Medical preps are one of the missing or incomplete preps for many folks. My wife and I are retired Firefighter/Paramedics and she is also a Critical Care Nurse.
Books on emergency medicine can be found in most used book stores of college book stores and are extremely valuable learning tools. Patient assessment skills are one of the basic skills that can be learned by anyone and is most often taught as a head to toe survey. T.C.C.C. Tactical Cassualty Combat Care is a system and set of skills for treating penetrating wounds and care under fire that everyone should be familiar with. Bassic dressing and bandaging supplies are a must and most people do not understand how much of these supplies are used for continued care a patient. Continued care of one patient, re-assessing and dressing/bandage every 6-8 hours for a week to 2 weeks for major wounds would exauhst most peoples supply. Splints and slings for fractures and joint injuries are also needed. Antibiotics can still be purcheased a pet stores in the fish department and triple antibiotic ointment are invaluable for small and/or healing wounds. the basic equipment of B.P, cuff and stethoscope, otoscope, pulse oxymeter, thermometers, small tweezers, maganafying glass, airway adjuncts such as oral and nasal airways and a hand operated ventilator wound be a good start. Every piece of tactical gear should include a "Blow Out Kit" and every back pack should have and individual first aid kit (I.F.A.K.). Carry equipmet should also be considered to bring adequate supplies to a victim. A combat medic bag, medical back pack and E.M.S. trauma boxes would be useful. Personal protective gear such as N-95 masks, eyes protection, latex gloves and fluid impervious gowns will also need to be stocked. An area set aside as a medical care unit with good lighting would be useful with storage boxes for supplies, a bed and linens/pillows, oxygen cylinder, masks, nasal cannulas would also be a good idea. An isolation area seperated by sheet plastic may be needed for the sick and a quarrantine area for sick people who are contagious. All of this and much more can seem overwhelming but it can be accomplished with a little training and guidance. Having trained emergency medical personnel and a medical clinic is an essential part of any preppper/survival groups efforts. Standardized equipment lists for blow out kits and I.F.A.K.s and training on their use is a good start.
