what's in your first aid kit?

I don't know the current situation but the shelf life of adrenalin injections used to be about one year, whereas most of the other drugs mentioned would be OK for about 3-4 years.

Most GPs should be amenable to a request for drugs, although I can understand that large amounts for long-distance voyages should probably legally be on a private prescription. There are regulations about NHS prescriptions to be taken abroad which I believe are along the lines of "for immediate use", usually taken as meaning about two weeks supply of a patient's usuall medication.

Co-codamol and similar pain-killers are not much better than paracetamol and are very constipating as well as mixing badly with alcohol. I carry paracetamol plus tramadol and an anti-inflammatory such as Voltarol as pain-killers.
 
johnalison said:
I don't know the current situation but the shelf life of adrenalin injections used to be about one year, whereas most of the other drugs mentioned would be OK for about 3-4 years.

Most GPs should be amenable to a request for drugs, although I can understand that large amounts for long-distance voyages should probably legally be on a private prescription. There are regulations about NHS prescriptions to be taken abroad which I believe are along the lines of "for immediate use", usually taken as meaning about two weeks supply of a patient's usuall medication.

Co-codamol and similar pain-killers are not much better than paracetamol and are very constipating as well as mixing badly with alcohol. I carry paracetamol plus tramadol and an anti-inflammatory such as Voltarol as pain-killers.
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What's Dihydrocodeine like in that analgesic scale? Or is that another name for one of those you've mentioned (displaying my ignorance!)
 
We cary a small tube of superglue. When my son cut his head open, the hospital "glued" it closed rather than use staples or ster-istrips. Hopefully I'll never actually use it though.
 
Sorry for the long post but this is what we had for ocean sailig. If you are 1500 miles from land it's not a bad idea to have this. Bear in mind that both clingfilm (for burns) and kitchen roll (for bleeding) are sterile out of the pack. Also bear in mind that if someone is seasick pills are useles hence the duplication with up the bottom stuff.

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
Blood preesure meter.

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)
 
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Is the 'guardel' one of those jobs one uses on First aid courses to give hygenic mouth-to-mouth?

I've always thought they'd be a good idea ( especially as the chap running one course I went on was ex-SBS and was extremely blunt ! ) - on all of the courses I've been on, the medic says airily 'available from Boots'.

Well I tried at my local Boots which must be one of the largest going, and the 'advisor' looked at me like I'd asked for a nuclear hover-bike...
 
It's not used for mouth to mouth, it holds the tongue down to keep the airway open. All the specialist kit we bought (needles, syringes, sutures, spray anaesthetic, inflatable splints etc) we bought from a chemist near Harley Street in London.

We got all the prescriptions from our doctor. Some were free others we had to pay for, they can't prescibe free a large number of different drugs. Many prescription drugs are sold over the counter in Spain and Portugal and are cheap. In the UK pills are cheap, up the bottoms are expensive. The reverse is true in France. All handy to know if you are passing through those countries before going ocean sailing.
 
john_morris_uk said:
What's Dihydrocodeine like in that analgesic scale? Or is that another name for one of those you've mentioned (displaying my ignorance!)
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Sorry about the late reply but I've only just got back.

There are several "Co-xxxxol" drugs which are a combination of a codeine-like drug and paracetamol. Dihydrocodeine has been around for a long time and is supposed to be a bit stronger than codeine but actually none of that group is very effective. I can remember taking dihydrocodeine 50 years ago for toothache and that all it did was make me feel woosy and nauseated and have never recommended it or its combination co-dydramol. Co-proxamol is a similar compound with a similar effect.

My preference is to stick to paracetamol for most conditions and add something genuinely stronger like tramadol (Zydol) if required. Mixing pain-killers of a different kind, such as paracetamol, opiate derivatives like tramadol, and an anti-inflammatory when indicated is quite acceptable and different people will have their own preferences according to how they respond and which side-effects are likely to be troublesome.
 
Also bear in mind that if someone is seasick pills are useles hence the duplication with up the bottom stuff.
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I have found that stugeron under the tongue is absorbed quickly and is usually very effective for those who are in the spew-rinse cycle. Just get them to keep replacing the thing if they lose it - and it usually works within a half hour or so. MUCH better than trying to keep a tablet down when being sick every few minutes, and much more effective. The drug gets absorbed through the mucous membrane of the under tongue bit of the mouth...
 
prv said:
I've seen Buccastem (sp?) work wonders for long-term seasickness. No idea how you get your hands on it.

Pete
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It is a buccal (i.e. absorbed from the mouth cavity) form of prochlorperazine (trade name Stemetil), which is a prescription-only medicine in the UK.
 
> My sons forehead was glued together with an instant glue after he fell through the fore cabin infill cushion. The doctor advised that it was nothing more than Superglue and that the glue will wear off over a few days.

I'm amazed he said he used superglue when there is a medical glue for cuts called Liquid Skin. It's very effective for cuts and we have used it.
 
KellysEye said:
I'm amazed he said he used superglue when there is a medical glue for cuts called Liquid Skin. It's very effective for cuts and we have used it.
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As I understand it, superglue was originally invented for closing wounds, particularly in military field hospitals. So while there may be versions sold specifically for medical use, the basic stuff is OK too. Apparently people in the Antarctic research stations use it routinely to close skin cracks that they get from the cold.

Pete
 
Funny this thread cropping up today..... my finger had a fight with an angle grinder this morning and lost so I had the boat first aid kit out to patch it up. It's a few years old now (the first aid kit.... the finger is even older) and I was thinking "wonder what I need to add to it?"
I have this fist aid book, which is good and also carry a pad of observation charts (records response to pain, breathing, consciousness level etc) for if ever someone is seriously unhealthy. The first aid course I attended said that any info was useful to paramedics.

I keep a small first aid kit within easy reach of the cockpit and have a more heavy duty one stashed below but really need to sort it out (it's just a jumble of bandages and dressings) so thanks to all who have shared their knowledge on a really useful post.
.
 
Seajet said:
It's a bit frustrating we can't carry more effective pain killers
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you mean you didn't aquire one of those little green foil bags out of a bang seat/g-suit?! I lost mine in my training days. Couldn't understand why they made such a fuss at the time and I had to fill in so much paperwork re: its loss. That is, until several years later, when I found it under the seat of my car, I opened it and thought I may as well put the contents into my yachts' first aid kit. then I saw what was in it... WHOOPS.
 
prv said:
As I understand it, superglue was originally invented for closing wounds, particularly in military field hospitals. So while there may be versions sold specifically for medical use, the basic stuff is OK too. Apparently people in the Antarctic research stations use it routinely to close skin cracks that they get from the cold.

Pete
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yes sir, that would be vietnam that cyanocrylate was invented for. There is a very good reson why its sticks so well to skin.
 
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