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  • Welding setup

  • Transportation

  • Keep all vehicles in good repair

  • Four wheel drive on main vehicle, or traction-enhanced (locking differentials, etc.)

  • Main vehicle needs to be able to carry everyone in family, including a minimum of gear and supplies for 1 week

  • Main vehicle needs to run on standardized fuel (gasoline, diesel), not specialized fuel (high octane, bio-mix, propane,etc.)

  • Stored fuel for one full tank (e.g., if your vehicle’s tank holds 20 gallons, store 20 gallons) in man-portable containers

  • ‘Fix a flat’ or Slime

  • Self-vulcanizing plug kit

  • Air compressor (12 VDC)

  • Hose clamps, various sizes (or hose wrap or duct tape)

  • Siphon hose

  • Funnels

  • Full-sized spare tire

  • Emergency road equipment (flares, warning reflectors, etc.)

  • Navigation (maps, GPS, etc.), stored in vehicle

  • Basic spare parts (hoses, belts, sparks plugs, fasteners, etc.)

  • Extra fluids (oil, coolant, transmission fluid, washer fluid, etc.)

  • Tool kit, stored in vehicle

  • Fire extinguisher

  • Jumper cables

  • Recovery strap/tow rope

  • Extended fuel storage

  • Additional spare parts for vehicle

  Water

  • Bottled Water

  • Canteen/Camelback

  • Rain Barrel

  • Water Bottle with Filter

  • Water Purification Tablets

  • Pool Shock/Bleach

  • Kettle w/ Lid for Boiling Water

  • Charcoal and Sand

  • Mosquito Netting

  • Coffee Filters

  • Purify / disinfect water with Bleach or Calcium Hypochlorite

  • Pre-filter / purify / disinfect water with coffee filters or panty hose

  • Berkey Water Filter, a Life Straw, or similar devices for home and bugging out

  • Dedicated “dirty water ” containers* equal to about 30 gallons, plus additional containers to catch rain water

  • Spigot-controlled water (on / off valve) – Sillcock Key

  • Have 5-day supply stored in containers that are easy to move when full

  • Portable capability to pre-filter / purify / disinfect water for additional 30 days or more

  • Gather large quantities of water, in excess of 100 gallons at a time

  • Rain Catchment System

  Weather Information

  • NOAA weather radio

  • Basic understanding of clouds, weather systems and storms typical in your area

  • Weather reference book or poster

  • Thorough understanding of weather related alerts, watches and warnings

  • Handheld weather measurement instruments

  • Powered Weather monitoring station

  • Attend Weather Spotter class/participate in area SKYWARN activities/training

  Medical Supplies

  • Nitrile Gloves (hypoallergenic), in various sizes for larger group supplies

  • Cold packs/Hot packs, instant and/or reusable

  • Scalpels and/or Field Knife

  • Ace Wraps

  • Israeli Bandage or other compression bandages

  • Celox or Quikclot hemostatic clotting agents (stops moderate to severe bleeding in wounds)

  • Tourniquets (CAT, SOF-T, SWAT, EMT are examples)

  • Compressed Gauze (H and H brand is an example)

  • Steri-strips or Butterfly Closures and Tincture of Benzoin (to help the strips stick to skin)

  • Nail Scissors or Clippers

  • Hemostat Clamp 5”, Straight or Curved

  • 3-0 Nylon or Silk Suture

  • Super Glue or Medical Glue

  • Tweezers (in various sizes and tips for larger group supplies)

  • Penlight and Headlamp

  • Bandage Scissors 7.25” Stainless steel (better) or EMT scissors

  • Adhesive Bandages, various sizes (non-latex if possible)

  • ABD Dressings, in small and large sizes

  • Gauze Dressings Sterile and Non-sterile, various sizes

  • Non-Stick Sterile Dressings (Telfa type), various sizes

  • Roller Gauze Sterile Dressings (Kerlix), various sizes

  • Moleskin or Molepad

  • Mylar, Solar, or Survival blanket

  • Cloth Medical Tape

  • Duct Tape

  • Triangular Bandage with safety pins, and bandannas

  • Ammonia Inhalants

  • Antibiotic Ointment or Creams, like Triple, Bacitracin, Neomycin and Bactroban (Rx)

  • Alcohol Wipes, Povidone-iodine (Betadine) Wipes, BZK wipes (Benzalkonium Chloride)

  • Burn Gel and Hydrocortisone Cream

  • Sting Relief Wipes

  • Hand Sanitizer

  • Lip balm, and Sunscreen

  • Ibuprofen Tablets, Benadryl Tablets and Rehydration Packets

  • Waterproof Paper and Pencil

  • First Aid Reference Book

  • Headlamps, with extra batteries (for night or poor lighting conditions)

