Whats in your first aid kit?

[Scillypete]

Got all the usual stuff, dressings, bandages, gels, creams and sterile this and that enough you mummify someone, but what I really want to know is whether it is necessary to carry any kind of medications (other than prescribed) ie: a general antibiotic in case of wound infections, to name but one.

So what do you think is a must have for an Atlantic circuit starting September from UK returning next spring.

 

[walto]

we include savlon antiseptic spray as this has iodine in it... not only good for cuts but also stings and bites. Also eye wash.

 

[dss15]

Tincture of iodine (not available in UK but in North America and widely elsewhere) is more concentrated and compact. I also carry a five day supply of a broad spectrum penicillin type antibiotic.

 

[Gerry]

Hydrocortisone and canestan cream for fungal infections, three kinds of antibiotic, fucidin cream for infected cuts(common in tropics), rehydration crystals, burneeze spray for minor burns.
We have used all these since leaving Europe!!

We have a much fuller kit now we are cruising Central America....

 

[orizaba]

hydrogen peroxide,great for cleaning cuts,can be used for other things available at your local chemist,read label for its other uses

 

[Conachair]

[ QUOTE ]
Hydrocortisone and canestan cream for fungal infections, three kinds of antibiotic, fucidin cream for infected cuts(common in tropics), rehydration crystals, burneeze spray for minor burns.

[/ QUOTE ]
Are these available in Spain from chemists? Or how would one go about obtaining them, thinking that maybe antibiotics might be a bit harder to get.
Ta

 

[Sea Devil]

From bitter personal experience you absolutely need local anesthetic, sutures of both sewing and pull together variety, needles to inject the local anesthetic, inflatable braces for arm and leg breaks.... major wound dressings ---- I do not have but am getting for my next Atlantic urinary catheters.... Surgical gloves to try to keep the wound sterile... very difficult! And you must have the Ships Captains First Aid Book...

The biggest danger is the boat falling off a wave and someone falling all the way across the cabin or possibly deck and having major impact wound to their head or breaking a limb... Blood everywhere - big bits of flapping flesh... and the wound must be sewn up or the broken limb immobilised until you get to port..

Hate doing this but on my web site there is a medical page for long distance cruisers with advice from Doctors and Dentists... I have had to sew up a crews head with a split from eye to back of head .... sticking plasters do not do it.. and infection is a major problem.

Michael

 

[Anonymous]

I'm sure they are available here in Spain although beware of hydrocortisone mixed in with these types of meds. HC reduces the ability of the skin to heal - it is intended to soothe the irritation - and is fine when the skin is unbroken but if the problem has been there a while and the skin broken, go for the straight cream without HC.

Most of the generic drug names are almost identical and some of the brands are the same or similar. Find out the contents of your drug of choice, write it down on a piece of paper and hand it to the pharmacist.

 

[Anonymous]

The most useful thing of all is to go on a good first aid course. I decided to put my wife and myself on a three day first aid course (not the boating one, just the general work one) and frankly we could have still been learning for another couple of weeks.

One point the instructor made was that when going to an emergency the last thing the first aider needs is a first aid kit. Virtually all immediate first aid can be carried out without any apparatus or stuff - hands put pressure on bleeds, for example.

I'm not saying don't get a good kit and it makes sense to supplement it but don't forget the training.

 

[Gerry]

Most things are available over the counter in Portugal certainly not sure about Spain. If you have a friendly GP in the UK they will often prescribe antibiotics etc when they know you may be away from any medical assistance for a number of weeks.
I agree that sutures are necessary,m although we usually get by with hospital quality steristrips. I forgot to add in antihistamine, both oral and topical, lots of stuff bites out there!
and of course a good first aid course is invaluable. Really you need one geared towards adventure travel where you may have to deal with more than just the immediate treatment. Didn't find one in the UK though.

