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.

Who lives there life on what if or it might happen?
I fully get pregnant mothers needing a bag ready but normal healthy person having one is bizarre.
We are at risk of so many things happening on a day to day basis, you can’t prep for everything
My house is tidy and organised enough for me to get essentials in an emergency without having a bag prepared

@sunglassesonthetable

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 .

@sunglassesonthetable

I did say phone and a charger in a previous post. :)

I think my issue is pre Covid I would have had a good start of a bag sorted, because I was away out doing things that needed clean clothes/wash stuff/ change of clothes for the kids all the time, so a bag was mostly ready whatever happened.

Since Covid came along and cancelled everything fun or impulsive I don't have stuff in a bag unless we've got an outing plan so incidental preparation just isn't there anymore.

DH would grab his work rucksack, some pants and his contact lens stuff and toothbrush and be absolutely fine - he might think to evict his laptop and a couple of books if he had time to think, but that bag has chargers glasses etc and he often has spare clothes in his car (messy job).

Pre Covid I sorted my change bag every night so I could do whatever seemed best given the weather the next morning... would cover most emergencies for DC anyway, with the addition of a charger and the kids' tablet!

I've been advised to have a bag ready as shielding and I'm a regular inpatient, but haven't got round to it. To be honest if I'm admitted for Covid I'm going to be too ill to care about anything much at all - I've learned over the years that packing lightly is the best thing - so clean PJ's (summer, winter ones much too hot) a lightweight dressing gown, some clean (comfy) knickers, toothbrush/toothpaste, deodorant, soap, earplugs, phone and charger, kindle, that's it really. I've been in enough times when I didn't even pick up my phone or book etc as was just too poorly and imagine this would be the case, and in those cases was sometimes in the same clothes for days without a wash etc and didn't care much because I had no energy and too much pain to care. The last thing I was worrying about was putting on moisturiser etc, though lip balm helps as it's dry in there.

Biscuits would be the last thing on my mind with a hospital admission, I would not be in a state to eat a thing and they'd just take up unecessary room, ditto chocolate (just melts) and any snacks at all. I never want to eat in hospital anyway.

Hairbrush!
I always have a supply of meds and a repeat prescription so it's easy for them to admit me with all the info they need.

I'm lazy about it because I know dh will throw all this stuff in a bag without having to think, but do want to say to those who say they could easily do it whilst ill before admission - this may well not be possible. You can go downhill scarily quickly, esp with covid and other respiratory illnesses, and even getting out of the bed can seem impossible - that may sound overkill to you, but I've been there enough times to know that your body will not have the strength to pack a bag if it hits you badly.

No. I wouldn't go to hospital no matter how bad it got.

So, you'd die at home?