Medically reviewed by Uri Gedalia, MD, FACS
Chief Medical Officer, TrufaMED Urgent Care & Concierge Medicine
Board-Certified, General Surgery
Last reviewed: July 2026
Yacht medical events are a recurring pattern in Miami. Charters out of Miami Beach Marina, Sunset Harbour, Haulover Inlet, and Watson Island encounter the predictable mix: lacerations from improperly stored gear, jellyfish stings, sun and heat overexposure, alcohol-related falls, food poisoning, and occasional acute medical events (chest pain, asthma, seizures) in passengers who did not disclose underlying conditions before boarding.
This post is for yacht owners, captains, charter operators, and the families who use them. The protocol below is what we recommend for both routine and emergency situations.
The Decision Tree On The Water
When something happens at sea, the decision is binary: do we manage on board, or do we head for shore?
Manage on board if:
- Minor lacerations not actively bleeding heavily
- Mild jellyfish stings (Portuguese man-of-war and box jellyfish are different — see below)
- Mild seasickness, sunburn, or dehydration
- Sprains and minor musculoskeletal injuries
- Patient is mentally alert, vital signs stable
Head for shore if:
- Any chest pain, pressure, or radiating arm/jaw pain
- Sudden severe headache, vision changes, weakness or numbness, slurred speech
- Significant difficulty breathing or asthma not responding to inhaler
- Unconsciousness or altered mental status
- Major bleeding (arterial spurting, large laceration not controlled with pressure)
- Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis with throat tightness, wheezing, or swelling)
- Suspected fracture with deformity, loss of pulse distal to injury, or compound fracture
- Pregnant passenger with abdominal pain or bleeding
- Pediatric patient with persistent vomiting, lethargy, or fever above 102°F
Call 911 or USCG on VHF channel 16 for any emergency at sea. The Coast Guard coordinates ambulance handoff at the dock.
The Onshore Handoff
Once you are headed to shore, call ahead. For TrufaMED concierge members and house-call patrons, our dispatch line at (305) 842-9801 can pre-position a physician at your marina, your home, or the receiving hospital depending on severity.
For non-emergency presentations we can dispatch a physician to meet you at the marina — Miami Beach Marina, Watson Island, Haulover, or your private dock. This is faster than driving to urgent care, particularly when the patient is mid-recovery and you would rather not move them more than necessary.
Common Yacht Medical Events — A Cheat Sheet
Lacerations
Compression with clean gauze, elevate above heart level, and irrigate with bottled water once bleeding is controlled. Sutures are time-sensitive: facial lacerations close best within 12 hours, body lacerations within 18 hours. Get to our clinic or a physician house call within that window.
Jellyfish stings
Standard jellyfish (moon jelly, sea nettle): rinse with seawater (not freshwater, which triggers more sting cells), remove tentacles with a credit card, apply vinegar if available. Portuguese man-of-war: rinse with seawater, remove tentacles carefully, hot water immersion (110°F) for 20 to 45 minutes is the most effective pain treatment. Box jellyfish (extremely rare in South Florida): emergency.
Heat illness
See our earlier post on heat exhaustion vs heat stroke. Aboard, get the patient out of the sun, into the AC if available, hydrate with cool electrolyte solution. Any altered mental status = head for shore and call 911.
Seasickness
Severe seasickness can dehydrate a passenger meaningfully over a long charter. Ondansetron is the standard anti-emetic; meclizine and scopolamine patches are options for prevention. Our concierge members travel with a personalized seasickness kit prepared by their physician.
Chest pain
Always treat as cardiac until proven otherwise, especially in adults 40+. Aspirin 325 mg if no contraindication, oxygen if available, position upright, call 911 and head for shore. Do not wait.
The Concierge Medicine Layer
For repeat yacht owners and charter operators, concierge medicine adds three things to the standard playbook:
- Pre-charter passenger health screening — identify the asthmatic, the cardiac patient, the pregnant guest before they board
- Tailored onboard medical kit — we build kits to the specific cruising plan, passenger list, and crew capability
- Physician on call by phone or telehealth during charters — for the captain or chief stew to call when something is happening and they need a clinical opinion fast
For yachts cruising offshore beyond Miami waters or in international waters, we coordinate with global maritime medical evacuation services. Concierge membership tiers include this coordination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a physician meet us at the marina?
Yes — for concierge members and house-call patrons. Dispatch typically arrives within 30 to 90 minutes of the call, depending on traffic and marina location.
Do you supply onboard medical kits?
Yes, custom-built for concierge members based on the cruising plan and passenger list.
What about international charters out of Miami?
We coordinate with international maritime medical evacuation services and can write travel prescriptions, prepare physician-stamped controlled substance letters, and brief the captain on management of likely scenarios.
Is there an on-call physician line for non-members?
Our urgent care and house call dispatch lines are open to anyone. Concierge members get a direct physician line; non-members get a triage line that routes to the on-call MD.