Mr. Rawles,
I have been a reader of SurvivalBlog for at least a year now, and I feel it’s time to get involved. During this time I have been adding to my preps, building a library, and re-certifying my medical credentials. I have also done a lot of reading, getting many opinions concerning the future. I found one thing that I am at a loss for, and that is the subject of this letter.
In all my medical re-certification courses and also in the medical library that I have put together, I have these questions: If society does go down the dumper and all social services and amenities cease, along with gasoline and diesel fuel for transport, how to we get injured or seriously ill individuals to proper medical facilities? Who would be there to receive them, and what kind of treatment could we except once this patient arrives? None of my training programs nor the books that I have in my library address these questions. They all state: “Transport the patient to the nearest medical facility for treatment.” So, what do we do?
I have given much thought to this, and finally after reading material about the situation in Africa and other countries, I started an Internet search for answers. What I found was that several legitimate world-wide organizations may have solutions to these questions. First, the World Health Organization (WHO) has published numerous books on medical care and treatment in Third World and remote areas. I found them to be free of cost and can be downloaded. Second, The Hesperian Foundation has a very good series of books concerning the same subject. They can also be downloaded free on the Internet. I’ve managed to download quite a bit of information concerning advanced medical care from these two sources. I also have a found a copy of the book “Survival and Austere Medicine: An Introduction.” The 213 page book is in PDF format and is available for free download. These books are a welcomed addition to my library. Now comes the job of reading and taking them to heart. I recommend that all readers check out these sites.
I know this may rankle the professional some MDs out there, but it needs to be addressed. You cannot be everywhere at once, or all things to all people. I would appreciate hearing your comments and concerns in a constructive manner on this Blog so that a proper understanding and direction for training can be achieved. I also want you to understand that as a retired ER/ICU Nurse, I know the legal side of things and I will not practice medicine without a license.
As I said above, I am a retired Critical Care RN, a retired EMT and First Responder, and a retired U.S. Army Reserve Combat Medic. I have over 30 years experience in the field, and I know my limitations. I ask that all who comment on this letter do so in an intelligent manner so the information derived can be used for the benefit of all of us. Sincerely and Honestly, – DS in Wisconsin