  • Instant Glucose and/or Raw Unprocessed Honey

  • Chest Seals, Vented, 2 per pack (entry and exit wound coverage)

  • Oral Airways (to keep airway open)

  • Nasal airways- NPAs (keeps airways open) and Surgical lube

  • Soap and/or Dr. Bronner’s Castile liquid soap

  • CPR Shields

  • Safety Pins (large), Rubber Bands and Paper Clips

  • Scalpel and disposable blades (lots)

  • Neck Collars, various sizes

  • Extra Large Absorbent Pads (ABD or other brand)

  • Petrolatum/Xeroform dressings in various sizes

  • Burn Dressings and Burn Blankets

  • Coban or Self-Adhering Wraps

  • Liquid Bandage (Like New Skin)

  • Medical Tapes, various types (Elastoplast, Silk, and Paper) and sizes (1 inch, 2 inch etc.)

  • Skin Tac Liquid Adhesive Barrier (prepares skin for application of tapes, dressings and protects the skin with a hypo-allergenic sticky film) or equivalent Skin Prep Wipes

  • Moleskin or Spenco Second Skin Blister kit

  • Styptic Pencils

  • Eye Cups, Eye Pads, Patches and Eye wash

  • SAM splints and Slings

  • Blood Pressure Cuff, various sizes (sphygmomanometer)

  • Stethoscopes

  • Bio Glo Strips (Fluorescein sodium Rx only)- used to stain the eye

  • Cobalt Blue light bulb to shine on the injured eye – visualization of cuts or foreign objects

  • Cotton Swabs (Q-tips), Cotton Balls, Cotton-tipped applicators, Cotton Rounds

  • Face Masks (surgical and N95)

  • Chest Decompression Needles

  • Tongue Depressors

  • Magnifying Glasses

  • Extra Batteries

  • Glow Sticks

  • Multi Tools

  • Safety Pins and Rubber bands

  • Paracord 550

  • Ring Cutter

  • Kelly Clamps, straight and curved in various sizes

  • Needle Holders

  • Half Circle sewing needles and Silk Thread

  • Sutures in many variations, such as:

  • Silk, Nylon and Prolene 0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0(non-absorbable)

  • Sharps Disposal Box

  • Suture Removal Tray

  • Surgical Staplers and Staple Removers

  • Iodoform Sterile Packing Gauze

  • Micropore Tape

  • Styptic Pencil (stops bleeding from superficial cuts)

  • Silver Nitrate Sticks and Cautery Pens

  • Saline Solution (several liter bottles), or DIY with reci
pe in this book

  • Irrigation Syringes (60-100 ml is good) and Irrigation Cups (like Zerowet)

  • Hair Combs and Brushes (hygiene)

  • Nail Files, Foot Files and Heel Creams

  • Thermometers (rectal and ear)

  • Hot Water Bottles and Ice Bags (both reusable)

  • Ziploc Bags, Plastic Wrap

  • Aluminum Foil (use to sharpen scissors, by cutting the foil several times)

  • Cotton Sheets (100% in white)

  • Eye Droppers and Bulb Syringes

  • Measuring Spoons and Cups

  • Antiseptic Solutions in large and medium quantities (Betadine, Hibiclens, etc.)

  • Hydrogen Peroxide 3% and 6-7%

  • Rubbing Alcohol

  • Enema Bags

  • Nutritional Supplements (Boost, Ensure)

  • Vitamins, multi, and Pregnancy Vitamins

  • Sunblock

  • Lip Balms

  • Insect Repellants

  • Bactine or equivalent (for cuts and bug bites)

  • Fels-Naptha/Zanfel Soap (poison ivy, oak and sumac)

  • Poison Ivy Wipes (like Zanfel)

  • Hydrocortisone Cream 1%

  • Lidocaine Cream or jelly 2.5% (topical anesthetic)

  • Dermoplast Spray and Solarcaine Cool Aloe Burn

  • Medi-First Burn Spray (analgesic, antiseptic and liquid bandaid all in one)

  • Biofreeze Gel or Cold Freeze Spray for intact skin only

  • Acetaminophen/Ibuprofen/Aspirin

  • Benadryl (Diphenhydramine)

  • Epinephrine (Epi-pen, prescription injection for severe allergic reactions)

  • Claritin (Loratadine)

  • Anti-Nausea Medication (Meclizine hydrochloride 2.5mg tablets)

  • Zofran (Rx for nausea and vomiting)

  • Ear and Eye Drops

  • Cough Syrup and Lozenges/Drops

  • Expectorants (to loosen up thick mucus)

  • Decongestants (to move mucus out of the respiratory system)

  • Vicks Vapor Rub

  • Nebulizer, saline, tubing, mask or mouth piece (plus Rx Albuterol single dose liquid)

  • Sleep Aids (like Alteril, Tylenol PM, Melatonin, Chamomile or Valerian Tea etc.)

