COVID Home Care (updated): A Guest Post

⚠️⚠️This post has been updated. ⚠️⚠️

FOR THE MOST RECENT VERSION OF THIS POST, GO TO THIS LINK.

The following is a guest post, shared with permission from a licensed health professional who chooses to remain anonymous. This information is for educational purposes only; do your own research and make your own decisions. You are free to disseminate this as you wish, but DO NOT edit. This is not medical advice.

Updated 9/12/21 with latest recommendations from FLCCC.

***********************

Guest post begins here:

Over the last year I have had the honor of helping many people in my local community, across our great nation and  beyond with Covid Home Care. Below is a protocol that has served my family and my clients well. There are  options for those with active symptoms and those who would like to treat preventatively. My prayer is that this  reaches many and lives are saved.  

I tested positive… 

Depending on your experience (or lack thereof) with Covid-19, you may feel scared or concerned. That is ok. Your body  may be at the starting point of the biggest fight you have ever faced, or you may simply have common cold symptoms  and move on with life. Either way, below you will find information that you may need on your journey back to health.  

  

….what do I do now?  

Being prepared is so important. The supplies that I keep on hand for my family are listed below.    

Mucinex Expectorant (enough for 10 days)  

Oximeter (To check your oxygen levels) 

Aspirin (To keep your blood thin and help prevent blood clots) 

NAC (Extremely supportive during covid and also used to protect the unvaccinated from “shedding” from the vaccinated  population.) 

Zinc (Prevents viral entry and suppresses virus replication. Supports the host cell’s anti-viral abilities.) Melatonin (Can aid in treatments due to its antioxidant & anti-inflammatory properties. Research indicates a reduction  in study precipitants getting covid by 28%) 

Bee Complete (Bee pollen, royal jelly and bee propolis. Antiviral, antibacterial, immune supportive, so many health  benefits in these capsules.)  

Quercetin (recent study shows Quercetin reduces the viral persistence by 76% in the first week and reduces the need  for hospital care and oxygen significantly. 

Olive Leaf Extract (Known as a natural antibiotic, antiviral, and immune booster. ) 

Ginger Tea (Helps break down mucus and has many other health properties.) 

Epsom Salt (Helps draw out toxins, helps with body aches) 

Vinegar (Add to bath to draw out toxins) 

Vitamin D3 & C (Anti-inflammatory, immune boosting, too many health properties to list.) 

CBD oil (Anti-inflammatory, natural sleep support, anti-anxiety, aids the endocannabinoid system that produces  cannabinoids to regulate all body systems. This system requires more cannabinoids during times of sickness. CBD can  support the extra need during covid.  

Unkers Chest Rub (Helps open airways) 

Essential oils of Lavender, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Eucalyptus,  Tea Tree, and Balsam Fir. (Keeps the airways open and helps ward  off infection.) 

Body Armor/ Coconut water (or other naturally sweetened Electrolyte drink)  

Moringa Extract (Gel caps or liquid is best. Contains protein, amino acids and lost of nutrients. Great for getting your  energy back after covid.  

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables 

How can I help my body naturally?  

Zinc – 100mg daily. If nausea or diarrhea occurs, reduce to 75mg. (Not recommended  long term at this dosage)

Melatonin – 10 mg. at night. (This higher dose is  recommended by the FLCCC due to covid)

Quercetin 500 mg twice a day. 

NAC – Follow directions on the bottle.  

Olive Leaf Extract 500mg to 1000mg a day with food.  

Ginger Tea: 1 cup, 3 times a day (Can be used in conjunction with “Throat Coat Tea”)  Vitamin D3: 4,000mg per day  

Vitamin C: 500 - 1000 mg daily (Drink plenty with this supplement!!) 

CBD oil: up to 50 mg daily, split into 3-5 doses.  

Bee Complete: 3 caps 2-4 times a day.  

Body Armor/ Coconut water (or other naturally sweetened Electrolyte  

drink)  

Moringa Extract (Gel caps or liquid is best) 500-1000 mg daily.  

