1st aid kits

[PabloPicasso]

Boat first aid kit.
Do you have one?
What should be in it?
Are off the shelf kits any good?
Recomendations from those in the know please.

For Club racing and coastal cruising mainly.

 

[Boathook]

I've invested in a Cat C first aid kit for around £70. Contains a prescribed medication, glyceyl trinitrate spray, so proof of owning a boat is required. Is in a sealed bag with around a 3 year life span. Most of the stuff listed, apart from the spray, could be got I suspect from a good chemist.
When mine expires I will open the bag, if not already opened and just renew the necessary bits. The spray for me to replace is fairly easy, as I've had a heart attack and normally carry one around with me.

Edit. I believe that it I a requirement for UK charter boats, work boats, etc to carry this kit

 

[Refueler]

We are required to have a FA Kit in the car over here ... pretty standard kit with bandages etc ... nothing too serious .....

Its good enough for general use ... so I put on boat as well.

 

[st599]

CAT hanging near emergency flare (as per RYA course instructions - although I also carry one on my belt for work)
Cat C down below
Sticking plasters and other basics in heads.

 

[Daydream believer]

Charter fishing boats have to have a kit & if it is opened there are rules about replacing the full kit. For that reason i was told by one skipper that he carries an unopened kit plus old kits & some packets of plasters, bandages etc for emergencies to avoid opening the charter kit. But even then the charter kit has a shelf life.
What one might be able to do is buy an out of date kit from a local charterer in one's marina. The out of date element will (I assume & we all know what assumptions are) be seasick pills, pain killers etc. I cannot see eye wash, triangular bandages & the like being affected by date. However, the body botherers amongst us will know differently.

 

[Daydream believer]

Sticking plasters and other basics in heads.

Why? Do you get lots of boils on your bum?

 

[jwilson]

On a boat that is chartered out at times I have always had the contents (in date) of a complete Cat C first aid kit "in use" in a box plus a spare sealed similar Cat C kit. That way if inspected the boat will have every bit of FA kit required even if the "in use" kit has been opened and something used. In 15+ years nothing has ever been used exccept a few paracetamol headache pills and some sticking plasters. The Cat C kits are really heavy on bandages, which curiously even though sealed have an expiry date.

I have carried injectable painkillers on ocean passages, doctor had to prescribe them and other stuff as precautionary. Allowed to carry after brief demo of how to administer.

 

[ashtead]

Should you be interested in first aid kits for boats a number of companies online will sell you all you need and for a few£ update the supplies etc. it’s mainly a SuperYacht service(also for private jets out of Farnbourgh etc) but a search of web will give shedloads of info or look at what ARC yachts have ?

 

[Cerebus]

Boat first aid kit.
Do you have one?
What should be in it?
Are off the shelf kits any good?
Recomendations from those in the know please.

For Club racing and coastal cruising mainly.

I used to carry a

Boat first aid kit.
Do you have one?
What should be in it?
Are off the shelf kits any good?
Recomendations from those in the know please.

For Club racing and coastal cruising mainly.

i used to carry a c cat kit.

I found it inadequate. I made my own from research and common sense. It was long ago and I need to start again now I am retired and taking up sailing again.

I was recently told by a paramedic that the coagulating powder for cuts was not really a thing I should use. Lack of time meant I could not find out more. I had purchased the powder from Amazon but now my advancing years and the hint from the paramedic I am at a loss as to whether I should stick it.

 

[PabloPicasso]

Just wondermed what to pack that would be most useful? Are bog standard first aid kits any good? Am i better off making up my own?

Yes, most likely needed are the sea sickness pills, but need to be taken early

A few paracetamol and neurofen

Plasters for minor cuts, (what type of) bandages and dressings for anything would be helpful for anything more serious?

(A nurse friend helped out with dressings for a relative of mine post surgery not that long ago. The pharmacy offerings were both expensive and pathetic). Perhaps this is why I'm asking

Perhaps an eyebath. And decent Scissors, & tweezers

 

[[70521]]

Do you have one?

Yes.

What should be in it?

Whatever you think is necessary.

Are off the shelf kits any good?

Great if you want to tick boxes for something/comply with somebody's regulations.

Recomendations from those in the know please.

• Lots of BIG sticking plasters and gaffer tape;
• Hemostatic Dressings for major wounds;
• Decent scissors for cutting clothing off;
• Steri Strips (so you can close lacerations);
• Sun lotion;
• After sun; and some
• Triangular bandages.

The best thing is keeping your first aid knowledge up to date and be able to adapt what you have a hand.

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Basic first aid kit for:-
Minor cuts, grazes, seasickness pills, Paracetomol and ibrufen, alcohol wipes, plasters and Savlon antiseptic cream.

The second is a Mountain Leader's first aid kit to which I have added more powerful pain killers Co-Codamol and Tramadol, plus a suture kit.

