Fleet Surgeon
First Aid Kits Many sources offer handy, pre-made first aid kits. The first question should be with regard to one’s sort of boating. Those TV guys on, “Deadliest Catch,” need greater preparedness than for riding around one of those floating tiki huts putting around Naples Bay. Of course, that depends on your captain and how many of those tasty blue Curacao Tipsy Gypsy drinks that you have had.
The second consideration is that old saw that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of curse. We have all been guilty of stupid boater tricks at one time or another. But some basic things to avoid are: • I love flip flops, yet they make a poor boat shoe. Their soles like to snag on things (trip hazard), and they offer little foot protection from cleats and other things • Keep, “a hand for you and a hand for the boat.” Particularly when on deck, use one hand to carry things and one hand firmly attached to a handrail. • Spray sunscreen offers handy application but also makes a nifty deck lubricant. To avoid slips and falls consider spraying it on the aft to keep the deck clear. Of course, Hawaii and a number of islands have banned the most popular sunscreen chemical as they kill reefs so one wonders about the effect of hosing down the nearby water with this stuff. Traditional zinc oxide and titanium dioxide physically block the sun (plus give you that nifty white lifeguard look) and avoid this risk. • Many MIYC boats have significant tonnage. Do not plan to hold it on a dock with a line on a windy day or attempting to intercede between a piling and vessel with your arms or legs. OK, the gas dock guys all do this, but they are also 17 and think they know everything. Most all kits will have Band – Aids of standard sizes and having larger ones would be prudent as well. Telfa is a nonstick bandage (in varying sizes) with a surface similar to a Band – Aid. A box of 4” x 4” gauze pads is good as well. Kerlix gauze and Coban provide good wraps; the former is often found in pre – made kits.
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