Unkers Chest rub applied to the chest and bottoms of the feet in the morning and evening.  Fresh Fruits and Vegetables  

Good, fresh water: at least 3 quarts per day, ESPECIALLY if you have any congestion.  Weather permitting, step outside for some fresh air  and sunshine. Try not to stress. This will only tax  your immune system. Stay connected to friends  and family by phone/text. Listen to relaxing music  or read.  

Nasal steam sessions: 1 cup of almost boiling water, 1 drop eucalyptus, 1 drop lavender, 1  drop peppermint, 1 drop tea tree. Close your eyes and hold your head over the cup and inhale  through your nose and exhale through your mouth.

Bath Soak: 2 to 4 cups Epsom salt, 2 to 4  cups apple cider vinegar, 3 drops lavender, 3 drops Lemongrass, 3 drops peppermint. Add  essential oils to Epsom salt and mix well, add salt mixture and vinegar to bath water and soak  for at least 30 min. as needed.  

Nebulizer Treatments: Nebulizers are an inexpensive way to support the sinuses and lungs. I  personally recommend 3 to 8 minutes sessions of peroxide (3%) 2 times a day. It can be  diluted 50/50 with distilled water. Nebulizers are shipped fast from carewell.com  

How else can I manage my symptoms?  

Mucinex Expectorant: If you have ANY tightness in your chest or feeling that you need to  cough at all, Mucinex expectorant works well. Never use a suppressant when dealing with  covid. Not even if it is mixed with an expectorant. It can set you up for covid pneumonia. 

Aspirin: (to prevent blood clots) 325mg per day unless contraindicated. Wean off of this  dosage SLOWLY after you are feeling better.  

  

Notes:  

Continue to take supplements for at least 3 weeks (reducing zinc to 9mg after the first 10  days). Often symptoms will subside around day 5 to 8 and then a second wave of symptoms  will hit. Be aware and keep supporting your body during this process. Around day 8, a number  of people have experienced symptoms of depression. If you experience this, I highly  recommend having someone pray over you.  

If at any time your oxygen dips below 96, contact your doctor.  

Eucalyptus can be added to a wash cloth and placed on the shower floor away from your feet  to act as an expectorant and help you clear your lungs if that is one of your symptoms.  

Do not sit or lay in bed for long periods of time. Get up and move around. This can help avoid  blood clots and keep your lungs clear. If you have a red, tender swollen area on legs, or groin,  consult a medical professional immediately. You may have a blood clot.  Drink, drink, drink! It helps thin the mucus and helps your body heal.  

Other herbs of interest: Astragalus, Elderberry (if no fever is present), Colloidal silver,  Turmeric, Garlic, Mullein tea, Muscadine Grape Seed and Skin Extract, Boswellia, Milk Thistle. 

 IVERMECTIN 

With long standing safety data and billions of doses administered, it seems to be the best and the fastest way  to deal with this illness.  

Some people take the livestock version of Ivermectin. This is your choice, but if you decide to go this route, I  would like to warn you to do much research  on dosage before administering. Also, make  SURE that it is ONLY ivermectin and does not  contain multiple drugs for other ailments. I do  not recommend this route unless it is an  emergency situation and you are waiting for a  prescription from a doctor. My experience is  that the ivermectin intended for livestock is  not as reliable as the kind intended for  humans. Dosage is prescribed by the  individual’s weight and dosage amount is  extremely important. It seems that for this  reason, the livestock ivermectin is unreliable.  The additional ingredients in the livestock  ivermectin may also play a part. One of my  recent patients were taking the livestock  ivermectin and did not get relief from serious  covid symptoms until switching to the type  intended for humans. Ivermectin can be used  for those who have symptoms of covid. It can also be used preventatively and for those who are still  experiencing loss of taste and smell or other long-lasting issues due to previously having covid. Ivermectin acts  as an antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral. It is used for many diseases. There are very interesting  studies that have been published recently in the Lancet (medical journal) on Ivermectin and its ability to  inhibit the Corona Virus. 

