ALL THE GEAR..

SURF TRIP MEDICAL KIT LIST

If you haven’t got anything you can’t do anything.

Only take what you’re happy using and be careful taking medications with you that you’ve never tried before. Dangerous reactions to antibiotics aren’t that uncommon.

An injury on a surf trip in Europe is a different kind of gravy to an injury in the depths of Indo. Kit lists to each destination will be listed separately.

The articles on this site will hopefully (first) aid you in managing the commonly encountered injuries and illnesses. This article is about what basic medical kit we think its wise to take with you.

http://www.medisupplies.co.uk/ 

Read our article on ‘wound management’ & ‘reef cuts’.

EUROPEAN DESTINATIONS (and other well developed countries)

• E111 if you’re British. This makes getting health care a lot quicker and easier. Its basically a blank cheque from the NHS.

• Tweezers
• Green needles
• Cotton buds/tips
• Small sharp scissors
• Small bandage and safety pin
• Dressing pads that can be cut to shape
• Zinc oxide tape (keep stuff on in the water)
• Gaffer tape (best at keeping stuff on in the water)
• Spray on plaster (waterproof and breathable) with disinfectant.
• Waterproof plasters
• Steristrips
• Gloves
• Iodine spray. I really like this:

• Sun screen

• Paracetamol
• Ibubrofen (Gives about 25% of asthmatics an attack. Be aware)
• Antihistamine cream

This is a really basic list.

If you think you may need more items, you should probably be going to your nearest hospital for treatment and supplies. Chances are its not far. This will make sure you get the best wound cleaning, dressings and drugs.

 

REMOTE DESTINATIONS

 

Remember that if you’re worried about the injury, or you feel out of your depth managing it, you should make your way to a hospital. Here’s what we recommend you take.

In addition to the list above:

• A HEAD TORCH!

• Antimalarials (read ‘Fever Pitch’)
• Mosquito net
• Insect repellant / DEET spray (This isn’t great for the environment so I only use in high risk areas).
• Long sleeve tops for evenings

• Always make sure you have access to clean drinking water.
• A couple of small plastic syringes to help clean wounds.
• A few large bandages (for redressing wounds)
• More dressing pads!
• Loads of tape!
• A sling. T-shirts can actually be turned into handy slings..

• Betadine solution (watch for leaks)
• Hydrogen peroxide (watch for leaks and contact with eyes)

• Cyclizine anti-sickness tablets (try before you go)
• Anti-biotics. Read the antibiotics article. Be cautious taking new drugs for the first time.
• Re-hydration salts.
• Aspirin

• Sutures. Read the wound management article

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER STUFFING IN MEDICAL KIT BAG

• Insurance details
• Contact numbers. This should include embassy’s, medi-evac, next of kin and local emergency services.
• Photocopy of passports (or actual passport)
• American dollars or Travelers cheques. I stash a credit card in my medical kit.

Please don’t rob me now!

• If you’re really remote you should have a list of the places you can bolt too in an emergency and a vague idea of how you’re going to get there.

Disclaimer

There is no substitution for being examined and treated by a medical professional. The intention of the articles on this website is to inform anyone who reads it of medical issues encountered on surf trips.This website is designed to provide general practical information not specific medical advice.