Greetings, all!
Here's a list of medical supplies that I consider important to have in one's home...
An asterisk (*) denotes herbal-related suggestions; a pound sign (#) denotes magical-related suggestions:
--rubbing alcohol
--hydrogen peroxide
* witchhazel
--liquid antibiotic soap
--sterile water
--electrolyte solution (like "Pediolyte", or some sports drinks)
--epsom salts
* and # sea salt
--betadine
--triple antibiotic cream
* herbal salve (containing at least calendula, comfrey, goldenseal, and yarrow ideally)
* tea tree oil or ointment
* lavendar essential oil
* clove essential oil
--Q-tips
--cottonballs/pads
--waterproof tape
--clothe athletic tape
--sterile gauze pads (2" and 4" minimum)
--combine dressing or sanitary pads (for heavy bleeding wounds)
--Vaseline dressing or aluminum foil (for open sucking chest wounds)
--"Second-skin" dressing (for burns)
--silvadene burn cream (warning for those with Sulfa-drug allergies)
* aloe gel
--kling gauze
--bandaids (assorted sizes)
--non-stick adhesive pads (assorted sizes)
--moleskin (for blisters)
--Ace bandage wraps (2", 4", and 6")
--adhesive "horse" wraps (found cheaply at feed and seed stores)
--"Sams" splint (flexible, reusable coated aluminum splint)
--hydrocortisone cream
--benadryl cream
--Primatene Mist inhaler (for anaphylactic reactions -- warnings for those with thyroid conditions)
--antihistamine over-the-counter (OTC) capsules (one package should be Benadryl; other packages can include Sudafed, Drixoal, etc)
* homeopathic formulas for Sinus Congestion, Cold, Flu, Allergies, Stomach Upset, Nausea/Vomiting)
--OTC preparations for diarrhea, vomiting/nausea, gas, stomach upset, cough suppressant (ideally an "expectorant" and "decongestion" formula)
--sharp pair of scissors (for cutting through clothes and bandages)
--sharp knife
--needle (for splinters)
--clean cotton thread (can be used for suturing in an emergency; NOTE: Human hair can also be used, if long enough)
--tweezers
--two hemostats (can be used to clamp wound edges together, or even clamp severed arteries)
--CPR mask protector
--flashlight with extra batteries
--stethoscope and blood pressure cuff (most pharmacies have some rather cheap)
--lighter and/or matches
--"space" blanket (for hypothermia conditions)
--heat and cold packs
--3 or 5cc syringe (can be used to irrigate wounds)
--eye-wash cup (used with sterile water to irrigate eyes)
--ammonia inhalants
--activated charcoal (for some cases of poisonings)
--syrup of ipecac (for other cases of poisonings)
--pain relievers (to include aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen)
* white willow bark (tea or capsule)
--oral glucose
* fruit-flavored Lifesavers or several packets of sugar (for glucose-related conditions)
# selection of crystals, to include but not limited to: clear quartz, amethyst, hematite, bloodstone, black tourmaline
# incense -- sage, sweetgrass, lavendar, frankincense, myrrh, coffee
* echinacea
* goldenseal
* ginger
* Vitamin C (1000mg)
* zinc lozenges
* valerian
* chamomile (warnings for those with goldenrod allergies)
In general, a complete first aid kit should endeavor to provide for:
1) Emotional/psychological/spiritual -- sadness, stress, anger, depression, confusion, exhaustion
2) Physical -- organs (heart, lungs, skin, liver, kidneys, intestines, eyes, reproductive); nerves (head, neuralgia); muscles/bones (wound management, structural injury, infection)
3) Overall -- allergies, illnesses, etc.
Things to remember...
Never move a patient suspected of a spinal injury, UNLESS the patient's life is immediately threatened by an external source (i.e. a burning car or building). If such a patient MUST be moved, drag the patient rather than attempting to pick up and carry.
Never attempt to re-align a suspected joint injury. Stabilize the area above and below the joint in the position in which you find it!
Broken bones can be tractioned and stabilized in a position of comfort for transport, UNLESS the bones pierce the skin! For "open" fractures, stabilize injury to prevent bone movement and transport immediately.
Do not be afraid to deliver artificial respiration (provided the patient is NOT breathing) or cardiac massage (provided there is NO heartbeat). Remember, if the patient is not breathing and has no pulse, the patient is DEAD. You just can't screw them up any more than that, so don't be afraid to administer CPR! Even "bad" CPR is better than no CPR!
In the event of a severe puncture wound, do not attempt to remove the puncture-item (which may do more damage being removed than it did going in). Stabilize the item with packing material (towels, inverted paper cups, whatever) and transport immediately.
For poisonings: Activated charcoal is appropriate to neutralize all poisons that should NOT be vomited (it also works on alcohol-poisonings, but the patient will not thank you later! LOL). Syrup of Ipecac is appropriate to help expel all poisons that can be vomited. Do not use either remedy without first knowing the poison you are dealing with! When in doubt in regards to appropriate treatment, contact your local poison control center or emergency room personnel.
Never use a tourniquet unless A) when dealing with an already amputated extremity, or B) if you have received specific training in the proper use of a tourniquet. Misuse of a tourniquet can result in irreparable damage.
That's all I can think of at the moment!
Rowan
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Festival Quote: It's looks like a Tampax gone wrong! ---Lynda
