Sickbay

The sickbay otherwise known as hospital room is the dedicated space on a ship to treat the ill and injured.

"Chef, your sharpest knife please."

the Captain spoke while looking over the top of his blood spattered glasses.

Etymology

I don't think I have to explain the sick part of the name sickbay. But other than you might think the bay part is not related to that nice beaach on an inward curved piece of land, with palm trees and coconuts. But actually it's an area below decks on a ship, in front of the forward mast, usually in the shoulder of the ship off to the port or starboard side. ^{(As can be seen in the picture to the right)}

In Dutch this space is called a ziekenboeg, which word for word would translate to sick bow.

Sickbay USS Constellation by Lance Fairbanks

Location

As I explained above, in the past the sickbay was located in the forward part of the ship, or at least on the big navy ships. On historical merchant ships, the sick maybe just lay in the messroom. On modern ships the ship's hospital is located somewhere in the accommodation. usually somewhere near one of the lifeboats, so that if necessary there is an easy access. Outside of the hospital one can find the oxygen bottle, which is due to the fire risk not allowed to be stored inside. Fixed piping will lead this medical oxygen to a regulator mounted near the bunk.

Sickbay on navy ship by Akitsumaru

Currently

In the modern sickbay you will find a bunk, and the medicine chest, nowadays a full locker covering an entire wall, including refrigerators to keep some medicines cool. Also other medical tools such as the stretcher, AED, braces and a quick response first aid kit.

On the big navy ships, or even the cruise ships, you will find a lot more equipment. Maybe even a full operating room.

Who is the doctor?

With most military ships and cruise ships, you can expect to find a doctor, or even a whole medical team, onboard. But this isn't always the case, small ferries or even short service (less than three days), fishing boats, merchant ships, they don't have doctors, physians, surgeons or nurses onboard. There it comes to the Captain and Chief Officer to do what needs to be done on medical demands.

Medical handbook

The medical handbook is generally also located in the ship's hospital. It comprises one or two books or binders. Filled with questions about the patient's symptoms.

-Does the patient experience abdominal pains? Yes go to page 145, No go to page 132.

After going trough a whole list of if X then Y, if Y then Z questions, one ends on the most probable reason for the suffering of the unhappy crew member, and the book will advise giving medicine X1234, by this and that dosage. This code is printed on the bottle, or box of the medicines. And this code is internationally the same.

In addition there is information on how to apply bandages and do stitches. And how to best report to shore based doctors or other ships.

Hospital ships

Honerary mention must go to the hospital ships. Ships of this class are basically one giant sickbay. A floating hospital just as capable as their more stable cousins on the shore. Most are run by navies, and used to aid their army when fighting a war, or more common to give aid during/after (natural) disasters.

Hospital Ship Marama off Sinclair Head by Frank Barnes

Medicine chest

Medicine chest of Sir Stanley Hewett, surgeon to the King by Science Museum Group (UK)

Unlike big military ships, merchants didn't have a dedicated sickbay, or even a doctor/surgeon onboard. For a long time the sickbay consisted of the medicine chest, and if necesary the messroom table.

Genoese medicine chest, 1562-1566 by Science Museum Group (UK)

The medicine chest is what it sounds like a box containing all kinds of medicine, medicaments and potions. Some where shaped like ornatly decorate wooden boxes. Others where much simpler of design, in modern times they are made of metal or plastic.

'Tabloid' medicine chest used on Dr Hamilton Rice's Amazonia by Science Museum Group (UK)

Some of the smaller ships still only cary a medicine chest, which is more elaborate then your general first aid kit, but not far off.

All medicines inside the chest are number coded, and a booklet with common diseases can be inside to figure out which potion to use. The specific minimum contents of the chest is regulated by flag-state and shipping companies can add on top of that.

Radio Medical Advice

In the modern day it's not by radio anymore but by e-mail or even video-calling if the satelite internet signal is sufficient. But in most countries there are dedicated doctors who are 'on call' to answer any questions a ship might have on medical problems.

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