Infection, an under appreciated hazard. (I personally wasn't too scared until now).
Posted by TheNewAmericanGospel@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 98 comments
I haven't had a serious infection until now, im usually pretty good about wound care and keeping myself clean. But, I was staying at a few days retreat that had several trailers for sanitation needs for all the people, these were equipped with toilets and showers.
I thought I had done everything right, keeping my hygiene up, and taking the same general precautions most sane and sanitary people would in a public bathroom. But, I developed a serious infection on my lower back (upper ass cheek).
Caution in public spaces isn't enough, sanitized by you is the only way to be sure that you aren't sitting your bare butt on a crosscontaminated minimum wage worker's biological weapons experiment.
Clorox wipes, and hand sanitizer. Keep them with you.
Putrid-VII@reddit
"Minimum wage worker's" is awful piece of shit thing to say about someone YOU think is less than. The fact that there are so many people ignoring that comment says a lot about you all, seems like you an afford to do all this prepping and think less of those who can't afford to
TheNewAmericanGospel@reddit (OP)
Wow, I think you missed the point.
tryatriassic@reddit
Then stay stupid
prosequare@reddit
Infections and illness spread by poop will kill more people than bombs or EMPs. There is nothing more eye opening than having gastroenteritis blaze through your house over the course of two weeks. Now imagine you don’t have running water, laundry, ambulance service. Just uncontrollably shitting infected water for 48 hours along with your kids and spouse, and none of you able to take care of anyone else. I have heavily stocked up on sanitizer, gloves, pinesol, electrolytes, and water jugs. If I came down with it first in a shtf situation, I’d move into a tent in the back yard to hopefully spare my family. We live in the country and I can’t imagine how fast it would spread in urban areas.
Anyways lol sorry for being gross. But it’s important to know what kills people in hard times. Diarrhea will kill you long before starvation.
ERprepDoc@reddit
I agree with you, you see people with these crazy medical bags (three Israeli tourniquets, chest wound seals) and literally have no electrolyte solution, no burn cream/aloe, barely any sterile gauze. Common things are common, flu, burns, period cramps- penetrating chest wounds are not common. The likelihood you will use any of that stuff is extremely small. If you actually need those items in a SHTF scenario you will not be surviving the event.
Simple low cost things to have
1) A bottle of aspirin/Tylenol/Benadryl (easily gotten from the dollar store if you’re US based) 2) An aloe plant 3) Bandaids/topical antibiotic/gauze/ace wraps/clean rags 4) A first aide book 5) Moleskin 6) An extra refill on your meds 7) Instructions on how to make electrolyte solution 8) fish antibiotics (amoxicillin and levaquin or doxycycline) 9) plastic gloves and face masks 10) a way to close wounds (tape, medical glue, butterflies
Inner-Confidence99@reddit
Be careful. You cannot stockpile Doxycycline it is a tetracycline antibiotic. They are only good for one year. Otherwise they will make you sick.
tryatriassic@reddit
This is nonsense. Don't spread misinformation
Inner-Confidence99@reddit
This is what I was told by my doctor when it was prescribed for me. So I am only saying what I was told.
tryatriassic@reddit
This is not true Google it.
Inner-Confidence99@reddit
I will take a doctor with 30 years experience advice.
JRHLowdown3@reddit
No in my experience.
Pulled just now from the fridge-
Look at the "exp date".
This is still knocking out a sinus infection when used for it. BID day 1 and then one per day for 6 more days.
Have similar dated Cipro in the fridge and have had similar results.
Usage- over 50 male, active, resting pulse rate 52-58, BP above average, bloodwork normal. Mid 40's female similar numbers, Mid 20's male very similar.
Have used the "vet" version of Doxycycline also- which happens to be identical looking to these- that was several years "out of date" also.
I believe your thinking of the old skewl warnings about tetracycline that it "broke down into poison" 57 seconds after exp date which was also way overblown IME having taken tetracycline years out of date.
DrPhilRx@reddit
Preach!!! I’d love to talk prep med with someone that understands the lingo if you’d be willing to.
