Category Archives: Trauma

Mudslide Disasters

  At least 160 people were killed in the nation of Nepal and more than[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Fall Injuries, Hanta Panic-Free, Norovirus, More

In this episode of The Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner cover[Read More]

Body Armor for the Prepared Citizen

We often discuss how to treat wounds caused by bullets or knives, but rarely talk[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Burns, Afib, Avalanches, Natural Remedies

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton[Read More]

Video: A Useful Burn Dressing

A popular dressing used for certain second-degree burns is called “Xeroform” and is a useful[Read More]

Survive An Avalanche

Winter is still with us, and one of many risks of backcountry hiking or skiing[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Dislocations, Frostbite, Fall Injuries, Vision Defects, Sprain vs Fracture, More

In this wide-ranging episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Joe and Nurse Amy[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Ballistics, Eye Trauma, Winter Car Kit, Influenza

In this episode of The Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe and Nurse Amy switch roles[Read More]

Trauma: Dealing With/Preventing Falls

Recently, I was on a ladder when I lost my balance and almost had a[Read More]

Vision Issues, Part 4: Eye Trauma

In long-term survival, the medic must optimize the vision of family or group members in[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Treating Chest Trauma, Collapsed Lungs, Rib Fractures, Plus: More Essential Oils

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner Amy[Read More]

How To Treat A Collapsed Lung (Pneumothorax) Off The Grid

  Last time, we discussed the rib cage, an important shield against trauma to the[Read More]

Joint Sprains, Muscle Strains, And Tendon Ruptures

Autumn usually means a return to the mountains for us, and a lot of walks[Read More]

Handling A Stab Wound

Recently, a young refugee from Ukraine named Iryna Zarutska was stabbed in the neck by[Read More]

Off Grid Medicine: Civil War

I often talk about situations where the family medic is thrown back to an earlier[Read More]

Surviving A Flood

Recently, Central Texas was the site of a dangerous flash flood which caused the Guadalupe[Read More]

Independence Day Fireworks Safety

Independence Day is coming up, and many proud Americans will be celebrating with fireworks. An[Read More]

Video Podcast: Ballistic Trauma, Body Armor, More

In this companion video to a recent audio podcast, Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner[Read More]

Blunt Trauma

Standard first aid manuals have the information you need to get victims of disasters to[Read More]

Tornadoes

Tornado season arrived in earnest over the last few days, with at least 42 people[Read More]

Nailbed Injuries

A minor injury can occasionally become a major handicap for a member of a survival[Read More]

MASCALs, Part 3

Last time, we described a mass casualty incident (MASCALs) where 20 people were victims of[Read More]

MASCALs, Part 2

In part 1 of this series on MASCALs (mass casualty incidents or MCIs), we discussed[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Mass Casualties, Dental Fractures, Tonsillitis, More

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner Amy[Read More]

Survival Dental Issues: Trauma

A survival group needs someone with medical knowledge and supplies to treat orthopedic injuries and[Read More]

MASCALS, part 1

For the survival medic caring for their family or a group off the grid, most[Read More]

Video: Wound Treatment And Infection Control

In this companion video to a recent article, Dr. Joe Alton discusses the importance of[Read More]

Wound Infections Off The Grid

In survival scenarios, the family medic can expect to be called upon to treat various[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Internal Injuries, Bandages/Dressings, Raw Honey, Antiseptics, More…

You know, we talk a lot about medical supplies that you have to get serious[Read More]

Video: Thoughts On Bleeding Control, Part 2

The family medic should know about hemorrhage and how to treat it as a basic[Read More]

Video: Thoughts On Bleeding Control, Part 1

The family medic should know about hemorrhage and how to treat it as a basic[Read More]

18 Principles Of Bleeding Control

  The risk of hemorrhage from traumatic injury exists in good times or bad, whether[Read More]

VIDEO: How Wounds Heal

Traumatic injuries occur in the tens of millions every year. These don’t always (hardly ever,[Read More]

