Suggestions please.

[jeager]

I want to make up a medical bag, or serious first aid "kit".
Can you all post suggestions as to what should go in it to be on hand?
I know how to suture, set a broken bone, stop bleeding, etc., having done such as
a police officer. The Red Cross gave us free training in c.p.r. and more.
No one can think of everything all the time thus I'm asking.
Everything from extra prescription glasses, meds, bandages, gauze, and so forth.
These things will be invaluable in a shtf.
We may not be able to get to an e.r. if there is an e.r.
I've done c.p.r. 3 x's and killed 'em all.
(They were too far gone when I got there.)
I'll copy and print posts and go shopping.
On line, not in a store.
On line ordering is cheaper.

 

[toexist]

I want to make up a medical bag, or serious first aid "kit".
Can you all post suggestions as to what should go in it to be on hand?
I know how to suture, set a broken bone, stop bleeding, etc., having done such as
a police officer. The Red Cross gave us free training in c.p.r. and more.
No one can think of everything all the time thus I'm asking.
Everything from extra prescription glasses, meds, bandages, gauze, and so forth.
These things will be invaluable in a shtf.
We may not be able to get to an e.r. if there is an e.r.
I've done c.p.r. 3 x's and killed 'em all.
(They were too far gone when I got there.)
I'll copy and print posts and go shopping.
On line, not in a store.
On line ordering is cheaper.

 

[jeager]

Yup. That'll work.
Good video.

 

[Mountain trapper]

I'm unable to view the video from home. When I go to town next week I'll check it out.
I have basic first aid kits in my vehicles, but when I drilled through my thumb last week I realize that I didn't even have a band aid in the house. This is one prepping area that I have failed miserably in. I've had a lot of advanced first aid training and should know better too. I'm assuming this video will have a good list of needed items and supplies.

 

[Brent S]

I think a lot of what you store depends on your skill sets. If you don't have the knowledge of how to really use something then why take up space in your bag. I added a simple surgical kit and sutures to mine as I was a surgical tech and EMT years and years ago. Some people shouldn't have a scalpel though. Same thing goes with antiobiotics. If you don't know which ones are for what symptoms, don't use them. Of course you could print out detailed use and directions to be stored with them. I guess on one hand too that extra supplies could always be used for trade too.
I'm glad you posted this as It reminded me to go thru my bag and check expirations and content. I will try to take some pictures to post what Ive collected.

 

[Roninsensei]

New favorite tourniquet!!


https://ratsmedical.com/pages/how-to-use-r-a-t-s-tourniquet-sling

https://ratsmedical.com/products/r-a-t-s-rapid-application-tourniquet?variant=14542189379

 

[Kevin L]

For medical stuff, consider a library.

2nd hand medical textbooks can be had for a pittance at many college bookstores.

Try to understand some chemistry and medical fundementals, and stock up on meds. Perscription sedatives, opiate painkillers, antibiotics, and IV stuff (like ringer's and normal saline) can be obtained.

If you can (and, as an ex-police officer, you know where on the internet to look), obtain epinephrine, corticosteroids, asthma inhalers, injectable antihistamines, and injectable atropine.

I believe atropine is particularly important since it helps with certain forms of food poisoning (such as ciguterra), poisoning from certain pesticides, and it reverses the effects of nerve gas.

If you can, learn about tetanus and how to prevent it with antitetanus injections, and try to secure vials of antitetanus serum and learn how to store it.

The special forces medical handbook offers details about chest tubes, which are relatively simple. Try to get a pressure cooker to sterilize surgical instruments and medical supplies, as a pressure cooker makes an excellent autoclave.

Disinfectant can be made from pool shock, and injectable lidocaine (with 1:100,000 epinephrine) will be invaluable for suturing.

Most of all, learn how to store these supplies...especially if you live in a hot climate.

Please note that many meds can become toxic if they deteriorate. Tetracycline is an example, as it deteriorates over time into a chemical that will destroy your kidneys and necessitate dialysis.

The best thing you can do for post shtf medical needs is to practice prevention and hygiene...and also to study as much as you can.

 

[Kevin L]

Also, I wonder if storing pot seeds might not be a good idea.

Reefer is a good antispasmodic, it can help with anxiety, can be used to make clothing, paper, and rope, helps with nausea, may reduce seizures, and so on.

I realize that this may rub people the wrong way, but Indian Hemp was a major part of the physician's pharmacopiea until it was unjustly outlawed in the late 1930's.

 

[Brent S]

Also, I wonder if storing pot seeds might not be a good idea.

Reefer is a good antispasmodic, it can help with anxiety, can be used to make clothing, paper, and rope, helps with nausea, may reduce seizures, and so on.

I realize that this may rub people the wrong way, but Indian Hemp was a major part of the physician's pharmacopiea until it was unjustly outlawed in the late 1930's.

I don't smoke the stuff, but am smart enough to know it has many medicinal uses, and no unwanted side affects. The only detrimental side affect would be the loss of your potato chip stash.....

 

[jeager]

I think using any type mind, mood, altering substance in a post shtf
situation a bad idea.
The last thing I want to do is be stoned/drunk, for any reason post shtf.
If survivors unprepared learned of drugs, alcohol, stashed they'd
come after it and take it by any means necessary.
Just my 2 cents worth.
I'm Christian, have nothing against alcohol use, but advertising I have
some stashed would be a bad idea.
Personally I leave booze alone 100%.
Makes me sick.

