Guidance

MIN 718 (M+F) The Ship Captain's Medical Guide 24th Edition

Published 14 January 2025

© Crown copyright 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/min-718-mf-the-ship-captains-medical-guide-24th-edition/min-718-mf-the-ship-captains-medical-guide-24th-edition

Summary

The 24th Edition of the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide (SCMG) was published on 20 December 2024. The SCMG is primarily intended for vessels with no medical professional on board, providing practical guidance for those responsible for first aid or medical care on board.

1. Introduction

1.1 The 24th Edition of the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide (SCMG) was published on 20 December 2024.

1.2 The SCMG is intended primarily for use on vessels where there is no medical professional, such as a doctor, on board. It provides assistance and direction for crew members when it becomes necessary for them to assess and treat trauma and medical illness. Ships and fishing vessels which carry Category A or Category B stores are required also to carry a copy of the Guide. This may be in electronic format (see paragraph 3.2) provided that it is readily accessible to anyone who may need to use it.

1.3 The SCMG is also the handbook for UK medical first aid and medical training.

2. Changes to the 24th edition of SCMG

2.1 The 24th edition includes the following updates:

  • revised spinal immobilisation section

  • updates to antibiotics guide

  • new content on COVID and infectious diseases

  • updates to the emergency algorithms

  • new lighter, flexi-bound format using 100% recycled material.

3. How to obtain copies

3.1 The Ship Captain’s Medical Guide 24th Edition (ISBN number 9780115541490) is published by TSO on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). Copies may be obtained from TSO, the MCA’s official publisher, via their website.

https://www.tsoshop.co.uk/Transport/Maritime-and-Coastguard-Agency-MCA/

3.2 The Ship Captain’s Medical Guide is also published as an e-book, available from major e-book suppliers.

3.3 Due to intellectual property included in the latest edition, the SCMG is not freely available from www.gov.uk. The content may not be reproduced without the permission of TSO.

More information

Seafarer Safety and Health
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/17
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG

Telephone: +44 (0)203 81 72835

Email: medical@mcga.gov.uk           

Website: www.gov.uk/mca

General enquiries: infoline@mcga.gov.uk

Please note that all addresses and telephone numbers are correct at time of publishing.

Published: January 2025

© Crown Copyright 2021

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