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).

I’m so sorry for all of you living with conditions where you do have to go to hospital frequently. I know I’m very lucky that this is a bit of an abstract thought for me.

@Sparklingbrook re sleeping bag. I saw this dreadful picture the other day of someone lying in the corridor of a hospital and it made me think pillow plus sleeping bag. Or at least blanket.

My DD has asthma and we often find ourselves heading off to A&E.
I’m in that phase of life where I still carry a changing bag everywhere rather than a fancy handbag so I have a phone charger, book, kids supplies (nappies for littlest and changes of clothes for both), a pair of clean knickers and snacks.
It’s enough to keep us going for a day or so

DC was blue lighted to hospital last year. In a moment of foresight I grabbed a bag with a power bank, charging cable, water bottles for both of us, spare pjs and a wash kit for DC. We also had their special teddy and comfort blanket, my phone and purse.

It was a good job too as they vomited 5 minutes after we arrived (all over the special teddy too, so thank goodness we had the blanket to substitute) and we at least had a change of clothes for them.

I have one for DS (chronic lung condition) and I. I have a max of 3 days of clothes (handwash daily), lots of loose change and always a big variety of medication. DS is admitted when he is sick with a virus etc, which means I usually get it when in hospital with him, so anything for symptom relief is packed in.

You don’t have to be unwell to be in a&e

Something else to consider us that patients go off in ambulances. They then go into A&E and then maybe off to MAU or other holding ward then another ward before finally being admitted.
Having a large bag and things like pillows and sleeping bags to take along is a bit risky with regard to it all staying with the patient. And they lock wallets and medication away too so that has to be remembered in the moves.

@TeamLoganHuntzberger I'm
Sorry to hear this. Sending healing vibes to your boy.

Yeah, I’m thinking it could be either of the DC who could be poorly.

I have one ready for my husband who has health issues.I keep it in the cupboard under the stairs so I can just grab it quickly if we need to take him into hospital in a hurry.Even if there's a wait for the ambulance/lift to hospital to arrive,I can't deal with stuff like that at the time without getting into a fluster and I'll be too busy trying to watch and reassure him anyway,so experience has taught me to be prepared. The holdall contains a pair of PJs,a towel,basic toiletries,socks and a change of underwear.Also a copy of his treatment plan. I've also attached a luggage label to the bag.I then just have to throw his specs,phone and personal radio/MP3 player into to my handbag on the way out. That lot will keep him going until he is either discharged after stabilising overnight, or the next visiting time if they keep him in.

I do have one but primarily because me daughter has medical conditions so we do have be ready quickly.
I have changes of clothes for her, charger and battery pack, emergency cash - enough for a taxi home and some other bits and pieces such as story books, small toys etc, emergency medication. If I have time I would also pack her regular medication and some snacks before going.

@goldennotyetoldie thank you - he went into remission after his first block of treatment just before Christmas and is handling it all so well. Just desperately hoping he carries on like this 🤞

I keep a full overnight toiletry bag easily accessible for nights away and figure it would double for a hospital trip if needed.

Bra, pants and socks all in own drawers, as are pyjamas. Chargers etc easily accessible. Even a friend unfamiliar with my bedroom could pack a quick bag for me in an emergency.

I have ulcerative colitis and I have a grab bag in the understairs cupboard it's great if i get a flare up just grab the bag and go and when I get home and sort it out and re-load it again.

Good idea. While living abroad we always kettle a go bag in case of earthquake.

Agree, if anyone round here has to go to A&E I'm getting my Kindle and a drink/snack. After several multi hour waits as a parent/carer not the ill person.

I like it!

I have one now but Dd has chronic health issues and is there fairly often these days. Snacks, chargers, battery pack, kindle, meds. Think I’m going to add a sleeping bag. 😫

I’m not a prepped but I have one.

Spare clothes for me and DD, overnight nappies, wipes, charger and snacks for us both.

DD very unexpectedly ended up admitted to hospital overnight last year. I remembered to grab spares for her but I had nothing for myself and spend 48hs in a t shirt covered in vomit.

In 2022 a pre-existing condition worsened to the point where it can quickly become life threatening, and I also developed a new condition which increases my risk of stroke / heart attack fivefold. So I'm more aware of this possibility than I was.

Last summer I became suddenly very unwell on a day out. Someone called an ambulance (which thankfully arrived quickly) and then I was in resus and being admitted to hospital. I had a phone with me but not much else. A friend kindly volunteered to pick up a bag from my house and bring it to the hospital, but she also had other commitments to get to, so my teenager had to find what I needed within less than ten minutes and pack it from scratch.

Since then, I have a small bag of essentials packed and ready, and everyone in the house knows what it looks like and where it is.

I dunno. When Dd had massive blood clots in her lungs she was hungry and wanted food and being vegetarian and having coeliac disease it was hard to find anything. My phone went flat and we were sat for hours while she was off having scans, etc. a kindle would have taken my mind off it all. Waiting times this weekend at local hospital were 48 hours! A sleeping bag would be good.

It's sensible and not just for A&E. Sudden phonecall that loved one has been taken ill, evacuated due to gas leak, taken ill and someone needs to grab essentials for you - all three have happened to me. I really should pack one!

And there is never a phone charger “behind the desk”. 😆. I didn’t have anyone who could drop one off either.

Exactly, or you could be going in with a suspected fracture, with an older family member, etc.

Having been stuck both overnight with no food or drink provided and unable to leave ward, and stuck all day unexpectedly in A&E with no food or drink no charger or anything to do I have done that.

a grab bag I keep with a charger and plug, empty water bottle, change of clothes (luckily now both me and the kids will fit in same size so generic basic T-shirt and bottoms will fit anyone) snacks, loose change, playing cards, I keep a portable charger in my bag, and always carry my kindle.

Stories like this are so concerning.
I remember when I rang 999 for a RTC I witnessed two years ago and was actually on hold (!!!!) for 4 minutes before anyone answered!