As far as medicine goes, we live in the most amazing period in the history of the world. Not only do we have the incredible advances of modern medicine with all kinds of intricate surgeries, but we also have incredible pharmaceuticals—antibiotics, insulin, Epi-pens, and a myriad of other life-saving medications. In addition, we have the option of using herbs for medicine. Knowledge about how to identify, prepare, and dose them can be had for just a few keystrokes. In fact, information on any medical condition is right at our fingertips. But that doesn’t make us doctors.
Unfortunately, a lot of us are losing faith in the medical profession. Many of us have had poor experiences with doctors. I, for one, have seen far too many test-happy physicians. Much of the blame lies with insurance companies who tell the doctors they can only spend a couple of minutes with each patient. Instead of listening to the patient and performing a comprehensive physical exam, they order some lab tests to get the patient out the door faster.
Don’t get me wrong—laboratory tests can be extremely informative. They can confirm whether the doctor is on the right track in determining what ails a patient. Unfortunately, many lab tests won’t be available to us when our medical system collapses. Fortunately, we can purchase the kits for performing many essential tests at home. Here are several that you will want to include in your medical supplies.
Blood glucose strips and meter. The main purpose for checking a person’s blood for elevated sugars is to rule out the possibility of diabetes. Essential for identifying new cases of type-1 and type-2 diabetes, it's also critical to testing for gestational diabetes. The meters are very inexpensive; it’s the strips that get pricey. With the prevalence of diabetes in this country, no family should be without a blood glucose meter.
Blood type. Everyone should already know their own blood type and that of all family members. Purchase a few Eldon cards (that’s what the blood typing test kits are called) to determine the blood type of children who may be born in the future.
Hematocrit. The hematocrit test is a total DIY—you buy the glass tubes for about $7.00, lancets (which are also needed for the blood glucose meter above) for a couple dollars more, and follow the instructions I posted last month (link below).
Pregnancy test. Pregnancy tests are not for satisfying the prospective mother’s curiosity. For women, they will be critical to helping a physician differentiate between ectopic pregnancy, appendicitis, or ovarian cysts. In addition, a physician needs to know whether a woman is pregnant before prescribing some medications. You can get 25 tests for as little as $7.00 on Amazon.
Urinalysis strips. These strips test 10 different parameters—glucose, protein, pH, leukocytes, ketones, bilirubin, blood in the urine, nitrite, specific gravity, and urobilinogen. They provide a wealth of information to a physician looking for clues as to what ails a patient. And these test strips are also relatively inexpensive—less than $20 for 100 strips.
Food and penicillin allergies. Some food allergies/sensitivities can be tested for using a simple scratch test, as outlined here. Tests for allergies to nuts, eggs, latex, and penicillin should only be conducted under a physician’s supervision and with an Epi-pen at hand.
Obtaining and providing medical care is going to be challenging in the austere environment a collapsed society will present. And while preparation doesn’t guarantee success, lack of preparation guarantees failure. Being able to conduct the above-mentioned tests will help us be a little more prepared when medical challenges arise.
Links to related posts:
Why Include Home Pregnancy Tests in Medical Supplies
DIY Tests for Food and Penicillin Allergies
07.06.21
Some obese "home testing" kits will have a decently long shelf life if stored properly. Others...not so much.
ReplyDeleteThey also have at home tests for strep throat. Also the problem with the urine tests is that they lose effectiveness fairly quickly after you open them. So if you get 100 strips, you'll be lucky to use the majority before they go bad.
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