Source of medecines for long distance cruisers

C

ChrisE

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 Nov 2003
Messages
7,343
Location
Kington
www.simpleisgood.com
We had a tame doctor provide us with the medecines for treating ailments at sea but I'm aware that things have got a lot tighter in recent years. This website offers a comprehensive med kit for peeps with USCG Captain or equivalent (and YM is) qualifactions.
 
I think that a lot of the time, provided you know what you want, you can pick a lot of things up over the counter at pharmacies in places like Turkey, Portugal etc etc
 
I think a 'tame' doctor is the way to go. We've ben personal friends with our doctor for over thirty years and always drift in to check with him what we 'should' take before we push off cruising.

He updates our innoculations and things and advises on what would be best for where we hope to go. Helps a lot with cost too, 'cos we don't take stuff that's cheaper elsewhere.

For example, and as moodycruiser points out, many items that are prescription only in the UK are available over the counter elsewhere, and MUCH cheaper as a rule!
 
Hi Chris.
I am a pharmacist..now only doing very occasional locums..and when I set up my main on board first aid and medicines kit I discussed at a private consultation with my GP what I needed..He then gave me a private prescription for those items which I could not buy over the counter at my local pharmacy.The prescription items were mainly antibiotics and pain relief plus some anti nauseants.I feel that it is far more important to carry a good selection of dressings and know how and when to use them.I was able to buy at Excel a 2nd hand copy of the Ships Captain Medical Guide which is well worth lokking through and keeping on board.If you would like me to post my meds and dressings list let me know
 
Depends where your going and for how long at sea.

Prior to our Atlantic circuit SHMBO and I did all the medical courses run by Warsash. The tickets earned enabled us to order our medical kit from BCB in Cardiff. We aimed at keeping serious infection/injury at bay for 3 days. By which time help ought to be on its way. No problem carring the various drugs etc. As a certain standard of medical kit is a requirement for a British Registered Vessel.

Thank God, we never used any of our "serious" first aid kit in 2 years.
 
All interesting stuff, and useful info for anybody looking to source meds for a trip.

A little story here, some years ago, I went to a new GP to ask for some Scopaderm (the anti-nausea transdermal patches) for MrsE, as these were not available across the counter. The GP said that he didn't believe in prescribing performance enhancing drugs for sporting purposes!

That said, we now live by the coast and the GPs around here, at least, understand nautical needs.
 
Re: mca required medical gear on board

ye, i had this recently - it seems that to pas an mca inspection you have to have an approved set of gear on board. However if you actually use any of the gear, well, heh, it's not a full kit any more, is it? So i have a sealed bag which says it is a medical kit, and separtely a medical kit we use...
 
a fellow sailing pharmacist!
I too would love a copy of your list, and also some tips on how you arrange your locum work around your sailing- or is it the other way around?
Many a time I have wished that I could live on my boat out in Greece, and replenish the kitty by coming back to Britain for a bit of locuming when it's too hot/too cold/too busy/too crowded (delete as applicable) in the Ionian... How feasible is this in your experience?
 
