The Ship Captain’s Medical Guide – Chapter 4 – Care of the Injured

To prevent infection in wounds, burns and other conditions, all dressings and instruments should be sterile. Dressings should be supplied pre-packed and sterilised. There are two ways of obtaining sterile instruments: I The instruments or equipment can be obtained in pre-packed sterilised containers. Such instruments are for once-only use and are disposable. Disposable equipment is very convenient to use. I Instruments, which are not disposable, should be sterilised just before use in a steriliser or by boiling in water for not less than 10 minutes, then allowed to cool. In using any instrument, the patient, or ‘business’, end of the instrument must not touch anything before use and only the operator should handle the operator parts of the instrument.