Hospital bug out bag

bonniebede

I read this today in the Irish times, and indeed last year spent a night with a family member in A and E, so I've seen the story...

Sir, – My daughter was admitted to AE at the Mater hospital last Wednesday, April 25th, with abdominal pain and suspected appendicitis. She had to wait for 2½ days – including spending a night sleeping on the floor – before receiving treatment. No bed, no trolley, no pillow, no blanket, just a spot on the floor. Apparently this is how we treat patients in our first-world country. The Minister should hang his head in shame. – Yours, etc,


I'm just wondering if a 'hospital bug out bag' might be a good idea. It could be tailored to suit your particular needs, you could have one for each child depending on what they might need.

Suggestions...in no particular order...

Air matress and pump, for patient and accompanying family members
Fold up stool?

Blanket, pillow, easy to wear warm clothing like a shawl

food and drink rations... the patient might or might not need them, the carer certainly will.

Something amusing to pass the time.

Pen and paper and camera phone to keep records written, photographic and audio of interactions with doctors/staff .

Blank thank you card for staff who go the extra mile.

Medications of your own...soluble aspirin, pain killers, sterile wound dressings,

Stuff to make toilet facilities bearable...wet wipes, dettol toilet flushable wipes, plastic disposable gloves, sanitiser, maybe a sheewee,

Maybe a foldable bucket in case your patient needs to throw up.

and grooming things for the person, hairbrush toothbrush etc.

Change of clothes.

Patient and medication records if you have any information they should have.

Cash. Some way to pay A and E charges.

Phone numbers to call in case of various scenarios, from can you come and bring me home to worst case notifications.:(

Details of how to get to the Beacon or some other private facility where treatment might be quicker?



Basically what I am arguing is that even if you get to A and E you could still be looking after yourself, or be looking after someone you have brought for hours or days. you are effectively providing them with nursing care so should be thinking of it that way.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6174932_care-sick-person-home.html

No this is not just an excuse to get yet another bag and fill it with bug out essentials. honestly its not.:rolleyes:


Any ideas?

baords dyslexic

If you bring that lot in with you I think you might get taken down to the childrens recover ward because they think you are the clown act comming to entertain them.

Edit> Don't forget the red nose

Tabnabs

My experience of doing the obligatory 24 hours in A&E on a trolley is a bag will be way too much and would quite possible either be removed or simply misplaced. A jacket with plenty of pockets and light & small items would serve you better.

However, a bag for when you go through to the ward would make sense, including a contact to bring it into you.

bonniebede

Good idea re pockets. I guess I am presuming that you will have someone with you to help. Maybe that's not realistic for everyone.:(

Sounds like even a trolley could be a luxury.

krissovo

No point really, no danger to life. No one will freeze, die of hunger or thrust in a Irish hospital unless they have the intelligence of a typical Darwin award winner.

Its always handy to have a 24hr bag around for a hospital trip but only small like a change of undies, tooth brush and paste and a good book. The same you will take on the plane for a holiday.

The odds of being dumped on the floor in a hospital are very low. If you have a serious condition the hospital will find you bed and give appropriate treatment. Only in very few cases would someone with a life threatening condition be missed.

Lets look at this case:

My daughter was admitted to AE at the Mater hospital last Wednesday, April 25th, with abdominal pain and suspected appendicitis.

Translates to f@rt pain , suspected appendicitis would have ruled out very quickly.

bonniebede

krissovo wrote: »

No point really, no danger to life. No one will freeze, die of hunger or thrust in a Irish hospital unless they have the intelligence of a typical Darwin award winner.

Its always handy to have a 24hr bag around for a hospital trip but only small like a change of undies, tooth brush and paste and a good book. The same you will take on the plane for a holiday.

The odds of being dumped on the floor in a hospital are very low. If you have a serious condition the hospital will find you bed and give appropriate treatment. Only in very few cases would someone with a life threatening condition be missed.

Lets look at this case:



Translates to f@rt pain , suspected appendicitis would have ruled out very quickly.

You're probably right. but on the other hand presuming the time frame here isnot exxaggerated, it would still make for a miserable uncomfortable stretch of time, why not have afew home comforts at hand.

baords dyslexic

bonniebede wrote: »

You're probably right. but on the other hand presuming the time frame here isnot exxaggerated, it would still make for a miserable uncomfortable stretch of time, why not have afew home comforts at hand.

My wife was admitted for something recently on a Thursday (Dr Panic) and after tests she had nothing immediatly life threating but they wanted her to see the specialist who wouldn't be in untill Monday and wanted her to stay in hospital Friday and over the weekend just so she'd be there ready to see him :eek:. Needless to say she discharged herself and made an out patients appointment to see him.

evilmonkee

Personally I don't think that for the "average joe" it would be necessary to have anything prepared.

If you can define anyone here as an average joe
The people on this forum will most likely have some sort of bag in their car, which items can be taken from.
for example, if I was taken into hospital, I could easily be supplied with necessary items from the bag in my car.
toothbrush, paste
medication to show staff
clothes
food (not requiring cooking*)
and a blanket (both survival and fleece)

However for someone who suffers with a medical condition (eg. kidney stones)
I feel that the suggestion of having a small bag prepared is a good idea.
Something like:
toothbrush , paste
medication or list of medications which they are taking.
change of underwear, socks.
some snacks eg. nuts, protein bars, (things that keep well and are easy to eat but provide nutrition)
bottle of water.
amusement - book, sudoku, magazine

I really like the idea of having an up to date list of medications and daily dosage, including any known allergies the person has.
Unfortunately I have been in the situation when bringing someone to hospital where I had to shove all the medications I could find into a bag so I could try and let the A&E doctors know what the person was on. A list would have helped a huge amount.

fenris

I would include a USB charger and a USB battery pack to keep your phone alive, just charge the battery pack at every opportunity and then leave it plugged into the phone to keep that charged.

It also means that you are not leaving a phone plugged in where it could be stolen. The USB battery packs are great and cheap so they are no great loss if they go walkies.