In any long-term survival situation involving a group or community, eventually the issue of pregnancy and childbirth arises. The medic for the group should know basics about pregnancy and childbirth. Childbirth is a natural process that usually doesn’t require a doctor or even a midwife to manage, as long as some simple steps are followed. Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, take you through a typical labor and delivery process. Also, wildfires are raging through Northern

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Every year, wildfires race throughout the western part of the country, causing property destruction and loss of life. So far, 21 people have died in the latest series of fires in Northern California with almost 500 still missing; 2000 buildings have been destroyed. I’ve reported on these events and made recommendations to those living in areas at risk, but the topic was made personal to me in 2016 when my home in Gatlinburg, Tennessee barely avoided being burnt to the

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Health Benefits of Clove Our readers often ask us to comment on various natural remedies. Face it, medics can stockpile all the drugs they can, but if a disaster event lasts long enough, medicine and supplies will be expended. Unless society restabilizes pretty darn quickly, commercial medical items and drugs will be hard to find unless your retreat is the local hospital. That leaves you with whatever’s in your back yard that might have medicinal benefits. Therefore, you’d be smart

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THE EFFECTIVE SURVIVAL MEDIC   (This article first appeared in American Survival Guide, a great magazine for backcountry, short-term, or long-term survival. Each issue is so packed with great information, I can’t bear to let go of them!)   After water, food, and shelter, many consider personal defense to be the most important priority in a long-term disaster. They’ve got the beans and bullets, but what many of these rugged survivalists don’t realize, however, is this: You can have all

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The Survival Medicine Hour Podcast #357 What if you had to care for a pregnancy off the grid? Would you identify it as early as you should without pregnancy tests and ultrasounds? How can you assure the well-being of mother and baby during the pregnancy. Joe Alton MD and nurse-midwife Amy Alton, ARNP discuss how to keep an eye on that pregnant lady in your group from beginning all the way to 9 months (labor and delivery coming next time).

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Why Do Active Shooters “Succeed”? You might associate armed attacks with wars or survival scenarios, but they can occur in normal times as well. The recent mass shooting at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas is a reminder that, in these toxic times, no one is safe from those with bad intentions. It’s hard to read the news without seeing reports of the latest mass shooting by terrorists, the deranged, the disgruntled, and in the shooting in Las Vegas, people

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  Joe and Amy Alton are concerned about natural disasters, but man-made mass casualties can be caused by active shooters, such as the one in Las Vegas, and they’re now targeting our churches. A plan of action to ensure the safety of congregants should be established for every church, and the Altons have some suggestions in this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour. Also, after a disaster, you’re told to be fruitful and multiply, but having a lot of women

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Can Churches Be Made Safe Again? A gunman entered the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ in Antioch, Tennessee, killing one and injuring several others at a September 24th Sunday religious service. This heinous act of violence in a place of worship underscores the need for a strategy that churches can implement to keep congregants safe. There is no place where crowds gather that is immune to the bad intentions of a disgruntled, deranged, or politically-motivated individual. Therefore, a culture of

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Is It Time To Teach First Aid In Schools? Given the history of violence in our schools and churches lately, it’s become clear that something must be done to make these places safer from those with bad intentions. Is it time to include things like first aid for trauma in our school curriculum. Joe Alton MD believes we must instill a culture of medical preparedness in our younger generation. Previously, this type of training was available to our youth through

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Survival Medicine Hour #355 What would you have done if you were in Mexico City during the recent earthquakes? Is there anything that might have increased your chances of survival? In this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, hosts Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP talk about earhtquakes in general and give you safety tips that could save a life. Plus, what supplies would you need for delivering a baby and caring for a pregnancy in tough times? Nurse

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