Guest Blog - Jordan Lin - original blog from 2024
At Red Square Medical, we’re keen to support those who have a passion for maritime medicine. While we can’t provide placements for everyone, occasionally a request pops up at just the right time and we can provide some experience and insight into our unique and specialised world. Last year we were contacted by Jordan Lin, a medical student with a love of the ocean. This is his story…
When I was a boy, my dad and I used to go fishing with a local fisherman off the Norfolk coast. I absolutely loved being on the sea and so for quite a long time, I wanted to be a fisherman.
When I got a bit older I kind of forgot about this and think I may have been slightly put off by watching the TV series ‘World’s Deadliest Catch’! But I have always loved being on the water and spent a lot of time sailing dinghies; I was also a swimming teacher for children back in high school and college.
Later, I decided to study medicine and I’m now a final year medical student at the University of Bristol where I completed an intercalated degree; a Masters in Health Sciences Research. I’m now looking forward to starting work as a qualified Doctor in August. Though having spent 6 years training, my next 2 years will be spent working for the required two foundation training years that must be completed before being able to work independently as a Doctor in the UK.At university, I joined the VITA network which is a group dedicated to developing a health and public health approach at the heart of any response to human trafficking and exploitation. I became the blog coordinator for the organisation and you can read the blogs, including those that I have written, here: https://vita-network.com/blog/
In my spare time, I have been involved with the Bristol University Hot Air Ballooning Society and trained through the society to get my Balloon pilots licence. So, I often spend weekends during the summer flying in a leisurely fashion over Bristol and the surrounding area!
While at university, I also gained my Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor qualification and have used this to teach BLS to medical students and the public.
Growing up in Norfolk and often being close to the sea, plus some offshore experience means that now I'm nearing the end of my studies, I am looking at ways that I might be able to combine the medical skill set that I have gained with a career in the maritime sector.
Most of my recent time at sea has been spent onboard the tall ship Tenacious, a square rigged, 3 masted barque that takes on a crew of mixed abilities. I have volunteered as a watch leader and Bosun’s mate, so securing a placement on a luxury cruise ship was something completely different. I also helped the medical Purser, but thankfully it wasn’t too busy from a medical perspective and mostly involved managing seasickness and sorting out a few cuts and scrapes!While organising my elective placements from medical school (where the student chooses and arranges their own placements), I contacted Red Square Medical to see if they might have any opportunities. I was delighted when they said they would try to find a placement onboard a ship, along with some STCW training experience.
During my placement a typical day onboard Scenic Eclipse with the medical team would involve daily clinics with the Doctor and Nurse on board. Clinics run in the morning from 08.00 to 10.00 and in the afternoon from 16.00 to 18.00 and the medical team see both passengers and crew.
Outside these hours, the medical team is on call 24/7 and must cover emergencies as well as clinic hours.