During the early days of the Covid pandemic, we all saw how fast store shelves could go bare. Overnight, it seemed like the most basic medical supplies disappeared and didn’t return for months. While the pandemic may have been the trigger, the reality is that there are all sorts of potential disasters that could cause the same kind of panic buying and supply chain breakdowns.
With four kids in our family, we go through our fair share of scrapes, fevers, and colds. And while I’m not worried about a specific threat right now, I am determined not to get caught off guard again. That means stocking up while I still can. Here’s a list of medical supplies you should grab now before the next emergency hits.
Allergy Medication
I don’t know about you, but the fall and the spring bring allergy symptoms to my house. My husband and kids all have seasonal allergies, and it’s not uncommon to have runny noses and watery eyes for several weeks each year.
Covid hit right before the primary allergy season in our region. When I went to grab medicine for my miserable toddler with a runny nose, the shelves were almost empty. Parents went nuts and snatched up all of the allergy medicine available, mostly because they wanted to be prepared to treat the Coronavirus if they contracted the virus.
Anti-Diarrheal Medications
No one wants to deal with stomach bugs, but they happen and often spread quickly in a household. When you’re sick and miserable, the last thing you want is to find out you’re out of Imodium or another anti-diarrheal. It’s a small item that makes a big difference. Stock up now so you’re not running to the store mid-illness.
Antacids and Acid Reducers
Stress, sickness, and emergency situations can all wreak havoc on your digestive system. When shelves cleared during the pandemic, Tums, Pepcid, and other acid reducers vanished too. I keep both chewable and long-lasting versions at home to deal with heartburn, indigestion, or the occasional sour stomach.
Bandaids, Bandages, and Gauze
I’ll be honest; this one stumped me until I saw two women at the same time at Walmart creating, what it seemed to be, full first-aid kits. Part of me felt excitement – people finally saw the value in stockpiling first-aid supplies to take care of small issues at home.
The other side of me felt annoyed because – have you ever had a toddler – I needed bandaids, too! We all need to have a decent supply of these at home for cuts, bruises, and scrapes. Even a small, minor wound can become infected.
Related: 11 First Aid Supplies You Can’t Have Too Much Of
Bleach
You might not think of bleach as a medical supply, but we have to keep things as clean as possible to prevent infections in an SHTF situation. During the initial Covid scare, bleach was MIA on store shelves. If you found a bottle, it felt like finding gold.
You don’t need to have a lot of bleach on hand, but I like to have a few bottles. Besides serious cleaning and whitening of our clothes occasionally, having a few bottles on hand is smart for bleaching medical equipment if serious issues arise.
Cold & Sinus Medications
Everyone knows that Covid presents symptoms that are similar to typical colds and the flu. Hence, it’s natural that everyone wants to gather medication to treat those symptoms at home.
However, that means if you come down with a cold, you better have the medication at home. Right now, the shelves might have different options available, but when we are in the thick of the sick season, those shelves might not be full anymore.
That means you should grab medication that treats:
- Chest Congestion
- Sinus Congestion
- Runny Noses
- Fevers
- Sinus Pressure
- Mucus Production
Digital Thermometers
It’s impossible to know how sick someone really is without an accurate way to take their temperature. When Covid hit, digital thermometers were nowhere to be found, especially the forehead and no-touch models.
Every household should have at least one reliable thermometer, preferably digital for ease of use and faster results. Consider keeping a backup, just in case the batteries die or one breaks at the worst time.
Echinacea
One of my favorite medicinal herbs to use when I get sick is echinacea. I like it so much that I grow a few echinacea plants in my herb garden. You can use capsules, herbal teas, and tinctures when you’re sick.
Taking echinacea when you have a cold can help reduce the length of a cold. Some studies show that you can reduce the duration by nearly two days. It’s worth keeping some on hand in case you do get sick this year.
Elderberry Syrup
If you haven’t jumped on the elderberry syrup bandwagon, this is the year to do so, but stock up now before it’s too late. Taking elderberry syrup can help to reduce symptoms of season colds and help you feel better faster. Don’t we all want that?
Not only are elderberries beneficial when you’re sick, but they’re packed with vitamins and antioxidants that support your immune system. We know that taking elderberries can reduce inflammation, reduce stress, and protect your heart.
