Survival Medicine

It may not be the wisest move to be fruitful and multiply in the early going after a disaster. You need all your people at 110% efficiency, and that isn't part of the deal with pregnancy, with all that fatigue, discomfort, nausea, and other symptoms. The best plans of mice and men often go awry, however, and you might find yourself taking care of a pregnancy and, eventually, delivering a baby. Old...

You've heard "Be Fruitful and Multiply", but in the early aftermath of a major long-term disaster, getting your women pregnant and having babies might be problematic when your garden isn't doing so well and you need every person at 110% efficiency. But how to prevent pregnancy when IUDs, Birth Control Pills, and other high tech methods aren't available. Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse A...

Active shooter events may seem like faraway, low-probability events, but this week a 19 year old man entered a high school just a few miles from the Altons' home and killed 17 and injured a dozen more. This is another horrific incident in the New Normal, and you can be sure that it won't be the last. Is there anything that can be done to end these attacks on innocent citizens, often youngsters? Jo...

You might not think it's possible, but there are enough different flu viruses circulating this season that you could actually get the flu again before Spring! H3N2 is the most common form around this year, but late season flus like Influenza B could bring you down again before things warm up. Joe and Amy talk about their recovery from a nasty case of the flu and give you some important advice. Plu...

Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, come down with the flu after their successful appearance at the SHOT show in Nevada, just one of 47 states reporting widespread outbreaks of influenza. Find out how hard it is to escape becoming a victim, even if you walk around with hand sanitizer in your pocket all day! Nurse Amy gives her advice for speeding recovery and Dr. Bones talks about the...

Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy discuss chest trauma, including rib fractures, ballistic and projectile trauma, and pneumothorax. Plus, an interview with Survival Blog's James Rawles on a book he wrote about a hypothetical Christian homeland in his novel "Land of Promise". Plus, a series of listener questions about things like Staph infections, food-grade diatomaceous earth, and muc...

Sleep deprivation is part and parcel of any post-apocalyptic setting, and you'd better know how to recognize it and deal with the issue in times of trouble. We discuss diagnosis, treatment, and use of natural remedies to help your anxious and depressed people stay work-efficient. Plus, eye injury questions from a Survival Podcast listener, and a discussion of how to recognize and treat pneumonia o...

New Show 1/12/2018 mudslide survival, fish antibiotics, and electromagnetic pulses! More info to follow!

It's January, and bitter cold has already engulfed much of North America, with heavy snowfall and high winds causing all sorts of issues that might be hazardous to your health. Nurse Amy and Dr. Bones (Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP) go over a myriad of cold weather issues like hypothermia, winter car survival if stranded, and more. . We pleased to announce that KYAH in the great state of Utah is...

12 people die in an apartment house fire in New York City, despite the presence of outdoor fire escapes on each floor. Winter is associated with the cold, but the heat from a fire is also part of it, as gas leaks and frayed electrical heating wires combust and cause major damage. Dr. Alton discusses 6 important things to know about the behavior of fire, and just what to do to get out of that burni...

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss the role of spirituality in survival, and the role hope plays in keeping people resilient in the face of adversity. Also, some hard realities the medic must confront in long-term survival scenarios and the role natural plant products will play in keeping people healthy when the medications run out. Plus, a discu...

Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP welcome Anthony Furey of the Sun Newspaper Chain to discuss his new book "Pulse Attack: The Real Story Behind the Weapon that can Destroy North America". Both the Altons and Mr. Furey are concerned about the risks associated with electromagnetic pulse attacks, when a nuclear weapon is detonated high in the atmosphere. Once thought to be the stuff of post-apocalyptic...

Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, discuss various methods of wound closure and when it's acceptable to close and when it's not. Less invasive methods like Steri-Strips and Glues are discussed as important ways to stretch the longevity of more high-tech items like sutures and staples. Also, the electromagnetic pulse caused by a North Korean nuclear weapon exploded high a...

Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, discuss a number of topics, including honey as a treatment for burns, how to tell colds vs. flus, medical barter items, acid reflux, using glues to close wounds, and much more! Honey, if raw and unprocessed, has antibacterial effect and may be useful to treat burns in situations where modern medical care is not a possibility. Do you hav...

Does the "lone wolf" have an advantage or disadvantage in situations where you're knocked off the grid and long term survival is not a sure thing? Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss the importance of community in tough times, even if it's just an extended family. Plus, after discussing first and second degree burns last week, Dr. Alton, aka Dr. Bones, tackles third degree burns, a difficult c...

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, discuss how to recognize and treat different types of burns, from first to third degree and the percentages of body surface affected. Also, more information on respiratory infections, including sinusitis, laryngitis, and laryngotracheitis, also known as “Croup”. Also, the FDA tries again to ban the natur...

The shooting at a Texas church came fast upon the Las Vegas shooting and the shooting at a church in Tennessee. it seems like you can't get away from headlines about some deranged, disgruntled, or politically motivated person out to do harm to innocent people. Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss some common sense tips for average citizens and some advice for our society to prevent becoming sof...

The NYC attack, which occurred very close to our daughter's workplace, killed 8 and injured a dozen more. More and more, terriorists are using vehicles to cause mayhem. What are some ways that you might be able to use rapid action to avoid losing your life in such an incident. Joe and Amy Alton discuss some options that might save some lives in these uncertain times. Also, disasters seem to always...

An outbreak of plague in Madagascar has killed 124 people and infected 1200. Although not an uncommon occurrence in the rural areas, this epidemic has hit the larger cities in the island nation, and is the deadlier version called "pneumonic plague". Pneumonic plague can be cured if found very early but if not, invariably results in death. Dr. Alton tells you all about bubonic, pneumonic, and septi...

Your survival medicine cabinet should have plenty of different meds that can handle pain, inflammation, fever, respiratory infections, stomach upset, diarrhea, and many more of the common issues that the survival medic will confront off the grid. Here's a good list and explanation of why you should  have these medicines in your storage. Plus, Living in a cliffhanging home on Ski Mountain in Gatlin...

This episode features labor and delivery, and natural childbirth off the grid. Plus, California wildfires underscore the need for preparedness for property and personal defense. All this and much more on the Survival Medicine Hour with Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy

What if you had to care for a pregnancy off the grid? Would you identify it as early as you should without pregnancy tests and ultrasounds? How can you assure the well-being of mother and baby during the pregnancy. Joe Alton MD and nurse-midwife Amy Alton, ARNP discuss how to keep an eye on that pregnant lady in your group from beginning all the way to 9 months (labor and delivery coming next time...

Joe and Amy Alton are concerned about natural disasters, but man-made mass casualties can be caused by active shooters, and they're now targeting our churches. A plan of action to ensure the safety of congregants should be established for every church, and the Altons have some suggestions. Also, after a disaster, you're told to be fruitful and multiply, but having a lot of women pregnant early in...

What would you have done if you were in Mexico City during the recent earthquakes? Is there anything that might have increased your chances of survival? In this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, hosts Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP talk about earhtquakes in general and give you safety tips that could save a life. Plus, what supplies would you need for delivering a baby and caring for a pregn...

Hurricane Irma has wreaked havoc on Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, and our hosts Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy have now had two different homes survive destruction in a year: Their place in Gatlinburg on Ski Mountain, where 100 homes burned to the foundation last November as part of a huge human-set wildfire, and now their home in South Florida from Hurricane  Irma's winds....