Things You May Not Think to Include in a Life Boat First Aid Kit—But Should
Posted on: 12 March 2020
When someone ends up in a lifeboat, they are typically in an emergency. As such, there is a good chance that they are dealing with injuries of some sort. If the lifeboat is equipped with a first aid kit, they will be better able to manage any wounds. In the best-case scenario, this can make them more comfortable until help arrives. In more serious scenarios, it may save their life. Of course, like any first aid kit, this one should include the essentials: bandages, antibiotic ointment, a tourniquet, gauze, and so forth. But there are a few other items you should include in a lifeboat first aid kit that you may not have thought of.
1. Seasickness Medication
Even if a passenger was okay in a larger boat, the may become seasick on a lifeboat, which will move a lot more with the waves. A couple of doses of medication for seasickness will make them more comfortable as they float to safety. This medication could even keep people from becoming dehydrated by preventing them from vomiting.
2. Water
A couple of bottles of water are good to include in a first aid kit. Even though the passengers will be surrounded by water, it will be salty ocean water and not clean. The clean water can be consumed in am emergency or used to clean wounds.
3. Saline Solution
Chances are, passengers will have gotten some water, and maybe even some debris, in their eyes while making their way into the lifeboat. A bottle of saline can be used to rinse the eyes, helping to prevent infection or remove foreign objects.
4. Burn Cream
In boating accidents, there are sometimes fires. The engine of the larger boat may have caught fire, for example, For this reason, you should include some sort of cream or dressing for burns in the lifeboat.
5. Scissors
In addition to being useful for cutting bandages, scissors may come in handy if a passenger enters the lifeboat with any debris (like fishing net material or seaweed) caught around them. This is more common than you might think, and the object can restrict circulation if it is not removed. Scissors make it easy to just cut through whatever happens to be causing the problem.
If you include these items in your lifeboat first aid kit, you can be confident that if an accident does happen, the passengers will be well equipped.
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