Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Taking Preparedness on the Road

We are getting ready to attend a family reunion.  We have been busy baking cookies, making lists, cleaning paintball guns and getting gear together.  One of the things I really like to have whenever we make a long trip is a prepared vehicle.  I can't count how many times we have been the first on the scene of a car accident, or needed to pull someone out of the ditch or, when we were younger, had our car break down and been stranded.  Because of this, I try to never leave home without a few essentials. 

First, when we plan on traveling any distance, Sir Knight changes the oil, checks the belts and makes sure everything is in good running order.  He always takes a small tool kit with us - just in case.  In the back of our truck (a Toyota Landcruiser) we keep a large milk crate full of useful items - a tow strap, chains, ratchet straps, jumper cables (Sir Knight made them - they are HUGE) and a bag that holds a couple of military wool blankets.  When we get ready to walk out the door, we grab a bag that has bottled water and a number of MRE (meals ready to eat).  We don't like to leave those in the truck, because the heat and cold really affects them. 



Because we have five children, I keep a bag that hangs over the front seat, accessible to the middle row of seats, full of "kid" stuff.  It has baby wipes, a few spare diapers, anti-bacterial hand wash, paper, crayons, window markers, granola bars and zip loc baggies (you never know what you are going need to dispose of!).





Perhaps most importantly, we pack a basic first aid kit.  This too, we keep in the house, and grab on our way out the door.  The heat and cold are particularly unkind to medications and band-aids.  Our kit has a few basic essentials - exam gloves, gauze pads, surgical sponges, band-aids, ace bandages, children's Tylenol and Ibuprofin, Benadryl, adult Ibuprofin, eye drop, ear drops, clove oil (for a toothache), Albuterol (for the nebulizer) cough drops, an Epi pen (for anaphalaxis) and children's chewables (I keep all of the liquid meds in zip loc baggies, in case they spill).  It is enough to get us to a hospital if the need arises or to render first aid in an emergency.  A few years ago we spent a week camping in the backwoods.  We came home tired, dirty and hungry.  On the way home, we stopped at a take and bake pizza joint and picked up dinner.  Relaxing after our long trip, we were eating pizza and drinking soda and all of a sudden, pandemonium!  Hand Grenade was stung on the tongue by a yellow jacket.  His tongue started swelling and swelling and pretty soon he was having a hard time breathing.  We rushed to the local clinic and Hand Grenade was airlifted to the regional medical center for treatment.  He was fine and everything returned to normal, but it was a close call.  Had he been stung when we were in the back country, very possibly, he would have died.  Now an Epi pen goes into our "on the road" first aid kit.  It might not be our kid next time.  It could be yours.  But, we will be prepared!




The way I look at it, when the pioneers traversed this country in covered wagons, they brought with them everything they thought they needed to survive - extra grease for the axles, blankets, a box full of medicinal herbs and food enough for the trip.  Granted, they covered a tremendous amount of miles with crude roads at best and rutted trails at worst.  There were no hospitals, cell phones or hotels.  We have the luxury of paved highways, cellular communications (although it can be sketchy in the backwoods of Idaho) and tow trucks, should we need them, but we still need to be prepared.  You never know when your truck will break down, when you will come across a car accident or one of the kids gets sick.  Wisdom dictates that we prepare for what could be and hope for what would be.

7 comments:

  1. Wow! You pack more stuff than I do when going on a long trip. I don't have all the kids' stuff because, well...no kids. BUT, I carry a luggable loo with me and some wag bags in case I have to go while on the go. Much better alternative to going behind a tree, know what I mean?

    Have a great trip and a wonderful family reunion.

    NoCal Gal

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  2. NoCal Gal-
    It is always so fun to read your comments! You truly are a kindred spirit. I do have to admit, I have no idea what a "wag bag" is. I can kind of guess! The luggable loo, I understand, but the wag bag? We will have a great reunion - probably the last one with my grandparents! Thanks again - I love hearing from you.

    Enola

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  3. Enola, you and your family have made me very curious about northern Idaho. I have visited the southern part of your state many times, but haven't yet made it to the northern portion, which I've heard is very beautiful.

    So, in a few weeks I'll be packing up my luggable loo and some wag bags (a brand name for disposable bags that fit inside the 5- gallon bucket - the luggable loo - and which have a gelling powder. After use, just put the bag and it's gelled contents into the accompanying ziptop bag and dispose in any trash recepticle. Everything will decay in a relatively short time (or so the company claims, I'm not waiting around to check on it!).

    See how your photos and stories have an impact on someone? You are changing my life, and for that I thank you so very much. May God bless you and your family, including your grandparents.

    NoCal Gal

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  4. Where do you get an Epi pen and are they very expensive? We live about 30 miles from the nearest hospital and have a lot of wasps, bees, scorpions, etc. around. Having an Epi pen available could be a lifesaver for my family. Thanks!

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  5. Anonymous;
    Epi pens are prescription and no, they are not very expensive. We just talked to our doctor, told him our situation and that we wanted to have one on hand in case there was an emergency, and he gave us a prescription. I think most doctors will do this - its not like you're asking for oxycontin or some other high powered pain killer! An Epi pen can be the difference between life and death! Also, when our son was in the hospital with a bee sting, the doc told us that large doses of Benedryl would keep his airway open - just another pertinent piece of information!

    Enola

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  6. NoCal Gal-
    Now I about the luggable loo and wag bags! You learn something new every day! North Idaho would welcome you gladly! We always love to find likeminded folks (which there is no doubt that you are). You'll have to let me know where you are planning on visiting.

    Enola

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  7. Moscow (I like to visit U.S. cities that have famous foreign names - much better than going abroad, imho)
    Coeur d'Alene (heard about the beauty of CDA all my life)
    Hayden Lake (curious)
    Sandpoint (sounds lovely)
    Clarks Fork and the Kootenai River area. (Maybe I can fish there or just see the sights, like Moyie Falls.)

    These are my plans, but I often change plans when something unexpected catches my attention.

    Enola Gay, if you have any suggestions, I'd be so very happy to get them.

    NoCal Gal

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