  • Fiber Supplements (Metamucil)

  • Stool Softeners and Laxatives

  • Suppositories and Finger Cots

  • Beano or equivalent (to reduce gas formation with certain foods)

  • Anti-Diarrheal, Imodium (Loperamide)

  • Pepto-Bismol (Bismuth Subsalicylate)

  • Heartburn Medications and natural treatments

  • Rid Shampoo/Nix Lotion or Creme Rinse and Nix Electric Lice Comb (for lice)

  • Oral Rehydration Packs and Gatorade Packets (or make it from scratch)

  • Water Purification Tablets

  • Emergency Water Bag

  • Water Filters, portable and large family size

  • Waterproof Matches, lighters and other methods to start fires

  • Gold Bond Foot Powder

  • Calamine lotion

  • Burn Cream (Rx Silvadene), Burn Gel or burn treatments (sprays) with anesthetic

  • Colloidal Silver (for external treatments)

  • Anti-fungal Cream (Terconazole)

  • Anti-fungal Powder (Tinactin)

  • Fluconazole 100 or 150mg tablets (Rx antifungal)

  • Urinary Pain Reliever (Uristat or AZO tablets)

  • Wart Removal cream/ointment/solution/freeze

  • Hemorrhoid Cream or Ointment (Preparation H)

  • Zinc Oxide cream or ointment

  • A & D ointment

  • Vaseline

  • Muscle Rub (like Icy Hot, Blue Emu, or Arnica salve)

  • Tens Unit or equivalent (Muscle Stimulation pain reliever machine)

  • Oral Antibiotics (discussed later)

  • Radiation Pills, Thyrosafe or equivalent, one box per person (if your area may be exposed to radiation)

  • PMS Medication, like Pamprin (which acts as a mild diuretic also), and natural remedies

  • Caffeine Pills

  • Natural Equivalents of any the above; see natural medicine chapters

  • Birth Control Accessories (condoms, birth control pills, cervical caps, etc.)

  • Emergency Obstetric Kit (comes as a pack) and Nitrazine strips (pH strips)

  • Midwifery Reference Books

  • Fetal Electronic Doppler or Fetoscope

  • Maxi Pads and Tampons (female use, and tampons for nose bleeds)

  • Measuring Tapes

  • Paper, pencils, pens and permanent markers

  Dental Kit

  • Cotton Pellets and Rolls

  • Dental mirror

  • Tongue Blades

  • Toothpaste and Toothbrushes

  • Baking Soda and Peppermint Oil

  • Hydrogen Peroxide 3% (oral rinse to treat or prevent gum issues)

  • Syringes 12cc Curved tip

  • Dental Scraper

  • Dental Pick and Toothpicks

  • Dental Floss and Dental Wax

  • Oral Analgesics

  • Canker Sore Tx (like Orajel or Hurricane Gel and Kank-A, and Orabase)

  • Clove Bud Oil (anesthetic for toothache)

  • Zinc Oxide (make a paste with oil of cloves and you get temporary dental cement), or…

  • Commercial dental kits (Den-Temp, Cavit)

  • Hank’s Solution (used to preserve viability in knocked-out teeth)

  • Pill Cups

  • Scalpels, disposable

  • 4-0 Chromic sutures (absorbable)

  • Needle Holder

  • Gauze 2 x 2 inches

  • Actcel Hemostatic agent (stops dental bleeding, and dissolves naturally)

  • Extraction Equipment (several different extractors and elevators)

  • Spoon Excavator

  • Generic or brand name Ibuprofen

  • Gloves, Masks, and Eye protection

  Natural Medicine: Supplies and Equipment

  • Witch Hazel and Extract

  • Bag Balm ointment

  • Drawing Salve

  • Raw Unprocessed Honey (local is best)

  • Cayenne Pepper Powder (see medicinal garden chapter)

  • Aloe Vera

  • Herbal Teas, Tinctures, Salves, and Essential Oils (see Natural Remedies)

  • Neti Pot (use only with sterile solutions) and Diffusers

  • Medicinal Herb and Plant seeds (in long-term storage packaging)

  • Herbal Medicine Reference Books

  • Gardening Reference Books

  • Mortar and Pestle

  • Graters, Stainless Steel

  • Clear and Brown Glass Jars with Lids

  • Glass Bottles (various sizes) Green, Brown and Clear with Cork Tops