Medical Supplies

[jonas parker]

With prices going up and the economies of the world crashing, this might be a useful list and the right time to stock up on meds. I’ve put in the generic names for you all in the UK. There is little (if any) difference between the generic store brand and the “name-brand” drug in the fancy package.

Guidelines for use can be found in the books "Where There Is No Doctor" and "Where There Is No Dentist", which I presume you have all downloaded by now...

Oral Medications:
multiple vitamin – 300 tablets per person in your household (a 10 month supply).
Gator Ade (powdered sports drink) – mix with water for use in treating dehydration
potassium iodate - for radiation exposure, 1 bottle per person and 1 for the dog
aspirin - anti-inflammatory, blood thinner
Motrin (ibuprophin) - pain relief, anti-inflammatory
Aleve (neproxin sodium) - pain relief, anti-inflammatory
Imodium (loperamide) - for diarrhea
laxative - senna-based, for when you gotta go and can’t
Benadryl (diphenhydramine hydrochloride) - allergy relief, sleep aid, treat mild anaphylactic shock

Topical Medications:
Bacitracin - antibiotic topical petroleum jelly-based wound dressing
Cortaid (hydrocortisone cream) - treats itching associated with mild allergic reactions and insect bites.
medical alcohol - gives the germs a good high
hydrogen peroxide – for use in cleaning wounds
Vaseline (petroleum jelly)- treats chapped areas of skin and lips
Lamisil (terbinafine hydrochloride) - anti-fungal for athletes foot and "jock itch"
Monistat (tioconazole) - for vaginal yeast infection. “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

Dental Medications and Treatments:
Orajel - topical anesthetic for toothache and minor wounds
oil of clove – apply with cotton swab to treat toothache
temporary filling kit
denture repair kit

You should keep the following wound care products on hand. Remember, a “dressing” is what goes directly on the wound and is sterile. A “bandage” holds a “dressing” in place.

Wound Care:
Band-Aids (adhesive bandages) – buy the heavy duty and large sizes
Steri-Strips - for closing wounds rather than suturing
Army field dressings – large compression dressings, surplus stores sell them cheap
Telfa – sterile non-stick dressings
4X4 gauze squares - sterile, for dressings, get many
roller gauze - various sizes for bandages, 4” wide are probably most useful
Ace bandages (elastic bandages) 3” and 4” - 3 each, also for bandages and immobilization
triangular bandages - don't buy these, make them yourself from cheap muslin at the fabric store
safety pins – to fasten elastic and triangular bandages
adhesive tape, 4” wide rolls- for holding bandages (buy bulk at athletic trainer supply store)
Q-tips (cotton swabs) - for applying medications to wounds

For Major Wounds: these may not be available “over-the-counter”
Quick Clot - will stop major bleeding from major vessels. Must be removed surgically
Traumadex - will stop bleeding from head wounds
Gold Dust - will promote healing in certain hard to heal areas like bed sores

For Your Family's Regular Use:
antibacterial handwash soap

Finally, have a good commercial-grade antiseptic cleaner on hand for counter tops and bathrooms:
Quat by Buckeye Chemical Co. - kills pretty much all known bacteria and virii (your local dealer may have 4 oz. sample bottles). You may also be able to get a quaternary disinfectant from a friend working at a hospital.

Most of the above can be purchased in the US at Wal-Mart generically under the Equate brand at a substantial savings.

Sources other than Wal-Mart:
Potassium iodate: http://www.medicalcorps.org
bandages, dressings, instruments - http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/
instruments - http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/category/107
medical outlet store - http://medtech.syrene.net/forum

[griswald]

Good stuff jonas;)

griswald

[wazaaap]

My girlfriend has just competed a weeks first aid course £400 on the company :-)

handy really :-)

[griswald]

My girlfriend has just competed a weeks first aid course £400 on the company :-)

handy really :-)

Yeah.....if she always loves you:D

griswald

[samparker]

I would say this is quite interesting the way you describe whole data kind of stuff... I would like to know that which was the base of this?? I mean how you defined this??:)

[thelearner]

Spot-on information you have put together there Jonas...well done mate! ;)

I think i know that name from...F.F (USA) aka "the tree" am i right mate?

