Gold & Silver Forum - Committee of One, Medical Kit,

Committee of One, Medical Kit, One Each

Sgt-Major, the Non-Commie Committee of One is the last of the Boy Scouts.

He is prepared having earned his first aid merit badge at an early age, and has completed other advanced training courses in helping others in need. I will not, in my discussion of a medical kit, repeat items well known as elementary in the list of many dozens of items that every Committee of One patriot knows and already has in his kit.

Rather, I will concentrate on items I believe to be essential in these troubled times.

Even during WW II, the Boy Scout was not concerned with the lack of backup medical facilities. He knew that medical help was nearby.

Do a search for medical kits on the Internet and you will find hundreds, even thousands of lists. You will find that the same items show up on most lists, e.g., bandages, band-aids, etc. Some of the stuff is worthless during troubled times.

The Committee of One�s medical kit is a toy unless it contains at least five different oral prescription antibiotics each packaged with at least a ten-day course of each antibiotic for the Non-Commie.

How does one get prescriptions for antibiotics and other needed medicines? One will have the best result by seeing your personal physician, or an old guy, a physician who might have served in the military, �Nam, Korea, or WWII. Tell him you�re a Committee of One preparing for troubled times and there may not be a nearby medical facility. Tell him if troubled times don�t occur you�ll take the prescriptions into his office once a year to show that the bottles are full. At that time get updates if necessary. Be sure to have an ample supply of current prescriptions, extra eyeglasses, etc.

If he asks you what a Committee of One is tell him you�re a Non-Commie and you like the Sgt-Major. Tell him Doc B sent you. When he asks you who in the hell is Doc B tell him Doc B will meet him on the Seeds kee dee and palaver; we�ll feast on trout, tell 'em, and elk haunch and talk about troubled times. If that doesn�t get it find another doctor.

There are some physicians out there, some like Swampy and me, tough old coots (dictionary calls a coot a harmless simple often old person). Young doctors are too often afraid of getting sued. Serves �em right, should have gone to law school and sucked up to bomie, worked on a health care delivery system for commies and such.

Have five bars of soap. Why five? One bar for each finger. Keep your hands clean when handling a wound. Soap�s dirty; don�t put that in a wound. Throw the soap in a bucket of boiling water � clean soap now and scrub your hands first and then that wound. Rinse the wound thoroughly with sterile water. Where do you get sterile water? Send dad out to chop wood, build fire.

A good surgical set. Needle holder; hemostats, four, six is better; scissors; surgical needles swaged to the ligature. Have several curved needles and ligature, silk and nylon. Store a local anesthetic (prescription) and the stuff to administer it. Sterile gloves.

Can�t do this stuff? James Clyman did, 1822, put Jedediah Smith�s scalp back on for him. Clyman didn�t want to do it. Smith said he wished he would, a thousand miles from St. Louis. Can�t you imagine? Sewing kit from his possibles sack. Worked just fine. Jedediah�s ear wasn�t quite straight; Griz took part of it.

Battle dressings may be purchased at surplus stores. Gauze for bandages and other dressing material should be included. All other stuff you think should be included, include it.

I have saved the most important item for last:

The Pressure Canner:
Pressure canner of a size that will hold quart canning jars is the base for the COO�s medical kit. This Pressure Canner will have a pressure weight with 5, 10, and 15-pound settings, or a pressure gauge. It takes a lot of attention to maintain the proper heat over an open fire, but it can be done. It may be used over a campfire or any similar heat source. Include both quart and pint jars, rings (may be reused) and a large number of new lids needed for a proper, sterile seal. Carry extra sealing rings for the lid of the pressure canner. At altitudes above 3,000 feet use the 15-pound weight, or if using a gauge keep the pressure at 15 pounds. A heat of 250 degrees F. is needed and the time should be 90 minutes to assure sterility. There is autoclave tape available that turns color (black) when the temp. reaches 250 degrees F.

All items that need sterilizing may be placed in quart or pint jars and sealed with lids and rings. Make packs for large items by wrapping the items in cloth, double wrapping, ideally. Tie the package with twine, or secure with autoclave tape. Place a rack in the pressure canner and lay the packs on the rack. Study the instructions in the manufacturer�s book for the proper use of the pressure canner. The amount of water will be determined by the size of the canner. Acquire surgical gloves that may be washed, cleaned, reused and sterilized.

Most of these items are valid only by prescription and taken under the direction of a physician.
Prescription medicines. Where do I get them? See your physician.

1. Five different antibiotics
2. Strong analgesics, by prescription only. Medium strength available without a prescription.
3. Aspirin, essential.
4. Anti-diarrhea, there are good over-the-counter items available
5. Antihistamine, diphenhydramine, 25 mg., available without a prescription
6. Diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide, or lasix
7. Antispasmodic for the bowel
8. Nitroglycerin, 1/150 grain, for angina pectoris, heart pain
9. Lindane for lice

Not directly medical items, but essential to prevent mosquito borne diseases: Mosquito head net and full sized net for the bed. Carry Malathion and a hand sprayer for mosquito control and DEET, 25 % or better to be used as a mosquito repellant. After the commies are driven into the swamps DDT will shine.

When in the field, during troubled times, one should consult the Committee of One physician, who, hopefully will be at your side for instructions as to the use of prescription medicines.

You won't find many Non-Commie physicians, or physicians that admit to being a Non-Commie, but if you do spread the word. Most of 'em are way out past Fort Mudge.

If you�re waist deep in the big muddy, �gators flankin��tie a knot in the end of your rope, hang on to the knot and your rifle; don't let go of your pack.

Doc B
Committee of One