Hospital Bag

I must admit it'd never crossed my mind - and now I'm going to forget all about it again.?

Flylady.com takes being ready a stage further and has suggestions for being able to evacuate your home quickly with all essentials to hand. Having seen a friend's recent posts and pictures of her Florida home after the hurricane I can see why. I'm sure people in UK affected by floods or any local emergency would be glad not to spend time searching for important items while being urged to abandon their home for their family's safety.

This a great thing to do. My Ma-in-law always had one ready. It came in handy when she broke her hip.
I love all the ideas for what to take, too. I shall get one ready in case the palpitations get out of hand. Thank you
for the reminder and ideas.

Small radio and headphones is a good idea chelseababy. When DH went into hospital he asked me to bring in his old Walkman as it was so noisy at night. Problem was I forgot new batteries and neither of the hospital shops stocked them!

Great idea! My BIL was a 'frequent flyer' in the last few years and my sister had his bag packed and kept under the bed! In all the upset of him becoming ill (usually in the early hours) it saved running around trying to gather all the essentials together, and it meant she could sit with him waiting for the ambulance.
She had all current meds in a separate little box that could be put in at the last minute.

I have such a bag packed and ready.NOT just for hospitalisation but in case of being 'swept off my feet' by fabulously wealthy toy boy.

It's not all doom and gloom at all, its about comfort and joy, I lost everything once in floods and wished then I had my own toothbrush etc all to hand and ready to go.

As a Poldark devotee (and first reserve in case he ditches Demelza) I know how little room there is on a horse and how novel my battery operated toothbrush and radio would be (I believe the Archers were on back then)...........who knows when opportunity may knock??????

I always have a bag ready to pack as I have a potentially life threatening condition. This includes a basic- minimum washkit with travel toiletries, a book and slippers. Like many other Gransnetters out there, my husband wouldn't have a clue where to look, emergency or not!

Can I add to this to suggest that if you have a long and complicated medical history, that you always have ready a list for the hospital staff to see: they really don't have time to spend ages wading through your hospital files. I have always been thanked profusely for the help and it's always mentioned that they'd like all patients to do this if possible.

on my list I have 1) list of operations 2) investigations 3) medications including herbals and ones not taken by mouth 4) allergies. 5) anything else of note like serious illnesses. I also include my name, date of birth and hospital number

I update mine every time I have a procedure, event, diagnosis or change of medication and make sure that there is a copy in my handbag.

It's also worth getting a "message in a bottle" from the Lions - Google Lionsclubs as I am not sure I'm allowed to post links. These are so that people with long standing conditions can keep a copy in their fridge, with a sticker for their front door so that their medical history can be found in an emergency.

Incidentally I have also found that a portable charger for my mobile phone has come in so handy when I've found myself stuck in hospital for hours/days without my usual charger. These can be lipstick-sized these days and I also keep one in my handbag!

Wow was surprised by this post I'm to busy living a busy happy life. But now I maybe should put this on my to do list but right at the bottom.

I have decided to fill out a power of attorney, one financial and one for health. Can't get as far as a bag for hospital!

Just to fill in the KatyCrunch story, it did happen, but not in this Country. In South America it was noted that the patients in the bed nearest to the door (a high dependency bed) were dying once a week around the same time. CCTV was set up, and revealed the cleaner coming in, unplugging the life support to hoover the ward, and then plugging it back in when she had finished. No more patients died on Friday mornings after that!

I've had a bag packed for just over a week, due to cancelled surgery. It's sitting in the spare room and looks up at me like a reminder every time I go in there. Grrrrr! I'm not -bitter. stressed.

Tessa101 Sudden emergencies strike those living busy happy lives too! - and they may be welcome emergencies as well as worrying ones - see radicalnan's post at Tue 18-Oct-16 09.

The Cleaner Unplugs Essential Life Support every Friday Morning Story - wasn't that used in a TV episode? Either the McCall Ladies Detective agency story, or Morse??

Good Grief! Never even occurred to me. No I shall NOT be doing this- too much like tempting fate!

I was recently in hospital and I found that ear plugs were fabulous, and I also took an eye mask, just in case. Light does affect my sleep but not as much as noise!

God grief no! I'm not pregnant...seems a bit over-cautious & morbid to me. Sorry

Er....NO
If I 'just in cased' for every potential just in case, I'd go mad. Sufficient unto the day etc.

The TV programme about the cleaner unp!ugging life support machines was Frost. I always keep a bag packed for DH as I often have to call an ambulance for him. We also have the Lion's canister in the fridge with his current prescription and medical history with a sticker on the inside of the front door.

Have had a bag packed for DH for quite a few years now as he's had a couple of emergency admissions. He has always found a packet of wet wipes useful and also a few drinking straws for the bottles of water as not always able to sit up properly to drink. Also have a couple of zip lock bags to be used as trash bags for used tissues etc as don't seem to get those in local hospital

I ought to, I live on my own, last year I was rushed into Hospital late evening with Severe Pneumonia, I have all my tablets in a bag on my Dining table for ease, handbag has my diary in with my DD's phone no. Went in with nothing else but as I was so ill DD had time to get me a bag together when I was transferred to local Hospital. I am sorting through my Bedroom so I think this has to be a priority - just essentials like PJs & Toiletries, underwear, books, glasses go in handbag as I need them for reading (essential for form filling). Hope not to need "Emergency Bag" anytime soon

PS Also have full list of all DH's meds plus a few days supply of all of them in the case as some appear difficult for hospitals to organise quickly.

Such good ideas you have all come up with, I have never thought about such a bag, let alone the contents thank you very much, will start on a list, then keep going.Hey I am a Nurse, so should have thought of this, thanks everyone.

I remember my husband bringing in something to wear home after I had my 2nd baby....a figure hugging blue dress that I hadnt worn since the first year of marriage. Reason for bringing that dress, he liked it and I liked blue

As I never got round to packing my bags until I was well into labour when I had the children I think it unlikely that I shall ever get this organised. Also, if you keep it a secret, who would know it exists when you need it?

Seems a very good idea, but wonder about what size bag/case to get. Looks like too much for an overnight bag. Any suggestions? Thanks.