Disaster preparedness with limitations: health issues

Disaster preparedness with limitations: those with health issues

Disaster preparedness can be challenging enough. Adding Health / medical issues to the mix create quite the disadvantage, needing to work even harder prepare for challenges associated with most disaster situations. There are a few things that you can start doing today to prepare for both disaster possibilities while meeting your medical needs.

Stockpile medication

Do you or a loved one depend on prescription medication to stay alive? If so then you should have a supply to last more than 30 days. For starters, ask your doctor for samples every time you have an appointment. The pharmaceutical representative shower Dr’s with samples so they usually have quite the stockpile with no one’s name on it. Doing this can instantly build your medication collection.

Next time you visit your doctor request an extra prescription. It’s not unreasonable to discuss your disaster preparation needs with your doctor. While some may be hesitant, others may take heed in these areas and understand your personal dilemma.

Spend some time researching to see what you can do to build your immune system up and even supplement your current medication. There are, at times, over the counter medications that are similar to those only accessible by a pharmacy. These over-the-counter prescriptions may contain the same active ingredients.

File detailed records

Alongside your medicine keep detailed records, treatment plans and list of medications active and inactive, in the event you have to be treated by someone other than your traditional Physicians. Unfamiliar 1st responders can utilize them the treat your condition properly.

Ask your doctor what emergency plans they have

The medical industry understands the importance of prepping for disaster. So ask them what emergency plans they have in place. Figure out which provider you can use as a backup source to access. If you have continuous Medical Treatments at the hospital it wouldn’t be unwise to link up with the next city or towns Hospital on an emergency basis.

Back up your supplies

What medical supplies do you use daily? Insulin strips? Oxygen? Hearing aids? Batteries specific to medical devices? Inventory every device you use and then build a cache of supplies needed for that medical device. If you rely on it and can buy an additional one without too much trouble, or with out the need for medical prescription, you should do so.

Actually learn about your condition

The doctor has left the building. So be proactive and learn how to handle your medical condition without a doctor. The better your education when dealing with your condition the less dependent you become, and during many disaster scenarios you may lose the aid of a physician. There are often alternative treatments to manage your condition, and the greater your knowledge, the greater chance you have of making it through a disaster unscathed.

Sign up for an emergency medical class or two. Learn how to properly care for yourself or your family members during a crisis. Your local hospital may offer generic courses in relation to medical treatment open to the general public. The Red Cross oftentimes offers classes for critical and Medical Care and even disaster preparedness, so check with them periodically to see if they are offering one in your town.

You are biggest Advocate to your health

Write down if need be, and then ask your doctor questions at each appointment. Who knows, you may be able to skip doses, cut your doses in half or even supplement with something else readily available. Tell your doctor your concerns as related to a potential emergency and he may have some advice for when he’s and pertinent medical care is not available.

Don’t throw in the towel

If you are reading this and now wondering what you can start doing to better manage your condition as it reflects to the unknown, congratulations, you’re already ahead of the curve. By failing to protect yourself you fail your loved ones, and by failing to protect your loved ones, you fail everyone. Research your medical issues, cross-reference them against disaster scenarios and put a plan in place. In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king, but even the most healthy of people lose that advantage over the medically disadvantaged when they are prepared for a devastating event.