Have you got a "Grab bag" ?Everyone needs one!

Sorry but I think it's a very pessimistic approach to life, to go to the trouble of keeping a bag full of stuff just in case you have to go to hospital. And for almost all of those who think they are healthy and suddenly have a heart attack/stroke, they were kidding themselves.

Well, I hope you're not one of those people kidding themselves argymargy, and that you don't meet with an accident. I hope you're not one of those people who don't make wills because they think they're fit and well and it would be tempting fate - and leave a big mess behind them. Solicitors love people like that!

I kept one when I was having trouble with kidney stone pain. I got them lasered and the bag has been emptied and put away again. I suppose I should really kept it though as I live on my own and nobody would know where things are if I was taken to hospital.

At least take your front door key,dressing gown and phone! I was allowed to go home and had to get my daughter to meet me there to pay the taxi and let me in!

I headed my list of medications with 'Advance Directive in place'.

While DH was ill I always had a hospital bag ready with pyjamas, wash bag, a list of medication and so on. If we had to do a sudden rush to hospital I just had to grab his meds and we were good to go.

Excellent idea. Must do this tomorrow. You never know.

I’d never heard of this. It reminds me of the hospital bag we kept towards the end of pregnancies.
It’s an excellent idea, thanks

Remember to replace any medication regularly in case it goes out of date.

When fires were approaching last time we were in Australia I wished I'd kept a bag packed with essentials. Luckily the fire breaks held.

It's a good idea

I took the toothpaste out of mine this morning, must remember to replace it and double check what's in there.

I hate hospitals and hope never to go in one for anything so haven't got a bag ready (I know, I know)

It's an insurance Sawsage
If you pack one ready you hope you'll never need it

argymargy

Sorry but I think it's a very pessimistic approach to life, to go to the trouble of keeping a bag full of stuff just in case you have to go to hospital. And for almost all of those who think they are healthy and suddenly have a heart attack/stroke, they were kidding themselves.

There's nothing " pessimistic" about it, it's no different to being prepared for say unexpected guests, unexpected weather or your car breaking down.
A grab bag is useful for lots of different scenarios . Just recently I had an emergency call at 4 in the morning as my daughter had gone into premature labour and I was needed to babysit the other children and I was stuck there for the next 72 hours.

When my DH was rushed into hospital with sepsis we were on holiday. I was completely flustered. Couldn’t find his phone didn’t know where we were (holiday address didn’t have postcode on paperwork and the site reception didn’t know either!!) ambulance arrived in pouring rain on dark night and took DH off missing half of his essentials. Mid Covid not only couldn’t I go with him I couldn’t visit either.

Came home after that and made up a grab bag for us both. List of DHs operations, medication, phone charger extension lead as plugs usually a long way away in hospital. Toiletries and a list of things from home to put in at the last minute.
All kept in cupboard above bed so at hand. Great idea.

argymargy

Sorry but I think it's a very pessimistic approach to life, to go to the trouble of keeping a bag full of stuff just in case you have to go to hospital. And for almost all of those who think they are healthy and suddenly have a heart attack/stroke, they were kidding themselves.

I take it you weren't a Girl Guide or Boy Scout, argymargy!

argymargy

Sorry but I think it's a very pessimistic approach to life, to go to the trouble of keeping a bag full of stuff just in case you have to go to hospital. And for almost all of those who think they are healthy and suddenly have a heart attack/stroke, they were kidding themselves.

Well, I had a sudden heart attack, but hadn't thought of myself as particularly unhealthy - non-smoker, rare drinker and not overweight. Obviously I was kidding myself!

I’m guessing that those of us who are prepared with a bag have been caught out in the past?

I went to my GP, was sent straight to hospital and stayed there for 10 days without any warning. It was a right faff for my husband to find my stuff with 2 young children to look after too.

A grab bag is a good idea and not just for hospitals.

I had a smoke alarm go off at 5.30am the other day and it gave me a big fright, everything in the house was ok and I replaced the batteries next day. At 5.30 and that sudden alarm, I was very groggy, hard to think straight

The next day had me thinking, one of those reality checks, yes I would have grabbed my small suitcase containing all my paperwork. Then I realised that I would have needed some basic clothes and toiletries as in a grab bag. I have the right bag, which would fit into a locker.

Glad to say DH is home and did not need the bag the 1st and 2 visit after all, like a good girl guide next time I will" be prepared".Thanks for the kind wishes.
I've started and nearly completed the bags.
All I can say to argymargy is I hope she never has to use one or someone close needs one. I can remember visiting my late mother who lived a long way from us and fell down some steps and was admitted to hospital. Her niece had to find all the necessities and my mother was sitting in her oldest nightie and slippers with a disgusting toilet bag. My cousin had found the bag waiting to go to the local recycling.
Also when young I had a dd admitted as a very urgent case with a police escort, I should have learned my lesson from these two occasions. it never happens to you until it does.

No grab bag, but when we both needed one, on separate occasions it took barely 5 minutes to assemble.

All I put in mine was night attire, wash bag - and I took my handbag, less my wallet, That contains, telephone, kindle and a small make-up bag. What else is needed?

All the other things can be brought in later, as and when required.

That's not so easy if you live on your own and nobody knows where you keep anything.

I’m going to start putting one together - especially as like Normandy girl, I’d be waiting days for mrstorynanny to find stuff I wanted!

When I had to go into hospital urgently, one of questions the paramedics asked, was did I have a hospital bag.

There was no time to look for anything.

Doodle

When my DH was rushed into hospital with sepsis we were on holiday. I was completely flustered. Couldn’t find his phone didn’t know where we were (holiday address didn’t have postcode on paperwork and the site reception didn’t know either!!) ambulance arrived in pouring rain on dark night and took DH off missing half of his essentials. Mid Covid not only couldn’t I go with him I couldn’t visit either.

Came home after that and made up a grab bag for us both. List of DHs operations, medication, phone charger extension lead as plugs usually a long way away in hospital. Toiletries and a list of things from home to put in at the last minute.
All kept in cupboard above bed so at hand. Great idea.

Doodle maybe consider downloading the What3Words app on your phone? Enormously useful for pinpointing your location in many situations.

GrannyLaine thank you. Yes we do have that now. Amazing in times of panic how your brain stops working. Good advice. Many thanks.