Got family meds, medical supplies?
John Havener February 6th, 2008
Have you ever been in an emergency and not had the kind of medicine or first aid supplies you needed to deal with the situation…hopefully until professional help could be obtained? Remember, in a disaster, there may be no professional help available. You and trained members of your family/ church/ immediate community may be the only natural resources. Having the “right stuff” on hand (and the right training) can make a huge difference, and sometimes means the difference between life and death. For training, go to the local Red Cross chapter and take one of their excellent first aid courses. Here is a starting suggestion for your supplies from “The Y2K Personal Survival Guide” by Michael Hyatt:
Putting Together a First Aid Kit
Let me say first that a first aid kit is completely different from a medicine cabinet.
A first aid kit should include many of the items that you find in your medicine cab-
inet, only in smaller quantities and in a small, easily portable package. I want to
emphasize that neither one should be used as a substitute for the other. Do not say,
“Well, I’m stocking up my medicine cabinet so full that I won’t need a first aid kit.”
Being prepared for emergencies is simply not possible without a first aid kit.
Several “turn-key” first aid kits are available on the retail market, ranging in price
from $9.99 to $100 or more, depending on the contents. These kits are better than
having no kit at all, but it is by far better to put your first aid kit together yourself
because only you know what your special needs are. To do so, find a small luggage
tote or compartmentalized box that can be easily carried, then add the following key
ingredients to make your own first aid kit.
The first key ingredient to any first aid kit is you. Well, not really your body, but
your knowledge of basic medical procedures. You will be of little help in an emer-
gency if you don’t know how to use the materials in your first aid kit to help the vic-
tim. Buy a second copy of The American Red Cross First Aid and Safety Handbook by
Kathleen A. Handal to include in your first aid kit (your other copy should be kept
in your Emergency Preparedness Library). Its information is invaluable in an emer-
gency. Make sure that you have read it and are familiar with its contents so that you
can flip to the proper section quickly. Remember, seconds count in an emergency~
According to the Red Cross, these items are essential for a proper first aid kit:
* Adhesive bandage strips
* Butterfly bandages
* Elastic bandage (three inches wide)
* Hypoallergenic adhesive tape (to secure dressings in place)
* Roller bandages (a roll of stretchable gauze to hold dressings in place)
* Sterile cotton balls
* Sterile eye patches
* Sterile gauze pads, four inches x four inches (individually wrapped)
Be Prepared for Medica’ Emergencies 247
* Sterile nonstick pads
* Triangular bandage (for slings or as a covering or dressing)
* Blunt-tipped scissors (for cutting bandages or clothing)
* Tweezers (to remove splinters and other foreign objects)
* Bulb syringe (to rinse eyes or wounds)
* Cotton swabs
* Small plastic cup
* Instant-acting chemical cold packs (for sprains, bruises, etc.)
* Paper cups
* Space blanket
* Thermometer (one that is easy to use)
* Activated charcoal (for poisoning emergency)
* Antiseptic wipes or antiseptic solution
* Antibiotic ointment
* Antiseptic/anesthetic spray
* Calamine/antihistamine lotion
* Sterile eye wash
* Syrup of ipecac (to use during poisoning emergency)
* Candle and matches
* Flashlight (with proper batteries)
* Pad and pencil for notes
* Packet of tissues
* Isopropyl alcohol
* Hydrogen peroxide
* Soap (for cleansing wounds)
* Safety pin (for use with triangular bandage)
* Disposable latex gloves (two pairs)2
248 THE Y2K PERSONAL SURVIVAL GUIDE
Also, make sure to include a good pain reliever, as well as any special needs for you
or for a member of your family. If you have children, include children’s medications
and comfort toys. And if you suffer from a debilitating sudden disease, such as
epilepsy, make sure you write step-by-step introductions on how to administer to
you in case you cannot communicate vocally.
The first aid kit should be placed in a highly visible place. You don’t want to be
running around frantically, screaming, “Where did I put that thing?” Under ideal
circumstances, you could have two or three first aid kits in important locations
where accidents might occur, such as in the kitchen, the garage, or the basement. If
you are still using your vehicle, make sure to place one there, too.