DSN Weigh In- Bug Out Bags-Medical Edition

As chronically fabulous and ill people we must practice self care. One aspect of self care is making sure you are prepared when leaving the house. When I am going to be gone from the house for more than 30 minutes, I always feel like I am packing for a trip around the world. When, in fact, I am going to see a movie or take my children to the park. However, because of the unpredictable nature of these illnesses, I need to be prepared for whatever wacky symptom may hit. My biggest ones to watch out for are nausea, pain, dizziness and hives. I always have ginger candy in my person (YUM) and extra doses of pain meds. Epi-Pen for emergencies and salt/hydration packets. Always, have a phone charger. Gatorade and an ensure are my go-to drinks. I also keep earbuds and earplugs to drown out the world's craziness. Or to settle my son down when his senses are overloaded. I also never leave home without a topical cream for my neck because I cannot always take my pain medicine, if I am driving. That is a NO-NO. This week for our DSN Weigh in Post, I asked members what they keep in their Bug-Out Bag- Medical Edition. The outcome was a fantastic list of items, some I will be adding to my own bag now! I hope you enjoy the list and find some good suggestions in there!

• Nausea, pain, allergy, anxiety, blood pressure, breathing and headache medicine.

• Salt packets

• Hydration packets/tablets

• Lip balm

• Essential oils

• Large reusable water bottle

• Epi-Pens (two)

• Medical card

• Sunglasses for bright places

• Sweater

• Ginger candies

• Topical pain cream

• List of meds and specialist (along with phone numbers)

• Gatorade/Powerade

• Nutrition shake/drink

• Warm Hands in the winter

• Earplugs for sensory overload in crowded places

• Alcohol wipes

• Snacks

• Various braces

• Pink Salt

• Tissues

• Eyedrops

• Phone charger

• Small hand fan (practical and fancy!)

• Lightweight portable stool

• BP wrist monitor

• Pulse-Ox for finger

• Bandaids

Well, folks, there it is! DSN's Bug Out Bags-Medical Edition. Depending on what you are doing and where you are going, your needs may change. I carry just enough to get through the task at hand, so I am able to have a wide variety of items. My lip balm, ginger and hydration items are some of my most used. I hope we have given you lots to think about when creating your own “kit”. Is there anything you did not see on here that you would like to suggest or add? Drop it in the comments and meet us here next week for “Weigh In Wednesday with DSN”.