Category: First Aid/Medical

Letter Re: Dealing with a Genuine Pain in the Rear

Mr. Rawles, I would like to comment on the recent article by P.S. in Virginia on the sensitive (pun intended) subject of hemorrhoids.  I would suggest the use of arnica montana or just Arnica.  It comes in gel, cream, and sublingual tablets and acts as a very powerful anti-inflammatory agent.  Don’t use the topicals on open wounds.  I am not in the medical field, but my chiropractor/nutritionist recommends it and I have used it for this very purpose and for others.  I purchase mine from Puritan.com, but it is available at many local health food stores, amazon.com, etc.  I have …


Dealing with a Genuine Pain in the Rear, by P. S. in Virginia

One of the best ways to learn something is by doing for yourself or if it’s a painful learning experience then the best way to learn is from someone going through it so you hopefully won’t have to. A couple of days before Thanksgiving (Tuesday) I managed to end up with the wonderful surprise of a hemorrhoid. I would like to think I have a high tolerance to pain but let me tell you, this puppy took me down for the count. When these first start there is just no comfortable position you can get into, sitting, standing or laying …


Field Care For Your Newborn, by T.S.H., MD

Modern neonatal care in a fully equipped and staffed hospital connected to a power grid will be all but a memory in TEOTWAWKI. In the event of SHTF where professional medical services are no longer available it is completely up to the parent(s) to assist the newborn in the traumatic transition from womb to world. Knowledge of basic neonatal field care will increase the chances of survival for a newborn. This article is divided into three sections: Pregnancy, Transition, and First 48 Hours. Pregnancy The first section of this article deals with pregnancy. To begin our discussion of field care …


Letter Re: Hemostatic (Quickclot/Celox/ChitoGauze) Agents

James, In a recent TCCC class, more info was covered on why hemostatic infused gauze is preferred over Hemostatic granules.   The concept for Hemostatic agents was first explored with the use of instant mashed potatoes dumped into a wound. The blood soaked the potatoes thickening them up and helping aid the blood in clotting. This was efficient, until it was realized that the potato “granules” were being carried into the blood stream and causing blood clots. Obviously, this is a very bad thing. When the hemostatic agent was first created in a granule form, it did the same thing …


Some Medical Considerations, by Old Bobbert

Hi James,  Sometimes the easy solution to a serious medical supply problem is hidden right in front of us. I am and adult-onset Type 2 insulin-dependent diabetic prepper. My life depends on a regular and continuous supply of medicines. What will I do when all of the available test strips for my “Accu-chek” Aviva blood tester strips are out of date and will not function in my Veterans Administration-supplied tester? In the military we were taught that the winners  learn to adapt, overcome, and improvise. After the military, as a self- employed father of four, I learned another  basic rule of success …


Of Wolves, Bureaucrats, Biologist-Activists, and Assorted Parasites

I’ve come to the conclusion that our worst imaginings of Canadian timber wolves (purposefully introduced to the Lower 48 by do-gooder bureaucrats in 1995) might have been insufficient. To those of us who live in the rural west, these land sharks are well known for their fanged depredations on sheep, cattle, deer, elk, and moose. But their greater menace–at least to humans–might actually be in the form of a tiny tapeworm that they carry: Echinococcus granulosus. This tapeworm was endemic with these wolves, long before they were introduced. Tapeworm cysts have been identified in both Idaho and Montana in recent …


Last Minute Medical Prepping, by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Soon enough we’ll know whether December 21, 2012 portends a cataclysmic event. One approach regarding how to prepare is to consider what might kill you in a day, in a week, in a month, or a year.  Your preparations will vary depending on your health now and how long you expect to live without the prospect of professional medical care. The most common life-threatening conditions that can kill in a day include acute allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), heart arrhythmias, pulmonary embolism (blood clot to the lung), various severe traumas (gunshot wounds, excess blood loss, cervical fracture (broken neck), and of course, …


Caring for the Chronically Ill Family Member in a Disaster, by Rebecca H.

