Alternatives to First Aid

All of these alternatives are only suggestions. You will have to decide what works for you.

  1. My Medicine Bag

    1. Vitamin C

    2. Echinacea

    3. Aloe Vera/Vitamin E

    4. Nutribiotic/Grapefruit seed extract

      1. Never use full strength

      2. Internal/external uses

  2. First Aid

    1. Motion Sickness

      1. Ginger

      2. Pressure point between thumb and forefinger

      3. Mixture of ginger ale/7UP, juice of one lime, tbsp corn starch

    2. Burns

      1. NO Butter or salve

      2. for grease burns – pat on vanilla

      3. for burned tongue – cover in raw sugar

    3. Stings

      1. Insects

        1. Place raw onion on affected area to relieve pain

        2. baking soda and water helps relieve pain

        3. A dab of tooth paste will help stop itching

        4. A drop of vinegar rubbed into center of bite should help with itching

        5. Ammonia rubbed over bites will relieve itching of mosquito bites

      2. Jelly Fish (Aqua malas)

        1. Most stings will go away if immersed in salt water, do not flush with fresh water

        2. Douse affected area with ammonia, urine is excellent in a pinch

        3. Baking soda and water may help with pain

        4. Make a paste of meat tenderizer and vinegar to help stop pain

      3. Cuts and scrapes

        1. Black pepper stops bleeding and heals cleanly with very little scarring

        2. Turmeric placed directly on wound will help blood clot almost immediately

        3. Tampons & Cotex make great dressings for wounds

      4. Antiseptics

        1. Garlic – rub garlic on affected area to help fight infection

        2. When needing to cover a clean wound, use honey and a bandage to keep cut clean

        3. Kerosene – helps stop bleeding and infection from a cut

      5. Broken Bones

        1. Splints can be made from many things around the boat

          1. rolled up magazines or newspaper

          2. oar

          3. other leg

          4. kitchen utensils

      6. Other

        1. Splinter or cactus removal – spread thin layer of white glue or a clear silicone product – like shoe goo, on affected area, peel off when dry

        2. To make a home made ice pack add 1 part alcohol to 2 parts water and freeze in a Ziploc (Ice bag is pliable and reusable)

Miscellaneous

  1. Heat exhaustion or heat stroke – Dehydration is no accident! Skin is cool and moist, pulse is weak and rapid. Thirst is first symptom followed by loss of appetite, headache, pallor and dizziness

    1. You should drink at least 1 liter of water a day, and people drinking coffee, tea, beer or alcohol or eating water melon or asparagus should double that as alcohol, caffeine and certain fruits and vegetables are diuretics (cause you to loose water)

    2. Get out of the sun

    3. Drink water – don’t gulp, sip plenty of water through the day

    4. Eat more fruit and vegetables – high in water content and good salt balance

    5. Drink diluted electrolytes

    6. Avoid alcohol, beer and other diuretics

    7. Treatment

      1. Splash with water rather than immerse in water – water will evaporate and cool more quickly

      2. Go to air conditioned area if possible or find a fan

      3. Force liquids (not coffee, tea or alcohol), except if person is unconscious or semi-conscious

      4. Apply cool towels – better than immersion

  2. Sunburn cooling treatment – Skin suits cost about $40 and are good for protection from sunburn while in the water. Especially as water is so warm and people tend to stay in it longer.

    1. Lie down out of sun, raise feet and rub legs

    2. Give salt water to drink – 1tsp salt in 1 liter of water

    3. Administer aspirin

    4. Cooling compresses of

      1. Cold water

      2. Skim milk (1 cup water and 4 cups cold water applying for 15 - 20 minutes and repeating every 2 – 4 hours

      3. Oatmeal water – strain out oat pulp in cheese cloth and use water in compress

      4. Corn starch – apply as a paste

      5. lettuce leaves – boiled in water, strained and allowed to cool in fridge – the dab on with cotton balls

      6. Yogurt – cooling and soothing

    5. Sunburned eyes

      1. Place wet tea bags over closed eyes

  3. Bees/Wasps

    1. Remove stinger being careful not to squeeze base (slide credit card along skin) and it still contains venom

    2. Clean – The faster you get the stinger out and get it cleaned the better

    3. Different things will ease pain and swelling

      1. Cold – can keep venom from spreading

      2. Heat – can neutralize one of chemicals causing inflammation

      3. aspirin – moisten sting, then rub with aspirin tablet – neutralizes certain inflammatory agents in venom

      4. Ammonia – if it is going to work it will work very quickly. Dab on skin

      5. Baking soda – make a paste and dab on

      6. Meat tenderizer – enzyme based – breaks down proteins that make up insect venom. Have to do it right away

      7. Activated charcoal – make a paste and it will draw out poison very quickly. Moisten charcoal apply to sting cover with gauze or even plastic wrap. The charcoal is best if it stays moist

      8. Take an antihistamine

      9. wear white – stinging insects prefer dark colors and yellow

      10. Don’t smell too good

      11. Insects are attracted to people deficient in zinc



Be aware that Baja’s daytime mosquitoes can carry Dengue Fever

Baja Snorkling Tips

The water in and around the Sea of Cortez is generally very safe for the swimmer, snorkler and diver. Most marine creatures and plants have defensive systems, some of which are passive and no more threatening than an indecent color or an ugly appearance. Others though, have the ability to bite and sting which you should be aware.

