Bug-Out-Bag for natural disasters

Nurses General Nursing

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I was reading a heated discussion in another post and it made me start thinking. I have 10 months left until I get my RN (very excited). The topic was about what to do if there is a natural disaster in your area and you are required to come to work. Although I am not a nurse yet I am the one that even in bad weather goes to work if the doors are open and they are expecting me (might just be my Marine Corps job training). However knowing that I may be required to stay at work unexpectantly at a hospital there are a few things I think that I should start to keep in the trunk of my car now, "just in case." The first thing I thought about was a change of undies and a phone charger. Does anyone keep a just in case bag or what they are calling a bug out bag and what do you recommend keeping in it to make maybe staying at the hospital for 3 days or more - bearable?

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Specializes in MICU.

I live in a hurricane zone and a evac zone for cat-3s (have all my life). I keep a 24 pack of water, three days of food and three changes of clothes plus a good small but useful hunting knife and multi tool in a backpack near the front door. The backpack comes with me everyday regardless of season and stays in my car while I'm at work so I can run out and grab it if need be. The water gets put in the car and left when we get a 3 day warming of an approaching storm. I've been through hurricanes as a non-nurse and they suck. This will be my first year working as an RN during storm season, but I don't think I'll change much.

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Snowstorms and hurricanes are not unexpected events. There is always time to stash some supplies in your car. When I worked the night of hurricane Floyd, I had food, clothes and supplies just in case. All my coworkers that night did too.

It is only common sense, right?

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.

earthquakes aren't predictable, but hurricanes and snowstorms are. after living in the tornado belt, i can certainly tell when tornadoes are likely, although you cannot really predict them. i have a "bugout bag" (love the term!) packed. i hadn't thought about a case of water, although that's a fabulous suggestion and will be in my trunk the next time there's a hurricane warning. (probably not for a snowstorm, for obvious reasons.)

the first time the temperature drops below freezing, i pack my snowstorm bag -- underwear and scrubs for 3 days, cell phone charger, prescriptions for 3 days, small bag of toiletries and make-up (i have it packed for sudden travel anyway, so might as well store it in the "bugout bag".) i also have toilet paper and protein bars. in my trunk goes a shovel, kitty litter (in case i get stuck), a sleeping bag, boots, chains, and jumper cables. the chains, cables, sleeping bag, and clothes stay in my trunk all the time; the prescriptions and toiletries get added if a storm is coming.

i have a bigger locker where i work now; i'm going to keep a small bag with underwear, scrubs, prescriptions and toiletries in my locker. that way i won't have to run out to the car if i need them.

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Specializes in Emergency; med-surg; mat-child.

I lovelovelove first aid kits and things like that. Give me a kit to put together and I'm pretty much in hog heaven.

We've never had bugout bags, but when the kids were little, they each had a tub in the car with snacks, clothes, etc. More like a diaper bag on wheels, but it was really handy a few times. I used to have a winter emergency tub I carried around, but they dismantled it. Guess it's time to rebuild it.

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

now that i have a job, i need to put together a "snowstorm" kit for my car. i live outside the mandatory must make it into work zone in case of a huge storm, but with my luck i'll be at work. i hadn't thought about the change of clothes or snacks. i used to have a shovel and kitty litter in the car and some water.

now i think i'd best think of a better plan. good thread.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Home Health.

I'm a home health nurse in a rural, mountainous state. Once my main assignment neds in december, I'll most likely be driving to the middle of nowhere in the snow. My trunk has: a snow shovel, skid pads, a blanket, ice melt, windshield washer fluid, and granola bars. I'm thinking of getting a portable air compressor or some fix-a-flat.

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Specializes in Emergency & Trauma/Adult ICU.

Change of clothes and undies, my old glasses, contact lens case & solution, feminine hygiene stuff, deodorant, granola bars & cell phone charger. In winter: snow shovel, kitty litter, ice scraper, extra windshield wiper fluid/antifreeze mix and a blanket. The water is a great idea, even in winter ... you can defrost a couple of bottles at a time.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

Typically a bug out bag is meant for when **** hits the fan and you are at home.

This is similar to mine : 34 Essential Items For Your Bug Out Bag | Frugal Dad Only thing I have in it that is not on the list is a rifle and a pistol.

For at the hospital, what more do you need besides a change of clothes and maybe some snacks? It should have everything else that you could need. Granted, I bring my toothbrush/paste already every day.

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I don't really consider mine a bugout bag but I DO have a bag I keep in my car for times when I might have to stay at work longer than expected. It contains a change of clothes, pajama pants and t-shirt, underwear, tampons, toothbrush and toothpaste, my meds (3 days worth last time I checked), clean socks, deodorant, change (a roll of quarters) and a few snacks. We have a laundry on-site where I work, so I figure I can always wash clothes if I have to stay longer than a day or two. If the laundry facility is inoperable, chances are we are having a big enough disaster our clients would either be moved to another facility (we have backups) or the BIG stuff has hit the fan and clean clothes will be the last of my worries.

I carry my e-reader, cell phone and usb cable in my work bag, so I have those with me everyday. I also have a pillow and blanket in my car at all times (for long car trips with the kids) so I would at least have my own bedding. Our facility has a stock of air mattresses for times when we might have to stay.

Great topic - interesting to see what other people have on hand!

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Change of clothes and undies, my old glasses, contact lens case & solution, feminine hygiene stuff, deodorant, granola bars & cell phone charger. In winter: snow shovel, kitty litter, ice scraper, extra windshield wiper fluid/antifreeze mix and a blanket. The water is a great idea, even in winter ... you can defrost a couple of bottles at a time.
I don't know how cold it gets where you are, but if you bring water, make sure you only fill th bottles about 3/4 full. My husband once left a case of Coke in the car overnight. He was still cleaning out sticky brown stuff years later when the car died.
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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
I don't know how cold it gets where you are, but if you bring water, make sure you only fill th bottles about 3/4 full. My husband once left a case of Coke in the car overnight. He was still cleaning out sticky brown stuff years later when the car died.

Water doesnt expand when exposed to cold temperatures or create pressures like that of a carbonated beverage. A better tip is to keep the bottle turned upside down. Water freezes from the top so you can at least still drink from it.

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