Do you have a Coronavirus Hospital go-bag?

[Merryoldgoat]

My son was hospitalised unexpectedly last year - all fine now, but at the time we were woefully unprepared for the stuff we’d need in hospital etc.

We’ve been thinking that we should have ready hospital bags Just in case. Do you have one? What should go in it?

When in hospital do you have to wear a gown? Or your own stuff? Obviously no visitors so books etc (assuming one isn’t ventilated)?

I’m anxious as I have a few underlying risk factors so being properly prepared would be help me stay calm. Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks.

My husband had to go by ambulance into hospital in April with chest pains. All he took was he phone and some money. I wish I had put together a bag as of course his phone needed charging the next day. He was in for 15 days, 2 hospitals. I took in a bag, I put in charger, book, pants, toiletries, pen and paper, extra spare warm clothes. What he would have liked, which one nurse provided for him was ear plugs and eye masks, as it was noisy at night and they left the lights on.

No but I have bought an entire weeks shop and frozen it so that if I get so ill I can't cook but not ill enough for hospital my dc can feed themselves for a week (single parent limited support)

@iVampire

I don’t, even though I got the morale sapping shielding text recommending having one

My top tip is to take an extension lead as well as chargers, as plugs are bound to be out of reach.

D’fuq? Un PAT tested extension leads trailing all over the ward? Seriously?

This thread is bonkers

I used to have a hospital go-bag when DS was admitted very regularly via 999. I'd have no time to grab spare pants, t shirt, charger Toothpaste, toothbrush etc. As a parent staying on the ward you don't get given anything, fair enough, but I would sleep on a fold out bed next to him for up to 5 nights. Having the bag was helpful.

If I were admitted as a covid patient myself it would be nice to have the above for when I was feeling well enough to have a wash etc. But I expect they will kick you out at that point to make room for others so you'd be going home anyway.

Just my hospital bag for going into labour but does have extra coronavirus crap in it now. God that's depressing

This coming from someone who spends a fair amount of time in and out of hospital - I think you are wise to always have stuff to hand. We keep spare change in the car, I have hospital knickers (sexy!), leggings, socks and a hoodie all readily available. I always buy miniatures of shampoo and body wash. Pack of wipes and a toothbrush. I have been given a charger , toothpaste and brush, towels etc. If it's a rushed admission, they do provide you with things.

Don't panic. A small list in your phone notes is really all you need.

Please don't pack an extension lead. Totally unsafe and a potential fire issue.

Some useful tips here. Thanks for starting the thread, and handling the snarky comments with such good grace @Merryoldgoat

All the don't panic comments are a bit ironic. Preparing ahead is the total opposite of panic.

I honestly never would have thought of doing this. But then I am a fairly disorganised person. Surely, though, if you had to be hospitalised due to Covid, you'd be something of an emergency. And if you end up in hospital long term afterwards, one bag of belongings isn't going to cut it anyway. I can't imagine waking up from an induced coma and thinking 'Thank Christ I packed my unicorn pyjamas and some biscuits.' I would hope that some member of my family would rush them straight to me once I (hopefully) returned to the land of the living.

The poster who said they had frozen some prepared meals in case they got sick, so that their family could feed themselves - now that I can definitely see the point of.

I spoke about it with my oh back in March. We were very slow to see it coming and then suddenly at the end of March I worried about catching it and being hospitalised. I now know I'm very low risk, and we've been wfh and social distancing so I'm really unlikely to get it or be hospitalised from it if I do. My concern at the time though was about being in hospital cold and uncomfortably dressed so I told my oh what clothing he'd need to grab for me if it happened!

Most hospital admissions in generally well people are out of the blue. When I had appendicitis I had walked up a big mountain the previous day, been for a run that morning, and as symptoms started, sent DH out for Gaviscon... Hospital was not on my mind. While we were waiting for 111 DH packed a bag for me but I had to drag myself upstairs to get comfortable clothes (jersey dresses rather than trousers, comfortable underwear) and on arrival at the hospital had to remove some of the clothes as too heavy to carry alone.

I've since put my oldest glasses in my car and have tried to sort a basic going away bag with basic toiletries, pants and a spare charger.

