Do You Have An Adequate First Aid Kit?

Thanks for reminding me to check and restock. I'll admit we never payed it much attention, I think it was a box of band aids, some dull scissors and a couple aspirin. Now that we have our toddler aboard all the time, its time we get a proper kit.
 
The worst burn I've ever received was from a metal watch band that shorted across the cable on an alternator (not on a boat). Spot welded the band closed and gave me third degree burns to my wrist. I still have the pattern from the band scared to my wrist. DC can do a lot of damage under the right circumstances.

This is an interesting thread and I must say many of you are VERY well prepared. I'm somewhere in the middle. I don't have an AED or an EPRIB but I do have a good first aid kit and suplemental supplies and some knowledge of how to treat injuries. After reading this thread, I think I'm going to add a few more items to the kit to be a bit better prepared. I don't view First-Aid as a replacement for medical treatment but as, well, First-Aid, allowing me to get the injured party to proper medical care. Now if we're talking about a small cut, or splinter, I'm not calling 911. But if someone gets a serious burn, laceration or broken bone, I'm sure going to try to treat them and then get them to an ER ASAP.

My business is in a very dangerous industry. I agree with those who said that you must look at every situation and carefully assess all the risks, and try to reduce, as much as possible, the for things to go wrong. Common sense and caution are two things that need to be in everyone's mind no matter what activity they engage in.
 
Heavy gauze rolls (4)
Pack of 4x4 gauze
Silk tape
500 ml NS for irrigation
1000 LR (2)
IV tubing
18 g IV (2)
CPR mask
Epi 1mg INJ
NTG SL tabs
ASA 325 mg
Suture tray
Bandage scissors
Quick clot
Few scalpels

and
a
shovel
 
I Carry iv supplies too but usually for a hangover remedy. No faster way to rehydrate than straight to the cells.
 
"You're" not "your" when referring to "you are".

That is all.

(Yes, I have adequate First Aid kit and training. No scalpel though MM ;) )


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Just received this month's Boating Magazine. One article is titled, "Ditch Bag Essentials"...a list of 41 items that are a must have when you abandon ship. I was surprised that a First Aid Kit, adequate or not, didn't make the list. There are some separate items named like Sam Splint wrap, Self-adhesive wrap, and the ever important Handwipes. No mention of a scalpel though, although there is a knife!

MM...maybe you should write a letter to the editor admonishing them for their oversite! You could tell them you represent CSR and have recently led a spirited and open-minded discussion about First Aid Kits and their adequacy. :thumbsup:

Btw, Peyton Manning made the Colts relevant, all one needs to do is review the season he didn't play. How did that work out...2-12! It's like the fans who complain about LeBron leaving Cleveland! Lol, they lost 26 in a row and 63 overall with no LeBron. LeBron made the Cavs relevant. Some fans just don't get it...some owners too. But this is a topic for another section.
 
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SWF340 said:
Just received this month's Boating Magazine. One article is titled, "Ditch Bag Essentials"...a list of 41 items that are a must have when you abandon ship. I was surprised that a First Aid Kit, adequate or not, didn't make the list. There are some separate items named like Sam Splint wrap, Self-adhesive wrap, and the ever important Handwipes. No mention of a scalpel though, although there is a knife!

MM...maybe you should write a letter to the editor admonishing them for their oversite! You could tell them you represent CSR and have recently led a spirited and open-minded discussion about First Aid Kits and their adequacy. :thumbsup:
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Ah, I should start a "Do You Have An Adequate Ditch Bag?" thread but I might just be too prepared for your taste again.

SWF340 said:
Btw, Peyton Manning made the Colts relevant, all one needs to do is review the season he didn't play. How did that work out...2-12! It's like the fans who complain about LeBron leaving Cleveland! Lol, they lost 26 in a row and 63 overall with no LeBron. LeBron made the Cavs relevant. Some fans just don't get it...some owners too. But this is a topic for another section.
Click to expand...

I definitely get it. Peyton Manning did not leave Indianapolis like LeBron, Manning was let go by the team. He had no choice in the matter. I suspect your comment may be due to the signature tag line I have on right now. I, and a few others lost a bet over the Super Bowl and have to fly the Seahawks helmet until draft day and that is my version of why. BTW, the 2-14 season was one of our best, if you are going to suck, at least suck best, and get a great pick for the future.

MM
 
So this has been less than entertaining. Hard to believe people will argue about what first aid to carry on a boat! We carry a fairly comprehensive kit plus saline, additional bandages, etc. when we cruise as a club, we have a full blown kit including splints, compresses, large bandages, a written list of local hospitals with numbers, eye wash, allergy meds, stethoscope, tongue depressors, a C Collar, etc. we also have epi pens and an AED. We have a doctor in the club who attends often and have had nurses as well. There have been a few times when major injuries had to be attended to immediately but mostly we have it as insurance. We also have had the doctor in our club provide some basic training. Our list also has expiration dates clearly noted for items that expire so we don't need to see the actual item to know it needs to be replaced.

i also carry more fire extinguishers than required, more flares than required and quite a few spare parts to repair my boat in case of a simple mechanical problem. I guess I am an old idiot who is paranoid?

