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Stocking antibiotics for a catastrophe has been a topic of conversation among preppers for as long as Ive been writing about prepping (now 15 years). The challenge, of course, is trying to find over the counter antibiotics. Its impossible, right?

Not exactly. It can be done, but it requires unconventional approaches.

Ill explain, but lets back up for a second. Why Preppers Need to Stock Antibiotics

Ive found most new preppers tend to first dive into firearms and food. Theyll buy up whatever they think the best gun for SHTF is, then theyll stock canned goods and freeze-dried foods. Intermediate preppers begin calculating how much water they should store, start storing rice and beans, etc.

Stock beans, bullets, and bandages!
survivalist saying

Sprinkled between the food and firearms, newer preppers will begin adding some medical supplies. They may buy a first aid kit or make an IFAK kit. Theyll buy a copy of Where There is No Doctor, and usually thats about as far as theyll go for medical supplies. Sale Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook Used Book in Good ConditionDavid Werner (Author) $24.26 Buy on Amazon

These are great steps to take, and without question, the prepper that takes these medical measures will be significantly better-suited to surviving a catastrophe than the average American. However, we can always do better, and during a crisis, odds are high that antibiotics will be needed by many. Theyre one of the main drugs I recommend people pack in a bug out bag, and theyre equally important at home for an extended crisis. We Take Access to Antibiotics for Granted

It is easy to take our collective dependence on antibiotics for granted. Were sick so we head to the doctors office, end up seeing the nurse practitioner instead, and then leave with a prescription called in to our local pharmacy.

Easy peasy.

However, this wasnt always the case. The first antibiotics were not prescribed until the late 1930s. After that, the rates of bacterial infection as a cause of death plummeted. Between 1944 and 1972, human life expectancy jumped by eight years as a result of it. Penicillin ushered in a whole new era in medicine.

If access to health care and antibiotics became a problem, simple diseases and infections that we think nothing of today could once again pose serious risk to our lives. Antibiotics are Critical After a Crisis

During a humanitarian crisis, whether its the result of war or natural disaster, communicable diseases pose a serious risk to the surviving population. Its the risks associated with population displacement that causes problems.

According to a study from the National Library of Medicine:

The availability of safe water and sanitation facilities, the degree of crowding, the underlying health status of the population, and the availability of healthcare services all interact within the context of the local disease ecology to influence the risk for communicable diseases and death in the affected population. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2725828/

So, the breakdown in infrastructure and cleanliness leads to a spread in infectious diseases. An earthquake, as an example, destroys infrastructure and displaces people, which then gives way to disease outbreaks because people are huddled together in an unsanitary environment.

Examples include an outbreak of norovirus in Texas after Hurricane Katrina in 2005and cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreaks during the Syrian conflict beginning in 2013.

In other parts of the world, cholera remains a serious problem. Its an acute diarrheal disease that can kill within hours if left untreated. Severe cases require you guessed it antibiotic treatment. What is considered a problem only in developing countries could quickly create problems in modern countries following a local or national catastrophe. How to Buy Over the Counter Antibiotics

Back in the early days of prepping, when prepping was still a largely hush hush topic lest you be viewed as an extremist, there was only my site and a handful of others dedicated to prepping. The biggest by far was Survival Blog. There people would often discuss how to convince their doctors to prescribe antibiotics even though they medically didnt need them at the time.

That puts the doctor in a precarious position, and they are not likely to just go prescribing unnecessary antibiotics because their patient fears the end of the world is coming. It is possible, more so today than yesteryear, to find a sympathetic doc who might help you out, but the odds are stacked against you.

If you want to stock antibiotics, youre going to have to find another way. Following are three ways Ive bought over the counter antibiotics. 1 Buying Antibiotics Online

This approach is a bit of a cheat, because technically it does involve a prescription (thats how theyre legally distributed), but you dont have to visit or talk with the doctor. While its not physically over the counter it is the same idea buying them online. Jase Medical

Jase Medical is an example of this service. They market themselves as a business that provides people who are preparing for a catastrophe, pandemic, foreign travel, etc. with a variety of different antibiotics.

