First Aid Kit
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.
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
| 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 |
|
Top
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 [1] |
| 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 |
Top
Prescription Drugs
Include a supply of any prescription drug needed by a crew member.
| 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 |
Top
Web Links
This first-aid kit has been assembled from the following sources: