Well, I didn't expect that, damnit!

[Redshoesandtheblues]

Trying to get organized early this year for you know what... happens every year on the 25th of the last month.

I asked my sis what she would like......
And I got the suggestion that I buy an emergency bag and contents for a hospital grab and go scenario.

I get a list of what it needs to contain.

Apparently, her and her friend had been talking about the practicalities of living alone, so best to be prepared.

I get that. But its hardly a nice gift is it?
Or am I not 'getting it'?

It is a great idea. I have had to have a few unexpected hospital visits and had next to nothing with me so a grab bag is a great idea. I ended up in the delightful hospital gown several times trying to go down the corridor of a packed A&E without showing my bum!

Cotton for any nightie and not too fussy and maybe a size larger just for ease of getting in and out of bed and not short

Wet wipes so if you can't have a shower or bath you can stop smelling your self.Also roll on deodrant. Facial wipes withAloe or cucumber to make you feel fresh.
Most people have the other things like a book, book light, eye mask etc.
Easy to put on slippers. towelling are quite good as they grip a bit.

A list of any medication. It saves time. I have allergies but the number of times they ask me in a hospital which is supposed to have them scanned into their system is unbelievable. They seem surprised that I can't reel them off but as I have two A$ sheets my memory isn't that good.

Good luck. Don't get too big a bag as it needs to fit into a cubicle locker.

Crying at "spare knockers" 😂 Typo of the day!

Good reminder about size of bag!
Anyone got any ideas on locker size?

This could end up costing hundreds!!!

Dry shampoo!

Im so glad I asked about it!!
Its been great tick box for me and allowed me to get over my initial reaction.

Yes, the cost hasn't escaped me!!
Especially as we were talking about being frugal.......

Cash, enough for a taxi there and back plus lots of change in case the phones don't take cards. Spare battery/charger/burner phone.

Fudge. Because it will be unexpected and delightful.

I would definitely set a budget first, once you hit that you stop!

Small-sized toiletries, or samples (could try charity shops or eBay for these if like me, you are not brave enough to ask at beauty counters) and a flannel - flannel is handy if you are stuck in bed and are given a bowl of water to wash yourself in when you can't move!

When my mum was admitted to hospital at short notice, I was dashing around the shops buying nightdresses (non-glamour type, more coverage!) and a decent nightgown but that might be budget-blowing so I'd stick to the small stuff like toiletries, lip balm, charger lead, puzzle book (if she does those) or notebook with pen, snacks. Contact list with phone numbers on for her friends and family (if you know details of friends), list of allergies and/or medication she is on, mini hairbrush/comb.

Dry shampoo is a great call!

Don't feel you have to do it all, just pick a few basics. My DH was once admitted through A&E to a heart ward and while they did have all the basics such as shaving stuff and soap it's nice to have some lovely toiletries to use at a stressful time. So they will provide stuff for her if she needs it.

Oh I've done this as a baby shower gift. Luxury hospital bag with all the essentials ,plus some little extra special bits. Posh lip balm and hand cream for sure. Maybe nice cordial?

I think I'll have to put things in a priority list. That will help me focus and budget.

Can those who found themselves - or relative- in hospital either expected or unexpectedly, give me their top 15 list?

I can cross reference how many appear on same list. That will help.

Oh yes! Wet wipes and dry shampoo!

What a great idea. Have you thought about the bag ? I would go for one of those very thin fabric ones, made from the same fabric as a fold up shopping bag. That way it will fold down to nothing in a hospital bedside locker.

Maybe a spare pair of reading glasses from the pound shop. Even if she has perfect sight sometimes the light levels in hospital mean a lot of squinting to read.
If you are on a bit of a budget I would leave out all of the clothes as Im sure she has plenty of things she can add to the bag herself. Section the small things as outlined by PP so that she can easily find nail clippers or a pen rather than rummaging through the whole bag.

Oh and you can get spare Knockers. I had a bilateral mastectomy and am currently sporting a lovely pair of knitted knockers kindly made by this small charity just for this purpose.

Don't go too crazy with non-essentials because there is limited room in hospital lockers. I think it's a great present though - I had to go into hospital as an emergency last year and had veyr little time before the ambulance arrived to gather a few things. Ended up with no money, and no underwear - had to keep asking my DD to bring stuff in.