ERprepDoc@reddit
Yes sure, my DMs should be open
IllustratorBig1014@reddit
oh electrolytes....so we came back from a trip to japan recently and discovered Pocari Sweat. Ever heard of it? It's made from dried lychee. Extremely effective at hydration. They sell powdered and boxed sets. Moderately priced. https://trypocari.com/collections/try-pocari
psychopompandparade@reddit
the most common cause of gastroenteritis is norovirus, which is particularly pernicious on surfaces, so make sure whatever sanitizers you keep around can tackle it, and pay attention to dwell times. fortunately as a virus it is usually self-limiting if you can keep hydrated. would also recommend stocking up an antiemetic to help keep fluids down.
paratethys@reddit
Having space to quarantine several adults apart from another is such an underrated prep.
calabazadelamuerte@reddit
I cannot recommend getting some undiluted F10 solution. A small bottle of concentrate lasts a very long time and is only around $20.
It is a hospital grade sterilizer commonly used in veterinary offices that will kill everything from the flu to rabies. F10 can even be used as a nebulizing solution for respiratory infections.
We started using it because it is parrot safe. But last year my husband brought home norovirus and I used it to sterilize everything. 0% transmission to other family members, which has never happened with that particular sickness before no matter the amount of bleach used.
TheNewAmericanGospel@reddit (OP)
That's awesome, thanks.
The_Cozy@reddit
Yes, you need something that's more broad spectrum than just Clorox, and can penetrate.
Cheap plastics and other porous surfaces allow many microbes to invade deeper than disinfectants can, especially just a quick wipe, so having barrier protection helps too.
Keep in mind something may have actually caused a contact dermatitis too, which then got infected from normal skin flora.
If you have a hard time clearing the infection and don't have access to medical care, the r/askdocs subreddit is fantastic
CloverEyed@reddit
We have it for cleaning anything our bird might touch (our area gets avian flu outbreaks and we don't want to track it inside) but I hadn't even considered using it as a general disinfectant for people-transmitted germs. Genius!
calabazadelamuerte@reddit
That’s how we started as well. One day I needed up on their UK website and saw that they sell premixed F10 soaps, hand sanitizers, and gels for human use. So we started expanding the use of it at our house and I have been very pleasantly surprised at how effective it has been across the board.
bloodyqueen526@reddit
Thank you for this. Never heard of it or anything that can kill the rabies virus, which is the one thing on earth im terrified of.
calabazadelamuerte@reddit
It won’t kill it once it’s in your body, but for surface level it is one of the best there is. I will try to make an actual post about it later as I don’t think very many people know about it.
No_Character_5315@reddit
You can antibiotics from websites now they are meant for people traveling or let's say people doing extended small boat cruises on personal vessels. It will be a kit with full spectrum to help with several different kinds of infections.
chesterssecret@reddit
You can???? Whereeeee!!!
No_Character_5315@reddit
https://jase.com/ full disclosure I have not used this company personally so do your own research.
Any_Needleworker_273@reddit
I don't know why anyone would downvote this, though I know there are concerns about prolific and indiscriminant use of antibiotics. But as someone who grew up on a farm where we treated livestock without relying on a vet 24/7 because there are patterns and reoccuring things that get the same treatment over and over, and who has had a number of infected injuries over the years, and a two time winner of Lyme disease, I now keep a small supply of standard antibiotics on hand. I will go to the doctor if able, and will rotate out my supply if prescribed something, but I've also just treated things that were straightforward (infected animal bite) with the same treatment I'd been prescribed from a doctor previously from my stash when time/money was an issue.
No_Character_5315@reddit
Same I have some amoxicillin saved from a prescription dying from a simple infection is something I'm prepared not to do lol all the ammo and beans rice aren't going to matter if you don't have the ability to treat simple medical issues.
Any_Needleworker_273@reddit
100%! So many people used to die from basic infections from cuts/scrapes etc. I always think of Calvin Coolidge's son dying from a blood infection from an infected blister on his toe! And this was less than 100 years ago. Blister --> Infected blister to Blood Infection --> Death in like a week.