Re: mca required medical gear on board

THERE MUST BE AN EASY WAY TO DO THIS BUT DON'T KNOW HOW. SO ANYWAY HERE IS MY LIST OF MEDS.i ALSO KEEP A SMALL CAR TYPE FIRST AID KIT HANDY IN THE HEADS AND PLASTERS IN SUTLERY DRAWER.
SHEMESH MEDICAL STORES.
PAIN RELIEF ..,IBUPROFEN 200MG,PARACETAMOL 500MG,SOLUBLE ASPIRIN 300MG,SOLPADEINE,CO-DYDRAMOL(Rx)
PROCHLORPERAZINE 5MG(Rx)BUSCOPAN CINNARAZINE15MG(STUGERON)
ANTIBIOTICS AMOXYCILLIN 250MG(Rx)ERYTHROMYCIN 250MG(Rx)MAGNAPEN (Rx)OXYTETRACYCLINE 250MG(Rx)TRIMETHOPRIM (Rx)
EYE MINIMS CHLORAMPHENICOL(Rx)MINIMS AMETHOCAINE(Rx)HYPROMELLOSE EYE DROPS.
STOMACH AND BOWEL ANTACID TABLETS (I USE RENNIES RAPEZE)DIORYLATE SACHETS LOPERAMIDE CAPSULES KAOLIN AND MORPHINE MIXTURE CODEINE PHOPHATE TABLETS 30MG(Rx)
ANISEPTICS SAVLON LIQUID,SAVLON CREAM,SAVLON SPRAY,
GENERAL ITEMS NORMASOL,IRRICLENS SALINE SPRAY AQUEOUS CREAM E45CREAM PIRITON TABLETS 4MG HYDROCORTISONE CREAM 1% FUCIDIN CREAM(RX)MYCIL POWDER MYCIL CREAM CANESTAN CREAM.ITEMS MARKED (Rx) ARE AVAILABLE ON PRESCRIPTION.TRY AND GET ALL TABLES IN FOIL PACKS AS THEY WILL LAST LONGER.ALL CREW SHOULD BRING OWN PERSONAL MEDS AND SKIPPER SHOULD BE AWARE OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS.I BELIEVE THAT FALMOUTH COASTGUARD CAN STILL PUT YOU IN CONTACT WITH A DUTY DOCTOR AND IF HE CAN MAKE A DISTANT DIAGNOSIS YOU CAN ADVISE HIM OF MEDS AND GET SUGGESTION OF WHAT TO USE AND DOSAGE.DRESSINGS ARE A SEPARATE ITEM BUT IF YOU START OFF WITH A SELCTION OF MELOLIN,BANDAGES GAUZE SQUARES,MICROPORE TAPES SUTURE STRIPS DRESSINGT PACKS CREPE BANDAGES AND TRIANGULAR BANDAGES COTTON WOOL ANTISEPTIC WIPES.AS PART OF ANNUAL EQUIPMENT CHECK CONFIRM TAHAT ITEMS ARE STILL IN DATE AND WILL REMAIN USABLE FOR YOUR PASSAGE.
 
HI AFTER MY HEART ATTACK I DECIDED THAT LIFE IS FOR LIVING NOT WORKING.SO I ONLY DO EMERGENCY LOCUMS AND TRY TO AVOID THOSE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. MY BOAT IS NOW IN FRANCE AND I DO NOT NEED MANY EXCUSES TO POP OVER TO VISIT.
 
Re: mca required medical gear on board

JUST NOTICED THAT YOU ARE IN SURREY.IF YOU CAN GET UP TO LONDON "JONH BELL &CROYDEN " IN WIGMORE STREET LONDON ARE ONE OF THE BEST STOCKISTS OF EQUIPMENT AND DRESSINGS .WHEN YOU COME UP FOR YOUR XMAS SHOPPING GIVE THEM A VISIT.
THE RNLI WERE RECENTLY OFFERING A FIRST AID VIDEO IN EXCHANGE FOR A DONATION GIVE POOLE A RING AND SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY LEFT.WELL WORTH WATCHING..SEVERAL TIMES .
 
very comprehensive list, thanks! I'd add some modern hydrocolloid dressings like compeed : they may appear expensive, but THEY REALLY DO STICK AND STAY ON FOR DAYS, EVEN IN SEAWATER!!! Als some tegaderm or opsite post-op dressings, which could best be desribed as "sticky-back cling-film", for the same reason: waterproof (even swimproof-I've tried!) but will still let the skin breathe underneath, comes in a variety of sizes & can be cut down to fit any awkward bodyshape.
Take care with anything that mentions the word "morphine" on the label though: some european countries have very different rules about what constitutes a "Controlled Drug", and Kaolin & Morph would certainly come under that category in Belgium and probably in France too. The Greeks don't look too kindly upon Codeine, either...
 
I SHOULD REALLY HAVE ASKED WHERE YOU ARE GOING.THE KIT I HAVE PUT TOGETHER IS REALLY FOR COASTAL WORK 24-48 HOURS TO A MAJOR CENTRE. IF YOU ARE GOING FURTHER OUT THEN YOU WILL NEED EXTRAS AND THE PAIN RELIEF DRUGS MAY CAUSE PROBLEMS . MY MAIN WORRY IS THAT I SAIL WITH ONE OTHER PERSON AND I AM THE FIRST AIDER.REALLY MUST GET HER TO TAKE A COURSE!!
 
Just a quick follow up on this subject, I got some basic first aid info on this web site: Med Info ....loads of information

First aid courses via St Johns ambulance
Training Here Good value at around £235 although mine was via the company, well worth an enquiry!

St Johns is also a good source of first aid kits as well. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

poter
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top