An expert on offshore medicine offers basic advice on how to recognize, manage and treat the maladies most likely to occur on a cruising sailboat. D.O. A sailboat at sea is an isolated and mobile platform that provides unique medical challenges. Practicing preventive medicine at sea is critical. Urine is formed by waste products discharged by the kidneys and mixed with excess water.
Dark urine is too concentrated, reflecting an overall lack of water flowing through the body.
Keeping the body flushed with adequate amounts of water also reduces the risk of other medical problems that can occur at sea, including appendicitis, gall bladder attacks, kidney stones, and even heart attacks. The latter is not only essential for dislodging objects upon which people choke but also for the treatment of drowning victims. Often, this can be performed while the victim is still in the water. Emergency medicine must also be considered. Heart attack is one of the most common critical medical emergencies to occur at sea.