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Week 3 of 52: Emergency Medical Supply (List 1)

Experts suggest that each home have a basic medical supply that is unique to your family’s needs.

wk 3
Medical emergencies can occur at the drop of a hat, and having the necessary supplies can mean the difference between life and death. When an emergency situation arises, one must act calming and decisively. Experts suggest that each home have a basic medical supply that is unique to your family’s needs. We all have our fair share of band-aids and antibiotic ointment, but do you have medical supplies that can stop dehydration or bleeding, or diarrhea? In the event of a major disaster, such as a hurricane or earthquake, if someone in the home is injured, emergency responders cannot always get to the injured victims in time. Therefore, having necessary medical supplies in the home could save someone’s life if they need immediate medical assistance.

Having pre-assembled medical packs for specific medical emergencies can save precious time. In the case of a severe injury where there is a lot of blood loss, there must be supplies on hand that can stop bleeding, reduce the pain, and calm the patient if necessary.  Not only are supplies important, though. Having a family member confident to provide this type of medical care is a must in a survival situation. Taking medical courses would be very beneficial in preparing for this type of emergency. The Fire Department, American Red Cross or Medical Centers are local resources that offer classes to assist in medical emergencies. To further prepare, find websites online that deal with first aid care and go through each injury to see what medical instruments and items are needed.  Moreover, you should have a good understanding of how to properly store medications in order to keep them ready for emergencies. Make a list for supplies that can be added to your disaster medical supplies.

Take advantage of discount stores and sales that may be going on in the stores so you can stock up. Here are some tips for purchasing medical supplies on a budget. As well, don’t forget about the Dollar Store and items found in the home that can be improvised for medical care.

Keep an assortment of emergency medicine references on hand. This ebook is a free download: First Aid Full Manual. In addition, The Survival Medicine Handbook by Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy is a wonderful resource for your preparedness library.

Keep in mind that medicines can break down and spoil if they are subject to natural elements such as moisture, temperature fluctuations and exposure to light. Did you know that aspirin has a tendency to begin breaking down when it is exposed to a slight amount of moisture? Find an area in the home that has easy access and preferably located in a cool, dark area that is out of children’s reach. Also, check expiration dates periodically to ensure the medicines are still good to use.  The below list of items will serve as a beginning foundation for future medical supply lists.

Preps to Buy:

  • Antacid
  • Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
  • Stool softeners
  • Kleenex
  • Electrolytes
  • Feminine hygiene supplies
  • Disposable hand wipes
  • Band-aids
  • Antibiotic ointment
  • Extra baby needs (diapers, wipes, pacifiers, bottles, medicine, etc)
  • 1 week of prescription medications
  • Extra pair of reading glasses (optional)

Action Items:

Buy a local and state map to put in your vehicle.

Create an evacuation route in case you have to evacuate your town due to a disaster.  Map out mulitple escape routes to fall back on.  Click here to know  the signs of when to evacuate/bug out your home or community.

Sign up for a CPR/First aid class with your local area Red Cross or through your local Emergency Management Service department.  For those of you who are short on time, you can find online disaster skills training courses that can be done in the convenience of your own home.  Click here for a list of  organizations that provide online emergency education courses.

This article was originally published at Ready Nutrition™ on May 13th, 2011