Medical Kit, Medical Training for Transatlantic

[Dockhead]

All the sailing I've done more than a week or two away from civilization, I've done with a doctor on board. We'll be doing a transat in January, and none of the crew has any medical training other than some first aid courses.


I know it's been discussed before, but what do people think is an appropriate medical kit for such a voyage, large vessel with 6 to 8 people on board?


And some one of us probably needs to get first aid cert updated, no?



We will have working SSB and a robust satellite system so we will be able to do tele-medicine if, God forbid, someone gets sick or injured, but we will need to have appropriate supplies and equipment on board.


Tips?

[goboatingnow]

My first trans Atlantic I brought a massively comprehensive medical kit , prescription drugs , tramadol , epi pens , topical , broad spectrum and focused antibiotics

…..

Never open the big plastic box there were all in !!!

Yes get a first aid course it’s always useful to have. ( I also got a dressing clinic nurse to show me wound dressing techniques )

Of course bring any specific medicines for crew that may need them ( typically they will bring them )

But most over the counter drugs are all that’s needed. Steri strips , ibrufen, motion sickness , aspirin , paracetamol, codine . A few things for fungal infections , Re-hydration ( dioraliye?) , upset Tums and antibiotic powder. A quantity of T-Tree oil is very useful for rashes etc. A comprehensive set of good quality bandages and dressings plus a burn gel , this is all fairly standard. Try and avoid plastic band aids as some can have skin reactions , fabric based are the best all rounders imho.

You could consider a broad spectrum antibiotic , Amoxlyin , Flagel, etc , and a more powerful barbiturate based pain killer like tramadol ( Zydol) these will need prescriptions but that’s easy to get. These are useful and I always carry some on longer journeys

I wouldn’t over think it. Very serious injury or unexpected medical conditions will be beyond your ability and will require ship evac , this could be up to three days so pain reliefs can be important.

Long distance ocean voyaging is quite sterile and few issues arise

[goboatingnow]

Note do not be hesitant in contacting the rescue authorities , if you even suspect you may have something serious then you need to get that ship diverted

Things like severe abdominal pain , significant head injuries , any sign of stroke symptoms. Do not delay. I know a friend who died mid Atlantic because the crew left in charge dithered

[dannc]

Make sure there is enough medical supplies to handle multiple, injured people to complete the crossing.

What happens if one is a week or two from port and someone has a moderate or severe burn? Are there enough bandages and medicines that will last in the time it takes to get to port? What if two people are burned?

Are there enough pain meds onboard if someone breaks a bone, has a back injury, etc, and there are a couple of weeks to get to port? What if two people are injured?

Obviously, one is limited in the amount of stuff one can carry, but I suspect many boat are traveling with a decent medical kit in regards to having a broad inventory but not a deep enough inventory.

Later,
Dan

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by dannc

Make sure there is enough medical supplies to handle multiple, injured people to complete the crossing.

What happens if one is a week or two from port and someone has a moderate or severe burn? Are there enough bandages and medicines that will last in the time it takes to get to port? What if two people are burned?

Are there enough pain meds onboard if someone breaks a bone, has a back injury, etc, and there are a couple of weeks to get to port? What if two people are injured?

Obviously, one is limited in the amount of stuff one can carry, but I suspect many boat are traveling with a decent medical kit in regards to having a broad inventory but not a deep enough inventory.

Later,
Dan

There is never “ weeks to port” ( on a trans Atlantic) if the injury is in any way severe the medical advice you will get is to evac. AMVER and GMDSS will typically have a ship present within three days. ( you may have to change course ) you will also have helicopter access upto 600 km from land depending !!

A serious back injury or bad breaks needs evac in my opinion and that is what the advice will say.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

There is never “ weeks to port” ( on a trans Atlantic) if the injury is in any way severe the medical advice you will get is to evac. AMVER and GMDSS will typically have a ship present within three days. ( you may have to change course )

A serious back injury or bad breaks needs evac in my opinion and that is what the advice will say.

Is there a book on this somewhere which is aimed at long distance sailors?

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

Is there a book on this somewhere which is aimed at long distance sailors?

The ships captains medical guide

[s/v Jedi]

I’m trying to post a list instead of individual links… let me know if this works:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/l...?ref_=wl_share

Edit: to be clear: my recommendation is to buy all from that list. The loose items are not, or not enough, in the kit.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

I’m trying to post a list instead of individual links… let me know if this works:



https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/l...?ref_=wl_share

These are all US branded products. Not a lot of use to a European. Best describe generic drugs or very common worldwide brands ( or European brands )

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

These are all US branded products. Not a lot of use to a European. Best describe generic drugs or very common worldwide brands ( or European brands )

Sorry for not cross referencing for all countries. Please read descriptions and use Google to find local replacements

[s/v Jedi]

Also, for medications, start here: https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ml#post1722710

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

The ships captains medical guide

PDF version of the 22nd Editions (present edition is 23) can be found here
http://www.dieselduck.info/machine/0...022nd%20Ed.pdf

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

I’m trying to post a list instead of individual links… let me know if this works:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/l...?ref_=wl_share

A list focused very much on trauma. ::shrug::


I do not have medical training, but in my experience you would also want to carry:

• Basic pain relievers/fever reducers, antacids, decongestants
• Means of treatment of allergic reactions i.e. hives/rashes. Usual recommendation is a combined course of diphenhydramine and cimetidine which are OTC, and hydroxyzine (which requires scrip as it is a drug of abuse).
• Antibiotic treatment for UTIs. Usually requires scrip. There are a couple of choices
• At least one wide-spectrum oral antibiotic, maybe two, azithromycin or ciprofloxacin, maybe a weaker/safer one also
• Antibiotic eye drops
• Antifungal treatment for yeast infections (if women are aboard)
• Anti-diarrheal medication e.g. lopredamine

A doc you trust should be able to provide scrip for those.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Jammer

A list focused very much on trauma. ::shrug::


I do not have medical training, but in my experience you would also want to carry:

• Basic pain relievers/fever reducers, antacids, decongestants
• Means of treatment of allergic reactions i.e. hives/rashes. Usual recommendation is a combined course of diphenhydramine and cimetidine which are OTC, and hydroxyzine (which requires scrip as it is a drug of abuse).
• Antibiotic treatment for UTIs. Usually requires scrip. There are a couple of choices
• At least one wide-spectrum oral antibiotic, maybe two, azithromycin or ciprofloxacin, maybe a weaker/safer one also
• Antibiotic eye drops
• Antifungal treatment for yeast infections (if women are aboard)
• Anti-diarrheal medication e.g. lopredamine

A doc you trust should be able to provide scrip for those.

Yes, see my post #11 above for the medications

[goboatingnow]

As I said these lists looked like my first crossing.

Many of those drugs require access to considerable medical knowledge

We didn’t use a single one.

Typically the issues are heat/damp related , benign tummy issues , the odd rash and bug bites ( though not once well offshore )

I now don’t see the value In complex drug lists