Caring for a chronically ill family member takes an emotional and physical toll on the caregiver. Compound this in a time of disaster, civil unrest, social and economic collapse and you might feel there is no chance for survival. I cannot say that. There might be insurmountable odds against a seriously ill family member living in harsh conditions for very long, but it is my goal as a caregiver to ensure I have the tools and knowledge to keep that family member as comfortable; physically, emotionally and spiritually as I can. As the wife of a recent kidney transplant recipient, …


Four Letters Re: Coban Wrap a Must for Medical Kits

JWR, Thank you for all your efforts. I pray they are never needed but fear otherwise. We run a safety training and supply company specializing in custom first aid/survival kits for various customers. We agree that Coban is wonderful stuff. A hint for the budget minded preppers use a vet supply house or feed store and buy “vet wrap”– same stuff at lower price. – A.K.S. Jim: Coban is not a panacea for your wound dressing needs.  While it does offer self-adherence,  ease of use, durability, availability, selection of sizes and colors, etc.  There are a few flaws with this …


Letter Re: Coban Wrap a Must for Medical Kits

Dear James: I’m a long time reader and love the SurvivalBlog site. I really wanted to point out one little thing that  I think is a very important item in any kit: Coban Wrap. (Sold under several brand names.)   I’m a former medic and now live in the northeast on the water. I have young kids and we do some of boating and spend a fair amount of time on the remote rocky beaches of the area. When we got here earlier in the year I put together a little first aid kit focused on multi-use items and scalability …


Letter Re: The 19 Hour Emergency Room Survival Kit

This all fits in a one gallon Ziploc baggie (except for laptop and fleece)   19 hour Emergency Room and Hospital Survival Kit   ·       Stocking cap (to shut out light and things you don’t want to see) ·       Ear Plugs (to shut out things you don’t want to hear) ·       Zip-able fleece outer wear (Wear. To control Temperature) ·       Cell phone/Smart phone/I-pad/Laptop(Obvious reasons plus recreation/distraction for self and kid(s).  Typically something you already carry) ·       Way to charge cell phone etc. (It will see much use and you will be making many calls.  The phone will gobble up charge …


Your Better Half: A Force Multiplier, by J.L.H.

It’s no secret the majority of survivalists are males.  If your better half is just as prepared for emergencies as you, or you are a female survivalist who is reading this article, then congratulations!  But what about others who have a wife or significant other who goes about their daily life in ignorant bliss; unaware of the dangers surrounding us in today’s world, and how to prepare for and handle them?  I am sure you all love your spouses, and when disaster strikes, you’re going to look after them.  However, wouldn’t they (and you) be better off if they were …


Letter Re: Armageddon Medicine Seminar AAR

Hello Jim, I wanted to pass on an after action report (AAR) of our experience at Doc Cindy’s Armageddon Medicine “102” class, this past weekend. This class differed from classes we had taken from other Doctors/trainers in the past as it dealt with what to do with sick people rather than a class that focused on trauma treatment. I assume that Cindy’s 101 class dealt with those issues. The mix of the students contained a dentist, a doctor, 2 nurses, a civil engineer, a biochemist, several business people, a gal from Canada, a Federal Emergency Responder, a very bright, well-trained …


Letter Re: The Core Kit: First Aid and Beyond

Dear Mr. Rawles, As a pharmacist of more years than I like to admit, I would like to make a few comments and additions regarding Jason J.’s recent excellent post on “The Core Kit – First Aid and Beyond”. First, I must thank Jason for his time, knowledge, and insight, as well as for his service to our country. His sense of humor was well-received as well! My comments are minor, but may clarify/enhance an issue or two. First, as Jason suggests, it is wise to follow “Universal Precautions” whenever you are dealing with the blood or bodily fluids of …


Medical Prepping in Three Months — Part 2 of 2, by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

As of today, many families are still suffering from the effects of Superstorm Sandy.  Are you prepared, should such a disaster strike your area? The following is offered as an outline for medical prepping, should you someday find yourself without access to professional medical care.  (Part 1 of this series covered weeks 1 through 6.) Please note the following abbreviations: ORG = organizational concerns OTC = over-the-counter products Rx = prescription products ED = education and skills The supplies listed under OTC can all be purchased without a prescription, though some are only available online.  For prescription items, assess what …