Hospitals in various towns and cities across the U.S. do so much good for so many people each and every day that it’s difficult to remember that it’s a business too. They have to show a profit and make money just like any other business in America, and to that end an empty bed in a hospital means that a medical center is not earning any money for that bed, so hospitals like other businesses endeavor to operate at maximum capacity each day and fill every bed if possible so they can maximize profits.
This business model works exceptionally well on a day-to-day basis, until or unless there is a large-scale medical crisis or other dramatic event with mass causalities. Because a hospital does not have a lot of extra capacity for large-scale emergencies they can become overwhelmed very easily, running out of beds, supplies and even medical staff very quickly in caring for the sick and injured.
That’s why in a natural disaster or manmade catastrophe you should do all you can (personally) to take care of yourself and your family so you and yours can avoid going to a hospital or medical center in a crisis. You must still go if you have a life-threatening illness or accident. However, having personal medical supplies, your personal and family medications, and even a first aid kit in your “Go” or “Stay” bag will go a long way in making you self-reliant, giving you more time before you need to go to a hospital, or possibility avoiding it altogether until the crisis has abated. This will leave medical professionals to care for the critically ill or injured.
