Survival Medicine

Recent reports suggest that the West coast is at high risk for a big earthquake. They’ve found a new stress area in the San Andreas fault and predict a 75% chance, not a chance, a 75% chance, that the big one will hit anytime in the next 30 years or so. Of all the creepy-crawlies that cause trouble in a household, few are worse than bed bugs. Although poor standards of living and unsanitary conditions have been associated with bed bug infestations, even the cleanest home in the most developed country can harbor these parasites. Also, a listener asks whether diatomaceous earth has a role in producing a good homemade water filter if no commercial options are available. Joe and Amy Alton have the answer and some advice on how to proceed! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Follow them on twitter @preppershow, YouTube at NurseAmy DrBones Channel, and Facebook at DoomandBloom(tm).      

  A friend recently asked us to write about injuries that might be incurred in an earthquake scenario in the Pacific Northwest, so we decided to do a show on the various kinds of wounds you can expect in any major disaster, from a mudslide to a tornado to a major seismic event. Joe Alton MD recounts an incredible survival story of a woman who lived for a week at the bottom of a 200 foot cliff after running her car off it(!), and he and Amy Alton ARNP discuss everything from bleeding wounds, crush injuries, orthopedic damage, and much more, including basics on how to place a cast! All this and much more in this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Follow the Altons on Twitter @preppershow Facebook at Doom and Bloom(tm) YouTube at DrBones NurseAmy Channel Please subscribe to our regular newsletter for more news you can use in any medical issue in good or bad times! Check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!      

The human body is a marvel of biologic engineering. Its immune system usually kills bacteria and other harmful germs before they can multiply and cause symptoms. Our blood contains white cells, also known as “leukocytes” that attack bacteria. Even if we do experience symptoms, our bodies can usually cope and fight off the infection. It’s thought that this process of suffering an infection and its elimination by an immune response happens every day, usually without any obvious sign. There are occasions, however, when the body’s defenses are overwhelmed. In these cases, help is needed, and it comes in the form of antibiotics. The word "antibiotics" is derived from the Greek “anti” ("against") and “bios” ("life"). While this seems a strange foundation for a medicine that saves lives, the meaning is simply that the drug is “against” the life of the disease-causing organism.  Joe and Amy Alton discuss antibiotics from a historical standpoint, do you know which was the first to be placed on the market? Also, Joe

Many consider a heat wave to be just a time to put an extra ice cube in the lemonade, but it’s a deadly natural disaster. More people die in heat waves in the U.S. than just about any recent weather event short of hurricane Katrina. Find out from Joe Alton MD about what causes and worsens a heat wave, and some advice from the Arizona state government (they should know about hot weather) to stay safe this summer. Also, Those who are concerned about a disaster plunging us into an off-grid scenario, however, must realize that commercial drugs will probably no longer be manufactured, and existing supplies will run out very quickly. This fact alone leads to the conclusion that any medically prepared person should have knowledge about medicinal herbs and, hopefully, a working garden. Amy and Joe discuss the data behind the health benefits of Turmeric, a popular herb used in curries and other foods. Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae, and I'll bet you don’t know what their closest living relative is: It's sea

Last week on the Survival Medicine Hour podcast, Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP talked about some basics on sprains, strains, and fractures, and this week they continue the subject, especially how to tell the difference between a sprain and a fracture, including something called the Ottawa Rules. The Ottawa Rules were meant to discourage unnecessary x-rays, but also have applications towards off-grid situations like survival scenarios. Plus, Joe and Amy talk about headaches, sometimes an annoyance but sometimes a sign of a real medical issue and life-threatening event. Find out about the various types of headaches, how to identify them, treatments both conventional and natural, and some medical illnesses that headaches might be a sign of. All this and more in the latest episode of The Survival Medicine Hour with Joe and Amy Alton!   Follow Joe and Amy on Twitter @preppershow; Facebook at Doom and Bloom(tm) page and YouTube at drbones nurseamy channel! Also, check out their books, DVDs and medical kits a

This week, Joe and Amy Alton go to Sanibel Island, where good friends and popular podcasters Jack and Dorothy Spirko are vacationing, for an interview on the occasion of Jack's 10th anniversary of his popular "Survival Podcast". Plus, here we are in the first days of summer, and you can be sure it’ll be a cruel one in most of the country this year. But you’re going to be out and about, and you’ve got to be careful. It was pretty darn hot in Sanibel, and if we didn’t keep track of our exposure to the sun, we could easily have gotten in trouble. Find out how to identify and deal with heat exhaustion and heat stroke, serious heat-related emergencies. Also, increased activities this summer or in survival settings put you at risk for orthopedic injuries like sprains, strains, and fractures. Joe and Amy discuss how to identify, treat, and prevent these problems, plus a little on how to tell the difference between a spraina and a fracture. All this and more on the Survival Medicine Hour podcast with Joe Alton MD

