Pantries and Preparedness. Your first aid supplies with Rosanne.

This week we are taking a look at medical supplies preparedness.  Take a look at Rosanne's medical pantry...

So you can see why I asked her advice on this subject! Over to Rosanne:

My Medical Pantry

It all started because I do not have a cabinet in bathroom, I know good excuse. Plus the linen closet held like one folded set of sheets per shelf. So my sheets now hang and I have a medical closet.

I find a good medical pantry is necessary, remember you really don’t need it, till you need it and if it isn’t there, well forget it.

I wanted to cover as many practical bases as possible. Yes you can go overboard. Your knowledge is one thing to consider. Stock what you know you can use, not what you won’t. Example a Pulse Oximeter, I always thought they were cool. But really you don’t need to worry about blood gases because if you don’t have an oxygen tank and tubing, it’s not going to matter. Only way I can see one needing one is if there is a member with COPD in family.

One thing everyone should learn how to do is take ones blood pressure. They have the electric/battery operated ones where all you need to do it slip the cuff on, easy peasy. I have one of those because I know husband cannot read a meter or know when to start and stop with it. I also have 2 stethoscopes and cuffs. I also have a blood glucose meter with test strips, lancets and alcohol wipes. Now with both you need the knowledge of how to use, how to read and know when someone needs true medical attention.

Let’s start with Bandaging:

Band-Aids, various sizes (remember the shelf like on these is about 2 – 5 years for the adhesive on them).

Butterfly Bandages

Liquid Bandage (This stuff stings, but works) Super glue

Finger/Knuckle Bandage (I find we do pretty good with bandaging and tape in our house)

Steri-strips

Gauze Dressing Pads (Both 4x4 and 2x2) I recommend a lot along with Medical Tape.

Instead of Trauma Pads that they recommend I stock sanitary napkins and tampons. (Their main purpose is to absorb.)

Triangle Bandage, I have one, never used it. Have at one time improvised with a scarf. (It was larger and prettier.)

I have a pair of needle nose plier in my stash, for pulling needles, fishing hooks out.

Eye patch bandages

Betadine for washing cut areas, injuries. (Do not use hydrogen peroxide, it burns, ever see the white skin you have after pouring it on, well that’s the burn.)

For Burns: 
I grow an aloe plant in house.
Packs of Water Jel Burn Dressing, these are 4” x 4”.

For a Sprain or Break:

Flexible splints
For Fingers I just have popsicle sticks, they do make finger splints
Cold packs, (freezer and instant)

Elastic Bandaging (I have 2”, 3” and 4” and at least 2 to 3 of each) from experience I know they get dirty quick on a kids ankle)
for a toe break I have set toe and wrapped with cotton between toes and taped 2 toes together to act like a splint.)

OTC Meds:

Allery Meds, both pill form and nasal spray, eye drops.
Neti-pots, Nasal Irrigation System (Squirt Bottle ones), salt packets and distilled water, (The distilled water is important, you do not want to use tap water unless you have boiled it and let it cool).

Nausea and Diarrhea Meds along with Laxatives and Fleet Enemas

Various Cold Meds, pills & liquid

Cough Meds, liquid, pills, natural and cough drops

Antacids, liquid, chewable and pill (I have Zantac and Pepcid for both an antacid and because they are an H2 histamine blocker.  I have bad allergic reactions to mosquitoes, Benadryl is an H1 histamine blocker and does a good job but when taken with an H2 histamine blocker they work together amazingly to stop the itch.)

Fever & Pain:

Thermometers (2 old fashion kinds oral and rectal) also one battery read out one.

Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Excedrin, Aspirin
Cooling Towel

Reusable, fillable ice packs

Sprays, Ointments, Creams

Sting & Bite Gel (Benadryl, numerous others)

Hydrocortisone

Antibiotic Ointment

Hemorrhoid

Sun Screen

Lip Balm & Ointments

Antiseptic Hand Wash & Wipes

Bug Spray

Fungal Ointment

Iodine

Pain Relieving Cream

Lidocaine

Other Items:

Nitrile Gloves (I’m allergic to latex)

Tweezers

Ziploc Bags (separate from kitchen ones, because you never know when you will run out in kitchen and need them to dispose of soiled items) (You want something that seals.)

Scissors (The blunt end ones, don’t want to accidently cut someone)

Extra Waterproof Tape (For use over bandaging, holding those ace bandage one because you lost the clips, I finally got smart and purchased self-stick ace bandaging.)

Hot packs, both adhesive and 2 electric (wet & dry) plus additional rice hot packs and instant.

First-Aid Booklet

I also keep additional Rx items

My Medical Pantry isn’t as complete as others but it serves our needs and our level of being able to deal with a number of things that can happen.

One day a neighbor was walking on the road in front of our home, he fell, he is 92 yrs. old and on blood thinners. We didn’t know him personally at the time. But between cold packs to slow the bleeding down, wipes and bandaging we were able to stabilize him enough for his wife to get him to the ER, they let her know that whoever thought of the cold packs to slow the bleeding saved his life. Needless to say we were happy to hear he was doing well and we could help. It shows having a medical pantry is helpful to have.

Thank you Rosanne!  This is wonderful.  We all need to somewhat customise things to our own families needs.

Rosanne asked me to add the old fashioned hot water bottle. Heat can be a great pain relief.  I totally agree with that. We could include cold packs in the fridge for sprains and swelling as well. 

This year I have worked to organise and expand out supplies. Just being able to find things quickly is important.  Once organised I took Andy and showed him where everything is now kept. There is no use if we are all organised and no one knows where it all is!  We are not always home to explain it!

I have included first aid books.  These are easy to pick up here for $1 each, even current Red Cross manuals. I put one in each car and one in the first aid cupboard.  While we have the internet and phone what if we don't? If the power is down for some reason and there is an accident do you know what to do?

My husband is on blood thinners. This makes bleeding an issue. If he gets the most minor cut he bleeds so badly it's a fright!  So we need to know what to do as if he got a significant cut, well, it would be bad. So my first aid kit needs to consider this. I have bandanas, pads, clean towels, large dressings etc.  I have a lot of them!

I also keep face masks. The kind you wear in a flu epidemic or contagious exposure. I noticed the chemist had a box of about 100 of these. How long do you think these would last if something nasty broke out? Only the first few customers would get any. So I have 100 of those. 

We keep surgical gloves in both cars and the medical kit. If you need to help someone on the side of the road you need to be wearing gloves.  I always have these. I have a pair in my handbag. 

When I learned CPR and we were told you need to carry these things always!  

I also always carry aspirin and antihistamine.  Once time at the farm a man ran over a bee hive in a tractor! He had hundreds of bee bites! Mum gave him an antihistamine right away and they say it probably saved his life.  (it just reduces allergic reactions)

Inside my kitchen cabinets I keep instructions on basic first aid.  

Do your first aid supplies reflect the needs of your family? At the farm we have to have supplies suitable for dealing with snake bites plus know what do do. It is an hour to any help what so ever. 
Does everyone know where everything is kept and what things are for?
Are things several years out of date? (no kidding I had several things that were YEARS past use by dates!)
If you have any tips and hints in this area please share them!

My medical cupboard is in good shape since it was one of my projects so far this year.  But my over the counter medications and other medications are not!  Once my bathroom is finished this is something I will get organised as I will have a special cupboard set up.  That is about two weeks away.

Thank you so much Rosanne for sharing what you do in your home and your knowledge.

Have a very good week!  It is a beautiful day here.  xxx