OTC First Aid Permission

[69RoadRunner]

In our First Aid kit we have Imodium, Benadryl (oral and topical), Bonine, Ibuprofen, Aloe gel and Neosporin.  Should we make parents put these items on the medical form and say dosage as directed on the packaging?

Bonine is for Sea Base.

 

Edited July 22, 2018 by RememberSchiff
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[MattR]

Maybe the way to do it is to tell the parents you have the medicines, how you'd use them, and ask if any parents have a problem with it. Ibuprofen is a blood thinner so there are some people that can't take it.

Edited July 22, 2018 by MattR

[ItsBrian]

Off topic but, I suggest adding Asprin to your first aid kit. 

I would include it on the form and contact the parents if possible to have them agree. 

[Chisos]

There is a section on the med form that asks about admin of non-prescription meds.  But I agree, it's a good idea to make sure parents specifically tell you what they're ok with their kids having.

As for Aspirin, that's generally ok for the adults but should be avoided for kids due to the risk of Reye's Syndrome.

[shortridge]

I’ve become more leery of OTC meds since I discovered that aspirin triggers my asthma. Not a fun way to find out!

Agree that parents should approve a list rather than just give blanket OTC approval.

[69RoadRunner]

Yeah, I think I'm going to make a form listing the meds in the First Aid kit and they can check the ones they approve and sign it.

Aspirin I think is more of an issue for younger kids, but I won't have it in the kit.  The BSA medication guideline PDF says that parents can approve scouts self-medicating, too.  Since we're going to Sea Base, I told parents to discuss motion sickness medication with the scout's pediatrician.  I'd rather the pediatrician be the one to give the advice.  We're not doing SCUBA diving, so they're not limited Bonine.

I haven't figured out why vinegar is required in the Sea Base specific First Aid kit.

[Chisos]

7 minutes ago, 69RoadRunner said:

I haven't figured out why vinegar is required in the Sea Base specific First Aid kit.

Jellyfish stings.  The vinegar (acid) helps neutralize the jellyfish toxin.

Also, 1:1 vinegar : rubbing alcohol is a good ear rinse to prevent swimmer's ear.

[mashmaster]

2 hours ago, Chisos said:

Jellyfish stings.  The vinegar (acid) helps neutralize the jellyfish toxin.

Also, 1:1 vinegar : rubbing alcohol is a good ear rinse to prevent swimmer's ear.

Bottles of pee for that 🙂  LOL  bring a bottle of yellow gatorade and label it Pee!  I crack myself up.

[Chadamus]

Bah, urban legend.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-urinating/

@Chisos +1for the Reyes Syndrome /asprin advice.

[mashmaster]

17 hours ago, Chadamus said:

Bah, urban legend.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fact-or-fiction-urinating/

@Chisos +1for the Reyes Syndrome /asprin advice.

Actually the best thing is meat tenderizer for jellyfish stings.  I learned that in my wilderness first aid class.

[SSScout]

Chesapeake Bay,  Sea Nettles.   A small jelly, but painful still.  If we met with a Nettle's tentacle, we were told to keep actively swimming, and get to shore; unless we were on the Mile Swim, in which case, keep on swimming, unless we were really disabled.In that case, climb in the escort boat.  

I do not remember (fifty plus years ago, wow !) if vinegar was mentioned.   Vaseline was mentioned for prevention, rub it all over, but I never knew a Scout that did that.