The third edition of the International Medical Guide for Ships shows designated first-aid providers how to diagnose treat and prevent the health problems of seafarers on board ship. Since its first publication in 1967, the International Medical Guide for Ships has been a standard reference for medical care on board ships. The second edition written in 1988 was translated into more than 30 languages and has been used in tens of thousands of ships. This is the third edition contains fully updated recommendations aimed to promote and protect the health of seafarers and is consistent with the latest revisions of both the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and the International Health Regulations. The International Labour Organization's Maritime Labour Convention 2006 stipulates that all ships shall carry medicine chest medical equipment and a medical guide. The International Medical Guide for Ships supports a main principal of that convention: to ensure that seafarers are given health protection and medical care as comparable as possible to that which is generally available to workers ashore. By carrying this guide on board ships and following its instructions, countries can both fulfill their obligations under the terms of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 and ensure the best possible health outcomes for their seafaring population. ***International Medical Guide for Ships was commended in the Medicine category of the British Medical Association's 2008 annual Medical Book Competition***

1) First aid 2) Shock 3) Pain management 4) Head injuries 5) Eye injuries and diseases 6) Bone, joint and muscle injuries 7) Abdominal and chest injuries 8) Wounds 9) Burns, chemical splashes, smoke inhalation, and electrocution 10) Heat stroke and other heat disorders 11) Poisoning 12) Examination of the patient 13) Paralysis, strange behaviour, unconsciousness 14)Chest pain and other disorders of the heart and circulation 15) Respiratory diseases 16) Gastrointestinal and liver diseases 17) Kidney and other urinary disorders 18) Pregnancy and childbirth 19) Sexually transmitted infections 20) Skin diseases 21) Bone, joint, and muscle disorders 22) Tobacco, alcohol, and drug use 23) Infectious diseases 24) Dental problems 25) External assistance 26) Nursing care and medical procedures 27) Death at sea 28) Medical care for survivors at sea 29) Environmental control and hygiene 30) Preventing disease and promoting health in seafarers 31) Anatomy and physiology 32) International health regulations 33) The ship's medicine chest