First Aid Kits on Boats

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Moonstruck

Moonstruck

Guru
Joined
Nov 27, 2008
Messages
8,276
Location
USA
Vessel Name
Moonstruck
Vessel Make
Sabre 42 Hardtop Express
From a discussion with a friend the idea was bounced around concerning what kind of things to carry for first aid on boats. It seems that different levels of care would be called for at different levels of cruising.

On Moonstruck we do mostly coastal cruising and island hopping. Probably the longest open water we do is about 165 miles. We do sometimes wind up in remote areas that would take a little time for help to arrive. So, we probably carry more than a weekend cruiser.

With that in mind here is some of the stuff we carry on Moonstruck.
  • Neosporan
  • Polysporan
  • Advil
  • Motrin
  • Imodium AD
  • Antacids
  • Acid Blockers
[/LIST]
[*]A midgrade OSHA first aid kit with the usual bandages, ointments, and disinfactants
[*]Peroxide
[*]Alcohol
[/LIST]

I have probably left some out, but you probably can tell that it is just for mid level care. It will be interesting to know what some of you are prepared for. I know that there are a few doctors in the group that would probably laugh at the level of care that we could give. It will also be interesting to see what they carry in thier kits.
 
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We carry basics as you describe but also sutures and burn dressings among other items. So far all we have needed is a band aid and an aspirin. I am hoping it stays that way!!
Chris
 
We - ages 65 and 71, were thinking of getting one of those home defibrillators. I think the prices are down to about $1K. Anyway, it's a lot of money to us but we are still thinking about it.
 
You can buy a kit or for a fraction of the price build your own.

Most everything can be had at any drug store.

The biggest thing is knowing how to use it.

Take a class.
Sd
 
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Greetings,
Interesting comment about the sutures. I've trussed a turkey at Thanksgiving but I don't know if I'd be up to reattaching a leg. How about just a pressure dressing?
One thing that comes to mind is an EpiPen. I have no idea if you could get one without prescription but as Mr. Dude so correctly states-KNOW HOW TO USE THE STUFF!!!!!

unboxing5.jpg


Maybe one of these for those tougher cases...
 
We have found that a quality pair of tweezers is helpful for that occasional dock sliver. Bee sting (ammonia) and bug bite relief topicals, liquid benedryl, aspirin, small roll of medical tape for makeshift bandages.
Don't forget the whiskey for the "doctor."

As a pilot, I have 24/7 access to MedAire Medlink which provides a direct line to an on-call doctor in Phoenix, AZ for live advice via phone or by radio-phone patch. We are authorized to call them whenever needed, not just on the job. We also carry the Medlink manual onboard our vessel with First-aid and medical advice. If I needed a phone patch from the Coast Guard for this purpose, I wouldn't hesitate to ask, but they can also provide some EMS advice in an emergency.

MedAire has now joined forces with Yacht Lifeline to provide this service to the yacht community.

MedAire Provides Medical and Security Safety Services for Yachts
 
We have a fleet surgeon for our yacht club who maintains a (protected) page with suggestions. He also arranges the CPR & defib classes, and there's a club AED that goes on the organized cruises (whoever's carrying flies a flag, which I think is like this one: Cardiac Care Critique).

I have a pretty large kit (fortunately I have plenty of room to store it) that I bought off of eBay several years ago that's similar to this one: EMT FIREFIGHTER FIRST RESPONDER STOCKED FIRST AID TRAUMA MEDIC MEDICAL BAG KIT 6 | eBay

I've been wanting to pick up some epi-pens, and my wife received a prescription for them last week so I'll be able to add them to the kit (and have them covered by insurance, which is important because they're over $100 each if they're not covered!).

I also carry a couple of first-aid books, plus I have the "ShipMedical" app on the home screen of my iPhone and the boat's iPad.
 
I asked my doctor to prescribe a few Percocet pain pills in case I had to continue to work the boat while in pain. I have bouts with kidney stones and a bad back. Either of which can leave me pretty helpless with out some pretty strong narcotics. I like the idea of an Epi-pen and an AED.
 
