Look up a preparedness forum or check out some of the comments on a preparedness article after a major event. Common themes involve guns, ammunintion, stocking food to the ceiling and water in tanks, some medical supplies and other misc items. Skills are always relevant so there could be some discussion surrounding that (i.e. how to articles or other various sharing).
One of the biggest threats which I have discussed in the past is often overlooked because it is not “sexy” to prepare for and folks don’t give it much thought.
Infection.
Before you dig into your stash of fish antibiotics and declare yourself immune consider theory vs reality. Studies by folks you may or may not know and have read about online vs practicing medical professionals in your community. Allow me to relate my recent story.
A few days ago I felt the tip of my finger start to get sensitive, no big deal I thought it will go away. I went shooting over the weekend and did some martial arts training, the finger persisted and it became slighly painful to dig into my left pocket for my phone. Two days ago I started to notice my finger swelling on the left side of it accompanied by some discomfort, like the typical man I thought it would probably go away at some point, maybe I got a splinter from stacking wood. Yesterday my wife, who is a practicing medical professional in the Operating Room, saw my finger and said “you have an infection and you need to get it checked out ASAP.”
I made it to the DR’s office today and sure enough an infection that somehow made it’s way into my finger (they think through the cuticle). Had I let it go for another week or two, they said it would have gotten very inflamed, restricted motion, pain, red streaks up my hand and they might have had to cut it open to drain it. Wow. Good thing I caught it early enough and via antibiotics should be good to go within a few days.
Now imagine: no antibiotics and no local Doc to visit with a quick script and trip to the pharmacy. In the span of a month my left hand would be in constant pain with restricted motion, who knows how far it would spread. All this off of something I had no idea I contracted and seemingly innoculous at first. A simple infection much more powerful than any hoarde of fantasyland hungry and armed roving bands of evil doers just over the next horizon.
In retrospect I think about this and wonder what I could have done to prevent it, I truly have no idea since I don’t recall what exactly happened to initiate it. What I can think of with respect to SHTF is one word: Community. Community is everything and with that multiple talents, most importantly a Medical Doctor / Surgeon with access to prescription medications. I’d rather have one of those on my squad than 6 light infantry types, think about it.
