When weight and space is a problem (as in a first aid kit sized to be carried daily) I would not bother to carry comfort medications. This would rule out most pain-killers. If you want a pain-killer to make it possible to go on with a broken femur then nothing short of morphine will do. If your pain comes from something less than a broken bone then suck it up and walk on. You will have much better use of the same volume of gauze and if you need the gauze the need is much more urgent.<br><br>Other medications may be worth carrying. If you have allergies and usually carry an Epi-pen or inhaler then carry an extra by all means! These are life saving medications that you will die without if you need them. If you have a heart condition then carry some aspirins and some nitro as suggested by your physician.<br> <br>OTC medications that might actually save your life are rare. the only examples that spring to mind are those to manage your gut. Activated charcoal and syrup of ipicac both will help in cases of poisoning. But you must educate yourself on when to use which. Some pepto or Tums can keep you from dehydrating while your imune system and liver overcomes whatever is causing the diarhea. <br><br> In most situations that this forum considers there is a time-limit to the expected duration and a greater likelyhood of trauma than medical emergencies. Most illnesses will be better left untreated until the event has passed and the local hospital re-opens or you are rescued and evacuated to an operational hospital. Traumatic emergencies don't often require medications but can require an abundant supply of bandaging. I would be able to stuff between 5 and 10 sterile 4X4 bandages in the space taken up by a small bottle of aspirin. The bandages may make the difference between someone bleeding to death and making it out. The aspirin may make someone a little more comfortable after they bonk their head on the side of the plane during the unexpected landing meanwhile if they are going into shock due to internal bleeding then the aspirin will actually help them bleed out more quickly and thus limit the strain that they placed on the resources of the group. It is not all bad depending on how you look at it. <br> <br>In the more long-term situations the medical needs of a group or individual will require stronger medication. You must be educated to do more good than harm with such. If you are educated in herbology and lucky enough to be in an event where the herbs grow and in the season for them to be growing then this may help. Otherwise you need to have specific medical knowledge adequate to the accurate diagnosis and supplies adequate to the treatment of a variety of disorders. The most useful are the various anti-biotics because the symptoms of infection are fairly easily diagnosed with minimal training and the access to anti-biotics that are relatively harmless and highly effective is greater.<br><br>I would highly recommend that anyone interested in this aspect of preparedness take the time to sign up for and complete an basic EMT course and volunteer for a season or two on a local ambulance. Nothing prepares you better than experience. And while your'e at it you will be rendering a great service to your community and making some great friends.