Risks to trawler fishermen: Orkney waters.

Over a period of 26 months, emergency medical contact was made with 63 sick or injured trawlermen from Hull and Grimsby who had been fishing in the fishing grounds around the Orkney Islands. The majority of accidents were due either to falls in heavy weather, entanglement with winching or fishing gear, or burns and scalds in the galley. Nearly 80 per cent of the episodes of illness which were seen might not have required the emergency service had the trawler crews been properly screened before going to sea, or trained in elementary first aid.