I don't have any medication for anyone suffering an angina attack. Perhaps I should add that to the #2 kit.

I do think it is important that, as skipper, all crew members must let me know if they are on any medication as a bout of seasickness can play havoc with their condition

 

[st599]

At work we carry Combat Application Tourniquet, Celox, Chest seal, SAM splint and Haemostatic dressing for serious injuries, plus the contents of a basic first aid kit.

RYA First Aid course now has CAT and Haemostat use.

 

[wonkywinch]

At work we carry .. Celox ...

I noted this on my recent RYA renewal. The instructor (Steve Gravells at Tec Rec) recommended keeping some of this stuff in the kit. I picture myself sprinkling it around saving lives like the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan.

 

[ylop]

Just wondermed what ti pack that would be most useful

Yes, most likely needed are the season sickness pills, but need to be taken early

A few paracetamol and neurofen

Plasters for minor cuts, bandages and (what type of) dressings for anything more serious.

Perhaps an eyebath. Scissors, & tweezers.

The most useful thing is the training to know what to do. You then have three types of things:

- stuff to save a life
- stuff to save the day
- stuff to make someone comfortable

There’s not a huge amount of stuff for the former - but obviously consider who sails with you: older generation aspirin for heart attacks; asthmatics, diabetics, allergy or angina sufferers - will have specific medicines - if there is a risk they are forgotten keeping spares aboard may be worthwhile. You probably want some sort of face shield - because CPR is pretty grim, especially with blood or vomit around which are not unlikely on a boat! Keeping someone warm may be life and death - in horrible conditions and they may not want to be below deck or too injured to get down companionway. Foil blankets you find in most first aid kits are pretty useless- but you probably have duvets/sleeping bags etc if you have some way to keep them dry(ish) which will do a reasonable job.

The only other obvious “kit” for saving lives is an Israeli bandage and possibly a tourniquet if you have been trained to use it. I think powerboats with props that go near people should seriously consider the latter - sailing boats are maybe more likely to be knife accidents etc where an Israeli bandage would be ideal.

The saving the day stuff is the plasters and paracetemol, tweezers, aftersun treatment, savlon/germalene, eyewash etc. All the sort of stuff you use at home - but remember it has to work when damp, and you may be several hours from a shop to get more or buy the rarely used thing. I’d include in this something like steristrip to deal with bigger cuts. Often these things are more important with children on board - make sure you have calpol or similar if you have regular young child visitors. You probably want some sort Imodium type product too. If you walk on land then a tick remover. This category is mostly not going to need a diversion in your plans but it might save you listening to a lot of moaning, or if you are the casualty suffering so much,

Keeping people comfortable means thinking about the sort of injuries you might need to help someone with whilst trying to get back to shore for hospital treatment. That might be a bad burn - cling film is good (and can also help keep dressings protected from weather - just watch ifs not cutting off circulation). A fracture - Sam splints are probably the price/storage/usefulness option on board. Triangular bandages are good for slings - but you can easily improvise a sling. You can adapt proper triangular bandages for many uses but often they are paper rubbish which tear if you try to do anything clever with them.

A decent pair of “tough cut” style scissors will be much better for removing clothes than kitchen scissors on a rolling deck.

 

[Cerebus]

Just wondermed what ti pack that would be most useful

Yes, most likely needed are the season sickness pills, but need to be taken early

A few paracetamol and neurofen

Plasters for minor cuts, bandages and (what type of) dressings for anything more serious.

Perhaps an eyebath. Scissors, & tweezers.

I will try to get back to you once I have thought more or found my old logs.

The C cat first aid kit is not enough imo; overpriced and not well stocked.

Antiseptic, bandages, painkilerrsr suters, A BOOK as supplied by RYA, forceps to go with suters

I noted this on my recent RYA renewal. The instructor (Steve Gravells at Tec Rec) recommended keeping some of this stuff in the kit. I picture myself sprinkling it around saving lives like the opening scenes of Saving Private Ryan.

View attachment 192958

It has not been explained to me but I bought packages of this powder for someone who had very thin blood and cut themselves alot and had difficulty stopping the bleeding.

I bought it in canisters that allowed an even spray.

They were told by a consultant not to use it because it was dangerous.

I was given no further information. I will try to obtain more. The patient did have other complications.

Better to have it imho than not have it for normally healthy people; it costs alot less than a small round of beers and beats bandages and tourniquets.

I am fully open to objections by paramedics or other specialists and would welcome input.

 

[Cerebus]

The most useful thing is the training to know what to do. You then have three types of things:

- stuff to save a life
- stuff to save the day
- stuff to make someone comfortable

There’s not a huge amount of stuff for the former - but obviously consider who sails with you: older generation aspirin for heart attacks; asthmatics, diabetics, allergy or angina sufferers - will have specific medicines - if there is a risk they are forgotten keeping spares aboard may be worthwhile. You probably want some sort of face shield - because CPR is pretty grim, especially with blood or vomit around which are not unlikely on a boat! Keeping someone warm may be life and death - in horrible conditions and they may not want to be below deck or too injured to get down companionway. Foil blankets you find in most first aid kits are pretty useless- but you probably have duvets/sleeping bags etc if you have some way to keep them dry(ish) which will do a reasonable job.

