View Full Version : Emergency Medical Supply
EasyWriter
10-16-2006, 04:08 PM
I read a recent new article about a man whose SUV turned over during the recent early season snow storm that hit the eastern United States.
He was trapped in the SUV with just a few crackers to eat and whatever melting snow he could reach on the door's edge for water, for three days!
Luckily, he also had enough insulin with him to last him until helicopters had clear enough weather to fly and search for him.
Hurricane Katrina was a health care disaster also. Some patients had to go several weeks without proper care.
Keeping just enough around for current usage needs to replaced with some planning for emergencies.
Emergency Rooms are disappearing!
http://www.911memorialer.blogspot.com
Dusty
10-16-2006, 04:36 PM
A good post for sure Easywriter! I can see that being a life threatening situation pretty fast for someone who depends on insulin and who needs food to keep from going too low.
parise
10-16-2006, 04:54 PM
Yeah I can dig that. That was much needed if you ask me.
jimmys devoted
10-16-2006, 05:51 PM
It seems to me that many diabetics forgot the cardinal rule.. regardless take your insulin with you!
DOP kits/glucose kits have places for insulin. what got me was when some rescue workers went in to homes theyfound insulin still in the fridges. Why did many fo these people not take their insulin with them.
I take insulin with me everywhere in my kit. I also found out that the guidelines ofr keeping it reridgerated is only slightly with mertit. I ahve kept my insulin out for days and t functions just fine.
FEMA and emergency services were so panicked that they just didnt thik. there have been numerous articles, rebuttals and so on in the diabetes geared magazines over this.
what it boils down to is always have an emergecy supply, grab it and your kit first.
the man who survived survived becausehe had his DOP kitw ith him and he used it only for minute base.
parise
11-07-2006, 06:44 PM
So I guess that means to always be prepared for the unexpected? I mean we never know what will happen.
jimmys devoted
11-13-2006, 08:08 PM
One problem with always being prepared is making sure you have the right handbag........
I had all of my stuff in my husbands car.........
now thats prepared when he is traveling.......
Maybe the rescue workers were not trained to look in the refridgerator for medications.
This needs to be put in the training if it isnt already.
jimmys devoted
11-21-2006, 08:12 PM
when I was an emt when I was younger it was part of the training. BUt it seems thats o many just dont bother> Were were given specific training on the medic alert and o on but so many just ignore it. Evene with my dad, when I told the workers he was diabetic they ignored me the fist two times. When I finally shut teh IV, and said in a screaming voice he was diabetic they tried ot change the d5w to saline but it was too late.
I think we have to be even more proactive and let everyone we talk to know it if we have it so that theer can eb no mistakes. And be prepared. Now iwth some of the new insulins that dont need cooling temps like nahalable etc there shoudl not be a probelm in teh future.....
it should also be in teh diabetes managemtn training as well.
Dusty
11-21-2006, 08:55 PM
I think the main problem with being diabetic in this country today is lack of information for the newly diagnosed. A large percentage of the general practitioners just don't have a clue.
There's just way too many people that are diagnosed and then sent home with nothing but a feeling of depression from knowing they have a chronic disease and don't have a clue as to treatment options.
For a lot of people that are internet capable they are able to get most of the info they need to get off on the right foot but for people that are not, especially the elderly, they are just lost.
There are so many people that are developing serious complications just a few years into diagnosis because they have a doctor that either doesn't know or doesn't care enough to get them the help they need. It's a **** shame but I just don't see anything happening to make it any better.
I believe 100% that people just like ourselves on these discussion boards end up helping the newly diagnosed find their way better than the healthcare professionals.
when I was an emt when I was younger it was part of the training. BUt it seems thats o many just dont bother> Were were given specific training on the medic alert and o on but so many just ignore it. Evene with my dad, when I told the workers he was diabetic they ignored me the fist two times. When I finally shut teh IV, and said in a screaming voice he was diabetic they tried ot change the d5w to saline but it was too late.
I think we have to be even more proactive and let everyone we talk to know it if we have it so that theer can eb no mistakes. And be prepared. Now iwth some of the new insulins that dont need cooling temps like nahalable etc there shoudl not be a probelm in teh future.....
it should also be in teh diabetes managemtn training as well.
Hi,
do you have any personal advice to give out in emergency situations based on your own experience as an emt. Can you remember any of your training guide that may be helpful to the normal citizen?