vessel that was forced to divert due to a medical emergency and 70% had been on a vessel where there had been a medical evacuation. Emergencies experienced at sea ranged from severed limbs and broken bones, to gunshot wounds, tropical diseases, allergic reactions and sudden cardiac arrest. Whether you’re a commercial seafarer or leisure sailor, it would improve confidence in making a decision on whether an injury, or illness was severe enough to warrant a diversion, or evacuation, if there was a trained medic on the end of the phone or radio. Ever improving communications also means that we can now go far beyond voice calls. Photos of injuries, files of test results and even live streaming is all possible and helps to provide a much more indepth service. Our own team member, Rachel, received Telemedicine support via SatPhone and email, on a 7 metre Ocean Rowing Boat (yes, you did read that right!) in the middle of the Atlantic, when her rowing partner developed a painful injury. Remote intervention from a Doctor onshore helped to maximise use of the medical kit contents for the short and long term, rule out immediate worries of infection, and develop a pain management plan for the rest of the rowing race. One in five commercial ships a year are forced to divert for a medical emergency, with unknown numbers of other, non-commercial vessels on top. So there is also consideration for the cost and time involved, plus the stress to both the patient, and their medic who is managing a situation onboard, possibly alone!
At Red Square Medical, we’re keen to support those who have a passion for maritime medicine. While we can’t provide placements for everyone, occasionally a request pops up at just the right time and we can provide some experience and insight into our unique and specialised world. Last year we were contacted by Jordan Lin, a medical student with a love of the ocean. This is his story… When I was a boy, my dad and I used to go fishing with a local fisherman off the Norfolk coast. I absolutely loved being on the sea and so for quite a long time, I wanted to be a fisherman. When I got a bit older I kind of forgot about this and think I may have been slightly put off by watching the TV series ‘World’s Deadliest Catch’! But I have always loved being on the water and spent a lot of time sailing dinghies; I was also a swimming teacher for children back in high school and college. Later, I decided to study medicine and I’m now a final year medical student at the University of Bristol where I completed an intercalated degree; a Masters in Health Sciences Research. I’m now looking forward to starting work as a qualified Doctor in August. Though having spent 6 years training, my next 2 years will be spent working for the required two foundation training years that must be completed before being able to work independently as a Doctor in the UK. At university, I joined the VITA network which is a group dedicated to developing a health and public health approach at the heart of any response to human trafficking and exploitation. I became the blog coordinator for the organisation and you can read the blogs, including those that I have written, here: https://vita-network.com/blog/ In my spare time, I have been involved with the Bristol University Hot Air Ballooning Society and trained through the society to get my Balloon pilots licence. So, I often spend weekends during the summer flying in a leisurely fashion over Bristol and the surrounding area!