No_Character_5315@reddit
Also for the record I'm not saying anyone should self medicate when doctors are available and tests can easily be done to determine the cause. This is would only be for a scenario where medical services where very limited or non existence.
Cold_Smell_3431@reddit
Please do not use antibiotics for gastrointestinal infections unless you have some way of identifying what you are infected with. To distinguish noro virus (no effect) from chambylobacter jejuni (small effect) is not straightforward and antibiotics can induce a significant worse diarrhoea. Even in hospital we don’t give antibiotics for gastrointestinal infections unless they are life treating or going into sepsis. The primary treatment is keeping people hydrated so having iv access or a nasogastric tube is much more beneficial
Thoth-long-bill@reddit
But these are exactly the conditions in ICE detention centers sponsored by our government!!!!
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SonsOfValhallaGaming@reddit
My wife was in the ER for six days because of a fucking pimple in her underarm. She never felt it, saw it one day, popped it, cleaned the site. Forgot about it. Five days later, the pimple is back, bigger, redder, painful. She waits a day for it to develop a head and pop again. It didn't. It became an abscess. A sub-dermal pocket of fluid, usually pus.
She went to the Urgent Care, they had to lance it, it was too deep, so they had to cut into it after giving local anesthetics. Put a gauze pad on it, gave her antibiotics. Sent her home. she wakes up the next morning babbling incoherently, with a 104.7 fever. I call 911. Paramedics arrive and rush her to ER. They test her blood, they run a bunch of labs, come to find out she's got fucking MRSA. Methicillin Resistant Staphoccocus Aurelius. It's a super bug. It's a bacteria that is so resistent to so many antibiotics that it is very difficult to treat.
Doctors give her IV antibiotics, pumping her full of three different kinds of the strongest antibiotics available to doctors. She had to have 12 bags of this shit over the course of three days before she woke up. And that wasn't even the bad MRSA.
''Wait, what do you mean, the BAD MRSA?!?!" OH YEAH, she had the CA-MRSA, meaning Community Affiliated, the type that just fucking floats through the air nonchalantly, potentially infecting anyone with an open wound apparently. The bad one? HA-MRSA. HOSPITAL/HEALTHCARE Affiliated MRSA. It can kill in a matter of hours.
My uncle had Hep C, went to hospital, got HA MRSA and died the next day. No warning, no nothing. Officials from the CDC had to dispose of his body.
My wife was released from the hospital six months ago, and she is STILL getting minor infections under her arm now, and still has daily fatigue, called MRSA Fatigue, where the infection was so severe, and she was so very septic, that her body will take months, possibly years to fully recover.
The doctors in our area said it's becoming more and more common, and they are seeing record shattering numbers of cases coming in every year.
And when you're a prepper, that's not what you'd normally think about is it? And the antibiotics you'd need? They cost more than $1200 a bottle, and have to be shipped from the manufacturer where we live. So yea, I've thought about this topic a lot, and wondered how the hell Im supposed to prep for that possibility
TwiLuv@reddit
As retired hospital LPN, who was Wound Care Certified, I can tell you we tested/swabbed the nostrils of every new patient upon admittance for MRSA, to avoid contagion throughout the unit, or to their roommate. Most likely, because she went to Urgent Care, instead of the ER, she was not swabbed/tested at the wound site (which we would have swabbed in ER) for MRSA. Hospitals (at least the one I worked in) have a MRSA protocol we would follow.
CoolWheel3096@reddit
This!!! If you suspect an infection ASK FOR A SWAB. These urgent care PA, or Docs just put you on an antibiotic and then a swab cannot be done to figure out exactly what kind of bacterial infection it is...
Lucky10ofclubs@reddit
Circulating and filtering the air to remove particulates, wearing a mask and glove if possible when tending to wounds, and general wound hygeine is probably all you can do. Like one of those corsi-rosenthal box fans kinds of things, high volume and relatively efficient. Not an expert but that would be my best guess.
