To put together a grab bag for A&E?

[Rainallnight]

I’m not planning on going to A&E. And I’m the last person to be any sort of prepper - I’m barely on top of the laundry or anything!

But I’ve been thinking that if anyone in the family ends up in A&E, it’s going to be for a lonnnnnng time and it would be handy to be able to just grab a bag of stuff that would see you through.

I’m thinking at the most basic level stuff like phone charger, snacks, bottle of water, book. But then I find myself thinking pillow? Sleeping bag?

Has anyone done this?

(the backstory for the avoidance of later drip feeding is that I was at the GP yesterday and they briefly thought they needed to call an ambulance for me and my first thought was ‘bugger, I don’t have a phone charger on me’. I didn’t have to go in an ambulance and I’m fine).

Sounds very sensible and the sort of thing I’d think of doing…. After it’s too late and of course, wouldn’t learn my lesson and proceed not to put one together after, either 🤣

Seriously though, sounds like a solid plan considering the state of the NHS right now 😔

I have one (health issues)

List of medication and dosage on my phone
Knickers
Pjs
Socks
Baby wipes
Deo
Phone charger
Power bank
Headphones
Ear plugs

Well, with the waiting times for ambulances to reach you’ve probably got ample time to get stuff together.
I put in a call to 999 whilst doing CPR the other week and it took 20 minutes.

Ehh I guess it's up to you? My feeling would be that if someone was unwell enough for A&E they're unlikely to be wanting snacks and a good book. Someone could drop in a phone charger (or there's often one behind the desk). It's not something I'd plan to do. Pillow and sleeping bag is OTT I'm afraid.

We have this. DS is three weeks old and we’ve been sent to an and e three times since he was born. So much easier just having a bag ready!

Apart from going to gp and straight to a&e, you usually have time to put a bag together.

And sorry, I obviously wasn’t at the GP yesterday! 😂 I’ve got flu and the days are all blurring into one.

I think that could be sensible if you think you’ll use it. I think maybe also just having a list of stuff would be helpful. My dd broke her arm in quite complex and spectacular fashion over the summer. It took me 5 minutes to pack a bag for us. We were in overnight with admission to the ward and an operation the next day, so there about 24 hours in total.

We have one, but DS6 is undergoing treatment for Leukaemia and we have to go quickly if he gets a high/low temperature and various other things!

Sounds sensible if you know you could easily go due to health conditions (or even if you don't have one; but nothing wrong with not doing it either in that case).

Pillow can be sensible as well because some people may have sleeping issues and need their own pillow (eg. Support pillow, etc).

It's handy to have an emergancy overnight bag packed generally I think. For if a relative needs you or something.

I think having a halfway plan like a list of things you would need, then someone can collect it for you if you sent it.

Or make sure you have a few more useful bits in your bag like an emergency phone charging pack - these would be good if you were to be away from home longer than expected for a range of situations.

I don't think sleeping bag/blanket is ott. My mom went with my dad and he didn't get a blanket after being admitted and mum was standing all night - her friend suggested a folding stool for the boot of the car in case.

We have prep back ready for a and e. I have an Epipen and it took 10 minutes to put that and ones for the children together and invest in a key safe outside.

power bank is vital
loose change
etc
wipes deo spare pants water bottle warm socks et.

I spent a lot of time being rushed into hospital last year… so now I do keep an overnight bag packed for both me and my daughter should it happen again. It was so stressful being so unwell and trying to get my essentials together (like an extra set of clothes incase I needed them asap, a charger, my medications etc) - makes me feel so much more at ease being prepared!

I have one, I have a complicated health condition which means I’m often staying in hospital.

Spare masks
Water
Snacks
BG test kit and insulin
Meds etc
Phone charger
Pyjamas & grippy socks
Spare underwear
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Hairbrush & dry shampoo
Deodorant
Wet wipes
Antibac wipes

All lives in a rucksack by the door.

i just got a small bag together while waiting for the ambulance. There’s not a lot of room for big bags /pillows (or sleeping bags-what’s that for? ) in ambulances and A&E.
Then once the patient was admitted and I knew possibly how long for I took the essentials.

I think an emergency grab bag is a good idea

So if your trip to A&E is accompanying a DC, or because of something like a suspected fracture (where you can sit still - and get bored - without too much difficulty), yo have the things you need to make your waiting time as comfortable as it can be.

So yes, charging cables are good - with charged power bank even better, but that would take a hell of a lot of attention to detail to keep permanently ready! So perhaps not literally ready in a bag, but a good list of what to grab (and/or keep in the car in case of emergency or getting stranded)

Snacks, bottle of water/other drinks, off-line amusements such as a pack of cards, puzzle magazines, book. Shawl/throw (hospitals are usually warm, but you never know. Toothbrush/toothpaste. Lip salve, tube of all purpose moisturiser (like Nivea Soft) as the air can be drying. Tissues. Earbuds or other headphones. Small amount of cash (unlikely to be needed, but Sod's law....)

we had this when dc was ill and needed to spend a lot of time in a&e and various clinics.

don't have anything atm but always have a powerbank loaded up in a drawer and some school snacks which would come in handy in a situation like that.

If it makes you feel better, go for it!

But for everyone who is worried about waiting times (not ambulance).
We had to go to A&E on Friday as advised by GP... it was busy but we were seen quickly and we spent about 90 minutes from start to finish at the hospital.

So I think the waiting times do depend on your trust/ area as well as the reason for attending.

I guess it depends what you’re in A&E for. Massive heart attack? Bit pointless. Respiratory distress? Probably super useful. My mum broke her hip and waited 8 hours for an ambulance to arrive, and then spent 3 and a half days in A&E. We had time to cross the country and pack a bag to take to her in hospital before she was even admitted…

Spare medication
Pants
Wet wipes
List of all my allergies

Oh and a packet of jelly babies

I have health issues and I always take one with me, although (thankfully) I have only had to use it once in the last year.
I have:
Box of meds for the week
Pyjamas
Light dressing gown
Slippers
Knickers (clean for the journey home)
Snack
Water
Decaffeinated coffee (if you get offered a drink in A&E it is unlikely they will have decaff)
Basic wash things
Deodorant
Charger
Fire tablet
Small soft pillow
Last time I was admitted it was for 5 days so DH brought me in clean pyjamas etc every day.

Not a prepper but I always have a go bag at home and an "emergencies" bag (same-ish stuff but with trainers) in my car because of the nature of my previous work.

Charging pack for phone
Pads
Tampons
Toilet wipes
Toothbrush & small paste
Sanitiser
Baby wipes
Quick change of clothes (non-descript leggings/tank/light jumper)
Water and snacks
Slipper socks in go bag at home
deodorant
Masks
Microfibre towel.