Category Archives: Wound Care

Video: Which Antibiotics For Your Storage?

In a SHTF setting, bacterial diseases might run rampant among the members of a survival[Read More]

Antibiotics For The Survival Medicine Cabinet

One of the questions I get from readers most frequently is guidance regarding which antibiotics[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]

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]

How To Treat Rib Fractures Off The Grid

The chest cavity contains your heart and lungs, organs that could be easily injured if[Read More]

Handling A Stab Wound

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

Sterilizing Medical Equipment Off The Grid

A significant factor in the quality of medical care given in austere settings is the[Read More]

Antiseptics, Pt. 2: Natural Options

In part 1 of this article, we reported on the tens of millions of emergency[Read More]

Antiseptics In Survival, Pt. 1

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

Survival Medicine Podcast: Lost At Sea, Road Rash, Flesh-Eating Bacteria, Shoulder Injury

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton[Read More]

Off Grid Medicine: Civil War

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

Nailbed Injuries

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

Survival Medicine Podcast: Hurricane Strategies, Migraines, Antiseptics, More

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

Survival Medicine Podcast: MPox, Epidemic Sick Rooms, Suturing, More

In this far-ranging episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe and Nurse Amy Alton[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: Sinusitis, Wound infections, Listeria Food Poisoning, More

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

Survival Medicine Podcast: Bleeding, Biological Warfare, LifeVac, More

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

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]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Med Supplies, Frostbite, Essential Oils, Dakin’s, More

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy discuss hard[Read More]

Video: A Survival Tool Lost

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

Video: Horizontal Mattress And Figure-Of-Eight Sutures

In this part of his series on suture wound closures, Dr. Joe Alton discusses and[Read More]

Video: Simple Running Suture Demo

For more than a decade, I’ve been teaching basic suturing to the preparedness community. Usually,[Read More]

Blood-Clotting Alternatives: Part 2

For part 1 of this series, click here. One of the most important skills for[Read More]

Blood-Clotting Alternatives, Part 1

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

Survival Medicine Podcast: Wound Care, Debridement, More

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

Video: Minor Wound Care

From a simple cut to burns, any damage to skin is akin to a hole[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Saltwater Encounters, Drownings, Cellulitis

It’s summer, and this is the time that people head out to the shore and[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]

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: Cold Water Safety, Wound Infections, Gloves, Nursing Care, Pt.2

Well, we survived our first cold wave of the year down here in South Florida,[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Hypothermia, Off-Grid Nursing, Pt. 1

he environment plays a large role in your success as medic in survival settings. If[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Hemostatic Dressings

The control of major hemorrhage (called “hemostasis”) is the territory of paramedics and trauma surgeon[Read More]

Vein Issues Off The Grid

Problems relating to veins, especially in the legs, can affect a group member’s productivity when[Read More]

Fractures, Bones Contusions, And Sprains

In survival settings, the family medic will be confronted with a variety of orthopedic injuries.[Read More]

Nail Bed Issues Off The Grid

Minor injuries can sometimes become a major detriment to the function of a member of[Read More]

Nursing Care Off The Grid

Providing emergency care for an injury or other medical issue is important. In normal times,[Read More]

Dressings and Bandages

The medic in survival settings can expect to see their share of injuries, some of[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Cellulitis, Abscesses, More

All injuries carry a risk of infection. Various kinds of microbes can invade the body[Read More]

Soft Tissue Infections

All injuries carry a risk of infection. When the skin is breached, various microbes can[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]

Video: Suture Closure, Pt. 1

In this video, Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss wound closure and demonstrate[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]

Video: “Maxi-Pads” As Survival Bandage?

A while ago I gave my opinion on the persistent notion that tampons, the feminine[Read More]

Survival Medicine Podcast: Austere Medics

You know, the world isn’t getting any safer these days, and that means that, more[Read More]

Stab Wounds

STAB WOUND MANAGEMENT Any disaster puts your people at risk for injury. Wounds caused by[Read More]

The Medic’s First Priority

The Medic’s First Priority The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that, In the Democratic Republic[Read More]

#369 Survival Medicine Hour: Blisters, Bacteria, Baking Soda, More

#369 SURVIVAL MEDICINE PODCAST The world is on the brink of destruction and you have[Read More]

Medical Uses For Baking Soda

Some folks in the preparedness community consider themselves ready for any disaster if they have[Read More]

Wound Debridement

Medical professionals like doctors, nurses, and paramedics and the high-tech equipment they work with are[Read More]

Survival Medicine Hour: Debridement, Ebola 2019, Type II Diabetes, More

#366 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST You may have heard the phrase “Gone But Not Forgotten”[Read More]

The Tactical Tampon?

One item I come across from time to time on social media is the persistent[Read More]

Survival Medicine Hour: Burns and Remedies, Ingrown Nails, More

#360 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST In summer camping or zombie apocalypses, there are campfires. Where[Read More]

#356 Survival Medicine Hour: Snakebites, Doxycycline, More

#356 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST Warm weather wakes humans up from their hibernation, but it[Read More]

Video: How To Use The SWAT Tourniquet

VIDEO: THE SWAT TOURNIQUET In this video, Amy Alton ARNP discusses the popular and versatile[Read More]

Survival Medicine Hour: Joe Ordia of “Built To Survive”, Bleeding, Bandages, Sutures vs Staples

SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST Occasionally, we have the honor of a mention in books that[Read More]

Video: 7 Uses for Triangular Bandages

VIDEO: THE MANY USES FOR TRIANGULAR BANDAGES Those of us who were members of the[Read More]

Survival Medicine Hour: Wound Closure, Natural vs Conventional Therapy, More

SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST with JOE ALTON MD and AMY ALTON ARNP In survival scenarios,[Read More]

Survival Medicine Hour: TCCC Core Principles, Preparedness and “Normal” People, More

SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST You may have read some of my articles where I talk[Read More]

Video: TCCC Core Principles: Phases of Care/MARCH/PAWS

VIDEO: TCCC CORE PRINCIPLES You may have heard me reference TCCC in articles, podcasts, or[Read More]

Important Aspects of Tactical Combat Casualty Care

IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF TACTICAL COMBAT CASUALTY CARE You may have heard me reference something called[Read More]

Survival Medicine Hour: Radiation, Pt.2, Measles, Crystal Meth

SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST We don’t often get to report good news these days, but[Read More]

Home Remedies For Burns

HOME REMEDIES FOR BURNS Certainly, burns are injuries that can have long-standing consequences in good[Read More]

Bed Bug Infestations

BED BUG INFESTATIONS Of all the creepy-crawlies that cause trouble in a household, few are[Read More]

Survival Medicine Hour: James Rawles, Staph, Chest Trauma, More

Survival Medicine Hour #373 Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy discuss[Read More]

7 Antiseptics For Your Medical Kit

I’ve often said that, in a major disaster, we may be thrown back to a[Read More]

Survival Medicine Hour: Poison Plants, Setting a Fracture, More

SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR #349 In the this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour with Joe[Read More]

Video: Making Dakin’s Solution, Part 1

Video: Making Dakin’s Solution for Wound Care, pt. 1 In this video, Joe Alton MD[Read More]

Survival Medicine Hour: Wound Debridement, Shock Treatment, More

THE SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR #345 In this episode of The Survival Medicine Hour, Joe and[Read More]

Wound Debridement in Survival

Wound Debridement in Remote Settings Injuries in remote settings like a wilderness trail or survival[Read More]

Dakin’s Solution for Wound Care

Dakin’s Solution One of the challenges facing the caregiver in austere settings is how to[Read More]