I would keep some benzalkonium chloride or something similar on hand to wash the area of the pimples every day until they burst naturally, and then every day until it heals over. Place a small clean dressing on it if it is in a joint or place that sweats in case it pops while you aren’t paying attention to prevent the wound from coming into contact with possible contaminants as much as possible. Treat it seriously like any other type of small wound, but try not to get paranoid either because fussing too much might cause more damage.
Alcohol is too drying for pimples and makes inflammation worse, you really don’t want to get an infection because overuse of alcohol dried out your skin and caused it to tear.
USAFGeekboy@reddit
Chlorhexadine Gluconate. Not drying, you can bathe with it to keep BO at bay and does wonders at wound cleaning. More healthcare providers and pros are moving to it.
TinklesandSprinkles@reddit
This is what I use.
Lucky10ofclubs@reddit
True! I have seen a lot of good things about it I just havent tried it yet myself so I didn’t want to recommend it blindly. You like it?
USAFGeekboy@reddit
I do like it. At one point, I was a buyer at a large New England grocery chain and I bought for first aid. I brought in Hibicleans back in 2008 and really was surprised at the sales and performance. Still use it in the shower but use the CVS brand as it has more of a soapy base.
Inner-Confidence99@reddit
It’s not just MRSA - Staph has made a comeback the last 10 years. I have known more people who have gotten staph in last 10 years than in my life. Then pharmacy tells us oh it’s on everything. Took 4 rounds of antibiotics for my husband from like your wife. His was ingrown hair under arm. This was 5 years ago he has had 3 more since. We have to be very careful if he has any kind of bump. We monitor and coat with antibiotic ointment and cover.
You have a long road. Good luck. Thoughts and energy to the family.
SonsOfValhallaGaming@reddit
Thank you. MRSA is unfortunately super Staph. Methicillin Resistant Staphoccocus Aurelus. It's a Staph bacteria that has mutated beyond what most antibiotics can do. And it's indeed becoming more common. Scary thought
Inner-Confidence99@reddit
The main antibiotics they used was Clindamyacin and Ciproflaxin.
infinitum3d@reddit
“… how the hell I’m supposed to prep for that…”
Sometimes we just have to prepare mentally to be ready to accept the worst.
I have an autoimmune illness. If I don’t get IV infusions every 6 weeks, my digestive system tries to digest me.
If society collapses, I’ve come to accept that I’ll die, and probably painfully. I prep for my family and pray society doesn’t collapse.
SonsOfValhallaGaming@reddit
Yeah see, my whole thing was ''imma die first, OBVIOUSLY'' because Im a combat vet, busted out knee, bad back, can't run at all anymore, heavy set, Im gonna hunker down because bugging out and my body don't cooperate in the same sentence lol. So imagining losing her did me in dirty
TheNewAmericanGospel@reddit (OP)
Wow, what a terrible thing to have happen to a loved one(s). Its definitely frightening, because it is totally possible even in the first world. No warning, just sudden life threatening illness out of nowhere.
SonsOfValhallaGaming@reddit
The part that really fucked with me was, honestly, as a combat veteran with alot of health issues, 6 years her senior, having survived god knows how much, smoker, dipper, drinker, I was sitting here confident that I'm gonna go first.
When she suddenly got ill, I started panicking. If I die, there's a big fat life insurance premium for her to live off of, and pay for our childrens educations and have a great life. If she dies? There's nothing. I don't have life insurance for her. I was so arrogant, thinking it'll be me, but she's the one who gets sick a lot. Made me confront the idea of my wifes mortality, which I wasn't prepared to do. Theres no box of MRE's or bulk purchase of antibiotics that can doomsday prep me for losing my soul mate. And the thought shattered me. Who's gonna watch our kids while I work to pay our bills? Who's gonna teach my kids kindness and softness, I'm not good at that, she's a fucking master of it. a million thoughts all at once.
Since then, we have gotten a policy for her and made sure if anything happens to me, follow plan A, if it's her, Plan B, if it's both of us, Plan C etc. but damn man, Idk what I'd do without her. That woman is the fire that keeps my coals burning. It fucked me up. And in a doomsday scenario? Well fuck man. The 6 inch war is tough
agent_mick@reddit
This was not what I needed to read today
FattierBrisket@reddit
My uncle also died of hospital acquired MRSA! Horrifying.
