We never know when disaster strikes. It can be an EMP, political unrest, war, another depression, anything really. Being a true prepper means being prepared for ANYTHING. And a huge part of this is what we stockpile.
We naturally rely on pharmacies for many of our health needs but what happens when the pharmacies are looted or simply do not have what we need anymore? This is when our stockpile comes in to save lives. Our lives. Our family’s lives.
But what do we stockpile? This is a difficult question to answer since individuals can have specific needs. But, the items presented below can be seen as the foundation of your own personal emergency pharmacy. They will help you deal with most problems you could encounter. Just make sure that you add specific items you know you or your family needs.
Essential Lifesaving Gear
- Bandaids – They are indispensable in any emergency medical kit, offering quick and convenient solutions for minor cuts and scrapes.
- Bandages – They provide essential support and protection for larger wounds, sprains, and other injuries.
- Gauze – Is a versatile medical material used for wound dressing, absorption, and protection, an essential component of any first aid kit, providing sterile coverage for various injuries.
- Antiseptics – They are crucial for preventing infection in wounds by killing or stopping the growth of dangerous microorganisms.
- Face masks – Starting with N95 masks is a wise choice for face protection. They effectively filter airborne particles, at least 95% of them, thus the name. This does include viruses and bacteria. However, they are not 100% effective. Even so, 95% is better than nothing.
- Sutures – These are medical threads used to stitch wounds and hold tissues together during healing. They are essential for closing lacerations and surgical incisions, promoting proper wound healing and minimizing scarring. But, remember that you need knowledge to use them and they need to be sterilized to prevent infection. Proper training is vital or you need to at least get a suture kit with detailed instructions.
Essential Medications
- Prescription medications – When you get prescriptions for yourself and your family, ask for 60 or 90-day refills from your physician instead of monthly supplies. You will then have more when an emergency happens.
- Painkillers – Stock up on various ones, as they work differently with different people. The most common ones are Ibuprofen (Advil), Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Naproxen (Aleve), and Aspirin.
Remember that long-term use of painkillers and prescription medications can have serious side-effects. That’s why herbal remedies are so important. The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies teaches you about over 15 pain-relieving plants and hundreds of other medicinal plants that are beneficial for the entire body.
- Antihistamines – They are used to treat allergy symptoms such as sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose. They can provide relief from allergies caused by pollen, dust, pet dander, and other allergens. People with allergies are particularly vulnerable when antihistamines are not available so a stockpile based on how much you can actually get without risking the medication going bad is important.
- Antibiotics – They are a vital tool in modern medicine for treating a wide range of bacterial illnesses, from common infections like strep throat and urinary tract infections to more serious conditions like pneumonia and bacterial meningitis. Many antibiotics have a shelf life longer than the listed expiration date, like amoxicillin and doxycycline, so make sure to inform yourself about the exact medication you stockpile.
It’s crucial to use antibiotics responsibly and only when prescribed by a healthcare professional to avoid antibiotic resistance and other potential side effects. The Holistic Guide To Wellness is a great alternative even for some severe cases since it offers protocols based on herbs and supplements to treat certain bacterial and viral infections. They might be your last line of defense if you run out of antibiotics.
- Stomach medicine – Includes a range of treatments designed to alleviate symptoms such as diarrhea (Imodium, Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol), acid reflux (Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids), and nausea (Emetrol, Zofran).
Mild cases of stomach conditions can also be treated with herbs and supplements, and you can learn more about it in this book.
- Cold medication – They are designed to alleviate symptoms associated with the common cold, such as congestion, coughing, sore throat, and fever (DayQuil/NyQuil, Sudafed, Mucinex, Tylenol, Advil). Most of these meds only address the symptoms and do not help your body fight the infection quicker. Some cold medication though is antiviral, like Tamiflu. It can help reduce flu symptoms when taken early.
- Cough syrup – Common ones include Robitussin, Mucinex, Benadryl, Zarbee’s Naturals.
Herbal Medicine
While modern medicine plays a crucial role in survival, relying solely on pharmaceuticals may not always be an option, especially in long-term crisis situations. Herbal remedies have been used for centuries to treat various ailments and can serve as effective alternatives or complements to traditional medications.
- For Pain Relief – The Lost Book of Herbal Remedies details over 15 pain-relieving plants, as already mentioned above, including willow bark (a natural aspirin alternative) and arnica for inflammation. These remedies can be useful when conventional painkillers are unavailable or need to be rationed.
- For Infections – Instead of relying solely on antibiotics, The Holistic Guide to Wellness outlines natural protocols for bacterial and viral infections. Herbal options like garlic, oregano oil, and echinacea have antimicrobial properties that may help combat infections.
- For Digestive Issues – Many mild stomach ailments can be treated with herbal alternatives. For example, peppermint and ginger are well-known for reducing nausea, while chamomile and fennel aid digestion. These approaches are discussed in Home Doctor.
