Survival Medicine

You know, we talk a lot about medical supplies that you have to get serious training for, like tourniquets, hemostatic dressings, decompression needles, and the like, but there are important supplies you probably have right now in your medicine cabinet that are also very important for the survival medic in long-term disaster settings. Dressings, bandages, antiseptics, and much more are discussed in this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast. Also, internal injuries:  What you need to know, with Dr. Joe Alton. Also, the benefits of raw honey in wound care, but a discussion of mold and its risks and remediation. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don’t forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net. Also, our Book Excellence Award-winning 700-page SURVIVAL MEDICINE HANDBOOK: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR WHEN HELP IS NOT ON THE WAY is now available in black and white on Amazon and in color and color spiral-bound versions at store.doomandbloom.net.

Joe and Amy Alton's Survival Medicine Podcast discusses the start of tornado season and how to get yourself prepared, [lus basics of draining boils and abscesses off the grid. Dr. Bones takes a hard look at medical skills needed to survive, listing them out, and giving a reasoned look on how to be a successful family medic in times of trouble. Also, Dr. Alton takes a question from a listener on testosterone replacement therapy, not really a survival topic but you'll learn a lot. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Hey, don’t forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net. Also, our Book Excellence Award-winning 700-page SURVIVAL MEDICINE HANDBOOK: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR WHEN HELP IS NOT ON THE WAY is now available in black and white on Amazon and in color and color spiral-bound versions at store.doomandbloom.net.

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy discuss hard realities regarding survival situations, and how the family medic needs a mindset adjustment to be effective in that role. Also, Dr. Joe Alton talks about cold-related extremities injuries like frostbite and immersion (trench) foot. Amy Alton, NP, discuss what you need to know about the basics of essential oils as a tool in the survival medicine cabinet, and Dr. Bones answers a question from a listener of their friend Jack Spirko's Survival Podcast about Dakin's solution, an old option for wound care that has serious survival implications. All this and more on the Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Hey, don’t forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net. Also, our Book Excellence Award-winning 700-page SURVIVAL MEDICINE HANDBOOK: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR WHEN HELP IS NOT ON THE WAY is now available in black and white on Amazon and in color and color spiral-bound versions at store.doomandbloom.net.

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe and Nurse Amy Alton discuss cold weather exposure and its ill effects, known as "hypothermia." Plus, the medic has to know how to deal with mundane issues as well as the sensational "prepper" problems like disaster trauma. One of these issues is lice. Dr. Alton tells you everything you need to know about lice: head lice, body lice, and public lice. Plus, scabies! Ugh! Finally, Dr. Bones discusses how viruses change from year to year, and what that means for this year's cold/flu/RSV/Covid season. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Joe and Nurse Amy Alton! Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don’t forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net. Also, our Book Excellence Award-winning 700-page SURVIVAL MEDICINE HANDBOOK: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR WHEN HELP IS NOT ON THE WAY is now available in black and white on Amazon and in color and color spiral-bound versions at store.doomandbloom.net.

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton lament the loss of fish and other equivalent antibiotics due to the actions of the FDA, leaving the family medic in survival settings with one less tool in the medical woodshed. Also, Dr. Bones discusses important strategies to stay safe in your vehicle this winter, even if stranded in a blizzard. Also, natural remedies for respiratory infections, with a special in-depth look by Nurse Amy at the health benefits and uses of peppermint. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with medical preparedness advocates Joe and Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Learn more about cold weather survival and 200 other off-grid topics with the 4th edition of the award-winning “Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide For When Help Is NOT On The Way,” available on Amazon in black and white, or get a color or color spiral-bound version at store.doomandbloom.net. And check out our entire line of quality medical kit and supplies there too! You’ll be glad you did.

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton proudly announce their first children's book, "Snowbie, the first snowman," a heartwarming story of how snowmen came to be, great Christmas bedtime reading for little ones! Reading to children helps develop listening, vocabulary, social, and other skills that last well into their teens. Check out Snowbie here: Snowbie: The First Snowman: Alton A.R.N.P., Amy, Alton M.D., Joseph, Crouthamel, Cheryl: 9781510780675: Amazon.com: Books Plus, Dr. Bones discusses pneumonia, whooping cough, epigottitis, and other respiratory infections that come out in the cold weather months (part of a series). Also, his thoughts on bartering in survival settings, and why you should have more medical supplies that you currently have in your storage! Lastly, a question from a listener about inflammation of the prostate. What is it and how is it treated? All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, The Altons Hey, don’t forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net. Also, our Book Excellence Award-winning 700-page SURVIVAL MEDICINE HANDBOOK: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR WHEN HELP IS NOT ON THE WAY is now available in black and white on Amazon and in color and color spiral-bound versions at store.doomandbloom.net.

