"Back to nature" and "Prevention" are the main themes of my medical/health supplies storage strategy. I have a (homeopathic) Materia Medica and am collecting the basic homeopathic medicines, which are over-the-counter. Also plan to store herbs and salves, available through most health food stores, and store seeds to grow medicinal plants.

Every time I shop, I grab some sterile pads, bandages and first aid supplies. I have three young children, and I am trying to anticipate almost every situation. My biggest concern is to obtain essential prescription Rx, hopefully, in concert with a cooperative physician.

If you could or have enrolled such a Doc in assisting you along these lines, what would be on your wish list?

BTW, has anyone had any luck enrolling their community hospital or clinic to take contingency planning action?

-- Sara Nealy (saran@ptd.net), October 31, 1998

Answers

For those who prefer natural alternatives...

Check out your home medical options with aromatherapy as well. Lavender is key for all sorts of things -- its the swiss army knife of essential oils. Rose Geranium helps stop bleeding.

Tell you what, since this is one of my areas of some knowledge and great interest, Ill put together a recommended Y2K E.O. emergency kit. Give me a week or so. (An advantage is that it is quite portable).

Diane.

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), October 31, 1998.

Taking a first aid refresher course is a good idea, as is stocking up on non-prescription drugs. I have a few books; an herbal, a 'what drugs are for and side effects', a book on natural alternatives to drugs. However, all that said, I am extremely grateful that my daughter ended up in hospital with a ruptured appendix this week and not in 14 months! She is recuperating slowly but surely,BTW.

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), October 31, 1998.

I do believe that alternative therapies can be helpful. Modern medicine is far from being comprehensive (think about viruses and prions). However, I would urge everyone, as a part of their basic preparation, to be sure they are up to date on vaccinations. Vaccination has saved more lives in this century than any other modality. Tetanus, pertussis, diptheria, typhoid, cholera are serious killers. In addition, I would urge a little creative ... uh, presentation to your doctor and obtain some antibiotics. Good general spectrum antibiotics include (trade names Ancef, Bactrim and Cipro). These are 3 different families of antibiotics. Unless you are allergic, I would obtain a 2 week supply of each. If the worst happens, the modern physician will be helpless in 1850 conditions. (And yes, thats why the "alternative" therapies may be of some use.)

-- R. D..Herring (drherr@erols.com), October 31, 1998.

Diane, to help you with your herbal medicine kit go to WALTONFEED.COM They sell a basic and deluxe medicine kit. I was going to order one but with the delay in shipping (6-9 mths) I decided to print out the detail list and will start to pull my own kit together in the spring so everything is fresh. I prefer herbal remedies over drug store remedies always. I look forward to any additions you might have on your list! Diana

-- DIANA (count@426.day), October 31, 1998.

Tricia, glad your daughter is OK! I thought the same thing 6 weeks ago when we had to take our 15 year old daughter to the emergency room. (Ovarian cyst- we thought it was her appendix!)

I got my Baygen radio from Walton Feed about 2 weeks ago. They had told me it would be 5 months, but it ended up being only 4. Maybe they are getting more help? (They're gonna need it!!!)

-- Gayla Dunbar (privacy@please.com), November 01, 1998.

Thanks for your concern, Gayla. And keep an eye on your daughter, they thought Carla had an ovarian cyst in September when she had the same symptoms, so were slower to take action when it all happened again in October. Fortunately, we had a pediatrician who was willing to risk being unpopular with the consulting surgeon and sent us to another before she became desparately ill. As it is, she's been in hospital over a week now, and anyone who knows what health care is like in Alberta these days will tell you that means she was SICK. Don't wait to seek medical advice if your daughter has pain again!

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), November 02, 1998.