ISLE AU HAUT—Since statistics on the industry began more than 30 years ago, commercial fishing has been consistently ranked as the most dangerous occupation, by far, in the United States.
Combine that with living in a small, isolated island community, where the nearest medical professionals are a 45-minute boat ride away, and the benefits of having CPR and first aid training are obvious.
To provide that training, a first of its kind in Downeast Maine, Fishing Partnership Support Services, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit, teamed up with Maine’s Seacoast Mission and the Maine Lobstermen’s Association.
The result was an intensive day of training in CPR, basic first aid, and safety at the town hall on Isle au Haut on April 17. The training, provided at no charge, along with snacks and lunch, recognizes that when they are out on the water, fishermen are the first responders.
Learning the life-saving skills needed to assess and treat injured or ill crew members before emergency medical professionals arrive is critical, organizers said.