Essential Medical Kit Preparedness for Hurricane Season
What are the essential items every household should include in their medical kit for hurricane season? (including children)
Getting a premade first aid kit and adding to it what you need for your families chronic conditions. First aid kits are good about providing things for cuts, abrasions, stings, burns. Going over those would take a long time. So my advise is get a good premade kit and add certain things to it. Make sure it has Tylenol and ibuprofen.
How many days' worth of prescription medications should people prepare for in case of a hurricane?
- 1-2 weeks worth
What should individuals with chronic conditions, like diabetes or hypertension, consider when preparing their medical kits?
- Ensuring they have at least 1-2 weeks of medications, making sure they have a list of their medications including name, strength and dosage instructions.
How can people ensure they have enough prescription medication on hand if a hurricane disrupts access to pharmacies?
- Be proactive and call your doctor’s office to get an early refill if you are about to be out of medications.
What are the most important first aid supplies to include in a hurricane preparedness kit?
- Wound care supplies and chronic medications
What are some common mistakes people make when preparing their medical kits, and how can they avoid them?
- Not checking expiration dates. People buy a first aid kit and then forget about it and things expire. Check the date.
- Not replacing items as they are used
Are there any vaccinations or preventative measures people should consider before hurricane season begins?
- Being proactive; make sure you are up to date with clinic visits, vaccines, medications are stocked and preventative care.
How can individuals ensure they stay healthy during and after a hurricane, especially if they are displaced or in a shelter?
- Separate out medications and first aid kit. You can put your meds in the first aid kit but make it so you can take out only the medications if needed. Shelters usually have first aid kits available so you might not have to travel with a large first aid kit.
