Survival Medicine Hour #243 In this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, Joe and Amy Alton discuss the alternative to lidocaine for local anesthesia: injectable Benadryl (diphenhydramine). The pros and cons and its potential use in survival scenarios are explored. Also, dental issues will be a major problem for the medic in any long-term event; Dr. Bones talks about tooth abscesses and how they might be life-threatening if ignored in off-grid settings. Lastly, a discussion of the different pathogens that

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Tooth Abscess in Austere Settings Many readers of our Survival Medicine Handbook are surprised to find entire chapters devoted to the treatment of dental problems. Visitors to our store are likewise surprised to find dental supplies in some of our medical kits. Why is it important for the survival medic to be “dentally” prepared as well as medically prepared? A standard first aid kit will usually suffice for most short-term disasters. When you’re talking about a long-term survival setting, however,

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Benadryl as a Local Anesthetic in Survival? A major obstacle in the ability of the survival medic to deal with the issue of wound closure is the lack of an easily available (and stockpile-able) form of anesthesia. With the most popular local anesthetic, lidocaine, a prescription item, it may be difficult to obtain enough to adequately fill the need in long-term disaster scenarios. We often mention in our podcast that we learn as much (really, more) from our readers and

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In this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, welcome Glen Martin, owner and founder of the 50-show strong Preppers Broadcasting Network to talk about his journey and to discuss his new book on Amazon, Prepper’s Survival Navigation. One way to put your health in jeopardy is not knowing where the heck you are, so listen in as Amy finds out secrets on how to stay grounded and pointed in the

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SURVIVAL STRATEGIES FOR SAFE SUMMER CAMPING   Camping Safety   The kids are out of school, the weather’s great, and families are planning this summer’s camping trip. Camping is a great way to create bonds and memories that will last a lifetime. A poorly planned outdoor vacation, however, becomes memorable in the worst way, especially if someone gets hurt. A little planning will make sure everyone enjoys themselves safely, and some of these plans are similar to survival strategies. KNOW

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Survival Medicine Hour #341 In this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour with Joe Alton, MD and Amy Alton, ARNP, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, the topic is shock: What types there are, the stages of shock, the signs and symptoms of shock, and a lot more that you might need to know in times of trouble. Also Dr.Bones discusses some examples of victims you might encounter in a mass casualty incident, plus the 30-2-Can Do paradigm for telling

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Video: Natural Mosquito Control Summer is upon us, and mosquitoes are part and parcel of warm weather just about everywhere. Of course, you can use DEET or other chemicals to ward off bites and the diseases that can be transmitted by them, but you could put together a garden as well that would repel the nasty critters. Nurse Amy Alton takes a turn in front of the camera this time to talk about some plants that you might consider for

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American Survival Hour #340 In this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, Joe and Amy Alton discuss small injuries like those to the nail bed, and large, massive injuries like those seen in mass casualty events. What do you do if you’re the first on the scene of a bombing or other multi-injury event? These days, as the recent events in England have taught us, a mass casualty incident (MCI) can occur anytime and anyplace there’s a crowd. Plus, Joe

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Video: Gallbladder Disease In this video, Joe Alton MD, aka Dr. Bones, discusses all you need to know about the gallbladder and the role that stones or buildup plays in disrupting the workings of the GI tract. The gall bladder is a hollow sac-like organ that is attached to the liver; it stores a thick liquid substance called “bile” that the liver secretes to help you digest fats. After a meal, the gall bladder contracts and bile passes through to

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To Close or Not to Close a Wound? When a laceration occurs, our body’s natural armor is breached and bacteria, even species that are normal inhabitants of our skin, get a free ticket into the rest of our body.  Microbes that are harmless outside the body could be life-threatening inside the body. It only makes common sense that we want to close a cut (also known as a “laceration”) to speed healing and prevent infection. There is controversy, however, as

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