first aid

The St. John Ambulance Family First Aid Kit is excellent for use on a pocket cruiser sailing on a lake. It sells for $45.00. Part number is 844033.

FAMILY FIRST AID (844033)
Small wound package	Large Wound Package
6 Cleansing wipes	1 trauma dressing (20 x 20)^cm with elastic bandage (10 x 3)m
6 adhesive bandages (1.9 x 7.5)^cm
6 adhesive bandages (2.5 x 7.5)^cm	Additional Supplies
6 adhesive bandages (5 x 7.5)^cm	1 First aid pocket guide
2 knuckle bandages	2 pair vinyl gloves
2 fingertip bandages	8 safety pins
2 non-adherent pads (5 x 5)^cm	1 note pad
Medium Wound Package	1 pencil
2 cleansing wipes	1 roll adhesive tape (2.5 x 4.5) m
1 gauze bandage (5 cm x 4.5 m)	1 pair tweezers
1 gauze bandage (7.5 cm x 4.5 m)	12 cleansing wipes
2 gauze pads (5 x 5)^cm	1 face shield
2 gauze pads (7.5 x 7.5)^cm	4 triangular bandages
2 gauze pads (10 x 10)^cm	1 rescue blanket (foil)
1 trauma dressing (10 x 10)^cm with elastic bandage (7.5 cm x 3 m)	1 pair scissors (a strong sharp pair that will cut through clothing)

This kit has extra space for additional stuff so you might wish to add other items to meet your specific needs.

Additional medications you might consider having with you:
Antibiotic cream (Polysporin, etc) for heat or friction burn.	Cough Suppressant (Benylin DM).
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for head ache.	Burn dressings (Water Jell).
Benadryl for minor allergies.	Sunburn Lotion (SPF 15 or better).
Advil (Ibuprofin) - anti-inflammatory.	Vinegar (to dissolve sea urchin spines at the west coast).
ASA tablets for heart attack.	Rubbing alcohol (for Hydroid injuries - jelly fish, Portuguese Man-of-War).
Antacid tablets or liquid to settle stomach.	Meat tenderizer (MSG) for insect bites and stings.
Pepto-Bismal or Immodium for diarrhea.	Activated charcoal tablets for poisoning (only on the advice of a physician or Poison Control Centre).
Webers Vitamin E ointment for scrapes or sunburn.	Military field dressing (very large dressing available at Milarm).
Your choice of motion sickness medication.	Any other personal medication required by your crew (Epi-Pen, prescription medication, etc).
Rubbing alcohol to kill chiggers or water born parasites that cause swimmers itch. Either insect will create a fine red rash on skin, usually under tight clothing. Chiggers live in grass and trematode parasites live in water next to bull rushes. Don't sit on the grass or swim in the weeds!	Salt to sprinkle on a slug or leach.
NOTE - many of these items have expiry dates so check them annually.

Also very important is a good first aid manual. I recommend the text book FIRST ON THE SCENE, THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO FIRST AID AND CPR. Another good book, especially if your boating takes into remote areas is the ST. JOHN AMBULANCE OFFICIAL WILDERNESS FIRST AID GUIDE. It deals more specifically with what to do when medical aid is not available, maybe for days. Both books are available from St. John Ambulance at 19075 - 124 St. Edmonton, Alberta.