What medical supplies are most important during flood emergencies?
Short Answer: When dealing with a flood situation, you should have medical supplies that focus on wound care, disease prevention, and personal and chronic care. As such, the supplies include sterile gauze pads, adhesive bandages, trauma pads, antiseptics, water purification filters and tablets, over-the-counter medication (antihistamines, antacids, anti-diarrhoea, pain relievers, etc.), and at least a 30-day supply of prescription medication, if necessary.
To learn more about what goes into building flood emergency first aid kits, we also need to consider the following:
● What infection risks increase after flood exposure?
● Should waterproof storage be prioritised?
● How do evacuation scenarios change kit requirements?
● Are specialised flood-response kits available in Australia?
What infection risks increase after flood exposure?
When flood situations develop and persist, they can significantly increase the risk of water-borne, vector-borne, and oil-borne infections. As such, there is a heightened risk of gastrointestinal, skin, and respiratory illnesses.
During floods, the floodwater will often mix with agricultural runoff, sewage, and animal waste. If this toxic combination is ingested through contaminated food or water and poor hygiene practices, people can fall victim to gastrointestinal illnesses such as cholera, hepatitis A, hepatitis E, and Salmonella.
The stagnant water bodies created due to the floods will act as the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. At the same time, when you’re trudging through, you are at risk of being injured from the debris left behind. The heavy rains can also cause soil-dwelling bacteria to surface and infect animals such as rodents that come into proximity with humans.
The cold and damp conditions can also cause respiratory conditions to develop. The infection can spread rapidly when these individuals find themselves confined in close proximity to one another.
Should waterproof storage be prioritised?
When preparing for flood emergencies, waterproofing your first aid kit is essential. During floods, first aid supplies can get soaked and exposed to moisture. When that happens, even simple supplies like adhesive bandages and nitrile gloves become unusable. That is because when they are exposed to moisture, they will lose their adhesiveness and sterility.
As an example, with adhesive bandages, the loss of adhesiveness and sterility can result in the bandage not closing the wound properly, leaving an opening for debris and even contaminating the wound. As such, when preparing a flood-related kit, waterproof storage is a must. You can use hard-case waterproof kits or sealed dry bags to achieve this goal. It’s also a good idea to consider the kit’s portability since you will be carrying it with you during a potential evacuation.
How do evacuation scenarios change kit requirements?
If evacuation is a consideration, it can cause a significant change to what your flood emergency first aid kit will look like. That is because when an evacuation is called, you will need to leave quickly, travel with limited supplies, and figure out how to manage injuries away from proper medical attention for an extended period of time.
As such, one of the first considerations is portability. The first aid kit should be compact and easy to carry. It’s also a must that these grab-and-go kits be stored in waterproof bags or sealed containers.
Since there will be an increased risk of cuts, slips, infections, and exposure to contaminated water, it is a good idea to pack some extra medical supplies to help deal with those emergencies. At the same time, if your family has pets, you should keep them in a separate pet emergency kit. At the same time, you should also focus on non-medical essentials like torches, headlamps, power packs, extra batteries, and waterproof document storage.
Are specialised flood-response kits available in Australia?
Yes, you can find specialised floor-response kits in first aid and healthcare stores across Australia. At SURVIVAL, we have a bunch of accessories that will come in handy should you ever find yourself facing a flood evacuation. These include the following:
● Water Filter Bottle - Featuring a 6-stage filtration system, this durable, BPA-free bottle removes 99.99% of harmful contaminants, ensuring you have access to pure water wherever your adventures take you.
● Water Filter Straw - This lightweight and portable device removes 99.99% of harmful bacteria, parasites, and microplastics, providing safe hydration from streams, rivers, and lakes without the need for chemicals or batteries.
● Waterproof Dry Bag – This tough, 10-litre waterproof red bag is made using 500D PVC mesh, allowing users to transport their SURVIVAL first aid kits safely, securely, and without worry about exposure to the elements.
● Waterproof Box – This sturdy waterproof box protects your first aid supplies from water, dust, grime, mud, and dirt as well.
Related Questions
Q: What injuries are common during flood emergencies?
Injuries such as cuts, lacerations, slips and falls, and infections from contaminated water are quite common during flooding emergencies. Heat stress, dehydration, and burns from damaged equipment can also occur.
Q: Can pre-packed emergency kits be customised for floods?
Absolutely. You can use pre-packed first-aid kits as a base and add more specific and personal items to create a comprehensive emergency kit
Floor emergencies can develop rapidly to create dangerous and unpredictable situations. When having to face these situations, having properly equipped flood emergency first aid kits can help you and your family come out of them alright. The key is to prepare before the floods arrive, and SURVIVAL is here to help. Designed with real emergencies, outdoor conditions, and rapid response in mind, our first aid kits and accessories will help you build smarter flood-response setups for your home, vehicle, and workplace. Tackle Australia’s floods and come out on top with SURVIVAL.