Jase Medical is not a scam. I tried the service and received the medication. The antibiotics I received from Jase Medical. They came with a spiral-bound guide and case.

This service is great because you can just log on to your computer or phone, go through the online consultation (a series of questions), and then the doctor reviews your answers and you receive approval for the antibiotics which are then promptly mailed to you.

According to their website the consultation requires you to Fill out our simple online form for an evaluation from a board-certified physician.

See the screenshot below as an example of the types of questions asked: Sample question from Jase Medical.

Their service is available to everyone in the United States and Canada. Its fully legal because they contract with physicians who are licensed to prescribe medications in your area and they comply with all governing medical laws.

So, while it technically requires a prescription, its not the type of prescription that most people are accustomed to obtaining. Its easy.

There is a downside to this approach, however cost. You are unlikely to get your insurance to cover their services. You have to pay out of pocket, and thats where they make their money.

As of this writing, Jase Medical charges $259.95 USD for the following antibiotics: Metronidazole 30-500mg Tablets Azithromycin 6-250mg Tablets Amoxicillin-Clavulanate 28-875/125mg Tablets Ciprofloxacin 28-500mg Tablets Doxycycline 120-100mg Capsules

That price includes their booklet and case. Canadian orders for the same assortment costs $435.95 CAD.

Expensive? Yes. Worth it? That depends on the results of your SHTF plan, your medical conditions, and how much youre willing to spend. In Case

Another company offering a similar service is In Case, a play off just in case. They provide a kit of doctor-prescribed antibiotics for emergency use.Ive also used this company and the customer service was solid. I went through their online health questionnaire and the package of just in case medications came in the mail shortly thereafter.

The company describes their service as:

The IN CASE Kit is a box containing 6 doctor-prescribed medications which target treatment of severe infections and injuries for use in emergency situations. These medications treat natural and biological disaster pathogens causing infections throughout the body including thelungs, pelvic and urinary tract, skin wounds, gastrointestinal, eyes, ears, and central nervous system. IN CASE was co-founded by an ER physician who is also one of the countrys leading infectious disease researchers. IN CASEs doctor network covers all 50 states. In Case marketing statement I found the In Case Emergency Medication Usage Guide to be particularly informative. Its a simple explanation of which drugs to use under what circumstances.

My In Case package included: Cephalexin 500mg Ciprofloxacin HCL 500mg Doxycycline Hyclate 100mg Gentamicin 0.3% eye drops Metronidazole 500mg Mupirocin 2% ointment

As you can see, the In Case package has some similarities to the Jase Medical package, but also a few different medications. The similarities are the key antibiotics that most preppers will want to stock.

In an ideal world, you would be able to purchase a package from each, as I have. That way you have a greater variety of medications, but also a more robust supply of key antibiotics. 2 Buy Them in Another Country

Every time I travel to Mexico, Im surprised by what can be purchased over the counter. Antibiotics? Check. Prozac? No problem. Valium? Ritalin? Viagra? Steroids? All of that. Pictures I took of street signs advertising drugs for sale over the counter in Mexico.

To be sure, these are advertised in tourist destinations and what is available in one area of Mexico may not be available in another area. I have found drugs of this type available over the counter in Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen. A trip to Oaxaca did not yield any drug stores that would sell these without a prescription (though many pharmacies have someone who can prescribe).

Is there a catch? Yes.

Its not that these drugs dont work (they do, Ive tried them). Its that bringing them back to the United States without a prescription could yield legal problems. According to an article from Very Well Health:

You are allowed to bring prescription medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from Mexico into the United States for your personal use. But there is a limit. In general, you may bring up to 50 dosage units into the U.S. without a prescription. https://www.verywellhealth.com/prescription-drugs-from-mexico-2966765

That prescription must be from a U.S.-based doctor.

