CFR 160.041

Zodiac's spankin' new life ring.

So, what in the heck is a C.F.R?

Tuesday was our date with the coasties.  My crew showed up bright and early for our scheduled appointment, CPR cards and random drug-testing forms in hand. It was a banner day, as we passed muster for almost everything with flying colors and a commendation from the coast guard officer regarding the quality of our performances during the safety drills and raising sails.

Three teensy weensy little items to cross off of the list before we obtain our certificate of inspection: 1.] New life ring...easy (expensive, but easy).   2.] labels on the life jacket boxes.... piece of cake.   3.] replenishing the inventory of medical supplies in our first aid kit... no sweat--wait! .....huh?

Not quite as simple as I thought (whoda' guessed). First of all it meant that I needed to go online and research the CFR for ship's medical and safety equipment. Code of Federal Regulations--the name alone should have clued me in as to what my morning was going to entail. Anything that has the words federal and codes...well you know.

So, 160.041 seems to take the code part pretty seriously...as in encryption.  Let me show you:

- Items. The items contained in first-aid kit shall be as listed in Table 160.0414(b).Table 160.041-4(b)_Items for First-Aid Kit ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No. of Item Number per package Size of package packages ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bandage compress_4[inch]....................... 1........................ Single................... 5 Bandage compress_2[inch]....................... 4........................ do...................... 2 Waterproof adhesive compress_1[inch]........... 16....................... do...................... 2 Triangular bandage_40[inch].................... 1........................ do...................... 3 Eye dressing packet, \1/8\ ounce Opthalmic 3........................ do...................... 1 ointment, adhesive strips, cotton pads.
Bandage, gauze, compressed, 2 inches by 6 yards 2........................ do...................... 1 Tourniquet, forceps, scissors, 12 safety pins.. 1, 1, 1, and 12, Double................... 1 respectively.
Wire splint.................................... 1........................ Single................... 1 Ammonia inhalants.............................. 10....................... do...................... 1 Iodine applicators (\1/2\ ml swab type)........ 10....................... do...................... 1 Aspirin, phenacetin and caffeine compound, 6\1/ 5........................ Double................... 1 2\ gr tablets, vials of 20.




See what I mean?

1 dot, dot, dot, single dot, dot, dot, 5 bandage etc. etc. etc.....

The definition of hodge-podge

After several hours of group-think, deciphering table B of the CFR, we admitted defeat. The complexity was too much for our feeble brains. They must do this sort of program inventory pretty regularly and if its that hard for us to figure out the amounts versus the packages, then I can only imagine what the payroll at the Pentagon must look like! We had bandages, tourniquets, dressings and ointments spread out across the galley table. It looked like black Friday at a Rite-Aid.


In exasperation, I finally went back online and ordered a brand new first aid kit from some operation that knew the coastie's requirements. Sure, I think we coulda' cobbled together most everything that they wanted of us...but between the wasted man hours of interpreting their super-secret CFR table and then running around to drug stores to fill in the blanks, I opted for throwing money at the issue.

Now viola!  We are compliant with our CG-835's and  raring & ready to go SAILING!!!


*For more stories about my experiences with the coast guard, go to:
"Prepare to Come About" excerpt from chapter: Dismasted