I don't have a solution other than staying the hell away from people. Which I realize isn't particularly possible. Also my girlfriend works as a nurse. :( We practice the best biosecurity we can in our household, but it's far from perfect.
SonsOfValhallaGaming@reddit
Its definitely alarming. It's the biggest concern I have come SHTF. How to stay safe from infections. We've created biological horrors that aren't easily healed. It's really just gonna be will we survive, or succumb
silasmoeckel@reddit
SHTF Noro virus will kill lots of people.
Look up the post Katrina outbreaks if you want nightmare fodder.
psychopompandparade@reddit
noro is usually self limiting if you can manage to keep hydrated but every single person in your group will get it if you don't have access to running water, high heat, and sanitizers. very small infectious dose, no lasting immunity, survives on surfaces for weeks, and in water longer. its the common pathogen that scares me most day to day (well, covid too) but if shtf, it is more survivable then things that can progress into sepsis. water sanitation, puke bags, electrolytes, and zofran or similar. if you can keep rehydration fluids down, most people will clear noro eventually. there are things in flood waters that your body cannot clear without medication. thats why skin infections like what OP mentioned scare me in a situation where healthcare can't be accessed. a simple skin infection can take you out if you dont have the right antibiotics for it.
UnRealistic_Load@reddit
yup always expect floodwater to be a biohazard
Ra_a_@reddit
Truly nightmare fodder
Did this years ago
Yikes
Annarizzlefoshizzle@reddit
runs to google
drnewcomb@reddit
The reason Victorians were so obsessed with cleanliness was they understood the germ theory of disease, but had no other way to combat it other than by prevention. By antibiotic abuse an overuse we are breeding, super germs that will be immune to most antibiotics. We will then fall back did the Victorian methods of extreme cleanliness and prevention.
betabo55@reddit
I just purchased all the ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, and azithromycin they had at a store in Mexico to have a little stash. Surprisingly cheap compared with what my co-pay usually is here in the USA.
slaveleiagirl78@reddit
My dad had foot surgery a year ago. He went weekly to the doctor who said it looked like it was healing fine. December 10, my youngest goes over to help him change his bandages and immediately takes him to a level one trauma center ER, she's an EMT. Sure enough, it's septic, and he loses the foot and lower leg. Doctor who did the original foot surgery didn't prescribe him antibiotics after the surgery. Every time we had concerns that it didn't look right, he would say it's healing, it looks fine. Even a 2nd doc at the VA thought it looked ok. He's healing from the whole ordeal, and walking again in short spurts, but we could have lost him.
I am a property manager of a large building and it astounds me how many women walk out of the restroom without washing their hands. I scrub like a surgeon, and get weird looks.
ForgiveandRemember76@reddit
I'm very sorry about your dad.
I don't do a hospital protocol scrub, but I do a full, thorough hand wash with soap and scrub under my nails every time. I look at gel nails and shudder. I've become excellent at politely disappearing or being called away or whatever it takes to not accept anything from a person who has long, fake nails, particularly not food. They are germ/bacteria factories and give me the creeps.
TwiLuv@reddit
As a retired hospital Wound Care Certified hospital LPN, long or fake nails was a pet peeve of mine. I would dare them to swab their under-nails right that second, & see who was right. They wouldn’t do it, BECAUSE they didn’t want to give up their pretty nails. The hospital actually had a restriction on long and/or fake nails, but I never saw it enforced anywhere but the OR.
MaowMaowChow@reddit
I have a nail scrubber at every sink in my house. Is am always amazed at how many people have asked me what the scrubber is for- do most people not scrub under their nails?
TinklesandSprinkles@reddit
Me too! Don't forget to sanitize the nail scrubber and replace it often.
Enigma_xplorer@reddit
I always keep wet naps on hand. I mean you just don't realize just how easy it is to get sick from just handling things.
You go to the grocery store and pick up a package of meat for example. Everything you touch after that could get contaminated with some nasty stuff. The salad you aren't cooking. The steering wheel of your car. Your phone. Even if you practice good hygiene it doesn't mean the last person to touch the door handle your about to grab did.
