How to get prepared: Medical readiness

When disaster strikes, we know medical responders may not be immediately available to attend to every one of our needs. Being medically ready for a disaster involves two complementary pieces:

1. Having medical supplies

2. Having the knowledge and skill to use the supplies appropriately

Either piece on its own is not sufficient to ensure you are prepared—both are needed. This doesn’t mean that you have to have both yourself. If you have supplies, but a neighbor has the training for using them appropriately, you’re ready as neighbors for illness or injury. The more households that have first aid supplies, and the more people that have life-saving skills, the better for everyone! 

Gathering medical supplies

The first aid supplies you put together will be determined in part by your level of training. Here is a list of basic items to consider including in your kit, along with some more advanced supplies. Do consider that in a disaster you may be the one using the kit, or you may be having it used on you! That realization may affect what you include.

Over-the-counter medications

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or an NSAID such as aspirin or Advil. Note that children require different dosages!   

• Anti-diarrhea medication such as Imodium

• Anti-nausea medication such as Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate or Dramamine

• Chewable aspirin, 81mg (for a suspected heart attack)

• Antihistamines such as Benedryl for treating mild allergic reactions

Supplies

• Sterile disposable gloves

• Hand sanitizer

• Saline wound and eye wash

• Trauma shears to cut clothing or bandages

• Tweezers

• Feminine hygiene products for stopping bleeding of wounds

• Band-Aids, various sizes

• Gauze pads, various sizes

• Roll of self-adhesive bandage wraps

• SAM splint (available at Amazon or REI)

• ACE bandage

• Triangular bandage 

More advanced supplies

See Rescue Essentials

• Hemostatic gauze to help blood clot

• Tourniquet (a CAT tourniquet is recommended) 

• Permanent marker to record the time a tourniquet is placed

• Chest seals (Hyfin vent) for an open sucking wound to the chest

• Israeli bandage

Developing disaster medical skills

Skills can be learned and enhanced by taking courses like First Aid, CPR and Stop the Bleed offered frequently by our fire department. This website maintains lists of upcoming local medical classes on our Events page.

Health professionals have formed a working group to enhance disaster medical preparedness on South Whidbey.

Learn more

	Medical trainings related to first aid and CPR Healthcare Prepares Working Group
	Prepare in a year: Medical supplies

Let’s talk

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