In the inter-tidal range the most common injuries are caused by Sea Urchins and sting rays. Care should be taken when wading in shallow areas so you do not step on these creatures. Shuffle your feet as you walk, jump out of the dingy, and while wading through sand.

Urchins - These stingers are extremely painful. Because spines are very brittle, they are hard to extract, try and extract as much a possible with tweezers and bathe the area with hydrogen peroxide and keep clean. Immerse the wound in HOT, not scalding water. Urchins generally live in reefs and rocky areas. They also dwell in oyster beds.

Sting Rays - These can be very painful. As soon as possible immerse the stung area in water as HOT as can be tolerated then clean wound thoroughly, scrub with soap and water then irrigate with water. Shock can occur in some cases and using an antihistamine can relieve this. Continue to observe patient, if symptoms continue or complications occur consult a doctor. Sting rays like shallow sandy areas especially close to the beach. Same base as bee sting poison but 100 times more powerful.

Cone Shell – DO NOT TOUCH - Most cone snail shoot a venomous tooth from their proboscis. A numbness in the area around the wound, or a sharp stinging or burning sensation are usually the initial symptoms. The numbness and tingling begin at the wound and may spread rapidly involving the entire body, but are pronounced about the lips and mouth. The critical time is the first 6 hours and should be watched for paralysis or coma. Treat the same as snake bites.

Stone Fish – DO NOT TOUCH – These can be very painful, as soon a possible immerse the stung area in water a HOT as can be tolerated, then clean wound thoroughly, scrub with soap and water then irrigate with water. Continue to observe patient and symptoms continue or complications occur, consult a doctor. Same base poison as bee sting but much more concentrated. The poison is in the spine, prevent puncture wounds.

Sea Snake – DO NOT TOUCH – Don’t panic, their mouth is small and you would have to work to get your finger in. They are black on top and yellow on the bottom with a flattened paddle like tail with a yellow and black zigzag Their bite is neurotoxic, myotoxic and has hemotoxic properties (VERY poisonous). Immobilize the area and avoid exertion. Lie down and keep affected area below the heart. A tourniquet should be applied AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (30 minutes later is too late), it should be snug but not tight, releasing for 1 1/2 minutes every 10 minutes. Call the Coast Guard and transport to a hospital immediately.

Eels – DO NOT TOUCH – They have back facing teeth and once they bite, they don’t release and can retain the bit until death. Treat the same as for a shark bite.

Flower Garden Urchins – DO NOT TOUCH – These urchins are a light pink in color and sometimes have things they are carrying around. There are no spines, but what looks like many tiny flowers (hence the name). The flowers shoot a pedicellariae. Remove pedicellariae by soaping and shaving the area then bath the wound with alcohol or other antiseptic. The affected area should be immersed in HOT water, being careful not to scald. Like bee stings keep an eye on the patient and transport to hospital if allergic reactions occur

Crown of Thorns, Star Fish – DO NO TOUCH – The spines are covered with integumentary sheath which secretes a venom. Remove spines (may have to be removed surgically), then immerse in water as hot as can be tolerated, for 30 to 90 minutes until pain is relieved. Apply a steroid cream or antihistamine.

Deeper waters have other hazards, some of which are creatures that are defending their area and will attack if provoked so they are better left alone

Hydrocoral - These are usually firmly affixed to rocks and generally resemble plants. Rinse with SEA water - DO NOT USE fresh water. Do NOT apply ice, do NOT rub the skin. Stings will lessen with time

Jelly Fish (Agua malas) - Jelly fish and other sea born creatures can cause very painful stings, so if present one should not enter the water. A light weight Lycra body suit is most helpful in avoiding stings, cuts, sun burn, etc. Stings by Portuguese Man-O-War and others can be very painful and can, in some cases prove fatal. Wash the area stung immediately with neutralizer such as ammonia, do NOT use fresh water. If ammonia is not available urine or meat tenderizer are good substitutes. In extreme shock cases, an antihistamine should be administered and hydro-cortisone cream applied. GET MEDICAL AID IMMEDIATELY, especially if the person stung is allergic to bee stings

Land Snakes – They do swim. These are usually docile creatures but should be avoided. If bitten, seek medial attention immediately. Bites will become infected if not treated

When in doubt, get medical attention at a Hospital!

As cruisers, I recommend the book “Dangerous Maine Animals” by Bruce Halstead, MD. It covers anything that bites, stings or is poisonous to eat (especially the fish).

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