Every once in a while, I am reminded that growing up with a father who was a doctor was not necessarily a good thing. I haven't lived with, or around, my father (who is also deceased BTW), in over 40 years. Yet I still find myself lulled into complacency that somewhere, some one will handle medical emergencies when they arrive. I don't know many times I have to get it knocked in to my head that person is ME.
Heart attack? I gotcha. Compound fracture? You'd be amazed the things I can use to jerry-rig a splint (and I don't faint when pulling it and setting it together if I have to!) Sucking chest wound? Ok, now I'm wading in to first-aid-supply-light territory.
Beyond which, my oldest is drug allergic to many anesthetics and sulpha based antibiotics, my middle son has asthma, severe airborne allergies and is deathly allergic to pecans, and we just found out last night the hard way, that my youngest has a strong allergy to shellfish, such as shrimp.
Preventive medicine is often the best cure, and following a juicing regimen to build up your immune system, feed and nourish your body, but western medicine is often best at treating acute episodes. Still, we have been lax at building up supplies of needed emergency items: things which are not easily remedied in the natural world.
Like, oh, epinephrine. Heck, you can hardly find it in a pharmacy (over the counter) anymore thanks to all the druggies making smack or whatever it is they use Ephedrine in order to get high. Add to that DS14 broke out in hives and other classic signs of shellfish allergy when we were stuck in the middle of 50,000 people with little to no traffic movement, and you have a real problem. We were able to stem the worst of it with two Benadryl, an inhaler and lots of liquids, but we could have been in a boat load of trouble. I was able to find Primatene tablets which has Ephedrine HCL and picked up some Wal-Phed (generic of Sudafed) which is Pseudoephedrine HCL, but by then DS14 was under control. OK, I give. It's time to take DS18 in to get an epi-pen, and now DS14 in to be tested.
I've added mini-bug out bags to each of the cars (food, water), but it never occurred to me to stock a decent first aid kit, and I mean a really good one not the practically worthless ones. Sigh. The Adventure Medical Sportsman Kit is decent, but I still think (know) I should have something more. Wilderness Medical Associates, (http://www.wildmed.com) did a great article entitled "Building a Wilderness First Aid Kit". Its list of "ingredients" gets closer to what I'm wanting.
This blogpost is not meant to be medical advice or advise you on a choice of kit, but I can't stress training enough, and really think through the kinds of meds you need. DH just resists getting a 90 day supply of the meds he needs...Great. But that attitude pretty much ensures he will be the first to drop dead when SHTF.
Last night showed me how foolish, and potentially deadly, putting off a well stocked kit and keeping current on training could be. Fortunately, we get a second chance. It's one I plan on taking full advantage.
Would LOVE to hear your thoughts on what you're doing, what you've done.
UPDATE: The Israeli Bandages mentioned in the second video following are pretty inexpensive.
This video on building an advanced medical kit :
and a great one on what an Israeli bandage is, and why you'd want to have one in your kit:
I think this is an important step to preparedness that many people don't think about. If we take medications on a regular basis then we must have some backup plan for emergencies. Even just a taper off plan if we can't get more and shouldn't stop cold turkey.
ReplyDeleteThere are herbs that can help with some problems and of course, diet and exercise but just like with food storage, you can't start exercising when it is a necessity because that will be too late.
I like your options that you used to help with your son's emergency but agree with having him tested and then keeping epi-pens handy. You never know whose life it might safe.