Bandaids!
I think this is an area that most people underestimate the importance of. In a long term emergency, we will not be able to shower like normal. We will not be able to wash our clothes, or wash our dishes, or clean like normal. Yes, we will have some water, but not enough to use it all the time on showers and such. This will introduce the easier possibility of sickness and infection in simple situations. You nick your hand on the edge of something sharp and get just a little blood. Normally with showering and washing hands in the sink, this isn't a big deal, but now it can easily get infected, which can lead to various conditions including death. Also, you will be working harder and doing more physical labor, which will increase the chance of getting hurt. You can't just run to the Insta-care or ER to get patched up. You are on your own! Do you have alcohol, or peroxide, or iodine to clean the wound? Do you have antibiotic ointment and bandages to put on the wound to keep it clean? If it still gets infected, do you have antibiotics to help fight the infection? I, along with the help of a vet doctor friend have put together a pretty comprehensive First Aid kit that is meant for long term use. There is a first aid section and then another section dealing with OTC medications for common sicknesses that may happen. This is important again, because if your kid gets sick, you can't just run to the doctor and have them get checked out and a prescription filled. So you will need a wide variety of OTC meds to alleviate the symptoms, and make it easier for your body to heal.
Basic Prepper First Aid Kit
Pandemic Flu Kit
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Other items
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Advanced Prepper First Aid Kit
These items require more knowledge and training to use, but would still be great to have on hand. It would be sad to have access to a doctor, but no tools or meds for him to use to save a family member.
- Surgical kit
- Suture kits
- Antibiotics
- Amoxicillin
- Keflex
- Sulfamethoxazole & Trimethoprim (SMZ-TMP) - Commonly available as the Sulfa based combination antibiotic - Bactrim and Bactrim DS
- Azithromycin (Z–Pak)
- Doxycycline
- Chest seal
- Vermox - Thread worm medication
Individual First Aid Kit
Since you will be out and about working harder and doing more, it would be wise for everyone to have their own individual first aid kit too. That way if you are away from your home base, you can take care of any problems until you get back to your home.
- QuikClot
- Israeli bandage
- Foot fungus gel
- Moleskin
- Sunscreen
- Chapstick
- Bug Repellant
- CAT/Tourniquet
- Latex/nitrile gloves
- Sanitizer
- Disinfectant - Povidone iodine
- Gauze - 2x2, 4x4
- Waterproof tape
- Antibiotic Ointment
- Bandages - Various sizes
- Pepto tablets
- Ibuprofen
- Tylenol
- EMT Shears
- Duct tape
- ACE bandage