First Aid Kit

[system 4-50]

OK. I've traveled into the back of beyond on my boat (with the boat not in the boat) and I've had a little accident. Just suppose.

I go and look in my first aid kit. What should I find in there?

 

So far I've got:

 

Sticking plasters

Savlon

Anti-sting stuff

Sun lotion

After-sun

Cream for putting on burns

A loupe & tweezers for splinters

Paracetamol

 

This doesn't sound nearly enough. What else should I carry?

Edited September 22, 2012 by system 4-50

[RLWP]

I would like to see some dressings and wide adhesive tape in there as well

 

Richard

[Wanted]

OK. I've traveled into the back of beyond on my boat (with the boat not in the boat) and I've had a little accident. Just suppose.

I go and look in my first aid kit. What should I find in there?

 

So far I've got:

 

Sticking plasters

Savlon

Anti-sting stuff

Sun lotion

After-sun

Cream for putting on burns

A loupe & tweezers for splinters

Paracetamol

 

This doesn't sound nearly enough. What else should I carry?

 

Get rid of the burn cream, use fresh water and wrap the burn with cling film and get to a and e if need be. Rubbing anything into a burn increases the chance of infection.

 

You could have some bandages and tape and we'll as eye wash. One thing that I use is spray on skin, works a treat instead of plasters.

 

Might be worth buying a ready made kit?

Edited September 22, 2012 by Wanted

[GoodGurl]

bandage, gauze, safety pin, tcp ,scissors, i also carry iodine.

[Chalky]

Mobile phone & GPS (or pre IOS6 iPhone) for anything serious.

Edited September 22, 2012 by Chalky

[Wanted]

Crossed post with Richard, we concur!

[Jerra]

I would want to see at least one triangular bandage, safety pins, sterile eye pads and disposable gloves. As well as the things already mentioned.

[Arthur Brown]

Go to a big pharmacy and buy a HSE approved first aid kit and get a fair sized one say for 6 - 8 people. It should contain everything and a contents list and a brief first aid guide.

 

WHile you may need spares of prescription medicines for you and your crew, a first aid kit should NOT contain lotions potions or pills. If a victim has to get further aid tablets or lotions may interfere with the A&E response.

 

Then of course learn how to use the first aid kit.

[Boaty Jo]

My friend is a former army medic and his kit includes:

 

First Aid Kit

 

Keep in a mobile case (should you need to transport it to someone else in trouble)

 

 

Triangular bandages

Splints for arm or leg - (4mm plywood x 75mm wide 1@500mm 1@700mm)

Cotton bandages – (50mm and 75mm)

Micropore tape – (25mm)

Tape sutures – (Steristrip)

Crepe Bandages – 75mm & 100mm (support for sprains / strained joints etc.)

Assorted plasters

Tweezers – (removing splinters wasp / bee stings)

Antiseptic Skin cleansing fluid – (to minimise infection to minor wounds)

Wound dressings – (finger type and square – assorted sizes)

Burn dressings (pre-packed, sterile and transparent – cling film useful for larger areas)

Antihistamine cream with cortisone and local anaesthesia – (bites and stings to reduce local irritation and inflammation

Clinical thermometer – (normal temp is 37 degrees centigrade)

Gauze swabs – (100mm x 100mm)

Eye wash – (sterile liquid)

Eye drops / ointment – (for eye infection / irritation after foreign body etc.)

Antacids – (tablets / liquid for indigestion)

Safety Pins – (assorted sizes)

Supply of fluid for diarrhoea / vomiting – (isotonic drinks

- glucose with sodium and potassium eg sports energy drinks and / or simple lemonade)

Anti diarrhoea medications – (not a cure but for symptom relief)

Small pen torch – (particularly for testing pupil reaction)

Scissors / knife

Disposable gloves

 

And get some proper First Aid training, after which (dependant on leve of training):

 

Aspirin tablets (soluble / chewable) – For suspected heart attack

Antihistamine cream and tablets

Analgesic tablets eg paracetamol – dosage monitoring essential

Cortisone cream – (for allergic skin reactions – except for broken skin)

Airway – (for use during CPR – ie protection barrier between helper and casualty)

Glucose or sugar solution – (for diabetic / insulin coma – eg sports energy drink)

Blood pressure machine – (not essential but can indicate illness – average 120/80)

 

Check use-by dates on drugs / creams etc. regularly

 

Know where you are at all times (near which canal bridge / road for example)

Make sure guests know emergency procedures and where medical kit is.

[Catrin]

My friend is a former army medic and his kit includes:

 

First Aid Kit

 

...........

 

LIST

 

...........

Know where you are at all times (near which canal bridge / road for example)

Make sure guests know emergency procedures and where medical kit is.

As someone who keeps up to date with my First Aid qualifications I would say that while this kit may be fine for a trained army medic, perhaps in a field situation where there are no paramedics available, there are things here that a First Aider is not trained to do.

 

No way would I be splinting anything - I am not a paramedic. Also, at my last retraining we were also told to throw out the crepe bandages (I haven't, by the way, but that is what we were told - but I wouldn't be using them on a member of the public).

 

I think part of the confusion with first aid kits is that when you buy one, then it is just that - a FIRST AID kid. It will contain dressings, plasters, latex gloves, CPR face mask, eyewash, etc. First aid before being transferred to a medical professional.

 

Additionally, you will also want some kind of home medical kit on your boat. This should be based around the likely needs that you and your family will have, and will likely contain analgesics, creams, etc. I bought a first aid kit, then added my own needs to it.

 

I would be a bit cautious about giving any treatment other than first aid (ie: ABC, burns treatment, etc) to people other than your own family, especially if you are not trained. For example, we were told not to remove splinters, and that this is a specialist task. I don't mean that you shouldn't give someone a plaster, but I personally would not put any ointment on anyone's skin, other than cleaning up a wound.

