First Aid Bag

capnsensible said:
I did that when it was called 'Ship Captains Medical' at the Warsash Nautical College. It was fab. Really interesting Instructoress and a great mix of seafarers of all types.

Regarding catheters, they had male and female rubber genitals to practice on called Bert and Mabel.

The course enabled me to deal with a number of situations at sea and on land over the years. Fortunately, although I know what to do, I've never had to use the lesson called 'Death'.
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Still got a copy of the Ship Captains Medical Guide ...........

My main memory of the Course at Plymouth Nautical ... was when leaving the classroom one day to go back to digs .... I stopped in a pub ... stuck a coin in the bandit and hit jackpot !! Trouble was by time all with me had their drinks - jackpot was gone !!
 
dunedin said:
Do you need 24 body bags or is 23 sufficient?
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That sir, is the post in the poorest of taste I've seen on the forum in all the time I've posted.

Considering that we are coming up to the anniversary, 17th of March 1969, of the the Longhope Lifeboat Disaster with all loss of all hands. Any life lost at sea is devastating for family, friends and the wider community.

Other people will have close connections to other disasters or will have lost friends and acquaintances.
 
Sandy said:
I've thumbed the onboard copy, thankfully I have no plans for skippering any vessel that needs the qualification. Eye injuries just make me squirm.
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Had a Polish Welder working on one ship while sailing ... he got a metal shard into his eye ... actually into - not just on surface. I was against 'pulling it' so treated it with local anesthetic eye drops and put gauze cover on. We had quite a voyage and twice a day - I would give drops .... and cover it. We arrived in Port and he went ashore .... Opthalmic Doctor found that my treatment had allowed the shard to come out and lay on surface. He also said the eye had only minimal scarring and guy reckoned he had no vision fault . Felt quite proud !
 
dolabriform said:
Ideally I want a waterproof bag that can be thrown in the dinghy if needs be, and is compartmentalised and organised sensibly.

I was thinking of something like this:

Elite Bags Jumble Red First Aid Bag EB159
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Nothing with a zip! At that price it won't be waterproof either. So either go to lomo and get one of their dry bags - but accept every time you want anything the entire contents are going on the chart table or buy an organised plastic box. My boat came with a plastic case (lomo sell them empty too), but we carry a small Limo pouch in the bag we take for walks ashore etc.

st599 said:
Looks a bit small to carry what's needed on our coded boat.
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On the coded boats I've been on there's been 2 kits. The "sealed" coded kit - necessary to meet the requirements, and the "unless its life of death just use this box".
 
ylop said:
Nothing with a zip! At that price it won't be waterproof either. So either go to lomo and get one of their dry bags - but accept every time you want anything the entire contents are going on the chart table or buy an organised plastic box. My boat came with a plastic case (lomo sell them empty too), but we carry a small Limo pouch in the bag we take for walks ashore etc.


On the coded boats I've been on there's been 2 kits. The "sealed" coded kit - necessary to meet the requirements, and the "unless its life of death just use this box".
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I've sometimes needed stuff from the 'sealed' one. On return, 'oops sorry, had to be done' has always pacified the owners. Who really should have sorted them into tuppaware anyway....
 
In fact there are zipped FA kits that are Water Protected ... which in all fairness is good enough. To be fully waterproof ? If kit is underwater - I think the problem is far past the point you need a bandage !

My main point with Zips - is not water seal level - but the need to keep zip working by working zip with lubricant regularly.

If you really need waterproof ... then put in a clear Zip Lock freezer bag.

Whatever box / case / bag you use - we all know that the item you want is at bottom of contents !! I have often considered creating a 'First use' kit and a second serious kit. The question is - what to prioritise for the 'First use' kit. Would be interesting for me to read what others think may be suitable for that First use kit ?

My idea is :

Roll of sticking plaster
Plaster strips with gauze
Scissors
Small bottle of Cleaning Alcohol
Tweezers
Cotton Wool or Gauze
Roll of elasticated self locking bandage


The elasticated self locking bandage ... I've seen and known about it for years, assumed similar to the older style that needed a metal clip. But having used for my dogs when they've had accidents ... realised its far superior use. No clip, end basically molds into itself. Available over counter in Chemists shops ... I now have a couple of 10m rolls.
 
Is that not the wrong way round.

