Health Emergencies, Procedures, Practices and First Aid Kit


A list of Health Emergencies, Procedures, Practices and items reccomended to have in your first aid kit!


Checklist image
Health Emergencies Checklist of Procedures & Practices
First-aid/Wilderness training (two days is recommended for the skipper and another crewmember designated as health officer)
First-aids Book ("The Merck Manual")
Kit with fresh supplies that match crew needs (i.e. special conditions), training and expertise
Latex gloves
Face masks
CPR barriers
Poison extractor
Medicines (Warning: check expiration dates, because some medicines, such as Tylenol 3 and Vicodin, become toxic when outdated)
Prescription medicines (depend on crew special needs and duration of journey)
Poison Serums
Communications device (Sat, VHF, e-mail) and procedure to call for advice, help or evacuation (crew must be trained on these tools’ use. Post telephone numbers and email addresses somewhere visible)
Written crew health history including pre-existing conditions and medicines
Practice “what if” scenarios — as you would for equipment failures — involving a range of injuries and conditions
Take any injury seriously, especially if it impacts the head
Try seasickness medicine ashore for possible side effects
Get fit
Learn how to use a blood pressure cuff use a blood pressure cuff
Learn how to take a pulse
Learn how to take a temperature
Learn basic anatomy and the language of first aid
When you are beyond your knowledge and not comfortable, call for help