UPDATE: As of 8/25/21 the FLCCC has updated the dosage guidelines to increase the dosage  from 0.2mg per kg. to 0.4mg per kg. for the current (Delta) variant of Covid-19. If you live in an  area that is being hit hard with covid, please mention this to the Doctor when asking for a prescription. If you have taken Ivermectin for 2 days and do not see improvement, talk to  your prescribing Doctor about taking a higher dose.  

Who can help me get the meds I need?  

I highly recommend the protocol released by the FLCCC. I have seen this do wonders for clients that very likely would  have ended up in the hospital or worse. Generally, the client is improving within 12 to 24 hrs. Ivermectin prescriptions  can be obtained by Doctors through Push Health. My personal experience with Dr. Frank Lee at Push Health has  been wonderful and I would highly recommend him. You can reach him directly through  THIS LINK.   If you would like to further educate yourself on the safety and effectiveness of Ivermectin, go to:  https://covid19criticalcare.com/ivermectin-in-covid-19/  

-Easy directions to get Ivermectin with a discount 

Choosing your Pharmacy  

STEP 1: Go to www.goodrx.com and enter “Ivermectin” into the search bar.  

STEP 2: Enter your zip code to find Pharmacies near your area.  

STEP 3: Choose the Pharmacy with the most reasonable price (Walgreens or CVS)  

STEP 4: Click on the coupon and screenshot or send it to your cell phone by text.  

STEP 5: Copy the name and the address of the pharmacy to give to the Doctor later.  

STEP 6: Take a copy or screenshot of the coupon to your pharmacy when you pick up your prescription.  Note: If your pharmacy does not have ivermectin in stock, you can later transfer your script to another pharmacy.  Recently a patient had difficulty getting her script because of a possible waiting list for the medicine. Your pharmacy can  help you transfer if needed. Independent pharmacies usually do not accept the Good RX card and you will possibly pay  around $140.00 vs. $40.00. You must use the coupon to get the discount.  

Note: If your pharmacy does not have ivermectin in stock, you can call and transfer your prescription to another  pharmacy. If your pharmacy does not have record after your provider has sent the script, log in to your push health  account and click on the “my chart” button. You will see a button that says “ resend fax”.  

Honeybee Pharmacy on the Push Health site will fill scripts, but they are a bit pricey. 

You can also find compounding pharmacies that will fill your prescription. For a list of pharmacies, go to:  https://covid19criticalcare.com/pharmacies/  

Getting your Prescription 

Option one: 

STEP 1: Go to  THIS LINK.

 STEP 2: Fill out the form and register.  

STEP 3: Enter the address for the preferred pharmacy.  

STEP 4: Request Ivermectin, 3mg. Enter 50 in the quantity box. The doctor will decide what you need by your weight. 

STEP 5: Make sure the doctor knows whether you are requesting ivermectin to use as a preventive, or if you have active  symptoms of covid or a positive covid test.  

Some people are having issues getting prescriptions filled. If your area pharmacies are out of stock or refuse to fill, you  can go to option two. 

Option two: www.americasfrontlinedoctors.org/treatments/how-do-i-get-covid-19-medication/  

For more info on vaccine mandates, truth about covid, and doctors who are fighting for your health and legal rights, go  to: www.Americasfrontlinedoctors.org 

This information is for educational purposes. If you have any questions, speak to your healthcare provider. 

Updated 9/7/21 

Guest post ends here.

For your convenience, I have put together a “Readiness Pak" containing almost all the supplements in the protocol above. To order, use the link below. (You'll have to create an account to see the list, and to order.)

Here is a convenient link to purchase most of the supplements that are currently recommended for Covid. If you choose to order from this list, they will ship direct to you. I do receive a commission.

Covid Home Care: A Guest Post

Image courtesy of Unsplash

Image courtesy of Unsplash

The following is a guest post, shared with permission from a licensed health professional who chooses to remain anonymous. This information is for educational purposes only; do your own research and make your own decisions. You are free to disseminate this as you wish, but DO NOT edit. This is not medical advice.

