I’ve been pretty lucky that in the past 5 years as a charter captain I’ve only had a few injuries on the boat. Mostly being hooks in people that I could cut out easily. That being said, a story about a gnarly wahoo cut got me thinking that I should have a well supplied first aid kit on the boat, not just one of the cheap ones from the store.
What all do you have in your onboard first aid kit? Looking for trauma gear mainly. I have plenty of rubber bands and paper towels for small cuts…
Ace Bandages
Plenty of sterile gauze
Bolt cutters for big hooks
Sterile gloves
Peroxide
Benadryl for allergic reactions
One thing that I want to add to my kit is an EpiPen. I was talking to one of my wife’s family friends, and he didn’t realize he was allergic to wasps until he was out on the boat one day and got stung – he’s probably in his late 50’s. I would hate for something like that to happen offshore, where the nearest hospital is hours away.
Im no charter captain but I carry a nice tool box full of stuff I hope to never use. My thinking is, what will I need to save a life or at least give me time to get someone back to the dock or airlifted out by the USCG. Odds are the things that will take someone out are a major trauma where I need hemostasis,heart attack and allergic reaction. In addition to the usual stuff, I carry two Epi Pens, Celox, Tourniquets, Aspirin(have someone chew it if they are having a heart attack)and have instructions taped to the box on how to call the coast guard if the poor SOB happens to be me.There are good lists on the web you can google for this sort of stuff. As an eye doc, Ill give my public service message that if you get splashed in the eyes with something, wash it out with as much fresh water as you can. If you think you washed it out enough, do it some more. If you get a hook in the eye(yes Ive seen it), DONT try to take it out and DONT push on the eye. Shield the eye with something protective like a cup taped over it and get back home.
As a charter boat captain I’ve seen a lot of people get hurt over the years, it’s very easy to get hurt on a boat. We carried an extensive first aid kit. Bigger than my tackle boxes. And added to it with every new problem. Other than the obvious bandages and such, I had inflatable splints, suture kits, injectable and topical pain medicines, small oxygen bottle and mask, blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, IV bag of saline something that the doc told me I should have. Lots of other stuff. I consulted with my doctor and he wrote the prescriptions for everything he thought I might need when 3 hours away from help, and I got 2 of each.
Some really good replies there. A couple things I noticed:
I was under the impression that epi-pens are prescription and unique to individuals. So using one that isn’t for that person A) won’t do anything and B) could be harmful
The AED thing scares the crap out of me on the boat. Your deck must stay a heck of a lot drier than most! ZAP
Can’t be too prepared though, just some observations
I was under the impression that epi-pens are prescription and unique to individuals. So using one that isn’t for that person A) won’t do anything and B) could be harmful
I think that they are prescription, but aren’t unique to a certain individual – except maybe dosage according to body weight. I’m not 100% sure, though. Either way, I would be willing to bet that a doctor could write a script for one or two for a first aid kit – maybe one for adults and one with a safe dose for children.
Epi-pens are not person specific. I carry two in my truck at all times. They are dated (color scale on pen) but stay good a while. For those of you That have one remember to check the color. I think they would still work somewhat but will not be as good as a new one. The main scare is throat closure and shock. Ice the sting. Cool down individuals head and throat with ice or cool water.
quote:The main scare is throat closure and shock. Ice the sting. Cool down individuals head and throat with ice or cool water.
We always carried benadryl. I don’t think epi-pens were invented back then.
The other most important thing to have is knowledge. Can you recognize a stroke, or a heart attack, or heat exhaustion, or allergic reaction, and know what to do? Have you taken first aid and CPR courses? You can generally improvise almost anything else in the short term, but the knowledge is more important than the tools.
All licensed Captains are required to maintain CPR and first aid certifications every year. I required it of my mates also. Most recreational boaters have never taken a class.
quote:Heaven forbid the reason I would need it but I also carry quick clot in my first aid kit.
Well, a client on my boat once got his ear cut clean off by a fishing line and a big fish, and I would have paid $1,000 right then for it. It was ugly. And I’ve never again rigged a drop back loop
Small pair of bolt cutters for hooks. Aspirin for heart attach. Believe most epi pins must be kept refrigerated or at least room temperature. Remember your EPIRB is not just for a sinking vessel. If you are having trouble with radio transmissions to shore or you are relying on perhaps a passenger that does not know how to use a VHF deploy the EPIRB for serious medical emergencies.
I recently renewed my 6-pack license, very surprised they did not request an updated first aid/CPR card. They have in previous years.
Instructions on paper of how to get the boat off of autopilot and back on a course to home (tell everyone where it is). Never can tell who might kick the bucket
quote:I recently renewed my 6-pack license, very surprised they did not request an updated first aid/CPR card. They have in previous years.
I’m surprised too. I’ve had 6 or 7 renewals and they always required that. I let mine expire last year and didn’t renew. Had enough of that.
quote:I've been pretty lucky that in the past 5 years as a charter captain I've only had a few injuries on the boat.
The law of averages eventually catches up to you. When you take 1,000 people a year fishing, year after year, somebody IS going to get hurt. Not a question of if, just when.
In addition to the normal Band-Aids, antiseptic, and instant cold packs. The number one things that we carry is our Celox (clotting agent ), Sutures and hemostats. If you have never sutured anything, take the time and have a doctor friend teach you how to do it. It is much easier than I thought and I thank Dr. Brian Chung for teaching myself and my wife how to suture up a croaker. If you have not been an EMT, in the military or law-enforcement, I strongly recommend taking a combat style first aid course. Punctures and arterial bleed’s are the biggest concerns while offshore. Let’s face it if you have a myocardial infarction (heart attack) and people have to do CPR on you, let’s not kid ourselves you will not survive. An AED is your only chance if your heart has stopped. But they are cost prohibitive on most vessels. You are more likely to be bitten by a toothy critter or cut by a fillet knife, both of these can be fatal in 15 minutes or less unless you know how to react. Knowing where and how to place a tourniquet is also very important. Do all the people on board your boat know how to call a Mayday? If not go over it, show them where to find your current position and what channels to call the Coast Guard on. As far as bolt cutters, I have a small pair that are in my bag, but the side cutters on most pairs of crimpers will cut everything up to a 9/0 hook( I know from experience ask 23 Sailfish). This time of year watch for heat exhaustion it can come on very quickly especially after fighting a couple of large amberjack’s… I am speaking from experience and drink plenty of water and pour a bucket of water over your head or use the washdown. If I think of anything else I will add it
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PROUD YANKEE
Oyster Baron
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
