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It would be nice if every sailor carried a first aid kit on board that would have the remedy for any ailment one might encounter at sea, but it's not realistic or practical for most sailors. However, a good first aid kit is a must on every boat, and the contents of it will be largely dictated by what type of sailing you plan to do.
It makes sense to house your first aid kit in a waterproof container–a soggy bandage doesn't do much good–and it's even better if the container floats. It's also helpful to group items together by the type of injury they treat or the type of items. It's not a problem to dig through a bag to find what you're looking for when you're dealing with a blister, but when it's a real emergency and time matters, you'll appreciate having a well–organized first aid kit.
Below are some basics that should be included in the first aid kit for each kind of sailing.
Day sailor or buoy racer
- Comprehensive marine first aid book
- Pain relievers including aspirin, Tylenol and ibuprofen
- Seasickness medication such as Dramamine, Bonine or ginger capsules
- Imodium AD for diarrhea
- Bandage in a variety of sizes and shapes including knuckle and fingertip bandages
- First aid cream such as Neosporin
- Antiseptic wipes
- Visine or other eye drops
- Eyewash
- Eye patch
- Blood stopper trauma bandage
- Waterproof adhesive tape
- Elastic bandage for sprains or secure splints
- Splint
- Surgical gloves (including a non latex variety in case of latex allergy)
- Burn cream
- Instant ice pack (these should be examined frequently as rough seas can cause them to "pop" prematurely)
- Straight hemostat (to stop bleeding and remove splinters)
- Tweezers
- Butterfly bandages
Offshore cruiser or racer
All the above plus:
- Betadine prep pads
- Alcohol prep pads
- Iodine scrub brush
- Combined dressings and trauma pads
- Various gauze dressing pads
- Skin stapler
- Staple remover
- Skin glue
- Scalpel blade and handle
- Suture kit
- Sterile paper drapes
- Burn sheet
- Burn free dressings
- Water gel dressings
- Reusable ice packs
- Cast kit including plaster, padding and a stockinette
- Paramedic scissors
- Dental emergency kit including cotton pellets, numbing gel, temporary filling, oil of cloves
- Blood pressure cuff
- Bulb syringe
- Oral thermometer
- Hypothermia thermometer
- Electrolyte tablets
- Triple antibiotic ointment
- Instant glucose
- Hydrogen peroxide
- 500 ml sterile irrigation solution
- CPR pocket mask
- Seven-piece airway kit
- Various sizes of syringes and needles
- Large safety pins
- French Foley catheter
- Hot water bottle
- Benadryl for allergic reactions
- Stethoscope
Serious offshore sailors will also want to consult their physician and obtain a variety of antibiotics and other prescription medicines and receive training in how to administer them. Automated external defibrillators can also be lifesaving devices if used with training.
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