50+ Medical Supplies That Will Disappear FAST in a Crisis

It’s the Basic Law of Supply and Demand. When the Demand for Medical Supplies is High, the Supply Runs Low.

To put it bluntly, we’re spoiled. Finding and buying just about anything we need is as easy as a quick trip to a store or a couple of keystrokes on the Internet. And while it’s true that we can improvise many of the things we need, medical supplies don’t make those swap-outs easy.

The obvious solution is to stockpile, but there’s more to it than an assortment of bandages and some over-the-counter medications. We’re going to explore a condition-driven approach to a stockpile based on the types of medical conditions that are common during and after a disaster. Some will be in short supply very rapidly after disaster strikes. Others are difficult to find in most stores even now.

For those items that may be difficult to locate, we’ve provided links in this article. Many items can be found at a pharmacy, but if they are a bit obscure, the Internet has it.

In the grand scheme of things, the items you choose to stockpile are not very expensive. It’s the quantity and the variety that can add up a bit, but even then, if you can’t find it anywhere, it’s priceless.

The primary focus here is on first aid items that will be in high demand following a disaster. If you think of an item you’ll need that’s not on the list, buy it.

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Two Types of Disasters

Disasters tend to fall into two broad categories: Natural and Manmade. The good news (if there is any) is that we’re somewhat accustomed to natural disasters if not simply aware of the threats they present.

Manmade disasters are another story and can range from rampant civil unrest to financial collapse or a catastrophic failure of the grid due to infrastructure compromises and worse. Here are the most common injuries and illnesses across these two categories.

Natural Disasters

Hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, epidemics, we’ve seen or heard of them all in the last year and the impact in many cases is devastating. What should come as no surprise is that the primary medical emergencies that emerge following a natural disaster fall in the category of basic first aid for non-life threatening injuries and conditions in most instances.

Here are some examples of common injuries as a result of a natural disaster:

• Fractures and sprains
• Burns
• Deep cuts and scrapes
• Eye injuries
• Deep punctures

There are also medicines that will be in short supply to treat many conditions that accompany these types of injuries or as a result of compromised living conditions.

• Blisters and foot problems from walking more than usual
• Diarrhea/dehydration (especially dangerous for kids and older adults)
• Infections
• Minor dental issues that become major when clinics are closed
• Nausea/vomiting from contaminated food/water or stress
• Pain
• Poisoning
• Rashes (including fungal infections from damp conditions)
• Respiratory irritation from smoke, dust, mold, and debris

If you work backward from the injury or condition, it’s a little easier to assess what will be in short supply and what you should stockpile. How much you need to stock is dependent on your family size and your assessment of how long you think the effects of the disaster will last.

Here’s a checklist as a thought starter.

First Aid Supplies Following Natural Disasters

OTC Medicines

• Acetaminophen
• Activated charcoal for poisoning
• Anti-diarrheal medicine (loperamide) and bismuth (for certain stomach issues)
• Antifungal cream (athlete’s foot/jock itch spreads fast in damp, crowded conditions)
• Aspirin
• Benadryl for allergic reactions
• Burn and sting relief ointments, gels and sprays
• Congestion relief
• Cough and throat relief
• Eye drops, rinses, and antibiotic eye ointment
• Hydrocortisone cream (rashes/itching/contact dermatitis)
• Ibuprofen
• Motion sickness/nausea meds (useful after storms/evacuations)
• Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) or electrolyte packets (dehydration from diarrhea/heat)
• OTCs for intestinal distress (dysentery)
• Sterile saline (eyes, wound rinsing, nasal rinse if needed)
• Triple antibiotic ointment

Equipment

Diagnosis of medical conditions and the treatment of the current state of an ill or injured person requires some equipment. Consider the following:

• Blood Pressure Cuff
• Cane or crutches
• CPR face shield or pocket mask (safer rescue breathing)
• Dental Picks
• Extra eyewash cup and saline bottles (debris + smoke)
• Eye cup
• Headlamp (hands-free care at night)
• N95/respirator masks and a few surgical masks (smoke, dust, illness spread)
• Neck brace
• Pulse oximeter (helps assess breathing issues)
• Sterile bottle for irrigation of eyes and wounds
• Sterile surgical gloves
• Stethoscope
• Surgical scissors, forceps, scalpel and hemostat
• Thermometer
• Tweezers/tick remover (ticks/splinters/debris are common after storms)
• Velcro splints for legs, arms, wrists, and ankles

Infection Control & Sanitation (Often the First to Sell Out)

A disaster turns normal life into a germ-and-injury factory: more cuts, less clean water, crowded living, limited laundry, and limited trash pickup. These supplies prevent small problems from becoming infections:

• Disinfectant (bleach or hospital-grade wipes/spray)
• Feminine hygiene supplies and adult incontinence supplies (often overlooked)
• Hand soap and/or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Masks/respirators (especially in wildfire smoke or outbreaks)
• Nitrile gloves (multiple sizes)
• Trash bags, paper towels, and disposable surface barriers
• Water purification for drinking and enough clean water reserved for wound cleaning

Manmade Disasters

You may not have first-hand experience or even knowledge of some manmade disasters. There are also manmade disasters that fall in the unthinkable category, but if they’re within the realm of possibility…well…they’re possible.

