You are setting yourself up for a potential lawsuit or worse. Never hand out samples of your personal medication to anyone, even in an emergency. Why?

First, you are not a doctor, second you don't know the person's medical history, third you don't know possible bad interactions with other drugs the person might be taking and fourth, you are probably breaking the law. Keep your samples in your pack or don't carry them at all.

When I was in SAR we could not give a rescued person any medication unless we had a direct order from a physician. On my first SAR mission the victim with a broken pelvis (screaming) was given a shot of Demerol by one of our team, who happened to be a local surgical nurse. The order was given by radio by a doctor nearby who was with us as a team member on the mountain (the North Palisade). We could not even give aspirin without a doctor's legitimate order or even suggest it to a victim.

Any doctors knowledgeable with current laws might want to chime in on this one. This should be interesting.


Last edited by Bob West; 09/17/17 07:45 AM.