First Aid Kit

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Summary

This first-aid kit is designed for cruising sailors. Amounts are approximate for one year.

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Introduction

Information given here is for the purposes of stocking a first-aid kit, and is not meant as a guide to treatment. If possible consult a physician locally or by radio. In case one is not available have a good medical guide on board. The Ship Captain’sSecond Medical Guide is available in PDF from the UK Department of Transport but of course you need a working computer to use it.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga-seafarer_information/mcga-dqs_st_shs_seafarer_information-medical/mcga-dqs_st_shs_ships_capt_medical_guide.htm

Be especially cautious with small children and pregnant women.

Good Samaritan Laws

Good Samaritan laws in many countries protect from blame those who choose to aid others who are injured or ill. They are intended to reduce bystanders' hesitation to assist, for fear of being prosecuted for unintentional injury or wrongful death.

Many such laws require you to render assistance to people in distress unless doing so would put you in danger.

Storage

Most medical supplies should be stored in a small locked refrigerator. Tools and materials can be stored in a cupboard or first-aid box. All medication use should be logged.

Prescriptions

Prescriptions to the kit in general should be made out in the name of the vessel.

Tools & Materials

Tools & Materials

Item	Unit	Qty	Description	Must Have	Application
Bandages			Ace 2-in	Y	Cuts
Bandages			Ace 4- to 5-in	Y	Cuts
Bandages			Triangular bandage for sling	Y
Band aids			3/4-in	Y
Band aids			1.5 to 2-in	Y
Blanket			space blanket	Y
Blood sugar strips				-
Eye dropper	1	2		Y
Flashlight	1	2	Have extra batteries	Y
Forceps	Pkg	1	Adson's No teeth	-
Forceps	Pkg	1	Splinter	-
Gauze rolls			2-in	Y
Gauze pads			4x-in	Y	Wounds
Gauze pads			2x2-in	Y	Wounds
Gauze pads			Army Battle Dressing	-	Wounds
Hemostat			Kelley's 1-in jaw	Y	Wounds
Latex gloves	Box	1		Y
Needles	Box	1	1/2-in 21 gauge	Y
Needles	Box	1	5/8-in 25-27 gauge	Y
Safety pins	Pkg	3		Y
Sanitary napkins (pads)	Pkg	3		Y	Absorbent dressing
Sanitary napkins (Tampons)	Pkg	3		Y	Nasal packing
Scalpel	Pkg	2	#11 disposable	Y
Scalpel	Pkg	2	#15 disposable	Y
Scissors	1		1-in	Y
Scissors	1		3-in	Y
Semi-permeable membrane dressing			Opsite	-	Abrasions and burns
Skin staples				-	Wounds
Sphygmomanometer	1	1		-	Blood pressure
Splint packages			3M fibreglass	Y	Fractures
Steristrips			1/4-in	-	Wounds
Steristrips			1/2-in	-	Wounds
Stethescope	1	1		Y
Superglue			Dermabond	-	Wounds
Sutures	Pkg		4-O Nylon, PS-2 needle	Y	Wounds
Syrings	1	10	1-cc	Y
Syringes	1	20	10-cc	Y
Thermometer	1	2	Glass, no batteries	Y
Tweezers	Pkg	3		Y

