15 Survival Medical Supplies You May Have Missed

medical-suppliesWe’re all well aware that medical supplies, equipment, and especially qualified assistance will be tough to get hold of after most any disaster, especially longer term situations. With that in mind, I thought I would be a good idea to list several items that would prove useful to you and yours that you might not have considered stockpiling. I’m not talking about things like bandages, gauze, antiseptic ointments, or even Tylenol and Ibuprofen. It’s the “other” things that you should have but might not. Understand that none of the following is meant to be medical advice whatsoever. With that in mind, here’s my list, add your own as you see fit…

  1. Elastic bandages (ACE bandages in 3″ or 4″ widths) – useful for so many things, including sore muscles, strains, sprains, holding gauze in place, and plenty more. I suggest you have at least a few stockpiled.
  2. Motion sickness pills – not just for those who take frequent cruises, motion sickness pills can be used for times where a person is feeling generally nauseated or otherwise dizzy, including for inner ear problems.
  3. SAM splints – easily moldable splints for everything from your forearms to fingers. Yes, you can tape two twigs together to hold a broken finger in place but a comfortable SAM split will be so much more appreciated even a few days in. 😉
  4. CPR masks (w/one way valve) – even if it’s family and friends you’re treating, diseases can still be spread. With this in mind, consider a CPR mask that includes a one way valve in order to minimize such problems.
  5. Crutches / walker – People with broken feet/legs need to be as mobile as they can be and crutches (or a walker) allow them to do that.
  6. Israeli Bandage a “special” type of bandage that is used to put pressure on a very badly bleeding wound.
  7. Clotting Powders (Quikclot) – in most cases, an Israeli bandage should do the trick, but if for some reason it doesn’t then this may be your next best option to stop the bleeding. I hear that some of the older Quikclot had problems so be sure you buy newer stock.
  8. Tourniquet – if the above don’t work (the Israeli bandage and clotting powders) then a tourniquet IS the last resort. On the other hand, I hear it’s a first resort for many field medics these days.
  9. TempTooth – dental problems are among the more likely of medical concerns for most of us; a broken tooth or loose crown WILL be a huge problem. While something like DenTemp is ok, TempTooth may be a better option for longer term situations.
  10. Ear Oil – anything that can be used to soothe an earache, especially useful for young children.
  11. Benadryl – most of us recognize that Benadryl is used for general allergy concerns. You might not be aware, however, that is can be used for more than allergies, including more severe allergic reactions. Besides an Epipen, about the best that most of us can do is to stock Benadryl to deal with allergies from things like bee stings in a SHTF situation. That said, Benadryl is NOT sufficient to treat acute anaphylaxis (a person needs proper medical treatment). So, if you can seek medical attention then by all means do so.
  12. Oral Airways – among other reasons, oral airways can be used to ensure a person’s airway doesn’t close while waiting for Benadryl to take effect.
  13. Gas X (or similar) – anything that can be used to reduce gas and bloating or other indigestion problems. Remember, you may have a very significant change in your diet that could cause a variety of intestinal problems.
  14. Laxative (or other constipation medications) – again, even a relatively minor change in your diet may cause unwanted side-effects in your bowels. This is equally true in children, even young children. For toddlers and infants consider a suppository instead.
  15. Vaseline – so many uses, look it up!

Let me reiterate, just because you may now purchase and therefore have on-hand any of the aforementioned supplies doesn’t mean that you should use it! For example, if you don’t know when and how to use a clotting powder then you shouldn’t do so. Of course, it behooves you to get proper training with these supplies–and anything else you choose to stock–so that you do no harm.

Now, what would you add?


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My latest book, The Survival Blueprint: How to Prepare Your Family for Disaster, can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJ49Y5X4

Comments

17 responses to “15 Survival Medical Supplies You May Have Missed”

  1. Rena Hale

    I save all my splints and slings. You never know when it may come in handy. I used to work at a medical clinic and when their syringes expired ( of course they don’t go bad) I brought them home for my prepping. I am on a very tight budget so I pick up a bottle or three of peroxide, alcohol, aspirin,etc. from Dollar Tree every payday. Dollar tree has medical supplies for a dollar and you would be surprised at the things they have.

  2. Definitely need to have a bunch of survival blankets on hand to.

  3. D.R. Bayez

    Also an “Aspen Collar (neck brace)or equivalent,to stabilize the head and neck,if injured…

  4. Tammy

    Vicks VapoRub, so you can put a dab up each nostril and endure smelly situations, like smokers’ houses or dead bodies.

    Rabies vaccinations for pets. You can get them via catalogs and online; they’re OTC, believe it or not. Also, flea meds. And insecticides/pesticides.

  5. Vic

    1: Manuka Honey “Active” at least 16+ (used for injuries)
    2: Butterfly bandages – works like stitches (without the stitches)
    3: Charcoal (if you get poisoned)
    4: Activated Charcoal (for poisoned type bug bits, even the brown recluse from what I have read)
    5: Liquid skin (like super glue for skin)

  6. cheryl

    I’ve kept cayenne (not chili} powder in all my kits for stopping bleeding and warming cold extremities. also put in denture repair kits.just found your site and am really enjoying it, thanks.

    1. That’s a very good idea, Cheryl. Thank you for your suggestion.

  7. Rob Greene (@RGRundeRGRound)

    For a Bug-IN, you cannot really have “too much”
    but we do need to try and get good supplies.
    I thought I had a good plan, but this site and
    SHTFplan.com really help!

  8. David Foltz

    I would include honey… because it helps in healing bites, miner wounds etc and never goes bad [tastes good as well]…
    Also a snake bite kit for venomous bites [little suction cups]….

    Water filter straws….

    I like that someone mentioned super glue, I used this many times to heal cuts and stop bleeding…

    If you live up here in Canada, you are allowed 3 months of life saving meds [e.g blood thinners etc] so stock up….

    1. T.R.

      I wish we had that law , Americans have to sometimes go the grey route and order on-line to avoid our broken and corrupt system .

      1. Ron

        T.R., I live in the U.S. and I get all my prescription meds through Walmart. My doctor gives me three month prescriptions so I can save money on the bigger refills. Of course I pay cash for mine, no insurance. The insurance company is usually the one that will nix the three month supply. They don’t want to pay for three months worth and have you kick the bucket before you use it all.

      2. Rob Greene (@RGRundeRGRound)

        We CAN get up to 3 months of meds.
        My insurance forces this, it is mail-order stuff, same brands.
        Check into it!

  9. Pam S

    Eye drops, tweezers, vinyl gloves, not latex!

  10. T.R.

    Anti Diarrhetic meds , if things get REAL bad , your diet will be all over the place . If having enough water is a problem , getting diarrhea could kill a person .

  11. Roy

    the one thing i have that is not readly thought of is Wet Jel Burn bandage/Dressing… remember we are playing with fire…

  12. Betty Liberty

    Super glue.

  13. Ron

    Good info. Couple of things there I hadn’t thought of. Thanks!

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