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If you have an ostomy, there’s a pretty good chance that eventually something is going to go wrong when you’re away from home.
A leak can start. A pouch can get damaged. An appliance change may not go as planned.
That doesn’t mean we should spend our lives worrying about what might happen. For me, it means being prepared for it.
I’ve lived with an ileostomy for about five years, and one of the things that gives me confidence when I leave home is knowing I have a simple ostomy emergency kit with me.
This isn’t a huge travel bag filled with every ostomy product I own. It’s a small kit designed to solve one problem: If something goes wrong while I’m running around town, do I have what I need to clean myself up, change my appliance and get home?
Emergency Kit vs. Travel Kit
I make a distinction between my everyday emergency kit and the supplies I take when I’m traveling for several days.
For longer travel, I bring considerably more. I may carry additional products for comfort, extra Stealth Belts and enough supplies to handle multiple changes.
My everyday emergency kit is different.
If I’m going to the grocery store, gym, mall, restaurant or just running errands, I want enough supplies to handle an unexpected bag change and get myself home safely.
Keeping the kit relatively small also makes it easy to leave in the cabin of my car and have it available whenever I need it.
What I Keep in My Ostomy Emergency Kit
Everyone’s ostomy routine is different, so your kit may look different from mine. I build mine around the same basic routine I use when changing my appliance at home.
My kit includes:
- Two ostomy appliances
- Two barrier rings
- Surgical scissors
- Cotton balls
- Water
- Toilet paper
- Disposable bags
- Several skin wipes
- An extra T-shirt
- An extra pair of underwear
I also keep additional toilet paper in my car.
There’s nothing particularly complicated about this list. That’s intentional. In an emergency, I want familiar supplies that I already know how to use.
Why I Always Carry Two Appliances
One of my biggest recommendations is carrying two appliances rather than one.
I’ve had situations where I put on an appliance and it didn’t sit correctly, so I had to remove it and start again.
That’s inconvenient at home. Away from home, it can become a real problem if the appliance you just removed was your only replacement.
I pre-cut one of my barriers so it’s ready to go. I also carry surgical scissors in case I need to prepare the second one.
The same thinking applies to my barrier rings. I carry two. Hopefully I’ll never need that second set, but an emergency is exactly when I want a backup.
Don’t Forget Cleanup and Disposal
An appliance is only part of an emergency change.
If I remove a leaking or damaged pouch, I need somewhere to put it. That’s why disposable bags are an important part of my kit. I can contain the used appliance and dispose of it appropriately without creating additional mess or odor.
I also need enough material to clean and dry the area thoroughly.
For me, that means cotton balls, water, wipes and toilet paper. I even keep a full roll of toilet paper in my car because sometimes a few sheets simply aren’t going to be enough—especially if my stoma is producing output while I’m trying to make the change.
Keep a Change of Clothes Nearby
This is easy to overlook.
I’ve never personally had an emergency away from home that became so messy that I needed a complete change of clothing, but I know it can happen.
So I keep an extra T-shirt and pair of underwear in a plastic bag under the seat. I also normally have an extra pair of jeans in the trunk as part of my general car emergency supplies.
Again, the goal isn’t to prepare for a 24-hour disaster.
I want enough to clean myself up, put on fresh clothing if necessary and get home.
Why I Keep Everything Within Reach
Most of my ostomy emergency supplies stay inside the cabin of my car, not buried in the trunk.
There’s a practical reason for that.
If my pouch is actively leaking, the last thing I want to do is get out of the car, walk around to the trunk and start searching for supplies.
If I’m heading into a public restroom to make the change, that may be different. But whenever possible, I want my emergency kit, water, toilet paper and spare clothing readily accessible.
During an emergency, eliminating even one unnecessary step can make the situation easier.
How My Stealth Belt Fits Into the Plan
I also wear a Stealth Belt every day.
The belt gives me support and helps keep pressure against my barrier. I’ve also experienced an unusual situation where my pouch itself developed a hole. The belt helped contain some of the output long enough for me to deal with the situation and saved me considerable embarrassment.
That isn’t the primary purpose of the belt, but in my case it was an unexpected benefit.
For everyday local travel, I don't normally carry a second belt. For longer trips, I do bring extras so I can wash one and wear another if necessary.
Preparation Creates Confidence
For me, this is the biggest reason to carry an ostomy emergency kit.
Peace of mind.
I want to go to the mall. I want to go to the store. I want to eat at a restaurant. I want to exercise and live my life without constantly thinking, What happens if my bag leaks?
The answer is pretty simple.
If something happens, I’m prepared.
Having an emergency kit doesn’t guarantee that nothing will ever go wrong. Something probably will eventually.
But knowing I have extra appliances, cleanup supplies and spare clothing in the car removes a lot of unnecessary anxiety.
You can live your life.
Just be prepared.
