The on-board pharmacy - an essential part of preparation for every trip

In principle, your attending family doctor / specialist decides which drugs you should take. Particularly, if you suffer from a specific illness, e.g. Diabetes Mellitus, migraine or heart disease. However, in addition, quite a number of drugs should be included in the on-board pharmacy, which can be very helpful for each of us in case of acute disorders on a trip.

1. INSTRUMENTS AND DRESSING MATERIAL

• Dressing scissors, sterile compresses, aseptic gauze, elastic bandages, plasters, sterile wound closure strips for lacerations, forceps, fever thermometer, disinfectant spray (e.g. Sterilium or Cutasept)

2. FEVER

• Paracetamol tablets (e.g. from ratiopharm) or acetylsalicylic acid fizzy tablets (e.g. Aspirin Plus C) for fever

3. INFECTIONS

• Co-trimoxazole/sulfamethoxazole tablets (e.g. Cotrim forte) or Fosfomycin powder (e.g. Monuril) or Nitrofurantoin capsules (e.g. Nifurantin) for bladder disorders and urinary tract infection
• Clindamycin tablets (e.g. Sobelin) for dental infection
• Azithromycin pills (e.g. Zithromax) or Ciprofloxacin pills (e.g. Ciprobay) for bronchitis or pneumonia
• Amoxicillin tablets as broad spectrum antibiotic (e.g. Amoxibeta) for ear inflammation or inflammation of the lower body
• Cefuroxime tablets (e.g. from ratiopharm) in case of wound infection or soft-tissue infection, or Betaisodona ointment or Sepso tincture for skin injury
• Drawing salve (e.g. Ilon classic) for abscesses and furuncles

4. COMMON COLD

• Acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. Aspirin) for fever and headache
• Mucolytics (e.g. Capval) for cough
• Oxymetazoline nasal spray (e.g. Nasivin) for rhinitis
• Sinupret dragées for common cold
• Peppermint oil (e.g. JHP Rödler) for sinus trouble
• Acetylcistein fizzy tablets (e.g. Fluimucil) as expectorant
• Tyrothricine throat lozenges (e.g. Dorithricin) for sore throat

5. GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS

• Metoclopramide drops (e.g. Paspertin) for nausea
• Dimenhydrinate dragées or uvula (e.g. Vomex) for vomiting
• Scopolamine transdermal patches for motion sickness / vomiting
• Charcoal tablets or Loperamide capsules (e.g. Imodium) for
  diarrhoea
• Electrolyte solutions (e.g. Elotrans or Oralpädon) as fluid substitute in
  case of aqueous diarrhoea
• Blond Psyllium (e.g. Mucofalk) or Sodium Picosulfate (e.g. Agiolax) or
  salt solution (e.g. Movicol) for obstipation
• Omeprazole or Panteprazol tablets for stomach ache (in order to
  decrease acid)

6. PAIN

• Acetylsalicylic acid (e.g. Aspirin) for headache, joint pain, muscle pain
• Paracetamol tablets (e.g. from ratiopharm) for mild pain
• Diclofenac tablets (e.g. Voltaren) for muscle and joint pain, also for
  sprains and bruises
• Scopolamine butylbromide uvula (e.g. Buscopan) for abdominal
  cramping, bilious attacks and renal colics
• Tramadol tablets (e.g. Tramal long) for violent pain in several organs

7. OTHER INDISPOSITIONS

• Nitroglycerin spray (e.g. Nitrolingual) for angina pectoris
• Xylometazoline (e.g. Otriven) nasal drops to relieve earache
• Fluocinonide ointment (e.g. Jelliproct) for haemorrhoids
• Naproxen tablets for menstrual pain (e.g. from CT)
• Paracetamol tablets for toothache
• Clindamycin (e.g. Sobelin tablets) for dental infection

8. ALLERGIES

• Cetirizin Hydrochloride tablets (e.g. Zyrtec) for allergic
  reactions and urtication
• Dimetindene gel (e.g. Fenistil) for allergic skin rash, sun burn and
  insect bites
• Methylprednisolone tablets (e.g. Urbason) for severe allergies and
  short-windedness

If you travel to exotic countries such as on the African or Asian continent, you should contact your family doctor or an institute of tropical medicine in order to get information about specific diseases and regional particularities. The list of specified drugs does not claim to be exhaustive, the remedies should be used after consultation with the doctor or according to the package insert.

WORTH KNOWING

For watersportsmen planning an extended trip, medical care on board is a vital part of their preparation. Some water sports associations offer seminars on „medicine on board“. The participants learn from numerous practical trainings such as attaching an infusion or learn suturing techniques on a pork leg, how to help in the medical area in case of emergency. If such seminars are offered, you will find information on your watersports association‘s website.

Furthermore, in case of a medical emergency on board, you will receive telemedical assistance from a physician via switch board on the assigned radio channels of the coastal radio stations or on the following emergency numbers:

+49(0) 421 53 68 70 Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) Bremen

+49(0) 47 21 78 5 TELEMEDICAL MARITIME ASSISTANCE SERVICE (TMAS) - MEDICO CUXHAVEN