Survival Medicine

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, Amy Alton ARNP takes over the show! She's got a lot to say about some important medical problems that all of us have to care about: Heart disease, hypertension, and kidney disease. She'll describe risk factors, diet, prevention, treatment, and more. Did you know that frequent ibuprofen usage damages your kidneys? I'll bet you didn't, and Nurse Amy will tell you a lot more that might just surprise you.  These are issues she cares deeply about in good times or bad, so do yourself a favor and listen in as she gives you strategies to live a healthier and longer life in any situation. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Amy and Joe Alton Hey, have you put together that medical kit you'll need in survival scenarios? I know where you'll find some of the best on the web at Nurse Amy's store at store.doomandbloom.net!  

  A#366 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST You may have heard the phrase "Gone But Not Forgotten" but how about "Forgotten But Not Gone"? For some time, The Democratic Republic of Congo has been in the throes of a deadly epidemic: Ebola. I wrote a lot about the Ebola virus during the 2014 epidemic in West Africa and even wrote a book  (published by Skyhorse Publishing) about the disease. In West Africa, more than 28,000  got sick and 11,000 died. This time, more than 2,000 have succumbed to the virus since 2018 but you’d hardly know it with nary a mention in the media.Joe Alton MD tells you about the second deadliest Ebola epidemic in history, even if few others will. Wounds are tough to deal with in any circumstance, but especially if you’re the person taking care of the wound off the grid. Dead tissue doesn’t heal, so you have to make sure you remove every possible bit of it. Debridement is the removal of dead (necrotic) or infected skin tissue to help a wound heal. It’s also done to remove foreign material

Just back from a trip to the United Kingdom, Amy Alton ARNP and Joe Alton MD discuss some topics not recently covered in previous shows. Sleep deprivation is a serious issue: Some researchers believe that it carries health risks approaching that of cigarettes or heart disease. The mental and physical deterioration that sleep deprivation causes can break you: So much so, that it’s been used as a method of torture. The CDC estimates that up to 50-70 million Americans suffer from some kind of sleep disorder. The Altons discuss sleep disorders as an issue that can negatively affect your chances of survival in disasters, and offer some suggestions (might even help you night shift workers). Also, from time to time you'll find  the persistent notion on social media that tampons, the feminine sanitary product, are an excellent addition to your medical kit. Many, usually second- or third-hand, swear that these items saved the life of a soldier because a savvy medic made sure to carry what some call a “tactical tampon

#364 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST In this info-packed episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss poisonous plants like poison ivy, oak, sumac, and poisonwood; how to identify, treat, and prevent medical issues related to contact with problematic flora! Plus, how to deal with broken bones off the grid, including reducing deformities, placing casts, creating traction, and much more. In addition, Dr. Alton answers questions in his role as medical expert for his good friend Jack Spriko's Survival Podcast. One involves hair loss and one listener's concerns about dietary causes, and another from someone with frequent soft tissue infections from insect bites and minor trauma. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Hour with Joe and Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don't forget to fill those holes in YOUR medical supplies with kits and individual items from Nurse Amy's store at store.doomandbloom.net. PLus, ge

SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST Our thoughts and prayers go out to the citizens of the Bahamas affected by the recent hurricane; we have been fortunate enough to escape its wrath here in South Florida, but many are still suffering. We ask our readers, listeners, and viewers to consider donating to the various relief funds aimed at helping our Bahamian friends. In this episode, Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss the phenomenom known as the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and how the U.S. is poorly prepared to withstand even a small-moderate event without chaos. Also, Dr. Alton discusses the factors that go into deciding whether a wilderness wound should be closed or not; the answer isn't simple and might surprise you. Also, in long-term situations where the medicines run out or even in normal times, natural remedies such as herbal teas may be helpful tools in the medical woodshed. Amy and Joe discuss a number of different ones that you might consider for your medicinal herb garden. Wishing you the best of

#363 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST Outbreaks of hepatitis A are springing up in various parts of the country, leading us to want you to know all about this inflammation of the liver, plus the other types of hepatitis that can cause damage. Learn how to identify and prevent this disease which has been found in homeless populations in variouus cities. Also, Joe and Amy interview post-apocalyptic fiction author Jeff Motes of "Once Upon An Apocalypse" fame. The three books in the series has been Amazon bestsellers in several categories. His Books: !:  The Journey Home 2: The Search 3. Gathering Storm Check them out, they're bona fide good reads! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Don't forget to subscribe to our website to keep up on all our content and to get special offers on medical kits and supplies from our store at store.doomandbloom.net!

If you want to know how to keep informed on all the latest preparedness topics, you don't have to go further than Todd Sepulveda's prepperwebsite.com. Todd is a pastor and information guru that has compiled for you a daily smorgasbord of prepper articles from some of the best sources on the internet (including ours!). He also has his own weekly podcast at https://www.theprepperwebsitepodcast.com. Join us as Todd talks about his journey to preparedness and gives his thoughts on some of the best ways to stay up to date on not only preparedness topics, but everything you need to know in daily life! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Find the best quality medical kits and individual supplies in Nurse Amy's entire line at store.doomandbloom.net!    

