Basic Medical Kit - all vehicles/teams should have

Private Posts : 2 Join date : 2009-08-24

Hi all,

By way of introduction: my name is Gill and I am a serving Nursing Officer in the QARANC. I am the Deputy Matron of Colchester Garrison (no 'oh matron' jokes please!) - working in the military equivalent of a GP surgery but also having a lot of experience in pre-hospital emergency care. I am married to Sandy and we are part of the marshalling team in vehicle Z5.

Having taken part in the rally last year and being the official 'medic' this year, I thought it would be useful to post some basic advice on first aid kits/basic medicines to bring. Nothing too extravagant but last year some people had nothing at all in the way of basic painkillers that I managed to go through my entire stock by dishing them out to others.

First aid kit:
This only needs to be a general vehicle first aid kit - the type you can buy in Halfords/Boots etc. I will be around for the duration of the rally and am bringing the full works in the way of my first response bag, so should anything happen I will have more than enough kit to provide emergency care until emergency services arrive.

Last year we had 1 vehicle that rolled during an off road phase - no serious injuries, both driver and passanger got out of the vehicle and only had a few aches and pains the next day. However, several vehicles in the rally came across a RTC on their travels with a seriously injured memebr of the public and administered first aid (and directed traffic) until the emergency services arrived.

Due to the amount of under bonnet 'adjustments' going on last year, there were many cuts and scrapes to hands - people seemed not to have any plasters or tape!! It really is the simple things you need to bring - so a first aid kit will be handy.

Basic Medicines:

Last year it became apparent that many teams didn't bring any simple medicines with them, I had brought quite a lot and ended up dishing it out to many teams. Think about what type of medicines you use at home and bring a small amount of the most common ones. Things such as:

paracetamol/ibuprofen (Calpol - if you have kids with you)
antihistamines (to stop itching from bites/allergies)
immodium (if you are unlucky enough to have an upset stomach, you will need this to continue driving all day!)
and anything else you think you may use.

Also, teams should bring insect repellent, sun cream, aftersun.

I know it has been posted elsewhere on the forum - but a reminder that you should all have E111 cards (for every person in the vehicle). This will ensure you are entitled to health care in other European countries. We (the marshalls)will have a list of medical and dental care providers during the rally and this will be given if requested, as required, during the rally - not to all teams as then you will know where likely camp sites etc are located!

Sorry for going on but as 'medic' I think it important that everyone has the basics for the duration of the rally. Any questions/queries please just ask me.

Gill

As the 'plain clothes' med cover (only if needed Suspect

) I second all that Gill has said, I would also add that those of you taking regular prescription medication do ensure that not only do you have enough but extra (things do get lost, dropped etc.) Although the list you can get over the counter in Europe is larger than here it is still difficult to get medicines.

Good post Gill, and from Matt about carrying extra presciption meds.

As a First Responder for the 4x4 Response Network, it never ceases to amaze me how many "off roaders" carry nothing at all. Strange, considering the risks involved in some of the activities we partake in.

Also worth carrying one of these or similar - there's loads of free forms like this available on the net.

Event Organiser Posts : 2769 Join date : 2009-06-23

10/10 for all the advice above; and of course 10/10 for proffering your medic skills for the rally. Let's just hope none of it is needed.

Although Gill won't be with us this year her and Matt's advice still stand good.

Event Organiser Posts : 2769 Join date : 2009-06-23

All will get this in writing but for the 2012 event, Car 15 is Matt's (the Dr - and our 'official medic) car and Car 12 is crewed by two ambulance/trained medics.

As ever, we hope not to use their skills

evo4x4 wrote:: All will get this in writing but for the 2012 event, Car 15 is Matt's (the Dr - and our 'official medic) car and Car 12 is crewed by two ambulance/trained medics.

As ever, we hope not to use their skills

Any news on taking O2 on the ferry and across Europe Keith...will save weight and space if we dont take it. Its a small compressed o2 420 Ltr CD cylinder?

The main problem the Ferry companies are likely to have is carrying both the O2 and combustibles (ie camping gases).

Having said that I carried my Entonox cylinder last year and will be doing again this year. Should be OK if the O2 and combustibles are far enough apart!

mattlynch wrote:: The main problem the Ferry companies are likely to have is carrying both the O2 and combustibles (ie camping gases).

Having said that I carried my Entonox cylinder last year and will be doing again this year. Should be OK if the O2 and combustibles are far enough apart!

Our plan is the camping gas will be stored on the roof, which I hope would eliminate that issue...., and of course both are going to be well secured too! Between us we should be well kitted out then lol

As I managed to cut myself today with a stanley knife, if you are bring along a strip of plasters, don't forget the scissors (child proof) to be able to cut a strip off. I bled all over the place whilst swearing at her in doors who had seperated the plasters from the scissors Evil or Very Mad

landie68rover wrote:: ...who had seperated the plasters from the scissors

For safety of course!!!
Razz

landie68rover wrote:: As I managed to cut myself today with a stanley knife, if you are bring along a strip of plasters, don't forget the scissors (child proof) to be able to cut a strip off. I bled all over the place whilst swearing at her in doors who had seperated the plasters from the scissors

You need a blade in every room and an axe on every floor - its the only way to be sure.....

Sandy wrote:: You need a blade in every room and an axe on every floor - its the only way to be sure.....

To cut her up or myself?

Skibum346 wrote:

landie68rover wrote:: ...who had seperated the plasters from the scissors

For safety of course!!!
Razz

But of course, we don't want the medics being busy with us cutting up the kids, now do we Rolling Eyes

I'd rather not be that busy...but we're only the reserve medics lol thats all got pass by the Doc first!

electrical tape is the best plaster i've come across, it sticks to anything! sticking to itself means you can wrap it round anything, and its 20p a roll! LOL

Hey, we are talking about stopping blood, not stopping ourselves being electrocuted Twisted Evil

MightyLewis12 wrote:: I'd rather not be that busy...but we're only the reserve medics lol thats all got pass by the Doc first!

John, to get to me they have past the resident ginger triage nurse affraid

mattlynch wrote:

MightyLewis12 wrote:: I'd rather not be that busy...but we're only the reserve medics lol thats all got pass by the Doc first!

John, to get to me they have past the resident ginger triage nurse affraid

Lol...saves me getting dirty then!

mattlynch wrote:: John, to get to me they have past the resident ginger triage nurse

Is that the nurse with that large needle that looks more like a filler hose than a needle? What a Face

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