At a time like this many people think of arming themselves and there has been some discussion here on Lemmy about this. People getting their PAL and practicing shooting, even buying guns for the first time.
As a former Paramedic, I encourage you to also consider trauma medical supplies and first aid training as part of your preparation.
Lots of basic premade kits are rather expensive. But you can stock item by item if you shop around. I suggest you find a medical supply house in your area. The supplies are pretty cost effective and can be bought individually or by the box. Look in the industrial parks in the cities around you or that you live in. There will be medical supply houses that stock first aid kits and supplies as well as hospital supplies and such. You can also find supply houses online but prices vary widely.
TIPS:
-Get a list of goods and stock everything you can. (See below for basic list). If you can afford a box instead of a single...buy it. Someone will use it even if it isn't you personally.
-Build the kit a little beyond your skill level if you can afford. Extra supplies will always be needed.
-Don't forget about your family. Now is a good time to check your kits at home and make sure they are stocked up or purchase one for home use.
-They may also be designated as rescue supply or safety supply not just medical supply. They will be located near something like a tactical supply where you can buy body armor, military, police and security supplies.
-Avoid drug stores as the costs are exorbitant. They buy a huge box for pennies and sell individually packaged single items with huge markups. If that's all you have consider ordering online.
-If you can't manage all the goods buy PPE (gloves especially), trauma bandages, chest seals, tourniquets, tape and a pair good heavy EMS shears. Stock as many as you can manage. Those will be the most used items.
ITEMIZED LIST AND SUBSTITUTES:
Here is a list for a good basic Field kit you can follow. Put it in a pouch that can attach easily to a belt or a pack and be accessible at all times.
- PPE (gloves, mask, eye protection)
You can often find fairly good nitrile gloves by the box at dollar stores and hardware/auto parts places like princess auto. These places will also often have basic eye protection and masks of various kinds. You can't help anyone else until you help yourself.
- Small pocket mask, NPA, OPA
this is a one way valve mask to protect you when maintaining an airway. It keeps patients from puking in your mouth and other good stuff no one wants to think about. Get some.
- Trauma scissors
EMS Shears are what you are looking for. If you plan to use them a lot it really is better to spend a little more. If they're a carry along kit, get cheaper ones and spend more on wound dressings and tourniquets. If you plan to offer or learn medical services buy the best shears you can afford and also buy a stethoscope and learn how to use it. Littman is the gold standard brand for stethoscopes but also an American company.
- 1 or 2 tourniquets (SWAT-T, CAT)
essential items. Someone will need one more than you think. Combat style. One handed. They're also not cheap but essential in major trauma situations. Your belt or some webbing sewn in a small loop paired with a stick will work in a pinch.
- Chest decompression kit or three very large gauge sharps (14 & 10g @ 3.25" long)
You can get large gauge sharps (needles) at the farm store as well. They won't have all the safety stuff and a catheter like the human medical ones but they will be individually packaged, sterile, long and large gauge for a cheap price. Good for single use chest decompression. Something is better than nothing.
- 2-3 trauma dressings (Israeli type)
these are heavy bandages for large bleeding to wrap around a limb injury and tie around tightly. The Israeli type really is the best, but you can also find large trauma dressings with all kinds of tails from gauze to cotton to something like rafia craft string. Another good cheap substitute is heavy flow menstrual pads and roller gauze.
- 4-6 hemostatic dressings
These help blood from major wounds clot faster than normal. They are treated with compounds to make this happen. This also comes in a powder form called quick clot. They can be pricey but very useful. Heavy duty dressings with ties not infused with quick clot are cheap and better than not having anything.
- 2-3 open chest seal (Bolin, Hyfin, Asherman)
used for open chest wounds. They usually have some type of one way valve and a large plastic type surface when unfolded to cover the wound and only allow airflow in one direction. A cheap alternative is actually plastic wrap and good tape. Seal only 3 sides of the plastic with tape to create a makeshift one way valve. It won't work perfectly but again it's better than nothing.
- 4 roller gauze, compression bandages
essential for all kinds of wounds. If you have taken a first aid course you have used or seen this stuff. It is just what it says. A roll of gauze similar to cheesecloth in appearance. Pair these with heavy flow maxi pads for makeshift trauma bandages. If you can afford a box get it. It will get used for everything.
- 1 roll heavy duty 2" tape (e.g. NARP Gecko tape)
good tape is always appreciated by everyone in emergency medicine. It is an essential item that has to stick in the worst, wettest, messiest conditions. That said if you can't afford good tape (transderm is pretty good and cheap by the box or roll) then grab some hockey tape. It won't stick worth shit to anything but itself but it can keep pressure when your hands can't. A single roll of good tape can save a life.
- 1 personal care kit (PCK)
includes personal medications, sunscreen, insect repellant, and/or contact lens supplies. Careful not to get carried away. You have to carry all this shit.
RECOMMENDATION:
Sands has been a Canadian supply house for decades and is well trusted in the EMS community. I have ordered from here quite a bit over the years. Finding made in Canada supplies will be difficult but I am sure they will assist you however they can. I have no affiliation to sands, they're just the place I've used the most.
https://sands.ca/
They have this very basic premade trauma kit as well...
https://sands.ca/products/blood-stop-kit-1199468348-html?_pos=12&_sid=f0108cf11&_ss=r
CLASSES:
First aid classes are available all over. If you live rurally check with your municipality or the red Cross. You can probably even take some kind of online course though I have no experience with that. In the city there will be many organizations teaching first aid. You will be able to choose what type of first aid and when and where. Probably even book online.
https://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/course-descriptions/first-aid-training/standard-first-aid-cpr
PLEASE NOTE: Personally I would avoid St John Ambulance due to the connection with Israel and the ongoing Genocide/Holocaust of the Palestinian people.
If anyone has questions or needs assistance I am more than happy to help.
Stay safe out there.