This is obviously only a suggested list from research, personal
experience and consultation with our family doctor (a sailor) before our one-year
cruise. Your needs may differ. Use the list as a starting point to discuss a
cruising medical kit with your family doctor.
Records
- First aid books
- Phone numbers for hospitals and doctors
- Eyeglass prescriptions
- A complete record from your pet's vet, a recent rabies vaccination
Tools
- Scissors
- thermometer
- needle pliers
- flashlight, penlight
- Scissors
- Eye dropper
- Tweezers
- Ear syringe
- Latex gloves
- Towel
- Splints
- Thermal blanket
Bandages
- Bandaids (plastic, fabic)
- Liquid bandaid (waterproof)
- Roll bandages (Kling)
- Gauze rolls 110 cm wide
- Adhesive tape (Elastoplast)
- Sterile gauze pads 2, non-adhesive
- Skin closures 3
- Cotton balls
- Q-tips
- Tensor elastic bandages small,large
- Tourniquet rubber tube
- Neck brace
- Arm sling
OTC Medicines
- Antibiotic wound cream (Lanabiotic, Polysporin)
- Topical anesthetic (Solarcaine) for sunburn, insect bites
- Antiseptic - Mercurochrome, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol
- Vaseline
- Antibiotic eye ointment (eye infection)
- Saline eye wash (eye irritation)
- Activated charcoal tablets (poisoning)
- Styptic pencil (stop bleeding)
- Linament (muscle pain)
- Fleet Enema (severe constipation)
- Antifungal cream (Canesten)
- Toothache pain medicine
- Antibiotic lozenges (sore throat)
Drugs
On a boat you may need to function in an emergency situation where
a doctor is not available. The right drug could allow you to function or save your
life. Consult with your doctor about a drug kit for your cruise - this list
was created some years ago with our own doctor, and should simply be used as
a starting point. Some are OTC (over-the-counter), others are prescription only.
- ASA, Acetominaphen - headache
- 222's - pain, severe headache (U.S. requires prescription)
- Tylenol No.3 30mg - pain, toothache
- Demerol - severe pain (broken bones)
- Sudafed 60mg - sinus congestion
- Gravol suppositories 100mg - seasickness
- Gravol pills 50mg - seasickness
- Seldane 60mg - mild allergic reactions
- Atarax 25mg - allergic reactions (bee sting)
- Lomotil 2.5mg - diarrhea
- Septra 160mg - dysentry (antibiotic)
- Ipecac syrup 14ml - food poisoning
- Colace 100mg (docusate sodium) - stool softener
- Dulcolax 5mg - constipation
- Orbenin 500g - infection
- Valium 5mg - muscle spasm, severe anxiety
- Dalmane 30mg - sleep aid
- Voltaren 50mg - swelling/sprain, muscle pain
- Personal prescriptions: enough to last + 1 month
Keep prescription drugs (or anything that looks like drugs) in original bottles
with a copy of their prescriptions. Note: Some common OTC drugs like Tylenol
2 and 222's are illegal without a prescription in other countries.
Everytime I go on deck it's either a salt water shower or foul weather gear while sweating to death underneath. After more than two weeks at sea, I begin to wonder if "foul" weather gear refers to the outside or the indside of the gear. -- Derek Hatfield, Vendee Globe Race 2008
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