The One Year Urban Survival Plan - Month 4

“Failing to prepare is like preparing to fail.” – John R. Wooden

This month, you'll learn a lot about first aid. You'll create a mini first aid kit for your bug out bag, gather medical supplies, practice basic first aid skills, and you'll learn more about proper food storage.

Table Of Contents

BUG OUT BAG

This month, we'll work on adding medical supplies to your bug out bag. This is crucial. If you get hurt during a disaster, the hospitals could be too busy to help you, or they could be closed altogether. Make sure you have everything you need to treat basic injuries.

Bug Out Bag First Aid Checklist

Here's my suggested list of first aid items for your bug out bag. Most of them are pretty self-explanatory.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with all of these items so you'll know how to use them when you need them. You should also get a small bag for your first aid supplies. That way if a medical emergency happens, all you have to do is open your bug out bag and grab your first aid kit.

FOOD AND WATER

Food Storage

By now, you should have 18 days worth of food on hand. If you haven't already, you need to think about how you're going to extend the shelf life of your emergency food for as long as possible. To do that, first you need to understand the five enemies of food storage.

Five Enemies of Food Storage

1. Light

Make sure your food isn't ever exposed to direct sunlight. Better yet, make sure it isn't exposed to light of any kind. Keep it in a dark cabinet or closet, or put the food inside light-proof containers.

2. Heat

You should try to store your food in temperatures between 50° and 70°F. That means you can't keep your food in the garage, shed, or attic. If you keep your home warmer than 70°F, that's okay. Just know that for every 10°F rise in temperature, your food's shelf life will be cut in half.

3. Humidity

Don't keep your food in the laundry room or bathroom where there's bound to be lots of steam from the shower. Humidity can encourage bacterial growth, which is the last thing you want on your food. If your entire home is humid, consider putting a dehumidifier next to your food cache, or toss some silica gel packs in there (just don't eat them).

4. Oxygen

If possible, store your food in airtight containers. Why? Because oxygen promotes oxidation, which can cause spoilage, rancidity, and bacterial growth. We'll talk about how to keep oxygen away from your food in a moment.

5. Pests

If you have problems with bugs or rodents, make sure you store your food in containers that pests can't get through. That means that in most cases, you won't be able to store your foods in their original packages. It's just too easy for pests to chew threw plastic and cardboard.

Two Easy Ways To Store Food

Storing food isn't as complicated as you might think. As long as you remember the five enemies of food storage, you'll be fine. Here are a couple of easy ways to store bulk foods like flour, oats, rice, and beans.

Note: If you're storing flour, put it in the freezer for at least 2 days before storing it long-term. This will kill any insect eggs that might be in the flour.

1. Mylar Bags with Oxygen Absorbers

You can get Mylar bags online. They usually come with the right number of oxygen absorbers, but here's a guide just in case they don't.

Simply pour your food into the Mylar bag, add the appropriate number of oxygen absorbers, use a vacuum to suck out any extra air, and seal them up with an iron or hair straightener. (Here are detailed instructions.)

2. Jars or Bags and a Vacuum Sealer

Another easy method is to pour your food into a glass mason jar, then seal it using a vacuum sealer like this one. (Here are detailed instructions.)

You could also pour your food into vacuum-sealer bags and seal them with a Foodsaver (here's how). Be sure to put food stored in glass jars or plastic bags in a dark place.

Two Ways to Make Your Food Last Longer

1. Diatomaceous Earth

I suggest adding a little bit of food-grade diatomaceous earth to loose foods like flour and rice. If you've never heard of it, diatomaceous earth (DE) is made from the fossilized remains of ancient diatoms. The pieces are very sharp and will scratch up and kill insects, but the pieces are so tiny that they're safe for human consumption.

About one teaspoon per pound of food should be enough, but make sure it's fully mixed in with the food. Here's some more information.

2. Five-Gallon Buckets

Get some high-quality food-grade buckets like these, and close them with Gamma seal lids. This will make them airtight and ensure no pests can get inside. You could pour food directly into the bucket, but for a maximum shelf life, I highly recommend putting your food in bags or jars first.

Don't Forget To Label Your Food!

You don't have to buy a fancy label maker or anything like that. Just buy some masking tape and a Sharpie, put a strip of tape on the bag, jar, or bucket, and write the name of the food and the date that you sealed it.

This will make it much easier to rotate your food, and you won't have to wonder whether something is too old to eat.

