The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide: Emergency Preparedness for ANY Disaster

by Joseph Alton

No one knows what the next disaster will earthquake, Coronavirus, flu epidemic, flood, terrorist attack. But everyone should know how to survive a medical emergency if a medical professional isn’t available. From Dr. Joe Alton and Amy Alton ARNP comes an updated edition of their bestseller The Survival Medicine Handbook. This unique medical book is meant to enable the average person to handle injuries and illness in situations in which modern medical facilities and professionals aren’t available due to a disaster.This book is written by America’s top medical preparedness Joe Alton, MD, and Amy Alton, ARNP. Their to put a medically prepared person in every family for when medical help is not on the way. Using decades of medical experience, they address, in plain language, dozens of medical issues associated with surviving disasters and epidemics. The Altons also discuss the medical supplies needed to become a medical asset to your family and community as well as alternative and natural strategies for when pharmaceuticals aren’t available. Topics and Conditions that Mimic ItUrinary Tract InfectionsMosquito-Borne IllnessesAllergic Reactions and AnaphylaxisHead InjuriesAnimal BitesSnake BitesHead injuriesKidney StonesDislocations and FracturesNosebleedsPain MedicationsNatural Pain ReliefAnd much much more!Most medical books will send you to the doctor or hospital when an emergency happens. The Altons assume that the worst might actually happen—that the average person could be left without medical help in a disaster. With their book, you can keep your family healthy in times of trouble.

Genres: Nonfiction, Survival, Medicine, Health, Medical, Self Help

402 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 4, 2015

About the author

Joseph Alton (aka Dr. Bones)

Reviews

[Dr. Appu Sasidharan (Dasfill) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the world has still not recovered from the pandemic, books like this will be really helpful to people. In a crisis when the number of patients is way more than what the healthcare system can manage, this book can prove beneficial in saving many people's lives.

It is written by American medical professionals, and will help you survive epidemics. It will also help you to survive disasters like earthquakes, wildfires, blizzards, tornadoes, and hurricanes. It also has many first-aid measures that might be helpful in saving human lives during accidents. This ultimate survival guide for facing disasters is an absolute must-read book for everyone.

[Mischenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons of natural remedies. Goes over sanitation and hygiene, infections, injuries, chronic disease, and medicines to name a few. Has more content which can help issues with teeth and amputation. However, If you have a chronic disease that requires meds, this book won't be much help in a disaster. So basically, stockpile meds.

[Estela Zhang · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author invested quite a lot of effort to give you a thorough breakdown of all the things you may need if you are in the USA and you want to be prepared for the unexpected disastrous situation, although you'd need to have a warehouse and a huge garden to stock up the things recommended. It would be better if a more concise version of the most essential items can be provided or a layered list for people with different storage space/financial status would be nice.

[Jelena R · Rating 2 out of 5]

America-centered and panic inducing.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is actually a good guide to alternative medicines and herbal treatments. What makes it l s good is the fact that the writer - obviously a hard core preppier has to keep going on and on about what catastrophic thing WILL happen to take us back to the dark ages.

His one wolf theory of needing to stay in groups so you have people to guard your property, you, your suppliers, your weapons, your food,etc. Have NOTHING to do with survival medicine, just add a lot of clutter and pages to what would have otherwise been a 5 star reference book.

[Brannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great primer, though I wish I had gotten the unabridged version instead. This is worth reading for the guide to antibiotic use, if nothing else.

[Luis Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a medical technical improvisation manual to be only considered in survival, wilderness or in overall austere measures in limited environments or circumstances. The book begins by providing recommendations for medical supplies that are over the counter and considered common goods (gauzes, bandages, iodine, eye washes, antivirals, antihistamines/and medicinal forms, mask gloves, Sam splints, quick clots other hemostat types liquid skin or superglue, coagulants, antibiotics/ and veterinary equivalents are recommended ). Austere medical examination procedures such as heart rate counting (meaning counting the beats for 15 seconds x 4) is explained, cuticles pressure application to recognize blood flow, categorization of minimal to severe prioritization in a MCI/ or mass casualty incident, natural or man made event. Infection prevention in austere or survival circumstance are explained thoroughly in which pressure cookers for sterilization, antimicrobial soups, antivirals and antibiotics are discussed in applicable forms. Dental care, preventive care is also discussed within the book as also forceps for extraction is also discussed. Water illnesses as such found after major floods is explained, dehydration and electrolyte regeneration is also conveyed as well. Respiratory infections such as allergies, asthma and other asthmatic medicinal treatments are also explained. Such as honey, mints and humidifier usage. Wildfire safety as in NOT drenching oneself with water, carbon monoxide ailment prevention is also discussed. Snake bites from brown or rattle snakes prevention such as the usage flashlights, visual observation of outdoor environments, proper clothing long pants and or shin covers are recommended. As is also the flushing or suction of Venom by extraction is discussed. Wound care of mild to extreme is also discussed and various recommendations such as irrigation, Dakin solution cleaning, honey substitution and of course antibiotics is discussed as is also knowledge of good micro bacteria to heal and also closing a wound and when. Arachnid bites/ or spider bites, etc is discussed as well as symptoms and severity with recommendations. Sprains, fractures/ meaning bone fractures is explained as is also bone placement/ or bone alignment is explained by pulling outwards to a reasonable extent for placement more or less.
Various long term medical conditions care such hypertension, blood pressure, and diarrhea treatment are also discussed with the book. As is medicinals such as cayenne (meaning using the capsaicin within it to mitigate such ailments), salicin ( in other words willow bark, the inner membrane), rosemary for natural muscle relaxers). Acid reflux such calcium carbonate is even discussed well.
Child birth delivery is explained in detail, placenta removal (meaning membrane extraction carefully), amongst other related recommendations as well is explained. Various medical supplies, are recommended.

