Being a nurse I'm sure you know that any thoughts in this regard should be for family only. Your license would be at risk were you to try to help non-family and have them (or their relatives) come back and sue you later. That's for LPN's and RN's ... an NP can do this without direct or standing orders, order it yourself (this may depend on your state however.) In a true disaster situation, I guess you could just stick-and-run, and never tell them your name. <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

You would also need to find a friendly doc in the ER who might cut you a deal to rotate stock so it doesn't expire on you.

When I was a paramedic way back when (I'm expired now) I never viewed IV's as something necessary for a home kit. The fluids might tide you over for large blood loss until you can get into surgery. But your scenerio leaves you with a lack of medical service so I'm not sure IV fluids would be all that useful for that "golden hour" trauma scenerio. For your scenerio, IV's would fall more into the "convenience" category for dehydration, IMHO. If somebody is sick enough that they are actually dieing of dehydration, then medical care is necessary. A do-it-yourself IV at home isn't likely to fix the problem.

Of course, when your own family is concerned, nothing is too outrageous. So if you can get the IV equipment without stealing, and store it so it remains sterile, and you monitor expiration dates ... go for it. I probably would myself if I lived in a disaster prone area, even though I'm making a counter-argument in this very post.