More Info On Proper Food Storage:

Food and Water Checklist for Month 4

Get some food storage containers like Mylar bags or vacuum-sealer bags.
Get some food storage equipment like a vacuum sealer or FoodSaver.
Store at least 2 days of water.
Try some new off-grid recipes.
Choose one recipe and get enough ingredients to make it 8 times.
Stockpile 8 days worth of breakfasts.
Stockpile 8 days worth of lunches.

SKILLS AND SUPPLIES

First Aid Supplies

When disaster strikes, people get hurt. That might sound obvious, but I'm not just talking about people drowning in a flood or getting crushed beneath a collapsed building. Minor injuries also skyrocket. People cut their hands on broken glass, twist their ankles while walking through debris, or get sick after drinking contaminated water.

Even if you're very careful in the wake of a disaster, you could still get hurt. But if you go to the hospital, then unless your injury is immediately life-threatening, they'll be too busy to help you. And in a long-term crisis, the hospital could be closed altogether. All this is why it's so important to have a good first aid kit and know how to use it.

Most people purchase pre-assembled first aid kits, but as with anything else, you get what you pay for. You could buy a compact first aid kit, and it will have everything you need for minor injuries, but if the disaster lasts a long time, you'll quickly find yourself running out of gauze and bandages.

You'll be much better off if you purchase something larger, like a first responder bag. It will cover a wider range of injuries, and it will take longer for you to run out of basic supplies like bandages. However, it will include some items that you're unlikely to use, such as a stethoscope or an airway kit.

My point is that you're better of building your own first aid kit. It will be more expensive, but you'll get more bang for your buck. Putting together a first aid kit can be a bit overwhelming, so I'm going to break it down into 10 sections:

Wound Care
Burn Care
Skin Condition Treatment
Sprains or Broken Limbs
Eye Care
Dental Care
Poisoning or Allergic Reactions
Over-the-Counter Medications
Prescription Medications
Vital Signs Monitoring

You could even organize your first aid kit this way, creating 10 separate bags inside one large bag. That way if someone is injured—burned, for example—you won't have to dig through the entire first aid kit, frantically trying to find everything you need. Instead, you could just grab the bag labeled “Burn Kit.”

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide how you want to organize your first aid supplies and how much you're willing to spend. You should take some time to consider what injuries you and your family are most likely to have based on everyone's age, fitness level, where you live, and what type of building you live in.

Wound Care

Ace bandages – To support sprains and strains by providing compression and stabilization.
Bandage tape – For securing bandages and dressings in place.
Bandages in assorted sizes – For covering and protecting a variety of wound sizes to prevent infection.
Butterfly bandages in assorted sizes – To close small cuts or wounds by pulling the skin on either side together.
Gauze pads in assorted sizes – Absorbent pads for stopping bleeding and dressing wounds.
Hydrogen peroxide – Antiseptic used for cleaning wounds to prevent infection. Don't overuse it as too much can delay healing.
Iodine – Disinfectant for wounds to kill bacteria and reduce the risk of infection.
Lidocaine spray – Provides topical pain relief for minor burns, cuts, or skin irritations.
Medical shears – To safely cut clothing away from injuries or cut tape or bandages to length.
QuickClot – A hemostatic agent that rapidly stops severe bleeding.
Rolled Gauze – Flexible and absorbent, used for creating custom bandages or packing wounds.
Rubbing alcohol – Use this to sterilize your hands before treating someone.
Steri-Strips – These are designed for closing larger or deeper cuts.
Sterile alcohol wipes – For disinfecting skin around wounds or cleaning medical tools.
Sterile saline irrigation solution – Used to clean debris and bacteria from wounds without causing irritation.
Sterile surgical gloves – Provides a barrier to prevent contamination and infection during wound care.
Suture kit – For stitching closed deep cuts and lacerations.
Tourniquet – Used to apply pressure to a limb to severely restrict blood flow in a bleeding emergency.
Triangle bandages – Used for creating slings, wrapping injuries, or even as a tourniquet.
Triple antibiotic ointment – Helps prevent infection in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.
Tweezers – For removing debris, thorns, or splinters from wounds.

Burn Care

Ace bandages – To hold burn dressings securely in place without sticking to the burn itself.
Aloe vera gel – Soothes the skin and reduces inflammation.
Bandages pre-soaked in burn gel – Provides immediate cooling and pain relief.
Burn dressings – Designed to not stick to the burn wound, providing a protective barrier that aids in healing.
Burn gel – Cools the burn, helps relieve pain, and creates a moist environment to promote healing.
Dry burn dressing – Absorbs excess fluid and protects against infection.
Instant cold-packs – Used immediately after a burn to cool the area, reduce swelling, and minimize pain.
Rolled gauze – Used to wrap and secure burn dressings.
Sterile surgical gloves – Ensures that burns are treated without risking infection from dirty hands.
Topical burn relief spray – Provides a no-touch application of cooling relief to burns.
Triple antibiotic ointment – Prevents bacterial infections in minor burns by inhibiting microbial growth at the burn site.