UPDATED POST HERE: www.gesundheitministry.com/blog/2021/9/12/covid-home-care-updated-a-guest-post

Guest post begins here:

Over the last year I have had the honor of helping many people in my local community, across our great nation and  beyond with Covid Home Care. Below is a protocol that has served my family and my clients well.  There are options for those with active symptoms and those who would like to treat preventatively.  My prayer is that this reaches many and lives are saved.  

I tested positive… 

Depending on your experience (or lack thereof) with Covid-19, you may feel scared or concerned. That is ok. Your body  may be at the starting point of the biggest fight you have ever faced, or you may simply have common cold symptoms  and move on with life. Either way, below you will find information that you may need on your journey back to health.  

….what do I do now? 

Being prepared is so important.  

The supplies that I suggest are listed below.  

Mucinex Expectorant (enough for 10 days) 

Oximeter 

Aspirin 

Zinc 

Melatonin 

Quercetin 

Olive Leaf Extract 

Ginger Tea 

Epsom Salt 

Vinegar 

Vitamin D3 & C 

CBD oil 

Unkers Chest Rub 

Essential oils of Lavender, Lemongrass, Peppermint,  

Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, and Balsam Fir.  

Body Armor/ Coconut water (or other naturally sweetened Electrolyte drink) 

Moringa Extract (Gel caps or liquid is best) 

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables  

Who can help me get the meds I need? 

I highly recommend the protocol released by the FLCCC. I have seen this do wonders for clients that very likely would  have ended up in the hospital or worse. Generally, the client is improving within 12 to 24 hrs. One particular client of  mine was losing his taste and smell and after adding Ivermectin, he had recovered most of his taste and smell before he was out of quarantine. 

Ivermectin can be obtained by Doctors through PushHealth.com. My personal experience with Dr. Frank Lee at Push  Health has been wonderful and I would highly recommend him. You can reach him directly through  https://www.pushhealth.com/practices/1331/new-patients/flee?referring_user_id=142834#.YQqBVzYfCqM.linkedin 

If you would like to further educate yourself on the safety and effectiveness of Ivermectin, go to:  https://covid19criticalcare.com/ivermectin-in-covid-19/

How can I help my body naturally? 

Zinc – 100mg daily. If nausea or diarrhea occurs, reduce to 75mg. (Not recommended long term at this dosage) Melatonin – 10 mg. at night. 

Quercetin 250mg twice a day.  

Olive Leaf Extract 500mg to 1000mg a day with food. 

Ginger Tea: 1 cup, 3 times a day (Can be used in conjunction with “Throat Coat Tea”) 

Vitamin D3: 4,000mg per day 

Vitamin C: 500 - 1000 mg daily 

CBD oil: up to 50 mg daily, split into 3-5 doses.  

Body Armor/ Coconut water (or other naturally sweetened Electrolyte drink) 

Moringa Extract (Gel caps or liquid is best) 500-1000 mg daily.  

Unkers Chest rub applied to the chest and bottoms of the feet in the morning and evening. 

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables  

Good, fresh water: at least 3 quarts per day, ESPECIALLY if you have any congestion.  

Weather permitting, step outside for some fresh air and sunshine.  

Try not to stress. This will only tax your immune system.  

Stay connected to friends and family by phone/text. 

Listen to relaxing music or read.  

Nasal steam sessions: 1 cup of almost boiling water, 1 drop eucalyptus, 1 drop lavender, 1 drop peppermint, 1 drop tea tree. Close your eyes and hold your head over the cup and inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth.  Bath Soak: 2 to 4 cups Epsom salt, 2 to 4 cups apple cider vinegar, 3 drops lavender, 3 drops Lemongrass, 3 drops  peppermint. Add essential oils to Epsom salt and mix well, add salt mixture and vinegar to bath water and soak for at  least 30 min. as needed.  

How else can I manage my symptoms? 

Mucinex Expectorant: If you have ANY tightness in your chest or feeling that you need to cough at all, Mucinex  expectorant works well. Never use a suppressant when dealing with covid. It can set you up for pneumonia.  Aspirin: (to prevent blood clots) 325mg per day unless contraindicated. Wean off of this dosage SLOWLY after you are  feeling better.  

