First Aid Kit

Since we like to travel to the most remote places on the Globe, we find ourselves far away from any (decent) medical facilities. A minor medical problem (a cut in a finger, a wound infection, gastroenteritis, etc) may become a bigger problem and even ruin a trip completely.

Not always having been impressed by the First Aid kit of dive centers/live-aboards, I was wondering who takes a First Aid kit along and what yours contains:

-painkiller/anti-inflammatory drug

-anti-malaria drugs

-antibiotics

-corticoids

-anti-histaminica (allergic reactions)

-thermometer

-bandages, plasters,...

-antiseptic (alcohol, betadine)

-??

...or do you rely on others (dive center/live-aboard, other passengers) to have something with them?

Let's hear from you pillheads

It should be interesting to see the collective travel wisdom on this board. Having just done two long dive trips within the last three months, this is pretty fresh in my mind. Some of these require prescriptions in the U.S. I tend to bring most OTC meds I am accustomed to as dosages and reliability vary throughout the world. I am less concerned with bringing the basic first aid items such as alcohol, vinegar, bandages, as these SHOULD be readily available in most dive resort/liveaboard settings. If unsure, ask for specifics before your trip.

Malarone (anti-malarial - only if necessary for your destination)

Ambien or other sleep aid for jetlag

Acetic acid otic solution (or whatever swimear preventative you prefer)

Cipro antibiotic ear drops (in case the prior drops don't work)

Cipro antibiotic pills (for many things, but usually traveller's diarrhea)

12 hour sudafeds

Flonase

2 EpiPens (no allergies, but you never know!)

hydrocortisone cream

antibiotic cream

tylenol and advil (both have advantages)

small digital thermometer

disposable gloves

CPR shields

antacid

antidiarrheal

Pepto Bismol

anbesol (oral topical painkiller)

small selection of bandaids (although duct tape works better for fin blisters!)

As an aside, both of the two liveaboard charters I just completed had AEDs on board.

Stefan

Since we like to travel to the most remote places on the Globe, we find ourselves far away from any (decent) medical facilities. A minor medical problem (a cut in a finger, a wound infection, gastroenteritis, etc) may become a bigger problem and even ruin a trip completely.

 

Not always having been impressed by the First Aid kit of dive centers/live-aboards, I was wondering who takes a First Aid kit along and what yours contains:

-painkiller/anti-inflammatory drug

-anti-malaria drugs

-antibiotics

-corticoids

-anti-histaminica (allergic reactions)

-thermometer

-bandages, plasters,...

-antiseptic (alcohol, betadine)

-??

 

...or do you rely on others (dive center/live-aboard, other passengers) to have something with them?

 

Let's hear from you pillheads

Some other things to consider, but up to you to decide based on what if scenarios and how much you can carry

-List any allergies you have, penicillan etc., somehwere and have it maybe have it translated. Ditto for meds and medical conditions

-Maybe get a SAM Splint (kind of overkill maybe, but immobilization can be often helpful)

-1 inch/2 inch tape, and also gauze wraps

- there were some anti sting wipes for jellyfish, do not know if they are still around

-things for your stomach (anti-diarhhea)

- extra prescription meds if you take prescriptions

-burn sheets

-CPR Mask/keychain mask

-penlight

-shears

Proper review of things you may encounter and how to handle them

As an MD I'll give my 2 cents. Doen't bring anything you dont know how and when to use. Examples are things like epipen. Always review the CDC country specific guidelines on their web site. Be prepared for the most comon problems. By far gastrointestonal like diarrhea, stomach pains, vomiting. A close second is ear problems, such as squeeze and infections. Ear pains are more likely to be pressure related, then infections. The best thing with ears is prevention such as pseudofed, and swimmers ear drops. Third is injurys. Examples are cuts, sprains, blisters, burns, stings,etc. In 15 years, and ALOT of dives, Ive seen one death, one pneumothorax, maybe 2 to 3 mild bends. You cant prepare for them.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned that I keep on my own boat when diving is emergency O2.

My 2c:

For a long trip, I'll bring more than one scrip of Cipro from now on. Last fall in Indonesia for 3 wks, my wife and I both came down with a bad 48 hour bug, complete with diarrhea, high fever, etc, and used what we brought. She had a recurrence two weeks later - thankfully in Bali where there were easy-to-find pharmacies, rather than Lembeh or Raja Ampat.

In addition to some of the stuff above, I also bring:

-electrolyte packs, even if you don't get sick they're handy if you sweat as much as I do.

-antiseptic Q-tips are handy; you break the tip to release the antiseptic, good for scrapes.

-second skin: gel-filled blister pads. I've hiked about 800 miles of the Appalachian trail, and this is the best stuff I've found for blisters.

Epipen, CPR shield, gloves, etc. seems a bit over the top to me, unless you're planning to provide basic life support to your fellow divers. Also, an epipen may not give you relief for long, so without recourse to advanced life support, you're just delaying the inevitable a bit. For a splint, should you need to, you can make a crude splint from all kinds of things; off the top of my head you could use pillows, rolled-up towels, two snorkels, fishing poles, pvc pipe...use your imagination. However, as Dr. mrbubbles points out, unless you know what you're doing you probably shouldn't; a broken arm is bad, but a broken arm with impaired circulation because you splinted it wrong is much worse.