An infection is defined as the invasion of the body by microscopic organisms. A pathogen is any agent that can cause a disease, but the term is usually used to describe a microbe. Microscopic germs cause injury to tissues in a number of ways, often by producing toxic substances that damage the cells. Joe Alton MD discusses the different types of microbes that can affect your chances of survival if modern medicine isn't an option. A boy in Idaho is recovering after contracting plague — the first human case in the state in more than two decades. The Plague? Where did that come from? Dr. Joe Alton discusses the modern history of Plague in the U.S., plus how to identify and treat it early and completely. You might think that Penicillin family drugs were the first to be used by the general public, but another popular family of antibiotics called sulfonamides, or sulfa drugs, were actually on the market even earlier. Indeed, it has been called “the first miracle drug”. Sulfonamides deserve credit for saving tens

School's out and a great way to teach your family survival basics is by taking them camping. The skills needed for successful camping are akin to those required for the activities of daily survival. Once learned, these lessons last a lifetime. There’s no greater gift that you can give young people than the ability to be self-reliant. Camping trips create bonds and memories that will last a lifetime.  A poorly planned campout, however, can become memorable in a way you don’t want, especially if someone gets injured. Luckily, a few preparations and an evaluation of your party’s limitations will help you enjoy a terrific outing with the people you care about, and maybe impart some skills that would serve them well in dark times. Plus, identifying a common summer infection, Lyme disease, that can have long-term effects. Treatment, prevention, and more, plus a discussion of a popular broad-spectrum antibiotic that treats Lyme and many other diseases, Doxycycline. Learn indications, side effects, dosing, and much

Recently, Joe Alton MD wrote about school safety solutions in the wake of mass killings perpetrated by the disgruntled and deranged. Some of these strategies aren't expensive, and those that are should make you ask: How much is it worth to save the lives of our young people by aborting these murderers? Find out what simple changes would lead to a much safer environment for our young people in these uncertain times. Plus, Joe and Amy Alton tackle a questions from a listener in Germany that asks about how to deal with fungal infections in situations where modern pharmaceuticals aren't available. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Hour with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Follow them on twitter @preppershow, Facebook at Doom and Bloom(tm) and YouTube at DrBones NurseAmy Channel, and check out their medical kits, books, and other supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

In 2014, Joe Alton MD began reporting on an outbreak of a little-known disease called Ebola in West Africa. At the time, there were less than 100 cases, but eventually became a major epidemic with 28000 cases and 11000 deaths. Now Ebola has broken out in urban areas in Congo, where it was first identified. With cities of 1 and 11 million in the area, could it become a major epidemic? Find out the latest in developments in Ebola research since the West Africa epidemic in 2014, and is the new vaccine panning out to be protective? Also, Joe and Amy Alton, ARNP discuss a major challenge in austere settings: stroke, aka cerebro-vascular accident (CVA). Find out how to quickly identify a stroke in progress and what to do to increase the chances of full recovery for the victim. Plus, a listener asks about the reliability of the medications he has in his vehicle's medical kit, which spends a lot of time in the hot Texas summer sun. What are the effects on medications and what should be done? All this and more in t

Can you prepare for a day at the beach? Can you prepare for an asteroid strike? Well, preparing for volcanic eruptions is in the middle, actually closer to an asteroid strike that anyone would like. Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss what can and can't be done to prepare for a volcano, and whether volcano preparedness is an oxymoron! Also, school's almost out and families will out hiking and camping. Ticks will also be out, and ready to make a meal out of the blood of your loved ones. The Altons discuss how to avoid being a blood donor to a tick this summer, and avoid diseases they transmit like Lyme disease. All this and more in this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Follow us on Twitter @preppershow; on Facebook at the Doom and Bloom(tm) page; on YouTube at the DrBones NurseAmy channel Also, check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP often  talk about infectious diseases on the Survival Medicine Hour, a number of which are called emerging infectious diseases. Emerging infectious diseases are infections that have recently appeared within a population or those whose frequency or geographic range is increasing or likely to increase in the near future. They say there’s nothing new under the sun, so how is this possible? Emerging infections can be caused by: Previously undetected or unknown infectious agents (SARS, MERS)Known agents that have spread to new geographic locations or new populations (Zika, Ebola, Chikungunya)Previously known agents whose role in specific diseases has previously gone unrecognized. (like some viruses now being thought responsible for certain illnesses)Re-emergence of agents whose incidence of disease had significantly declined in the past but whose incidence of disease has reappeared, say measles. This group is known as re-emerging infectious diseases. The World Health Organization w

After a disaster or at a remote homestead, we all know that the medic for the family may not have ready access to modern medical technology. That means many conditions that are commonly identified with ultrasounds or CAT scans may be more challenging to diagnose. One of these challenges is abdominal pain. There are various medical issues that cause it, and Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss several common diseases that must be identified and treated, such as appendicitis, gall bladder stones, stomach viruses, and more. These issues have some telltale signs that clue you in on what's going on. Don't forget to follow Dr.Bones and Nurse Amy on Twitter @preppershow, Facebook at Doom and Bloom, and YouTube at DrBones NurseAmy Channel! Here's wishing you the best of health in good times and bad...  

