Surfing: wipeouts and injuries happen all the time, so get a first aid kit for your surf trip | Photo: Shutterstock

Are you planning a surf trip? Make sure you include a surfer's first aid kit in your baggage.

Accidents and injuries happen all the time, and they can be especially tricky to deal with if you're surfing in isolated, remote destinations with poor access to healthcare.

According to a 2007 study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, surfboards are responsible for 55 percent of all surfing-related injuries.

The ocean floor (18 percent), others' boards (11 percent), the waves (7 percent), and marine animals (6 percent) come next.

Another research unveiled in 2002 by the American Journal of Emergency Medicine tells us that of all injuries caused by surfboards, 41 percent are caused by fins, 21 percent by rails, 14 percent by the nose, 7 percent by the tail, 5 percent by the deck, and only 2 percent by leashes.

Lacerations and fractures are the most common types of surfing injuries, and they demand quick intervention for obvious reasons.

When surfers travel, they are sometimes all by themselves, far away from hospitals and doctors. In some cases, they might be surrounded by a couple of friends or family.

Smart, Compact, and Customizable

Whatever the case, basic first aid tools and medications will, if not save your life, at least allow you to seek health professionals in decent condition.

The traveling medical kit for surfers is a smart and compact box that can be filled with essential medical supplies that will help you be self-sufficient if anything goes wrong.

It is a basic yet comprehensive first aid kit that will assist you in an emergency situation and may very well treat a minor health problem.

The surfer's first aid kit comprises specific health contents - medications and tools - designed for dealing with reef cuts, bruises, weever fish stings, stingray stings, etc.

You don't need to buy it. Just build it from scratch. Get a small waterproof container or dry bag, and create your own affordable first aid kit.

Here's what you should include in your traveling surfer's medical kit:

Surfer's First Aid Kit: get the medical tools and medications you need for your surf trips

Medical Tools

  • Duct tape;
  • Swiss Army knife;
  • Thermometer;
  • Eyedropper;
  • Bulb syringe;
  • Safety pins;
  • Tweezer;
  • Razor blades;
  • Strike-anywhere matches;
  • Headlamp;
  • Cotton applicators;
  • Tongue blades;
  • Small mirror;
  • Soap;
  • Latex gloves;
  • Alcohol;
  • Vinegar;
  • Eye patches;
  • Elastic bandage;
  • Band-aids;
  • Sterile gauze pads;
  • Benzoin tincture;
  • Skin stapler;
  • Needles;
  • Scissors;
  • Water purification tablets;

Medications (Over-The-Counter Medicine)

  • Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin);
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol);
  • Ibuprofen (Advil);
  • Antacid (Mylanta);
  • Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol);
  • Loperamide (Imodium);
  • Laxative pills (Dulcolax);
  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl);
  • Antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin);
  • Antifungal cream (Miconazole);
  • Eye drops (Bausch & Lomb);
  • Oil of cloves (Now Foods);

Remember to always read the package insert before starting any of the above medications.

Finally, make sure you master basic first aid, including:

  1. Cleaning and dressing a wound;
  2. Applying bandages and band-aids;
  3. Using a skin stapler;
  4. Stopping a bleeding wound;
  5. Checking a person's pulse;

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