Category: Health and Fitness

Nurse’s Perspective for Survival, by L.S.

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As a nurse who believes in making preparations for long-term survival, it has come to my attention that there are a few simple preventive healthcare measures that everyone should consider. However, obtaining important preventive healthcare and taking general measures related to maintaining general health is often overlooked or delayed because of the focused attention to the more obvious important prepping activities, such as having enough food, water, or a safe, sheltered environment.

Tetenus Vaccine

Since my favorite approach to staying healthy is a more naturopathic way, I must admit that I am not a strong advocate of most vaccines in general. This is due to a variety of chemicals that are added into vaccines with subsequent recorded side effects of some vaccines after administration. However, there is one particular vaccination that I do believe is important to obtain in emergency preparation. This is the tetanus vaccination.


Household Basics in TEOTWAWKI- Part 10, by Sarah Latimer

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We’re continuing this section of the series on household basics, and I’m sharing my research on oil. I didn’t expect it would be a three-part section, but I did spend a lot of time researching and testing it, so you are joining me on this journey and getting the plan. I’ve shared that we have a Piteba seed/bean/nut oil expeller press that we plan to use as our primary means for oil. I’ve ruled out GMO grains and also lard, though I might use some beef tallow but want to keep it to a minimum for health reasons. Tallow is …


Letter Re: Diabetes Management

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Hugh, I read your recent article on diabetes management with much interest, as I am a 64 year old diabetic myself. The problem with being insulin-dependent is access to insulin after things crash. Walmart (of all places) sells Relion Diabetes management products, which include insulin over the counter with no prescription needed. Relion makes different insulins that are equal to the same insulins that sell for over $250 per bottle at the pharmacy. Their insulins are very reasonable at $28.44 per 10ml vial. I went to my local Walmart in Michigan, and sure enough I was able to buy Relion …


Letter Re: Austere Dentistry

HJL, Thanks for pointing this issue out. In retrospect I should have developed purchasing in greater detail in the article. Additionally, this article has been sitting around for a while on my hard drive before being sent in, and at the time of writing purchase restrictions were not that common. On Amazon, search Zinc oxide and eugenol, and you will find vendors who will sell ZOE without restrictions. When I searched today, I found brand name Temerx as well as generic ZOE. On EBay, despite the disclaimer about sales only to dentists, I have rarely been challenged by U.S. vendors. …


Letter Re: Austere Dentistry

HJL, It’s a great article and fills a gap in my preps I have been concerned about regarding temporary fillings. The two Intermediate Restorative Materials (IRMs) he recommends from Dentisply and Temrex are both widely available online. Every source from eBay, Amazon, and any dental supply house you contact all require that you supply required proof that you are a licensed dentist or dental operation. How or through whom does JD propose that a non-dentist like me and most SB readers can get past this substantial barrier? – Wontogo


Austere Dentistry and Temporary Fillings, by J.D., DMD

I am a general dentist, who has been at it for 26 years working part-time in private practice in a small, working class town and part-time on the dental staff in a state prison. I am also the dental director of a small non-profit organization that provides dental and medical care to the rural poor patients in Honduras. One of my main professional interests is low tech, austere dentistry. The purpose of this article is two fold. First, I want to give the reader some insider, professional advice on how to get their dental needs squared away and met while …


SurvivalBlog Resources: The Diabetic Prepper’s Dilemma

Introductory Note: The following is another in a series of articles by JWR that will link to some of the thousands of archived SurvivalBlog articles, grouped topically. Today we address the issue of diabetes, with an emphasis on the particular requirements of preppers. Because 21st Century Americans are collectively both over-fed and incorrectly fed on sugary “junk food”, diabetes now affects more of our citizens than ever before. According the American Diabetes Association, 29.1 million Americans (9.3% of the population) had diabetes, as of 2012. Of those, about 1.25 million Americans (both children and adults) have the dreaded Type 1 …


Vinegar As An Essential Multi-Purpose Tool for TEOTWAWKI- Part 1, by J.R.

