Note: multipart post
This is something I came up with over the years of doing research. I'm not a doctor, EMT, nurse, or any other medical type person. These are simply my thoughts on what I would want available for use in the aftermath of a major disaster. Please note that much of the list is equipment and supplies to have for professional medical personnel to use, NOT for someone just generally familiar with basic first-aid.
Household Only-Aid Medical Kit
Part # 1: Medical library
Part # 2: Household use general first-aid kit
Part # 3: Over the counter medicines
Part # 4: Dressings and Bandages
Part # 5: Dental basic kit
Part # 6: Pregnancy, birthing & infant care kit
Part # 7: Pediatric specific kit
Part # 8: MD/GP's, Dentist's & Surgeon's instruments and supplies
Part # 9: Prescriptions
Part # 10: Convalescent & invalid care equipment & supplies
Part # 11: Quarantine, infectious diseases & Hazmat kit
Part # 12: Funeral & corpse handling equipment
Part # 13: Herbal & mineral remedies equipment & supplies
Part # 14: Veterinary kit
Part # 15: Medical rescue & transport kit
Part # 16: Specialty health items
Part # 1: Medical library
Red Cross First-aid handbook
The Merck Manual Volume 1: General Medicine
The Merck Manual Volume 2: OB/GYN/Pediatrics/Genetics)
Physician's Desk Reference (Prescription Drugs)
Physician's Desk Reference Consumer's Guide to Non-Prescription Drugs
Black's Medical Dictionary
Grey's Anatomy
Emergency War Surgery
Ship's Medicine and Medical Aid At Sea
Where There Is No Doctor
Where There Is No Dentist
Do It Yourself Medicine (Ragnar Benson)
Survivalist's Medicine Chest (Ragnar Benson)
Magic And Medicine of Plants (Readers Digest)
The American Medical Association Home Medical Encyclopedia
The Home Remedies Handbook (John H Renner)
Nutritional & dietary guidebooks
Alternative medicine books
(acupuncture, acupressure, hypnosis, naturopathy, herbalism, etc.)
Part # 2: Household use general first-aid kit
Home General First-Aid Kit
storage container/shoulder bag
manual
penlight (w/extra batteries & bulbs)
pen (that will write under all conditions w/extra refills)
writing pad (waterproof)
patient tags (filled out and attached to patient for later reference)
patient data & record cards (blank cards & pre-filled cards for members of household or group: allergies, chronic illness, previous treatments, etc.)
ring cutter
pocket knife
matches, lighter, tinder, candle (for fire making)
canteen & water purification tablets
zip-lock bags
soap
sponge
folding basin
paper towels
Hibiclens Antiseptic surgical scrub (liquid)
vinyl gloves
surgical gloves
surgical masks
safety glasses/goggles
resuscitation bag
space blanket
ammonia capsules
tourniquet
eye wash kit w/extra bottles of eye wash
Cutter snake-bite kit
Brown Recluse spider bite kit
compact dental kit
compact birthing kit
tissues
sanitary napkins
safety pins
needle w/thread
dental floss
fever thermometer (anal, oral, & forehead strip)
hypothermia thermometer
hyperthermia thermometer
stethoscope
sphygmometer (blood pressure cuff)
Otoscope (ear & nose viewing instrument)
stop watch
razor blade/x-acto knife/scalpel/scapel handle w/blades
bandage scissors
EMT shears
tongue depressors
wound cleansing wipes
blood sponges
cotton swabs
cotton balls
tweezers
ear & nose syringes
Providone Iodine/Betadine prep pads
Hibiclens Antiseptic surgical scrub (liquid)
1 needle holder
2 curved hemostats
2 straight hemostats
1 operating scissors
1 bandage scissors
1 folding general purpose scissors
1 splinter forceps
1 general purpose forceps
1 Littaner suture scissors
3 to 15 sutures (5-0 nylon, 3-0 nylon, 3-0 gut)
1 to 3 # 10 scalpels
1 to 3 # 11 scalpels
first-aid ointment (Triple Antibiotic ointmemt)
Bandaids (finger-tip, knuckle, butterfly, strips, pads, knee/elbow, eye)
Asherman chest seal or plastic wrap (for sucking chest wounds)
aluminum foil (for sucking chest wounds)
adhesive tape
sterile gauze pads (2", 3", 4", 6", trama pads)
gauze bandage rolls
Ace bandages
triangle bandages
head bandages
eye bandages
Field dressing bandages
medicated gel skin dressing
medicated gauze bandages (for abrasions & 1st degree burns)
Vaseline gauze bandages (for 2nd & 3rd degree burns)
large area trauma pads
Spenco Skin Guard padding (improved moleskin)
Benzoin compound tincture (sticky)(to toughen skin)(to help hold bandages)
Bandnet Bandage holders (finger, head, knee, elbow, hand, foot)
Spenco Adhesive knit (foot & hand protectant)
wire splint
SAM splints
finger splints
eye protective cups
eye patch
slings
air splints (arm, hand, lower leg, full leg)
joint braces & supports (neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, back, knee, ankle)
washable, sterilizable reuseable cloth bandages (w/plenty of safety pins)
(Roll, pads, trama pads, large area pads, triangle, head, eye, slings)
dosage measuring dispensers
paper cups
plastic spoons
eye droppers
vaporizer tea kettle w/breathing mask/hood
enema/douche bag
ice bag
hot water bottle
cold packs - freezable, reusable (several sizes and shapes)
cold packs - chemical, single use
heat packs - heatable, reusable (several sizes and shapes)
heat packs - chemical, single use
surgical tubing
irrigation syringe
irrigation solution
alcohol swabs
heat balm
rubbing alcohol
hydrogen peroxide (check with your doctor. This has fallen out of favor.)