RT Firefly said:
One thing that comes to mind is an EpiPen. I have no idea if you could get one without prescription but as Mr. Dude so correctly states-KNOW HOW TO USE THE STUFF!!!!!QUOTE]

EpiPens are used to treat anaphylaxis (a life threatening allergic reaction). They release a single dose of Epinephrine and should be used with caution as they could have serious side effects for individuals that have pre-existing medical conditions such as cardiac, asthma, or hypertension (several others also).
There could also be serious side effcts if you are taking certain medications.

You should only administer Epinephrine to yourself and only if your Doc says it’s ok. KJ
Click to expand...
 
Boating is like camping in the wilderness.

I have seen it take an hour to get EMTs to boating accidents that are only yards away from an address that an ambulance would be at in 5 minutes...part of the 911/USCG/State marine police response problem.

With that said...true cruisers who wind up miles and miles from civilization are truely on their own in some ways.

So no matter what medical suplies you CARRY ABOARD.....safe WORKING knowledge of first aid is critical. Of course you are always going to be on the spot as the captain if a crewmwmber is in life threatening situation and you are unsure of what to do. You may kill a loved one or ultimately get sued by your best friend(s).

Carry whatever gear you can get your hands on and be ready to use it...when there's no doc around to hold you hand...YOU might have to make those big decisions...if you DON'T HAVE an epipen or nitro or an AED...no sweat (except for the patient)..but if you do and your judgement is sound...you may save a life.
 
We here in Bermuda have what is known as the "Good Saanratain act" , an act of Parliament which is designed to protect the care giver in the event of loss of life which could be inevitable, meaning that person would have" died any way "may be not necessarily in your or my arms.

Giving comfort is not a sin.

My Question is, do you in your respective countries have in place "The Good Samaritan act " ?
For the record the captain is requires to maintain the ships log book.
 
SOMERS said:
We here in Bermuda have what is known as the "Good Saanratain act" , an act of Parliament which is designed to protect the care giver in the event of loss of life which could be inevitable, meaning that person would have" died any way "may be not necessarily in your or my arms.

Giving comfort is not a sin.

My Question is, do you in your respective countries have in place "The Good Samaritan act " ?
For the record the captain is requires to maintain the ships log book.
Click to expand...

In New Jersey...and I think most states...there are good samaritan laws...

The trouble is, if negligence if proven...good samaritan laws don't protect you from anything. If you were "expected to know" what would have happened...you can still be found guilty and have to pay restitution or if a criminal charge filed whatever that punishment is.
 
Greetings,
So I guess giving comfort IS a sin if you're negligent. Whatever that means. Ah yes, the land of litigation.
 
Scenario:
You are sitting in a restaurant having lunch with some friends when the woman at the table next to you starts coughing and gagging. She stands up and gives the universal sign that she is choking (hands to the throat). It’s pretty obvious she is in serious trouble.

Everyone in the place is just watching her when one of your buddies (who is very big and quite strong), decides to do something. He remembers from a CPR class that he took many years ago something about doing chest thrusts for choking victims. But there is a major problem; the lady is very, very, pregnant. Fortunately, your buddy also remembers something about doing abdominal thrusts for pregnant choking victims. So he puts his arms around the lady and places his hands right in the middle of her abdomen (instead of below), and give three powerful thrusts upward, without any success. So he gives three more very powerful thrusts and a piece of chicken comes flying out of the woman’s airway and she starts breathing.

The ambulance finally arrives and takes her to the hospital. En route the EMT’s notice that woman’s slacks are wet and it doesn’t smell like urine. When they get to the emergency room the doctors cannot hear a fetal heart beat. They immediately do a scan and discover that the fetus is dead. They determine that the death was caused by intrauterine trauma.

So, your buddy probably saved the woman’s life. However, in doing so, because he unknowingly performed CPR incorrectly, caused the death of the fetus (8 months).

Was he a “Good Samaritan”?
 