 

[lille_bee]

I've ended up with 2 medical boxes: one for acute emergencies (broken limbs, blood everywhere, the kind of event that would make you call an ambulance or rush to A&E if it happened at home), that contains inflatable splints, field dressings, compression packs, Roehampton burns dressings, suturing materials, sterile gloves, hypodermic equipment, perfusion sets, i.v. fluids, and even an adrenaline pen in case of anaphylactic shock.
|Then I have a more "everyday" meds box, for minor cuts & grazes, bites, stings etc.., for which you wouldn't normally go to your GPs for but you'd pop down to the Chemist's for some knowledgeable advice and a quick fix.
Oral rehydration packs are a must, so are seasickness tabs, paracetamol tabs, and a decent range of plasters. I definitely recommend hydrocolloid-type ones (Compeed etc...) as they stick on very well, even in seawater, and they stay on for days, thus ensuring an ideal healing environment. Other to have are the "sticky-back clingfilm" type ones, like Tegaderm or Opsite: they are so thin that they will conform to any awkward-shaped part of the body, like backs of knuckles, knees, etc... and still stay on even when swimming.
Another must-have is Benadryl cream: best thing I've ever found for treating itchy mozzie-bites!

 

[Anonymous]

[ QUOTE ]
Another must-have is Benadryl cream: best thing I've ever found for treating itchy mozzie-bites!

[/ QUOTE ]

That's interesting, the active ingredient of Benadryl is the same as the one in a product pharmacists sell in Spain for jellyfish and other stings, called "Neosayomol" The strength of the pack I have is 2g in 100g, how does that compare? My daughter was suffering very badly and this stuff cleared her up very quickly. It is an over the counter preparation.

 

[lille_bee]

You're quite right, Benadryl also contains diphenhydramine (an antihistamine), but only 1%, not 2% like Neosayomol. But benadryl also contains 0.1% camphor (disinfectant, "cooling" effect) and a type of zinc oxide called calamine, which is very soothing, especially on sunburns. It's probably twice the price of Neosayomol, this being "Rip-off Britain"!

 

[mawm]

Whatever you take you must know how to use. If not, it's useless.

What would I take on a prolonged voyage?

- for every day use - bandaid, tegaderm, bandage (?crepe/gauze), paracetamol, NSAID, Fucidin cream, cortisone cream, anti-histamine cream, burn ointment, iodine antiseptic cream/solution, antifungal cream/lotion, antidiarrhoeal, antiemetic, antacid, cough supressant (pholcodeine), steri-strip.

- for the more serious stuff- things to make a splint out of, finger splints, neck brace, injectable local anaesthetic, sutures - dissolvable and nylon, large and small - and things to put them in with, bomb bandages (2nd WW type), bigger tegaderm dressings, IV luer, enough IV fluids (saline and starch) and administration set, endotraceal tube/laryngeal mask, Guedel airway, emergency tracheotomy set, suction of sorts, chest drain (battle field type), adrenalin, morphine, oxygen,cortisone, antihistamine, antibiotics (IV and oral), flurosceine eye drops, chloromycetin and atropine eye drops, injectable anti-emetics, sedative/anxiolytic, space blanket, GTN (angised?) tabs/spray, sterile gloves.

Depending on where I'm going - things for malaria, dengue fever etc.

 

[Anonymous]

Neosayomol is €5.25 and that's a fixed national price (prices are marked on the boxes here so you don't have to hunt for the best deal). OTOH, re 'Rip off Britain', many, many things are far cheaper in the UK presumably because the market and competition is so much larger.

Cars, computers, electrical brown and white goods, many clothes, etc. are far cheaper in the UK.

Back to meds, we were in Italy last January and amazed to find the price of paracetamol to be many Euros for a small pack. I don't recall the exact amount but the price is nothing short of extortion. When you look at the prices offered by Tescos etc. in the UK you see that the generic drugs can be very cheap.

I don't know the price of other chemist items in Italy but I would strongly advise folk to stock well up before going. Prices seem fair here in Spain so if sailing across, stock up in Spain.

 

[Gerry]

thought there was no treatment for dengue?

 

[Sea Devil]

I met several people who got Dengue when I was in the South Pacific... No treatment except they suffer from dehydration and become weak.. probably need to be hospitalised but most recover OK ... nasty but not normally fatal

 

[KellysEye]

This is what we carry, wth some info on useage and dosage..

