Best first aid kit.

[wellhouse]

Thought it was about time to replace my first aid kit and these looked a reasonable buy, (although a bit bigger than will fit in my big flare container). Has anyone seen anything better/more compact and are there any medics on line who think there is anything missing from the kits that's obvious. Any help appreciated.


70 Piece First Aid Kit Bag Boat Car Caravan Emergency Medical Motorists Taxi | eBay

70 Piece Deluxe Household Office Complete First Aid Kit ***LOWEST UK PRICE*** | eBay

quite liked the red one, the contents are easy to see in the packaging.

or this one is more compact but less in it (more useful bits missing?)

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steroplast...#ht_3220wt_982

[willk]

Not entirely the right place to mention this, but here's a bargain CAT C Medical stores pack

[kerny]

Better of going to Asda pharmacy and buy yer own mix and match it works out a lot bloody cheaper

[wellhouse]

Originally Posted by kerny

Better of going to Asda pharmacy and buy yer own mix and match it works out a lot bloody cheaper

blimey - i thought £9 was cheap for that lot, it would cost me £5 in fuel to get to Asda! Is it that cheap there, i haven't been for a while (leave that to the wife)?

[SPR]

don't buy a CAT C kit unless you need it...they are over priced and not a good everyday first aid kit.


Think what you might use, and buy it - add sun cream, your own medication, gloves and facemask, duct tape, cling film.

S.

[jambo]

Ah Scott that blessed duct tape gets everywhere

[SPR]

Originally Posted by jambo

Ah Scott that blessed duct tape gets everywhere

yes ! After I ran a first aid course for local chandler - I believe he now stocks duct tape and cling film...

I have said plastic sheeting to dispose of your mistakes too...but would not say that on a public forum !

But the best first aid kit is a person who knows what to do in an emergency and keep calm.

I strongly suggest a RYA First Aid Course, since the course is tailored to Boaters needs.

Lateral Thinking is what you need to do in a boat.

S.

[Ribochet]

Originally Posted by SPR

yes !
I strongly suggest a RYA First Aid Course, since the course is tailored to Boaters needs.
S.

+ 1 for that

Also as a part of on going training take your existing kit and try to apply the various bandages etc to someone on your RIB - especially if it is wet.

The following link contains some good info

RIB First Aid

[John Kennett]

Start with a decent pouch with two or more compartments so you can organise the contents. Knowing what is in your kit, and where to find it, makes a difference when you actually come to use it. If you want an off the shelf kit then I would spend a bit more and get something like one of the Mountain Systems kits which are really well designed.

Think about what you are likely to need. Most cheap kits are full of stuff that probably won't be a lot of use for dealing with day to day first aid. Mostly you're likely to be patching up cuts and grazes of varying sizes, so that's what I would focus on. A separate "patch and go" pack with antiseptic wipes and plasters is handy to avoid digging around too much in the first aid kit for something trivial.

For anything bigger, then first aid dressings (sterile dressing and bandage combined) are great. Have several. At a pinch they can also double up as a regular bandage to immobilise a fracture etc. I like to separate out things like plasters, wipes, dressings etc into ziplock bags to keep them organised and easy to see.

My most carried first aid kit is in an old Lifesystems "Mountain" first aid pouch, although there's not much of the original contents left. This is what's in it:

"patch and go" pack
antiseptic wipes
antiseptic wound wash sparay
Elastoplast spray plaster
various plasters
low adherent dressings
gauze swabs
large first aid dressing
medium first aid dressings
triangular bandage
crepe bandage
micropore tape
Tuf Cut shears
tweezers
ibuprofen
antacid
immodium
steristrips
chapstick
nitrile gloves
disposable CPR face shield
first aid leaflet

I've got a smaller one that lives in the Peli case for the SIB. This is in an Eclipse 200 pouch (bought from a pound shop with out of date contents that I mostly binned)

antiseptic wipes
medium & large plasters
low adherent dressings
gauze swabs
large first aid dressing
medium first aid dressing
micropore tape
small scissors
ibuprofen
chapstick
nitrile gloves
first aid leaflet

Other first aid kit in the Peli case is CPR face shield with one way valve, a large trauma dressing and a space blanket.

I got my last lot of bits and pieces from SP Services who had a good range at decent prices. Their first aid dressings came in tough waterproof wraps which is handy (although looking at their web site I'm not sure if they still do, so might be worth checking).

Anyway, this has turned into enough of a ramble. Hope it helps!

[stew]

I would echo the above statements.


A knowledgeable and capable first aider can improvise with little or no kit, however a kit it's self is useless. Obv there is a nice balance in there, know what you're doing, be able to apply it in all conditions and carry kit that you will find useful and helpful in any and all situations.