In non Covid times I'd probably have a travel toiletries bag/gym stuff organised so Covid has made me less prepared!

@thelegohooverer

I’m going in search of it!!

Never seen anything so ludicrous

@FredaFox

Never seen anything so ludicrous

You’re very lucky if this is the most ludicrous thing you’ve ever seen.

” Thank you for the helpful comments. I can only assume that the snarky ones are from people who have never had unexpected hospital admissions.”

I hope I wasn’t snarky but actually having had unexpected hospital admissions, can’t say things like books or biscuits were a priority especially not if being admitted with a nasty respiratory illness.

@Haenow

” Thank you for the helpful comments. I can only assume that the snarky ones are from people who have never had unexpected hospital admissions.”

I hope I wasn’t snarky but actually having had unexpected hospital admissions, can’t say things like books or biscuits were a priority especially not if being admitted with a nasty respiratory illness.

That’s fair enough. I was admitted with a post-natal hypertensive crisis which involved a very worrying night so obviously I didn’t give a Fuck what I had, but the 3 days post where I was just in a room with a sleeping baby were made much easier with my phone, book, knitting, puzzle books and having clean clothes Made me feel human.

A lot of people admitted aren’t ventilated - sitting in bed on meds being observed. It’s THAT scenario in talking about. Obviously if I were on a vent it’s moot.

I hope I wasn’t snarky but actually having had unexpected hospital admissions, can’t say things like books or biscuits were a priority especially not if being admitted with a nasty respiratory illness.

Maybe not. But was there ANYTHING you did wish for?

which is the positive way to reply to this thread .

The people being rude are out of order.

Of someone wants to pack a bag just in case because of covid then so be it.

Just the same as someone batch cooks and freezes etc....

As i said up thread, i have a bag ready all the time, as i can be admitted very suddenly
So my partner doesnt have to panic running round getting stuff...

Every time i go to A&E, i just put the bag in the car, just in case.

Its one less thing to worry about....

The worry of covid is very real to alot of people, and if people Took it more seriously then maybe we still wouldn't be in this position 6 months later....

If you think the thread is pathetic then move on, no need to comment

Why are people so rude? Yes, OP. I packed a bag because as a single parent, I knew on the off chance we get to the point of calling 999 and a paramedic said something like ‘get a few things together for your mum’, I would end up with 3 winter jumpers, 4 of my oldest, greyest bras and a can of leg shaving gel. Bag is packed with what I consider might be useful items and eldest child casually informed of its existence and location. Job done.

I think its sensible OP. Quite early on I got a solar powered powerful charging pack and three metre charging cord. I also keep change and notes to hand. I've been admitted for a concerning health issue and separately stuck in a&e before and know you can feel tolerable but be stuck waiting on a ward on sat on a chair for feckin hours and if you're rushed in you may be holding a nearly dead phone and have missed breakfast etc.

As a single parent with family a long way away stuff cant necessarily be brought to you, you're on your own sadly at times like this.

My partner made a pack for his elderly mum with her medication written out and her details, phone numbers, plus bottle of water, snack and wet wipes etc. Its by her front door for emergencies.

I think its sensible. Especially as it might be the kids who get admitted not you but you'll be there too staring at the vending machine that doesnt take a card.

I think normally a lot of people are fairly organised to go out for a while, since Covid I'm no where near as organised - I don't always have a fully packed change bag as outings have to be booked in advance (zoo/farm park) so I won't be going out on impulse to somewhere where only having a nappy and some wipes would be an issue...

It's not that I'm scared, but nothing is open for an impulse visit, so I'm not ready to go swimming, for a day out into town to shop/museums etc without several days to plan, so I'm less prepared for an unplanned non leisure event as well!

No because then I would need two of things or to keep taking things out.

@FredaFox why? I went into hospital with back pain and ended up having emergency surgery. No family or friends nearby. Hospital is much more comfortable if you have your own stuff and clean clothes to come home in
So yes I have a small tote bag which I can grab if needed rather than trying to inch around the place screaming in pain while finding clean underwear!

Not a bag, no. I have my meds in a box though so that's easy to grab.