When you say prepping, everyone thinks food, water, and security. But there’s one aspect of survival that, if neglected, can quickly turn a manageable emergency into a life-threatening situation: medical supplies. While you may already have the basics like bandages and painkillers, there are certain medical items that often get overlooked—the kind of supplies that could mean the difference between life and death when SHTF.
We’re not just talking about a few extra Band-Aids. The items on this list are the unsung heroes of any well-stocked medical kit, the kind of gear you’ll desperately wish you had when conventional medical care is simply not an option. Forget about these, and you could find yourself in a dire situation with few options for treatment. Let’s break down the most commonly forgotten medical supplies that every prepper needs to include in their kit.
1. Dental Repair Kit
Imagine you’re in a long-term survival situation, and a filling falls out or a tooth gets chipped. The pain can be debilitating, making it hard to focus on anything else.
A simple dental repair kit can make a world of difference.
It contains temporary fillings, dental wax, and even tools to help alleviate discomfort until you can get professional care—if that ever becomes an option again.
In a survival scenario, dental issues can become serious very quickly. Left untreated, they can lead to infections and significant pain, impacting your ability to function. A dental repair kit is an inexpensive and effective way to manage these problems before they escalate.
2. Wound Closure Strips and Wound Glue
Wound glue, like Dermabond, and wound closure strips, such as Steri-Strips, are invaluable when it comes to closing up lacerations.
In an emergency, you may not have the luxury of getting stitches from a medical professional. Wound glue and closure strips can be lifesavers, literally.
The key advantage of wound glue is its simplicity and speed in closing cuts. Medical-grade adhesives are easy to apply, reducing the risk of infection while allowing you to remain mobile. Closure strips provide additional support for larger wounds, ensuring that healing occurs more effectively with minimal complications. Something else you can use if the emergency catches you far away from home is a plant that acts like medical super glue. You can see what it is and how you can use it from this Wilderness Long-Term Survival Guide, written by someone who spent 57 days alone in the wild.
3. Antibiotics
Infections are one of the biggest killers in a post-collapse world. With modern healthcare potentially out of reach, you’ll need to take your health into your own hands.
Antibiotics are a must-have, but they’re not always easy to obtain. But without antibiotics, your chances of survival during a crisis go way down. Since antibiotics are typically not available over the counter, here is the only way to stockpile antibiotics without a prescription, before it’s too late.
Luckily, many preppers turn to fish antibiotics—such as Fish-Mox (amoxicillin) and Fish-Flex (cephalexin)—which are often identical to the versions prescribed for humans.
However, knowing when and how to use antibiotics is just as important as having them. Misusing antibiotics can lead to resistance, making them ineffective when you need them most. Proper knowledge of dosage and usage is crucial to ensure they are used safely and effectively in an emergency.
4. Sutures and Suture Practice Kit
You might have wound glue, but there are some situations where sutures are the best option.
Having a suture kit isn’t enough—you need to know how to use it. A suture practice kit can help you learn the basics before the skills are actually needed.
Related: 10 Medical Supplies to Stock Up on Before it’s too Late
The ability to suture a wound properly can prevent serious infections and promote faster healing. Practice kits, with their realistic silicone pads, offer a hands-on experience that will prove invaluable when it’s time to stitch up a real injury. Practicing these skills now can save lives when professional help is unavailable.
5. Israeli Bandages and Tourniquets
Massive bleeding is one of the leading causes of preventable death in emergency situations. If you don’t have a plan to deal with severe bleeding, you’re not as prepared as you think.
Israeli bandages are designed for serious wounds; they combine a bandage and a pressure device to stop heavy bleeding.
Tourniquets are essential for stopping severe arterial bleeding, especially when time is critical. Using a reliable tourniquet, such as the CAT (Combat Application Tourniquet), ensures you have the right tool for the job. Proper training on how to use these items is just as important as having them—incorrect application can cause additional harm. You can find step-by-step instructions here. And there’s a lot more useful information where that came from.
6. Eye Wash and Eye Care Supplies
Eyes are incredibly vulnerable, and in a SHTF situation, debris, chemicals, or smoke could easily cause irritation or injury. An eye wash solution and a simple eye cup can help flush out contaminants.
Having an eye patch in your kit is also a good idea—it’ll help protect an injured eye from further damage while it heals.
Without proper eye care, even a minor eye injury can lead to significant issues, including vision loss. By having eye wash and protective supplies on hand, you can treat injuries promptly and maintain your ability to see, which is crucial for survival tasks.
7. Burn Treatment Supplies
Burns are another common injury that can quickly become life-threatening without proper treatment.
In a survival scenario, you’ll likely be dealing with fire for cooking, heating, and other tasks, which raises the risk of burns.
Stocking up on burn gel, burn dressings, and non-stick gauze can make a painful burn more manageable and help prevent infection.
Related: How To Properly Store Over-The-Counter Drugs And Medical Supplies
Effective burn treatment can minimize pain and prevent further complications like infections and scarring. Having the right supplies on hand allows you to respond quickly, ensuring that burns are treated properly and healing can begin without delay.
8. Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal is a powerful tool for treating poisonings and overdoses. If someone ingests something toxic, activated charcoal can bind to the substance, limiting its absorption in the body.
It’s not a cure-all, but in certain situations, it could buy you the time you need to get further help or prevent a fatal outcome.
Activated charcoal is lightweight and easy to store, making it an excellent addition to your medical kit. It’s effective for a range of toxins and can be the critical first step in treatment while you seek additional medical help. I’ve searched a lot to find effective recipes that were also easy to make. For me, the best one I found is in this online course where everything is presented very clearly and with really easy-to-follow instructions.
9. Pain Management Supplies
Pain can be debilitating, and in a survival situation, you’ll need to stay functional.
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and acetaminophen are a good start, but consider stocking up on more potent options as well.
Topical anesthetics like lidocaine can be incredibly useful for numbing pain in localized areas, especially when dealing with wounds or burns. A friend of mine recommended me a salve that helped her with her joint pain and I’ve used it myself and have to say I’ve already included it in my emergency medical kit.
Natural remedies such as arnica or willow bark can also provide pain relief without the need for pharmaceuticals. Having multiple options for pain management can help you stay active and effective, no matter the challenges you face.
10. Blood Clotting Agents
Products like Celox or QuikClot are designed to help blood clot faster, which can be critical in stopping severe bleeding. These agents are a must-have for any serious prepper, especially if you’re in a situation where emergency services are not available. They can be applied directly to a wound and are incredibly effective at stopping bleeding quickly.
In a crisis, every second counts, and having blood clotting agents readily available can save lives. These products are easy to use and should be a staple in your medical kit for handling major injuries effectively. What I also like to have in my emergency kit is a spice that can stop bleeding in just a few seconds. I discovered it in this amazing guide on natural remedies and have used it a lot since I got it.
11. Manual Blood Pressure Cuff and Stethoscope
Knowing someone’s vital signs can help you make better medical decisions.
A manual blood pressure cuff and stethoscope are invaluable tools for monitoring health in a crisis.
If someone is going into shock or experiencing a medical emergency, understanding what’s happening inside their body could guide them to the right course of action.
These tools provide critical information without relying on electricity or batteries. Being able to monitor vital signs can help you assess the severity of an issue and decide on the best course of treatment, especially when medical professionals aren’t available.
Final Thoughts
When prepping, it’s easy to overlook certain medical supplies—until it’s too late. The items listed above are often forgotten, but they are vital for dealing with the unexpected realities of a collapse scenario. Remember, it’s not just about having the right gear; it’s about knowing how to use it effectively. Take the time to familiarize yourself with each item in your medical kit, practice the skills needed, and ensure that when things go south, you’re ready to handle whatever comes your way.
In a crisis, the pharmacies are the first to get looted, and the hospitals are the first to become overcrowded. When you may not have access to modern medicine, you can try to make your own remedies at home and this book can be your lifeline. With it, you’ll be able to create your own remedies for you, your family, and your close friends. One of the most powerful remedies I learned how to make recently is called Painkiller in a Jar—a natural solution made from wild lettuce, often referred to as “nature’s opium.” Unlike pharmaceuticals, this remedy targets pain without harmful side effects. It’s simple to make and just as effective, using a plant you’ve likely spotted growing in your backyard. All it takes is harvesting around 20 fresh wild lettuce leaves, slicing them thinly to fill about half a glass jar, pouring 80-proof vodka over the leaves, and letting it sit for 4-6 weeks to complete the extraction process. To make it easier for you, you’ll find the recipe, complete with step-by-step instructions and pictures, here.
In the world we live in, where disaster could be lurking just around the corner, don’t let a lack of medical supplies be the reason you or your loved ones suffer. Stay prepared, stay vigilant, and make sure your medical kit is as comprehensive as your food and water stores. Because when the lights go out and the grid goes down, your ability to handle medical emergencies could be the key to your survival.
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this is a good article, but i’d like to see you take each catagory and go into detail about what to do. the bleeding control would be the first one i’d recommend. i’ve been an emt since early 1990’s and every once in a while see something new. a blood pressure cuff is a good bleeder stopper for heavy bleeding even arterial bleeds. the emergency dental kit is something overlooked by alot of people. this would be a good article on how to use these items. once at wal-mart a manager sliced his leg open with a box cutter so he grabbed a super glue off the counter and glued the two halves together and went back to work. it was a new tube so it was sterile. it healed just fine. please consider expanding on these catagories as its very useful info. keep up the good work.
Why not mention an aloe plant for burns?
Thank You- for all the years of FREE THOUGHTFUL Advice/ Articles and EVERYTHING- maybe 1 day someone will write a book and cover all the things you’ve listed., IMHO- I dont understand all the companies trying to sell you “AIR” cuz thats what a digital copy is WTSHTF- I only buy physical copies Digital is such a waste of Time and Money-yet everyday- they sell people on it-Thank You so much FOR SO MUCH.