. . . but how are you set for bandages? It’s the simple things that can make a big difference.
Let’s think about how most home medical kits are put into use. First of all, congratulations if you even have a first aid kit of any sort. That puts you ahead of a lot of people.
Back to our thought experiment. Say someone gets a minor cut. The kit comes out. The wound is cleaned, sterilized and bandaged. If it is not so minor an injury a bigger patch is used and then you go to the hospital. Just one or two uses depletes significantly the average household first aid kit. That’s not normally a problem. The next time shopping is done the kits can be replenished.
Now imagine that running off to the hospital is not an option. Then you need a deeper reserve of supplies. Even changing the bandages on a small wound can eat up supplies over a period of time. Now think of a bigger injuries for a longer period of time and you get some idea of the scale of the problem. The cheap kit from the big box store isn’t going to cut it.
I’m assuming at least someone in the house has basic first aid skills. If you don’t it wouldn’t hurt to take a few courses. Then you have make sure there are enough “tools” for the job. Train to take care of fairly serious injuries on your own for some time. Stock supplies accordingly.
Do I have enough medical supplies? Not yet, but it’s writing blogs like these that make think of the possible problems. More supplies are on the shopping list.
-Sixbears
If its just surface wounds, I'm pretty much good to go. Was bitten by a cat last spring, which developed into quite an ordeal to completely heal. Required daily oxygen tank treatments to heal skin. So not only were medical salves prescribed, but many many bandages / self sticking wraps / gauze pads were sent. I have quite a bit of those materials.
ReplyDeleteAlso plenty of over the counter medicines purchased. Probably light on daily vitamin supplements - should get on that. Its the vital medicines like blood thinners I am short of. Those are my main concerns.
We've had to investigate herbal meds to replace those prescription meds that can't be stockpiled.
DeleteWhen I was a bit of a wee lad, my Grandpa, Mom's dad, was out mending fence in the back forty. A few more miles from the house than walking made easy. Somehow he cut his foot pretty darn bad. When he arrived back at the homestead he pulled off his boot and in the boot was a healthy supply of fat happy maggots. He found a supply, stuffed them in the boot and came home. The little buggers saved his foot and possibly his life. They will only eat necrotizing flesh. So, keeping some on hand is a good idea? 80)
ReplyDeleteIt was common knowledge in WWI that maggots were a good thing to have in your wounds. Kinda horrible to watch though.
DeleteAcquiring supplies while they are available is smart. Acquiring the training needed to jse them while that is available his even smarter. Take a field trauma course....even a plain old red cross first aidmclass an help. And in a pinch feminine hygiene supplies can work for bleeding. You do have those stored don't you?
ReplyDeleteIf you've been married long enough the kids move out and time goes by, those kinds of supplies eventually aren't as necessary as they once were. It's a relative time thing.
DeleteSome, but actually having honking big major wound bandages is better.
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