Guys, we lost our last kit overboard during an incident last year. We average 6-8 guests on the Chesapeake bay for our typical outing. What type of oh-sh** ammo do you carry? I want to try to update our emergency kit and be prepared. We have several regular visitors with severe allergies and I am wondering if an epi-kit is a good idea. What do you do?
First Aid Kits
- Thread starter wingatesl
- Start date
CaptNCamille
Member
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2009
- RO Number
- 31130
- Messages
- 186
Marine 600 Adventure Medical Kit , or to build your own:
Injuries on the water come in many forms and degrees of severity – from an embedded fishhook to broken bones. Since medical attention is seldom close by, make sure you have a marine First Aid Kit that is well-stocked, up-to-date, and at the ready.
Tips for Building Your Own First-Aid Kit
Putting together your own marine First Aid Kit is easy enough to do. Start by stocking up on many of the same items you’d keep in your medicine cabinet at home, then take into account the added hazards of sun, wind, water, and water-related activity.
Consider any special needs, such as prescription medications that you or your passengers may require, and be sure to take extra to avoid getting caught short if your return is delayed. Once your kit is assembled, remember to check it each year at the start of boating season and replace any over-the-counter first-aid medications that are past their expiration date.
First-Aid Kit Basics
• Stomach remedies to prevent or treat motion sickness, indigestion, diarrhea, or heartburn
• Antihistamine, for allergic reactions
• Sunblock, SPF 15 or greater
• Insect repellant
• Anti-itch lotion or cream for treating insect bites, sunburn, and other minor skin irritations
• Pain/fever reducers, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen or naproxen
• Adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
• Butterfly bandages and narrow adhesive strips, for gaping cuts
• Individually wrapped, sterile gauze pads (2" and 4") to control bleeding
• Hypoallergenic adhesive tape to hold a dressing or splint in place
• Roll of absorbent cotton, as padding for a splint
• Sterile roller bandages (2" and 3"), at least 3 rolls, to support sprained muscles
• Cotton-tipped swabs
• Eye drops
• Thermometer
• Syrup of Ipecac – if instructed by medical personnel to induce vomiting
• Antiseptic ointment, spray, or towelettes for cleansing wounds
• Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection of minor wounds
• Bottled water to rinse wounds
• Clean towels (small and large), to control bleeding or as a wrap for ice
• Chemical ice packs
• Emergency phone numbers: doctor, pharmacy, poison control, etc.
• First Aid handbook
Injuries on the water come in many forms and degrees of severity – from an embedded fishhook to broken bones. Since medical attention is seldom close by, make sure you have a marine First Aid Kit that is well-stocked, up-to-date, and at the ready.
Tips for Building Your Own First-Aid Kit
Putting together your own marine First Aid Kit is easy enough to do. Start by stocking up on many of the same items you’d keep in your medicine cabinet at home, then take into account the added hazards of sun, wind, water, and water-related activity.
Consider any special needs, such as prescription medications that you or your passengers may require, and be sure to take extra to avoid getting caught short if your return is delayed. Once your kit is assembled, remember to check it each year at the start of boating season and replace any over-the-counter first-aid medications that are past their expiration date.
First-Aid Kit Basics
• Stomach remedies to prevent or treat motion sickness, indigestion, diarrhea, or heartburn
• Antihistamine, for allergic reactions
• Sunblock, SPF 15 or greater
• Insect repellant
• Anti-itch lotion or cream for treating insect bites, sunburn, and other minor skin irritations
• Pain/fever reducers, such as aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen or naproxen
• Adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
• Butterfly bandages and narrow adhesive strips, for gaping cuts
• Individually wrapped, sterile gauze pads (2" and 4") to control bleeding
• Hypoallergenic adhesive tape to hold a dressing or splint in place
• Roll of absorbent cotton, as padding for a splint
• Sterile roller bandages (2" and 3"), at least 3 rolls, to support sprained muscles
• Cotton-tipped swabs
• Eye drops
• Thermometer
• Syrup of Ipecac – if instructed by medical personnel to induce vomiting
• Antiseptic ointment, spray, or towelettes for cleansing wounds
• Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection of minor wounds
• Bottled water to rinse wounds
• Clean towels (small and large), to control bleeding or as a wrap for ice
• Chemical ice packs
• Emergency phone numbers: doctor, pharmacy, poison control, etc.
