International radio medical Centre (ci. R. V1. )

VIA DELL'ARCHITETTURA, 41
00144 ROMA, ITALY

The International Radiomedical Centre was founded in 1935 with the purpose of supplying radio-medical assistance to sailors aboard ship of every nationality navigating on all seas. The Centre has headquarters in Rome and its medical services are completely free. They also include arrangements for the transfer, if necessary of a patient to a ship with a doctor on board or, if the distance allows, to evacuate the patient by naval craft or helicopter to ensure rapid hospitalisation.

Request for radio-medical assistance reaching C.I.R.M. are handled by doctors on continuous duty at the C.I.R.M. headquarters. These doctors, who-can call on the help of specialist consultants if necessary, prescribe the appropriate treatment and keep in contact with every ship that has asked for assistance. They follow the progress of the patient until his recovery or disembarkation and, often, even when hospitalised.

HOW TO CONTACT THE INTERNATIONAL RADIO MEDICAL CENTRE

(C.I.R.M.)

The radio medical assistance provided by C.I.R.M. is guaranteed by doctors on round-clock (24 hours) duty. The commanding officers of ships in navigation with sick or injured persons on board can contact C.I.R.M- in any of the following ways:

• Telex.................. 612068 CIRM 1 • Telephone.......... +39-6-5923331X2 • Maritec System • Italian coastal radio stations • Fax..................... +39-6-5923 333 • Coastal radio station of U.S. Coast   Guard I

The requests should be labelled MEDRAD or DH MEDICO. Medical service or CTRM is free of charge.

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED INTO A MESSAGE OF REQUEST

OF RADIO MEDICAL ASSISTANCES

Ø Name of the ship and its radio identification;

Ø Position of the ship, port of departure and destination, estimated arrival time,
route and speed;

Ø Name of the patient, nationality and age;

Ø Information about breathing, pulse rate, temperature and the patient's blood pressure;

Ø Patient's symptoms, location and type of pain as well as all any relevant information concerning the illness;

Ø In the case of accidents, please describe, as well as the symptoms, where and how the accident took place;

Ø Patient's case history;

Ø Medicines available on board;

Ø Medicinal products already administered

II.NOTES:

headquaters – штаб

arrangements – организационная работа

appropriate treatment – соответствующее лечение

recovery – выздоровление

disembarkation – высадка

III. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. Where is International Radio Medical Centre situated?

2. How much does it cost to get medical consultation?

3. How does this centre work?

4. Is this assistance required?

5. What information must be included into the message of request?