Survival Medicine

SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST with JOE ALTON MD and AMY ALTON ARNP   In survival scenarios, you can bet that there will be lots of injuries that break the skin, your body's natural barrier. Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, discuss various considerations with regards to wound closure in austere settings, including infection, bleeding, delayed closure, and some different would closure techniques. Also, Amy Alton ARNP talks about her recent video on the newly approved tourniquet by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care, the SAM XT tourniquet, and her opinions regarding its usefulness for the average person. Another concern involves the constant battle between natural healers and conventional healthcare providers, and why it's ridiculous to be dogmatic about what medical therapies make the most sense in times of trouble. Joe Alton MD suggests the active use of all the tools in the medical woodshed. Lastly, Dr. Alton welcomes Wes Peters of Gold Wealth International to discuss some con

SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST The use of tourniquets to control bleeding has been in use for centuries, sometimes praised and sometimes reviled as a tool of the devil. We learned a few very painful lessons, though, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now we believe that tourniquets save lives that would otherwise be lost to hemorrhage. In civilian life, the rapid and effective use of a tourniquet by those at the scene gives valuable time for emergency medical personnel  to arrive. Now, the TCCC committee has widened the range of options acceptable when it comes to tourniquets for the effective control of bleeding. Dr. Alton discusses the additions and more... Also, Nurse Amy is asked by a listener about the differences with regards to different types of face masks. She explains each one and what you should have in your medical storage generally and in times of epidemics. The Altons also go into detail about how to treat fractures, both on and off the grid: The importance of "reducing" the deformity caused by the

It’s a rare individual who passes an entire lifetime without breaking a bone. Accidents happen, and trauma can occur with such force that even bones may be damaged. Injuries to bones present in the form of breaks in the skeletal structure called “fractures”.  In the U.S., it is estimated that the average person will experience two fractures during their lifetime, not including broken teeth. The Altons tell you all about the different types of fractures, how a bone heals, and much more you didn't know about treating a break. Also, a special report on Kissing Bugs. No, not kissing bugs, as in how to kiss bugs, I mean kissing bugs, an invasive species from south of the border that is now found here in Tennessee and as far north as Pennsylvania and Illinois. They cause a potentially fatal infection called "Chagas Disease". Dr.Alton, aka Dr. Bones, tell you all you need to know about the insect and the parasite it carries that can get you sick. Medics in areas of conflict are always at risk for violence. There a

Todd Sepulveda is the founder of PrepperWebsite.com , a popular round-up of all the prepper articles on the web and a great place to keep an eye on all things preparedness. Todd interviewed Dr. Alton for his podcast last month, and since Amy and Dr. Bones are on the road in North Carolina, we thought we'd air his interview, which had a lot of thoughts on medications you should have in disaster settings. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad,   Joe and Amy Alton For books, DVDs, and medical supplies, go to store.doomandbloom.net!  

For years, Dr. Bones has been writing about antibiotics and how important  they are as part of your survival medicine cabinet. In survival scenarios, there will be a lot of people that will owe their lives to you because you were wise enough to include antibiotics in your supplies. Besides killing the bad bacteria, though, they also kill good bacteria in your gut. If the good bacteria becomes collateral damage in your war against infection, the lack of them can  have negative effects on your body’s immunity, digestion, and detoxification ability. This pales as a concern compared to withholding antibiotics and having a patient DIE of a bacterial infection, but it's still a big deal. Fortunately, there are ways to replace your body's good bacteria after taking antibiotics. Ingesting, as you suggest, probiotics is one of them. Find out all you need to know about probiotics and antibiotics and get some how-to on how to produce your own probiotics off the grid from Nurse Amy! Plus, Dr. Alton wrote an article tw

In off-grid settings, you can expect there to be concerns about food preparation. Outbreaks of bacterial disease, however, can occur even in the most developed country due to contamination. A recent example is the salmonella outbreak that’s sickened close to 100 people, putting 23 of them in the hospital. The culprit appears to be pre-cut melon from CAITO foods, the kind sold in those plastic clamshell-looking containers and sold at places where you probably shop. Walmart, Kroger, Whole Foods, Target, and others.  the recalled products include watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe. Dr. Joe Alton tells you how to identify salmonella symptoms, typhoid fever, and much more... Also, A major disaster can easily take away access to a functioning modern medical system. In that circumstance, caring for the sick and injured becomes the responsibility of a brave soul with some knowledge and supplies; that brave soul is probably going to be you. Even in bad times, a caregiver’s responsibility usually involves dealing w

You may have read some of my articles where I talk about the latest military methods used to save more lives on the battlefield. Then you say, how does an old country surgeon and obstetrician, of all things, have any idea of what the military is doing. The guys an old geezer, for pete’s sake, is he some kind of geriatric navy seal corpsman or combat medic or big-city trauma surgeon? No, I respect those guys too much to pretend I’m in their league, but I do know a thing of two that’s worked for me over a long career, and I keep up with the latest thinking in military, EMS, and wilderness medical journals, certifying in advanced wilderness provider topics whenever possible. Amy’s the same. We discuss some core principles of tactical combat casualty care, including phases of care and the MARCH/PAWS paradigm. Plus, have people ever given you the impression that preparedness is not for "normal" folks? Well, we'll talk about what "normal" means and whether it's sane to not be actively preparing for natural and man

SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST Spring is tornado season, and all up and down Tornado Alley, families are making plans in case a twister crosses their paths. Joe and Amy Alton discuss all you need to know about tornadoes and how to survive them with a little planning and wise action. Also, Joe Alton MD's recent video on expiration dates included some recent new evidence that he knows what he's talking about when it comes to your survival medicine cabinet. When the government and the scientific evidence agree, it's time to add some of those meds in pill, capsule or powder form to your survival storage. (of course, in normal times, call your doctor for a refill!). Plus, Nurse Amy discusses some of the medicinal benefits of a very inconvenient plant, the stinging nettle. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Don't forget to check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits, books, DVDs, and individual items at store.doomandbloom.net!

THE SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST When a storm knocks out the power for a week, there may be medical emergencies. It’s unlikely, however, that the family medic will need to deal with a dental emergency. If a disaster disables the grid long term, though, the medically responsible person should have a plan of action when it comes to tooth issues. Dental problems are inevitable in any prolonged off-the-grid settings; one of the most dangerous are tooth abscesses.When a storm knocks out the power for a week, there may be medical emergencies. It’s unlikely, however, that the family medic will need to deal with a dental emergency. If a disaster disables the grid long term, though, the medically responsible person should have a plan of action when it comes to tooth issues. Dental problems are inevitable in any prolonged off-the-grid settings; one of the most dangerous are tooth abscesses. Joe and Amy Alton discuss some off-grid strategies to deal with this possibly life-threatening issue. Plus, Joe and Amy welcom

Sometimes, diseases that are rare today pop up unexpectedly, such as the recent outbreak of mumps on the warship U.S.S. Fort McHenry, where 25 sailors came down with the illness. This led to the quarantine of the ship at sea for two months. If you’re concerned about medical issues in long-term survival scenarios, it’s important to recognize the infectious diseases that may return to the scene. Children of survivors will be unvaccinated and, a few years down the road, measles, mumps, and whooping cough will make a reappearance. It’s important to be able to identify those afflicted. The Altons discuss how to identify and treat mumps. Plus, one of Dr. Alton's first articles about preparedness was on expiration dates.  You’ll read all sorts of stuff about how dangerous any drug becomes once it passes the date on the bottle, but what actually does happen?  Throwing away medicine as soon as it expires may leave you without a means of stockpiling medical supplies if you’re thrown off the grid. Dr. Bones tells you

One of the most frequent questions I receive from readers, listeners, and viewers is which antibiotics to have on hand in survival settings. I have received a flurry of these lately in response to our new book “Alton’s Antibiotics and Infectious Disease”: The Layman’s Guide To Available Antibacterials in Austere Settings. In the book, I discuss, well, antibiotics and infectious disease: The infections to be expected in those knocked off the gird and the antibiotics obtainable by the average citizen that help prevent otherwise avoidable deaths. (NOTE: I don’t sell antibiotics nor own any part of a company that does.) Certainly, it would be great if you had the financial resources to have all of the medications we talk about in Alton’s Antibiotics and Infectious Disease, but that’s beyond the means of almost everyone. You’ll probably need to pick a limited number to stockpile, but which? Chances are, if you lined up 10 doctors, you’d get 10 different answers. Your choices would depend on the infections you’r

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss what their plans are for the garden this year, plus a review of the antibiotic cephalexin (Keflex, Fish-Flex) and its potential as a tool in the medical woodshed for long-term survival settings. Keflex is useful for various infectious diseases you might encounter off the grid. Also, Amy answers a listener question about what should be in a pediatric first aid kit, plus some important tips on what to do when your kid have some common medical problems. All this and more in 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 Don't forget to check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

Yesterday a 7.5 magnitude earthquake hit Ecuador, part of the "rim of fire" that circles the Pacific (but certainly not pacified) ocean. There's no season for earthquakes like there are for hurricanes, and you can't see an earthquake coming like you could a tornado. So how do you survive one? Joe and Amy Alton talk about strategies that will give you the best chance. Also, Dr. Joe Alton finishes his series on radiation events with a discussion of decontamination procedures, treatments for radiation sickness, and how to remove radioactive elements from drinking water. Plus, the Altons talk about their latest book "Alton's Antibiotics and Infectious Disease: The Layman's Guide to Available Antibacterials in Austere Settings"... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Check out our latest book and our entire line of kits at store.doomandbloom.net!

