Personal Medical Kit Safari Medicine Kit Medicines and Disposables Important Notes
The most important factor to consider is the remoteness of the expedition.
Medical musts and information before going on safari is something to seriously consider. Some areas are very isolated and far from any medical facilities. Even if a plane or helicopter can be called in (which is not always possible) life threatening delays might be a reality.
It is imperative that members of the expedition equip and train themselves where they can handle and stabilize medical emergencies whilst transporting them to a doctor or hospital. It must also be borne in mind that the level of medical services available in parts of Africa can be very basic indeed.
It is wise therefore to go well prepared.
Personal Medical Kit
One should have a small personalized first aid kit to carry with you on the hunt.
The contents of this kit will depend very much on the individual.
Suggested contents of a small personal first aid kit:
Antihistamine pills.
1 CPR mouthpiece.
Personal medication (e.g. insulin)
Injectable adrenaline (1:1000 – 1ml in syringe).
A few assorted plasters.
2 Triangular bandages.
4 Butterfly suture plasters.
Valoid pills.
Antiseptic ointment (e.g. Betadine).
2 medium wound dressings.
Oral rehydrate.
1 large wound dressing.
Lomotil.
1 crepe elastic bandage.
Water purification tablets.
6 Swabs.
1 Haemostat.
1 Tweezer.
Pain / fever pills (e.g. Disprin, or Myprodol).
Safari Medicine Kit
A well equipped safari medical bag
EQUIPMENT
USED FOR CERTAIN EMERGANCIES:
Inflatable splint (1 for arm, 1 for leg)
Fractures
Foldable splint – plastic (1 for arm 1 for leg)
Fractures
Hard splints (assorted)
Fractures
1 Traction splint (for leg)
Fracture of the femur
Airways (3 sizes for adult, 3 for sub adult)
Keep airway open when unconscious
4 CPR mouthpieces
For CPR and rescue breathing
1 Laryngoscope (adult)
For inserting endotracheal tube
4 Endotracheal tubes
For maintaining airway and attaching to Ambu bag
3 Artery forceps (hemostats)
Controlling bleeding, extracting objects, suturing
2 Surgical scissors
Cutting
2 Tweezers (1 medium and 1 small)
Extracting objects
1 Dental syringe and needles
Local anesthetic
1 Ambu bag
Respiratory support
1 Oxygen bottle and face mask
Oxygen therapy
2 Scalpels and assorted blades
Cutting
1 Stethoscope
For auscultation
1 Torch with spare batteries
Working in the dark and checking pupil response
1 Portable stretcher
Transportation of injured or sick
1 – Stingose
Insect bites and stings
2 – Tubes Anthisan
Local allergies (external use)
Buscopan (tablets and ampoulles)
Stomach cramps
6 – Packets Lomotil or Immodium
Diarrhea
2 boxes of each Disprin, Panado and Myprodol
Minor to moderate pain
6 ampoulles pethadine
Severe pain
Grippons, Benylin
Coughs, colds, flu
Voltaren tablets and ampoulles
Muscle injuries and pain
Daraclor, Halfan etc
Anti malarial
Purbac
Bladder infections
Bactrim or Purbac
Boils and abbesses
Losec or Controloc
Stomach ulcers
Borax or Fucidin H
Athletes foot
KY jelly
Lubricant
Lip Ice and Vaseline
Cracked lips
Ear drops
Ear pain / infections
Eye drops (Eyegene and Spesalerg)
Eye infections / allergies
Medicines and Disposables
MEDICATIONS AND DISPOSABLES
USED FOR
4 – 100mm wide elastic crepe bandages
Snakebite, fractures, sprains, dislocations
6 – Triangular bandages
Fractures and wounds
6 – 100mm wide bandages
Wounds, fractures, dislocations, sprains
6 – small size wound dressings
Wounds, fractures, dislocations, sprains
6 – medium size wound dressings
Wounds, fractures, dislocations, sprains
6 – large wound dressings
Wounds, fractures, dislocations, sprains
2 – eye patches
Eye injuries
2 – rolls 100mm wide surgical plaster
Assorted injuries and strapping
2 – rolls 50mm wide surgical plaster
Assorted injuries and strapping
2 – packets assorted plasters
Minor injuries
20 – Butterfly suture plasters
Suturing wounds
6 – Occlusive wound dressings
Penetrating wounds of thorax and abdomen
4 – Ring bandages
For securing imbedded objects
Suturing material and needles
Suturing of minor wounds
Alcohol swabs
For disinfecting injection sites
Gauze swabs (assorted – enough of)
For cleaning wounds and padding
Sanitary towels (1 packet)
For ladies who forget and for wounds
4 – IV drip sets
For IV infusions
3 liters Ringers lactate
Fluid replacement
3 liters Physiological saline (NaCl)
Fluid replacement
1 liter Dextrose
Hypoglycemia (diabetic emergency)
4 ampoules insulin injectable
Hyperglycemia (diabetic emergency)
1 Suction apparatus
Suctioning secretions
6 – 20ml disposable syringes
Inflating cuff on endotracheal tube and for irrigating wounds, cuts, abrasions
No person must use medicines and / or equipment unless qualified to do so.
Expedition members should be properly trained.
If you wish to render medical assistance to a sick or injured person get their permission first (preferably in front of witnesses).
Stay within your level of competency.
Check the contents and especially expiry dates of equipment and medications before each trip and replace as necessary.
Acquaint yourself with the various drugs – what they are used for, side effects, how they are administered etc. Keep their leaflets on hand for easy reference.
Keep drugs in a cool place. Some medications must be kept in a refrigerator.
Before any drug is administered check for allergies – ask the patient, or relatives or look for a medic alert tag.
www.ultimatefieldguide.com/Survival/safari_medical_aid_kits.htm
www.google.co.za/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=medical+musts+when+on+safari