Whatever you do, don’t forget your towel.
Governments around the world including Australia have recommended maintaining a dedicated 72-hour emergency kit.
The RACGP has also recommended a go-bag for general practitioners in case the shit really does hit the fan.
Core Essential Checklist
1. Stethoscope
Nothing says doctor quite like a stethoscope. Especially if the ear tips are bunged up with 20 years’ worth of ear wax and it has more MRSA growing in it than the local nursing home.
In case of emergencies, the stethoscope could save your life. Even if it doesn’t save anyone else’s.
2. Prof Candid’s Handy Survival Guide
This great little pocketbook teaches essential survival skills, like what to do if you’re referred to AHPRA or receive a vexatious complaint or, god forbid, are pinged by the PSR.
Resilience is one of the key skills you need to develop when you’re a GP, and also when the zombie apocalypse comes.
3. Water
Forget water, you’ll probably want to stock up on bottles of single malt whiskey and enough chocolate cake to block an elephant’s coronaries.
It’s the end of the world, you may as well have some fun.
4. Bible
By bible we of course mean the Oxford Handbook of General Practice.
Let’s be honest, you’ve read through that bad boy more times than you’ve read the New Testament.
5. Record player and vinyl
The end of the world can be quite distressing. So why not cheer yourself up a bit and take along an old record player and some comedy vinyl including Allan Sherman and Tom Lehrer’s classic So Long Mom – a Song for World War III.
6. AJGP magazine
Power-cuts mean it’s time to read through all those dusty back issues of the Australian Journal of General Practice you’ve been collecting.
Failing that, you’ve got yourself a ready supply of toilet tissue.
7. Toilet Tissue
Please see above for further details.
8. CPD
You could spend the remaining time wearing a high vis vest, writing out next year’s professional development plan, although come to think of it there probably won’t even be a next year.
9. Medical equipment
This should be simple enough to organise. Although a nebuliser mask, a half empty oxygen tank and a urinary catheter can only get you so far.
10. Children and pets
Oops, I almost forget about this one. Please remember to take your children and pets with you, or at the very least remember to take your favourite ones.
