Medical / Emergency Supplies

[Jenny]

Thought this would be a good place to start a thread on things to keep on hand for emergencies, including medical/first aid kits. Could also include other emergency preparations --- how have you or how do you plan to prepare for such things as a major earthquake, forest fire, house fire, etc.? How do you store your supplies?

Jenny

[Anataq]

First Aid is a great topic. We keep a comprehensive trauma kit filled with just about everything you can carry in the field. I was certified as an EMT in 2000 and need to be recertified and Pam is going to take the course before we move to our homestead. I can not stress enough how valuable the course would be for folks living far out off the grid.

It is difficult to list eveything in a trauma kit because I would be typing for quite some time. The basic first aid kits that you buy in the store are not adequate for remote living with a family. These kits are not designed to deal with trauma that could result from and number of injuries. It is also wise to be trained in basic emergency medicine.

We still would like to add a small O2 tank to our medical kit. The O2 will plug into the BVM for assited breathing. Another thing we are missing is an IV therapy kit. IV fluids can keep a patient alive while you wait for help to arrive.

A meds kit is also valuable, the only problem is in order to get the meds you need prescriptions from and MD. You can speek with your doctor and let them know how far off the grid you are and that you will need meds like strong antibiotics etc. If you don't allready know what you will need, let you doctor make suggestions, and with any luck he will give you the prescriptions so you can have a supply on hand.


-Anataq

[jd]

Here in Wyoming our PA was happy to prescribe for emergencies. Having been a nurse I know how to do many of the er type procedures.
JD