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by Ribochet

The following link contains some good info

RIB First Aid

I've got one of those first aid kits, and it lives in the kitchen cupboard where it makes an excellent home first aid kit.

It's exactly the sort of first aid kit I wouldn't have on a RIB though, because you end up with the contents all over the place when you most need them!

[thomas]

Gaffer tape antiseptic and space blankets - most of the stuff in those little boxes are useless on a boat, especially one that wet and rocking about.

[SPR]

forget the space blankets - buy a couple of thermal protection Aids aka TPA - £10 each roughly

S.

[wellhouse]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Start with a decent pouch with two or more compartments so you can organise the contents. Knowing what is in your kit, and where to find it, makes a difference when you actually come to use it. If you want an off the shelf kit then I would spend a bit more and get something like one of the Mountain Systems kits which are really well designed.

Think about what you are likely to need. Most cheap kits are full of stuff that probably won't be a lot of use for dealing with day to day first aid. Mostly you're likely to be patching up cuts and grazes of varying sizes, so that's what I would focus on. A separate "patch and go" pack with antiseptic wipes and plasters is handy to avoid digging around too much in the first aid kit for something trivial.

For anything bigger, then first aid dressings (sterile dressing and bandage combined) are great. Have several. At a pinch they can also double up as a regular bandage to immobilise a fracture etc. I like to separate out things like plasters, wipes, dressings etc into ziplock bags to keep them organised and easy to see.

My most carried first aid kit is in an old Lifesystems "Mountain" first aid pouch, although there's not much of the original contents left. This is what's in it:

"patch and go" pack
antiseptic wipes
antiseptic wound wash sparay
Elastoplast spray plaster
various plasters
low adherent dressings
gauze swabs
large first aid dressing
medium first aid dressings
triangular bandage
crepe bandage
micropore tape
Tuf Cut shears
tweezers
ibuprofen
antacid
immodium
steristrips
chapstick
nitrile gloves
disposable CPR face shield
first aid leaflet

I've got a smaller one that lives in the Peli case for the SIB. This is in an Eclipse 200 pouch (bought from a pound shop with out of date contents that I mostly binned)

antiseptic wipes
medium & large plasters
low adherent dressings
gauze swabs
large first aid dressing
medium first aid dressing
micropore tape
small scissors
ibuprofen
chapstick
nitrile gloves
first aid leaflet

Other first aid kit in the Peli case is CPR face shield with one way valve, a large trauma dressing and a space blanket.

I got my last lot of bits and pieces from SP Services who had a good range at decent prices. Their first aid dressings came in tough waterproof wraps which is handy (although looking at their web site I'm not sure if they still do, so might be worth checking).

Anyway, this has turned into enough of a ramble. Hope it helps!

Very helpful, makes me think i've got most things covered. Don't want to do open heart surgery on the rib but want to have enough basics. Whilst duct tape and a plastic bag/cling film can be very useful, and have their place in emergency situations, i'd rather have it in an organised bag/box. Spent 20 years on tankers and offshore and had to do my fair share of patching up. Ships master's medical certificate covered appendix removal under local in those days but fortunately (for everyone) never had to put it into practice although Sti treatment was much in demand on far east runs!

[SR4]

What about the dental kit?

http://www.force4.co.uk/307/Force-4-...-Aid-Kit-.html

[wellhouse]

i was trying to find space for a defibrillator, the're nearly affordable! (may not be that crazy, someone i know went out for the day from port solent, had a heart attack and didn't make it back. He was only about 50, makes you wonder.)

[tonto]

Originally Posted by wellhouse

i was trying to find space for a defibrillator, the're nearly affordable! (may not be that crazy, someone i know went out for the day from port solent, had a heart attack and didn't make it back. He was only about 50, makes you wonder.)

Certainly sounds a good idea, but........

High voltage electricity, seawater all around, and no good if you are alone (unless you are james bond like in Casino Royale!)

But as you say they are certainly lifesavers.

[SR4]

A bit of oxygen wouldn't go a miss Oxyfit - Oxygen cans, oxygen therapy, oxygen canisters, oxygen bottles

[wellhouse]

Originally Posted by SR4

A bit of oxygen wouldn't go a miss Oxyfit - Oxygen cans, oxygen therapy, oxygen canisters, oxygen bottles

we must think alike, i've just invested in these:

OXYGEN | eBay

[SPR]

I been told no issue using defib in a wet environment , but was told they don't particularly work well on ribs - hence the RNLI don't carry them , was told London boats might have them but for use on land rather at sea.

The waves & movement affect the them analysing the causality proper...

They are life savers , carry one by all means but I think get ashore ASAP to use it is best bet...

S.