Medical Supplies

One thing that I seemed to have overlooked on here is Medical Supplies. Not just a first aid kit, but an all out arsenal of supplies for JIC. Nearly all of us has, or has had someone in their family with some kind of condition that requires medication. This could be anything from Insulin to a simple skin cream for irritations. You cannot stock enough of this. In a worst case scenario, it may be a long time before you will be able to replenish. Items that need to be refrigerated will need very special accommodations, but most are okay with being kept in a dark, dry, cool spot.
At a St. Vincent de Paul second hand store, I scored a nice little cooler that is made to be put in your car or on the trailer of a motorcycle and will keep things approx. 30 degrees colder than the outside air. It is also made to run on either 12 or 120 volt.
Start with a basic first aid kit, then begin adding additional supplies that may be needed, such as decongestants, antibiotics, or blood pressure pills. When I say start with a "Basic" first aid kit, I do not mean a $5.00 kit from Walmart. A 35 piece kit usually consists of 34 band-aids and the box they come in. Worthless. To get a good starter kit, go to your local Army Surplus store. The prices for the decent ones range from between $45.00 and $400. Buy what fits your budget, but remember to add on from there.
Also, there are some great, inexpensive alternatives to stocking antibiotics. Go to your local Walmart or Veterinarian and pick up a bottle of "Fish Mox". This is pharmaceutical quality USP grade Amoxicillin Antibiotic. This antibiotic is labeled for fish and thus can be distributed without an Rx prescription. The same as you would be prescribed as an antibiotic from your Doctor. Its also available at Walmart or your local veterinarian. I learned this from my Doctor when I told him I would like to stock up on antibiotics. It is safe to take in an emergency and is a great item to stockpile. There are many more medicinal substitutions out there, start doing the research, but be safe.