Well, it was an announcement that certainly got people’s attention.
Last week, Andy Burnham’s Government launched the Be Ready campaign, urging the public to stock up on food and other essential supplies in the event of a national emergency.
The Government stressed that the advice is not a warning of an imminent threat. Nor is it just about war.
As Defence Secretary Wes Streeting explained, cyber attacks and severe weather – like the storms we had over the weekend – could cut off essential services, and households should be ready to cope for three days.
Nonetheless, the result was hysteria. Bottled water, baked beans and batteries have been in short supply at supermarkets across the country since the announcement.
However, for me, this wasn’t the most concerning aspect of the messaging. I’ve noticed something particularly worrying in the detail.
People have been told to keep a three-day supply of food at home and enough water for drinking, cooking and washing, as well as (if relevant) pet food, baby formula and nappies.
The checklist also includes power banks, batteries, torches, a wind-up or battery-powered FM radio, copies of important documents and some cash.
Empty pallets of bottled water at an Asda superstore in London on Tuesday. Sales of essentials are soaring as Brits prepare for emergencies
But while it mentions ‘medical supplies’, there is no more detail on what this health kit should actually include. What should concerned families stock up on when preparing for a situation where medical help is out of reach for several days?
So, as a GP of more than 20 years, I’ve decided to set out what I have stored in the house for the worst-case scenario – it’s something I take seriously.
First, where to keep it. All medicines should be kept in a cool, dry cupboard, as the heat and humidity in kitchens and bathrooms can affect medicines and damage supplies like bandages.
It’s also important to check expiry dates regularly, as out-of-date medication can be as good as useless.
Now for the actual contents. Perhaps the most obvious are simple painkillers such as ibuprofen, which is also handy for reducing swelling, and paracetamol. Both have the added benefit of lowering a temperature.
This could be particularly useful if a family member has a virus and is unable to get to a hospital.
On that note, a thermometer is also crucial for working out how serious a bug is when a medical professional cannot be reached. A temperature of 38C or above is a fever. In babies under three months this needs urgent medical advice, as does a temperature of 39C or above in babies aged three to six months.
Saline nasal drops or sprays can ease a blocked nose, while over-the-counter anaesthetic sprays and throat lozenges can combat a sore throat. These ailments might seem mild, but in an emergency, where tough decisions need to be made, you want to be fighting fit.
Likewise, I always keep an indigestion or heartburn remedy – something like Gaviscon – handy, along with a short course of omeprazole, a more potent tablet for this purpose. The last thing you want in a crisis is an upset stomach.
I also have anti-diarrhoea tablets such as loperamide and, for the opposite problem, a mild laxative to treat constipation. These can be bought at most high street pharmacies.
Oral rehydration salt sachets – such as Dioralyte – are another crucial supply. These replace the fluids and salts lost through diarrhoea or vomiting.
Even if you don’t think you have any allergies, it is sensible to keep some antihistamines tablets at home. An emergency is not the time to find out.Â
Some topical creams are worth having too, such as hydrocortisone cream, a mild steroid that can help ease insect bites, stings and other rashes. Calamine lotion can also soothe inflamed skin.
For those with children, there are specific medical supplies to consider. Young children need liquid versions of paracetamol and antihistamines, so these need to be stocked.
I also always keep a bottle of nit lotion and threadworm treatment handy. Both are available over the counter at most pharmacies and, frankly, are worth having even if you aren’t prepping for an emergency.
Alongside the medicine cabinet, I recommend every home has a fully stocked first aid kit.
This should include plasters in different sizes, both fabric and waterproof, sterile dressings and gauze pads, which can be used to apply pressure to wounds.
Bandages to secure dressings or support sprains are useful, as is medical tape. Antiseptic or cleaning wipes help to clean minor cuts and grazes safely.
Eyewash and a sterile eye pad are important in case of eye injuries, along with a small pair of sharp scissors and tweezers for removing splinters.
Disposable gloves are also helpful if you have to treat a wound by hand and want to avoid infecting it.
And, while it might sound over the top, a foil emergency blanket is a good idea to help retain body heat. We’ve seen in the war in Ukraine how heating can be one of the first essential services to go in a crisis.
In any ongoing situation it is important to keep up personal hygiene. It prevents infections and stops disease spreading to others.
So keep toothpaste, a manual toothbrush – as an electric one may stop working – and some hygiene wet wipes. Hand sanitiser and soap are also worth storing.
There are also measures that patients taking prescription medicines need to think about.
Do not leave it until the last minute to request repeat prescriptions each month, as they can take up to five days to process between the GP surgery and the pharmacy.
If you have prescribed medicines that are not used regularly, such as asthma inhalers or adrenaline auto-injectors like EpiPens, check they are in date. If they have expired or are close to expiring, request new ones.
Make a written list of any prescription medicines and their doses, allergies and health conditions. Keep one copy in your wallet and another with your important documents.
GP, author and broadcaster Dr Philippa Kaye
Medicines that need to be refrigerated, such as insulin, need extra thought. It is worth having a cooler bag and some ice or cold packs ready to keep these medicines cool if the power goes out.
However, always wrap medication in a cloth rather than putting it directly on ice, as this can damage it.
A closed fridge will stay cool for a few hours, but after that medicines may need to be moved to the cooler bag. Some people may choose to buy a mini fridge that can run from a power bank if needed.
Finally, so much of our lives is now stored on our phones. Write down the contact details for your GP surgery, pharmacy and other emergency contacts so they are easy to find if your phone runs out of battery.
I should be clear. There is no need to panic-buy medicines – not now, not ever. A pack or two of anything you need is plenty, and clearing pharmacy shelves only leaves others without.
Hopefully none of us will end up eating cold baked beans out of a tin for days on end. But a well-stocked medicine cabinet and first aid kit makes sense at all times, national emergency or not.