It is not an uncommon practice for people living near the border with Mexico who have limited funds/insurance and need lower-cost prescription drugs to hop across the border for them and return home.

Another way to obtain antibiotics through travel is to speak with your physician in advance of travel and ask for antibiotics in case you encounter digestion problems (like travelers diarrhea). Azithromycin is often used to treat travelers diarrhea and many doctors will prescribe it as a just in case prescriptions when you travel.

My doctor has done it before for me. I didnt need the medication, so I stored it after the trip with my other medical preps. 3 Buy Fish Antibiotics

Anyone that has been in the prepping circles for any length of time is familiar with the idea of buying fish antibiotics for human use. This is the easiest approach, no? You go to your local pet supply store pick some off the shelf.

Does this also have a catch? Of course safety concerns. Are fish antibiotics safe for humans? Good luck finding an exact answer to that question.

The problem is that fish antibiotics are not regulated by the FDA, so theres no guarantee what youre taking is what the label says it is. For this reason, and because youre not first consulting a doctor on the need for antibiotics, most people advise against using fish antibiotics.

Is this just medical professionals being overly cautious? Perhaps. In other cases, like a Pharmacy Times article arguing against it, its logical to assume these groups have a vested interest in keeping people coming to the pharmacy counter and not the fish store.

However, based on another study from the National Library of Medicine, its clear that many humans are self-treating with fish antibiotics.

Im not going to dispense any medical advice here. You need to talk to your own doctor for that.

However, I can tell you that if there is a serious, catastrophic event that results in my needing to take antibiotics and the only ones I have on hand are fish antibiotics thats better than the alternative in my mind, which is leaving the condition untreated. Conclusion

Preppers would be wise to stock antibiotics once they have other essentials squared away (food, water, etc.). They should know what antibiotics treat which conditions and they should always start by trying to obtain a prescription from a prepper-friendly doctor.

Short of that, there are options to obtain antibiotics over the counter, but each comes with a potential drawback.

What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments section.

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Sports

2025 MLB Home Run Derby: The field is set! Who is the slugger to beat?

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July 14, 2025

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2025 MLB Home Run Derby: The field is set! Who is the slugger to beat?

Jul 11, 2025, 08:19 PM ET

The 2025 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby is fast approaching — and the field is set.

Braves hometown hero Ronald Acuna Jr. became the first player to commit to the event, which will be held at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 14 (8 p.m. ET on ESPN). He was followed by MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, James Wood of the Washington Nationals, Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins, Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Junior Caminero of the Tampa Bay Rays, Brent Rooker of the Athletics and Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees.

On Friday, however, Acuna was replaced by teammate Matt Olson.

With all the entrants announced, let’s break down their chances at taking home this year’s Derby prize.

Full All-Star Game coverage: How to watch, schedule, rosters, more

2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 434 feet

Why he could win: Olson is a late replacement for Acuna as the home team’s representative at this year’s Derby. Apart from being the Braves’ first baseman, however, Olson also was born in Atlanta and grew up a Braves fan, giving him some extra motivation. The left-handed slugger led the majors in home runs in 2023 — his 54 round-trippers that season also set a franchise record — and he remains among the best in the game when it comes to exit velo and hard-hit rate.

Why he might not: The home-field advantage can also be a detriment if a player gets too hyped up in the first round. See Julio Rodriguez in Seattle in 2023, when he had a monster first round, with 41 home runs, but then tired out in the second round.

2025 home runs: 36 | Longest: 440 feet

Why he could win: It’s the season of Cal! The Mariners’ catcher is having one of the greatest slugging first halves in MLB history, as he’s been crushing mistakes all season . His easy raw power might be tailor-made for the Derby — he ranks in the 87th percentile in average exit velocity and delivers the ball, on average, at the optimal home run launch angle of 23 degrees. His calm demeanor might also be perfect for the contest as he won’t get too amped up.

