A Flight Changed Aviation Safety Forever — What About Maritime?

A passenger administering an EpiPen to herself after having an allergic reaction on board.

A Mid‑Air Scare That Altered Airline Law

In 2019, mid‑Atlantic at 35,000 feet, a man went into full anaphylactic shock — his throat swelling, his airway closing. On that flight, there was no auto‑injector. Just a vial of epinephrine meant for cardiac use, and a lucky doctor passenger with a syringe. That doctor saved a life — but only because he happened to have the skills and presence of mind. It shouldn’t have been that difficult.

Five years later, that frightening incident helped change aviation safety forever. In May 2024, after long advocacy, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) signed into law the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 — which mandates that airlines carry epinephrine auto‑injectors or other easy‑to‑use anaphylaxis treatments. Now, life‑saving medicine must be onboard in a form that anyone can use, not just a doctor. (Adult & Children Allergy-Asthma Center)

That’s good. That’s progress. But here’s the question nobody’s asking enough:

What About at Sea - Where Help Is Hours Away?

Ships — from cruise liners to cargo vessels — face the same medical risks: severe allergic reactions, anaphylaxis. And many maritime medical kits still carry only adrenaline in vials, not auto‑injectors. Administering a vial requires training, precision, and calm hands — often hard to come by on a rolling deck in the middle of nowhere.

Yet worldwide, food allergies now affect roughly 1 in 10 people. (PubMed Central) Even though fatal anaphylaxis is rare (less than 1 death per million people annually), it happens — and when it does on a vessel, that hour between reaction and full collapse could be the difference between life and death. (SpringerLink)

It’s Time for Maritime Operators to Take Action

You don’t have to wait for maritime regulators to catch up. Proactive ship operators are already:

• Adding epinephrine auto‑injectors to their medical kits (EpiPens or similar),

• Training crew to recognise anaphylaxis (symptoms, when to act),

• Building emergency response protocols around allergic reactions.

These steps don’t rely on legislation — they rely on common sense and caring for your people.

Don’t Forget: Auto‑Injectors Expire

Here’s a critical detail that often gets overlooked. Auto‑injectors typically expire within 12–18 months. An expired device might not deliver the full dose — and the middle of an emergency is the worst time to find out your EpiPen is six months past expiration.

Track What Matters: Proactive Inventory & Crew Readiness

That’s where a system like SeaLogs becomes invaluable. Use it to:

• Log all medical supplies — including auto‑injectors — with expiry dates

• Set automated alerts before anything expires

• Track crew medical‑training status and emergency response drills

• Generate reports showing readiness levels before inspections or voyages

  
  

When – not if – maritime allergy regulations do catch up (and based on aviation precedent they likely will), you’ll already be ahead of the curve. More importantly: when someone on board has a reaction, you’ll know your equipment and crew are ready.

Your crew shouldn’t have to hope a doctor is on board to save a life.

Proactivity saves lives.

Want to see how SeaLogs can help you manage vessel safety — before it matters most? Book a demo or start your free trial today.