What's in your First Aid Kit?

[tankersteve]

Jacob,

Not sure on your plans - how long til you expect to get medical assistance? I am not a medical professional, but I have built and purchased first aid kits for my boat, car and while deployed overseas. I talked to a lot of medics, paramedics and PAs. I think you should explain how far you expect to be (worst case for life/limb/eyesight, as well as time/distance for painful but not meeting prior threshold).

Also, consider a burn dressing. Water Jel has a good rep. However, they can be expensive for not very much dressing. The key to burns is:
- removing the heat source/perhaps cooling the flesh as it can continue to 'cook'.
- keep it clean and free from contamination.
- evaluate for dehydration and/or hypothermia.

With that being said, a fairly large burn could easily exceed your first aid kit. Many EMS-types keep an unopened Saran-Wrap type clingwrap available to cover wounds. While not 'medically sterile', it is likely to be better than anything else and doesn't stick to the wound. Cheap, mark it and tuck it away.

Tankersteve

[leftbrainstuff]

We're currently looking for those inflatable splints for arms and legs.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[JPA Cate]

Jehoshaphat:

You may be right about the coral, but my info comes from Jim, who had a fellow physicist shipped out from Bikini during the cleanup, and it was this man who reported what the orthopedic surgeon told him. I do not know the right of it, but suspect you may not be a specialist in tropical medicine. If the OP is going to coral waters, a tropical-trained medical corpsman might be a good bet.

About the betadine for coral cuts: it is the substance that was recommended to us at the time, and it is entirely possible Hibiclens might be as effective.

Ann

[hamburking]

I carry mostly bandaids. I have stove alcohol for cleaning wounds. As for medicine...Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and seasick pills (generic travel tabs...100 for $6). The seasick pills are good for putting the kids to sleep. If its going to be a rough weather day, I'll wake the kids early in the morning, and give them a travel tab, and they will usually sleep all day till we get to calm water.

[estarzinger]

Our kit: http://www.bethandevans.com/pdf/Medicallist.pdf

Open 40 transatlantic kit: http://www.bethandevans.com/pdf/drag...0aid%20kit.pdf

Vender globe required drug kit: http://www.bethandevans.com/pdf/vendee%20medical.pdf

Medical guide for commercial ships: http://www.bethandevans.com/pdf/WHO%203rd%20Book.pdf

MCA recommendations: http://www.bethandevans.com/pdf/mcamedicalkit.pdf

[Ted and Relinda]

Tincture of Benzoin to hold bandaides and bandage in place on sweaty or wet skin...has other uses also check WebMD or Google..
Ted..

[monte]

I've used superglue on a chipped tooth before. Worked well for a few days till the bit disappeared . Wishing I had some tropical ear infection antibiotic drops on board right now...

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by leftbrainstuff

We're currently looking for those inflatable splints for arms and legs.

Sent from my SM-N900T using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

SAM splints as mentioned are a great option. No worries about inflating or air leaks.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Jehoshaphat

....

First, don't include anything you don't already know how to use, it'll only get you in trouble. Sutures and IV's are great but only if you can use them. Oral hydration is always the best option when possible. "Butterfly" sutures are easy and all the average person can manage. Forget carrying sterile water, fresh water and a mild soap are all you need. If you really want a good cleaning product, trade the water weight for Hibicleanse. It is easy on tissues and a better choice than betadine of any kind for an open wound. Betadine is really only for a skin prep BEFORE an incision or procedure and to be effective, it has to dry completely.

...

+1. Lots of kits include suture materials which are useless,or worse, in unskilled hands. Correct suturing is a high skill set involving different materials and techniques for different tissue groups and depths. Research and/or discuss with surgeon to get a better idea of the complexities of doing of right. Most wounds don't really need sutures anyway...as an MD friend of mine puts it "we put in lots of stitches for parents". Many types of wounds heal better open and are easier to keep clean until you can get to pro medical care (the fundamental purpose of first aide anyway).

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Sailor647

...

Dr. Gwilliam agreed with Neosporin being ineffective. I'll remove that from our list.
Cheers.

A Doc friend of mine also says that most topical antibiotic creams are pretty useless. He suggests a solution of Hebacleanse (surgical scrub) & water instead. Good stuff to have in your kit anyway.

A large syringe or bulb, filled with the above solution, is a good way to generate some pressure for cleaning wounds.

[belizesailor]

A few things I carry:

Lots of bandaids and dressings...this is fortunatley mostly the only stuff I use.

Spenco Second Skin. Great stuff for abrasions.

Lidocaine. Effective local anesthetic with effectively no practical risk of OD, so reasonable for an amateur to use.

Turkey Baster...for alternative route hydration...I've never actually used it for this, but just showing it to crew has miraculously cured a few bad cases of seasickness. ;-)

...

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by monte

I've used superglue on a chipped tooth before. Worked well for a few days till the bit disappeared . Wishing I had some tropical ear infection antibiotic drops on board right now...

A mixture of alcohol & hydrogen peroxide will take care of many outter ear ailments.

[monte]

Thanks Belize. I have been using some of that, but topical antibiotic might help. Water water everywhere and no swimming sucks!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Jehoshaphat

...

First, don't include anything you don't already know how to use...

You should be able to get your hands on some G.I. Battle Dressings. ...

Training is certainly one of the most effective things you can "carry". Ive taken a few "wilderness/expedition" first aid classes and they are very applicable to a sailing environment. Thumbing thru the medical reference during a crisis is not a good strategy.

Products like Quick Clot are now available to consumers with no prescription. I carry some.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

We have a fully automatic AED onboard, plus just about everything on your list. We're close enough to civilization to handle the stuff that can wait a few hours or a day. But we're too far away due to logistics to be able to count on emergency medical assistance. Also, there's usually a language barrier which can also contribute to a delay.

So, we have an emergency defibrillator and pacer onboard.

Certainly something to consider these days...especially if anyone aboard has a known cardiac issue or family history. A charter captain on a nearby boat died recently of an apparent heart attack because medical care was hours away. An AED may have helped. The crew desperately continued CPR even though he was clearly long gone.