One of the critical systems we’re putting in place during this refit phase is our offshore first aid kit. There are many first aid kits for sale, it would be SO EASY to just have a fully stocked kit shipped to us. Especially since we’re so busy working on boat projects right now!

However, with a pre-made kit, there are some downsides:

• Right up front is the cost – you can stock your own offshore first aid kit for much cheaper.
• With a DIY kit, you know exactly what’s in there, and you know exactly how to use it. If I had bought a pre-made kit, it probably would have come with a suture kit. Since I’m going the DIY route, I’m buying steri-strips because they’re easier to use (unless you are experienced with suturing).
• Kits also come with variety packs of things like band-aids, even though no one actually uses those teeny tiny bandaids. Frankly, we don’t use band-aids at all.
• You can tailor a DIY kit to your individual needs (and cruising plans!). We both have a history of dental problems, so I added some dental repair items to our kit.
• With a premade kit, you’re paying a premium for things like a few packets of single-dose ibuprofen. Trust me, those won’t last us very long, we need a large bottle.
• Pre-made kits don’t include any prescription medications, so those still need to be added.
• Your first aid kit is only as good as your knowledge of how to use it. The most expensive kit in the world won’t help much if you don’t know what to do with it. Don’t skimp out on taking the time to learn about what you’re putting in your kit, and how to use it. A premade kit makes it too easy to check “First Aid Kit” off the list without ever learning basic first aid.

On the other hand, a pre-made kit may be more well-stocked than what I create, because it’s made by knowledgeable, experienced people. They might have thought about things that I didn’t. I’m not a doctor, but I do know how to do research, so I at least checked out the contents of a few of these first aid kits while I was making my own. The point is: do what is right for you! What’s right for me might not be the best option for you. There’s nothing wrong with that.

What’s in Our Offshore First Aid Kit

First, a quick disclaimer: I am not a doctor, and none of this constitutes medical advice.

I would highly recommend buying a generic version of most over-the-counter medications, and you can usually get those cheaper (and in smaller quantities) at a brick-and-mortar. Despite that, I’ve linked to Amazon* for everything on the list so there might be price variations, but it will at least show an example of what I’m talking about.

	Item	Cost	Notes
True Emergencies	Steri Strips	7.15	Bought this instead of a suture kit, because suture kits aren’t for novices
	Forceps	3.89	For helping with sutures / steri strips
	Trauma shears	6.95	It was the “tactical stealth black” that really sold these
	Gauze pads	5.97	It’s a large box, but if you need to re-dress a wound you’ll be happy to have them!
	Celox	13.95	Quick clotting agent – I consider these to be our “big guns” when it comes to staunching any bloodflow. There’s a reason it’s the most expensive thing on the list.
	Irrigation syringes	7.99	For cleaning out wounds with precision
	Iodine wipes	7.30	An alcohol-free antiseptic pad for disinfecting wounds and burns
	Mylar blankets	3.89	Hypothermia blankets, also good for reflecting radar!
	Ammonia inhalants	3.39	Aromatic, revive fainting, etc. We debated getting these but they are cheap.
	Aspercreme with lidocaine	6.48	General pain-relieving cream, also for burns.
	Neosporin (neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin)	4.26	Generic triple antibiotic ointment – 2pc – one for the medicine cabinet and one for the “oh shit” bag
Basic Bandages	Styptic Pencil	5.88	Supposed to stop bleeding fast.
	New Skin (liquid bandage)	6.99	Fancy superglue. We’ll try it out! I also read that Dermabond is even better but hard to find.
	Super glue	2.12	Bought a 4-pk because superglue tends to be single-use
	Finger cots	6.99	We aren’t bandaid people, so these will cover any finger cuts / protect fingers
	Elastoplast	5.49	Again, we aren’t bandaid people, so this is our compromise: waterproof bandaid material that can be cut to size
	Athletic tape	6.45	Athletic tape sticks better in wet and humid environments
	Sam splint	5.99	Can be cut to size as needed
	Triangular bandage	6.99	Bandage that doubles as arm sling
	Finger splint	6.50	We had this leftover from a previous first aid kit
	Ace bandage	7.80	Supportive bandage for sprains, etc.
Dental	Benzodent	6.81	Relieves dental and gum pain
	Filling/tooth repair kit	4.00	We have bad teeth. Better safe than sorry.
Basic Medicine Cabinet	Bonine (meclizine)	8.87	This is a huge quantity of the generic form of Bonine, the seasickness med I prefer
	Dramamine (dimenhydrinate)	3.97	We don’t use this but I’ve heard it’s good to have more than one kind of seasickness med
	Ibuprofen	4.04	Today’s efforts are tomorrow’s pain
	Tylenol (acetaminophen)	5.80	Treats pain, reduces fever
	Neosporin (neomycin/polymyxin B/bacitracin)	0.00	Bought a 2-pk, price listed above in “True Emergency” section
	Hydrocortisone cream	5.33	Steroid cream, good for rashes
	Benadryl (diphenhydramine)	4.28	Generic version of the pills – I hate these because they make me lethargic
	Claritin (loratadine)	6.40	Generic version of the pills – I take these more regularly
	Digital thermometer	6.99	Are you SURE you have a fever?
	Imodium (loperamide)	2.97	Generic anti-diarrheal chewable tablets
	Lotrimin (clotrimazole)	9.17	Anti-fungal cream, good for jock itch, athletes foot, etc
	Tweezers	5.48	I just sanded all the brightwork onboard so we better not need these!
	Double shot glass	0.00	A non-fancy eye cup for washing eyes
	Total	$206.54

