Chiari Blogs: The "emergency"/hospital bag.

Hey everyone,
Here I am again continuing my month of hospital related posts.
I decided to spend this month writing about all things hospital related because I am raising awareness for the Arnold Chiari and Syringomyelia UK Awareness Month in association with The Ann Conroy Trust. Please visit my other posts by clicking here, here and here.

Having had a fair few emergency trips or last minute admissions to hospital, experience has proven that it is useful to have a small bag packed with some essentials for the event of a last minute stay. It eases the stress for your loved one(s) having to go through your stuff trying to find the items that they think you will need.

Here’s what I have in mine.

Important information.

• A file that contains: 
• A copy of any important documents related to your medical situation.
• An up to date list of medication including doses and times taken.
• A list of contacts.
• Note pad and pen – make notes! ALWAYS make notes when you can or get someone to. It’s a good idea to have important numbers written into the book too just in case. Also helpful for you to make a list of things that you need if you have to stay in for any length of time. I.e. phone charger, hair brush, extra clothes etc etc

Toiletries

• Travel sized shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. (hospital lockers/drawers are usually quite small).  Empty travel bottles (so you can decant your own regular products) are available from most drugstores, some supermarkets and online but Matalan and Primark also sell them.
• Face / hand wipes
• Deodorant
• Tissues
• Toothbrush in a case and toothpaste. (yep, I have a “spare” one – just a cheapo one. At home we have an electric toothbrush with interchangeable heads... obviously this set up doesn’t work if we’re separated so having a separate cheap one is very useful in an emergency situation)!
• Hand towel and flannel

Clothes

• Comfy pyjamas. Much, much better than hospital issued nightwear!
• Cheap slippers (mine cost £2/£3 from Primark).
• 2 pairs thin socks (better to layer them up than one thick pair – I get really bad cold feet and thin socks keep my feet warmer for longer). 
• Underwear (not on pic)

Miscellaneous

• Small purse with a few pounds in change in (useful for the pre payed tv systems and to buy a newspaper or magazine) –  If possible DO NOT take a full purse with bank cards etc – everything you have in hospital is your responsibility and unfortunately not EVERYONE in a hospital can be trusted! Lots of people have had money/bags/other personal belongings taken from them so it’s only worth having a small purse that you can hide somewhere with a small amount of money in.
• Puzzle book/colouring book/ Pens, crayons
• Empty carrier bag to put dirty clothes in.

I am raising money for The Ann Conroy Trust. Please visit my justgiving page and make a donation if you would like to win Juno the elephant or a miniature version named Junior. Both hand made by me!

Thank you for all of the lovely messages that I have had. I hope that this post is helpful.

Lots of love and hugs.