Finazzo - Preppers Survival Medicine Handbook

Copyright 2016 Scott Finazzo. Design and concept 2016 Ulysses Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized duplication in whole or in part or dissemination of this edition by any means (including but not limited to photocopying, electronic devices, digital versions, and the Internet) will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Published in the U.S. by

ULYSSES PRESS

P.O. Box 3440

Berkeley, CA 94703

www.ulyssespress.com

ISBN: 978-1-61243-586-2

Library of Congress Control Number 2015952137

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Acquisitions Editor: Casie Vogel

Managing Editor: Claire Chun

Project Editor: Caety Klingman

Editor: Lauren Harrison

Proofreader: Bill Cassel

Index: Sayre Van Young

Front cover and interior design: what!design @ whatweb.com

Layout: Jake Flaherty

Cover artwork: bloody hand Malota/shutterstock.com, injured woman Greg Epperson/shutterstock.com, house/truck damage Chad Purser/istockphoto, fire James Brey/istockphoto

Interior artwork: from shutterstock.com page 102 sea urchin photossee, page 153 yucca OK-SANA, page 184 mountain laurel Morphart Creation, page 197 catnip Morphart Creation

Distributed by Publishers Group West

NOTE TO READERS: This book has been written and published strictly for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as medical advice or to be any form of medical treatment. You should always consult your physician before altering or changing any aspect of your medical treatment and/or undertaking a diet regimen. Do not stop or change any prescription medications without the guidance and advice of your physician. Any use of the information in this book is made on the readers good judgment after consulting with his or her physician and is the readers sole responsibility. This book is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition and is not a substitute for a physician.

This book is independently authored and published and no sponsorship or endorsement of this book by, and no affiliation with, any trademarked brands or other products mentioned within is claimed or suggested. All trademarks that appear in this book belong to their respective owners and are used here for informational purposes only. The authors and publishers encourage readers to patronize the quality brands mentioned in this book.

This book is dedicated to all of the men and woman who have served, are currently serving, and will serve in the United States armed forcesparticularly my grandfather Herman Weissenborn. You have my utmost respect and gratitude.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

The calls for service that I respond to on the fire truck are met by highly trained and equipped men and women. We show up with seemingly countless hours of medical training, many years of experience, and a full complement of the latest medical equipment. Patients receive the best possible care from some of the finest people I know. Sometimes, though, a situation will arise that overwhelms our system. A weather eventa tornado, a major snowstorm, or a severe thunderstormwill strike, and the calls for help outnumber the available resources. Its unfortunate, but those situations happen, and municipalities do the best they can with what they have.

It is in those moments that the citizens whose tax money pays for the protection of paramedics, police officers, and firefighters are forced to fend for themselves. Ive seen it many times. As emergency responders establish a grip on the situation and are finally able to arrive on the scene, family, neighbors, and bystanders have rendered aid and are often simply waiting on the emergency crews to take over and transport the wounded to the hospital. They use past experience, intuition, and training to care for each other in the worst of circumstances.

Another scenario Ive experienced is when injuries occur away from civilization. Someone is hiking, camping, boating, or enjoying a variety of other outdoor endeavors that put them beyond the reach of conventional communication, and suddenly they need help. The injured have no way of relaying their need for assistance. That is when first aid must be given and procedures performed because there is no one else who can help. You must then rely on the equipment and skills you have available.

The United States military has been training men and women for hundreds of years in the skills needed for survival. It places its personnel in some of the most unforgiving climates and in perilous conditions in order to carry out missions, and it is in those circumstances that they are forced to care for themselves and each other. The techniques and procedures used by our military are basic lifesaving skills that can be used by the general public in a variety of situations.

This book explains some fundamental procedures that can be used in any medical scenario. The techniques detailed in these pages can be used at the family picnic, deep in the wilderness, or in the aftermath of a natural or man-made disaster. Any time there is someone in need who cant help themselves, you have the opportunity to make a difference. It is common for survivors, or those wishing to help, to feel helpless due to lack of skills, training, and supplies. But by learning the skills covered in this book, youll be better prepared both psychologically and physically to help out when help is needed most.

I hope youll use this book as a resource and gather as much information as you can, and that you keep it handy as a reference to guide you through a medical emergency. Most of all, my wish is that you use this book as a springboard to seek out further medical knowledge and experience. I always say that how you prepare is how you will respond. Make sure youre prepared to care for those who mean the most to you at a time when they may need you the most.

However, this book is not intended to take the place of any formal medical training. It is based on information gathered from U.S. military manuals and field guides. I have also added advice from my own training and experience as a firefighter. If you have the ability to call for paramedic help or take the injured person to a doctor or hospital, you should do so. Only turn to the advice in this book when the disaster situation is such that you have no other option.

For centuries soldiers have been sent to battlefields, and over the course of their missions, there was one inevitability: There would be casualties. U.S. military personnel are trained in nearly every conceivable area of combat and survival. They are prepared and equipped to be self-reliant in a variety of situations and climates. A constant state of readiness is an absolute must because they could be called into action at any time and, more often than not, they are called to areas and conditions where they are unsupported. It is never a question of ifit is a matter of when.

One area where they must be extremely proficient is that of first aid. Soldiers do dangerous work in dangerous conditions, and one inherent consequence of that is the likelihood of injury. They must know how to respond, at a moments notice, to any possible medical emergency. While some are trained and certified doctors and nurses, many are just like you. They have no formal medical background or education. They have other specialties that they are responsible for knowing, yet when something goes wrong, they want and are expected to be able to help their fellow soldiers or civilians. Where they go, there is no option to call an ambulance or have a doctor or other medical professional there to render care. They must be able to treat each other, and often themselves, in less than ideal conditions and with minimal equipment.