What to Include in an On-Board First Aid Kit
Even after taking all the proper precautions, members of shipping management cannot feel confident that no crew member will ever need to deal with a minor scrape, a bruise or a case of sunburn. By the same token, professionals in catering management know to anticipate a situation that might cause someone in the kitchen to suffer a first-degree burn. At the same time, experts in maritime management services realize that a crew member could exhibit an allergic reaction after a meal. Because there is a good chance that any such problem could arise, those in charge of acquiring a vessel’s necessary supplies should know what to include in an on-board first aid kit. Such a kit ought to include a box of Band Aids, but a Band Aid proves of little value, if a crew member is in great pain. For that reason, the kit that contains those Band Aids should also hold the following items.
Have these additional first aid supplies in your on-board kit.
- Gauze in a roll and gauze pads
- Medical tape and duct tape, which can be used for making splints
- Instant cold packs, for supplying fast relief from pain
- Scissors for cutting bandages and tweezers for removing splinters
- Antihistamines: These will come in handy if a crew member exhibits an allergic reaction.
- Pain relievers, in the form of tablets or capsules
- Isopropyl alcohol and antibiotic ointment
- Thermometer, for taking a patient’s temperature
How to maximize the usefulness of your first aid kit
In an emergency situation, certain items become as necessary as the ones in the first aid kit. Hence, such items belong in a container that gets placed closed to the kit that holds the first aid supplies. For example, each person on board a cargo vessel should have ready access to a flashlight. The person that plans to administer emergency assistance needs to work in a well-lighted area. The isopropyl alcohol ensures the ability to sterilize anything that might be used to pierce the skin. Yet the person that is administering emergency assistance ought to have clean hands as well. For that reason, the properly-stocked kit needs to be in a spot that is close to a dispenser for hand sanitizer. The victim of an emergency could well go into shock. Consequently, all well-supplied kits should be placed in a location that takes advantage of the available Mylar blankets. Recently, another important supply has come on the market. It is called the Start Pen Pure+. What is the function of the Start Pen Pure+ ? It serves as a water purifier. Unlike earlier purifiers, it fits in the palm of a person’s hand. It emits UV light, which can kill bacteria, viruses and protozoa. Such a Pen could prove a big help to any members of a marine catering company. The employees of such a company would undoubtedly have to use water during some stage of the food preparation process. This Pen’s availability would ensure their readiness to prepare safe and satisfying meals.