BANDAGES AND DRESSINGS (2 BAGS)
4 sterile dressing packs
4 triangular bandages
6 sterile large wound dressings no. 15
6 sterile medium wound dressings no. 13
2 natural padding bandages (tensoban) (for ankle, wrist)
4 crepe bandages 7.5 cms
18 conforming bandages, six each of 10cm, 7.5cm and 5cm
2 boxes of assorted adhesive dressings
2 boxes of assorted waterproof adhesive dressings
2 packets of 4x4 gauze swabs(200)
1 plastic eye shield
20 Jelonet paraffin gauze 10x10cm individually wrapped
2 packets of cotton wool
4 packs of sterile gauze swabs (5 each at 7.5cm x 7.5cm)
2 packs sterile absorbent gauze (90cm x 3m)
2 packs Melolin adhesive wound dressings (5 each at 5cm x 5cm)
2 packs Melolin adhesive wound dressings (5 each at 8.3cm x 6cm)
2 rolls of adhesive strapping (Micropore) 1.5cms
4 rolls of adhesive strapping (Micropore) 2.5cms
1 rolls of adhesive strapping (Micropore) 5cms
Vulkan fixation tape x 2
3 packets of steristrips (various sizes)
2 tubegauze finger bandage applicator and roll
10 finger bob bandages
4 disposable finger stalls
4 disposable finger stalls
Sterile latex gloves, 6 large and 6 small

INSTRUMENTS AND HARDWARE
Stainless steel scissors Nurses pattern 18 cm
Stainless steel pointed forceps
Needle holder for suturing x 1
Clippers
10 disposable scalpels
4 protected safety pins stainless steel and 24 ordinary
Rectal thermometer (mercury)
Oral thermometer (mercury)
6 disposable spatulas
2 Guerdel airways, one no.2 and one no.3.
Eye bath (with Optrex bottle)
1 Dropper
6 Disposable single edge razors
12 sachets of silk sutures
12 sachets of nylon sutures
Inflatable splints: arm, wrist, leg
Wrist splint x 2
Syringes and needles

ANTIBIOTICS

Amoxycillin 500mg x 42 One three times per day (broad spectrum penicillin, including dental abscess, blood poisoning)
Augmentin (suppression of appendicitis used with Metronidazole. Also for bites and stings) 625mg x 42 -. take one 3 times per day.
Ciprofloxacin 500mg x 28 – take one twice daily (strong, broad spectrum, use if first doesn’t work. Kidney, prostate, chest, stomach, blood poisoning)
Tiloryth Erythromycin 250mg x 30 (broad spectrum, including teeth, wounds, stomach and bladder) One four times a day.
Metronidazole (suppression of appendicitis used with Augmentin) 400mg x 42 - take one 3 times per day.
Trimethoprim 200mg x 28 One twice a day and keep going for five to seven days (Infection of the bladder, urinary tract, cystitis; Infections of the organs associated with breathing, including nasal passages, sinuses, windpipe and lungs)

ANTISEPTICS

Sterile water 2 x 0.5 litre
Savlon wound wash 100ml x 2
Savlon dry antiseptic spray 2 cans
Surgical spirit 250ml bottle
Betadine ointment 2 x 20gm
Betadine solution – antiseptic paint 8ml
Betadine solution – skin cleanser 4% solution 250ml
Flamazine cream 2 x 50gm tube (for burns)
Iodine scrub
Iodine solution

BONES (FRACTURES)

Fucidin 250mg x 40 Two four times per day (antibiotic, also for blood poisoning, skin and wound infectios)

CHEST AND LUNGS

Codein linctus x 2 bottles
Ventmax Salbutamol MR capsules 4mg x 28 One twice a day (opens airways)
Epipen x 2 (Life threatening allergic/ anaphylactic reaction. NB Accidental injection into the hands or feet may result in loss of blood flow to the affected area and should be avoided. If there is an accidental injection into these areas, emergency treatment should be sought. The contents of the glass cartridge in the Auto-injector should be periodically checked to ensure that the solution is clear and colourless. Auto-injectors should ONLY be injected into the side of the thigh. Do NOT inject into the buttocks.

EAR

See also Eye treatments - Sofradex
See also Eye treatments – Chloramphenicol
Otosporin ear drops 5mls x 6 Two to three drops three times per day and keep going for five days (steroid/antibiotic for bacterial infection of outer ear)

EYE, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT

Optrex solution 110ml
Brolene drops x 4
Chloramphenicol drops minims x 20 One drop four times a day and must keep going for 5 days (antibiotic for bacterial infection of eye or outer ear)
Amethocaine eye drops minims x 20 (local anaesthetic)
Sofradex eye drops x 6 One drop three times a day (steroid/antibiotic for treating inflammation of eye or outer ear. Do NOT use for Eye conditions producing pus; Fungal infections of the eye; Inflammation of the front of the eye (cornea) or the membrane lining the eye (conjunctiva) due to the herpes simplex virus (herpetic keratitis); Otitis externa in people with a perforated eardrum; Tuberculosis infection affecting the eye)

