What Should Be in my Boat’s First Aid Kit?

When you’re out there on the waters, it’s important that you’re equipped with enough essentials should there be any problems. You must have an escape plan, 2-3 means of communication, safety essentials, and a first aid kit is a must! If you aren’t sure what to expect out of a boat’s first aid kit, don’t worry. We’ve got a couple of tips so you and your family can enjoy a safe and secure boating day!

Items That Must Be a Part of Your Boat’s First Aid Kit

Instead of buying everything separately, we suggest buying one of those ready-made first aid kits. So whether you’d like to put one together yourself or need our help in choosing a kit, here’s everything you need to look for:

Pain killers

You need something like ibuprofen as a general pain reliever and aspirin for a possible heart attack (god forbid). If you’re allergic to ibuprofen, you can go with acetaminophen.

Cotton swabs

In case of any wounds or cuts, you’ll need to clean them first before dressing. Use cotton swabs or pads to do it.

Bandages

You must have perfectly cut and adhesive-based bandages. You should have them in round, rectangular, oval, and square shapes. You must have smaller ones for little cuts and large net bandages for potential larger wounds.

Burn cream

You want something that can support sunburns as well as any other potential burns you may encounter when on a boat.

Antiseptic spray/ointment

You’ll need an antiseptic to stop the infection’s spread in case of a cut. Keep an ointment or some liquid in your kit so you can clean your wound well before dressing it up.

Tweezers/scissors

A tweezer is essential if something has to be removed from the cut. Scissors are important for cutting bandages and tape.

Alcohol wipes

Alcohol wipes are necessary to sterilize your hands and tweezers to kill off any potential germs and bacteria.

Surgical tape

You need tape to help securely put the bandage and stop it from coming off.

Foil blanket

If somebody goes into a shock, you may wrap them in a foil blanket to maintain their body temperature and calm their anxiety.

Disposable gloves

Using disposable gloves when doing any task surrounding body fluids is always a good idea.

Onboard Safety Essentials for Boating

Besides the basic first-aid kit, here’s what else you need in your arsenal when you go boating:

• You need a life jacket for each passenger on board.
• A personal floatation device, such as an inflatable ring, is necessary.
• You must have some sort of visual distress signal with you. A flare gun, signal light, and orange flag are some viable options.
• You should have a fire extinguisher onboard.
• Check with your state’s boat-safety instructions to always be on the safer side of things.

Summing It up With Five Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Time on the Water

Now that you know what goes in a basic boat first aid kit and the safety essentials required when getting on a boat, always remember these tips:

• The items in your first aid kit must be enough for all the passengers on board. (Many people tend to forget this part)
• Safety essentials, life jackets, flares, and communication mediums must be enough in quantity and reliable.
• You must have an emergency location device onboard so the control rooms can be aware of your presence.
• Keep a water-proof storage container to keep your first-aid kit organized and electronic items protected.
• Consider attending a first-aid course online so you’re well-informed on the basics and on top of the safety precautions required in boating.