Why he might not: He’s a catcher — and one who has carried a heavy workload, playing in all but one game this season. This contest is as much about stamina as anything, and whether Raleigh can carry his power through three rounds would be a concern. No catcher has ever won the Derby, with only Ivan Rodriguez back in 2005 even reaching the finals.

2025 home runs: 24 | Longest: 451 feet

Why he could win: He’s big, he’s strong, he’s young, he’s awesome, he might or might not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. This is the perfect opportunity for Wood to show his talent on the national stage, and he wouldn’t be the first young player to star in the Derby. He ranks in the 97th percentile in average exit velocity and 99th percentile in hard-hit rate, so he can still muscle the ball out in BP even if he slightly mishits it. His long arms might be viewed as a detriment, but remember the similarly tall Aaron Judge won in 2017.

Why he might not: His natural swing isn’t a pure uppercut — he has a pretty low average launch angle of just 6.2 degrees — so we’ll see how that plays in a rapid-fire session. In real games, his power is primarily to the opposite field, but in a Home Run Derby you can get more cheapies pulling the ball down the line.

2025 home runs: 20 | Longest: 479 feet

Why he could win: Buxton’s raw power remains as impressive as nearly any hitter in the game. He crushed a 479-foot home run earlier this season and has four others of at least 425 feet. Indeed, his “no doubter” percentage — home runs that would be out of all 30 parks based on distance — is 75%, the highest in the majors among players with more than a dozen home runs. His bat speed ranks in the 89th percentile. In other words, two tools that could translate to a BP lightning show.

Why he might not: Buxton is 31 and the Home Run Derby feels a little more like a younger man’s competition. Teoscar Hernandez did win last year at age 31, but before that, the last winner older than 29 was David Ortiz in 2010, and that was under much different rules than are used now.

2025 home runs: 16 | Longest: 463 feet

Why he could win: If you drew up a short list of players everyone wants to see in the Home Run Derby, Cruz would be near the top. He has the hardest-hit ball of the 2025 season, and the hardest ever tracked by Statcast, a 432-foot missile of a home run with an exit velocity of 122.9 mph. He also crushed a 463-foot home run in Anaheim that soared way beyond the trees in center field. With his elite bat speed — 100th percentile — Cruz has the ability to awe the crowd with a potentially all-time performance.

Why he might not: Like all first-time contestants, can he stay within himself and not get too caught up in the moment? He has a long swing, which will result in some huge blasts, but might not be the most efficient for a contest like this one, where the more swings a hitter can get in before the clock expires, the better.

2025 home runs: 23 | Longest: 425 feet

Why he could win: Although Caminero was one of the most hyped prospects entering 2024, everyone kind of forgot about him heading into this season since he didn’t immediately rip apart the majors as a rookie. In his first full season, however, he has showed off his big-time raw power — giving him a chance to become just the third player to reach 40 home runs in his age-21 season. He has perhaps the quickest bat in the majors, ranking in the 100th percentile in bat speed, and his top exit velocity ranks in the top 15. That could translate to a barrage of home runs.

Why he might not: In game action, Caminero does hit the ball on the ground quite often — in fact, he’s on pace to break Jim Rice’s record for double plays grounded into in a season. If he gets out of rhythm, that could lead to a lot of low line drives during the Derby instead of fly balls that clear the fences.

2025 home runs: 19 | Longest: 440 feet

Why he could win: The Athletics slugger has been one of the top power hitters in the majors for three seasons now and is on his way to a third straight 30-homer season. Rooker has plus bat speed and raw power, but his biggest strength is an optimal average launch angle (19 degrees in 2024, 15 degrees this season) that translates to home runs in game action. That natural swing could be picture perfect for the Home Run Derby. He also wasn’t shy about saying he wanted to participate — and maybe that bodes well for his chances.