#361 Survival Medicine Hour Podcast In this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, welcome author Craig Caudill of Nature Reliance School to the show. Craig gives us the benefit of his experience in off-grid settings and his thoughts on survival in times of trouble. Craig's books are a wealth of information: Extreme Wilderness Survival: Essential Knowledge to Survive Any Outdoor Situation Short-Term or Long-Term, With or Without Gear and Alone or With Others Ultimate Wilderness Gear: Everything You Need to Know to Choose and Use the Best Outdoor Equipment Essential Wilderness Navigation: A Real-World Guide to Finding Your Way Safely in the Woods With or Without A Map, Compass or GPS Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don't forget to have a good medical kit as part of your preparedness supplies. Find them at store.doomandbloom.net!

#360 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST In summer camping or zombie apocalypses, there are campfires. Where there are campfires, there are mesmerized children staring at them and wanting to help maintain them. That causes them and others to be at high risk for burns. Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Amy Alton discuss all types of burns in detail, with characteristics for identification and standard as well as natural remedies. Also, Dr. Alton talks about a little thing that can be a big pain in good times or bad: ingrown toenails. Find out what you can do to treat one and how to decrease your chances of having a recurrence. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Hour with Joe and Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad,   Joe and Amy Alton Stock up on medical supplies or get a pre-made kit designed by medical professionals at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad you did.

#359 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST The mosquito-borne disease Dengue Fever is a virus that is causing community-wide outbreaks in various regions throughout the world, including Singapore, Nicaragua, and Bangladesh. Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss an infection that could 1)cause no symptoms, 2)make you sick for 1-2 weeks, or 3)kill you (luckily, just a tiny minority). Find out how to identify and prevent Dengue fever.coup Also, Joe Alton MD discusses a pregnancy that implants in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus, also called an ectopic (out of place) pregnancy. He relates a personal history of a family member who suffered internal bleeding as a result of a ruptured tube, and gives thoughts on what to do if you were off-the-grid. Plus, Dr. Alton answers questions about orthopedic issues and the herb comfrey in his role as a member of Jack Spirko's popular Survival Podcast Expert Council. Is comfrey useful for orthopedic pain? All this and more in this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour w

#358 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR This week, not only did we undergo a record heat wave in parts of the country, but so did Europe (where air-conditioning is not that common)! If that wasn't enough, a near-miss by an asteroid known as 2019 OK came within 45,000 miles of earth (the moon is 220-240,000 miles away) and a plague of grasshoppers (apparently mild-mannered ones) made its way through Las Vegas! Survivalists take "be fruitful and multiply" as instructions for a post-apocalyptic event, but the truth is that you don't want your female group members pregnant at a time when everyone has to be at 110% efficiency. Dr. Alton discusses some of the complications that could take away a valuable member of your team when they're needed most. Plus, grasshoppers might not bite, sting, or transmit diseases, but there are plenty of bugs that can. Amy and Joe discuss bees, wasps, and hornets as part of a multi-part series on bites and stings. All this and more on this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour with Dr. Bones

In normal times, we have the luxury of a modern and well-equipped medical system. When the ambulance is just around the corner, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the average person may become the highest asset left to his/her family. Yet, that’s exactly what can happen in remote settings or after a natural or man-made disaster. Amy Alton ARNP tells the medic how to be best equipped to fulfill their purpose off the grid. Plus, heat waves throughout the country and even in Europe are causing heat exhaustion, heat stroke, and deaths from exposure. Is a heat wave a natural disaster? What causes it and what makes cities "heat islands" that can be expecially deadly? How is heat exhaustion different from heat stroke and how do you treat and prevent both? Dr. Joe Alton tells you what you need to know... All this and more on the Survival Medicine Hour podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy Don't forget to check out our

#356 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST Warm weather wakes humans up from their hibernation, but it also wakes inhabitants of the Great Outdoors as well, such as snakes. Inevitably some hiker, camper, or hunter experiences a face-to-face (or face-to-ankle) encounter with a slithering serpent. Of the 3000 species of snakes on planet Earth, only about 400 are venomous. In North America, those that inject venom into their victims are either pit vipers or elapids. Pit vipers include species of rattlesnakes, water moccasins (cottonmouths), and copperheads. One species or another exists everywhere in the U.S. except for Maine, Alaska, and Hawaii. Elapids include coral snakes, found mostly in the South. Find out everything you need to know about snakebites in this episode with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy. Also, Joe Alton MD explores the utility of doxycycline, aka Bird-Biotic, in survival settings. Find out about one of the World Health Organization's "essential medicines", including indications for use and much more. A