I almost forgot, whoever is in charge of a cruise in our club carries all items and we hang a white flag with a Red Cross on it so everyone knows where the major medical supplies are located to save time in an emergency.
 
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sfergson727 said:
So one has to wonder, if boating is such a safe, hazard free pastime, in which we do nothing but sit back, relax, and have fun......why do we need a ditch bag? hmmmmm.
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To swing the pendulum the other way, if boating is so filled with peril, why would anyone risk the lives of family and friends in such a dangerous pursuit? Don’t you see that one statement is nearly as ridiculous as the other? There’s a middle ground that makes sense.

The preparedness of some of the posts here is really impressive to me and frankly surprising based on what I’ve seen in my experience. That may be due to the boating activity in my area which is primarily day cruising/fishing within several miles of a port where assistance is available relatively quickly. Coastal boating/cruising may be a different game that requires a higher level of preparation. There certainly should be no penalty for over preparation and equipping on the side of caution.
 
Tea towel, safety pin and a bottle of scotch


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sar·casm

noun \ˈsär-ˌka-zəm\ : the use of words that mean the opposite of what you really want to say especially in order to insult someone, to show irritation, or to be funny

Examples of SARCASM


  • a voice full of sarcasm
  • <I know you're not happy, but there's no need to resort to petty sarcasms to make your point.>
  • “So one has to wonder, if boating is such a safe, hazard free pastime, in which we do nothing but sit back, relax, and have fun......why do we need a ditch bag? hmmmmm."
 
As I was taught in flight school, it is the accumulation of adverse circumstances, and the lack of mitigating or attending to them that eventually leads to catastrophic failure. I think this applies to all activities that take us out of our safety zone. One could say that not having proper first aid on board would be neglecting a possibly adverse circumstance, or contributing to a much worse outcome of one.
I know that I could carry a much more comprehensive first aid kit, but at some point as some have mentioned, the amount of care that you may be able to administer based on the injury may require that your boat look like the inside of an ambulance. The comfort level of each individual with what risks they feel are relevant and can be mitigated with what they have on board is what I think drives the decision making about what one carries on board their vessel. JMHO
 
I am reluctant to even post but I have something to add that none have mentioned. I will be adding a bottle of nitrates to my kit. I have a few friends and family that have had heart problems in the past. I feel my kit, while not large, is fine. Although I will be re-checking it before I head out this year. The dermabond will probably be added. Training would probably be the best addition I could have at this point.
 
Please be aware of the dangers in administration of nitrates due to "heart problems"

Had a patient almost die due to a neighbor thinking all chest pain is the same and gave one of her nitro tabs to a women with an active inferior infarct. Soething like that would require an increase in diastolic pressure and nitroglycerin causes the reverse effect.

There are 6 "Rights" of prescription administration. If you don't know them, don't give them.
 
AFD said:
Please be aware of the dangers in administration of nitrates due to "heart problems"

Had a patient almost die due to a neighbor thinking all chest pain is the same and gave one of her nitro tabs to a women with an active inferior infarct. Soething like that would require an increase in diastolic pressure and nitroglycerin causes the reverse effect.

There are 6 "Rights" of prescription administration. If you don't know them, don't give them.
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I have no idea what the second line of you statement means other than wrong meds for situation. FYI The nitro tabs would only be as a backup for the ones my father carries. He is prescribed them and I don't pretend to know well enough to give them to someone else. So we are clear, I am in agreement with you and don't recommend giving out meds that aren't prescribed to said person.
 
HUMPH said:
We carry a fairly comprehensive kit plus saline, additional bandages, etc. when we cruise as a club, we have a full blown kit including splints, compresses, large bandages, a written list of local hospitals with numbers, eye wash, allergy meds, stethoscope, tongue depressors, a C Collar, etc. we also have epi pens and an AED. We have a doctor in the club…………………...also have had the doctor in our club provide some basic training. Our list also has expiration dates clearly noted for items that expire so we don't need to see the actual item to know it needs to be replaced…………….whoever is in charge of a cruise in our club carries all items and we hang a white flag with a Red Cross on it so everyone knows where the major medical supplies are located to save time in an emergency.
Click to expand...

Ken, Very impressive!!

To a certain extent, "safety" can be a self fulfilling prophecy. Those that prepare and think-ahead, also tend to take less risks act more prudently. Kinda like, "the harder I work the luckier I get"

Good thought provoking thread, Art
 
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