Where to Start Prepping: Medical

[ldsnurse]

Good info. I'm a former Navy corpsman and currently work as an ER and psych nurse. I totally agree. It will be lack of access to everyday medical care that will get you.

[donnareeves]

Thank You! Makes so much sense...Great Video

[crazedman]

from one fellow nurse to another! love your advice to not only common citizens but fellow health care professionals. We are our own greatest resource

[dianneca]

Important Information Presented with your Usual Excellence! Thank you, dear Patriot Nurse!  Cheers from Nova Scotia.

[richard]

ThePatriotNurse is 100% right. Beyond the most basic first aid equipment (that everyone should already have anyways), education and training is where your first priority is for medical prepping. Equipment and even some basic medicines can be improvised, but there is no substitute for medical skills.

It's also helpful to think about the different stages of medical care in the combat/disaster environment. Training and education should be geared toward which functions you're preparing to fill.

1) Care immediately available on scene.
This is your personal/vehicle/home medical kit, and your IFAK if you have one. This also includes medical response to the scene. The purpose of care at this stage is to either immediately return to duty, or to provide intervention for injuries that can cause fatality in moments.

2) Nearest aid station.
This is a nearby designated place where an injured or ill person can be taken, where there are more supplies and greater capacity than what can be brought to the scene. This may be as simple as a place in the field somewhat out of immediate danger (casualty collection point), or as complex as a mobile hospital like what the military and Red Cross have. The purpose is to assess the patient, ensure their stability, and decide on a plan for how to proceed.

3) Nearest hospital that is functioning.
This is where you have a dedicated medical facility with an emergency room, operating room, and inpatient rooms. Patients brought here are going to be staying if their condition is too unstable to get them completely out of the area, or if they are expected to return to mostly normal duty after a short stay.

4) Hospital in another region.
This is completely away from the direct effects of the combat or disaster zone, and is for patients who will need care that is highly specialized, or care that will take months.

5) Long-term care
This is a facility for patients who will need years of inpatient care; or inpatient care, assisted living care, or palliative (hospice) care for the full remainder of their lives.

In the normally functioning world, many of these needs would be served under the same roof. In a mass disaster or a war zone, resources of all kinds are in short supply. We have to remain adaptive in order to save as many lives as we can, or to return as many people as possible to productivity, as the case may dictate.

[uscgalpha]

Great point. A blow out kit is great to have to get you to urgent care however a couple of quarts of Hydrogen Peroxide to keep wounds clean while they heal is critical.  Triple Antibiotic ointment would be like gold in WORL or natural disaster. After earthquakes and hurricanes people get a lot of cuts from debris and broken glass. Keeping little cuts from infection keeps them "little cuts". Lots of soap and bleach is critical as well. As an EMT people need a lot more wound care supplies than trauma care. I don't think most people have any idea how many medical supplies are needed for just one healing wound.
thank you for making good videos.

[charliewilson]

I have grown to love this girl.  She always provides great advice.  Well worth your time

[andymsmith]

First of all thank you .
i try to follow on every thing 1 at a time theres just so much out there.

[charliee]

Thanks for all the videos, They are great reminders we all need.

[jackwalsh]

Rachael, Kudos to Reid and you both. I do enjoy your videos. Our mutual profession is a good one. Peri Op here. Cheers, Mate.

[cherylynn]

Excellent video! Great job, you make our profession proud :)

[dennisallen]

patriot nurse we love your videos we find them very helpful full of good information you and maineprepper are our favorite my wife is going to school to be a nurse I was wondering what happened to the Maine prepper he is always in our prayers and we hope all is well but it would be kinda nice to know that he is alive and well thanks patriot nurse

[GeordiePrepper]

Some great advice, it's made me think about and look at my supplies from a different angle. Thanks :-)

[jeffreymac]

If anyone wants to get a lot of low priced medical supplies (bandaging) I get my stuff from a swapmeet. Name brand items still in brand new packaging for cents. (Not expired either)You can find really good stuff too such as thermometers, pulse promoters, and blood pressure cuffs. I got supplies that would of cost over $200 in regular stores but I ended up spending $23. I also use "vitality medical" best pricing ever. Good luck.

[fiddlinscott]

as a physician assistant with training in trauma medicine and someone who practices survival skills on a routine basis, I think I can handle medical issues fairly well. additionally, my son is a navy corpsman. I think we'll be okay when the "shtf", but thank you for your many instructional and timely videos.

[FXR]

North Dallas/Plano/Allen/Frisco and etc area is large with lots of folks. It's a shame I see no training in our area. Wonderful videos, would like to get training as well.

[theresacole]

Excellent video! We have to get out of the box and into a new (older) way of thinking with .... all of the that may not be there! Thanks :)

[tomjuzba]

nice, good job, I was hopeing someone would address this issue..

[neosteeled]

Personally, I found that having the medic training first led me to better prioritizing my medical preparations.

[MrRagenRuin]

good video, keep them coming, wish the best for yourself and Reid