Whats in your first aid kit?

[Channel Ribs]

I have carried cling film for years, but after reading the linked article I have now switched to stretch wrap for all the reasons listed.

What do you carry? Do you have training to back it up?

Cling film has long been extolled as an ideal material for improvised First Aid treatment, especially in the outdoors, for a number of reasons:

It is waterproof; this makes it ideal for watersports, unlike conventional bandages which quickly become soaked or tapes which loose their adherence.
It is airtight - this keeps moisture in (ideal for burns or exposed bones / tissue) and infection out.
It is inherently clean - I would not want to go as far as saying it is completely sterile but the manufacturing process (in combination with the above two points) means that once the first 'wrap' has been removed from the roll, it is as clean as anything you will find in a pre-hospital environment.
It is transparent - being able to monitor infection or wound healing without having to repeatedly expose and redress a wound.
It is malleable - being able to contort to complicated body shapes like knuckles or elbows where other dressings may struggle to completely seal, especially with continual movement.
It is thin - some injuries may require cooling, other may benefit from warming. Being so thin, the cling film does not prevent a noticeable insulative barrier meaning the injury can be cooled or warmed with the cling film in place.

Cling Film? The Next Generation - Real First Aid

[Mextli]

I have First-Aid Training, and My boats first - aid kit is one of these kits used in cars- I've never needed that one though.

[Max...]

I have a decent first aid kit on the SIB - never opened it though TBH!

[Mike B]

We have this in our medical kit. Though I can't imagine it is that different to the stuff from Asda.

http://www.spservices.co.uk/item/Bra..._0_1125_0.html

In addition our kit contains:
Disposable triangular bandages
Various wound dressings from massive to tiny
Non adherent dressings for burns etc
Adhesive dressings (Plasters)
Various adhesive tapes
Nitrile gloves
Cold pack
Irrigation Solution
Antiseptic Wipes
Centrimide Cream
Medical waste bag
SamSplint
Resuscitation mask
Exposure bag

Cat C drugs: Loperamide Capsules (Diorrhea Treatment), Hyoscine Hydrobromide (Sea Sickness Tablets), Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Asprin, Glyceryl Trinitrate (Angina treatment).
HypoStop Dextrose Gel

Tweezers
Tough cut shears
Penlight

Going slightly beyond first aid we also carry:
Digital Thermometer
Finger Pulse Oxymeter
Blood Pressure meter

RYA First aid at sea covers the Cat C drugs and I also have Advanced Life Support training.

[Channel Ribs]

Very nice Mike

Is your irrigation solution saline or tisept? Though I would suggest both.

Have a look at the stretch wrap rolls, as per the link above, might be an excellent replacement for the long one you have from SP.

[Mike B]

Irrigation solution is 0.9% saline.

What is Trisept? An antiseptic solution?

I like the look of the stretch wrap due to its compact size and robust roll. Though I think the wider width would be better for burns as if on arm / leg rather than wrapping the limb the width lets you form a bag around it and seal both sides to allow for any swelling (hard to describe).

Where did you get it from? Will give Staples a shot when I am passing.

Mike

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Mike B

Irrigation solution is 0.9% saline.

What is Trisept? An antiseptic solution?

Yes indeed:

Tisept Wound Wash, Alderney Marine Ltd

Apologies for the commercial link. It is very clever stuff, does not sting like many antiseptics and does a great job of rinsing.

I am sure Staples will do stretch wrap and I like your description of taping a square of film in place. You can do a three sided version if a wound needed a one way valve.

Edit: With the Tisepts I tend to cut a small bit of corner off, that way you get a good directional squirt.

[hobbit555]

Sanitary towel
Kling film
Condoms
Electrical tape

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by Channel Ribs

Yes indeed:

Tisept Wound Wash, Alderney Marine Ltd

Thanks looks good.