• First Aid handbook
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 824
- Messages
- 2,406
You looking for something to cover convenience - like the little packs of sunscreen and antacid and stuff - or are you looking for something to deal with minor scrapes and bumps, or for something to deal with medical emergencies?
I've been teaching BLS, Basic First Aid, through EMS courses to people that deal with emergencies on boats for a living for at least 10-12 of the last 16 years. I have a VERY low opinion of the majority of pre-packaged first aid kits on the market.
EDIT:
Off the top of my head, the quick list because I have food on the grill and only have a few minutes right now:
-Nitrile gloves, half dozen or so. NOT latex. NOT LATEX. Nitrile, NOT LATEX.
-CPR mask. Pocket mask, not keychain barrier shield.
-4x4's. Dozen or so. They're cheap and don't take up much space, and they're really useful.
-Roller gauze (Kerlix)
-Coban aka veterinary wrap. Throw the tape away, it sucks when it's wet. On a boat - it's wet. Coban is awesome stuff.
-Tegaderm. Won't stick well to wet skin, but once it sticks, it stays and it keeps a dressing dry.
-SAM splint.
-ACE bandage.
-Duct tape. (Might get you funny looks, but stabilized is stabilized, right?)
-Burn gel. Forget what it's called. That might even be the brand name. Works great. Makes a mess when the pouch gets ruptured, though.
I've been teaching BLS, Basic First Aid, through EMS courses to people that deal with emergencies on boats for a living for at least 10-12 of the last 16 years. I have a VERY low opinion of the majority of pre-packaged first aid kits on the market.
EDIT:
Off the top of my head, the quick list because I have food on the grill and only have a few minutes right now:
-Nitrile gloves, half dozen or so. NOT latex. NOT LATEX. Nitrile, NOT LATEX.
-CPR mask. Pocket mask, not keychain barrier shield.
-4x4's. Dozen or so. They're cheap and don't take up much space, and they're really useful.
-Roller gauze (Kerlix)
-Coban aka veterinary wrap. Throw the tape away, it sucks when it's wet. On a boat - it's wet. Coban is awesome stuff.
-Tegaderm. Won't stick well to wet skin, but once it sticks, it stays and it keeps a dressing dry.
-SAM splint.
-ACE bandage.
-Duct tape. (Might get you funny looks, but stabilized is stabilized, right?)
-Burn gel. Forget what it's called. That might even be the brand name. Works great. Makes a mess when the pouch gets ruptured, though.
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 824
- Messages
- 2,406
4x4" gauze pads.
.Mike - Do you have and advice pro or con regarding adding packages to the kit of something like Quick-clot in case of situations where direct pressure on compresses is not stopping bleeding and a hospital is not nearby in terms of time? I understand it has reportedly been improved in some ways over the years it has been out .
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2000
- RO Number
- 824
- Messages
- 2,406
Personal opinion is it's nice - but not necessary. Enough direct pressure will stop most bleeding - and if it doesn't, it was tourniquet time from the get-go anyways. If I have a few minutes later I'll dig up the ECC 2010 recommendations where they got rid of pressure points and elevation because there was a really good explanation from people a hundred times smarter than me in there. On that note - wait until you see the ECC 2015 stuff - I've seen the recommendations and previewed the new curricula - nothing Earth shattering for BLS or First Aid, or even AFA or EMS, but intranasal Narcan is being incorporated into BLS. Tell me that isn't a sign of the times...
But back to your point - those clotting agents are meant for the kind of bleeds that CAN be controlled by sufficient direct pressure. I am a big believer in LESS moving parts. Keep it simple. The kind of bleeding that can NOT be controlled by sufficient direct pressure are not going to be controlled by superficial clotting agents, either. I'm a big fan of the ECC 2010 changes, both for BLS and First Aid. Most of them were centered around keeping it simple. My plain language summary of the bleeding control recommendations are direct pressure, MORE direct pressure, or apply a tourniquet like you already should have.
