Search Results for: medical

Common Summertime Medical Ailments, by Dr. J.

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…does not constitute medical advice and should not replace diagnosis and standard medical care performed by a qualified medical professional. A doctor-patient relationship does not exist and is not implied between the author and readers of this article. Ankle Injuries: These are a common occurrence during the summer months as everyone is out and about running, hiking, etc. They can also be expected in a survival situation, as people will likely be much more mobile and physically active. So how do you know if that rolled ankle is broken or not? The Ottawa Ankle Rules provide a good reference point to know whether you should x-ray (or be concerned for a fracture): Bony tenderness over lateral or medial malleolus (the bony mounds on the inside and outside of your ankle) Inability to bear any amount of weight and walk at least 4 steps at the time of injury or at…


Retreat Owner Profiles

…lower prices than the States. There doesn’t seem to be a “malpractice” problem as currently experienced in the States that jacks up medical costs significantly. By the way, dentist are excellent and cheap, too ($10 for cleaning or filling). I am aware of many North Americans taking “medical” vacations to have plastic surgery or dental work and then recover at the beach at prices much less than USA.One of the other reasons I moved to Costa Rica is that the Costa Ricans are really friendly toward North Americans. In my ten years of living here I have never experience any discrimination as some North Americans experience in other countries. Another reason is that the country is truly one of the most beautiful countries in the world with it’s National Park system, rain forests, active volcanoes and incredible beaches only a few hours drive from the capital San Jose. There are…


TEOTWAWKI Medical Skills: Thoughts on Becoming a “Woofer” (Wilderness First Responder), by Richard B.

…– The Training A Wilderness First Responder is an individual who has completed a structured, accredited training program and passed both a written and practical exam. Most of the people I trained with had a professional motivation – they work for an organization that made the WFR credentials a requirement of employment. Our group included river-rafters, mountain climbing guides, “executive training retreat” leaders, a couple of Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)s, and Search & Rescue (SAR) volunteers. The program is designed to help you deliver individual medical-delivery skills, but just as importantly to be an effective team-member or even the medical leader (“chief medical officer”). My class was hosted by The Mountaineers in Seattle, and conducted by Remote Medical International (RMI). There are other good providers, all over the country (and the world). The orientation of my program was wilderness recreation, but my interest is living and working off-the-grid and the…


Health, Hygiene, Fitness and Medical Care in a Coming Collapse, by RangerDoc

…physical fitness. Preventative Medicine Next issue: public health measures. For many years I taught and practiced medical and surgical care in austere environments. In the late 1990s I was the chief of the medical special response teams for the US Army, Pacific, and taught disaster planning and medical care in austere environments around the world as a Department of Defense consultant. If I had to choose between having access to modern medical care and having a sound public sanitation system and clean water, it would be a no-brainer. The clean water and hygienic handling of human waste as first perfected in the twentieth century have saved many more lives than have antibiotics and modern surgery. Hepatitis, polio, typhoid fever, dysentery and other waste and waterborne diseases have defeated far more armies throughout history than have poor tactics and strategy. Witness [German General Erwin] Rommel’s own struggle with hepatitis during the…


Medical Insurance for Prepared American Families, by Pat C.

…the care you need. Like it or not, in the future the people who have insurance will get treated and those that don’t will be sidelined to long lines for tests, appointment with specialists, and needed surgeries. How to Get Covered Aside from cost, the biggest problem with private medical insurance is getting approved. Most states allow insurance plans to decline individuals who have prior medical problems. The debates going on in Congress now include guarantee-to-issue mandates for insurance carriers. However, these mandates – if approved – are years way from implementation. Meanwhile, people with existing medical conditions need insurance now. Some states in the eastern US mandate guaranteed coverage for all applicants but most states don’t. If you have a pre-existing condition, the only way to get medical insurance is to be part of a group plan, either as an employee or as a business owner. The regulations vary…


Medical Prepping in Three Months: A Guide to Safeguarding Your Family — Part 1 of 2, by Dr. Cynthia J. Koelker

Today I offer part 1 of a 3-month medical prepping guide for your family, group, or community. 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 your group has and what each member is likely to be able to acquire.  The three-month period is divided into 13 weekly tasks, divided according to topic, making the project more readily manageable.  For more detailed information on medical prepping, please visit www.armageddonmedicine.net.  Week 1 ORG ASSESSMENT Identify each member of your group and begin a medical chart or notebook to include each individual p Identify current and probably future medical needs of each member, including reproductive concerns p Identify current medical training and abilities within your group…


Five Letters Re: Welding Oxygen Versus Medical Oxygen

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…danger is that the manufacturer does not know what the end use of the gas will be. If they allow any impurities in it, they could be liable for contaminating an end product of causing a substandard weld. I can assure you that virtually all oxygen is safe for human use. – Docliberty   Jim: If you go to a local oxygen supplier and ask, (and they are being honest) they will tell you that they fill the welding oxygen, the aviators oxygen and the medical grade oxygen tanks from the exact same bulk tank, which is to say, they are all medical grade. The previous e-mail is correct in that it is important to know that if you are using a compressor for breathable air, it should be medical grade, preferably an oil-less compressor. His/her reasoning is correct but in the oxygen industry, no one I know makes their…


Dealing With Asthma When The SHTF, by A.C.

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…they are sensitive to, such as perfumes and certain chemical odors. Both have to take additional allergy medication to control their body’s reaction to allergens in the environment. However, in a situation where they couldn’t obtain their medications, they would quickly have allergic reactions, develop lung inflammations, which would lead to asthma attacks, and they would likely both die. Even though I have lifelong experience with asthma as well as medical training, this article is written as information only. It does not constitute medical advice. You should always have a discussion with your medical practitioner and educate yourself about your personal health problems. Finding a medical practitioner who has a preparedness mindset is not always easy, but there are many out there. With the knowledge you accumulate by learning about your or your loved one’s health problem, you will more easily be able to have an intelligent and productive conversation…


Bring Your Own Bandaids- Part 1, by A.&J. R.