Skin Condition Treatment

Antifungal cream – Treats fungal skin infections such as athlete's foot or jock itch.
Calamine lotion – Soothes itchiness from poison ivy, bug bites, or minor rashes.
Hydrocortisone – Reduces inflammation, redness, and swelling.
Lip balm – Moisturizes and protects the lips.
Moleskin – Used to protect the skin from friction, preventing and treating blisters on areas like feet.
Sunscreen – Protects the skin from harmful UV rays, preventing sunburn.
Topical skin relief spray – A no-touch application to soothe skin irritations.
Triple antibiotic ointment – Prevents and treats bacterial skin infections.
Tweezers – For removing foreign objects such as splinters, thorns, or bee stingers from the skin.

Sprains or Broken Limbs

Ace bandages – To wrap and compress sprains or minor fractures to reduce swelling and stabilize the injured area. Get a variety of difference sizes.
Arm sling – Supports an injured arm or shoulder by keeping it elevated and immobile.
Bandage tape – Holds bandages, splints, or dressings in place.
Cold compresses – Applied to sprains and fractures to reduce swelling, numb pain, and decrease inflammation.
Crutches – To keep you mobile even if you can't put any weight on your foot or leg.
Finger splints – Immobilizes injured fingers to prevent further injury.
Leg brace with straps – Provides support and stabilization for injured knees or legs.
Neck brace – Stabilizes the cervical area after neck injuries, helping to prevent further damage.
Rolled gauze – Used to wrap and secure splints or dressings on limbs.
SAM splints – Versatile, moldable splints used to immobilize and support broken bones or sprains.
Traction splint – Used in severe cases, especially for femur fractures, to align and stabilize the limb by applying a steady pull along the length of the leg.

Eye Care

Eye cup – Used to hold sterile solutions for rinsing or irrigating the eye.
Eye drops – Used to lubricate dry eyes, reduce redness, or relieve discomfort from irritants.
Eye pads – Sterile pads designed to cover and protect injured or infected eyes.
Saline eye irrigation solution – Used to flush out particles, chemicals, or contaminants from the eyes.

Dental Care

Clove oil – Natural remedy used to relieve dental pain.
Dental emergency kit – Contains essential tools and supplies such as temporary fillings, dental cement, and pain relief medication.
Dental gauze – Used to control bleeding and help form blood clots after procedures like tooth extraction.
Dental pick and mirror – Helps in the examination of hard-to-see areas in the mouth.
Denture repair kit – Includes adhesive and other materials necessary to make minor repairs to dentures.
Orajel – Provides topical pain relief for a variety of dental issues.
Reusable ice bag – Can be filled with ice and applied externally to the face to reduce swelling and numb pain.

Poisoning or Allergic Reactions

Activated charcoal – Used to treat certain types of poisoning or drug overdoses. It binds to toxins in the stomach, reducing their absorption by the body.
Benadryl – An antihistamine that's useful for treating allergic reactions, such as hay fever, hives, and itching.
Chlorpheniramine – Another antihistamine that helps relieve symptoms of allergy, cold, and hay fever, such as itchy or watery eyes, runny nose, and itching from hives.
Epinephrine (EpiPen) – A critical treatment for severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis).
Inhaler – Typically used for asthma or respiratory allergies.
Ipecac syrup – Historically used to induce vomiting after swallowing poison. However, it's no longer recommended by healthcare professionals due to potential complications.

Over-the-Counter Medications

Antacids – Stops stomach acid and relieve symptoms of indigestion and heartburn.
Aspirin – An anti-inflammatory, pain reliever, and blood thinner.
Acetaminophen – A pain reliever and fever reducer.
Anti-histamine – Relieves allergy symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, and itching.
Cough drops – Soothes the throat, relieves pain, and reduces cough reflex.
Cough syrup – Suppresses coughing and relieves other symptoms associated with a cold or flu.
Dramamine – Commonly used to prevent and treat nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
Electrolyte tablets – Helps rehydrate the body by replenishing salts and minerals lost during dehydration.
Ibuprofen – Used to relieve pain from various conditions such as headache, dental pain, muscle aches, or arthritis.
Laxatives – Used to treat and prevent constipation by softening the stool or stimulating bowel movements.
Loperamide – An anti-diarrheal medication.
Pepto Bismol – Treats nausea, indigestion, upset stomach, and more.
Sore throat spray – Numbs painful throat tissues.
Sudafed – Relieves sinus pressure and congestion.
Unisom – A sleep aid.
Zinc lozenges – Shortens the duration of cold symptoms when taken at the onset.

