The mix of medicin, instruments and dressings depends on different factors:

• How many people are on board?
• In which timeframe can a harbour be reached?
• What does the infrastructure look like in the area?
• Are old people and/or children on board?
• Is it a coastal or an offshore törn?
  

Ask your doctor to assist you in setting up your first aid box. Your pharmacyst will help you getting the best price for the material. 

Tell your pharmacyst when you intent to go to tropical areas. Not all medicins are fit for service in the tropics.

First Aid Box for coastal (C) and offshore (O) törns

The medicines marked with an (C) have to be added as well to the first aid box when you go on an offshore törn.

ATTENTION!

Using antibiotics it is extremely important to stick to the order of the enclosed manual. You must not stop taking antibiotics to early.You must not save money on this. 

For the doctor only!

Some medicins which are to be handled only by the doctor should be stored in a seperate box:

• serious infections: Cephalosporin ampoules

• shock, collaps: ringer-solution, sodium chloride solution infusion

• serious  allergies: Volon 40 mg ampoules

• serious infouriation: Valium or Psyquil ampoules

• serious pain: Tramal ampoules 

Important:

In any case the first aid box should contain several one way hypodermic syringes. In case you get hurt in third world countries you should hand over fresh hypodermic syringess to your local doctor. By this you minimize the risc of HIV-infection. Bloodtransfusion and bloodproducts can also be a serious HIV risc if not checked by educated personell. Please check with the embassy of your home country. If necessary you should consider a transport back home or in another country.

Instruments

•  clinical thermometer

•  one way surgical gloves

•  pair of tweezers

•  scalpel

•  surgical stitch kit

•  wound clips

•  dressing scissors

•  one way hypodermic syringes  2ml, 5ml,20ml

•  one way cannulas  size1, size  14

•  Safar-Tubus

•  shock blanket
  

Dressings

•  triangular bandage

•  cotton wool

•  dressing package big, medium, small

•  gauze dressing

•  Metalline dressing-blanket 60 x 80cm

•  Metalline dressing-package

•  Porofix clips plaster

•  sticking plaster (different sizes)

•  tape (different sizes) for pressure bandage

•  gauze

•  eye patch, fingerstall

•  splint material

•  safety pin

•  styptic cotton wool
  

For small skin injuries

In a seperate box always at hand

• sorted sticking plasters

• broadband antiseptic spray

• aerosol dressing

• scissors
  

When your going to the tropics your first aid box should contain a  malaria prophylaxis too. In hot areas the dragees can become unusable very easy. Suppositories can be cooled with the cover in cold water, before usage. Please note the information from your local tropics institute.

In case you have babies or toddlers on board you have to have special medicine in your first aid box.

Storage of the first aid box

Medicine, instruments and dressings are stored in waterproof plastic boxes. It is recommended to number the medicines  and fill in a inventory which is sorted by illness-groupe. The first aid box has to be stored on a cool, dry and accessable place. In hot places a place on the boardwall under the waterline is recommended. In no case you should throw away the original packing because of space saving. By keeping the boxes you ensure that the enclosed manual does not get lost. In this manual you find important information about indication, contra-indication and dosage. Intolerances with other medicines  and alcohol are also mentioned there.

You should also store a lamp near the first aid box.

Maintenance of the first aid box

Before you start your journey you should check the completeness and condition of your first aid box. If you store medicines for many years they can become damaged or loose their effectiveness. They even can become dangerous!

How can everybody recognize that a medicine has to be exchanged?

Basic rules for the storage of drugs 

• Medicines which have passed their eat-by date must not be used.

• Medicines which show change of colour or bad smell must not be used.

• Dragees which have become slippery or tablettes which fall apart must not be used.

• Ointments , emulsions or cremes which have become decomposed or dried up must not be used.

• clear solutions,  drops or syrups which show dulling must not be used.

•  Sterile dressings or instruments are only germ-free if the packaging is originally sealed.