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…restoring them without the need for any other medical intervention. Those Who Do Not Have to Suffer Or Die If We Are Prepared This article concerns those who do not have to suffer and/or die, if we are prepared. It is not meant to be a miniature medical handbook or a substitute for training. It is written and presented with the purpose of motivating readers to prevent medical issues in the first place and acquire supplies that will be needed to treat problems that will inevitably occur. Greatest Medical Advances in History Before getting into illnesses and injuries, let’s review what physicians surveyed in 2007 considered to be the greatest medical advances in history.1 There are many advances, but these four stand out. Water and Sanitation The greatest medical achievement in their estimation was clean water and sanitation. Unfortunately, our easy access to clean water will likely evaporate when our…


Medical Emergency Sheets – Part 2, by K.B., M.D.

…extremely cold water under the kitchen faucet for several minutes. Using two mirrors I could see that my scalp had two long but shallow lacerations that did not need suturing and I could not palpate any depressed fracture. I then sat and rested a few minutes. Next I performed a careful neurological exam on myself. Yes, I’m stubborn and maybe should have gone to a walk-in medical clinic. Frankly, doctors can make terrible patients and the old maxim states that a doctor who treats himself has a fool for a doctor and a fool for a patient. Below is the sheet for this section. Read it if there is no medical help at all available. Consider having for quick reference a neurological exam protocol from the survival medical book of your choice for when there is no medical help available.   HEAD INJURY/CONCUSSION MEDICAL EMERGENCY SHEET WAS CONSCIOUSNESS LOST? IF…


Advanced EMT for Preppers, by R.S.

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Among the most valuable skills for any prepper to possess is the ability to deal with medical issues. Advanced training such as Medical Doctor, Physician Assistant, or Nurse are certainly wonderful assets, but they typically require a vocational commitment. This begs the question “what about the rest of us”? Several years ago I requested a trauma kit from my family as a birthday present. Being the loving family that they are, they dutifully provided. However, once I opened the kit to review the supplies and tools inside I suddenly realized: ”I have no idea how to use this!” It was at this point that I began to explore options for gaining some medical knowledge that would enable me to assist my family, friends and community in an emergency. Of course, I had heard of the “Paramedic” and “Emergency Medical Technician” qualifications, but I had no idea of the capabilities and…


Four Letters Re: Extended Care of the Chronically Ill in TEOTWAWKI

…concentrators are a common home health item; they require electrical power but do not require a supply of oxygen from the medical supply company. Most welding oxygen is generated on exactly the same equipment as medical oxygen, but is not certified for medical use. Diving gas? Coronary artery disease: Do you need bypass surgery? Can you arrange to get a ‘cadillac’ surgery with both a right and left internal mammary artery graft instead of just a left, and a bunch of venous grafts? Other miscellaneous chronic medical conditions: these run the gamut. If your doctor put you on Toprol-XL and Diovan because your blood pressure was running 150/90 all the time, and you are sedentary and overweight, you can probably bring the blood pressure down by losing weight and exercising. It may not come down to normal, and you may still have an increased risk of heart attack and stroke,…


Letter Re: Color-Coded Medical Gear Cases

…purchased in the school supply section of many stores and cost about $1 each.  I use these pouches to help consolidate similar medical items together, allowing me to sort and protect the valuable medical supplies.  In times of stress it may be easier to grab the needed packet of items or tell a companion which color pouch you need for the task at hand.  A permanent marker or medical tape can be used to label the outside of each packaged module.  This allows for personalization of a kit and eases the addition or subtraction of items quickly, depending on the situation.  Also, with a duplicate set of each pouch, resupply could be enhanced, removing the used pouch and replacing it with a full one.  This method can help organize an existing medical kit or be a good starting point for assembling a new kit. BLUE:  Airway.  This would include simple devices…


Post-Exposure Prevention (PEP) Protocol, by JJ in MI

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…like you who are in the forefront of medical care now, and sincerely appreciate all you are helping us with. The fight against Ebola is still raging, and is not under control globally, noting that in the DCR alone, over 110 ebola-trained medical specialists got infected and 38 died in the past 24 months. I weep for the loss of gentle caring medical staff who literally sacrificed their lives trying to save others. The smart people in the struggle against viral diseases are telling us to be prepared to fight future virus pandemics at home, because science shows us that worse RNA viruses are expected,and we already know how our excellent medical professionals and facilities can be overwhelmed by sheer numbers. Again, I praise God for all you medical pro folks do. Thank you so very much. GritsInMontana As a nurse and “mommy” with family members who have anaphylactic responses…


Bring Your Own Bandaids- Part 6, by A.&J. R.

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…like permethrin. Prepper Stores Prepper stores may purchase medical supplies in bulk and then sell items singly. This can be the way to go for individuals and couples. We were really surprised to find such reasonable prices at our local store. ShopMedVet.com has the best prices on just about everything relating to medical supplies. CampingSurvival.com carries some fish antibiotics, medical supplies, and anti-radiation tablets. AllDayChemist.com sells prescription medications from India, including antibiotics. Their website states that they require a prescription, but it’s easy enough to work around. MedicalNumbingAgents.com sells lidocaine powder at a reasonable price. Ki4u.com carries anti-radiation tablets. DrNaturalHealing.com is the only source we’ve been able to find for epinephrine OTC. Education As you gather supplies, you may desire to enroll in some classes to augment the skills you already have. Classes taught by former Special Forces doctors and ER physicians are occasionally offered through SurvivalBlog supporters OnPoint Tactical…