Emergency medical / dental preparedness

I think this would be a beneficial forum for everyone as we prepare for potential hard times to come.

I'm hoping there is a doctor in the house. In considering an emergency medical kit, what should we know and have in stock to provide emergency medical and dental assistance to family and friends should professional assistance not be available for whatever reason. Please recommend basic books that might be found on ebay or Amazon as well as materials, supplies and instruments for treating common illnesses, common infections, allergic reactions, puncture wounds, gun shot wounds, broken bones, and minor surgeries that we have to perform to save a life or limb, clean and fill a decayed tooth, tooth extraction, root canal..etc. Just as perhaps many others here, I'm just a "regular guy" but i realize there may soon be a period of time perhaps as long as five years that I/we may have to fill the role of field medic for my/our wives, husbands, sons and daughters. Good luck to all. ingalls

I am a retired dental hygienist and also have many years experience as a dental assistant. I also participated in many clinics done on the missionary field in Mexico and Ecuador. Dentistry is very difficult to do in the field without proper equipment and a trained dentist. Root canals for example require xray equipment during the procedure. The easiest treatment to provide in an emergency setting with no real equipment is extractions and this is what we did mostly in our dental clinics on the mission field.
That still requires some equipment. Antiobiotics and anti-inflammatories can used to solve dental problems, but is is a short term solution and will only provide temporary relief. There are some temporary filling materials on the market but if the decay is already into the nerve, this will only exacerbate the problem. I do have a friend who is a dentist and I can ask him what his suggestions may be on this subject.

I am also an EMT and the most important thing we can do is to take a CPR course and basic first aid. There are temporary measures that can help with shock caused by bleeding but the patient must receive more definative care after initial shock is treated.
As for allergic reactions Benydral is the best thing OTC that can be used, but is not enough for severe allergic reactions.
I do have an emergency kit and when I have more time I will share what is in mine, but we must keep in mind that even with good emergency care equipment, it requires a trained individual to provide good care. I am not a doctor and am not qualifed to give medical advice but I think for starters we should all consider CPR and First Aid training.
elijah_house

As a side note, the most pressing emergency when treating a patient with any kind of injury is shock.

[mudhog92]

I am paramedic of almost 20yrs, have RN under my belt, was combat medic for a few during Panama invasion and 1st Desert Storm. I am now getting into homeopathic and alternative medicine as I realize so much of our current pharmacology these days is more harmful then beneficial. Not all, but alot. There is so much out there, you have to start looking yourself. Basic first aid stuff is a good start. I have saved more lives with basic airway intervention and pressure bandages than with IV's and drugs. Not in all cases, but majority. Most of conventional western medicine treats symptoms for convenience. I have read studies where kids treated with antibiotics for ear infections have had more reoccurrences than kids not given antibiotics. Take your kid to a doctor and tell him you don't want 'biotics and you'll be in court for neglect. There is a lot out there. Check into Reiki, Quantum Touch and other energy healing modalities. Herbs are good to. I'm only telling my experience. If you've read any on subtle energy fields, alot of physical problems start out in our energy field auric, etheric-accupuncture helps fix that with opening meridians and energy flow. Look and listen to make your own decision.