There are areas of indonesia that have cipro resistant salmonella. those are treated with zithromax. This type of info is on the cdc travel info web site.

off the top of my head you could use pillows, rolled-up towels, two snorkels, fishing poles, pvc pipe...use your imagination. However, as Dr. mrbubbles points out, unless you know what you're doing you probably shouldn't; a broken arm is bad, but a broken arm with impaired circulation because you splinted it wrong is much worse.

Magazines, newspapers and pillows also work, but circulation is always a concern.

But as you and Dr. Mrbubbles mentioned (and I also indicated but not as well as you both did) know the possible emergencies and how to deal with them ahead of time. As to CPR Masks, I think all divers should know how to perform CPR, provide first aid, work an AED and provide O2 in any manner possible. There are CPR barriers that are very small and attach to a keychain. A couple of pair of gloves is not too far over the top IMHO due to are working in open cuts, wounds or other areas of concern (such as removing stingers that have not fired). They are small enough not to be a concern, thought looking for non-latex gloves may be worthwhile.

And as you said, if an epi-pen is used (and which I specifically did not mention due to its nature) and you know how to use it, 911/EMS is required even if things seem otherwise okay. (I actually carry those and other drugs due to potential allergic reactions for people I dive with, more so for land based allergic reactions though.)

Of course most of this, thankfully, are worse case scenarios. Immodium and Tylenol covers alot more turf practically speaking

In addition to the stuff previously mentioned, we carry anti biotic eye drops. They can also be used in your ears, but not ear drops in the eyes!

There are CPR barriers that are very small and attach to a keychain.

That reminds me - the one on my keychain got a lot of attention from the airport security guys in Indonesia. Not sure I'd want to put my mouth on it after they all handed it around.

Not sure I'd want to put my mouth on it after they all handed it around.

LOL. Well if push comes to shove and faced I think I go with dirt over vomit Of course maybe the best move is getting another one.

I have never had an issue with the keychain one, but I also usually throw another regular mask in baggage and that got the once over when I was leaving Mexico.

Also add tweezers & tourniquets.

It should be interesting to see the collective travel wisdom on this board. Having just done two long dive trips within the last three months, this is pretty fresh in my mind. Some of these require prescriptions in the U.S. I tend to bring most OTC meds I am accustomed to as dosages and reliability vary throughout the world. I am less concerned with bringing the basic first aid items such as alcohol, vinegar, bandages, as these SHOULD be readily available in most dive resort/liveaboard settings. If unsure, ask for specifics before your trip.

 

Malarone (anti-malarial - only if necessary for your destination)

Ambien or other sleep aid for jetlag

Acetic acid otic solution (or whatever swimear preventative you prefer)

Cipro antibiotic ear drops (in case the prior drops don't work)

Cipro antibiotic pills (for many things, but usually traveller's diarrhea)

12 hour sudafeds

Flonase

2 EpiPens (no allergies, but you never know!)

hydrocortisone cream

antibiotic cream

tylenol and advil (both have advantages)

small digital thermometer

disposable gloves

CPR shields

antacid

antidiarrheal

Pepto Bismol

anbesol (oral topical painkiller)

small selection of bandaids (although duct tape works better for fin blisters!)

 

As an aside, both of the two liveaboard charters I just completed had AEDs on board.

 

Stefan

I think this is a pretty good list; I prefer Cortisporin Otic to just Cipro eardrops as there is antiinflammatory in the drops as well.

I would also add a second antibiotic for skin / staph infections like Keflex or Bactrim.

Afrin to prevent as well as treat ear and congestion issues - a quick squirt in the morning keeps me clear for the day.

A stronger antinausea medicine like Scopalamine patch if you are prone to seasickness or expect a rough crossing.

An antacid like Prilosec OTC is probably more effective than TUMS etc.

As a surgeon, I always pack my suture kit as well.

As a surgeon, I always pack my suture kit as well.

FWIW there is also the blood clotting gauze - a bit expensive (not sure if it is prescription only) but it works very well

If you are transiting through the Emirates (Abu Dabi or Dubas for ecample), be aware that they are now dishing out 4 year prison sentences to anyone carrying even some prescription drugs. One guy was arrested for the poppy seeds that had fallen off his bread roll onto his clothes during the prior flight!

I'm guessing that the prescription drugs of concern here would be tranquilizers like Ambien and narcotic pain killers with codeine etc. Obviously very important that the prescriptions are in your name, possibly even a doctor's letter stating why they are prescribed may be an idea for some of these places.

Just as a side note to all this.

A lot of dive boats / operations will have basic band aid, dressings, rubbing alcohol, etc etc for basic wounds. and O2 for something more serious (sometimes along with backboard)

All good ones will have an emergency contingency that means they don't need to carry much else as it is simply better and quicker to get them the proper help they need.

Also on the pills thing. Working in an American style environment or at least with americans I would never (unless I knew them personally) give a pill to anyone for case of allergy or drug abuse. I have a friend who was sued for giving a paracetemol when a guest asked for a headache !

Obviously very important that the prescriptions are in your name, possibly even a doctor's letter stating why they are prescribed may be an idea for some of these places.

...and written in the Arabic language, countersigned by a mullah!.