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Medicines (Warning: check expiration dates, because some medicines, such as Tylenol 3 and Vicodin, become toxic when outdated)  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