Why he might not: Rooker might not have quite the same raw power as some of the other competitors, as he has just one home run longer than 425 feet in 2025. But that’s a little nitpicky, as 11 of his home runs have still gone 400-plus feet. He competed in the college home run derby in Omaha while at Mississippi State in 2016 and finished fourth.

2025 home runs: 17 | Longest: 442 feet

Why he could win: Chisholm might not be the most obvious name to participate, given his career high of 24 home runs, but he has belted 17 already in 2025 in his first 61 games after missing some time with an injury. He ranks among the MLB leaders in a couple of home run-related categories, ranking in the 96th percentile in expected slugging percentage and 98th percentile in barrel rate. His raw power might not match that of the other participants, but he’s a dead-pull hitter who has increased his launch angle this season, which might translate well to the Derby, even if he won’t be the guy hitting the longest home runs.

Why he might not: Most of the guys who have won this have been big, powerful sluggers. Chisholm is listed at 5-foot-11, 184 pounds, and you have to go back to Miguel Tejada in 2004 to find the last player under 6 foot to win.

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Van Gisbergen takes Sonoma to extend win streak

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July 14, 2025

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Van Gisbergen takes Sonoma to extend win streak

  • Associated Press

Jul 13, 2025, 07:14 PM ET

SONOMA, Calif. — Shane van Gisbergen extended his winning streak to two straight and three victories in the past five weeks with yet another dominating run on a road course.

The New Zealander once again showed he’s in a completely different class on road and street courses than his rivals as he led 97 of 110 laps Sunday to win from pole at Sonoma Raceway. All three of his wins this year have been from pole — which tied him with Jeff Gordon for a NASCAR record of three consecutive road course victories from the top starting spot.

Gordon did it between the 1998 and 1999 seasons.

Victory No. 4 for van Gisbergen — who stunned NASCAR in 2023 when he popped into the debut Chicago street course race from Australian V8 Supercars and won — seemed a given before teams even arrived at the picturesque course in California wine country. His rivals have lamented that “SVG” has a unique braking technique he mastered Down Under that none of them — all oval specialists — can ever learn.

That win in Chicago two years ago led van Gisbergen to move to the United States for a career change driving stock cars for Trackhouse Racing. He and Ross Chastain have pumped energy into the team over this summer stretch with Chastain kicking it off with a Memorial Day weekend victory at the Coca-Cola 600.

Van Gisbergen is the fastest driver to win four Cup Series races — in his 34th start — since Parnelli Jones in 1969.

“It means everything. That’s why I race cars. I had an amazing time in Australia, and then to come here and the last couple weeks, or years, actually, has been a dream come true,” said van Gisbergen. “I’ve really enjoyed my time in NASCAR. Thanks, everyone, for making me feel so welcome. I hope I’m here for a long time to come.”

The Sonoma win made it four victories for Trackhouse in eight weeks. Van Gisbergen was second from pole in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race.

Although he dominated again Sunday, van Gisbergen pitted from the lead with 27 laps remaining and then had to drive his way back to the front. He got it with a pass of Michael McDowell with 19 laps remaining, but two late cautions made van Gisbergen win restarts to close out the victory in his Chevrolet.

Chase Briscoe was second in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

“I’ve never played against Michael Jordan, but I imagine this was very similar,” Briscoe said after not being able to pass van Gisbergen on the two late restarts — the last with five laps remaining. “That guy is unbelievable on road courses. He’s just so good. He’s really raised the bar on this entire series.”

Briscoe was followed by Chase Elliott in a Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. McDowell in a Chevy for Spire Motorsports was fourth and Christopher Bell in a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing was fifth.

In-season challenge

The midseason tournament that pays $1 million to the winner is down to four drivers.

Alex Bowman finished 25th and eliminated Ty Dillon, who finished 26th. Tyler Reddick (11th) knocked out Ryan Preece (16th), John Hunter Nemechek knocked out teammate Erik Jones as they finished 21st and 22nd, and Ty Gibbs, with a seventh-place finish, eliminated Zane Smith.

