TASK TITLE:   Mariner Medical Education and Prevention - Over-the-Counter Medications
PROBLEM STATEMENT:  
The Coast Guard seeks the input of industry, via MEDMAC, towards the development of guidance to mariners on over-the-counter (OTC) medications, energy drinks/pills, diet aids, and dietary supplements.  

BACKGROUND:  

In March 2015, MEDMAC proposed a task addressing merchant mariner education and prevention.  During the 8[th] meeting of MEDMAC, the USCG issued this as task 15-14, Merchant Mariner Medical Education and Prevention.  Following deliberation on the task, the Committee provided recommendations to the Coast Guard on educational materials and content applicable to mariner health concerns and specific to mariner's unique work environments.  Additionally, the Committee recommended that the Coast Guard develop a future, separate task addressing non-prescription medications. During the 9[th] meeting of MEDMAC, the Coast Guard issued Task 16-20 seeking recommendations on specific guidance to provide to mariners on OTC medications, energy drinks/pills, diet aids, and dietary supplements. The MEDMAC work product for Task 16-20 provided information on specific points of opportunity for educating mariners and recommended that the USCG develop educational resources to be disseminated throughout the industry. The work product also recommended outside sources that the USCG could consult to obtain educational guidance to share with merchant mariners; however the Committee did not provide any information on recommended content or medication guidance specific to merchant mariners or the maritime work environment.  Committee discussion prior to voting on the task deliverable questioned whether the work product adequately addressed the task, and alluded to types of specific guidance that could have been provided but was not.

The USCG has reviewed the sources of information recommended by the Committee and finds that, although they are quite comprehensive, they do not address many of the concerns specific to mariners and the maritime work environment.
DESCRIPTION OF TASKS/DELIVERABLES: 
1.  In consideration of Task 15-14 and the associated Committee recommendations, please develop specific guidance and recommended content for educational materials for merchant mariners on the following:
   a. OTC medications 
   b. Energy drinks/pills 
   c. Diet aids 
   d. Dietary supplements 
2.  Related to the use of OTC medications, energy drinks, diet aids and dietary supplements: consider the information that the Committee wants mariners to know about the safety concerns posed by these medications and substances and their effect on (or how they are affected by) the maritime work and living environment.  For example, what does the Committee want mariners to know about OTC medication/substance effects and interactions, unknown substances with unpredictable effects, medication/substances obtained abroad; effects on mariner sleep/wake/work cycles, alertness, vigilance; entering and exiting foreign ports, and dangerous physiologic effects that may lead to need for medical evacuation. 
   
Supplemental Material: Meeting Minutes from MEDMAC meetings 7, 8 and 9; Report of Task 15-14.
   
Provide comments/recommendations to the Coast Guard by the close of the Spring 2017 MEDMAC meeting.  

                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                                       
                              Annex to Task 16-23
                        MISSION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Mariner Medical Education and Prevention-OTC Medications, Energy Drinks/Pills, Diet Aids, and Dietary Supplements
The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (MEDMAC) hereby establishes the Mariner Medical Education and Prevention-OTC Medications, Energy Drinks and Pills, Diet Aids, and Dietary Supplements as a standing Working Group.
The Working Group shall make recommendations to the MEDMAC for the purpose of providing guidance to mariners on OTC medications, energy drinks and pills, diet aids, and dietary supplements. 
The Working Group shall respond to specific task assignments requested by the Coast Guard or the Chair of the MEDMAC.
The Working Group shall make recommendations to the MEDMAC in the form of specific written reports.  
In carrying out its work the following guiding principles apply:

   1. The Working Group shall be chaired by one member of MEDMAC. 
   2. The Working Group may have participation from the public and other interested parties.  
   3. Meetings of the Working Group shall occur at regular meetings of the MEDMAC at a minimum.  Additional meetings may be called by the Working Group Chair or at the request of the MEDMAC Chair of the Coast Guard.  All meetings of the Working Group will be announced in the Federal Register.
   4. Meetings of the Working Group should be guided by Roberts Rules of Order and the Working Group Chairman shall organize and conduct the meetings.  In the absence of the Chairman, another MEDMAC member from the Working Group shall act as Working Group Chair. 
   5. The Working Group shall recognize the work and recommendations from previous Working Group work.
                                       
                              Annex to Task 16-23
                        MISSION AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES
MARINER MEDICAL EDUCATION AND PREVENTION-OTC MEDICATIONS, ENERGY DRINKS/PILLS, DIET AIDS, AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS
The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (MEDMAC) hereby establishes the Mariner Medical Education and Prevention-OTC Medications, Energy Drinks and Pills, Diet Aids, and Dietary Supplements as a standing Working Group.
The Working Group shall make recommendations to the MEDMAC for the purpose of providing guidance to mariners on OTC medications, energy drinks and pills, diet aids, and dietary supplements. 
The Working Group shall respond to specific task assignments requested by the Coast Guard or the Chair of the MEDMAC.
The Working Group shall make recommendations to the MEDMAC in the form of specific written reports.  
In carrying out its work the following guiding principles apply:

   6. The Working Group shall be chaired by one member of MEDMAC. 
   7. The Working Group may have participation from the public and other interested parties.  
   8. Meetings of the Working Group shall occur at regular meetings of the MEDMAC at a minimum.  Additional meetings may be called by the Working Group Chair or at the request of the MEDMAC Chair of the Coast Guard.  All meetings of the Working Group will be announced in the Federal Register.
   9. Meetings of the Working Group should be guided by Roberts Rules of Order and the Working Group Chairman shall organize and conduct the meetings.  In the absence of the Chairman, another MEDMAC member from the Working Group shall act as Working Group Chair. 
   10. The Working Group shall recognize the work and recommendations from previous Working Group work.
   