By learning how to prepare and use these natural treatments, you can supplement your emergency medicine stockpile and increase your resilience in a survival situation.
Others
- Insect repellents – You will need them to prevent insect bites, and you may also need aloe gel, hydrocortisone cream, or calamine lotion to alleviate skin irritation caused by bites. These are highly recommended in areas where you know insects will be a problem.
- Eyewash solution – Used to cleanse the eyes and remove irritants or foreign particles.
- Water-purification tablets – You obviously need to have stockpiles of water, but if you happen to run out, water purification tablets are used to disinfect and make water safe for consumption by killing harmful microorganisms present in untreated water sources. Remember that most tablets do not remove heavy metals or chemical contaminants so carefully read the labels. You do want to have something extra in place for survival, like an additional filtration method (IE activated charcoal filters).
- Scissors
- A thermometer
- Tweezers
- A multi-vitamin supplement – Canned foods are great for survival, but they lack certain vitamins and minerals essential for health. This is where a multi-vitamin supplement comes in handy, along with a wide variety of herbs that you can learn about in this book. Also, remember that freeze-dried or dehydrated foods can retain vitamins and minerals for a long time.
- Hand sanitizer
- Sunscreen
Special Note: The Importance of Emergency Medical Training
Having the right medical supplies is critical, but knowing how to use them effectively can mean the difference between life and death. In a crisis, professional medical help is rarely available, making it essential to have basic medical training.
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CPR and First Aid: Taking a certified CPR and first aid course from organizations like the Red Cross or the American Heart Association can prepare you to respond to cardiac arrests, choking incidents, and other life-threatening emergencies.
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Wound Care and Infection Control: Learning how to properly clean, dress, and close wounds is crucial. Without proper care, even a minor cut can become life-threatening. If suturing is necessary, you should practice with a training kit before attempting it in a real situation.
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Herbal and Alternative Medicine Training: Many survivalists take courses in herbal medicine or natural first aid. These skills can help you treat common illnesses when pharmaceuticals are unavailable. An option that is very useful when in a wilderness situation is the Wilderness Survival Academy. It is recently launched by world-renowned herbalist Nicole Apelian and still available at a discounted price here.
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Emergency Dental Care: Tooth infections can become severe in survival scenarios. Understanding how to handle dental emergencies, like broken teeth, abscesses, and gum infections, can prevent serious complications.
By combining proper supplies with hands-on training, you significantly increase your chances of survival in a medical emergency. Consider keeping hardcopy medical guides and enrolling in hands-on courses to prepare for any situation.
Storing and Maintaining Your Medicinal Stockpile
After collecting your supplies, you need to store it properly. There are items that have to be stored in cool, dry places. Others can simply be put in a bag. Regardless of storage solution chosen though, even if it is 100% suitable, you have to keep all medical supplies away from children.
Monitor your kit and make sure to replace all expired supplies. Discard damaged medication, especially when humidity affected it. If you see medication has an unusual odor or appearance, throw it out. It is possible that it was contaminated.
Your survival books need to be in a physical format. Do not rely on digital versions. They are not reliable.
And as a last mention, you can always grow your own little medicinal garden. We now know enough to create quite an effective backyard pharmacy. You can start with the Medicinal Garden Kit, which provides 10 bags of essential seeds you can grow in any backyard. When SHTF, these plants might save your life.
You may also like:
Identifying Your Backyard Pharmacy
10 Medical Supplies You Need To Stock Up Before It’s Too Late (Video)
If you plan to suture a wound you will need injectable
Lidocaine or three fat girls to hold down the patient.
Most of us have never sutured anything so a suture
practice pad would a good idea.
Dental emergency kits are available at various sites
on line.
Dr.Joe Alton is the best source for any medical/dental
products as well as instructional videos.
In a dystopian situation it will be too late to acquire any
medical supplies that you don’t already have.
If you snooze you lose!!!
Thank
Less training and easier to use are medical staples for wound closing.
I’m not sure how they get the staple gun but hog hunters carry them for their dogs. Hogs will make a big gash and the staple gun fixes them. Any idea where to get staples and staple guns?
Look up disposable skin stapler on Amazon. It’s a good product. I have a couple in my pack..
We had a Physician’s Assistant in our group some years ago. She taught us how to suture using chicken parts purchased at the grocery store. This worked out pretty well. r/Jeff
The title doesn’t give the body of the message good bearing except lead you to purchase books. Medications, bandages, over the counter medications is all good for short term use. Apocalypse means long term survival if you survived. An apocalypse article should be what to forage for natures remedies and bandages. Looking for leaves, roots, berries, first-aid items, etc. when you’re out of the short term. A lot of books and pharmaceutical items to carry on your back when nothing is working, it will just slow you down. Short hand written notes and what you can practice to store in your brain is the best survival tool.