[Sharkbyte]

Cans of Coke (full fat).
Duct tape.
Spare heart, lung, kidney and liver.
Cat-gut and darning needle.
Defibrillators (coil packs with x2 HT leads)

[jyasaki]

The paint-on scrape and cut sealant (sold here as Nu-Skin) is great for covering and sealing the minor cuts, scrapes, and other boo-boos that occur fairly regularly.

A new product that reacts with blood to coagulate it and form an artificial scab (and stop leaking) is a bit pricey but may be of great use if needed (more serious cuts and scrapes I suppose. Is that the same as the Hypo Stop mentioned above?)

I also carry a commercial jellyfish sting treatment, a spare plastic card to scrape off nematocysts. Cortisone cream for afterwards.

Small sterile eye wash ampules.

I do not have the cling film, but that seems like a great idea.

jky

[Poly]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

is that the same as the Hypo Stop mentioned above?)

No Hypostop is the old name for Glucogel which is used for treating severe hypoglycaemia in conscious diabetic patients.

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by jyasaki

The paint-on scrape and cut sealant (sold here as Nu-Skin) is great for covering and sealing the minor cuts, scrapes, and other boo-boos that occur fairly regularly.

Elastoplast and Savlon both do spray on plasters in the UK which I guess is similar. I have used superglue as a similar solution in the past (on myself).

I noticed earlier that Channel-Ribs have the clotting agent for more major wounds on their site.

Mike

[m chappelow]

Now I only have the sib and I don't go too far nowadays i just keep it simple and to the things that I am most likely to need .

Big sick ,,
large ambulance/ field dressing for any propeller incidents ,

Little sick ,,
,, small bandage & finger dressings assorted plasters & roll of plaster ,triangular bandage , safety pins & antiseptic wipes ,Small scissors.

Tweezers for removing foreign body's and an eye bath ,, nothing no worse than on a windy beach and sand in the eye or if launching through dumping surf with a sandy bottom ,
For fish hooks I can snip them through with the pliers from the engine tool kit ,

Pocket resus mask , thermal bag , 2 inch ,,roll end cling film cut of a larger roll .
Sachet of vinegar for jelly stings when recovering the anchor rope .

Come to the conclusion most accidents I am likely to encounter are falling overboard into the prop ,
Falling/ slipping on the slipway launching
Most seem to be small minor finger nips /trapping skinned knuckles stuff from floor board assembly to clamping the engine on , or a poke in the eye from an elbow or a flick from a rope end ,
Burn wise apart from an unlikley engine fire the only other burn would be from a flare .

Bit different if your a charter / club / dive boat ect but I now only carry stuff that I or We are likely to use Personally on our own boat otherwise if you are not carefull you can start to equip you boat for others , first aid yes but I am not running an ambulance .

[Channel Ribs]

Originally Posted by Mike B

I noticed earlier that Channel-Ribs have the clotting agent for more major wounds on their site.

Celox granules

As J said, they are pricey but they work very well and have great value in an otherwise unmanageable bleed. Giving you time to get the patient to an ALB or shore service. Having said that we do use it in our local trauma room at the hospital.

I always reckon size matters on a small boat, hence the smaller slightly thicker stretch wrap rather than cling film. The Celox packet is tiny and you don't need to think about something that has to be removed to make room.

[CJL]

Originally Posted by Sharkbyte

Defibrillators (coil packs with x2 HT leads)

Electricity on a damp person in a damp boat - always terrifies me when people have these on board!

Chris

[ShinyShoe]

Originally Posted by CJL

Electricity on a damp person in a damp boat - always terrifies me when people have these on board!

Chris

Not as dangerous as you might expect:

http://www.think-safe.com/LinkClick....d=302&mid=1475

Electricity takes path of least resistance which will generally be back into the other electrode rather than through someone else and onto earth... which in a boat would be through more water.

[CJL]

Excellent article - If it doesn't work at least you've got a turkey to eat!

[Dry Run]

Morphine! And maybe some more Morphine!

[SPR]

but....I been told AED's don't work reliable in small craft - hence RNLI don't carry them apart on the some Thames boats.

Advice was: if you Carry one , use it on land or on larger boat.

S.