First Aid Kit
Summary
This first-aid kit is designed for cruising sailors. Amounts are approximate for one year.
Introduction
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 |
Band aids |
|
|
3/4-in |
|
|
Band aids |
|
|
1.5 to 2-in |
|
|
Blood sugar strips |
|
|
|
- |
|
Eye dropper |
|
2 |
|
Y |
|
Forceps |
Pkg |
1 |
Adson'sSecond 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 |
|
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 |
|
2 |
Glass, no batteries |
Y |
|
Tweezers |
Pkg |
3 |
|
Y |
|
Top
Non-Prescription Drugs
Item | Unit | Qty | Description | Must Have | Application |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
|
|
|
|
Antiseptic |
Antiseptic soap |
|
|
Betadine |
Y |
Antiseptic |
Cimetidine |
|
|
Tagamet/Pepcid/Zantac |
Y |
Severe heartburn |
Diphenhydramine |
|
|
Benadryl |
Y |
Allergies, decongestent, itch, nausea and sea-sickness, sinusitis |
Fructose |
|
|
Corn sugar |
Y |
Rehydration DIY |
Ginger |
|
|
|
Y |
Best thing for sea sickness |
Hydroegn peroxide |
500 mlMililitre |
|
3%percent 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 |
Lubricant |
|
|
KY Jelly |
Y |
|
Meclizine 12.5-25 mgMilligram |
|
|
Dramamine II/Bonine/Generic |
- |
Sea sickness (see ginger for best remedy) |
Oral rehydration salts |
|
|
Lite salt |
Y |
Rehydration |
Potassium chloride |
|
|
|
Y |
Rehydration DIY |
Pseudoephedrine |
|
|
|
Y |
Decongestant |
Ranitidine |
|
|
|
Y |
Severe heartburn |
Saline nasal mist |
50 ml |
|
0.9% sodium chloride solution |
Y |
Sinusitis |
Salt |
|
|
Table salt |
Y |
Rehydration DIY |
Sunscreen |
|
|
SPF 15 |
Y |
|
Toothache kit |
|
|
Oil of Cloves (Eugenol) & zinc oxide |
Y |
Toothache, filling |
Vaginal tabs |
|
|
Monistat/Gyne-Lotrimin |
Y |
Yeast infections |
WHO Oral Rehydration Fluid |
|
|
|
- |
Rehydration |
Top
Prescription Drugs
Item | Unit | Qty | Description | Must Have | Application |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Web Links
This first-aid kit has been assembled from the following sources: