As part of our emergency preparedness preparations (and because my husband was a Boy Scout), we’ve been slowly beefing up our stash of emergency medical supplies.
Ready.gov recommends the following basic first aid items:
Things You Should have in Your Emergency Medical Kit:
Two pairs of Latex, or other sterile gloves (if you are allergic to Latex).
Sterile dressings to stop bleeding.
Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect.
Antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
Burn ointment to prevent infection.
Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes.
Eye wash solution to flush the eyes or as general decontaminant.
Thermometer
Prescription medications you take every day such as insulin, heart medicine and asthma inhalers. You should periodically rotate medicines to account for expiration dates.
Prescribed medical supplies such as glucose and blood pressure monitoring equipment and supplies.Things That May be Good to Have In Your Emergency Medical Kit:
Cell phone with charger
Scissors
Tweezers
Tube of petroleum jelly or other lubricantNon-prescription drugs:
Aspirin or nonaspirin pain reliever
Anti-diarrhea medication
Antacid (for upset stomach)
Laxative
Frankly folks, their list is pretty lightweight. I haven’t had that few medical options I my house since I became a mom. Along with all the more standard off-the-shelf items you can see above, I also keep (and grow) and assortment of medicinal herbs.
In the Crisis Preparedness Handbook
10 tongue depressors
1-lb roll absorbant cotton
6 Povidone Surgical Scrubs
20 Povidone prep pads
4 surgical sponges
1 pt hydrogen peroxide
16-oz Hibiclens cleanser
2 bars/person Fels Naptha soap
8-oz iodine shampoo
Seven insecticide
2/person houshold dusk mask
assorted Ziploc bags
3 large garbage bags
mentholatum
petroleum jelly
hand lotion
olive oil
calamine or Caladryl lotion
cornstarch
100 grams activated charcoal Epsom salts
sanitary napkins
assorted plastic bandages
10 assorted Tefla gauze bandages
6 5×9 surgipad bandages
2 2×8 surgipad bandages
15 coverlet fingertip bandages
10 coverlet elbow/knee bandages
5 coverlet knuckle bandages
18×22 trauma dressings
2 traingular bandages
12 3×36 Vaseline gauze
2 rolls Kerlix bandages
3 or 4-inch Doma paste bandage
Spenco Second Skin
60×90 burn sheet or towels
roll resin plaster bandage
2 3-inch rolls cast liner
3 elastic bandages (1 each 2, 4, and 6 inch)
Q-tips
20 sterile swabs
disposable exam gloves
4-oz tube K-Y jelly
10 ammonia ampules
1 gal 70% isopropol alcohol
1 gal concentrated multipurpose sanitizer/germicide
2 lb high-test granular calcium hypochloride
Gatorade or ERG powder
assorted safety pins
dental floss
2 cold compresses or instant ice packs
talcum powder
baby oil
Desitin
zinc oxide
PABA 15-sunscreeens
table salt
baking soda
4 adhesive eye pads
20 2×2 gauze pads
20 3×3 gauze pads
60 4×4 gauze pads
16 rolls gauze (4 each 1, 2, 3, and 4 inch)
4 rolls Gauze tape (2 each 1 and 2 inch)
4 BandNet Tapeless Bandages (2 hand/foot, 1 each finger, head)
4 rolls adhesive tape (2 each, 1 inch and 2 inch)
10 butterfly enclosures and/or
12 Steri-Strips (6 each 1/2×4 and 1/4×3)
10 packs nylon sutures with needles (2 each 2-0, 5-0; 3 each 3-0, 4-0)
2 packs 3-0 plain gut suture (absorbable) with needles
rubberized tourniquet
He also give an entire page of medications/ointments, some of which are available over the counter, some of which are only available by prescription, and another of medical and dental equipment. The author suggests “finding an understanding physician that will give you the needed prescriptions”, but unfortunately, due to an ever increasing stranglehold of government regulations, this is now illegal. I recommend a copy of the book Herbal Antibiotics
So, what have we got in our first aid and medical supplies for emergencies? From the top of the photo to the bottom:
Dental floss
Disposable razors
Hydrogen peroxide
Rubbing alcohol
surgical gloves
Assorted gauze, bandages, band-aids and wraps
cotton balls
Excedrin, aspirin, Advil
Benadryl spray
glycerin
Elderberry syrup
Arnica gel
Benadryl tablets
Zantac
Homeopathic first aid cream
manuka honey
coconut oil
xylitol nasal spray
natural mosquito repellant
anti-diarrhea meds
eye wash cup
pen for marking bandages
safety pins
3-M liquid bandage(New Skin Liquid Bandage really stings – I don’t recommend it)
cold pack
Herbalix smart salve
Chamomile oil
Lavender oil
Anti-fungal ointment
Alcohol wipes
bandage removal scissors
Mini kit that fits inside band-aid tin with shoe strings, soap, alcohol wipes, tweezers, nail clippers, eye glass repair kit, cotton swabs
There’s also an assortment of other items stashed around the house, like the Epsom salt and dust masks. We plan to keep adding items as budget allows, and as we can find them. Emergency Essentials has some of the items not commonly available off the shelf (like surgery kits), as well as some pre-prepped medical kits.