RT Firefly said:
Greetings,
Well, should he have let her die along with the fetus?
Click to expand...

I don't think so. But if he had done CPR correctly, they could have both survived.

BTW I did CPR on an 85 yo woman. With my first compression I fractured her sternum and ribs on both sides. She didn't make it.

The autopsy revealed a pneumothorax (punctured lung) and a lacerated heart. Both were caused by my CPR, which was done correctly. The autopsy also showed a massive MI (heart occlusion) which she would have died from anyway (at least that's what I told myself).

I even though I tried to help, I didn't feel much like a Good Samaritan.

Which has nothing to do with boating or the original inquiry.
 
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Greetings,
My sympathies Mr KJ. At least you and your fictional friend in your scenario tried. I do not know how I would have reacted BUT if I thought I could help and didn't, afterwards I would feel worse.
 
KJ said:
Scenario:
You are sitting in a restaurant having lunch with some friends when the woman at the table next to you starts coughing and gagging. She stands up and gives the universal sign that she is choking (hands to the throat). It’s pretty obvious she is in serious trouble.

Everyone in the place is just watching her when one of your buddies (who is very big and quite strong), decides to do something. He remembers from a CPR class that he took many years ago something about doing chest thrusts for choking victims. But there is a major problem; the lady is very, very, pregnant. Fortunately, your buddy also remembers something about doing abdominal thrusts for pregnant choking victims. So he puts his arms around the lady and places his hands right in the middle of her abdomen (instead of below), and give three powerful thrusts upward, without any success. So he gives three more very powerful thrusts and a piece of chicken comes flying out of the woman’s airway and she starts breathing.

The ambulance finally arrives and takes her to the hospital. En route the EMT’s notice that woman’s slacks are wet and it doesn’t smell like urine. When they get to the emergency room the doctors cannot hear a fetal heart beat. They immediately do a scan and discover that the fetus is dead. They determine that the death was caused by intrauterine trauma.

So, your buddy probably saved the woman’s life. However, in doing so, because he unknowingly performed CPR incorrectly, caused the death of the fetus (8 months).

Was he a “Good Samaritan”?
Click to expand...

no because current thinking doesn't support the heimlich as the first thing you try or use it if there is any doubt of "other" medical conditions. If looking pregnant he should have asked.

if once trained..AND he planned on using it he should have stayed current.

no, I would vote on a jury that he's NOT protected as a good samaritan.

this at a restaurant where 911 could have arrived in time? even stretching it if in a remote location. he was outside his level of training.

as far as the CPR..was always taught that breaking a few ribs is a possibility. doing to to the young and elderly is tricky...but if you are going to do it...it better be perfect or be ready for court.
 
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RT Firefly said:
Greetings,
My sympathies Mr KJ. At least you and your fictional friend in your scenario tried. I do not know how I would have reacted BUT if I thought I could help and didn't, afterwards I would feel worse.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are absolutely right. Which should emphasize that if you have a first aid kit on your boat, no matter how simple or sophisticated, you should know how to use it's contents properly. KJ

PS fictional friend but not fictional scenario.
 
I normally carry my medico mate when we go on long trips to the Great barrier Reef fishing and spear fishing.
He also stocks my first aid kits.
I do advanced first aid courses every couple of years in my work so try and stay up to date.

A photo or so of the first aid kit at work.
Mate got the teeth of a large Spanish Mackerel down the back of his foot.
 

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With respect to the "Good Samaritan laws".

May I recommend that if you have concerns about how this law and how it would apply to you, please Google the internet as i have recently just done , we where I found a web page that interprets the law for various locations.

In some locations you can get in "hot water " for not giving assistance.

I believe that the object that Mr. Donald Moon is trying to achieve is the preparation of a comprehensive FIRST AID KIT FOR USE ON BOATS.

A formidable task for sure.

For some of you a store bought kit may be all that is required, for others the kit you assemble you self could / would be the way to go, however , it does not end there and all of this requires lots of training only as a first responder , for you and your Family.