Notes: 

Continue to take supplements for at least 3 weeks (reducing zinc to 9mg after the first 10 days). Often symptoms will  subside around day 5 to 8 and then a second wave of symptoms will hit. Be aware and keep supporting your body during  this process.  

If at any time your oxygen dips below 96, contact your doctor.  

Eucalyptus can be added to a wash cloth and placed on the shower floor away from your feet to act as an expectorant  and help you clear your lungs if that is one of your symptoms.  

Do not sit or lay in bed for long periods of time. Get up and move around. This can help avoid blood clots and keep your  lungs clear. If you have a red, tender swollen area on legs, or groin, consult a medical professional immediately. You may  have a blood clot.  

Drink, drink, drink! It helps thin the mucus and helps your body heal.  

Other herbs of interest: Astragalus, Elderberry (if no fever is present), Colloidal silver, Turmeric, Garlic, Mullein tea,  Muscadine Grape Seed and Skin Extract, Boswellia, Milk Thistle. 

IVERMECTIN 

Some people take the livestock version of Ivermectin. This is your choice if you wish to do so. If you decide to go this  route, I would like to warn you to do much research on dosage before administering. Also, make SURE that it is ONLY  ivermectin and does not contain multiple drugs for other ailments. I do not recommend this route unless it is an  emergency situation and you are waiting for a prescription from a doctor.  

My experience is that the ivermectin intended for livestock is not as reliable as the kind intended for humans. Dosage is  prescribed by the individual’s weight and dosage amount is extremely important. It seems that for this reason, the  livestock ivermectin is unreliable. The additional ingredients in the livestock ivermectin may also play a part. One of my recent patients were taking the livestock ivermectin and did not get relief from serious covid symptoms until  switching to the type intended for humans.  

Ivermectin can be used for those who have symptoms of covid. It can also be used preventatively and for those who are  still experiencing loss of taste and smell or other long-lasting issues due to previously having covid. Ivermectin acts as an  antiparasitic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral. It is used for many diseases. There are very interesting studies that have  been published recently in the Lancet (medical journal) on Ivermectin and its ability to inhibit the Corona Virus. 

-Easy directions to get Ivermectin at a reasonable price 

Choosing your Pharmacy 

STEP 1: Go to www.goodrx.com and enter “Ivermectin” into the search bar.  

STEP 2: Enter your zip code to find Pharmacies near your area.  

STEP 3: Choose the Pharmacy with the most reasonable price (Usually Kroger or CVS) 

STEP 4: Click on the coupon and screenshot or send it to your cell phone by text.  

STEP 5: Copy the name and the address of the pharmacy to give to the Doctor later.  

STEP 6: Take a copy or screenshot of the coupon to your pharmacy when you pick up your prescription.  Note: If your pharmacy does not have ivermectin in stock, you can later transfer your script to another pharmacy.  Recently a patient had difficulty getting her script because of a possible waiting list for the medicine. Your pharmacy can  help you transfer if needed. Independent pharmacies usually do not accept the Good RX card and you will possibly pay  around $140.00 vs. $40.00. You must use the coupon to get the discount.  

Getting your Prescription 

STEP 1: Go to https://www.pushhealth.com/practices/1331/new 

patients/flee?referring_user_id=142834#.YQqBVzYfCqM.linkedin 

STEP 2: Fill out the form and register.  

STEP 3: Enter the address for the preferred pharmacy. 

STEP 4: Request Ivermectin, 3mg. (you can leave the quantity blank as the quantity is according to your weight.)

STEP 5: Make sure the doctor knows whether you are requesting ivermectin to use as a preventive, or if you have active  symptoms of covid or a covid test.  

This information is for educational purposes. 

Guest post ends here.

For your convenience, I have put together a “Readiness Pak" containing almost all the supplements in the protocol above. To order, use the link below. (You'll have to create an account to see the list, and to order.)

Here is a convenient link to purchase most of the supplements that are currently recommended for Covid. If you choose to order from this list, they will ship direct to you. I do receive a commission.


Charis, Part 2

“We are made to receive love, and to give it away.”