 

I do however, keep a couple of those 'instant' ice packs in the kitchen drawer, for the kind of injuries that all boaters will get occasionally - strains and sprains.

Cath

[Graham Davis]

Sticking plasters YES.

Savlon POSSIBLY.

Anti-sting stuff POSSIBLY.

Sun lotion NOT A FIRST AID ITEM!

After-sun NOT A FIRST AID ITEM!

Cream for putting on burns DEFINATELY NOT. REMOVE!! BURNS SHOULD BE HELD UNDER GENTLE RUNNING COLD WATER, OR IMMERSED IN COLD WATER FOR ATLEAST 10 MINUTES IF POSSIBLE, COVERED IN A CLEAN NON LINT DRESSING OR PREFERABLY CLING FILM AND TAKEN TO HOSPITAL, ESPECIALLY IF DEEP OR BIGGER THAN A 10P COIN.

A loupe & tweezers for splinters POSSIBLY

Paracetamol POSSIBLY, BUT ONLY ADMINISTERED UNDER GREAT CARE.

 

ADD -

2X NUMBER 8 DRESSINGS

PLENTY OF SAFETY PINS

STERILE WIPES

PACKET OF ASPRIN

 

AND LASTLY, GO ON A FIRST AID COURSE

 

This is good value:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steroplast-Premium-Piece-First-Aid/dp/B000XJ78RG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1348392846&sr=8-5

They are kits made up to the old FaW standard that has been superceeded

 

A very basic but adequate kit

http://www.amazon.co.uk/St-John-Ambulance-Home-First/dp/B0029LHCE0/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1348392846&sr=8-8

 

Amazon often has some very good deals on First Aid kits!

Edited September 23, 2012 by Graham Davis

[Odana]

Someone in a similar thread mentioned keeping cans of Coke in kit- apparently the acid balance is perfect if you fall in and swallow canal water. I also keep hand sanitiser gel for emergency application to cuts and scratches

[RLWP]

Someone in a similar thread mentioned keeping cans of Coke in kit- apparently the acid balance is perfect if you fall in and swallow canal water.

 

Urban myth

 

Richard

[Odana]

Ok. But it might make me feel better. Esp with rum in.

[RLWP]

Ok. But it might make me feel better. Esp with rum in.

 

Recommended naval treatment

 

Richard

[Graham Davis]

Ok. But it might make me feel better. Esp with rum in.

 

Pour coke into canal.

Pour rum into human.

 

End of!!

[Arthur Brown]

Remember that "home treatment" includes first aid and much more. First aid is simply the preservation of life til the casualty gets proper medical care.

 

Home treatment includes things like factor nn suncream, laxitives, etc These are informally prescribed by a carer typically parent or partner, and are the treatment finished.

 

One big issue is that if the casualty has taken medicines then the next medic has to account for all the past medicine in their diagnosis and treatment. -typically if you give a patient a drink they cannot then have an anaesthetic because they nay vomit the drink and inhale it putting then at risk of death by choking.

[larkshall]

Hmm,

 

I used to do a lot of blue water sailing. we did also carry

 

Splints, sutures, forceps scalpels, local anesthetics, more powerful pain killers, and common antibiotics.

 

However even the trained medic would not normally use these except under radio supervision with a shore based Dr.

[John Holden]

When I last did a first aid course many years ago, we were told "keep them breathing and stop them bleeding" anything else can wait until somebody who knows what's what comes along.

[Zayna]

Definitely micropore tape and those dressing pads with the non-stick surface, if ever I get a cut or a graze you can bet your life it's bigger than those little bits of pads on sticking plasters.

 

There are also self-adhesive bandages, not sticky, but they stick to themselves, iyswim. Easier than fiddling with safety pins, and I like a good bandage to support a sprained wrist or a bent back thumb... ooch.

[keble]

Also, know where you are so you can tell the emergency services.

See Jason's Bridging the gap page.

[ditchcrawler]

When I last did a first aid course many years ago, we were told "keep them breathing and stop them bleeding" anything else can wait until somebody who knows what's what comes along.

That is fine if they are coming soon. Think 3 miles down the Nene.

[Bimbly1]

I would add a couple of space blankets, the foil things to reduce heat loss, especially useful if there is a delay in the paramedics arrival. A GPS to enable an accurate position to be passed to the call centre. I usually make a note of our GPS when we moor, just in case of an emergency at night.

[Gibbo]

I would add a couple of space blankets, the foil things to reduce heat loss, especially useful if there is a delay in the paramedics arrival. A GPS to enable an accurate position to be passed to the call centre. I usually make a note of our GPS when we moor, just in case of an emergency at night.

 

I once called 999 with GPS long/lat. It was no use to them whatsoever. Neither were OS map references.

[Boaty Jo]

Obviously a few of us have had at least a little training.

I believe that any time spent learning even some basics is never wasted. Particularly as boaters where we may well be pretty isolated for a time before qualified help can be sought.

 

Recently I had the opportunity to help a couple of guys who'd been attacked by a nutter with some sort of axe. Both had defensive wounds on their arms where they'd tried to protect themselves - one really quite nasty. I was able to patch them up temporarily (fortunately it wasn't arterial bleeding) till the ambulance arrived.

 

I had the confidence to try and help because I've had a little training and the two injured guys were very appreciative that someone could help. Each winter my army medic friend (former boater too) runs courses for the local boating community - for me it's a refresher on CPR, shock, drowning (and secondary drowning), bleeding etc. but some who take part are starting from scratch.

 

There was a guy on here recently who is setting up courses - I hope he's busy.