School is winding down, and families are starting to think about that camping trip to the mountains or shore. Camping safety is important, and a lot of factors need to be considered like weather, gear, and more to make a camping trip memorable (and I mean in a good way, not a bad way). What you need to do to deal with common injuries, supplies you'll need, and even a little about snakebite, since those critters are waking up from their cold-weather slumbers. all this and more on the Survival Medicine Hour with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP Follow us on Twitter @preppershow  YouTube at drbones nurseamy channel Facebook at our Survival Medicine Group DrBones NurseAmy or Doom and Bloom pages Check out our kits and books at store.doomandbloom.net

Spring has sprung, and snowmelt plus heavy rains may increase the risk of mudslides, aka debris flows, in many areas. Find out more about this dangerous natural phenomenom which is akin to a river of wet concrete, plus some early warning signs that you property is at risk. Joe and Amy, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, also discuss a new E. Coli outbreak that is hitting several states across the country but is still mysterious in its origin, plus their recommendations for water disinfection and how it compares to official EPA directives. Also, some examples as to when the medic has to make tough decisions in survival settings, like giving medicines to someone who is really sick but claims to have an allergy to the only drug or natural option you've got in your medical supplies. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Hour with Joe Alton, MD and Amy Alton, ARNP! Follow Joe and Amy on twitter @preppershow; Facebook at Doom and Bloom, and on Youtube at drbones nurseamy channel! Find the award-winning th

In certain seasons, like Spring, pollens and other substances are at high levels. For most, it's a great time of year to be outside, but for allergy sufferers, well, not so much. Joe Alton, MD,aka Dr. Bones, and Amy Alton, ARNP, aka Nurse Amy, go into detail to tell you the history of allergies (the word didn't even exist in the year 1900!), what exactly happens in your body during an allergy attack, and how to identify it from, say, a simple adverse reaction to a medicine. Also, a little about severe allergic reactions and your treatment options in good times or bad, plus why most people that tell their doctor they're allergic to something may actually not have an allergy at all! All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Hour with Joe and Amy Alton! Follow the Alton on twitter @preppershow, Facebook at Doom and Bloom(tm), and YouTube at DrBones NurseAmy Channel! Drget to get a copy of their 2017 Book Excellence 1st Place Award winner in medicine, The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide

Injuries occur in disaster and other off-grid settings, and some of those break the skin or even go into deeper layers, like subcutaneous fat and muscle. When do you close a wound and when is it wiser to keep it open? Also, if you're going to close it, what materials should you use and why? Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, take you through the decision making process and much more in this episode devoted to wound closure in survival situations.   Follow Joe and Amy on Twitter @preppershow, plus their YouTube Channel at drbones nurseamy, and Facebook on their Doom and Bloom(tm) page!   Don't forget their store at store.doomandbloom.net for your medical supply needs!

We've been supporters of and speakers at the Self-Reliance Expo for many years, and we thought it might be interesting to talk to some of the speakers and exhibitors at the event. You'll hear our friend Rich Beresford of AroundtheCabin.com, 17 year old survivalist Blake Alma, and other popular YouTubers and celebs of the survival community. Listen to the stories of people who are members of the preparedness community. Plus, Joshua Remer and Max Dodge of Stop The Bleed Day talk about the importance of teaching how to stop bleeding from traumatic wounds. Also, a short discussion of how the antihistamine Benadryl, in injectable form, is actually a reasonably strong local anesthesia. Is it an option for the survival medic? Find out on this out-of-the-box program, Wishing you the best of health from good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton    

The right equipment is important for anyone to do a job efficiently. You wouldn't expect a steak knife to cut a tree down better than a saw, or see a hunter have the same success with a catapult as opposed to a rifle. The same goes for the containers you put supplies in, especially one you have to carry with you while bugging out or away from your retreat. The right medical backpack allows you to work effectively as a medic, while giving you the ability to have plenty of materials and minimizing back problems. Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy discuss what goes into choosing a good medical backpack. Plus, some basics of wound cleaning off the grid. In normal times, you can pass off a person with a wound to a hospital, but after a disaster, it's your responsibility to see the wound to full recovery. That means diligent and strict attention to wound cleaning. We talk about some strategies for wound care off the grid that will decrease the risk of wound infections and increase the chances for survival. All this and more

What if you had to function with joint pain in the aftermath of a major disaster? In the latest Survival Medicine Hour with Joe Alton MD, aka Dr. Bones, and Amy Alton ARNP, aka Nurse Amy, our hosts tell you all about arthritis: The different types, signs and symptoms, how to tell one type from another, treatment both natural and conventional, plus much more. A mass recall of fire extinguishers going all the way back to 1973 is in the news after a fire rescue team couldn't save a victim due to the failure of the all-important device. Is your device affected? Listen to Nurse Amy give an account of the Consumer Product Safety Commission's report. Plus, a listener who has lost his sense of smell; could it be allergies? could it be a chronic medical condition. Listen to his story and Dr. Alton's thoughts. All this and more on the Survival Medicine Hour with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Survival Medicine Handbook Third Edition on Amazon Follow Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy on twitter @preppershow, facebook at Doom and B