Here are some examples that various parts of the world have experienced at one time or another:

• Biological war
• Catastrophic grid failure
• Chemical war
• Civil unrest
• Civil war
• Conventional war
• Economic collapse
• Government collapse
• Nuclear war

Your experience with any of these manmade disasters has a lot to do with your country of origin and your age. It’s an unfortunate fact that some generations are going to face disasters on this scale at some point in their life.

The medical emergencies that come with manmade disasters are complex and often serious but represent a set of conditions and injuries you would expect depending on the nature of the disaster:

Injuries

Many of the injuries presented by a natural disaster can and will occur during a manmade disaster. If you’ve stockpiled items for a natural disaster, they’ll do double duty for some of these injuries from a manmade disaster. But there are some potential injuries that are unique to manmade calamities. Many of them are very serious if not critical.

• Bullet wounds
• Chemical burns
• Deep wounds
• Eye damage and blindness
• Multiple fractures and sprains
• Poisoning
• Radiation Burns
• Radiation poisoning
• Severe bacterial infections
• Severe bleeding

Conditions

• Blindness due to nuclear flash or chemical warfare
• Blood borne pathogens
• High fever and pain
• Infection due to severe burns or deep wounds
• Radiation sickness
• Severe bronchial and respiratory conditions affecting the throat and lungs

Supplies

Medicines

Many of the OTC medicines for a natural disaster should be on hand, but there are some specific OTCs you may need for manmade disasters.

• Activated charcoal – Very important for treatment of radiation poisoning and chemical poisoning.
• Iodide tablets to prevent radiation damage to the thyroid gland.
• Serious burn gels (second and third degree).

Prescription Medicines

This isn’t so easy. Prescription medicines are potent solutions, especially for infections and other bacterial conditions. But you can’t get prescription meds unless you have a condition that requires them.

Here are some solutions to consider:

• Ask about 90-day fills (when allowed) and automatic refills so you’re not cutting it close.
• Request an “emergency supply” plan from your doctor for critical meds (asthma, diabetes, heart meds, seizures, severe allergies).
• Use a backup pharmacy option (mail-order or a second local pharmacy) and keep a printed/current medication list.
• Store meds correctly (heat and humidity ruin many meds faster than the printed date suggests).
• Avoid improvising with leftover antibiotics or non-prescribed/veterinary meds—wrong drug, dose, or duration can cause real harm and may leave you worse off when care is limited.

Pre-packaged Medical Kits

You can save yourself a bit of time by simply buying medical kits with a combination of various supplies, medicines, and equipment pre-packed. The size and quantity of items and prices vary but some include sophisticated supplies and features designed for serious expeditions.

Even if you’re assembling individual items off-the-shelf, you should think about collecting and compartmentalizing them based on specific conditions. If you have an emergency related to severe burns you don’t want to spend 15 minutes tearing through hundreds of non-related medical supplies to find the burn gel. A toolbox or tackle box clearly labeled is a good place to start.

Here are some of the basic kits to think about.

Chronic Conditions and Special Situations

A “general” kit is great, but the real emergencies are often personal. Consider adding supplies tailored to your household:

• Asthma/COPD: rescue inhalers, spacer, pulse oximeter, masks (smoke)
• Dental: temporary filling material, clove oil (if you use it), dental wax, pain control
• Diabetes: testing supplies, extra batteries, glucose tablets/gel, sharps container
• Infants/kids: pediatric fever meds, dosing syringes, kid bandages, ORS
• Older adults: extra mobility aids, wound dressings for fragile skin, incontinence supplies
• Severe allergies: epinephrine auto-injectors if prescribed, antihistamines, bite/sting care
• Women’s health: menstrual products, pregnancy tests, prenatal basics if relevant

Storage and Rotation (So Your Stockpile Actually Works)

Medical stockpiles fail when items expire, get heat-damaged, or can’t be found quickly. Keep supplies cool, dry, and organized by use-case (bleeding, burns, respiratory, GI/diarrhea, dental).

Rotate what you can by using it in normal life, and keep a one-page inventory inside the lid of each tote/box so anyone in the family can find the right items fast.

Knowledge

Having medical supplies on hand is only a first step. Knowing what to do with them is perhaps more important. You should start by assembling some basic books that can give you specific information and reference for treating a variety of medical conditions.

Here are some books to consider:

There are also websites that offer very good information and the luxury of a search feature for specific conditions. Keep in mind that if the grid is down, the Internet may also be down, so do your research before you need the information rather than after the fact.

This information is meant as a thought starter. There are certainly other conditions and circumstances that could arise. Take the time to give it some thought. As you prepare, you’ll be able to expand your thinking and your supplies.

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