Overall I enjoyed the book

[KR · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked to see citations for… *anything*, really; a works cited would have been a wonderful reading guide, and as an artist and photographer, I would have liked to see it for the book’s graphics just on general principle. That lack of citation — the fact that I’m expected to take the authors at their word on all claims, and that I can’t use this as a jumping off point for further reading — is one of the biggest reasons for the low star writing.

I do appreciate the few physician’s references that were mentioned, even buried in the text as they were. I appreciate that the authors emphasized that the books contents were to be used as a last resort, and that professional modern care is preferable in all other circumstances. I would have liked to see a bit more emphatic of a similar sort of qualification on all of the suggested home remedies, but was glad to at least see that some of the risks were noted for some of the plants.

The guide on antibiotics and other specific medications, as well as potential sources for those medications, was nice to see. I was glad to see the focus on prevention and the care given to chronic conditions as well.

I also do think the book does a good job of sticking to and clearly presenting the basics. In most cases that meant it was *too* basic for my needs — I knew more medicine simply from the writing research that I’ve conducted over the years — but in the cases where it was discussing topics that were new to me, such as dentistry, I felt that the presentation of information was clear and concise.

…alright, fine, I’ve talked myself into a 3-star rating. Just know that it is a reluctant one.

[Ângela Maresch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide is a stupendous compilation of knowledge that can be lifesving in an extreme situation! From haemorrhoids to appendicitis, you can help treat it with a few simply tools. Being a young MD, I have always been very skeptical about natural treatments that are mentioned from time to time in the book, such as vinegar, lavender oil or chamomile tea... but checking the literature these remedies really show some healing properties and can be precious on your arsenal especially when nothing else is available.

[Emma Dulude · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was intrigued by this book, unaware it was about a societal collapse. nevertheless, it was very informative. however, it seemed to really revolve around having equipment in advance - i wanted to learn more about a sudden collapse without preparation, and what nature can provide medicine wise.

overall though, very good but i dont intend to start stockpiling my medicines - im just going to be naive and hope nothing bad occurs (RIP me)

[T.J. Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

handy reference when writing post apoc. fiction

[Rob Kiser]

Great review of basic medical preparedness for if we are ever off grid or have a zombie apocalypse. I plan on adding it to my emergency medical kit.

[Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and robust. More applicable to the first world than "Where There is No Doctor" which focuses more on how to explain basic sanitation and nutrition to the third world.

[Selma · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[akira_1243 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escoltat en audiollibre

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid Information, well informed book

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOTE: A am vaguely associated with the authors meaning that if they saw the name "Alex Shrugged" (me) they would probably admit that they had heard the name before. I have no financial connection with them at all. I have never spoken with them. However, I did involve myself in one discussion board exchange with Dr. Joseph Alton on the use of medicine that is past its expiration date in an emergency situation. My name has been mentioned on the same podcast (The Survival Podcast) as the authors when they were interviewed, but if we passed each other in the street they would have no idea whatsoever who I was.

I know the authors as "Doc Bones" and "Nurse Amy" from the Survival Medicine podcast. You can find the podcast at https://www.blogtalkradio.com/survivalmedicine and their YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/drbonespodcast.

OK. Moving on.

This is a review of the audiobook. I suspect that if I had reviewed the printed version or ebook version it would have received 5 stars. The issues I had were two: the narrator seemed unable to pronounce certain words correctly (or I don't know how to pronounce them and he does, but I doubt it). The other issue was that there was too much information to convey in an audio format. On the other hand, in written form there would ALSO be too much information to absorb. Thus, I recommend owning both the hardcopy book and audiobook. Then you can absorb the material and have a ready reference for details that interest you. You don't want to write down a long list by hand of the specific medicines, bandages and medical instruments the authors recommend. It's a pain in the neck with the audiobook.

Despite my reservations, I'm glad I got the audiobook. I doubt I would have read through all the specifics in the hardcopy book without it. The book would have sat on my shelf for just-in-case, and I would have pulled it off the shelf at exactly THE WRONG TIME. What time is that? IN THE MIDDLE OF A DISASTER is exactly the wrong time to start reading up on how to handle sanitation issues, how to triage injuries until medical help can reach you, what kind of bandages you should have on hand, what type of medicines might you need if you fear a long-term break down in normal medical services. (We are talking hours to days to weeks away from medical care for you and your neighbors. It can happen and has happened.)

I'm glad I read this book. I am seriously thinking of buying the hardcopy version of the book.

[Jonas Stephan Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good day all well this is i faith a good book through basic survival medicine god blees really have a good one.

[Joshua Friesen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every prepper needs a copy.

[Bec’s Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good! Kept me hooked and I learned some stuff. It's a lot of info, so a lot went in one ear and out the other but definitely worthwhile and I'm sure I'll listen again one day.