A Kayaking First Aid Kit

[BrianOMahony]

Right now I’m putting together a proper first aid kit (finally). I’ve got the list below of what will be in it so if anyone one has any changes or additions they’d make let me know. Post up if you’ve any advice on things to get or things to avoid or just if you’ve any questions or you plan on making your own. Hopefully by the end we’ll have a fairly comprehensive list for everyone’s future reference

The list shows the full contents and will be whittled down depending on the trip but is pretty much what I’d have for something like The Alps. It excludes gear like pin kit, repair kit and splits etc. and instead only deals with First Aid supplies.

Discuss.

In My BA

1 x Phone in Aquapac
1 x Whistle
1 x Knife
1 x Waterproof Flashing Beacon Light
X x River Snacks

Storage:
1 x ALoksak Bag http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003Q3 ... lmf_img_25

Contents:
1 x Resuscitative Face Shield
1 x Pair of Gloves
1 x Hand Sanitizer
2 x Anti-Bacterial Wipes
2 x Water Proof Plasters
1 x Blister Plaster
3 x Steri-Strips

In My Boat

Storage:
1 x Lomo 5L First Aid Bag https://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/firs ... large.html

Contents:
2 x Pairs of Gloves
1 x Resuscitative Face Shield
1 x Medical Shears
1 x Tweezers
6 x Anti-Bacterial Wipes
6 x Water Proof Plasters
2 x Blister Plasters
12 x Steri-Strips
2 x Triangular Bandages
2 x Crepe Bandages
3 x Non-Adhesive Dressings
2 x Gavin's used "Sanitary Towels"
1 x Surgical Tape
1 x Cling Film (Still Sticks to Itself When Wet)
1 x Duct Tape
6 x Safety Pins
1 x Thermometer
1 x Burn Gel (Small Packet)
1 x Tick Remover http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0037DFYRQ
1 x Superglue
1 x Hypothermia Blanket
1 x Bivvy Bag (Storm Shelter if Available)
2 x Sterile Eye Wash
1 x Blistex (Lip Cream)
1 x Suncream
1 x Vaseline
3 x Dioralyte
3 x Paracetemol
1 x Sam Splint
1 x Bivvy Bag
1 x Spare Thermals
1 x Flask of Hot Ribena & Sugar
2 x Small Lights
2 x Glow Sticks
1 x Permanent Marker
1 x Pencil
1 x Notepad

[GavinSheehan]

I think the first aid kit in the BA is a great idea as long as you can keep it dry. Saves the hassle of pulling it out of your boat if it's only for something small.

I have one in mine but it's not as dry as it could be...

[PatrickBrennan]

I plan on making mine while on coop ill definitely use the list as a reference

[Caoimhe_F]

I know plasters don't take up a lot of space but I reckon they're pretty useless no matter how waterproof they are....if you dry the wound fully and put a plaster on it, it's more than likely going to fall off at the next rapid. Vaseline and a bit of cling film will do a much better job in my opinion. And for bigger wounds, there's a lot to be said for a sanitary towel and duct tape.

It's always a good idea to have an easy access sugar supply too. If you're bringing a flask, hot Ribena is the business for warming people up and re-energising them. Also not a bad idea to have a Mars bar or some other form of sugary chocolate or jellies in your BA for quick and easy access.

A permanent marker too has a ridiculous amount of uses, first aid and rescue wise, eg marking an infected wound to monitor the spread of infection over time.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

[BrianOMahony]

Thanks. I've updated the original list and will continue to as new things come in.

[JackPhelan]

I got those aloksak bags before, they are good when left flat but the seal would open in a ba I'd say.
I'll show you one so you can decide

[BrianOMahony]

Sound. It's very hard to find a small bag for in the BA. After reading reviews it seems like nothing is rugged enough to survive in there. I'm gonna buy one of these too to see since there only £2.50 and if it's too bulky I'm sure I'll find some use for it anyway:

http://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/DRY-B ... -TUBE.HTML

I'm gonna keep waterproof plasters in there since it's the only first aid kit I'll have for the trip, on and off the river. They might be useless on the water but after you finish they can be put on. Plenty of people get the cuts/blisters on the side of their thumbs after a fews days of paddling so they'll come in handy for after. And no one wants to keep the vaseline and cling film on for the night.

[Diarmaid_Moloney]

Have ibuprofen tablets 2 in your BA first AID kit it is an anti inflammatory and also provides pain relief.
Electric tape instead of waterproof plasters as it will stick.
Light source a pen light.
A hand warmer too. http://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/hand-warmers.html

[EoinK]

Personally I would take out everything that's not needed for treating a dislocated shoulder, broken bones, hypothermia or catastrophic bleeding. Any more minor injuries such as blisters can wait till they get back to a vehicle/hostel and a more comprehensive first aid kit / warm cup of man the fŭck up.