It doesn't matter if it takes a couple of minutes to get a sticking plaster. However with a catastrophic bleed you've got 90 secs to stop it. I know my work issued first aid kit is a Molle bag with a CAT tourniquet and Israeli dressing on the outside.
 
In fact there are zipped FA kits that are Water Protected ... which in all fairness is good enough. To be fully waterproof ? If kit is underwater - I think the problem is far past the point you need a bandage !
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ah I realise I wasn’t clear - my “no zips” comment was for exactly the reason you say - left on a damp boat without being moved they rust and snap - you’ll find this out just when you really wanted into it.

the not waterproof was the fabric itself. The OP is looking for something he can “throw in the dinghy”. He didn’t explain why - but dinghies tend to be wet. However even if someone was just keeping a kit on board in a fabric bag I’d say they tend to attract moisture, then mould and many products are wrapped in paper like materials. Individual zip lock bags are good for non urgent loose stuff, but if you need stuff quickly you want to be able to find the kit quickly (good location, not buried under the v berth with sail bags on top), highly visible so even someone relatively unfamiliar can find the green or red bag/box, quick to open, with important contents not needing long to hunt for them.

to me it’s actually more important that people know what to do and how to improvise than what kit belongs in your box/bag. That said, there are things people probably think are low priority but can make the difference between a horrible trip or even going home early but are cheap and simple - especially if you have children on board. Eg, in a damp environment getting plasters to stick is hard work but spray plaster (liquid skin) works well. Hydrocortisone cream for cleg (horse fly) bites, and proper blister plasters (compeed) for ill fitting wet shoes on shore explorations. If you can’t get ashore easily I’d carry some oil of cloves for toothaches too! And I agree that superglue may be more use than steristrip in wet conditions although fortunately I’ve never had to try either on the boat.
 
st599 said:
Is that not the wrong way round.

It doesn't matter if it takes a couple of minutes to get a sticking plaster. However with a catastrophic bleed you've got 90 secs to stop it. I know my work issued first aid kit is a Molle bag with a CAT tourniquet and Israeli dressing on the outside.
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I think you may have mistaken a First Aid kit for simple stuff with that of a Trauma kit - which you are referring to.

I would suggest that 99% of First Aid kits out there are not designed with catastrophic artery / vein severance in mind. If such occurred - wasting time grabbing a FA kit is time wasted ... you grab a plastic bag or any material and staunch flow by tight binding ... worrying about whether its a bandage or not is just not the issue.

I was in a number of training classes as a Ships Officer and it was drilled into us ... use whatever to stop the flow ... wasting time to get a medical kit may be that persons life lost.
The humble supermarket plastic bag is amazingly effective for so many FA events ....

Its same as when there's a fire - again many training classes I had to attend - if you break a persons leg getting them out from dieing in a fire - so be it ... GET THEM out alive .... worry about the crap later.
 
ylop said:
ah I realise I wasn’t clear - my “no zips” comment was for exactly the reason you say - left on a damp boat without being moved they rust and snap - you’ll find this out just when you really wanted into it.
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VERY true. Candle wax or silicon spray is heaven for this.

the not waterproof was the fabric itself. The OP is looking for something he can “throw in the dinghy”. He didn’t explain why - but dinghies tend to be wet.
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Simple Freezer Bag that seals ....

However even if someone was just keeping a kit on board in a fabric bag I’d say they tend to attract moisture, then mould and many products are wrapped in paper like materials. Individual zip lock bags are good for non urgent loose stuff, but if you need stuff quickly you want to be able to find the kit quickly (good location, not buried under the v berth with sail bags on top), highly visible so even someone relatively unfamiliar can find the green or red bag/box, quick to open, with important contents not needing long to hunt for them.
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With a hard case - you could fix to the bulkhead and with a couple of thin chains or links - create a lid that folds down but stops when horizontal .... the contents held behind a clear plastic that is velcro'd at top ...

to me it’s actually more important that people know what to do and how to improvise than what kit belongs in your box/bag. That said, there are things people probably think are low priority but can make the difference between a horrible trip or even going home early but are cheap and simple - especially if you have children on board. Eg, in a damp environment getting plasters to stick is hard work but spray plaster (liquid skin) works well. Hydrocortisone cream for cleg (horse fly) bites, and proper blister plasters (compeed) for ill fitting wet shoes on shore explorations. If you can’t get ashore easily I’d carry some oil of cloves for toothaches too! And I agree that superglue may be more use than steristrip in wet conditions although fortunately I’ve never had to try either on the boat.
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Said it before .... humble supermarket plastic bag ............ good for sucking wounds .... staunch heavy flow wounds .... even to use with a hyperventilated person (leave people to search that one) ...... put round bandaging etc to keep relatively dry ...
 