You also have to remember while you might have a solid immune system and you might be inclined to a bit careless just because you know even if you do get sick you will just get over it but what happens in the mean time? One of the biggest challenges to keep in mind when it comes to prepping is compounding problems. Often times one problem on it's own is not a big deal but when problems start to compound it can become exponentially more difficult and can even more problems. Dealing with the fallout after a bad winter snow storm may not be that big a deal by itself. Trying to manage a power outages, shovel snow, clearing downed trees, and driving over to take care of your elderly parents while you also have a raging case of diarrhea changes the picture entirely. Being sick or injured can dramatically impede your effectiveness at a time when you can least afford it. We should always do what we can to make sure we stay in tip top shape so we can perform at our best and also streamline our preps so that the minimum amount of effort is required of us. When times are tough I want to make things as easy as possible for myself.
TwiLuv@reddit
People still look at me funny for using the disinfectant wipes on cart surfaces where my hands are likely to touch. But, I’m a retired Wound Care Certified hospital LPN (recently let my license expire at 71), & I don’t want to pick up colds, flu, skin infections. The wipes aren’t 100%, but better than nothing.
Divisible_by_0@reddit
Im in this, and I dont like it.
I dog poop bag the meat and if I even remotely think I may have touched something, I just dont touch anything else with that hand. Sure I could carry sanitizer but my brain doesn't let anything less than soap and water be clean.
Kittyluvins@reddit
Use the bag like a glove to pick up the tray of meat, and pull the bag around it. I hope that makes sense.
Divisible_by_0@reddit
Thats what I mean by dog poop technique.
TwiLuv@reddit
As a former Wound Care Certified hospital LPN (71 & retired now), I’d like to suggest medical grade Manuka Honey for wound care. It works brilliantly on Pressure Ulcers (bedsores), which are absolutely notorious for being hard to heal. If unavailable, unpasteurized raw honey- make sure it is not a blend or adulterated. Honey can be used topically to reduce the bacteria load of a skin infection.
TinklesandSprinkles@reddit
Don't forget to clean your phone every day.
pbmadman@reddit
Yes, but soap and handwashing is definitely a prep as well. A years supply of soap is easy to keep on hand and will save lives.
When I was in boot camp they lectured us about washing our asscracks. They said the combination of lots of physical activity/sweating plus people being embarrassed to wash their crack in a group shower meant lots of abscesses in cracks.
LrdJester@reddit
Infection is something that needs to be taken seriously but there is something to be said for going too far.
Let me expand on this.
About 15 years ago I used to go to a mini casino in Washington State. There was a dealer at the tables who was one of my favorite dealers at the blackjack table. She was pretty much a certified germaphobe to a minor degree. She would have a bottle of hand sanitizer and sanitizer hands after every deal of the cards. Specifically when she was collecting the cards even though nobody is supposed to touch the cards but her. But she does touch the chips if they lose.
However, she got sick all the time. I mean she was constantly out sick. And that was her excuse for using the hand sanitizer was she got sick so she wanted to make sure she kept her hands clean.
Why this matters...
Our immune system is a muscle essentially. If we use tons of antibacterial soap, hand sanitizer, disinfectants, don't get dirty, etc, our immune system doesn't have to work and if it doesn't have to work it becomes weakened. Add the average American and even most western first world countries, have a diet that does not promote a good immune system.
Now I never really was very diligent about always keeping my hands clean, I would pick up stuff or handle things without worrying that I was going to get my hands dirty. Now if I pick something up and there was something wet or sticky on it yeah I would watch my hands, but I wasn't worried about some dirt that might be on there. I did get sick usually a couple times a year, but it was generally like a cold or a flu that was going around. Only once did I have a bizarre infection and I have a suspected corporate on that that's outside the scope of this conversation but I do believe that for the most part most of mine were due towards airborne contagious bugs that I was exposed to. Move ahead to the current, about 20 months ago, I started a new diet, eating healthy, I haven't gotten sick once. Even when my wife was working and being around sick people all the time, she's constantly having some kind of sniffle or cough or sneeze and I never get sick. I get a little bit of a runny nose but I think most of that's environmental allergens mostly dust, even my seasonal allergies have stopped.
