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Letter Re: Sources for Prescription Medications?

James,
I love your blog, I read it daily. Good article on the field craft of tourniquet applications. I do have one question to add--where can I get medical supplies for treating trauma? I love the fact that we have the blood clotting bandages available to the civilian--long live the free market. In the Army, I was a Combat Life Saver and I may be out of practice, but when truly required of me I am certain that I can start an IV to keep someone from going into shock. I have tried to find lactated ringers on the Internet, but they require a medical license (as would the needles and tubing sets I imagine) or a doctor's prescription. How can one stock up on the supplies that can save some one's life after the tourniquet is applied? I have considered having "the talk" with my doctor about prescribing such items, but that hardly seems likely without putting him in an awkward place. I searched the archives in your fantastic blog to no avail--are there any foreign distributors? I hate to think that I would have to "back door" to get supplies, but if it came down to preventing one of my family from going into shock and possibly death after grid-down, you better believe it is worth pursuing this during grid-up times.

Thank you for all that you do, - SBC

JWR Replies: Here in the US and other First World countries, to obtain USP-listed prescriptions medications there are few alternatives to finding a sympathetic doctor. (And, by the way, that must be one acting "within the scope of one's practice", so don't expect your local dermatologist or podiatrist to be able to write you a scrip for Ringer's or for an antibiotic medication like Cipro.)

One alternative often mentioned by SurvivalBlog readers is buying veterinary pharmaceuticals. A Strong Proviso: This is mentioned for educational purposes only. Buying veterinary medications is only recommended for absolute worst-case contingency planning--for when there is no other source of medical aid and supply.

One starting point for your quest is Jeffer's. Among other items they sell a veterinary dextrose solution, by mail order, without a prescription. (IIRC, Lactated Ringer's is often used with a 5% dextrose soliution.)

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