Seek early medical assistance, no matter how small the injury

1. Hot hydraulic fluid cuts like a scalpel; a Fisherman's account:
Whilst trying to track down the source of a small leak from a burst rubber pipe on the power block of a fishing vessel, the co-skipper received a blast of hydraulic fluid (at 2500 p.s.i.) into the palm of his hand.  The blast cut through the skin, disrupting blood vessels and muscle, causing him considerable pain.  He would normally have dressed the wound himself in order to carry on working.  In this instance, the vessel was coming into port to land the catch and he "took the opportunity" to visit a doctor.  An immediate flight to hospital was arranged where he underwent two major operations, one of seven hours and another of a further four hours.  He is still not back at work and realises that had he not sought immediate treatment, the incident would have resulted in the amputation of his hand.

2. Cut hand turns septic:  
A fisherman cut his hand whilst gutting fish.  Assuming the cut to be a minor one, he dressed it and decided to carry on his normal work, with the wound coming into contact with muck and dirt.  On his return to port some days later, the hand turned septic and required treatment.  This incident resulted in the fisherman being out of work for a considerable time.

HM Coastguard provides Radio Medical Advice Link Calls (RMA), where it is able to link vessels at sea with appropriate medical authorities ashore.  Therefore, the Master or Skipper of any vessel requiring medical advice can contact the nearest Co-ordination Centre by VHF Channel 16 (156.8 MHz), 2182 kHz MF or DSC, requesting urgent medical advice.  Alternatively, particularly in an urgent situation, he may broadcast "Pan Pan Medico"

REMEMBER ANY INJURY, NO MATTER HOW SMALL, SHOULD RECEIVE IMMEDIATE TREATMENT