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Non-Prescription Drugs

Non-Prescription Drugs

Item	Unit	Qty	Description	Must Have	Application
Acetic acid	galGallon	1	5%percent (household vinegar)	Y	Antiseptic, wounds, vaginal douche
Acetiminophen			Tylenol	Y	Fever, minor pain
Acetysilic acid			Aspirin	Y	Arthritis, minor fever/pain, heart attack
Acid neutralizer			Maalox/Mylantra	Y	Mild heartburn
Afrin spray					Decongestent
Alcohol				Y	Antiseptic
Antiseptic cream			Povidone iodine, neosporin, polysporin	Y
Antiseptic soap			Betadine	Y	Antiseptic for intact skin; solution 3 drops per ounce of water for cleaning wounds
Cimetidine			Tagamet/Pepcid/Zantac	Y	Severe heartburn
Chlorine bleach			5.25% solution of sodium hypochlorite (Clorox)	Y	Water purification
Diphenhydramine			Benadryl	Y	Allergies, decongestent, itch, nausea and sea-sickness, sinusitis
Fructose			Corn sugar	Y	Rehydration DIY
Ginger			Ginger root, Canada Dry ginger ale	Y	Best thing for sea sickness
Hydroegn peroxide	500 mlMililitre		3% solution	Y	Open wounds, mouthwash
Ibuprofen			Advil	Y	Fever, major pain, inflammation
Insect repellent			DEET (Muskol)	Y	Only effective repellent, so just get over it
Iodine tablets				Y	water purification
Lubricant			KY Jelly	Y
Milk of magnesia		200	Tablets	Y	Laxative
Meclizine 12.5-25 mgMilligram			Dramamine II/Bonine/Generic	-	Sea sickness (see ginger for best remedy)
Oral rehydration salts			Lite Salt (mixture of sodium and potassium chloride), Dioralyte	Y	Rehydration DIY
Petrolatum		1 lbPound weight	Vaseline, lubricant and emollient	Y	Especially good for diaper rash or nonadherent dressings
Potassium chloride				Y	Rehydration DIY
Pseudoephedrine	30 mg		1000 tablets	Y	Decongestant
Ranitidine				Y	Severe heartburn
Saline nasal mist	50 ml		0.9% sodium chloride solution	Y	Sinusitis
Salt			Table salt	Y	Rehydration DIY
Sodium bicarbonate	Pkg		500 ggram, baking soda	Y	Rehydration DIY
Sunscreen			SPF 15	Y	Sunburn prevention
Tincture of iodine			2% iodine and 2% sodium iodide in alcohol	Y	Antiseptic, water purification
Toothache kit			Oil of Cloves (Eugenol) & zinc oxide	Y	Toothache, filling
Vaginal tablets			Monistat/Gyne-Lotrimin	Y	Yeast infections
WHO Oral Rehydration Fluid				-	Rehydration
Zinc oxide	1 lb		Mild astringent, antiseptic	-	Diaper rash, skin diseases, sunscreen

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Prescription Drugs

Include a supply of any prescription drug needed by a crew member.

Prescription Drugs

Item	Unit	Qty	Description	Must Have	Application
Acetaminophen & codeine			Tylenol #4	Y	Pain, severe cough
Amoxicillin	250 mg		Antibiotic, 500 capsules	Y	Urinary, middle ear, and lower respiratory infection
Antiinflammatory steroid pill			Prednisone	-
Bactroban			Antibiotic, cream	-	Cuts and sores
Epinephrine			EpiPen/Anakit	-	Severe allergic reaction, nosebleed
Erythromycin ethylsuccinate	400 mg		Antibiotic, 500 tablets	-	Pneumonia or Streptococcal sore throat
Hydrocortisone Cream			Cream	-	Allergic skin reactions and itchy bug bites
Inhaler			Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)	-	Wheezing, asthma, emphysema
Metronidazole	250 mg		Antibiotic, 500 tablets (Flagyl)	Y	Intraabdominal, pelvic, and wound infections caused by anaerobic bacteria, stomach ulcers, female genital tract
Oxytetracycline	250 cc		Antibiotic, intramuscular injection	-	Plague, anthrax
Tetracycline	250 mg		Antibiotic, 1000 capsules	Y	Plague and various other insect-born infections; urinary infections; bronchitis; infected animal bites; some venereal diseases; Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole DS			Antibiotic, 500 tablets (Bactrim, Septra)	Y	Urinary infections, some types of bacterial diarrhea, back-up drug for sinusitis, bronchitis, ear infections

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Web Links

This first-aid kit has been assembled from the following sources:

• https://www.wildernessmedical.com/

• http://www.riparia.org/

• http://www.leeds.ac.uk/lsmp/healthadvice/medicalkit/medicalkit.html

• http://www.oism.org/Ddp/medkit.htm

• http://docisinblog.com/archives/2005/09/11/medical-emergency-kit

• http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles/clay60.html

• http://goafrica.about.com/od/healthandsafety/a/firstaid.htm

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References

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