So as thers have said - night clothes, slippers, wash stuff, definitely hand cream, mini fan, purse with money, pen, puzzle book, couple of papaerbacks (unless she has a kindle in which case a charger - I found one of those chargers that is a plug with a usb connector on the other side was great). Refreshing wet wipes (you can get nice cologne ones) small handbag mirror and tweezers, top up for her phone, ear plugs.
And a letter saying how much you love her and you hope she'll be better soon +Photos of her grandchildren

Those really useful little toothbrushes that you just chew. Brilliant on long journeys for feshening your mouth, and I can imagine great for in hospital when you might not be able to get to bathroom easily but need to freshen your breath and lubricate your mouth.

Thanks, everyone.

Please keep free flowing ideas.....I'll get it right.
Good idea about bag viques.

As for spare knockers!! What an inspiring link!! Thanks Apacoflips

I would second the pp thought about bags within bags, ie toiletries, make up, pencil etc. If my parent's recent hospital experience is anything to go by, its quite common to shuffle patients about within a ward, so make it easy for ward staff to ensure belongings also go with the patient.

I've had to do the hunt for things that got left behind hung on hooks or on window ledges or in bathrooms, so make the bags hard to miss - bright and patterned, rather than tasteful and discrete. Also consider naming them somehow - we sharpied the name onto the fabric of the zip fastener inside the bag. Name tags or embroider dressing gowns and slippers? Etsy may have ideas if you aren't into craft yourself. You may also want to do a "contents list" on a tag - eg this bag contains 1 yellow toiletries bag, a red make up bag and a tartan pencil case, a pair of green pyjamas... as a prompt for things to stay together.

Other things for your list which I haven't seen so far, based on my parents (although noting they are 20 years older than your sister, so may not be applicable!)

Poligrip
Steradent
Small container for false teeth storage

Don't go too overboard - its an emergency bag not for a weekend away, but almost everything I've seen mentioned so far is something I've taken in on hospital visits to my parents, some great ideas so far.

I have a similar request from a friend so I'm blatantly stealing all ideas that will help. Thanks.

For OP a lot of theses things can be bought really cheaply.
Tiny shampoo/conditioner can be decanted into bottles from pound shop or ask the friend that steals them from hotels.
A fold up fan this is mine, it folds up tiny amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FCG9912/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1]]
Lip balm and wipes sold in pound shop.
Clothing and towels at primark. Those odd chewy toothbrush things are a great idea too.
Bag should be a rucksack imo. Pockets and places to hide small items.

My top 15 things when I was recently in hospital were - not in order of importance...

1 glasses
2 pen
3 phone and charger
4 reading material ( in my case my e-reader and charger)
5 knickers
6 Hair brush
7 toothpaste and brush
8 hand gel
9 small amount of money
10 my own cup and spoon. (I also take a small tub with my own teabags and a couple of sugar sachets as often I can have the tea but the person making it leaves out sugar. I hate drinking out of plastic polystyrene cups)
11 shampoo and conditioner in sachets that take up little room and wont spill
12 my own microfibre towel +facecloth in a bright colour. I lost a lovely one before that was plain white and just got mixed in with hospital laundry
13 a bar of nice soap
14 slippers with rigid sole
15 a very large scarf that was used for several different purposes ( extra blanket/shoulder cover/hiding behind from other patients visitors)
Most other things could have been grabbed easily even with minutes notice but I doubt my DH could have found 'nice soap ' in the airing cupboard for example .

Thanks for this thread. It’s reminded me that I should have one of these bags. I’ve seen them referred to as OFRS (Oh Fuck Ruck Sacks) so I would include Kendal Mint Cake to sustain me when the zombies roam the earth. Or failing that, if I get taken in for my gall stones

Vaseline
Handcream
Nightwear
Fleece to keep her warm if she's put sitting on a chair
Hairbrush
Shampoo, Conditioner, Bodywash
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Tissues
Flip flop style slippers
New knockers
Book she'd read
Charger (long)
Coins
Tweezers

Cuddly toy!

@quincejamplease FONDUE THINGY!

In the days of throwaway tat I'm all for practical presents if that's what the receiver would like. I also think it's probably not a bad idea for what it is either. Although I have a DH and family/friends who could help out, I have actually thought to myself before that DH despite being a very capable and intelligent man would probably struggle to find the really useful and necessary bits and bobs in a "emergency grab bag essentials" situation.

What she'll need to add herself will be her medication list (unless you can get that) and her own face products.
A body lotion might not go astray either as I've seen people with really scaly skin (legs for e.g.) in hospital.