Survival Medicine

In this topic-filled podcast, Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton discuss corruption in the medical establishment that has led to bad messaging and advice for the current pandemic, and why this happens in a highly politicized society. Also, Dr. Alton cover cold injuries like frostbite and immersion (trench) foot, and other cold exposure issues. Nurse Amy tells you all you need to know about clove bud oil, a useful item to have in long-term survival medicine cabinets, and Dr. Bones returns to discuss the significance of expiration dates and how they affect the survival medic... All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton

In good times or bad, families may face any number of events where trauma causes injuries. In the United States alone, there are over 37 million emergency department visits annually due to some type of trauma. Off the grid, it stands to reason that activities of daily survival performed by those unaccustomed will greatly increase the number of traumatic wounds. This week, Dr. Joe Alton discusses what to do for strains and sprains.  Also, the Alton discuss antiseptics, both commercial and improvised, and their use in survival scenarios to save lives. Plus, a Survival Podcast question about strokes leads Dr. Alton to tell you all you need to know about them in good times or bad. Hey, find out more about  150  medical topics in survival settings with a copy of the greatly expanded 4th Edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook, available at Amazon or get a personally signed copy at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad you did. Joe and Amy Alton

Well, we survived our first cold wave of the year down here in South Florida, where the temperatures dived all the way down into the high fifties. We’ve heard rumors that some places get even colder in winter, so, even though they’re probably just rumors, the Altons talked last time about general hypothermia. This time, they’ll talk about cold water safety in survival settings. Plus, Dr. Bones (Joe Alton MD) discusses things you should know about medical gloves, all about wound infections, and more. Nurse practitioner Amy Alton discusses nursing care in a comprehensive way in part two of her series, as much information as you'll find anywhere on the subject.. All this and more on the lastest Survival  Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, The Altons Consider getting your family medically prepared and use those HSA/FSA dollars at store.doomandbloom.net, where you'll find an entire line of medical kits, individual supplies, and the latest 4th edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook!

The environment plays a large role in your success as medic in survival settings. If you don’t take weather conditions and other factors into account, you have made the environment your enemy, and it’s a formidable one. One major issue is cold-related illness, otherwise known as hypothermia. Normally, the body core ranges from 97.5 to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit (36.5-37.5 degrees Celsius) when taken orally or rectally. Rectal temps tend to be slightly higher than oral, and oral temps slightly higher than skin readings, such as those taken in the armpit. Hypothermia begins when the body core drops below 95 degrees. Dr. Joe Alton discusses what to do when the family medic is faced with someone struck by cold exposure. Also, Nurse Amy Alton begins a series on nursing care off the grid. While not as sensational as emergency trauma care, the daily maintenance of the bedridden group member is so important that you're bound to lose people if you don't know how to properly care for them all the way to recovery. Amy discusses what you need to know in part 1... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, have you gotten your copy of the brand new, greatly expanded 4th edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook? You should check it out here! You'll be glad you did!.

Many of the medical items in your storage, like instruments and some dressings, may come already sterile, but in survival, dressings are consumed and the sterile instruments become dirty. This leads to the question of how to sterilize your reusable items and produce a store of sterile supplies. Dr. Joe Alton discusses how best to disinfect reusable and even some disposable items in the aftermath of a major long-term disaster. Also, a major obstacle to good sanitation and health in survival will be infestation of retreats by rodents like rats and mice. Their droppings, urine, saliva, and nests can contaminate your food supply and make things much harder. Dr. Bones discusses all sorts of strategies to keep your retreat rodent-free. Plus, a question from a listener about alopecia aereata, a hair loss syndrome that can be difficult to deal with in good times or bad. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast, with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton NP. Hey, if you want to know more about survival medicine in times of trouble, consider a copy of the greatly expanded, brand new 4th edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide for When Help is NOT on the way, available at Amazon or at store.doomandbloom.net.