Prescription Medications

Amoxicillin or Cipro for various infections.
Azithromycin for respiratory tract infections.
Blood thinners like Plavix.
Diuretics like Bumetanide.
Medicines for anyone with chronic conditions.
NORCO for pain.
High-blood pressure meds like Lisinopril.
Insulin for anyone with diabetes plus glucose test kit.
SMZ-TMP for various pathogens.

Vital Signs Monitoring

Blood pressure cuff – Used to detect hypertension or hypotension.
Forehead thermometer – Measures body temperature without evening touching it.
Oral thermometer – Usually more reliable than a forehead thermometer.
Stethoscope – For listening to the heart or lungs for signs of problems.
Stopwatch – For measuring heart rate.

Antibiotics

Antibiotics save millions of lives every year, but they could be hard to find during a disaster or long-term crisis. There are at least 10 antibiotics worth stockpiling, but if you can only get a few, get these:

Amoxicillin: Treats infections like respiratory, ear, and sinus infections.
Azithromycin: Good for a variety of bacterial infections, especially respiratory tract infections and STDs.
SMZ-TMP (Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim): This combination covers several pathogens including MRSA and some types of pneumonia and urinary tract infections.

You can ask your doctor if he'll prescribe the antibiotics that you can stock up on. If that doesn't work, you could try a site like Jase Medical which sells emergency antibiotics.

Warning: If you're going to get antibiotics, make sure you understand exactly what they're for and when to use them. Consider getting a book such as Alton's Antibiotics and Infectious Disease.

Also be sure to store them properly (cool, dry, dark location in an air-tight container).

Potassium Iodide

To be honest, preparing for nuclear war is beyond the scope of this survival plan. A nuclear war would be extremely difficult to survive, and you would almost certainly need a large bunker filled with years of supplies.

However, even if World War III never happens, there could be small nuclear disasters. Perhaps a nation detonates a “tactical nuke,” or maybe there's a meltdown like Chernobyl.

If that happens and you're close enough for radioactive materials to reach your area, taking potassium iodide will prevent the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine, reducing the risk of thyroid cancer and other diseases caused by radiation.

It can't hurt to have. Get a two-week supply for each member of your family, and don't take them until instructed to by public health officials.

Organization

If you decide to assemble your own first aid kit, find a good bag for it—something you can easily grab and carry. Then, use smaller bags for each type of first aid item. You could even use gallon-size Ziploc bags, as long as they're clearly labeled.

As you put your kit together, take the time to learn what each item is for and how to use it. You should also practice using some of the reusable items such as splints and tourniquets.

More Info on First Aid Supplies:

Health and First Aid Skills

Personal Health

One of the best ways to prepare for a sudden disaster or a long-term crisis is to take care of your personal health. The healthier you are, the less likely you are to be injured and the better you'll be able to cope during hard times.

In an emergency, you may have to walk long distances and for long periods of time. You’ll be under a lot of stress, which can weaken your immune system. The stronger you are, the better you’ll be able be to resist illnesses and handle the stress that comes with surviving an emergency.

Unfortunately, the fitness industry has made personal health needlessly complicated with all sorts of fad diets and exercise gimmicks, some of which work—most of which don't. Here are a few basic guidelines to follow:

Drink at least 64 ounces of water every day – No, coffee doesn't count.
Avoid processed foods – Scientists have studied remote tribes around the world, and they all have extremely low rates of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. And yet, each tribe eats different types of foods. The one thing they all have in common? No processed foods.
Eat lots of plants – That doesn't mean you can't eat any meat. Just make sure you're getting a variety of fruits and vegetables. Eat the rainbow.
Get all three macronutrients – In general, try to get a 1/3 of your calories from carbohydrates, 1/3 of your calories from fat, and 1/3 of your calories from protein. But getting as much as 1/2 of your calories from carbs is okay if they're healthy carbs (fruit, whole grains, root vegetables, etc).
Exercise 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week – Don't work out so hard that you dread exercising. Just do enough to get a good sweat going.
Walk for at least an hour a day – It's not that hard. Listen to a podcast or audio book, or get a mini treadmill and walk while you're watching TV.
Get at least 7 hours of sleep per night – I recommend getting in bed at least 8 hours before it's time to get up, that way you have plenty of time to fall asleep.
Get regular health screenings – The earlier you catch problems, the better chance you have of fixing them.