First Aid courses are available.

What is it that they say ?

"The life you save may be your own."
" When seconds count help is only minutes away"
 
SOMERS said:
With respect to the "Good Samaritan laws".

May I recommend that if you have concerns about how this law and how it would apply to you, please Google the internet as i have recently just done , we where I found a web page that interprets the law for various locations.

In some locations you can get in "hot water " for not giving assistance.

I believe that the object that Mr. Donald Moon is trying to achieve is the preparation of a comprehensive FIRST AID KIT FOR USE ON BOATS.

A formidable task for sure.

For some of you a store bought kit may be all that is required, for others the kit you assemble you self could / would be the way to go, however , it does not end there and all of this requires lots of training only as a first responder , for you and your Family.

First Aid courses are available.

What is it that they say ?

"The life you save may be your own."
" When seconds count help is only minutes away"
Click to expand...

yes absolutely...but it's probably easier to defend "not giving" than giving and something even unrelated going wrong.

that's not my style but something to think about....
 
KJ said:
I

Which has nothing to do with boating or the original inquiry.
Click to expand...


KJ, I think you are wrong in that assumption. All situations can occur in boating, and could very well be the subject of another thread. I think it is a little beyond first-aid, or the subject could be involved. It would be an interesting to explore.

There have been many good ideas come from this thread. An epipen is something I never thought of. One time between Marco Island and Naples, I thought that I was going to have to do a tracheotomy (sp) on a passenger. We got to the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club just in time. All type situations arise.
 
Moonstruck said:
KJ, I think you are wrong in that assumption. All situations can occur in boating, and could very well be the subject of another thread. I think it is a little beyond first-aid, or the subject could be involved. It would be an interesting to explore.

There have been many good ideas come from this thread. An epipen is something I never thought of. One time between Marco Island and Naples, I thought that I was going to have to do a tracheotomy (sp) on a passenger. We got to the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club just in time. All type situations arise.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are also absolutely right, however, I was referring to my own response which I felt was straying from the intent of the original post.

I wonder how many other TF folks would know how to perform a tracheotomy, or even know where the cricothyroid membrane is (that’s where you do it). I personally would be scared s**tless to perform one. It would most definitely have to be a life or death response.

What if some was preparing lunch in your galley and the boat lurched and that person cut themself deeply and was bleeding profusely (perhaps cut an artery). Would you (not you personally) know how to stop massive bleeding? Would you know how to apply and maintain a tourniquet?
How about a splinting a broken bone, or dealing with a head injury or a bad burn?

Yes, there is a lot of stuff (bad) that can happen on our boats that may need to be dealt with that goes way beyond what you will find in the average first aid kit. The most important thing is knowing what to do.
KJ
 
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Everyone should take a first aid class. There are many available.
I can't say whom to contact in a given area.
For all the reasons stated above and many more.

SD
 
Greetings,
GREAT thread! One thing I just thought about....What about Fido or Fifi? Probably worthwhile talking with your vet about pet specific trauma/illness items. I fully realize first aid materials, for the most part, can be used for animals BUT there may be animal specific things one could have on hand. Now we don't want Fido puking on the carpet any more than usual do we?
thumbnail.aspx
 
RT Firefly said:
Greetings,
GREAT thread! One thing I just thought about....What about Fido or Fifi? Probably worthwhile talking with your vet about pet specific trauma/illness items. I fully realize first aid materials, for the most part, can be used for animals BUT there may be animal specific things one could have on hand. Now we don't want Fido puking on the carpet any more than usual do we?
thumbnail.aspx
Click to expand...

Get a good boat dog and they can watch the autopilot when the rest of the crew is too sea sick to stand watch!!:eek:

Good point...just adjusting my girlfriends skittish dog to my boat now...hope they will make the trip south this winter so pooch will definitely be on the regular crew list with all the necessary prep/paperwork! :thumb:

Now if I could just figure how to make good hors d'oeuvres out of that giant bag of dog food.....hmmmmm..:thumb:
 
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