I don’t know who first said that. I do know that allowing that truth to sink deep into my heart is changing me. It began around the turn of the year, with looking back on 2020 and how grace shaped that hard and wonderful year. I wrote about it some, here.

I’ve been struggling. No, make that floundering. Flailing around like the catfish I caught last summer, the one that was hooked so deep we thought about cutting the line to get him off. He flailed and flopped and tried again, but it was no use. I can sympathize with that fish.

Last week, especially, I felt worn out. Deeply tired from the continual battle. Unwilling to give up, but hardly knowing how to go on. So I did the only thing I knew to do: keep walking and do the things you’ve promised you’ll do. Invite friends over for supper. Help teach Sunday school. Meet with the girls I’m mentoring. Go to work. Cook and clean and study. Admit how scared I am to lead a study group for our church’s youth Bible school and then do it anyway.

And through it all, pray. Receive gratefully the gift of repentance, turning away from fear and from self-sufficiency and from unbelief. And receive, with gratitude and some more tears, the prayers and hugs of several friends, as I went to that first study group meeting.

And somehow, in the midst of that group, as I spoke the truths we are studying, they came home to my own heart in a deeper way. We are looking at Colossians, using a delightful study guide from The Daily Grace Co. The theme of this short letter is simple: Jesus is all we need. Our part is to believe and obey, but the power is ALL his.

Tonight, I watched a youthful face light up with comprehension, grasping this reality: the fruits of the Spirit are fruits, not commands to be obeyed. And suddenly, I realized it too. I don’t have to create my own peace. I don’t have to manufacture joy. I don’t have to love on my own strength. Those are fruits of the Spirit within me.

I’m not so naive as to believe that I won’t ever have to relearn this truth. But for now, at least, a deep rest permeates every fiber of my being and I am at peace.

And it all came about in the process of receiving love and giving it away, serving in the ways that I was asked to do. That’s such a God kind of move, it makes my eyes watery and my throat choky.

Charis. Grace. “The influence of God on our hearts, and our response, especially thankfulness.” Yeah. That describes it pretty well.

Glancing back at Charis : 2020 in the rearview

I hate New Year’s posts. Wasn’t gonna do one, but then this week happened and I kinda changed my mind.

“…you heard [the Gospel] and understood the charis of God in truth.” (Colossians 1:6b)

Charis. It’s a Greek word, found over one hundred fifty times in the New Testament. Strong’s defines charis as the divine influence on the human heart, and the response, especially thankfulness.

Charis. Grace. I don’t usually pick a “word for the year” or any other such trendy activity. But if I had, that would be the word of the year for 2020.

Charis. The divine influence on the human heart. It marks every moment, from the freshness and anticipation of the beginning, through the many tears and agonies of isolation, and the uncertainties and constant change of the pandemic response, all the way through to the end of the year and the many good and hard changes that continued there.

March brought the lockdown and agonies of loneliness such as I’ve never known before. Losing all social outlets AND church gatherings AND most of your work hours in one fell swoop is especially challenging for those who live alone. If not for a few faithful friends who welcomed me into their homes despite the yet-unknown risks, I’m not sure I would have come out of that with my sanity intact. They were God-with-skin-on to me in that time. Charis. Grace.

April continued and intensified the isolation and uncertainty. There was the felt betrayal from the church as all formal gatherings ceased just when I knew my need of them the most. As work hours continued to disappear, I wasn’t sure how I’d pay the rent. The isolation and fear got so bad I sometimes ended up curled in a corner of the sofa, as deep sobs tore through me. But. Charis. Grace found me again. Clandestine visits and quiet prayer meetings. Odd jobs provided income. Generous gifts paid the rent. I survived, and didn’t lose my apartment, and dared to hope that things might get better again and maybe we didn’t live in Communist America after all.

May brought some relief, as work hours picked up again, and even brought better conditions and new clients whom I grew to love dearly. Bits of normalcy came back. (Normalcy is a form of charis.)

