What medicine is best to keep stock on hand for? What medicine should I stock up on at home in case for emergencies?
Is it worth getting a first aid kit as well?
What medicine to stock up on?
pollambo on 26/12/2021 - 18:38
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Anyone got a recommendation on where to get a good first aid kit?
Personal carry around $8: https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/st-john-ca…
Best Home one: https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/st-john-am…
The best thing is its cheap and part proceeds go to Charity
What about fire blanket and extinguisher
On this note does anyone have a good source for a first aid kit "refill".
Just a pack of assorted things so I don't need to think about it and can just push order.
I'm far from an expert but between some army reserves and now working in mines rescue I've taken a decent interest in what to include in first aid kits.
Buying an officeworks kit is great for practicality of patching up small stuff if you have kids around getting little cuts, but the whole point of 1st aid is to save someone for long enough for the ambos to get there. If it's a life threatening circus then some bandaids and a sling aren't going to help much.
This is especially true for car kits. If you're providing first aid on the road there's a very good chance you'll need to give CPR (one-way valve) or plug up some traumatic bleeding.What I would recommend:
Buy two extinguishers. Use one to teach your kids or Mrs etc. how to operate it under pressure. It's cheap insurance that might well pay off one day.
Buy a cheap 1st aid kit, supplement with trauma items as that's what you really need, eg Israeli bandages and tourniquets. Again, spend a little more to buy an Israeli or two extra to let your family test out and use under some pressure.
Saline. Lots of it. Even the better kits only have a few tiny tubes of saline. Don't screw around, just go buy a big 'ol bottle of the stuff. The second you have an even moderately sized graze, gash or burn you will need to be literally soaking it before you go throwing on bandaging, otherwise get ready for some sticky pain!
If you have kids or old parents, go get a decent 1st aid certification, it's such any easy and relatively cheap prevention to immense regret. Once you have this under your belt, add in a few OP sizes, a BP cuff and maybe even some obs cards and SP02 monitor if you're keen.
Finally, look at where you live, for me, snake bandages and vinegar (ocean critters) are worth having around too. Down south think about space blankets or heat packs and maybe even some anti-depressants since it's so lame down there 😉
Hi there, may i ask which saline brand you'd recommend? I've only ever seen saline for contact lenses. Thanks!!
@Starlight8: Honestly just the el cheapo bottle from chemist warehouse, its about 4 bucks per 1/2 litre.
I personally also throw in a few of these too:
https://www.yourdiscountchemist.com.au/aerowash-eyewash-woun…
They are the ones some of the better kits come with that I mentioned originally. Alone they aren't overly helpful but they are usefully for smaller stuff or squirting into eyes.
Something like this as a one off purchase is cool too:
https://www.seton.net.au/first-aiders-choice-fac-saline-w-ey…Kills two birds with one stone. If you need it just for the saline, rip the top off.
Bandaids.
and yes get a first aid kit.The ones that are in date.
All you need on hand is what you currently need to take day to day really, plus some Ibuprofen/Nurofen/Paracetamol cant hurt..
If you're in the bush and/or around Jack Jumpers often some over the counter antihistamines like Phenergan are worth having on hand, a lot of people have a bad reaction to their bites…
It's pointless stocking up on meds you're unlikely to ever take IMO.. Doomsday preppers and such stock up on antibiotics and the likes but they have a limited life span and if the shit hits the fan bad enough that you need antibiotics and there's no access to doctors or hospitals, you're likely to have much bigger worries than taking some softcore antibiotics..
yes those hoarded dehydrated toilet paper rolls really saved our civilisation
If food runs out, toilet paper will not be a problem.
I honk for once slavoz has a point. OOD meds do have a place, certainly as a contingency plan. Though would be best to maintain an in date kit for everyday use, and save the OOD for end of days/bug out kit.
And yes, everybody needs a bug out kit- never know when you might need to run away from the world- not just because of conspiracies/trumpets/waning/covax/rapture. Just basic stuff to take care of yourself if we have floods, extended power outages etc.
Oh no you got us all wrong. We STILL laugh at the doomsday preppers.
Does that include the ones stocking up on masks, getting their 9th booster, and staying inside because "were all gunna die!!"?
@SlavOz: How is preventing illness prepping for doomsday? If anything, it's prepping to prevent doomsday.
@tetra: You're not preventing anything. You're living in the doomsday already. Once you've reduced your existence down to religious mask wearing and bi-monthly vaccinations, you're already well past normal times.
@SlavOz: Don't bother with these people SlavOz— I'm with you on this. There are many reasons to be prepared and people have this false sense of security that we will maintain a supply chain in all circumstances.
Unfortunately, these same people mocking you right now will be the same people that will feel entitled to your resources and skills when SHTF. Given the time and financial investment preparing and getting insulted and ridiculed to have basic plan— I won't feel an ounce of remorse leaving these people in the dirt.
In short, these people are not worth your energy.