[tracker]

Spot-on information you have put together there Jonas...well done mate! ;)


yep I echo that .

:cool:

[stickwhistler]

I worry when I read lists like the above.

Why? They are too general, and indeed misleading.

E.g. "Gator Ade (powdered sports drink) – mix with water for use in treating dehydration".
A pinch of salt, and a pinch of sugar in a pint (600ml) of water will
be more easily available to most of the population, and doesn't cost
anywhere near the proprietary brand names.

E.g. "aspirin - anti-inflammatory, blood thinner"
IIRC approx 25% of the general population have some degree of allergy to aspirin.
I myself am extremely allergic to it, and used to suffer
intestinal bleeding when I was a child because my mother didn't know
even though she was a state registered nurse!
4 'anadin' tablets and all my problems would be over!!!!!

E.g "(hydrocortisone cream) - treats itching associated with mild allergic reactions and insect bites".
Thins the skin - literally. If applied too often can lead to bleeding,
and subsequent infection through damaged skin.

E.g "Quick Clot - will stop major bleeding from major vessels. Must be removed surgically"
Stings like fuck, and makes things worse i.e. a bigger injury scar,
and you have to have a handy surgeon in your survival kit!


E.g "Monistat (tioconazole) - for vaginal yeast infection. “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”
Live yogurt does the trick.

"Traumadex - will stop bleeding from head wounds"
So does grabbing the wound edges.
Think about applying pressure on head wounds - it might become a depressed fracture if you do!
So if in doubt - don't. The skin has a rich blood supply of the scalp,
and most of the time will look worse that it is because of the bleeding.

"Gold Dust - will promote healing in certain hard to heal areas like bed sores"
So will swabbing in 2% salt water - dry - apply sugar granules, then cover
with e.g. large plaster.
Re. plasters - some people are allergic to the adhesive,
and should not leave them on for more than a few hours,
other wise the skin tears off with the plaster - so use something else
e.g. micro pore tape.


Rather than rely on lists, provided with good intentions no doubt,
do your own research. Why bother with disinfectants and anti bacterials
when 4% hydrogen peroxide will do the same.
2 parts per million of bleach in water does the same re work surfaces.
Sugar - easy cheap way of dealing with surface skin infections.

Did you know that camphor impregnated petroleum jelly (vic vapour rub)
not only make it easier to breath when you've a cold,
also will get rid of athletes foot infections if you rub in between your toes.

Turmeric - cooking spice - also treats skin infections.
Aloevera plants - skin infections.

To wash dirt from a wound - use your own urine.

For many generations people have not had the proprietary branded goodies
and survived by using natural and easily replaceable ingredients.
I respectfully suggest that this is the way to go, because Walmart/Boots/Asda etc will not be open if (when!) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3555238948_61eeaa7425_o.gif

[steevo]

Get some Flamigel. You can put it on burns where the skin has come off, and it prevents infections getting to the raw flesh. It's like artificial skin.

http://www.newpharma.be/upload/img/medecines/0670810-nl-500.jpg

Great thread Jonas.

[jonas parker]

I worry when I read lists like the above.

Why? They are too general,

Any such list, by it's very nature has to be "general". Individual allergies/medical conditions must me handled by individuals and their families in SHTF situations.

and indeed misleading.

And this statement questions my honesty, integrity, and my professional ability. Why would a military-trained paramedic/surgical tech/ortho tech attempt to mislead you? Your answer to this question had better be a good one.

E.g. "Gator Ade (powdered sports drink) – mix with water for use in treating dehydration".
A pinch of salt, and a pinch of sugar in a pint (600ml) of water will
be more easily available to most of the population, and doesn't cost
anywhere near the proprietary brand names.