Not only will doing these things benefit you in a disaster, they'll improve your quality of life now. Plus, they'll help you stay independent and self-reliant, and you'll save a lot of money on future healthcare costs.

While you can’t prevent every health problem, many of the chronic diseases people suffer from are related to lifestyle. You can lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and chronic fatigue syndrome by simply living a healthy lifestyle.

Dental Care

Dental care is also incredibly important. Believe me, I know. When I was in my twenties, I drank soda constantly and frequently forgot to brush. Eventually, I developed a toothache that gradually got worse and worse until it was so bad, I couldn't even sleep. My entire head was throbbing.

The pain was agonizing, so I scrounged together some cash and went to a dentist. Turns out I had an abscessed tooth and needed a root canal. Plus, I had multiple cavities that had to be filled. I didn't make much money back then, so it took me a couple years to pay off the bill.

Ever since then, I've always taken good care of my teeth. Here's what I do:

Brush and use mouthwash after breakfast.
Keep a mug full of floss forks on my desk and randomly floss throughout the day.
Brush and use mouthwash before bed.

And I haven't had a cavity or any other dental problems since.

If you don't already, start taking good care of your teeth. You do not want to have an abscessed tooth during a time when dentists are hard to find.

First Aid Skills

Below, I've listed the 11 first aid skills you're most likely to need during a disaster. Originally, I was going to write out the instructions for each skill, but I realized that would make this section too long.

Also, I don't want you to think that just reading brief instructions on a first aid skill such as CPR means you know how to do it. Not only should you study the instructions multiple times, you should practice doing it in real life several times. Only then will you be confident when the time comes to provide someone with first aid.

So instead, I'll simply explain why each skill is important and point you to some resources where you can properly learn the skill. Written instructions are good, a video is better, but an in-person class is best. The Red Cross provides first aid classes all over the U.S.

CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

CPR is critical when someone's heart has stopped. It involves putting your hands together and doing 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 per minute (the tempo of “Stayin' Alive” by the Bee Gees) followed by two rescue breaths.

According to the American Heart Association, the rescue breaths aren't necessary if you start the chest compressions immediately, but it also depends on the situation.

Here's how to perform CPR.
And here's a video on how to perform CPR.

Treating a Wound

It's not enough to put some gauze and bandages on a wound. If you don't clean it properly, it could lead to a deadly infection.

Exactly how you treat it depends on the type of wound, but in general, you have to rinse it with water, gently clean the area with soap, and cover it with a sterile bandage, which will need to be changed daily.

Here's how to treat small cuts.
Here's a guide to basic wound care.
And here are some wound care do's and don'ts.

Make sure you're able to identify the signs of infection.

Stopping Severe Bleeding

If the wound is bleeding severely, your first priority is to stop the bleeding. Doing this involves applying direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth or bandage. It helps to elevate the injury above heart level. If that doesn't work, you can use a tourniquet as a last resort.

Here's how to stop severe bleeding.
Here's a video on how to stop bleeding.
Here's how to use a tourniquet.
Here's a video on how to use a tourniquet.

Treating a Burn

How you treat a burn also depends on how severe it is. For minor burns (1st degree burns), cool the burn under cold running water for at least 10 minutes. Cover the burn with a sterile, non-adhesive bandage or clean cloth. 2nd-4th degree burns are a little more complicated.

Setting a Broken Limb

If a limb is broken, you need to immobilize it immediately using a splint. Pad the splint first, and tie it in place snugly but not too tight.

Here's an overview of bone fractures.
Here's how to treat a broken bone.
Here's a video on how to use a SAM splint.
Here's a video on how to improvise a leg splint.

Managing Shock

Shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the organs and tissues aren't getting adequate blood flow. There are several types of shock and several symptoms to look for.

If you believe someone is suffering from shock, lay them down and elevate their legs to encourage blood flow to the organs. Keep them warm and calm, don't give them anything to eat or drink, and get medical help if possible.

Here is first aid treatment for shock.
Here's a video on shock emergencies and treatment.

Treating Heat Stroke

Heat stroke will be a common occurrence during a summer power outage. If someone is suffering from heat stroke, get them to a cooler environment if possible and remove any excess clothing. Cool them any way you can: fans, a cold bath, wet cloths, and drinking water if they're awake.

