First Aid kit contents

[kingfisher]

My main cruising grounds is the Scheld Estuaries, the Dutch and Belgian coast and the occassional Channel hop. What should the boat's first aid kit contain?
- various dressings
- disinfectant
- painkillers (paracetamol)
- eye wash
- (sun)burn ointment
- insect bites treatment
- travel sickness pills
- Immodium
- Claritine
- Maalox
- Motilium
- scissors
- tweezers
- band aids
- safety pins
- steri strips

Anything else?

 

[sailbadthesinner]

disposable nappies are pretty good as they are very absorbant and have handy adhesive tabs for when lots of blood is going.

paracetamol reccomended for heart attacks half a tablet administered quickly is said to do wonders

id throw in a space blanket if someone is pulled out the drink

rehydration kit or the spoon for the salt sugar ratio. as sun stroker can happen more easily on the water.

neck brace may also be useful or practice making improvising one.

looking at it you kit should cover
caught trapped extremities
bangs slips and trips
head shots from the boom
burns from ropes
exposure from going over
stings burns
cuts
faints and heart attcks.

I could wail on howabout tweezers are not really allowed in 1st aid as that is treatment blah blah blah. but frankly i 'd sooner have someone who has a go rather than leaves me bleeding to death while they debate as to whether an action covers first aid or unqualified treatment.

my last first aid course spent more time it felt like telling me what we could not do.

 

[PIGLETSDREAM]

Cling film for burns
Clear plastic bags for burns

 

[jhr]

[ QUOTE ]
paracetamol reccomended for heart attacks half a tablet administered quickly is said to do wonders

[/ QUOTE ] I thought that was aspirin?

 

[RobBrown]

It is.

 

[Skyva_2]

From personal experience with a splinter under a fingernail (ouch!) make sure the tweezers have very fine points. Even the kind nurse at the Alderney hospital gave up on it.

 

[FullCircle]

Bluemoment.com had a pretty good list. My SWMBO was impressed.

Dont forget to include a readable manual. Some are better than others.

Identify items around the boat that can be used or adapted for splints, supports etc.

 

[cliff]

Something like this would be nice to have in the first aid kit...........

Although........

I think I would prefer..........

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
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"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[graham]

Ibuprofen is good for pulled muscles/bad back s etc.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

A reference book with simple instructions. Normally included in purpose assembled kits.
Do a course or a refresher if need be.

 

[sailbadthesinner]

oops correct
refresher course due thursday can see why now

add a first aid manual!!!

 

[Jonny_H]

On the topic of courses - any preferance? Our club is running the RYA course for around £35 each (including some handbooks etc in the price) - is this better / worse / indifferent to say the St John's Ambulance or other local courses available?

Jonny

 

[sailbadthesinner]

libby wrote about one i think her husband did prior to his atlantic jaunt solo. it was run by a woman who is a sailor and nurse ( or a sister) i do remember it copvered more pratctical way of using things on a boat that could be used in an emergency.

the one i have to do as a scout leader is pretty much the standard first aiders at work do. and i think a fair amount would desert me in a real emergency
hence mixing up parcetomol and aspirin

i would contact local lifeboat station and see if they have a contact at the st johns who does a course with a more boaty bent. or mauybe even pooole hq?
it does not have to be a recognised cert you are after, just coverage of the most boaty injuries
head trauma is useful
what fluids you should panic if you see coming out of ears etc...

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Resusitation mask, Glyceryl Trinitrate (Angina), Eye Drops, Antiseptic Wipes, Cool Packs (Sprains and Burns) you break a bag inside a bag which causes a chemical reaction giving a cold pack which can become too cold and you may have to interpose a layer of cloth etc. The list can go on depending on how far away from help you are but the above are definitly First Aid.

 

[Genie]

I would add a sachet of sterile eyewash or saline solution for helping flush eyes or helping to wash debris out of wounds.
A basic course in First Aid is the best tool - even if it's just the ABC and recovery position, that can help save a life.
Cheers
Rob

 

[Skyva_2]

That sounds a very good price including the book. The St Johns is a good course but less inclined to boaty stuff like hypothermia, seasickness which is in the RYA course. Check what the instructor says is in the content.

 

[ralf2]

any real first aider knows that you are not legally supposed to have parecetamol / any tablets etc in your kit!
i have!

 

[Vara]

In privately owned boat that is a load of old cobblers. If it's my first aid kit I can put (and use) what I like in it.

If you are hawking your skills in a place of work that can be a different matter.

 

[Haven't-a-Clue]

You are quite correct. If it's your 1st aid kit you can legally put whatever you can legally lay your hands on. Using it however is a matter for training, although if you succeed in saving someone's life/limb/eye or whatever, they are unlikely to sue for it, although if you caused it, who knows?! I work in an operating theatre (and the sort of kit I can get my hands on, you wouldn't credit!) and as far as I'm concerned, if you know what you're doing, go ahead and do it..... just get training so that you do! I have to admit here that I'm a bit of a dinosaur in today's NHS in that I still believe in doing what needs to be done rather than worrying whether I should! Oh well, I expect I'll be made redundant soon anyway when they close the place.

 

[Bajansailor]

Re: First Aid Instructors with sailing knowledge

If anyone in the Hampshire area would like to do a 1st Aid course which is specifically aimed at sailing folk, Ultramarini on this forum is a qualified Instructor and a keen sailor, and her occasional courses (depending on demand - and sailing schedules!) are very popular.