first aid kit advice.

[Rileybri]

Originally Posted by MSilvia

Still? I thought you got those teeth fixed.

Nice Matt, very nice! yes still but never for me!

[tonka97]

Good list suggestions.

In mine, I have oxygen and AED (automatic external defibrillator) in addition to most of the suggestions.

[trekkindave]

The best thing you can add to your first aid kit is your brain... Find a local first aid class and learn what you can about first aid and CPR. I have taught many first aid classes and you would be surprised at what house hold "old wives tales" still make it into daily first aid that are actually not good to use (off the top of my head, butter on a burn... its bad)

Other then that the list provided is (wish is pretty good) you could consider looking into Adventure medical Kits.. They are pre-filled first aid kits with a wide range of products and sized... as well as price tags.... that can make it easy for you to get your kits up and running..

I personall like the kits in the paddler section (i carry the ultra light paddler on my kayak trips) or the marine section because each is contained in its own use specific, read that water proof, case and had available refills. You can probably be more cost effective buying a pre made kit with a nice waterpoof case and then adding a few things to it then trying to buy all your supplies on your own.

If you had to buy 25 gauze pads, to have 4-6 in your kit.. its costly...


Dont forget to also add things like headache relief, sudafed, benadryl cream for bug bites, and maybe one or two doses of what ever medications you may take (non refridgereated types of course) incase you leave for an early morning dive and realize that you forgot to take your medications.

Lastly, one of the other best things that you can do for youself if you have a medical condition is to get some sort of water proof, indestructable identification bracelet or necklace that you can bring with you and actually WEAR while diving should something happen to you and you need assistance and are unable to provide information.

You can check out Victims of Terrorism and Military Killed in Action, Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Memorial Bracelets and order a customized stainless steal "cuff" bracelet like this


with your name address, emergency phone number and medical information such as allergies, medical conditions and medications.


You can also look for a standard issue set of military dog tags as a necklace while diving like these
from Dog Tags Direct: Military Dog Tags for People, Pets, Luggage or Keys


also for the feminie side you can look for anything that can be engraved..


let me know if you have any questions that I can answer for you


*****EDIT****** you guys all beat me to it with like 7-8 post before i got to post mine... i got called away for an old lady with a fractured arm and came back and hit post... and low and behold.... there were 5 more post between when i started my post and when i actually got to post mine

[MSilvia]

Originally Posted by tonka97

In mine, I have oxygen and AED (automatic external defibrillator) in addition to most of the suggestions.

I was on a liveaboard trip where a diver went into cardiac arrest, and a doctor on board had a kit that sounds similar to yours. As the doctor got his AED ready, the captain cleared his throat and said, "Hey doc, not for nothin', but we're all soaked and standing on a metal deck. Do you think this is a good idea?" Then he walked as far away as he could.

Just something to keep in mind.

[Duckydiver]

I think my budget stops just shy of the AED. I've got everything else though.

No one mentionen a small suction device, that could come in handy.

[Duckydiver]

If you realy want to go overboard, you can get one of these.
Its a DAN medical oxygen rebreather ReMO2
It takes low flow o2 from a tank and scrubs exhaled air and mixes the o2 back int the air way. apparenty it will make a small o2 tank last a lot longer

[tonka97]

Originally Posted by MSilvia

I was on a liveaboard trip where a diver went into cardiac arrest, and a doctor on board had a kit that sounds similar to yours. As the doctor got his AED ready, the captain cleared his throat and said, "Hey doc, not for nothin', but we're all soaked and standing on a metal deck. Do you think this is a good idea?" Then he walked as far away as he could.

Just something to keep in mind.

If the AED indicates a shock is required to save a life,

I am pushing the button....

You bet!

I have seen no reports of a wet environment such as a boat deck ever being a problem with AED life saving, other than "30 volts producing a mild shock at worst" I WOULD dry the chest area of the victim in prep for the pad application (and quickly shave excessive chest hair as required)

Rogue Medic: AEDs and Water

[MSilvia]

Originally Posted by tonka97

I have seen no reports of a wet environment such as a boat deck ever being a problem with AED life saving, other than "30 volts producing a mild shock at worst" I WOULD dry the chest area of the victim in prep for the pad application (and quickly shave excessive chest hair as required)

Rogue Medic: AEDs and Water

Good to know, thanks!

[MConnelly2]

Originally Posted by Rileybri

I almost forgot rubber/laytex gloves! I dont care if you are my sister or a stranger if its just a splinter or arterial "flow" I am slapping gloves on EVERY TIME!!

Check out AMK they make some great kits for just about any situation you will find your self in and they do it all for you!

There are still outfits that use latex? I thought everyone was onboard with nitrile now? Doesn't dryrot or get that sticky old funky thing where the fingertips rip open (yeah, cool, awesome), MUCH harder to puncture or tear, and they come on nice bright colors so if they do tear it's much easier to notice than skin-tone latex.

As for AED's on a wet aluminum deck, been there, done that. No real harm. Definitely felt it, like getting rapped on both kneecaps with a ball peen hammer, but no lasting pain or ill effects. Didn't cardiovert me (what's the worry, anyhow - all arrythmias stabilize themselves, right?) or anything. A rescue swimmer got lit up from an ICD in a patient he had wrapped around him while on the hoist cable a few years back. Same thing, no real harm. Most AED's are biphasic now, anyhow, so you're really only looking at 140-160 joules tops. As for shaving chest hair - don't bother. That's why there's a second set of pads. If the box won't analyze, press those electrodes on, and rip 'em off. It'll leave you a nice clean spot for the second set. Anyone hirsute enough to keep the electrodes from working, a hospital razor isn't going to help in short order.

O2 - always a good idea, especially considering the MOI/NOI we're likely to encounter in our sport. Not to mention, a Motrin, liter of Pedialyte, and 5 minutes on the FROP will work wonders for those ugly mornings.

[dirtydon]

super glue you can get it in med grade. us for big cuts.back packers used it for years.