We don’t often get to report good news these days, but here’s something that’s making the authorities celebrate and may have saved hundreds of lives in, of all places, Australia. In a joint drug bust, Australian and u.s. agents seize record-setting 1.7 tons of meth worth $1.29 billion in Los Angeles, right at the sea port before sailing. Dr. Alton tells you how to identify Meth use and overdose. Many consider a nuclear attack an outlandish scenario to which only conspiracy theorists subscribe. Unfortunately, the threat of a nuclear incident, accidental or purposeful, always exists. Last time, we talked about the different types of nuclear weapons and the different types of radiation they emit. Today, The Altons talk about how radiation doses to the human body are measured, as well as the effects on the body at different doses. Plus: How radioactivity was discovered! 50 cases of measles were reported in the state of Washington and the legislature there is debating whether to void personal exemptions outside

You may think that preparedness is purely an American passion but there are folks from all over the world that contact us to ask questions or tell us about their medical preps. One of these is our good friend Tom, who lives in Germany and volunteers with a first responder team. Joe Alton talks a little about his volunteer medical team and wonders why we don't have the same here. It’s been a good long time since we’ve talked about radiation exposure and nuclear detonations and other stuff that preparedness folk are concerned about. But with Russia and China getting more aggressive, the risks of a nuclear confrontation aren’t zero. In fact, the Doomsday clock put us at 2 minutes to midnight and, as they say, the clock is ticking. Most people associate use of nuclear weapons with devastating outcomes. That’s pretty reasonable. Few, however, know much about the different types and their actual effects. The Altons talk about the types of weapons, their effects, and concentrate on radiation exposure and what to d

In a long term survival situation, it will be an extremely fortunate family or group that has a physician or other formally trained medical professional among its members. When there is no doctor, however, someone in your group should be assigned the responsibilities of group medic. That person will make the difference between success and failure for a community that has lost access to modern medicine. Joe and Amy Alton discuss supplies, responsibilities, and other factors that go into being a successful medic for times of trouble, especially for a survival community. Also, mudslides in Peru and Brazil kill dozens, what are they and how do they differ from avalanches and floods? Special considerations and safety measures before and during a mudslide risk period are discussed in detail. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Hour with Joe and Amy Alton!  

Today, we have advanced laboratory studies that allow identification of many pathogens. Despite this, it can be a challenge for healthcare providers to tell a bacterial disease from a viral one. Bacteria and virus can attack the same organ systems. For example, pneumonia can be bacterial or viral. Both produce similar symptoms like cough and fever. From a diagnosis standpoint, it can be difficult to tell the difference even in normal times. Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss how to tell the difference, empirical vs definitive therapy, and some signs of specific bacterial pneumonias. It goes without saying that, as group medic, you will be responsible for the medical well-being of your survival community. But what does that mean? It means that, as well as being the Chief Medical Officer, that you will be responsible for sanitation, water disinfection, proper food preparation, and much more. Joe discusses important aspects of medic duties that may determine the failure or success of a survival group. Al

This week, Winter Storm Gia, they’ve been naming them for a few years now, will spread a swath of snow and ice from parts of the Rockies, Plains and Midwest to the mid-Atlantic into this weekend, hopefully not causing more than a few travel delays. Yeah, I know, winter storms occur every year in the United States, but if you don’t take them seriously, they can cause fatalities among the unprepared. And, sadly, that’s just what they do. 70% of deaths in blizzard conditions occur due to traffic accidents and 25% from hypothermia, sometimes called exposure, from being caught outside or even inside without a heat source. With Gia’s strong winds, trees and power lines burdened with heavy snowfall may topple, causing additional hazards. If a blizzard knocks the power out, but you’re still in your home (a great place to be), you’re gonna want a strategy, a plan of action. Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, tell you what you need to know. Hypothermia and other cold-related issues must be identified an

SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST Infectious disease is of major concern in good times or bad, and the family medic must be able to identify some of the deadliest. Having just written a book on the subject, we’ve done our research on some of the worst illnesses that can occur even in countries with advanced medical systems. There are infections out there, however, that are often fatal and can’t be treated with antibiotics. These are usually viral in nature. Joe and Amy Alton discuss what you need to know about what could become the next pandemic. Cold and Flu season is usually something that occurs when it’s, well, cold, not so much from the actual loss of heat but from spending a lot of time inside with other people and breathing in their germs. But infections aren't the only risk from cold weather. In the winter, northern regions with lots of water features become vast fields of ice. Since the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, you may be tempted to cross that frozen lake rather than g

Infectious disease is of major concern in good times or bad, and the family medic must be able to identify some of the deadliest. Having just written a book about infectious diseases and the antibiotics that treat them, we’ve done our research on some of the worst illnesses that can occur even in countries with advanced medical systems. There are infections out there, however, that are often fatal and can’t be treated with antibiotics. These are usually viral in nature. Viruses are microscopic pathogens that, unlike most bacteria, can reproduce only inside the living cells of other organisms. Viruses are very simple entities that rarely consist of much more than a bit of genetic code covered by a protein coat (a “capsid”). Joe and Amy Alton talk about some of the deadliest viruses on the planet, you've heard of some and not of others. Find out how to identify some of the diseases that may become the next big pandemic! All this and more on the Survival Medicine hour with Joe and Amy Alton Don't forget to g