#355 THE SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST Southern California has been hit with a 7.1 magnitude earthquake which followed a 6.4 the previous day. Hundreds of smaller quakes have hit the general area as well, and residents are getting nervous. Although earthquakes are unpredictable, there are a number of things you can do to decrease the amount of damage and prevent injuries in most circumstances. Joe and Amy Alton MD spend time discussing what to do before, during, and after a seismic event. Also in this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, Joe Alton MD answers a listener's concerns and questions about rheumatoid arthritis off the grid. In these days of advanced pharmaceuticals (DMARDS) meant to help sufferers, can anything be done to improve the quality of life in a survival setting? Nurse Amy discusses a number of alternative methods that might help. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Hour with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alto

#354  Survival Medicine Hour podcast Ask anyone on the street which of the five senses they would least be willing to sacrifice. They probably will tell you that their vision is the sense they would most want to preserve. Imagine a world where a disaster has taken society to the brink, what would you do with less than perfect vision? Would you know how to treat common eye infections and other conditions? Would you know what to do when an eye is injured due to trauma? Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP devote this episode to eye issues that might face the medic in austere settings. They discuss how to deal with various problems likely to be part and parcel of situations where modern medicine and technology are not an option. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don't forget to check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits, supplies, and books/DVDs at store.doomandbloom.net. Subscribe to our newsletter for special offers at doomandbloom.net!

Public support for the legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana is at an all-time “high”. Many believe that the effects of products made from the Cannabis sativa plant are all “psychoactive”; that is, mind-altering. Studies, however, suggest that some substances in Cannabis plants have little or no psychoactive action at all, but might have other medicinal benefits. What's the real deal? Amy and Joe, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, tell you what you need to know. Whether you’re a hiker, camper, or survivalist, you’ll be spending a lot of time in the Great Outdoors.  During your off-grid adventures, you’ll be exposed to all sorts of critters that want a piece of you (watch an episode of “Naked and Afraid” to see what I mean). One of these is the lowly tick. Learn more about these critters and the bacteria that cause Lyme Disease, and what to do. Plus, Nurse Amy answers a listener question about what birthing supplies should be in your medical storage for disaster situations. Lastly, a Very Speci

The school year has ended, and families are planning this summer’s campouts. Camping trips are a great way to create bonds and memories that will last a lifetime, also a great way to get kids off their smartphones and annoy the heck out of them, but once they’re in the great outdoors, they’ll come around, most of them, at least. A poorly planned camp out, however, can also become memorable, but in a very bad way, especially if someone gets injured. A few preparations, though, will help you enjoy a terrific experience with the people you care about. Dr. Alton gives you his take on camping safety. Also, Nurse Amy talks about home remedies, this time for GI complaints like diarrhea. If you're worried about long-term medical issues in disasters, you'll want to know about some of these options. Plus, Dr. Bones gives useful information about boils and abscesses, plus a how-to on how to safely drain one if you didn't have access to modern medical care. Of course, seek modern professional medical help whenever and w

You might associate armed attacks with wars or survival scenarios, but they can occur in normal times as well. The recent mass shooting in the public facility in Virginia Beach is a reminder that, in these toxic times, no one is safe from those with bad intentions. Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, discuss strategies that give you a better chance of avoiding a bad outcome. Plus, everything you need to know about storing your medications for the most longevity and potency with advice from Nurse Amy and Dr. Alton. Lastly, infections that cause dehydration by diarrhea can rapidly become life-threatening in a situation where no IV rehydration is available and antibiotics aren't accessible. Dr. Alton discusses Cholera as one disease that still kills 100,000 people every year worldwide and could easily a major pandemic outbreak. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Hour podcast with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alto

Last week, the Altons discussed less invasive methods of wound closure off the grid  like steri-strips, butterfly closures, and medical or industrial glues. Those are great for minor injuries, but they aren’t solid enough to keep some wounds, say over a joint, closed. For that, you need staples or sutures. It's not hard to learn how to use these items, but how much do you know about the different types of suture materials available. What do you use internally and what do you use on the skin? Also, a discussion on water disinfection, especially by boiling and with filters. Ask a bunch of survivalists and you'll get a bunch of answers about how long to boil water and other important aspects of disinfection. What's the real deal? The Altons let you know current CDC and WHO recommendations and much more! All this and lots of other important information on the Survival Medicine Hour with Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy. Wishing the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Check ou

#349 Occasionally, we have the honor of a mention in books that are of benefit and interest to the preparedness community. We have authors like James Wesley Rawles, Franklin Horton, A. J. Powers, Patrick Shier, and Charley Hogwood to thank for including us in some of their fiction and non-fiction. Joe Ordia of P.E.G. Solar, author of "Built To Survive: How we designed and built a sustainable, secure, and survivable custom home", has done us a similar honor, so we bring him on to talk about his journey to preparedness and his series of solar solutions for a safe and comfortable retreat for good times or bad. Also, Nurse Amy talks about recent videos and webinars on SWAT and SAM XT tourniquets, as well as the many medical uses for the trusty triangular bandages, all items you should have in multiples in your medical storage. Dr. Alton also discusses when to use staples vs. sutures for wounds in survival scenarios, plus much more! All this in the latest episode of the Survival Medicine Hour podcast with Joe