Fishing boats equipped with life-saving defibrillators
Fishermen around our coasts face difficult challenges every day to put food on our tables. Managing accidents, injuries and medical emergencies at sea requires a well-trained crew with the right knowledge and equipment. Self-sufficiency can save lives.
Sally Chamberlain is our Industry Engagement Manager for Northern Ireland. She is responsible for offering support to the local seafood industry and enabling access to Seafish information and services.
Sally on behalf of Seafish facilitates the Northern Ireland Fishermen's Safety Forum (NIFSF). The group provides a platform for fishermen, fishing organisations and a wide range of agencies including the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA), Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the Fishermen’s Mission, safety training providers and harbour authorities, to ensure a partnered approach to improving health and safety amongst the fishing fleet in Northern Ireland.
Since the pilot of their Defibrillator Project in 2022 The Seafarers Hospital Society (SHS) have helped install several defibrillators at ports and on boats across the UK. Surviving a heart attack at sea can depend on having crewmates that are trained in first aid and the right equipment onboard. Many fishermen across the Northern Irish fishing fleet reached out through the NIFSF to receive this crucial training and equipment from the Seafarers Hospital Society’s Defibrillator Project that would help bolster their safety efforts while out at sea.
The NIFSF worked closely with the SHS to acquire defibrillators for the Northern Irish fishing fleet. A follow up training event was organised, and 56 defibrillators were provided ensuring that fishermen across Northern Ireland had the skills and tools they need to manage a medical emergency at sea.
Life-saving training
Over the course of two days in February, in the fishing harbours of Ardglass, Kilkeel and Portavogie, over 80 skippers, owners and their crew attended sessions organised by Seafish. They received vital training in identifying a cardiac arrest, how to use their new defibrillator and how to administer additional first aid.
At the events I heard from fishermen about why this kit was so important to them. I was really delighted by the numbers of fishermen attending the voluntary training sessions in the harbours, particularly at a time when many boats would usually be at sea. But talking to those attending, whether it had happened to themselves, a colleague or family member, many had experienced a heart attack, and it became clear why having this kit on board was so important to them.
I wish to express my thanks to Seafish for coordinating this life saving initiative and for their ongoing facilitation of NIFSF. We believe safety is better shared and by working together, fishermen across Northern Ireland are better prepared to deal with a medical emergency at sea.
Just a few days after the events, a well-trained crew, using a defibrillator, were able to save the life of their skipper onboard a Kilkeel guard boat operating in the North Sea. This hammered home the value of this equipment and first aid training at sea.
This initiative has demonstrated the power of collaboration through industry groups like the Northern Ireland Fishermen’s Safety Forum. With support from our members and crucially, input from those directly involved with the local fishing fleet, we were able to ‘hit the nail on the head’ with this scheme by recognising a need and taking action.
About the author
Sally Chamberlain is our Industry Engagement Manager for Northern Ireland. She is responsible for offering support to the local seafood industry and enabling access to Seafish information and services. This is achieved through working closely with a variety seafood businesses and organisations.
Sally on behalf of Seafish facilitates the Northern Ireland Fishermen's Safety Forum (NIFSF). The group provides a platform for fishermen, fishing organisations and a wide range of agencies including the MCA, DAERA, the Fishermen’s Mission, safety training providers and harbour authorities, to ensure a partnered approach to improving health and safety amongst the fishing fleet in Northern Ireland.
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