So while I'm not trying to minimize infections, avoidance of infections is a multi-tiered approach. Cleanliness is important but so is a healthy diet and a healthy immune system. Too many antibacterials, hand sanitizer, disinfectant, etc can weaken your immune system. So those things should be used but only used when something is obviously wrong. The people that use hand sanitizer after they shake somebody's hands is going a little bit far, again unless there was something sticky or wet on their hands but to each their own. Must the people I know that do things like constant hand sanitizer constant antibacterial soaps and all of the like are the ones that I see that are most often sick frequently. So it's a double-edged sword.
InternationalBell157@reddit
Minimum wage worker. You are a piece of crap. You deserved that infection.
Mimeschlime@reddit
I never really worried about infections either until I saw a friend dealing with one. Your story is a good reminder that hygiene can slip even when we think we're doing everything right.
VikingTeo@reddit
I've always, since I was a kid, made sure not to sit directly on the seat. I'll put a few strips of toilet paper down if there isn't one of those seat covers.
I just consider a toilet seat to generally be pissed at all over, or worse.
AlwaysWonderingYY@reddit
I’ve also used those seat covers, with the center not pushed open, as an improvised toilet lid to help contain toilet plume if forced to use a bathroom with no kids. Not perfect, but you can actually see the droplets collect in the underside of the paper. Then I put it in the trash and wash my hands. Google toilet plume to freak yourself out if you don’t know what I’m talking about.
tokenpenguin@reddit
Some of y’all never drank out of the garden hose and it shows.
Sounds like some of you were the type of people to wear a mask when driving in your car by yourself, a few years ago.
MP_878@reddit
I always thought I was weird especially growing up because I wouldn't take a crap on public toilets unless I had wiped it down first myself EVEN if I just watched someone clean it.
Spiley_spile@reddit
I just had major surgery yesterday. I wasnt expecting to dig into my prep supplies after. But, late last night, I had to recover a faulty incision cover, while still leting the wound breathe and drain. Fortunately, I know how to use the medical supplies I keep on hand. Sent pics to my surgical team just in case.
So sorry you're experienving a cyst! It sucks extra on the butt. High frequency use, that muscle group. I hope it is able to heal fast and well.
Doyouseenowwait_what@reddit
What most of the population overlooks is the fact that a bug will take you out faster than anything. This is why mechanical injuries to the extremities are the thing you should protect against most in any situation. Hands are the most likely to be infected in most situations especially SHTF scenarios. Hygiene is a daily practice and crucial to remaining healthy when things go sideways.
Ahappygoluckygirl@reddit
I have taken 3 first aid courses over the years - everyone should take one regardless of being a prepper on not. I take all the vaccines they have to offer for a relatively healthy person, and make sure to take the reboots ones every 10 years (vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and poliomyelitis) - I have never gotten any side effects from any vaccine, I go to the dentist every year - making sure your as well as can be is just as important as having everything. If you can’t use it right you can make things worse. Everything I can legally buy here for wound care I have, one thing people often forget is burn gel. I’ve used many different things throughout the years.
infinitum3d@reddit
I get all the vaccines too. Flu and covid vax every year. I get “flu-like symptoms” for 48 hours. I can deal with that. The actual flu puts me down for a week, and that’s not on my timetable.
I get the vaccines on a Thursday knowing my weekend is ruined, but I’m in control of when it happens.
drAsparagus@reddit
I'll go squat in the woods before I sit bare ass on a public toilet. Otherwise, I'm cladding that seat in no less than 5 layers of tp, or an actual seat cover.
I appreciate you sharing your anecdotal experience, though, OP. Lesson learned for sure, I'd bet.
Electrical-Berry4916@reddit
Bro, what?
AKDD1103@reddit
Ya that part made me cringe as well.
anony-mousey2020@reddit
Yeah, exactly. It sounds more like an under-resourced event attended by lots of people not attending to hygiene, less like workers were culprits.