Actually, you're quite wrong here. Electrolyte imbalance is not merely "lack of salt". I was a practicing paramedic for many years and had occasion to treat both heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

E.g. "aspirin - anti-inflammatory, blood thinner"
IIRC approx 25% of the general population have some degree of allergy to aspirin.
I myself am extremely allergic to it, and used to suffer
intestinal bleeding when I was a child because my mother didn't know
even though she was a state registered nurse!
4 'anadin' tablets and all my problems would be over!!!!!

... and this is why you (or your "mother") have to take responsibility for your own treatment (or maltreatment) rather than blaming someone else. I guess you point is that if you're allergic to it, it should be taken off the market.

E.g "(hydrocortisone cream) - treats itching associated with mild allergic reactions and insect bites".
Thins the skin - literally. If applied too often can lead to bleeding,
and subsequent infection through damaged skin.

So don't take a bath in the stuff!

E.g "Quick Clot - will stop major bleeding from major vessels. Must be removed surgically"
Stings like fuck, and makes things worse i.e. a bigger injury scar,
and you have to have a handy surgeon in your survival kit!

Actually, "Quick Clot" has an exothermic reaction and can cause burns if used improperly. It must be surgically removed. However, if you have a severed femoral artery, you need a surgeon anyway. This will save your life for the hour or so until surgical intervention. May I presume that your choice if you're suffering from a femoral bleed is you don't want me to treat you because of the scar or the surgeon's bill, but rather I'll just hold your hand until you bleed out on the ground in 3 to 5 minutes?

E.g "Monistat (tioconazole) - for vaginal yeast infection. “If momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”
Live yogurt does the trick.

And where do you get "live yogurt" in a SHTF situation? The corner store?

"Traumadex - will stop bleeding from head wounds"
So does grabbing the wound edges.
Think about applying pressure on head wounds - it might become a depressed fracture if you do!
So if in doubt - don't. The skin has a rich blood supply of the scalp,
and most of the time will look worse that it is because of the bleeding.

It doesn't sound like you know what Traumadex is. Also, how many head wounds have you treated by "grabbing the wound edges"?

"Gold Dust - will promote healing in certain hard to heal areas like bed sores"
So will swabbing in 2% salt water - dry - apply sugar granules, then cover
with e.g. large plaster.
Re. plasters - some people are allergic to the adhesive,
and should not leave them on for more than a few hours,
other wise the skin tears off with the plaster - so use something else
e.g. micro pore tape.

Sugar will help promote healing in leg ulcers and bed sores, especially when mixed with providine solution, however a sack of sugar probably won't fit into a medical bag. As far as tape (plaster) is concerned, please review the definitions of "dressing" and "bandage".

Rather than rely on lists, provided with good intentions no doubt,

And also provided with extensive training and medical practice in this case...

do your own research. Why bother with disinfectants and anti bacterials when 4% hydrogen peroxide will do the same.

Oh really? I'd like to see the literature on this please.

2 parts per million of bleach in water does the same re work surfaces.

But a gallon of bleach loses it's effectiveness within 3 months after being opened.

Sugar - easy cheap way of dealing with surface skin infections.

Especially if your tetanus inoculations are up to date... otherwise an antibiotic is probably preferred.

Did you know that camphor impregnated petroleum jelly (vic vapour rub) not only make it easier to breath when you've a cold, also will get rid of athletes foot infections if you rub in between your toes.

Yes I did. It will also cure toenail fungus

Turmeric - cooking spice - also treats skin infections.

Some but not all.

Aloevera plants - skin infections.

Actually it's a burn treatment... but I doubt if the plants are native to either the US or the UK.

To wash dirt from a wound - use your own urine.

No thanks... there are kidney and bladder infections.

For many generations people have not had the proprietary branded goodies and survived by using natural and easily replaceable ingredients.
I respectfully suggest that this is the way to go, because Walmart/Boots/Asda etc will not be open if (when!) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3630/3555238948_61eeaa7425_o.gif

Actually, the way to go is to stock up now, which was the point of my original post.