Category: First Aid/Medical

The area of prepping has grown enormously in the past few years, with a diversity not seen in other current mindsets. Some people prep for economic reasons, others for biblical reasons, others for political reasons, while some seem to have no reason at all or a combination of each. I am sure the list of reasons could extended many times over. Each person also has their areas of focus in which the majority of their prepping focuses. Many people are consumed with water storage and/or water purification. Water is the most important supply when dealing with long-term, off-grid survival. Water …

Dear Sir, I have been a daily reader of this site from the very beginning and have found it to be a very valuable resource for my information and awareness needs. Mr. Rawles has always been a straight forward, no nonsense fount to which the prepper/survivalist community relies upon, a mecca as it where. Mr. HJL specifically, (I don’t know how to formally address a pseudonym, my apologies), you have started off in your editing of Mr. Rawles’ sight with great enthusiasm, and I respect that. This site has large shoes to fill. I think you are off to a …

When the availability of medications becomes severely limited, what’s a person to do if they suffer from diabetes, or pneumonia, or chronic pain, hypertension, asthma, or any serious condition? Underlying this simple question are several more. Without sufficient medication: Will a diabetic’s blood sugar soar out of control? Does a hypertensive patient run a serious risk of stroke? Will a person on antidepressant or anxiety medications suffer withdrawal? Will infection recur, possibly worse than ever, without a full course of antibiotics? Now is the time to consider a future when medications are worth their weight in gold. The following are …

Hugh, Transmission, Prevention, and Treatment of the Flu Virus was an excellent article by JJE. Research has suggested that a Vitamin D deficiency *may* make people more susceptible to respiratory illness. “…Ultraviolet radiation (either from artificial sources or from sunlight) reduces the incidence of viral respiratory infections, as does cod liver oil (which contains vitamin D)…” With regard to Vitamin D supplementation: “…it may be prudent to maintain wintertime 25(OH)D at concentrations achieved in nature by summertime sun exposure (50 ng/ml)…the dosage will depend upon age, latitude, season, skin type, body weight, sun exposure, and pre-existing 25(OH)D levels… Administration of …

Sir: The author of “Setting Up a Sickroom” provided much valuable information. One tip, however, is not supported by the last 30 years of medical evidence. Side rails on a bed are known to double the incidence of falls in health care facilities, and these falls result in greater injury. The evidence is so compelling that hospital accreditation agencies will ask for corrective action, if they find indiscriminate use of bed side rails. Delirious or demented people who are intent on exiting the bed unassisted will do so, and they have more to trip them up, turn them upside down, …

Viruses are hitchhikers, and they love us. They love everything about us. We provide the perfect environment for them; we are warm, cozy, and moist, and we transport them exactly where they want to be. As my mother would say, we are the “Hostess with the Mostest”. Some viruses even like the same foods and drinks (water) that we like. They are sneaky little buggers. We hardly know they are there. However, with the right precautions and awareness, we can protect ourselves and others by preventing transmission and treating an infection properly. I would love to talk about how to …

Hugh, I am a former 0000-8404 (Field Corpsman), and I saw the link to the XStat Dressing on Survivalblog. I followed the link and read about it. It has a radiopaque marker in it so that it will appear on X-ray to ensure it is fully removed prior to wound closure. While this would be a force multiplier in the battle on blood loss in ‘normal’ times, I wouldn’t recommend this to someone in times when you may not have access to modern medicine. When you have an open wound (puncture, penetration, et cetera) it is very difficult to identify …

The time may come when normal medical facilities are not available for any number of reasons. If a family member were sick or injured, would you have the supplies and skills to care for them in your home? After 26 years as a registered nurse (RN) working in a hospital setting with a multitude of different types of patients, I have learned the procedures, tips, and tricks for making patient care easier. I will not attempt to teach you about specific injuries and diseases or their treatments. There are many resources for learning these skills, and I suggest that you …

Many things will change in a SHTF scenario but one of the most life altering will be the lack of 24/7 medical care.  Many people today take little to no hands-on care of their own personal health, and they are more than happy to let the doctors and nurses at their local doctor’s office or hospital take care of it for them.  Unfortunately, the day when local healthcare services will not be available could be closer then a lot of us think.  With the ObamaCare debacle in full swing, it’s high time each and every one of us begins to …

Mr Rawles, I read Meir L.’s “Diabetics in Disaster,” and I found the post very thorough and informative. I just wanted to add a few tips: 1) Cinnamon and Cranberries are a natural way to lower your blood sugar level. Additionally, there is an over the counter supplement called Cinnergen that is a mix of the two in a liquid form. 2) Remember artificial sweetener. Coffee and tea can be bitter and undrinkable without sugar. Also, growing sorghum is a great alternative to sugar, and it can be replaced after the SHTF. Read more at The Mother Earth News and …

With 2014 and the enactment of Obamacare only days away, we’re all wondering what this so-called Affordable Care Act will really cost us.  Will your premiums be higher?  Or your deductible?  Will you lose employer-based coverage?  Will your doctor simply give up and retire?  But Obamacare is not all bad.  I view it as a wake-up call.  In fact, I wouldn’t be writing this article nor teaching people survival medicine skills if not for our current president.  People tend to blame Obamacare for all the upcoming health care woes, but many of the looming hassles (from a doctor’s point of …

Jim, A quick note about regular insulin (either Novolin R or Humulin R):  it is considered a fast acting insulin, which is different from a rapid acting insulin.  From Diabetes.org – The rapid acting insulins, Humalog, Novolog and Apidra, "begin to work about 15 minutes after injection, peak in about 1 hour, and continue to work for 2 to 4 hours.  Regular (or short-acting) insulin usually reaches the bloodstream within 30 minutes after injection, peaks anywhere from 2 to 3 hours after injection, and is effective for approximately 3 to 6 hours." This may not be a huge difference, but …