Otrivine nasal spray 2 x 10ml
Boxer’s plug (stop nose bleed)

Strepsils 2 x 24
Bonjela x 2
Oil of cloves 1 bottle.
Dequadin lozenges 20
Dentanurse dental kits x 2
Corsodil dental gel x 2
Glycerine and thymol pastilles 1 pack


OTHER

Dioralyte 2 boxes
Anusol haemorrhoid cream 2 tubes.
KY jelly

PAINKILLERS AND ANTI INFLAMMATORY

Ketoprofen suppositories 100mg x 100 One when required. (nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory for arthritis, pain and muscle pain)
Dicloflex Diclofenac tablets75mg x 28 One twice a day after food (strong nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, can combine with Paracetamol or Opioid)
Voltarol Diclofenac suppositories 100mg x 30 One daily

Paracetamol 500mg tablets x 100
Migraleve tablets 4 packs of pink and yellow mixed
Soluble aspirin tablets x 32 tablets
Co-proxamol x 200 Two four times a day if required (dextropropoxythene and paracetamol, max 8 per day)
Solpadol x 100 One four times a day if required (paracetamol and codeine phosphate)
Tylex 500+30mg x 50 One or two four times a day (co-codamol i.e. 30mg codeine and 500mg paracetomol)
Xylocaine spray 500 dose unit (local anaesthetic)
Xylocaine and adrenalin injectable 5 x 20 vials (local anaesthetic, must NOT be injected in vein)
Zydol soluble 100mg x 30, One every 6 hours (tramadol hydrochloride which is an opioid analgesic or painkiller, for moderate to severe pain).
Zydol injectable 1 box ampoules

SEASICKNESS

Stugeron (Cinnarizine) 75mg x 100 One twice a day (antihistamine for motion sickness)
Motilium suppositories 30mg x 30 One three times a day (anti-emitic, also relief of upper abdominal discomfort, sense of fullness and regurgitaion of stomach contents)


SKIN

Germoline plastic skin 2 bottles
Calamine cream x 2 50gm
Anthisan cream 2 x 25gm tubes
Aloe vera gel 1 250ml
Solarcaine spray 2 cans
1% Hydrocortisone cream 2 1-oz tubes
Zinc oxide 2 1-oz tubes
Arnica cream (bruises) 2 tubes
Piriton allergy tablets
Friars Balsam 2 x 50ml (use to paint skin before strapping)
Granuflex sterile gel pads (place against ulcer or burn and bandage, removes gunge)
2nd skin non-sterile artificial fat (place against friction burn or graze)
Artificial fat (place gel against ulcer or burn and bandage)
Zovirax (cold sores and verrucae – skin ridge goes round verrucae and through corn)
Deep Heat 2 tubes.
Viscostat in applicator/syringes (stops bleeding, also for dental use)
Cicatrin powder 50g x 2 Apply 4 times per day 7 days max (antibiotic for burns, abrasions, cuts)
Fucidin ointment 2 packs Apply twice a day (antibiotic for bacterial infection).
Lamisil cream x 20p Apply twice a day (antifungal for athletes foot, itchy groin, ring worm)


STOMACH AND BOWEL

Rennies x 2 packs
Ranitidine (Zantac) 150mg x 30 tablets
Kaolin and morphine mixture 100ml
Loperamide (immodium) i.e.Arret capsules 3 cartons (30)
Sennokot tablets x 40
Buscopan tablets 10mg x 40 Two four times a day (antispasmodic)

 

[lille_bee]

That's a pretty impressive list, but why bother taking iodine scrub and betadine skin cleanser? they're almost the same thing...
The same goes for ketoprofen suppositories and voltarol suppositories, quite apart from the fact that those things are designed to melt at around 35 degrees celsius, which I'm sure you get quite often on the ABC Antilles...
Which reminds me: Otosporin ear-drops need to be stored in the fridge...
Tylex and Solpadol contain exactly the same ingredients, in exactly the same quantities...
And why drag along Kaolin & Morphine, when Imodium will do the same and more, without any drowsiness or hassle with Customs officials who don't like the word "Morphine"...

 

[charles_reed]

I think

Lille Bee that someone's pulling the proverbial - besides he's forgotten the inflatable splint and the morphia ampoules - both of which are fairly critical.