EDIT: There's a blurb about those clotting agents in the ECC2015 stuff - if I have a few minutes later, I'll look it up. Don't remember what it said. Only thing that really jumped out at me was Narcan being added.
But back to your point - those clotting agents are meant for the kind of bleeds that CAN be controlled by sufficient direct pressure. I am a big believer in LESS moving parts. Keep it simple. The kind of bleeding that can NOT be controlled by sufficient direct pressure are not going to be controlled by superficial clotting agents, either. I'm a big fan of the ECC 2010 changes, both for BLS and First Aid. Most of them were centered around keeping it simple. My plain language summary of the bleeding control recommendations are direct pressure, MORE direct pressure, or apply a tourniquet like you already should have.
EDIT: There's a blurb about those clotting agents in the ECC2015 stuff - if I have a few minutes later, I'll look it up. Don't remember what it said. Only thing that really jumped out at me was Narcan being added.
Thanks , Mike. I actually understood a little bit of what you posted.
I sure don't anticipate need to have or attempt to administer Narcan onboard ( & probably couldn't if I wanted to :Rx?) , but then I hope to never need the tourniquet or Quik-clot as well.
Without any medical training , I'm aware there can be risks applying a tourniquet too and figured in some cases the clotting agent (potatoes???) might reduce time and pressure applied by the tourniquet.
That could be especially beneficial if the only other person onboard besides me is the injured person who may not be fully conscious or able to help hin/herself while I could possibly attempt to get the boat closer to help, & depending on VHF comms with your colleagues.
I've read ER workers may not like the clotting agent as it could introduce foreign bodies deeper into a wound. That might be better than excess bleed out.
Back to Wingatesl's question , I believe the range of Adventure series of marine medical packs CaptNCamille suggested above has a very good reputation amongst boaters who have searched for such pre-assembled packs. FWIW- They were developed by Dr. Michael Jacobs (M.D.) of Martha's Vineyard here and he has tremendous medical & offshore sailing experience. That packs have extensive easy to read and follow instrictions for dealing with a myriad of boating medical issues.
I've met him but do not know him. This explains a little about him:
http://mvmagazine.com/news/2005/07/01/rx-saildoc
You can always add custom items you feel might suit your travels if you were to decide one of the packs seems right for your boat (... or in some cases when you are on OPBs.)
Mike - That looks like a great quick list you provided.
I sure don't anticipate need to have or attempt to administer Narcan onboard ( & probably couldn't if I wanted to :Rx?) , but then I hope to never need the tourniquet or Quik-clot as well.
Without any medical training , I'm aware there can be risks applying a tourniquet too and figured in some cases the clotting agent (potatoes???) might reduce time and pressure applied by the tourniquet.
That could be especially beneficial if the only other person onboard besides me is the injured person who may not be fully conscious or able to help hin/herself while I could possibly attempt to get the boat closer to help, & depending on VHF comms with your colleagues.
I've read ER workers may not like the clotting agent as it could introduce foreign bodies deeper into a wound. That might be better than excess bleed out.
Back to Wingatesl's question , I believe the range of Adventure series of marine medical packs CaptNCamille suggested above has a very good reputation amongst boaters who have searched for such pre-assembled packs. FWIW- They were developed by Dr. Michael Jacobs (M.D.) of Martha's Vineyard here and he has tremendous medical & offshore sailing experience. That packs have extensive easy to read and follow instrictions for dealing with a myriad of boating medical issues.
I've met him but do not know him. This explains a little about him:
http://mvmagazine.com/news/2005/07/01/rx-saildoc
You can always add custom items you feel might suit your travels if you were to decide one of the packs seems right for your boat (... or in some cases when you are on OPBs.)
Mike - That looks like a great quick list you provided.
Thanks everyone for the responses. The adventure kits look pretty interesting and will most likely make up the base of our solution. My initial though is that with the costs being low (compared to everything else boating related) that we should step it up a notch from the typical drug store kit.