Yeah I'm a smartphone wanker now!

[Cathal]

On yourself, if you think you need to, absolute minimum to immediately stop bleeding/immobilise an injury. Triangular bandage, steristrips, electrical tape, small wound dressing. Foil blanket if room. Chemical light stick. Phone. Knife.

In the boat (basic, small, but covers all river-based scenarios):
Triangular bandage or three, steristrips, electrical tape, wound dressings, elastic bandage+ties. Rubber gloves. Something sugary, like a single-serve catering honey portion or three for diabetic crash. Foil blanket + bivvy bag if patient cannot be extracted and have to wait for medical care to come to them. Chemical handwarmers. Shears to cut gear away.

Pretty much the stuff you need to hand for immediate care if you can't move the patient, to stabilise while the emergency services are en route. If walking wounded, patch up and walk/carry to emergency care.

Any painkillers we can give at the scene we could only really administer orally (slow) and won't do a lot for pain relief, and anything given will affect hospital level of care. First responders will give morphine if really needed - and we can't carry that with us. In other words, painkillers aren't really an on-the-water carry item.

Decent ordinary first aid kit in the vehicle at the get-off for patching post-river that doesn't need medivac out or professional medical attention.

I'd prefer to carry a pin kit (pulley, prussics, a handful of crabs, slings) in the BA than a first aid kit in the BA, given that a pinning is immediately more time critical to a victim than the majority of treatable first aid situations.

When carrying a first aid kit, know what's in it, and know how to use it. Watch the best-by dates on the items, and replace if damaged/out of date.

[Diarmaid_Moloney]

Since everything else has been mentioned on a basic boat repair kit in your BA:
A few Cable ties.
Duct tape on a plastic card.
2 or 3 washers.

[BrianOMahony]

I've made some changes to the other list and put it below. Same again, if anyone has some changes they'd suggest post here.

Gavin, after thinking about it, I'd say only the face shield is needed quickly so I've taken away everything else from the BA. I've heard a few people say you need gloves in the BA to get them quickly but since I'll still need to get out my main first aid kit before doing anything I'm leaving them in there. Have you anything in your BA that I should reconsider?

Keyes, I'd love to know what's in yours. If you see this let me know what I should add.

In My BA

1 x Phone in Aquapac
1 x Whistle
1 x Knife
1 x Waterproof Flashing Beacon Light
X x River Snacks
1 x Resuscitative Face Shield
1 x Hand Sanitizer (More for sandwiches than First Aid)

In My Boat

Storage:
1 x Lomo Midi Size Dry Box http://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/dry-box-19.html
inside
1 x Lomo 5L First Aid Bag https://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/firs ... large.html

Midi Dry Box Contents:
2 x Pairs of Latex Gloves
1 x Medical Shears
2 x Triangular Bandages
1 x Large Crepe Bandage
1 x Large Non-Adhesive Dressing
1 x Sanitary Towel
10 x Steri-Strips
1 x Electrical Tape
1 x Cling Film
4 x Safety Pins
2 x Sterile Eye Wash
1 x Vaseline
1 x Sam Splint
1 x Small Light
1 x Glow Stick

Other Contents:
1 x Bivvy Bag (Storm Shelter if Available)
1 x Spare Thermals
1 x Hat
1 x Flask of Hot Ribena & Sugar

At The Get Off (To Always Be Kept With My Dry Gear)

Storage:
1 x Lomo 3L First Aid Bag https://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/firs ... y-bag.html

Contents:
2 x Pairs of Latex Gloves
5 x Alcohol Wipes
10 x Water Proof Plasters
3 x Blister Plasters
1 x Tweezers
10 x Steri-Strips
1 x Triangular Bandages
2 x Crepe Bandages
2 x Non-Adhesive Dressings
1 x Surgical Tape
6 x Safety Pins
1 x Burn Gel (Small Packet)
1 x Sun Cream
1 x Tick Remover http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0037DFYRQ
1 x Superglue
2 x Sterile Eye Wash
1 x Blistex (Lip Cream)
3 x Dioralyte

[GavinSheehan]

How much money have you spent on first aid kits Brian?!

[BrianOMahony]

A whopping €0 so far. I'll buy when I've my list right.

[GavinSheehan]

A flare or 2 never did any harm. If you can get your hands on them.