@randomvis: No doubt they'll do what they've done during the entire pandemic - beg the government to make up for their bad choices.
@SlavOz: Ah yes, the ‘get government out of my life you damned socialists’, meanwhile enjoys socialised health care and other benefits of a (what most would call) a normal functioning society where we take care of each other.
@Vote for Pedro: Ah yes, the 'c4p1tAlisM js 3v1l', meanwhile enjoys all the immense benefits and luxuries it provides, including your beloved triple super megaMaxi deluxe vaccine.
In my mind there is a significant line in the sand between being prepared and being a prepper- most is about volume of stuff, but if you take their attitude with a grain of salt, some valid points are raised. I reckon if you have 2-4 weeks of dried/canned foods and basic medical supplies etc you’re sweet and ready for most things our country can throw at us.
I for one, hate not having something on hand when it’s needed, particularly emergency stuff, though my career is based in emergency/unexpected/uncontrolled situations, so that probably skews me a bit. I’m a self sufficient “doer” and control freak- ymmv
In that case, I would rather hoard weapons… I guess a solid baseball bat will be enough to procure some hoarded stuff.
note the drowsymaking qualities of phenergan! Had some prescribed by a doctor to deal with a histamine reaction that was keeping me up at night and it knocked me out!
Would recommend Loratadine instead, Non drowsy.
I have the opposite effect to taking phenergan. Better than a redbull and caffeine tablets.
I don't understand doomsday preppers.. I'd much prefer to just die than have to live in a post apocalyptic world.
Might depend a bit on who is using them, and medical history. Eg if you have kids, you might want children's Panadol, or colourful band-aids in your kit. If someone in the family has bad allergies, then you might need to include or exclude certain stuff. And if you're getting bandages and stuff, learn how to use them. Not worth much if you get a full kit, and have no idea how to effectively use any of the contents.
Is it worth getting a first aid kit as well?
YES!
Sore Throat Gargle
Mopiko
Tea Tree Oil
Calimine Lotion
Watermelon FrostMostly for minor ailments. You'll need 000 when it's a real emergency.
The real danger is fire. Make sure you fire safety items are up to scratch and your first aid training.
I had to Google what watermelon frost is… Gotta say, that's an interesting name
Mopiko!! Finally someone who understands the soothing minty sensation with the beads to infuse into your skin
Whatevs on clearance? I spotted multivitamin bottles for like $4 - cleaned the shelf out.
Opiates.
People don't appreciate a stupid answer to a stupid question?
vinegar
Ivermectin :P
Nay!
Lol no one's denying that it's an effective anti parasitic.
@Almost Banned: no, it's a common medication for scabies and all sorts of parasitic infections. also used as horse dewormer at the doses those idiots have been taking
@Almost Banned: It surprises me that:
Anti-vaxxers haven't made the flawed leap in logic, that horses use ivermectin and that horses don't get COVID, so ivermectin must prevent COVID.
Given that my comment is a parody of the invalid logic anti vaxxers usually spout, I'm going to assume your comment means I've hit my mark.
@Haliax: Sorry, perhaps my comment was ambiguous, I was only stating because a correlation exists between horses and ivermectin that someone could establish this link.
Granted, I know this fallacy (Confusing Correlation with Causation, Post Hoc Ergo Propter) hasn't been made, but it can be useful to think about potential reasons, as to address them before they're mentioned.
But, in this case, I was only trying to take the mickey out of anti vaxxers by using invalid logic.
@Haliax: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8203399/
Mate, you better do some reading on what the "Conspiracy theorists" are reading.
Na, disinfectant is better, its gonna be used to poison anyway in that large quantities
What's missing in the photo in the link?
Placebos
Everyone forgets to stock up on these
These ones are the most popular when I used to work at Officeworks years ago
Personal carry around $8: https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/st-john-ca…
Best Home one: https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/st-john-am…
The best thing is its cheap and part proceeds go to Charity
We have multiple FA kits. Just got another one from St John's (get a discount at courses)
In terms of everyday meds - pain killers, buscopan, metclopromide (script), asthma stocks and epi (if needed in your family).
Burn treatments are good (burn sheets, Jelonet)
Topicals for bites etc (I like Axe Oil)
Betadine in various forms.
Good stock of bandages and bandaids.
Freeze packs
Hydrolite or equivalent. Buy in bulk off eBay much cheaper (Squinchers)
69 cents panamax
Panamax makes me vomit every time I tried to take one.
You're doing it wrong.
hydroxychloroquine
How has nobody suggested MDMA yet?
I have to search for what is that means lol …
I personally keep in (specific to our families situation)
- Paracetamol
- ibuprofen
- aspirin (most people won’t need this, I find it useful for migraines)
- antihistamines
- Ondansetron (prescription only)
- gastrolyte
- ventolin
- epipen (for our kid with a diagnosed anaphylactic allergy)In terms of non medicines in addition to what everyone has said above a thermometer particularly if you have kids is a good idea. Under arm for infants then an infrared forehead one should be fine for older kids and adults.