Although science has made great progress against bacterial disease, our advances against viruses are still in their infancy. Now, potentially good news is being reported in the battle against the current pandemic: An experimental oral drug known as molnupiravir reduces the risk of hospitalization and death in phase III clinical trials. Today Joe Alton MD (aka Dr.Bones) and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton  are going to talk about two products developed by Merck Pharmaceuticals: Ivermectin and Molnupiravir, and the evidence for their effectiveness in the COVID pandemic. Plus, why is Merck pushing this new drug over ivermectin, already FDA approved for certain parasitic issues? All this and more on the latest episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Hey have you gotten a copy of the brand new, greatly expanded 4TH EDITION of the Survival Medicine Handbook? Check it out at store.doomandbloom.net along with our entire line of quality medical kits, individual supplies and personal protection gear (including N95 masks) or go to Amazon.com. You'll be glad you did.

The control of major hemorrhage (called “hemostasis”) is the territory of paramedics and trauma surgeon in normal times. In survival scenarios, however, the family medic is unlikely to be either of these. Although direct pressure on a bleeding wound may stop the bleeding, there are times when it just ain’t enough. In such cases, tourniquets are the best first course of action, but they can’t stay on there forever. While tourniquets, gauze rolls, and Israeli battle dressing will help stop bleeding, they don’t have anything special in them that specifically aids in the clotting process. In the last several decades, however, special substances have been identified that can help control the loss of blood. If you know how to properly use them in an emergency, often in conjunction with a tourniquet, you’ll increase an injured patient’s chances of survival. Off the grid, having a supply of these will save lives. Dr. Joe Alton and Amy Alton talk about different hemostatic dressings, including some improved ones that can still serve as a way to stop bleeding. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Hey, find out about all the latest materials for the survival medic in the brand-new greatly expanded 4TH EDITION of "The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide for When Help is NOT on the Way", available at Amazon and at store.doomandbloom.net! And don't forget to get more medically prepared with our entire line of kits, individual supplies, and personal protection gear (including N95 masks)! You'll be glad you did.

For the survival medic, increasing international tensions means that knowledge about nuclear events and the physical damage associated with them is a worthwhile topic to know about. Short of an asteroid hitting Earth or an ultra-deadly pandemic disease, we mean more deadly than COVID, no disaster has the potential to destroy society as much as a nuclear war. Even “minor” radiation accidents, such as reactor meltdowns, may cause long-standing damage to whole areas. The medic must always have a plan of action for every type of disaster to increase the chances for survival of group members. In this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcastl, Joe Alton, MD and Amy Alton NP discuss radiation events like dirty bombs, atomic and thermonuclear weapons, likelihood of survival from the various types of damage that could occur, fallout shelters, and diagnosis and treatment of acute radiation sickness. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad,  Joe and Amy Hey, check out the greatly expanded brand new 4th Edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook, now available for immediate shipment from amazon and from store.doomandbloom.net. Consider a limited-edition signed color copy for the survival medic in your family!

In the US, almost twenty percent of the population has problems with anxiety, which is defined as feelings of apprehension, nervousness, and unease. It might be about an imminent event, a current situation, or may be of unknown origin. For example, Israel announced that Iran will complete a nuclear weapon in 10 days, and that was 9 days ago. Also, are we going to need a vaccine passport to travel, work, go to the bathroom? Don’t be surprised. So, yeah, a lot of anxiety. And these are “normal” times. In survival scenarios, anxiety, depression, and PTSD are going to be epidemic among survivors, and the family medic had better be prepared to deal with people suffering from these conditions. Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton discuss ways that you could help out if you were knocked off the grid long-term. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD              Amy Alton NP Hey, don't forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits, individual supplies, and more at store.doomandbloom.net, plus preorder a personally-signed copy of our upcoming 4TH EDITION of the Survival Medicine Handbook at the website! You'll be glad you did.

Last week The Altons said It’s a cruel, cruel summer, like the 80s song goes, and if you live on the coast or considering a trip to the beach during the dog days, you have more than sunburn to worry about. There’s all sorts of critters in the sea that can cause trouble, even close to shore. I’m not talking about sharks, it’s shark week on Nat Geo and some of you are probably all sharked out. I’m talking about other sea creatures that don’t bite you, but sting you like jellyfish, stingrays, spined catfish, scorpion fish, lionfish, etc. Plus, Joe and Amy discuss the heartbreaking tragedy of drowning accidents. How does someone drown, what happens in the body during the event, and how to treat near-drownings and prevent it altogether. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don't forget that a brand new edition (the fourth) of the Survival Medicine Handbook will be on bookshelves and at Amazon soon! To check it out or get a signed copy, go to store.doomandbloom.net!