Concussions

Traumatic brain injuries (or TBIs) usually occur from a sudden blow to the head. It’s[Read More]

Bear Encounters

(This article was originally published in Prepper Survival Guide) You might feel at home in[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Flesh Eating Bacteria, Hurricanes, Mudslides, Tourniquets, Jellyfish/Sting Ray Stings, More

Recent hurricanes on the West and East coast have threatened millions, and it’s important for[Read More]

Video: How To Perform Vertical Mattress Sutures

In this video episode in a series on how to perform suture closures, Dr. Joe[Read More]

Blood-Clotting Alternatives, Part 1

One of the most important skills for the family medic to master is the ability[Read More]

Video: Chemical Emergencies

  The news has been full of events related to chemical emergencies, including derailment, factory[Read More]

The Group Medic In Hostile Actions

Almost a decade ago, before Russia invaded Ukraine or even Crimea, I wrote about a[Read More]

Landslides

Heavy rain across the state of California has caused landslides, including one that left several[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Chemical Emergencies, Thyme, Medical Supplies, More…

In this episode of The Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner Amy[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Brain Trauma, Bee Stings, Paxlovid, Wound Care

Joe Alton MD, aka Dr. Bones, covers a broad range of topic in this episode,[Read More]

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) usually occur from a sudden blow to the head or other[Read More]

Video: Multiple Casualty Kits with Nurse Amy

In an active shooter or similar event in a workplace, church, or other location, you[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Wound Care, Debridement, More

In normal times, once you have stopped the bleeding and applied a splint or dressing,[Read More]

Minor Wounds Off The Grid

In long-term survival, the performance of tasks like chopping wood, cooking food over open fires,[Read More]

Compartment Syndrome in Crush Injuries

The group medic in survival scenarios will face a number of challenges not normally seen[Read More]

Video: Eye Trauma Emergencies

In survival settings, it’s important to enforce the use of eye protection when doing at-risk[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Stab Wounds, Peppermint, Censorship, Leg Cramps

A bill entered in California’s state legislature has gone where President Biden’s “disinformation bureau” couldn’t.[Read More]

Video: Stab Wounds

In this companion video to a recent article, physician and medical preparedness advocate Dr. Joe[Read More]

Bleeding Management, Pt 2: Stab Wounds

Any disaster can put your people at risk for injury. Many of those injuries cause[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Nasal Trauma, AFib, Valerian

It’s a rare individual who has never had a nosebleed and a lot of people[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Ortho injuries, Antiseptics, Strokes

In good times or bad, families may face any number of events where trauma causes[Read More]

The Vehicle In Mass Casualty Events

A driver rammed into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, killing at least five people[Read More]

Eye Trauma Off The Grid

In survival scenarios, the sense that will be the biggest determinant of your chances of[Read More]

The 4th “R”

When you go to school you learn the three “R”s: Reading’, ‘Riting’, ‘Rithmetic. That’s all[Read More]

Fall Injuries

A few years ago, we certified as Advanced Wilderness Expedition Providers, and many of the training[Read More]

Anemia

In survival scenarios, there are plenty of occasions where the medic will encounter a group[Read More]

Video: How To Staple Skin

The old saying goes: “There’s more than one way to skin a cat”. Well, there’s[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Tourniquet Principles

Recently, Dr. Alton was asked to write an article on tourniquets for the highly popular Survivor’s Edge[Read More]

Video: Wound Closure, Part 3: Placing Sutures

In part 3 of this video series, Joe Alton MD, FACOG, FACS teaches the placement[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Riot Safety, Suture Choices

As Free Speech advocates, we support the people’s right to protest and make their opinions heard.[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Fractures, COVID Myths

Recently, we came across an article about coronavirus myths on, guess where, the AARP website,[Read More]

Mechanisms of Blunt Trauma

Blunt Trauma: Mechanisms of Injury Many first aid manuals lay out a plan of action[Read More]