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Prepping for a Physical Health Crisis (Part 2): Build a Robust Home Medical Kit

By The SHTF App Team

Most home first aid kits are a graveyard of expired creams and dried-out wet wipes in a flimsy cardboard box. When an injury happens, you can’t find what you need.

⚠️ Infection waits for no one. In a crisis where access to pharmacies or hospitals is limited, a minor cut can become a major infection, and a simple fever can become dangerous dehydration. A professional-grade kit isn’t just for paramedics. It gives you the capability to treat injuries immediately, manage illness at home, and bridge the gap until professional help arrives.

The Readiness Audit

Go look at your current first aid kit. What do you see?

  • 🟢 Green: You have an organized, durable kit (tackle box/EMT bag) separated into modules. You checked expiration dates within the last 6 months.
  • 🟡 Yellow: You have a plastic bin under the sink with loose band-aids, a half-empty bottle of Tylenol, and no trauma supplies.
  • 🔴 Red: You have no kit. You scramble to find a band-aid in a junk drawer when someone bleeds.

If you are Yellow or Red, execute Phase 1 immediately.

The Foundation: Your Container & Organization

Before you buy supplies, decide where they will live. A flimsy cardboard box won’t do.

Choose a Durable Container: Look for something sturdy, easy to carry, and preferably water-resistant. Excellent options include:

  • A large fishing tackle box (the multiple compartments are perfect for organization)
  • A dedicated EMT or trauma bag
  • Clear, stacking plastic bins with secure lids

Organize into Modules: Don’t just dump everything inside. Use large, clearly labeled ziplock bags or smaller pouches to group similar items together. This modular approach allows you to find what you need instantly in a stressful situation.

The “What”: Your Comprehensive Supply List

Build your kit around these four essential modules.

Module 1: 🩹 Trauma & Wound Care

(For stopping bleeding, cleaning, and protecting wounds)

To Clean & Prep:

  • Antiseptic Wipes: Individually wrapped wipes are best. Get both alcohol-based and non-alcohol (BZK) wipes.
  • Saline Wound Wash: A pressurized can is excellent for flushing out debris from a cut or scrape without needing clean water.
  • Medical Soap: A small bottle of unscented liquid soap.

To Stop Bleeding:

  • Gauze Pads & Rolls: Get a variety of sizes (2x2, 4x4, and rolled gauze). You can never have too much.
  • Abdominal (ABD) Pads: Large, absorbent pads (5x9) for bigger wounds.
  • Trauma Shears: For cutting away clothing to access a wound. These cut through denim and leather easily.
  • Tourniquet: (Advanced item) For a severe bleeding emergency on a limb, a commercial tourniquet (like a CAT or SOFTT-W) is a life-saving tool. If you buy one, you must get training on how to use it correctly.

To Cover & Protect:

  • Adhesive Bandages: A large variety pack with different sizes, including specialty ones for knuckles and fingertips.
  • Butterfly Closures or Steri-Strips: For helping to close the edges of a cut.
  • Medical Tape: Get both cloth “athletic” tape and waterproof tape.
  • Moleskin: A must-have for preventing or treating blisters.
  • Burn Dressings/Gel: Specialized gel-soaked dressings to cool and protect a burn.

Module 2: 💊 Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications

(For managing common symptoms and illnesses)

Pain & Fever:

  • Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
  • Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Allergies:

  • Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) - for acute allergic reactions
  • Loratadine or Cetirizine (Claritin, Zyrtec) - for non-drowsy seasonal allergy relief

Stomach & GI Issues:

  • Loperamide (Imodium) - for diarrhea
  • Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) - for upset stomach
  • Antacids (Tums, Rolaids) - for heartburn

Topical Creams & Ointments:

  • Hydrocortisone cream (1%) - for rashes and insect bites
  • Triple-antibiotic ointment (Neosporin)
  • Calamine lotion - for poison ivy/oak

Cough & Cold:

  • Cough drops or lozenges
  • A decongestant and/or cough suppressant

Module 3: 🩺 Tools & Instruments

(The essential hardware for providing care)

  • Fine-tipped tweezers: For splinters and ticks
  • Digital thermometer
  • Nitrile gloves: Multiple pairs (avoid latex to prevent allergy issues)
  • CPR breathing barrier mask: A one-way valve mask for safely performing rescue breaths
  • Elastic wrap (ACE bandage): For sprains and strains
  • Triangular bandage: Can be used as a sling, a pad, or a tourniquet in a pinch
  • First-Aid Manual: A current, comprehensive printed guide. Don’t rely on your phone in an emergency.

Module 4: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Personal & Specialized Items

(Customize the kit for your family’s unique needs)

  • Prescription Medications: A 30-day supply of any essential daily medications
  • EpiPens: If anyone has a severe allergy
  • Asthma Inhaler and spacer
  • Blood Glucose Meter & Test Strips for diabetics
  • Baby/Infant medications: Doses are different for children. Include pediatric versions of pain relievers, electrolyte solutions, and a nasal aspirator.
  • Eye Wash / Sterile Eye Drops

The “How”: Maintaining Your Kit

A kit you build and forget is unreliable. Preparedness is an ongoing process.

Schedule a Bi-Annual Check: Set a recurring calendar reminder for every six months (a good time is when you check your smoke detector batteries). During this check:

  • Check Expiration Dates: Go through every single medication, cream, and wipe. Create a shopping list of anything that is expired or will expire in the next six months.
  • Restock Used Supplies: Replenish anything you’ve used since your last check.

Store it Properly: Keep your kit in a cool, dark, and dry place that is easy to access. A hall closet or pantry is ideal. Avoid the bathroom, where steam and heat can degrade medications over time.

The “Essential Kit” Checklist

  • The Container: Tackle box or EMT bag purchased
  • The Bleed Kit: Gauze, Shears, Tape, and Saline Wash
  • The OTC Meds: Pain, Allergy, and Stomach meds stocked
  • The Tools: Thermometer, Gloves, and Tweezers
  • The Manual: A physical First Aid Guide inside the kit

The Scenario Planner (Contingencies)

Murphy’s Law Variation 1: “I have the supplies, but I don’t know how to use them.”

  • The Trap: Owning a tourniquet without training is dangerous.
  • The Fix: Skills Acquisition. Supplies are useless without knowledge. (This is the perfect setup for Part 3)

Murphy’s Law Variation 2: “The ointment tube is cracked and dry.”

  • The Trap: Heat and time destroy supplies.
  • The Fix: The 6-Month Audit. Be ruthless. If a bandage wrapper is torn or a tube is expired, replace it immediately.

This is Part 2 of our Physical Health Crisis series. Continue reading: