Medical Supplies - Always Overlooked

One area that is often overlooked in prepping is medical supplies. I am talking about supplies that the average Joe can purchase. Sure it would be great to load up on antibiotics and painkillers like other survivalist blogs preach, but I have yet to find a doctor to prescribe me these items for storage purposes. The supplies I am talking about here are bandages, alcohol, and other first aid type gear.

Putting together a storage of medical supplies can be an expensive task that you may not be very excited about. If your like me, than you would rather spend the money on guns, ammo, and food. However, those items won't be very useful if you are unable to take care of your injuries.When the power is out and the food is no longer being delivered to your local grocery stores, your jobs around the house have just increased 10 fold. Imagine the injuries you might incur chopping wood, hunting, digging a garden, and protecting your home from others.

Buying this large first aid kit is a great start to your prepping, and I guarantee you will be more prepared than any of your neighbors, but it's only a start. You want more bandages on hand than you believe you will ever use in a lifetime...and then buy a few more. Remember, most people will have little to no first aid supplies, so it becomes a great bartering item in the future. I would also add a few Quikclot packages to your kit. Quikclot is a sponge that helps to stop bleeding fast and can be the determining factor after a dangerous accident.

One way to have painkillers and antibiotics on hand without a prescription is to save the ones you or your family members don't use. Despite the expiration date, most medicines will still have some effectiveness and will be better than nothing. However, some medicines do become toxic with age, so be sure to research what you are storing. Tylenol and anti-diarrhea medicine is also highly suggested. Do you wear glasses or contacts? Try to have an extra pair handy and plenty of contact solution as well.

I know, this list is getting quite expensive isn't it? I have a solution to this. If your employer offers a flexible spending account for medical costs, sign up immediately. Flexible spending accounts subtract a certain amount from each paycheck, BEFORE TAXES, which means you barely notice a drop in pay. You then have a year to spend the money on anything medical. I use all of our unused portions to buy tons of bandages, glasses, contact solution, thermometers, tylenol, etc. A flexible spending account allows you to build a nice supply of emergency medical supplies without you feeling the expense burden. Don't be afraid to buy the store brand medicine and supplies as well. They are generally much cheaper and just as effective.

What do you recommend?