We ended up just a hair over $200! And technically it was a bit less because we had some of that stuff on hand already. Usually when I buy things I’m really excited to start using them, this is one of the first things I’ve bought that I hope to never use!

We also have a few basic things like tongue depressors (splints), latex gloves, tampons, plastic wrap (for burns) and petroleum jelly that I didn’t include. I’m happy we have them onhand but I wouldn’t buy them especially for a first aid kit.

As you can see, I’ve got it split into four different sections. I don’t want to have to dig through a bag full of Neosporin and Benedryl when I’m looking for gauze and blood clotting agents, if I need emergency supplies I need them FAST. Alternatively, if I have a headache and want some acetaminophen, I don’t want to have to dig through the whole first aid kit for a basic medication.

Prescription Medications

I didn’t include these because, again, not a doctor! Plus the cost will vary depending on insurance / location. We are very conservative with antibiotic use because of the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, I plan on talking a real doctor about the following:

• Cipro – antibiotic used to treat a variety of bacterial infections
• Amoxicillin – Kyle is allergic to this probably – antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections such as sinusitis, laryngitis, strep throat, etc
• Atropine / Diphenoxylate (Lomotil) – treats traveler’s diarrhea
• Mebendazole (Vermox) – medication for anti-parasite, worms, etc.
• Fluconazole (Diflucan) – prescription anti-fungal, treats fungal and yeast infections
• Prednisone – prescription steroid used for severe allergies, asthma, skin diseases, and more
• Epipen – for anaphylactic reactions
• Hydrocodone (Vicodin) – strong painkiller, only for real pain emergencies. We have some onhand from a previous dental surgery.
• Ondansetron (Zofran) – prevents nausea and vomiting. We have some onhand from a previous illness, it treats seasickness.

Some Final Notes

Remember, the life you save might not be your own. Kyle and I don’t have a history with any anaphylactic events, but what if the boat next door needs an Epipen? We’re younger than the statistic demographic for heart attacks, but we’ll probably keep some aspirin on board just in case.

Having the kit is great, but you need to know what to do with it. If you can, take a wilderness first aid course, and pick up a first aid instruction book – Wilderness Rescue and Medicine has been recommended to me.

Keep an eye on expiration dates! In the blink of an eye, your first aid kit is 10 years old and everything is expired. Most of the medications in our first aid kit are good for 2-3 years. Just like with most boat things, preventative maintenance is key.

My True Emergency kit is stored in a waterproof container, and it’s in an easily-accessible location. Any guests aboard will be told where to find the First Aid kit as part of orientation!

I’ve been polling the Women Who Sail facebook page, and the most-used items are definitely Neosporin and Band-Aids, followed up by anti-itch treatments for those bug bites! As far as true emergencies go…well, fillet knives are really sharp! Steri-strips, gauze and tape made the must-have list for knife accidents. A close second was a basic antiobiotic for bacterial infections. Two resources I used for this post are the First Aid Kit pdf available on Women Who Sail, and this blog post.

Are you still reading?

You win the prize!

But really, is there anything I missed? Is my First Aid kit way too big? Or way too small? Let me know in the comments!

 

*I’m using Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click the link and buy something from Amazon, we get a small commission. We’ve fully budgeted for our cruising, so if we make any money from this blog it will first pay for blog costs, and after those are met any money we make will be donated back to the local community we are in.