petroleum jelly
skin lotion
vinegar
baking soda
table salt
Epsom salt
lip balm
toothache ointment
sweet oil
ear wash
Aloe-vera juice burn ointment
mild saline burn irrigation solution
(The following medications in single dose units/small quantity packaging)
Rehydration tablets/powder
sports type vitamin/mineral/electrolyte drink
Burn liquid-loss replacement drink (Sodium chloride/bicarbanate powder)
aspirin base pain killer (favorite brand)
non-aspirin pain killer (favorite brand)
prescription pain reliever (preferably to ease pain but not dull senses)
throat lozenges/cough drops (favorite brand)
cough medication (liquid)(favorite brand)
cold remedy (liquid/tablet)(favorite brand)
decongestant (topical inhalant)(Vick's Vapor Rub)
PMS control medication (favorite brand)
Antacid (Dimacid)
Laxative (Dulcolax, Theralax, Bon-O-Lax)
Pain/muscle relaxant/tranquilizer (Percogesic tablets)
Antihistamine (Chlorpheniramine Maleate, 4mg tablets)
Decongestant/vasoconstrictor (Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride, 30mg tablets)
Decongestant (Afrin nasal spray)
Anti-nausea/motion (Meclizine hydrochloride, 25mg tablets)
Anti-indigestion/nausea/diarrhea (Pepto-Bismol tablets)
Eye ointment (Yellow oxide of mercury 1% ophthalmic)
Eye anti-irritant (Tetrahydrozline drops)
Ear drops (Schein Otic drops)
Anti-fungal (Tinactin cream)
Anti-inflammation/anti-itch (Hydrocortisone 1/2% Cream)
Anti-burn/anti-itch/topical anesthetic (Dibucaine 1% Ointment)
Antibiotic ointment (Triple Antibiotic Ointment)
Skin healant ointment (Vitamin A & D ointment)
Sun screen (Zinc oxide ointment)
Vomit inducer (Syrup of Ipecac)(Check with your doctor. This has fallen out of favor)
(Plus any additional specific disease/ailment requirements needed on a
regular or semi regular basis by any member of the family)
Over the counter medicines (multi-dose containers)(detail listing)
Use Form Name
Notes
Pain (non-aspirin) Oral Favorite brand
Throat lozenges/cough drops Oral Favorite brand
Cough medication (liquid) Oral Favorite brand
Cold remedy (liquid/tablet) Oral Favorite brand
Salt tablets Oral Favorite brand
PMS control medication Oral Favorite brand
Decongestant Inhalant Vicks Vapor Rub
Pain/anti-inflammation Oral Aspirin, Enteric Coated 5grn tablets
Pain/muscle relaxant/tranquilizer Oral Percogesic tablets
(325mg acetaminophen w/30mg phenyltoloxamine citrate)
Antihistamine Oral Chlorpheniramine Maleate 4mg tablets
Decongestant/vasoconstrictor Oral Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride 30mg tablets
Decongestant Inhalant Afrin nasal spray
(Oxymetazoline hydrochloride 0.05%)
Antacid Oral Dimacid tablets
Anti-nausea/motion Oral Meclizine hydrochloride 25mg tablets
Anti-indigestion/nausea/diarrhea Oral Pepto-Bismol tablets
(Bismuth subsalicylate)(no sugar)
Laxative Oral Bisacodyl 5mg tablets
(Dulcolax, Theralax, Bon-O-Lax)(Does not enter milk of nursing mothers)
Eye ointment Topical Yellow oxide of mercury 1% ophthalmic
Eye anti-irritant Drops Tetrahydrozline drops
(Sterile solution of tetrahydrozoline HC1 .05%, sodium borate, boric acid, sodium chloride, benzalkonium chloride .01%, ethylene diamine tetraacetate .1%)
Ear drops Drops Schein Otic drops
(Formulation of chloroxlenol, henzalkonlum chloride, acetic acid & glycerine)
Anti-fungal Topical Tinactin cream (1% tolnaftate cream)
Anti-inflammation/anti-itch Topical Hydrocortisone 1/2% Cream
Anti-burn/anti-itch/topical anesthetic Topical Dibucaine 1% Ointment
Antibiotic ointment Topical Triple Antibiotic Ointment
(Per gram: bacitracin-400 units, neomycin sulfate-5mg, polymyxin B sulfate-5000 units)
Skin healant ointment Topical Vitamin A & D ointment
(Lanolin-petrolatum base)(1st degree burns, diaper rash, dry skin)
Sun screen Topical Zinc oxide ointment
Burn liquid loss replacement drink Oral Sodium chloride/bicarbanate powder
(Mix w/water & drink after burns to help replace surface liquid loss)
Vomit inducer (after poisoning) Oral Syrup of Ipecac (check with your doctor.
This has fallen out of favor)
(Not for use if strychnine, corrosives (alkalis [lye]) or strong acids),
petroleum distillates such as kerosene, gasoline, coal oil, fuel oil,
paint thinner or cleaning fluid have been ingested)