Here's how to treat heat stroke.
Here's a video on treating heat stroke.

Treating Hypothermia

This will be common during winter power outages. In fact, every year, more people die from the cold than from the heat.

If someone is suffering from hypothermia, wrap them in warm blankets and give them a warm, non-alcoholic drink. Don't use direct heat like hot water or heating pads as this can strain the heart. Instead, warm them up gradually.

Here's how to treat hypothermia.
Here's a video on treating hypothermia.

Heimlich Maneuver

The one proven method to prevent someone from choking. Stand behind the person choking and wrap your arms around their waist. Make a fist and place it just above their navel, then grab your fist with the other hand and give quick, upward thrusts.

It's not really safe to practice this on someone, so I'd suggest taking a first aid class where you can make sure you know how to do it properly.

Here's a guide to the Heimlech maneuver.
Here's a video on how to do the Heimlech maneuver.

Note: You can also perform this maneuver on yourself by thrusting over the back of a chair.

Treating Poisoning

For poisoning, don't induce vomiting unless told to by a poison control center. Activated charcoal can help in certain cases, but you need to either be medical professional or have one with you who can let you know whether to use it.

Other than that, all you can do is keep the person still and hydrated and treat symptoms as they arise.

Here's a guide to poisoning treatment and prevention.
Here's a video on how to treat poisoning.

Treating Severe Allergic Reactions

For anaphylaxis (severe allergic reactions), you'll want to administer an EpiPen (epinephrine auto-injector) and call emergency services if any are available. Antihistamines can help with mild symptoms like itching and hives, but the can't stop anaphylaxis.

Here's a guide to anaphylaxis prevention and treatment.
Here's a video on treating anaphylactic shock.

First Aid Instructions

I realize that learning 11 first aid skills in one month is a lot to ask. If you don't have a lot of time, dedicate yourself to learning one skill per month for 11 months.

A better option is to take a first aid course. I know I already mentioned this, but there's really no substitute for having an instructor who can answer your questions. If you have to take an online class, that's better than nothing, but try to find an in-person class.

Also, make sure you have a good book on first aid. Here are a few great options:

You should also consider something like this Tiny First Aid Guide. It's a foldable guide that fits in your pocket and reminds you how to do all of the first aid skills listed above. There are also first aid wall charts such as this one.

First Aid Drill

While it's great to practice first aid skills, if you really want to be prepared for a medical emergency, you should conduct a first aid drill. Here's what to do:

1. Choose a Scenario

Select a Realistic Emergency – Pick a common emergency scenario such as severe bleeding, choking, a burn, or a broken bone, depending on the skills you want to practice.
Assign Roles – Designate someone as the injured person and others as responders.

2. Gather Supplies

Prepare First Aid Kits – Make sure your first aid kit is easily accessible and that everyone knows where it is.
Use Simulated Injuries – Consider using makeup or fake blood to make the scenario more realistic.

3. Explain the Procedures

Review Basic Steps – Go over the key steps of first aid including checking the scene for safety, calling for help, and assessing the injured person.
Demonstrate Specific Skills – For the chosen scenario, demonstrate relevant first aid techniques such as how to apply a bandage, perform CPR, or treat a burn.

4. Conduct the Drill

Simulate the Emergency – Announce the start of the drill with the chosen scenario. The person playing the injured role should act out their symptoms.
Respond Quickly – The responders should immediately assess the situation, apply the appropriate first aid techniques, and communicate with emergency services if needed.

5. Regroup and Review

Debrief – After the drill, discuss what went well and any areas that need improvement. Were the supplies easy to find? Did everyone know how to perform the necessary techniques?
Identify Gaps – Note any gaps in knowledge or preparedness such as missing supplies or unfamiliarity with certain procedures, and address them in future drills.

6. Practice Regularly

Frequency – Conduct first aid drills at least twice a year, focusing on different scenarios each time.
Rotate Roles – Have different people take on the role of responder in each drill to ensure everyone gets hands-on experience.

More Info on First Aid Skills:

Skills and Supplies Checklist for Month 4

Purchase or put together a comprehensive first aid kit.
Stock up on eye and dental care supplies.
Stock up on over-the-counter medications.
Stock up on any prescription medications you take.
Stock up on antibiotics if possible.
Consider getting some potassium iodide.
Start taking care of your personal health.
Start taking better care of your teeth.
Start learning and practicing first aid skills.
Consider taking a first aid course.
Set aside $40 cash.

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