What items do you have on hand for first aid, minor illness and medical emergencies? I’d like to help you get started with your prepping by hosting my first giveaway here at Common Sense Homesteading.
In celebration of hitting 400 Facebook “Likes” and 200 followers (as of the time I’m writing this, I’m two people short of those numbers on both, but I’m optimistic others will join in 
, I’m giving away a Johnson & Johnson All-purpose First Aid Kit plus a tube of Natralia Homeopathic First Aid Cream
CONTEST IS CLOSED – THE WINNER OF THE FIRST AID KIT WAS: Country Girl (http://countryroadsleadmehome.blogspot.com/).
46 Responses to “Preparedness – First Aid and Medical Supplies for Emergencies”
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i follow u on twitter and i tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/apronmama721/status/89541738405965824
blogged it http://agodlyhomemaker.blogspot.com/2011/07/preparedness-giveaway.html
i like u on fb
Thanks for all that information. My husband loved it. He's been wondering what we actually neded.
I already "like" you on facebook…well, I actually "love" your blog!
I follow you on twitter and tweeted.
I liked you on FB
I am following you on google friends
I liked you on FB!
I am following your blog!
I liked your facebook page
arlene
I am following on GFC
I am following your blog on networked blogs
I am now following you on Facebook.
ajandmichelle AT juno DOT com
Now following you on Google Friends.
ajandmichelle AT juno DOT com
I'm following via Networked Blogs, too!
ajandmichelle AT juno DOT com
Following on Twitter and tweeted!
ajandmichelle AT juno DOT com
Been following (through Google) you for a long time now! I don't often comment or click through, but I love the new look! Hope all is well up north.
Heather
I liked you on FB. Nice giveaway!
Hi Laurie!
Wouldn't you know, the one time I comment this year and it's a giveaway! LOL. So please forgive my non-entry comment.
But I wanted to ask about this. I'm always trying to put together the "ideal" first aid kit – something with both herbal and allopathic remedies, like you. But I have a lot of trouble with it.
I vascillate between wanting to have a large box for major emergencies and having something small and portable that I can use to "grab and go." (I know you could just say: Have both! But then I'm in the territory of having lots of duplicate items on hand, which segues into my next issue…)
My other problem is that I use a lot of things like my herbal remedies on a somewhat regular basis. I don't want to end up with a large first aid kit in the back of the closet filled with stuff that I either have to dig out when I need it, or duplicates of stuff I use a lot that I'll have to rotate out (one more thing to remember, ack!).
What are your thoughts on this? In the past two years, I've constructed four different first aid kits and abandoned them all in frustration! Help!
I told or emailed 5 people about this post.