During TEOTWAWKI, long-term survivability will depend upon more than adequate caloric intake and the ability to defend oneself and one’s family.  Historically, the leading cause of death during times of prolonged war, conflict, or natural disasters has not been violence or the direct impact of disasters, rather, most people perished due to rampant disease and infections caused by the interruption of access to medical treatment, clean water, and adequate hygiene.  In dire times, access to medicinal agents and the ability to both prevent food and water-borne illness and to maintain hygienic living quarters may make the difference between life and …


Three More Letters Re: Dental Emergencies

Hello, I saw the post about dental care on the site today and wanted to share a company I found that has injectable lidocaine. I have ordered supplies from them before and am in no way affiliated with them. I just wanted to get the info out there if it fills a need for folks and if it passes your standards as far as recommending. – P.L. o o o HJL, You can get lidocaine at Travel Medicine Inc. – S.F. o o o Dear Editor, Please check out how Christian Missionaries, ITEC USA, have solved the emergency dental issues …


Three Letters Re: Dental Emergencies

Jim and Hugh, The Sustainable Prep Expo in Grants Pass, Oregon in May, will feature Dr. Howard Shayne doing hands-on classes in “Emergency Dental Techniques”. Preppers in the Northwest might want to consider attending this. – N.M. o o o HJL, I have bought from these people before. They sell lidocaine and good antibiotics. – Mike Williamson, SurvivalBlogs Editor at Large o o o Hugh, It’s easy to purchase Lidocaine powder, store it long term, and make your own as needed for emergencies. LidoKing – Lidocaine powder How to make injectable Lidocaine HCL – V.F.


Letter Re: Dental Emergencies

Hugh and Jim, Regarding the post on 3/7 about dental emergencies. A few years back their was a like minded dentist up in TN that taught some Field Dentistry classes in middle TN. Dr. Tom offered an excellent two-day class that focused on just this sort of stuff. He was not just some dentist that figured he could cater to the “prepper” market. You could tell Dr. Tom was a survivalist, and he had thought through some incredibly creative ways to handle what could be survival dentistry. He offered tools there as well as the instruction. We did a lot …


Household Basics in TEOTWAWKI- Part 2, by Sarah Latimer

I’m continuing my journey to consider some of the basics (beyond meat, eggs, dairy, grains, fruits, and vegetables) that I will want in my pantry in the event of TEOTWAWKI. Sure, if it is a matter of life and death, we will take what we have and make the most of it. However, like many others who have contributed to the wealth of information on SurvivalBlog, I am pursuing the idea of thriving rather than just surviving, and I know that knowledge and tools are far more valuable in a long-term crisis situation than having a finite supply of end …


Food Storage: The Calories Count! by JWR

Many newbie preppers make the mistake of buying a packaged long-term food storage system withoƒstarut looking at the details, and they just assume that they are now magically “prepared”. But anyone who is shopping for packaged food storage systems should look with a discerning eye at any claims such as: “a six month supply for four adults.” Often these estimates are based on the manufacturers’ absurd assumption that a daily ration is around 1,500 calories per day. But that is actually a starvation ration that would not maintain the body mass index for anyone with an average body stature. In …


Letter Re: Don’t Call Me 4 Eyes

Hi, Your readers who need glasses may want to consider learning how to order glasses at www.zennioptical.com. I first learned of them from an article in The Wall Street Journal a number of years ago. They are reputable, and the waiting period to receive your glasses is about the same as that at retail stores. I typically obtain glasses for about one-third of the cost at retail eye glass stores, and at that price you can afford the spares you want. – A.K.


Letter Re: Copper as an Ebola Killer

Dear Hugh, After reading the letter and the attached article, I was interested in the feasibility of having copper contact surfaces, such as doorknobs or push plates. JW mentioned copper plating, so I did a quick search and found this video. I thought this might interest people because of the ease with which you could plate items, and my guess is a majority of readers would be able to do this with supplies they have on hand. Regards, RM