Bowman, at eighth, is the highest-seeded driver still in the challenge, which debuted this year.

Crew fight

NASCAR officials had to separate the crews for Brad Keselowski and Gibbs when members from the two teams scrapped on pit road during the race.

Keselowski’s crew confronted Gibbs’ crew after Gibbs drove through their pit stall and narrowly missed hitting some of Keselowski’s crew members already in place waiting for him.

The confrontation appeared to be contained to pushing and shoving and NASCAR officials quickly stepped between them. Both crews were given an official warning for fighting but NASCAR said Gibbs did nothing wrong.

Clean race — for a while

It took 61 of the 110 laps for the first caution for an on-track incident — when Ryan Blaney was knocked off the course and into the dirt early in the third stage. The contact from Chris Buescher left Blaney stranded, and right before NASCAR could throw the yellow, Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin both spun.

It was technically the third caution of the race, but the first two were for natural stage breaks.

The race ended with six cautions — two in the final stretch.

Up next

The Cup Series races Sunday at Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware, where Hamlin won last year.

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UK

Palace confirms dates of Trump’s state visit – as King and Queen to host him at Windsor Castle

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July 14, 2025

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Palace confirms dates of Trump's state visit - as King and Queen to host him at Windsor Castle

The dates for Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK have been announced, with the US president due to be welcomed by the King from 17 to 19 September.

Buckingham Palace also confirmed that President Trump and first lady Melania will be hosted by the King and Queen at Windsor Castle.

It was expected that the three-day state visit would take place in September after Mr Trump let slip earlier in April that he believed that was when his second “fest” was being planned for.

Windsor was also anticipated to be the location after the US president told reporters in the Oval Office that the letter from the King said Windsor would be the setting. Refurbishment works at Buckingham Palace also meant that Windsor was used last week for French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit.

This will be Mr Trump’s second state visit to the UK, an unprecedented gesture towards an American leader, having previously been invited to Buckingham Palace in 2019.

Donald Trump and Melania Trump pose with Prince Charles and Camilla in 2019
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Donald Trump and Melania Trump posing with Charles and Camilla in 2019. Pic: Reuters

He has also been to Windsor Castle before, in 2018, but despite the considerable military pageantry of the day, and some confusion around inspecting the guard, it was simply for tea with Queen Elizabeth II.

Further details of what will happen during the three-day visit in September will be announced in due course.

More on Donald Trump

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On Friday, Sky News revealed it is now unlikely that the US president will address parliament, usually an honour given to visiting heads of state as part of their visit. Some MPs had raised significant concerns about him being given the privilege.

But the House of Commons will not be sitting at the time of Mr Trump’s visit as it will rise for party conference season on the 16 September, meaning the president will not be able to speak in parliament as President Macron did during his state visit this week. However, the House of Lords will be sitting.

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Labour MP: ‘Trump isn’t welcome here’

In February this year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer presented the US president with the letter from the King inviting him to visit during a meeting at the White House.

After reading it, Mr Trump said it was a “great, great honour”, adding “and that says at Windsor – that’s really something”.

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a letter from Britain's King Charles as he meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
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In February, Sir Keir Starmer revealed a letter from the King inviting Donald Trump to the UK. Pic: Reuters

In the letter, the King suggested they might meet at Balmoral or Dumfries House in Scotland first before the much grander state visit. However, it is understood that, although all options were explored, complexities in both the King and Mr Trump’s diaries meant it wasn’t possible.

Read more from Sky News:
Is the UK ready for a ‘Trump-fest’?
Elton and Jagger at royal banquet
King and Trump won’t hold private meeting

This week, it emerged that Police Scotland are planning for a summer visit from the US president, which is likely to see him visit one or both of his golf clubs in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire, and require substantial policing resources and probably units to be called in from elsewhere in the UK.

Precedent for second-term US presidents, who have already made a state visit, is usually tea or lunch with the monarch at Windsor Castle, as was the case for George W Bush and Barack Obama.

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