There is so much stuff that goes into the medical kit. It can be a little overwhelming, and with a finite amount of space, you want to be sure you're not trying to squeeze in something you don't really need.
Here are the essentials:
Thermometer. The thermometer has to be extremely accurate. Changes in body temperature can be diagnostic for some illnesses. Some fevers rise in the morning, or afternoon, or evening. It's critical to be able to chart temperatures and spot trends. Even being off a couple of tenths can throw you off and hinder treatment. Digital thermometers are so nice, so easy, so tempting. But in general, they don't have a great reputation for accuracy from one minute to the next. And they need batteries. Glass thermometers are where the action is. They'll still be working in a hundred years and after a dozen EMPs. Yeah, they take a little practice to use, but it's not rocket science.
Ear thermometers are the worst for accuracy. Armpit temperatures are unreliable. Forehead scanners? Let's not even go there. It's got to be oral or rectal. And just to keep everyone happy, the thermometer is either oral or rectal. Not both.
Stethoscope. The stethoscope is most often used for listening to the lungs and heart, though doctors will also use it for listening to the abdomen, and less, frequently, monitoring the heartbeat of a fetus. There are thousands of options on Amazon. You don't want to go ultra-cheap, but you don't need super high-end, either. Doctor Steve used and recommended the Littman brand, so that's what my husband researched. He got a very expensive, sensitive one that could also be used by a hard-of-hearing person who has lost his hearing aid.
Blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer). Again, there are hundreds of options on Amazon. An aneroid cuff--non-digital and non-battery, is the only way to go. They range in price from $10 to $60, with most around $20. You want something of quality here, probably around the $20-25 range.
Wind-up watch with a second hand. The second hand is needed for being able to calculate accurate heart and respiration rates. This is going to be the hardest item to find, but not impossible. You'll only have a few options on Amazon at best. A pawnshop might have something. Anyway, obviously relying on batteries isn't the best idea. Good luck. Make sure you know how it works, and that it works, and then put it with the medical supplies reserved for true TEOTWAWKI.
Pulse oximeter. I went into more detail about what this little device is used for and why you want it in a separate post. Basically, it measures the oxygen level in the blood, which is especially important in cases of pneumonia and some chronic conditions. Unfortunately, there is no non-digital option for this instrument. They run about $15-20 on Amazon.
Penlight. These handy little lights are used often in TV medical dramas, but they may not be all that practical for the rest of us. They run from five to fifty dollars, and somewhere in the middle of the road, you can get USB-rechargeable penlights. You can make do with a low-intensity penlight for checking pupils for drug use/abuse and concussions. For the other uses, you can substitute a headlamp.
Headlamp. Now this is a device you really don't want to do without. When lighting is inadequate and when you really need to have good, strong light to see clearly, you've got to have the headlamp. Even with the best of light, your head may block the light and prevent seeing into a wound to be able to clean it thoroughly. A good headlamp takes care of that. They run the gamut in price and quality, but Streamlight has a good reputation. We chose one that is rechargeable with a USB to use with our Biofuel stove with a USB recharging port.
Chemical light sticks. Last but not least, just like children only get sick at night and on weekends, most emergencies where we really need a lot of good light are going to happen at night. And the power will probably be out as well. A single headlamp probably won't provide enough illumination, so it's chemical light sticks to the rescue. They're lightweight and easy to move around, without the risk of flame or fumes from a lantern. White light is best.
Links to related posts:
Pulse Oximeter