"Simple Freezer Bag that seals ...."

They can be useful - BUT (1) they take care / attention to seal them properly. First time you do it great. When one of your kids goes in to get a plaster and doesn't reseal it - not so great! But I also think the the idea of any non-water proof fabric even if the contents are perfectly sealed within is a bad idea - might look good for a season but will become a mouldy mess over time.
 
If you want something to “throw in a dinghy”
I would strongly suggest a Pelli style hard plastic box. You can get clones on Aliexpress.

Our sailing club uses these for first aid kits. They get thrown around and generally used and are fine. For years.

if I want to keep things dry iuse strong ziplock bags. For larger things i use strong roll top bags from Lomo. Lomo also do first aid kits/bags. Check lomo out.

in terms of general use things I would add some saline ampoules and dressings with tape for larger c
 
Sandy said:
That sir, is the post in the poorest of taste I've seen on the forum in all the time I've posted.

Considering that we are coming up to the anniversary, 17th of March 1969, of the the Longhope Lifeboat Disaster with all loss of all hands. Any life lost at sea is devastating for family, friends and the wider community.

Other people will have close connections to other disasters or will have lost friends and acquaintances.
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Way over the top reaction Sandy, in my view. It is clear from Dunedin's post, in the context of the size of the first aid (rather trauma kits) mentioned, that the body bag comment was a cheeky observation, especially alluding to 1 less than the capacity mentioned. I would suggest that the majority of people who post on here have a limited emotional connection beyond the natural sadness that such events generate, of course it is possible that some will have direct experience. However, should we tip toe about life for the fear of causing offence, perceived or otherwise? I don think that would be a healthy way to live.

I was anchored at Saint Kilda when a dive boat arrived. Later that day, one of the divers died, I believe his head struck the top of the cave they were exploring. The dive boat asked the army if they could handle the body and take it back to Stornaway. They refused and the dive boat had to take the body back themselves. At that time, it did make me wonder if carrying a body bag would be prudent for rare but significant consequence event.. Later, sailing down the Irish Sea to Isle of Man I motored by something in the water that roughly resembled flesh, rolling over in our wake. We investigated it and it was carcass of an animal. I was a mate at that time and the discussion with the skipper around death, was again that we had no body bags.

Likely, most of the forumites that sail on here are coastal sailors so will always be near a safe haven, even if it is a few hours sail away, so the body bag requirement is moot.

To the OP, I use the bag style that you linked to, typical office first aid bags, one of the many commercial available first aid bags. They are superior to boxes for the simple reason that they are more mobile and allow both hands to be free when carrying. I don't make anything water tight as the packaging for the bandages is already good enough and the stuff in tubes et cetera is already water tight. I also have a grab bag and keep a Cat C first aid bag in it and replace when it expires. I am not coded, it is just for convenience and allows the grab bag to be a one shop for all grab.
 
Getting back to the OP:
dolabriform said:
Hi all
What do you keep your first aid kit in? We have been through several standard bags and the zips last no time at all.
Ideally I'd like a rugged, waterproof bag with all the relevant pockets etc, any ideas?
Thanks
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Can you clarify or expand on the context? What's it for? e.g.
  • Commercial vessel
  • Offshore racing
  • Long-distance cruising
  • Day-skipper coastal sailing
The size and scope of the kits might depend a lot on the relevant context.
e.g. regs for merchant shipping and fishing vessels
[Withdrawn] MSN 1905 (M+F) Amendment 1 Application of the ships' medical stores regulations 1995

Last time I bought a Ships Medical Kit for a coded yacht (for charter work), it came in a big green box.
IIRC it included some "DIY surgery" equipment and some morphine derivatives, not the kind of thing you could buy in Boots.
It might have been like this one:
Offshore First Aid Kit
 
I guess the size and contents of your first aid kit depends on how close you are to medical assistance. For coastal cruising the whole lot would probably fit in a large tupperware box. Our extends to three large boxes. We carry several types of antibiotic, many dressings of all shapes and sizes, burns cream, antiseptic creams for dressings, morphine etc. If you are several days from medical help it makes a huge difference.
 
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