Expedition first aid kit

After speaking with a range of medically trained individuals and reviewing literature such as the UIAA's medical advice sheets (http://www.thebmc.co.uk/Feature.aspx?id=3158) we have compiled our expedition's first aid kit. As we are heading to a location that is particularly remote, we felt it was important to be as self-reliant as possible.

In assembling the kit, two critical questions were considered:

1.) What do we realistically need in the first aid kit? Yes, you could bring the Health and Safety Culture to the mountains, but that would probably involve choppering in a crate of paperwork and slow us down considerably.

2. What injuries and illnesses are we capable of dealing with? For example, there's no point bringing a suture kit if we lack the capabilities to stitch a wound when we have items like the hemostatic HemCon bandages and painkillers that will stabilise an injury sufficiently.

The list below is merely our own choice and it is only designed to be a point of reference. We have provided the UK names first and the US names second, a long with a short description of its purpose.

Matt

Medications (antibiotic)

Co-Amoxyclav aka Augmentin - chest infections, spreading skin infection, animal bites, UTI
Ciprofloxacilin aka Cipro - severe gastroenteritis
Flucloxacilin aka Clotrimazole - skin infection
Chloramphenicol Eye Drops - conjunctivitis/eye drops
Ciprofloxacin Eye Drops - eye infection, prophylactic
Otsporin - ear infection

Medications (pain)

IbuProfin aka Advil
Paracetamol / Acetaminophen aka Tylenol
Co-codamol/diclofenac Codeine aka Tylenol-3
Aspirin aka Bayer
Hydrocodone aka Vicodin

Medications (Altitude)

Acetazolomide aka Diamox - AMS
Nifedipene aka Adalat - HAPE
Dexamethasone - HACE

Medications (Gastrointestinal)

Loperamide aka Immodium - diarrhea
Simethicone aka Gas-X - gas, pressure, bloating
Bismuth Subsalicylate aka Pepto-Bismol - nausea, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea

Medications (allergy)

Piriton aka Chlorophenamine - allergy relief
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride aka Benadryl - antihistamine

Medications (illness)

Cough Drops/Sweets
Oral Rehydration Salts
Cold Medicine

Tools
Small 'Paramedic' scissors -
Cotton wool sticks
Safety pins
Gloves
Electrical Tape
Duct Tape
Athletic Tape, 1.5" Zinc Oxide Tape
Thermometer, disposable
Scalpel
Tweezers
Sterile needle kit
Nail Clippers

Bandages

Tubi grip Ace bandage
Triangular bandage
HemCon Bandage
HemCon Bandage
HemCon Bandage
ChitoGauze
GuardaCare
HemCon Strip
Small Bandages
Medium Bandages
Guaze Pads
Crepe Bandage
Non-Adherent Dressing
Roll of Plaster
Severe Injury
Selection of elastoplast plasters
Quikclot
Sam Slpint
Steri Strips
Trauma Pad
Dental
Eugenol
Zinc Oxide powder
Clove oil
Small spare floss
Small spare tooth paste
Mini toothbrush
Cotton swabs
Orajel
Sanitation
Betadine Iodine
Saline Solution
Triple Antibiotic Ointment Neosporin
Antiseptic wipes
Alchohol wipes
Alchohol hand gel, large
Alchohol hand gel
Other
Insect Repellant, 100% DEET
Burn Ointment / Lidocaine
Cortisone Cream, 1%
Glutose Paste
Lubricating Eye Ointment ReNu Multiplus