Our Medical Kit

[s/v Jedi]

I find these kits pretty awesome:

[hellosailor]

The Klinitulle package seems to translate it as both a parafffin (US = wax) and vaseline (US = brand name of petroleum jelly) impregnated compress. Here the standard are plain 4x4" or 6x6" gauze compresses, intentionally dry, which is the preferred or at least primary way they are used. Adding vaseline, or antibiotics, or whatever else, may take a minute longer but gives you more options. Vaseline? Only for treating burns?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by zeehag

h202 is excellent for treating fiberglass....you work with fg, you get lil stickers inside skin--h202 removes these..easily=-learned that from my old friend the boatbuilder --hank mckune, of yorktown yachts notoriety...

Tell us how to use h2O2 for that zeehag... I tend to suffer from this

[s/v Jedi]

We carry this for rehydration:


Obviously there are many products to help with that. My first aid instructor (when I was in the army so kinda old fashioned and low cost methods) told me about the water of life: a glass of water, add 1 tablespoon of sugar and one teaspoon of salt, mix and drink it all. I'll never forget it

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

The Klinitulle package seems to translate it as both a parafffin (US = wax) and vaseline (US = brand name of petroleum jelly) impregnated compress. Here the standard are plain 4x4" or 6x6" gauze compresses, intentionally dry, which is the preferred or at least primary way they are used. Adding vaseline, or antibiotics, or whatever else, may take a minute longer but gives you more options. Vaseline? Only for treating burns?

Yes in Europe the standard is also dry plain gauze. Seems a bit primitive to me to have only that available in a country like the USA, so I think it will be available under a different name.

Here is the other type we carry; it is called Fucidin Intertulle:


I guess it takes having injuries that require these to appreciate them as necessary

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

My first aid instructor (when I was in the army so kinda old fashioned and low cost methods) told me about the water of life: a glass of water, add 1 tablespoon of sugar and one teaspoon of salt, mix and drink it all. I'll never forget it

I think you have forgotten it LOL, unless your instructor relayed the info wrongly.
The amount of salt you have given (1 tsp) is for a litre of water, not a glass (the sugar can be increased, but not the salt).
Home mixtures are not recommended for children.

[caradow]

Agree on most statements above.
However I always carry a foley catherter kit in the case that someone goes in acute urinary retention.
This can occur in men with large prostates, especially when they are taking anti-nausea meds that have an anticholenergic affect and therefore further inhibit the reflex mechanism.
It is an extremely painful disorder and if not treated leads to bladder rupture.
Have any nurse instruct you prior to departure so you will not be intimidated by a usually simple proceedure.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Seaworthy Lass

I think you have forgotten it LOL, unless your instructor relayed the info wrongly.
The amount of salt you have given (1 tsp) is for a litre of water, not a glass (the sugar can be increased, but not the salt).
Home mixtures are not recommended for children.

I just checked it with the WHO, it is:

- 1 liter of water
- 2 tablespoons (6 tea spoons) of sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon of salt.

They do recommend this for children too, if you manage to remember the salt contents better than me Seriously, only the salt contents is potentially dangerous, so keep an eye on that, or do like me and pack the little packets of ORS (Oral Rehydration Salts) so that you can forget the formula

[s/v Jedi]

I am trying to create a new list of medications to keep aboard. I'll post it here so that you can comment on it; may be we can come up with a pretty standard list...

I put some questions and remarks in there too. Check out Albendazole incl. it's use around the world; English Wikipedia has some good info on it.

Ciprofloxacin - broad spectrum anti-biotic (better for gram negative)
Augmentin - broad spectrum anti-biotic (better for gram positive)
Benzodiazepine (Valium) - stress control (in event of injury)
Vicodin - pain killer
Paracetamol (Tylenol) - pain killer
Ibuprofen - pain killer / anti-inflammatory / muscle relaxant
Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) - muscle relaxant
Loperamide - diarrhea control
Cetirizine (Zyrtec) - antihistamine, allergic reaction control
Prednisone - allergic reaction control
EpiPen - anaphylaxic shock
Albendazole - parasites, Giardia control
Terbinafine cream (Lamisil) - antifungal
(we have Nystatin cream (Fungicidin)… would Terbinafine replace this?)
Topical lidocaine spray - local anesthetic
Anti-bacterial First Aid spray (Lanacane) - cuts, scrapes, burns
Sea-sickness medication -> which ones? Cinnarizine, Stugeron, dimenhydrinate, scopolamine, promethazine+ephedrine. I carry Gravol which is Dramamine but never used it.
Aspirin - for heart problems?

other, still working on this:

zinc oxide tape - taping sprains etc.
Body wipes (Fresh Bath) - Hygiene, cleaning
Hot Coldrex / CitroSan / Panadol - common cold treatment drinks
Rehydration electrolytes
Dermabond (super glue) - wound closure
mole skin
duct tape
Antacid
Pepto Bismol
hydrocortisone hemorrhoid cream
vaselin - lubricant
sun screen
deet insect repellent

[MarkJ]

Body bags. They should be on the list.
I always take some but there's a bit of a problem... Should I get one for each crew? Or just one for each crew MINUS one? You see, if all are needed how does the last one get, ummmmm, used?

[caradow]

Jedi,
Ibuprofen is not a muscle relaxant, use valium(best) or flexeril if actual muscle spasm is a problem.
All topical antifungals are about the same, doesn't hurt to have more than one.
I personally use scope patches for sea sickness then would switch to rectal promethazine if person continues to vomit. However as you know everyone has their own remedy so redundancy is ok. Then began gentle rehydration.
good luck

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

Body bags. They should be on the list.
I always take some but there's a bit of a problem... Should I get one for each crew? Or just one for each crew MINUS one? You see, if all are needed how does the last one get, ummmmm, used?

I'm still working on the list that would include those We might also put those organ ice containers on the list because we might be able to sell something instead of wasting it, ehrmm help others who need the organ

[Dhillen]

Jedi,

I find Xyzal (levocetirizine) to be much more effective than Zyrtec and with zero side effects. I took Zyrtec for allergies/reactions in the past and as a second-generation antihistamine it was better than what we had when I was a kid. However, Xyzal is a third-generation antihistamine and extremely effective for allergic reactions such as hives. It also causes no drowsiness and won't keep me up at night either.

Cheers.

Dhillen

[Seaworthy Lass]

I would recommend carrying a Merck manual on board as well - a small but thick, well written manual for diagnosis and treatment of just about everything, managing to cram all the most vital information on thin pages with tiny print.

Just don't make it your bedtime reading or every headache will immediately turn into a suspected brain tumour .

[Teknav]

You guys are really being silly in stocking a small "Walgreen's/Costco" pharmacy aboard your boat. If you have medical conditions that might deteriorate while sailing, you really shouldn't be. Get a comprehensive physical from your physician, prior to undertaking a circumnavigation. FYI...I have not seen a fever thermometer listed, being part of any kit; maybe I overlooked it. Some of the medications listed, cannot be obtained without a prescription. Others, are not available in many countries. You need to know the generic equivalent of all your prescriptions. Mauritz