I don’t find prestocked first aid kits that useful at home, we just have a selection of bandaids, some antiseptic, saline and some tubigrip.
I do find it convenient to have a small stash of stuff on hand so we’re not having to try and find a late night pharmacy or suffer until we can get something.
No aspirin for all kits. The current advice for both heart attack and more so for strokes is to take an aspirin if possible ASAP. The blood thinning effects of aspirin could save a life.
Great point! Sorry I didn’t think of that since I keep it in for headaches. Thanks for the reminder. Although I thought with strokes you need to wait to see what kind of stroke it is as aspirin can make a haemorrhagic stroke worse.
True. The emergency department does a CT first then gives aspirin.
@EtherealArchelon: Doesn't that defeat the purpose of taking aspirin in an emergency? If you have to wait for a CT and you are already in the hospital there are far better drugs than aspirin
@greatlamp: Aspirin is not recommended as stroke first aid. 13% of strokes are haemorragic.
In terms of better therapies, not really. Only very few people can have thrombolysis or clot retrieval.Heart attacks can be aortic dissection for which aspirin is bad but they're much rarer.
Good list, I'd add Imodium, a compression bandage and some sudafed
Yes, good additions, I do have the compression bandage and Sudafed in, though I’ve never used Imodium, I think I was always told ‘better out than in’ and just keep up the fluids, I can see how it could get to the point of using Imodium though.
ondansatron has constipating qualities too
Oh! That’s handy since both ends seem to often be synced
solid list.
Suprised Maxolon (Metoclopramide) didn't make the list. I think it's prescription only but somewhat cheaper than ondansetron for nausea and seems to be good for migraine associate nausea.That’s actually a really good point. I haven’t had maxolon for a long time but probably a good idea. I’ve had a few migraines lately with horrendous nausea and just suffered through because I reserve ondansetron for proper uncontrolled vomiting (basically when my kid brings home gastro from daycare). I’ve wondered why ondansetron is so expensive - so effective though. Thanks, I’m going get some maxolon in.
I also get nausea with migranes at times and find that if I actually vomit the migrane goes away.
Ondansetron is non-pbs medication (unless the patient has cancer, in which case it is pbs). That's why it's so expensive.
Ask your GP?
Iodine and cotton wool balls for cuts and grazes.
Oxycontin…lobbyists were pushing the LNP hard to let it rip here in Australia.
I'm surprised they didn't concede like they usually do when they sniff a buck.
Endone/oxycodone isn't appropriate for a home first aid kit. You should be seeking medical attention if you're in that much acute pain.
If you are prepping for COVID which Qld Health has been saying here this week, then they suggest painkillers, thermometer and the OTC COVID rapid antigen test kit (at supermarkets, chemists, etc). Also adequate supplies of your usual medication in case you have to isolate.
VIT D is so important for overcoming colds, flus and even COVID. When I was actually deficient in VIT D, I had to source megadoses from overseas (5000 iu just wasn't cutting it and most available here at that time were 1000 iu or less). I now have an ampoule of megadose VIT D which was a prescription.
Any source on Vit D efficiency? I'm healthy but catch a cold with the slightest contact with someone who has/had it.
rapid antigen tests
Maxolon or Ondansetron are a godsend when they're needed. Most people can't leave the bathroom when they have bad Gastro, let alone go to the doc and fill a script at the pharmacy.
Can a is?
Oxycodone And Cialis
Iodene, ibprofen, Ventolin if you have asthmatics, allergy heyfever tablets.
What I keep at home:
Paracetamol, ibuprofen - basic analgesia
Loratadine - allergies and hay fever
Loperamide - quick relief if needed lol
Salbutamol - I just keep in case I have an asthmatic friend over who forgot
Mupirocin 2% - sometimes use this for small cuts if it’s on something dirty after cleaning
Lignocaine-based lozenge - quick relief of sore throat
Pseudo ephedrine - I pretty much always have some left over from when I last used it (decongestant)
Ondansetron - quick relief of nausea
Prochlorperazine - preemptively in case of motion sickness
Augmentin DF - not so much now, but I’d always take a course for overseas travel because I tend to travel remoteOthers:
Band-Aid’s, compression bandage, electrolytes (Berocca or similar)
In addition to the list of standard first aid and medicenes others listed I keep a pack of cold and flu tablets as nothing worse than when you get a flu and you have to go to the shops to get medicine when all you want to do is die in bed.
Andrographis, echinacea, olive leaf, vitamin C, ginger, zinc, manuka, turmeric
Basically anything traditionally used to reduce cold flu and respiratory symptoms for when we get covid for the first time!
It's good to keep a decent supply of cannabis on hand, for emergencies.
Why?
for emergencies.
To sell?
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Q; Is it worth getting a first aid kit?
A; YES
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