Related: How To Make Elderberry Syrup
Electrolyte Packets
Dehydration can sneak up on you when you’re sick, especially with a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. I like to keep a stash of electrolyte packets like Pedialyte or Liquid I.V. on hand. They’re lightweight, shelf-stable, and make a huge difference in how quickly someone recovers. During the last cold season, these were hard to come by as parents tried to keep their kids hydrated through various bugs.
Eye Drops and Saline Solution
Dry, irritated eyes are common in winter and even more so during illness. Eye drops can relieve burning and itching, while saline is great for flushing out debris or cleaning wounds. During the early pandemic, I couldn’t find basic eye care items for weeks. They’re easy to forget until you’re desperate, so grab a couple bottles now while they’re still easy to find.
Hand Sanitizers
You might not use hand sanitizer regularly, but having a bottle or two available is a smart idea, especially in your first aid kit. Remember, you want to be prepared for anything that comes your way, and if you need to treat a wound, your hands need to be clean.
Related: How To Make All-Natural Hand Sanitizer
Hydrogen Peroxide
As I said earlier, people began to stockpile first aid supplies in the early weeks, and wound cleaning supplies disappeared fast. Many people like to use hydrogen peroxide to clean out wounds before applying antibiotic cream.
This might not be your first choice, but if you’re stockpiling items for an SHTF situation, you cannot risk developing an infection. If medical personnel or hospital services are unavailable, all of your wounds must be flushed out well to avoid an infection.
Infections left untreated kill, so be prepared to do everything you can to prevent it.
Related: 50 Off-Grid Uses for Hydrogen Peroxide
Medical Gloves
Something else that can still be hard to find now but was impossible a few months ago is medical gloves. I don’t recommend wearing them when you go out in public; it’s too hard to use them properly. They still should be in your first aid kit. Why?
If someone in your house has an injury that you need to tend to, having medical gloves reduces bacteria’s spread. For example, if your spouse cuts his hand, but you cannot get to the hospital because of hazardous road conditions, wear gloves while you tend to the wound. It helps to reduce any chance of the injury becoming infected.
Medical Masks
Masks were in serious shortage when the Coronavirus began. Medical professionals barely had enough to cover the hospitals and emergency service personnel, so the public had hardly any access to them.
You still cannot find N95 masks, but those should be saved for the front-line workers. Medical masks, the blue or white ones, are readily available but sold at double the price. While that’s unfortunate, having a box or two is valuable if someone gets sick in your home, or you need to take care of someone who is ill this winter.
Pain Relievers and Fever Reducers
In April, my friend’s son was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and it was suggested that he take children’s ibuprofen to combat some of the signs. However, finding ibuprofen felt like searching for gold. We searched high and low, only finding a few bottles in our town.
Every parent went out, expecting their child to get sick, and bought up all of the children’s pain relievers and fever reducers that they could find. Not only were the shelves emptied of the children’s version, but the adult versions were gone as well.
I suggest grabbing at least one bottle per person in your family. For us, that means we need two bottles of the adult pill version and four bottles of children’s medication.
Related: 33 Over-the-Counter Meds You Need to Stockpile
Rubbing Alcohol
Another item you can grab is rubbing alcohol. When hand sanitizer disappeared from the shelves, people turned to DIY hand sanitizer recipes, which used rubbing alcohol. However, you still might want to have some on hand for wound disinfecting.
Throat Sprays & Cough Drops
You guessed it – any medication that treats symptoms common to Coronavirus depleted during the initial weeks of the pandemic. People panicked and stockpiled all of the cough drops and throat sprays.
Yes, you can make your cough drops at home, but most prefer not to do so for the low cost you pay at the store. I suggest grabbing a few bags and storing them in your medicine cabinet. When you have a seasonal cold, your sore throat will thank you.
Tweezers and Small Medical Tools
These seem like afterthoughts until you desperately need them, like when a splinter gets infected or you need to remove a tick. I recommend adding quality tweezers, nail clippers, and a small magnifying glass to your first aid stash. These basic tools can make a huge difference in managing minor injuries at home.
Vitamin C
I swear by vitamin C when my family is sick, but sure enough, vitamin C capsules and gummies disappeared from the shelve last spring. Clinical trials are using vitamin C as a possible treatment for Covid, but no results have been shared.
Regardless, we know that vitamin C can help support your immune system, and as we enter this unknown cold and flu season, we all need the most robust immune systems possible.
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