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While there are plants growing in the wild that have medicinal compounds, nothing beats bringing the meds with you. In the second installment of this medical two-part post, we have a list of the top 10 medicines that you would commonly have access to, and would be of benefit in an emergency.
1. Epi-pen
This is the one prescription medicine that I’m going to put on the list, because it is worth the trouble to try to get a prescription for it. An epinephren shot can save a life quickly if an adult or child has a severe reaction to a food or an insect sting. When you ask the doctor for the prescription, make sure you take notes of the symptoms, which you would need to see to administer it.
2. Antibiotic ointment
A big tube of Neosporin should get you pretty far when you are dealing with most open wounds in the outdoors. Apply it sooner, rather than later to prevent an infection from forming.
3. Quick-clot
I’m not sure if most people would count this as a “medicine”, but any bleeding that will not stop requires some kind of treatment. Quick-clot powder can be sprinkled on the wound to seal it shut. Your kit should include a wooden spoon to bite down on, cause it’s going to hurt.
4. Burn Gel
Besides getting cut, burns are one of the most common camp injuries year-round. Use generous amounts of burn gel to ease the pain of the burn and to keep the dressings from sticking to the burn.
5. Re-Hydration Salts
These salts include potassium and other nutrients to help someone who has lost a lot of salts through sweating. These salts are of the highest importance in the desert and the jungle.
6. Antihistamine
Some Sudafed or a similar product can help with different ailments, from a runny nose to swelling associated with a bee sting, and it can also help with mild allergic reactions that do not warrant the Epi-pen shot.
7. Laxative
A little dehydration and a little stress from a survival situation can lead to a serious traffic jam in your bowels. If you can afford the water loss, and need to get things moving again, a laxative could be your new favorite medicine from your emergency kit.
8. Imodium (or other Anti-Diarrhea medicine)
On the flip side of the backed-up pipes, an anti-diarrhea med can be of greater importance than you might think. This med is listed here more as a necessity than a comfort. A case of the runs from bacteria, virus or amoeba will dehydrate someone very quickly, and you can’t afford dehydration on top of the other troubles which have caused you to play Dr. Quinn frontier medicine lady.
9. Pain Reliever
An anti-inflammatory pain reliever like Ibuprophen can help with a variety of injuries as well as headaches and other common complaints.
10. Medicated Anti-Itch Cream
Although this one is not a life saver, it can feel like one if you get a rash or itchy patch that is driving you crazy.