Medical supplies you should keep at home in case of emergency

When things get pretty hairy it’s pretty much a given that you will need to have medical supplies of some kind and even if it is supplied that is for special situations it may be a good point to have some kind of training with any of the various tools at your disposal. So, here are five items that could help you get through a medical emergency at home:

Important: this is not medical advice, we are not doctors. This is just a general article with our own thoughts and opinions

1. Required medicines for anyone in the home

If you or someone you may live with have the need medication for pain management, diabetes, or other ongoing conditions. This is important because of the possibility of still dealing with a shortage.

2. Have some kind of medical reference book or Textbook

Having a go-to resource that is as reliable as a book is something you just can’t beat. Anything from a quick reference guide for CPR to a book on useful home remedies (that on its own could be an exhaustive list). Furthermore, it is all the more reason to have some way to access crucial knowledge rather than not having it, if a grid down scenario were to happen.

3. Bandages and dressings

I’m not talking about just band-aids that come twenty or thirty in a book but, more of a complete first aid kit. Some examples, include gauze bandages, triangle bandages, a swath, Steri-strips, and see what you can get at different sizes.

4. Splints and Tourniquets

Broken bones happen, and kids and younger people who are a little bit more reckless than us older folks, may have a broken bone that needs to be tended to or even a serious sprain would warrant some type of immobilization devices such as a splint or more specifically a SAM splint. But, in the event of a serious limb injury where the patient, no matter how old or young they are, is in danger of losing a lot of blood applying a tourniquet will minimize damage.

5. Scissors or Trauma Shears

Both of these tools are great for the vast purpose of cutting material and cutting clothes (and if you’re needing to cut somebodies clothes, a lot has happened to them, so they probably won’t mind at that point anyway.) For medical purposes, trauma shears are better because they are purpose-built for quick deployment and use in a medical situation. Although, in a pinch, you’re going to use whatever is available to you, just be sure to pick quality and durable materials.

This article may be helpful to anyone who is getting into gathering long-term storage of supplies. Be aware that if you have a medical first aid kit or medications of any kind some of the items mentioned do have an expiration date, but remember knowledge doesn’t have an expiration date.