Basic medical kits for your home, car, and pets
Med kits are essential. I keep a med kit easily accessible to me in my car, and I keep a larger one in the back of my SUV. At home, I keep each bathroom stocked with med supplies.
If we had to evacuate, in case of a natural or manmade disaster, my home med kit is very easy to throw into a go bag, to take with us. In addition to basic medical supplies, I also have a blood pressure cuff, a stethoscope, a kit to check blood sugar and a pulse oximeter. I also keep a good amount of isopropyl alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and saline spray to flush wounds. I keep my supplies in a waterproof container, which is easy to transport if we had to leave home.
Tourniquets are one of the most important pieces of a med kit. I keep one in my car kit, in my trunk kit, in my center console, on my person, and at home – they are in various spots which are easily accessible. You know what they say: two is one and one is none. Have tourniquets at the ready!
Every person and family are different, and some people may have medical issues that require certain medications or medical equipment another person may not need. Be specific with your med kit and be sure it has the items you and your family need.
For instance, my daughter gets nosebleeds. They’re less frequent now that she’s older, but it still happens randomly. They often make a mess, so I put together what I call a “nosebleed kit.” I keep one in her bathroom, one in my car med kit, and she keeps one on her person in case she needs it while she’s at work or away from me.
In addition to all of those supplies in my med kit, I keep medications on hand, both in my car and in my home. I am more likely to use homeopathic or natural remedies first, but I do have the basics such as Advil, Tylenol, and Claritin in addition to the meds I need for my migraines. Homeopathic options are always my first go to, and almost always provide the relief we need with the unwanted side effects you get from pharmaceuticals.
It’s also a wise step to have a med kit for your pet. My cat is an outdoor cat and often gets into fights with other animals. If he ever gets a really serious wound, I have the supplies needed to be able to tend it. My dog has seizures, so I have to be sure to have his medication, as well as items in case he has a seizure. This includes old towels to clean up any fluids his body releases. We also use these towels to make a harness to go under his belly. This harness helps us lift him up and down the stairs if his seizure activity affects his ability to walk on his own. We had to have a plan in place for him, because he’s a 90 pound dog, and when he is unable to walk, we still need to be able to get him outside for his potty breaks. Without the harness, it would be so much more difficult to help him. I also keep pet safe medical wrap, tweezers, and Benadryl on hand for the animals. In addition to that, I keep extra antibiotics, deworming powder, as well as pain and seizure meds in case we are unable to get to a pharmacy or vet.
Author: J. Felix