Five Seed – good question – I've run in to the same issue. My compromise at the moment is to keep kit-type things (infrequently used items) in rubber maid type containers, sorted by type. (You can see some at the top of the photo.) One with the "basic" – gotta run NOW – this better come with type items, one with assorted bandages and related material, one with medications. The stuff we use regularly, I keep in the pantry or medicine cabinet. I've been thinking of making up a list and keeping it in another tote, so if I had to pull items together in a hurry, I could just check them off the list as I throw them into the tote. Odds are with our situation, we would whether a disaster here, since we live in an ICF house, which is basically a concrete bunker, and well away from the flood plain and major tectonic activity.
Everyone needs to determine what the best solution is for their situation. Another person mentioned having an emergency kit that could be reached from the outside of the house, in case the house collapsed in an earthquake. She also mentioned having storage containers that are water tight in case of a flood, tsunami or other water incursion. Some folks may regularly face evacuation. I'd say start with the basics and build from there, but how much you store and how you store it will need to be determined based on your individual situation.
What a great blog post, and giveaway! I am now a follower on Netwroked Blogs.
I liked you on facebook.
I'm a Google follower.
I kinda wonder why they listed Fels Naptha in the CP Handbook? It says on the label that it is irritating to the skin. Unless maybe they list it as a cleansing agent for more serious stuff, maybe chemical warfare? I would have otherwise thought a more standard soap bar would be preferable.
Hi Laurie,
Great givaway! I hear you about the international shipping, not only is it expensive but some things are not allowed to be shipped anymore..
I follow you on google friend connect.
I like you on facebook.
I follow you on networked blogs.
Blogged about this.
http://countryroadsleadmehome.blogspot.com/2011/07/are-you-prepared.html
I like you on facebook already
I follow you with google friend connect
Following you on Networked Blogs
Journey11 – I suspect he recommends Fels Naptha because I can be used as a hand soap and also as a laundry soap, and is recommended for the removal of poison ivy and poison oak: http://walking.about.com/od/safety/tp/poisonivy.htm
We have both types of soap stashed, although just a regular bad of hotel soap is shown in the photo.
Good tips! I'll keep working on my system and hopefully, it will work itself out! LOL. Thanks!!
Great idea for a giveaway! I "like" you on FB!
Thanks!
gardnergirl58@gmail.com
I'm following you on Twitter and I tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/BeingAlison/status/90801532882268160
Ulkieab at gmail dot com
I like you on FB! Alison W
Ulkieab at gmail dot com
Following via GFC now!
Ulkieab at gmail dot com
We have a first aid kit but yours makes ours look sparse. Probably something I should work on.
I liked your page on Facebook.
Abbi@abbisbridal.com
I am following via GFC.
Abbi@abbisbridal.com
Your story and all of the pictures also are great. What a wonderful treasure and link to your heritage. I am your newest follower of your blog.
I like you on FB.
)
Hi, I just came across a pin to your site. I have a bit of an issue with the ‘Crisis Preparedness Handbook’ first aid kit list. Having things like povidone surgical scrubs and sutures is ridiculous. The average person at home is not going to be performing surgery, nor will they have the skills necessary to suture wounds. I am going to give the author of said book the benefit of the doubt and assume that he is a catastrophist who believes the end of civilisation is coming.
Karen – I agree that some of his recommendations are over the top for the average person. For instance, where are you supposed to find all the hardcore medications, unless you’re shopping illegally? We don’t eat a lot of the food items he recommends, but I think his lists give a good starting point to give people an idea of how much food is really needed. For me, that’s what I take from the book – it’s a good overview of topics you need to consider, and you can take what’s practical for you and apply it. Maybe once harvest season is over I can hunt down some other preparedness books to review and compare them, but I don’t care to invest big money in it as I am fairly comfortable with where my family is at. If you know any preparedness authors who’d like to host a review, send them this way!
[...] over the counter medication, beyond keeping things out of the reach of children. If you have an emergency medical kit, you may stock up and end up storing items for longer periods of time. How long is too long to [...]
I linked my similar blog post here but just wanted you to know I loved your post so much I had to go back and edit one of my own posts (in my URL link) to include a link to yours, this is awesome and a great job. I’m a mother of three and I believe you should always always be prepared for anything!