Summer. Church began to meet openly again, and we appreciated each other like never before. Tears of joy streamed as we sang and worshipped together. I helped care for a friend who had COVID. The total lack of fear I felt was charis. (So was getting a negative test and not losing work hours to quarantine!)

Fall brought Bible school. My first ever, and it was good. Words can’t describe the work God did in my heart in those hours of worshipping and walking and listening. Charis.

Late fall and early winter brought a rush of good things. This lovely little farmhouse with it’s long lane and peaceful setting. A housemate whose very presence has been healing. Growing and deepening friendships. Continual growing and new surrender in Christ. Charis.

This week, somehow, was a culmination of all that. A time of breaking and surrender and discovering the goodness and grace of God rich in the midst of the tears.

As I close out 2020, I’m asking:

What if the kindest thing that God could do is to allow us to come to the end of our own strength and fail utterly? What if our weakness was His mercy? What if our absolute inability was His opportunity to live out His abundant ability through us?

What if being strong and having it all together was not the most important thing? What if, instead, we live best and most joyously when we surrender? What if His strength really is made great in our weakness?

What if we are designed to live as beloved children, dependent and needy? What if ours is the paradoxical joy of knowing that we are utterly outmatched of ourselves (but our Champion is Jesus and He already won!)?

It's been a rough week, a fitting ending to 2020 somehow, of coming to the end of myself, again and more completely (although I'm under no illusions that the process is finished). And as I do, and relax into HIS strength and peace and love... Well, I'd have it no other way. Because this is better than being strong. This is charis. This is grace, and I’m grateful.

Build Your Own First Aid Kit

Image courtesy of Unsplash

Image courtesy of Unsplash

There are two general types of first aid kits: trauma kits and ouch pouches/booboo bags. The armed forces use IFAKs (Individual First Aid Kits) that are geared for massive hemorrhage and breathing issues, because statistically those are the highest numbers of preventable deaths on the battlefield. If you look for military grade first aid gear, that’s what you’ll find.

But IFAKs don’t have what you need for the everyday nicks and scrapes. For the average citizen, a trauma kit isn’t useful and frequently ends up getting left behind. This is where the ouch pouch comes in. It is a good idea to have both the trauma kit and the ouch pouch in your vehicle, and extra ouch-pouches stashed in various places, including on your person.

Here is a quick overview of what you may want to put into each type of kit. Note that there is very little overlap. If you choose to carry a trauma kit, be sure to include the supplies from the ouch pouch. Supplies are chosen for their usefulness, light weight, and ease of carrying rather than any attempt at comprehensiveness.

Ouch Pouch

  • Bandages (regular and knuckle)

  • Bacitracin or triple antibiotic ointment

  • Aspirin (Chewable tablets like this are a great choice as a combination pain reliever and first line treatment for a heart attack)

  • Ibuprofen or Tylenol, as preferred

  • Duct tape (a short length wrapped up in lieu of the whole bulky roll)

  • Elastic bandage (this is bulky, so I opt to leave it for the larger trauma kit)

  • Benadryl/diphenhydramine (travel packs take up little room )

Trauma Kit

·       Tourniquet (the C-A-T is recommended. SWAT-T or Soft-T are also popular choices)

·       Elastic bandage

·       4”x4” gauze (enough to have a nice thick wad)

·       Rolled gauze (2 or 3, if you have room for them)

·       Nasal pharyngeal airway, 28 french

·       Chest seal (make sure you have a two-pack, in case of entry and exit wounds that need to be sealed)

·       Gloves (get your size, but get the stretchy kind, in case someone with larger hands than yours needs to use them)

·       Trauma shears

·       Sharpie

It is pretty popular to include a decompression needle in trauma kits. If you have the training to properly use one, by all means go ahead. Otherwise, you may want to skip it. Improper use can kill someone who wouldn’t have otherwise died, and that is really not what we’re trying to do here.

Where possible, I have provided links directly to manufacturer’s websites for tactical gear. These folks have put a lot of effort into developing the best possible product, and it isn’t worth the risk of getting a cheap imitation elsewhere. (Note that Amazon links are affiliate links. That means I get a few pennies when you order using the link, at no extra cost to you.)