The only other obvious “kit” for saving lives is an Israeli bandage and possibly a tourniquet if you have been trained to use it. I think powerboats with props that go near people should seriously consider the latter - sailing boats are maybe more likely to be knife accidents etc where an Israeli bandage would be ideal.

The saving the day stuff is the plasters and paracetemol, tweezers, aftersun treatment, savlon/germalene, eyewash etc. All the sort of stuff you use at home - but remember it has to work when damp, and you may be several hours from a shop to get more or buy the rarely used thing. I’d include in this something like steristrip to deal with bigger cuts. Often these things are more important with children on board - make sure you have calpol or similar if you have regular young child visitors. You probably want some sort Imodium type product too. If you walk on land then a tick remover. This category is mostly not going to need a diversion in your plans but it might save you listening to a lot of moaning, or if you are the casualty suffering so much,

Keeping people comfortable means thinking about the sort of injuries you might need to help someone with whilst trying to get back to shore for hospital treatment. That might be a bad burn - cling film is good (and can also help keep dressings protected from weather - just watch ifs not cutting off circulation). A fracture - Sam splints are probably the price/storage/usefulness option on board. Triangular bandages are good for slings - but you can easily improvise a sling. You can adapt proper triangular bandages for many uses but often they are paper rubbish which tear if you try to do anything clever with them.

A decent pair of “tough cut” style scissors will be much better for removing clothes than kitchen scissors on a rolling deck.

Cat c first aid kit has medicine for heart attack meds that are better than aspirin iirc.

But I used to find the cat c first aid kit lacking in many other departments.

It also only cost £30 when I last bought one and not £70.

I had to supply the booklet of instructions after passing a first aid course. The book was good and well set out in a panic situation.

Agree about scissors; Llloyds pharmacy will sell proper cutting utensils for less than supermarket scissors.

 

[Cerebus]

Just wondermed what to pack that would be most useful? Are bog standard first aid kits any good? Am i better off making up my own?

Yes, most likely needed are the sea sickness pills, but need to be taken early

A few paracetamol and neurofen

Plasters for minor cuts, (what type of) bandages and dressings for anything would be helpful for anything more serious?

(A nurse friend helped out with dressings for a relative of mine post surgery not that long ago. The pharmacy offerings were both expensive and pathetic). Perhaps this is why I'm asking

Perhaps an eyebath. And decent Scissors, & tweezers

If not a registered or coded boat then make your own because that makes sense.

 

[William_H]

Yachtingh Australia specify contents for different categories of yacht racing depending on distance from shore and rescue services available. So cat7 is inland waters etc through to cat 1 cross ocean type of races. You might not want to comply with I am sure similar RYA requirements but could cover yourself from criticism by complying appropriately. https://www.whitworths.com.au/shop?q=First+aid+kit My local chandler provides appropriate kits for compliance.Click on each fro contents.However you might want to carry in a box all the extra things you might want and use occasionally. Plasters paracetamol etc. I carry a clean towel in a plastic bag as useful if Someone gets wet and ideal to staunch bleeding. (as in head wound from boom) Yes I carry one compliant cat 5 ol'will

 

[DangerousPirate]

I don't have one at the moment, it's on the long list of things I need to get. But I would definitely start with an extended med kit for the basics like normal bandages etc, then add:

• Medical stapler
• Compressions israeli bandage
• QUALITY Tourniquet
• Strong medicines (painkillers, sea sickness pills, aspirin, steroids (allergy), electrolytes, antibiotica, scopolamine, loperamide, glucose gel,)
• Hemostatic Agent (granules are fine but I do believe there is also a liquid that works better, not sure)
• Aloe Vera (against sun burns) and Sun Spray to prevent said sunburns
• Ace (elastic bandgae)
• Antiseptic materials like iodine,
• Irrigation syringes and saline solution
• Splint set (SAM), Finger Splint
• Instant hot or cold packs
• Mylar blanket and small hot flask
• Leukotape (for joint injuries and stabilisation)
• Slings for arms
• Hyfin chest seal
• Dedicated tweezers
• Scalpels
• Bandage scissors
• Thermometer
• A small mirror (incase you need it to treat yourself and hte big bathroom mirror is no working so well, I had to do that once and I needed to see the back of my head and a normal mirror just didn't do)
• Cheat sheet with traumat protocols
• Waterproof bag with notepad and pen to track times (important for tourniquets for example).

Those are normally not included in any first aid kids I have seen but they are very useful for the types of injuries you can get on a boat and are serious. If no one can help you immediately, you want to be prepared.