Electrical-Berry4916@reddit
This joker's comment history reads like a manifesto against poor people.
TheNewAmericanGospel@reddit (OP)
Saw the doctor yesterday, he said he doesn't want to cut it open and drain it, because it is draining on its own now., and he doesn't think having a wound there will help anything at the moment.
According to him, 94% of cysts like the one I have can be treated without antibiotics once they have fully drained.
I used to think the US military surgical kits where sort of in the fantasy land category of prepping, but, they make sense now.
Also, gauze. However much I thought i would need in a emergency is Just not enough. You can't have too much for wound care supplies.
SnooPoems1106@reddit
I am also adding manual mops with useful covered buckets with the spot to twist the mop, extra floor cleaner for the bucket, and good brooms to my preparations. Keeping everything clean is an underrated prep. My swiffer and vacuum cleaner won’t be much use in an extended power outage or supply chain shortage.
Pbandsadness@reddit
Maybe Loperamide (immodium) would be a good idea to stop diarrhea, should it occur.
Daiken's solution can be decent for sanitizing wounds. It's just a dilute bleach solution.
Chemical_Dog6942@reddit
There was a trail hut on the Appalachian train (like a bunk room for hikers). People kept hiking out, sick w/diarrhea. Trip of a lifetime wrecked over & over. The culprit? The bunk & the outhouse covered in bacteria causing infectious diarrhea. Pedialyte and rehydration salts are a necessary part of any preps, home or away. Also, if possible, when someone is sick at home, confine the sick person to one bathroom. If only one bathroom, it will have to be cleaned each time the patient uses it. Use care, like gloves & washable gown for caretaker, when laundering clothes & sheets. It’s a hot mess & easily spread.
Lucky10ofclubs@reddit
Tbh I wouldn’t generalize it to minimum wage workers, they have seen and cleaned every disgusting thing that has ever happened to a toilet and more for a pittance.
Staphylococcus and other common bacteria in skin infections is naturally present in sweat, and thrives in any warm and humid setting. Including you, like ALL of you, on your skin, everywhere.
Even when taking proper precautions like using an antiseptic cleanser and wearing breathable cotton undies, even using sterile dressing, if you got a pimple on your butt, you can still infect yourself just from the thousands of bacteria present on the skin and fabric around your zit, much less the billions bacteria populating your intestinal lining and anus just waiting to aerosolize when you fart and travel to new locations. It is just unavoidable to some extent.
Infection is just a persistant risk every single time you have a break in your protective epithelial layers that lets the bad things in. Sometimes there is nothing more you or anybody could have reasonably done, which sucks for prepping and life in general. This is why infections kill so many people every year.
Jammer521@reddit
sounds simple, just keep any cut or scrape cleaned and covered, wash your hand frequently, soap and water work just fine no need for antibacterial, keep your body clean, shower daily, if you sweat a lot, especually in the goin region, use wet wipes in between showering to avoid a fungal infection, and keep your feet dry, change socks if needed, best way to get rid of an infection is to avoid getting infected in the first place
GlitterLight@reddit
Anti bacterial wipes and gel are a core part of my EDC. I got a pathetic little graze on my leg in the summer from a bramble that ended up turning into a nasty staph infection. Learnt my lesson and updated my first aid skills and preps.
jackdho@reddit
Always a good plan. I don’t do it but everyone else should
drifter5@reddit
Totally agree with it, if everyone do it I think our community will become better and less people get hurt.
QuantumAttic@reddit
The area in question (the top of the divide) is susceptible to rashes and fungal infections. If you want to get nuts with med prep, keep jock itch cream, hydrocortisone and even diaper rash cream on hand.
ForgiveandRemember76@reddit
Any break in the skin leaves you open to infection. Bathrooms are crawling with germs. Lots of people have hemerrhoids and/or don't wash their hands properly, etc. But there are germs everywhere and infections can move with shocking speed. Pay attention NOW to any skin irritation that gets red/puffy/hot if you possibly can. Learn about antibiotics and wound care. Keep a medical kit that you made and know how to use everything in it.