 

[Brent S]

I think using any type mind, mood, altering substance in a post shtf
situation a bad idea.
The last thing I want to do is be stoned/drunk, for any reason post shtf.
If survivors unprepared learned of drugs, alcohol, stashed they'd
come after it and take it by any means necessary.
Just my 2 cents worth.
I'm Christian, have nothing against alcohol use, but advertising I have
some stashed would be a bad idea.
Personally I leave booze alone 100%.
Makes me sick.

We're not talking recreational use here, just medical. Alcohol can be used as an antiseptic and weed as a pain killer. Neither are optimal choices but if regular medical supplies aren't available then these are both sustainable resources.
As far as resources of any kind being sought after by people I think the best defense is a strong offense. Along with the grey man mentality of not showing what you have to strangers.

 

[jeager]

We're not talking recreational use here, just medical. Alcohol can be used as an antiseptic and weed as a pain killer. Neither are optimal choices but if regular medical supplies aren't available then these are both sustainable resources.
As far as resources of any kind being sought after by people I think the best defense is a strong offense. Along with the grey man mentality of not showing what you have to strangers.

Got cha.
I took "weed" pills for pain. It had the "happy" stuff removed somehow.
Back broke 4 X as well as other injuries.
I don't "show" or tell, anyone anything.
Paranoia or smart?
Your call.
I will help anyone I can but know I can't help everyone.
Specially the stupid.
I can't fix stupid.
I can't and won't fix lazy either.
My g-friend is legally blind, can't cook, can't drive, can't shop.............
but is a nutrition expert and make a good living selling food supplements.
I take 'em.
NOT vitamins which are WORTHLESS.
Avoid GNC and such like the plague.
JUNK!
Shaklee is the ONLY real food supplement on the market.
Used by Olymipic teams, NASA, pro sports and more.

 

[Zach Hadley]

Well, it is hard to go up against the thousands of years of medicinal use of cannabis. I don't consume it recreationally, but I know the non-psychoactive CBD from hemp has an amazing list of usages. I know that many will disagree with this, but lets remember, thousands of years of usage versus less than one hundred years of prohibition...like I said, I'm no stoner, but I believe that this is one of the most versatile plants we have!

 

[AuntieB]

tourniquet
Israeli bandages
face mask
eye protection
gloves
combat gauze

Those above are a must in all med kits.

 

[Kevin L]

Another thing I forgot: urinary catheters and sterile, bacteriostatic KY lubricant.

Catheters can be reused if they are autoclaved in a pressure cooker, and may be livesaving if the user has bladder and/or kidney stones, enlarged prostate, scar tissue in the urinary tract from STDs, etc..

They can be obtained with little or no trouble through the Internet.

 

[lonewolf]

got Israeli field first aid packs, about 6 at the last count, carry one in the car on a permanent basis.
anyone who wears spectacles don't throw away your old ones when you get new- you never know when you might need a spare pair.
I don't drink, I don't smoke and I don't take drugs, and I don't have any of these in my stores.

 

[Kevin L]

got Israeli field first aid packs, about 6 at the last count, carry one in the car on a permanent basis.
anyone who wears spectacles don't throw away your old ones when you get new- you never know when you might need a spare pair.
I don't drink, I don't smoke and I don't take drugs, and I don't have any of these in my stores.

I agree with most of what you said, but not all.

Tobbacco ( and tobbacco seeds) should be stored in large quantities. Moist tobbacco is excellent for removing leeches, and there are ways to use tobbacco for killing lice and ticks.

Opiate narcotics have a bad name (and rightly so) because of the opiate epidemic, but they are lifesaving under many circumstances. As a paramedic, I've used morphine to reverse pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) and lower blood pressure.

A highly purified liqour called Everclear should be in the prepper's stores. It can be used as a disinfectant, a cooling agent for someone with a fever, a firestarter, a barter commodity, and--interestingly enough--an antidote for methyl alcohol poisoning. As a paramedic, we carried vodka on the ambulance to pour down a nasogastric tube in an unconscious patient if they ingested wood alcohol.

 

[lonewolf]

as an ex smoker(1995) I know the problems of keeping tobacco moist in the UK.
we don't have leeches in the UK not that i'm aware of anyway, and I have a tick remover for those-might get a few more though.
i'm not going to store alcohol or drugs just in case I become a target for addicts post shtf.

 

[Kevin L]

as an ex smoker(1995) I know the problems of keeping tobacco moist in the UK.
we don't have leeches in the UK not that i'm aware of anyway, and I have a tick remover for those-might get a few more though.
i'm not going to store alcohol or drugs just in case I become a target for addicts post shtf.

Your call, of course.

There are plenty of leeches in the UK, btw.

The european medicinal leech is common in stagnant water.

The other varieties of leeches come from other countries and read the Koran...

 

[lonewolf]

Your call, of course.

There are plenty of leeches in the UK, btw.

The european medicinal leech is common in stagnant water.

The other varieties of leeches come from other countries and read the Koran...

never met anyone who came into contact with leeches in the UK, plenty of ticks-this is mainly sheep country and our late dog used to get plenty being long haired.

 

[Kevin L]

I also would like to find information on two plants--purple foxglove (digitalis purpurea) and jimsonweed (datura stramoniun, datura metel, etc.).

Supposedly, purple foxglove can treat heart problems with its digitalis content, and jimsonweed contains atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine, which can help with poisoning from ciguterra, nerve gas, and organophosphate pesticides. These drugs can also help with digestive issues, and, supposedly, be used as a kind of twilight anesthesia.

I realize that these plants are very dangerous, but they may be all we have.

How do I find out how to use them safely in a desperately bad situation? The Internet is giving me conflicting info.

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Proud Prepper]

Look for older publications in a good library and check out the book and copy it. Thats what I do for knowledge thats old and its before the internet propaganda crap you have to sort through.