Dr. Joe and Nurse Amy Alton discuss dental issues, gouty arthritis, yellow fever, more in this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, broadcast from the beautiful Great Smoky Mountains! You might be ,medically prepared, but are you dentally prepared? Most family medics don't realize that, in survival scenarios, they're bound to come across dental issues with little or no knowledge or supplies. Dr. Joe Alton discusses the basics of the dental exam, tooth anatomy, dental decay, tooth abscesses and more. Also, check out our unique dental kit for off-grid settings... Experts say we're in for cases of yellow fever in the near future. Find out about this past and future epidemic disease, and why the authorities are worrying about the U.S. suffering an outbreak now! Also, a reader question about arthritis, especially gouty arthritis... All this and more on the Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Hey, don’t forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits (including suture kits) at store.doomandbloom.net. Also, our Book Excellence Award-winning 700-page SURVIVAL MEDICINE HANDBOOK: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR WHEN HELP IS NOT ON THE WAY is now available in black and white on Amazon and in color and color spiral-bound versions at store.doomandbloom.net.

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton discuss a wide range of medical topics from tic disorders to acid relux to wound care. Amy gives a thorough overview of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and the various treatments used, their advantages and disadvantages.  Dr. Joe Alton discusses wound care and how proper irrigation of an open wound helps healing and increases survival rates. Plus, a news story out of New York City that suggests the government there is asking everyone to carry anti-overdose drugs like Narcan(r) due to an alarming death rate from fentanyl. Dr. Alton also takes a question from an audience member about tic disorders, especially in kids. There's not much that the Altons won't cover in the Survival Medicine Podcast! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Amy and Joe Alton Hey, don’t forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits (including suture kits) at store.doomandbloom.net. Also, our Book Excellence Award-winning 700-page SURVIVAL MEDICINE HANDBOOK: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR WHEN HELP IS NOT ON THE WAY is now available in black and white on Amazon and in color and color spiral-bound versions at store.doomandbloom.net.

In this episode of The Survival Medicine Podcast., Dr. Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, discuss upcoming fall season issues like colds, flus, respiratory syncytial virus, headaches, quality control of herbal drugs, and the myth of the popular OTC drug phenylephrine as an effective nasal decongestant in cold and flu season. Also, learn about the basics of protective vests in survival scenarios with Dr. Bones. All this and more in this topic-packed episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton

Recent hurricanes on the West and East coast have threatened millions, and it's important for you to know what to do if one of these juggernauts is heading in your direction. Dr. Joe Alton tell you what you need to know. Last time, we talked about shark attacks, but many more people are injured by less scary critters like sting rays and jellyfish. Dr. Alton tells you what to do for these injuries, and also talks about the recent spate of cases of marine waters that harbor Vibrio vulnificus, the flesh eating bacteria that has killed several people this summer.  Plus, heavy rains from Cyclone Hilary have cause flash floods and mudslides in the normally desert Southwest. Dr. Bones tells you all about them, and what to do before you build that dream retreat in the mountains, how to harden a home already built, and what to do if the river of mud is an imminent threat. All this and more on the Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don’t forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits (including suture kits) at store.doomandbloom.net. Also, our Book Excellence Award-winning 700-page SURVIVAL MEDICINE HANDBOOK: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR WHEN HELP IS NOT ON THE WAY is now available in black and white on Amazon and in color and color spiral-bound versions at store.doomandbloom.net.

You’d have to look far and wide for someone who hasn’t been stung by an insect at one point or another.  It’s not pleasant in any situation, but bees and wasps especially can inflict some real discomfort if you run afoul of them. In a small minority of cases, allergic reactions to the venom injected can be life-threatening, a condition known as “anaphylaxis.” Find out more about wasp and bee stings with Dr. Joe Alton in this segment. Plus, a lot bigger but, thankfully, a lot rarer, is an encounter with a shark. About 25 species are known to attack humans, some provoked, some not so much. There's a lot more people these days (more than 8 billion, and they're heading to the beach in the summer. Find out about how to prevent a shark attack, what to do if you're in the water with sharks, and what to do if you witness an attack. Also in this episode, Nurse Amy goes into specifics on how to make your own ointments, a useful skill for the off-grid pharmacist. When the drugs run out, you'll still have herbs if you start your garden now, and these can be compounded into ointments with medicinal benefits. All this and more from Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy in the Survival Medicine POdcast! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy  Find out more  in our books and  get medically prepared with kits and supplies from Nurse Amy’s entire line of supplies and education at store.doomandbloom.net!

It’s true that a survival group needs someone with medical knowledge and supplies to treat heavy bleeding and orthopedic injuries. Indeed, the average survival medical kit concentrates on these issues to the exclusion of much else. Even well-prepared medics don’t realize that they’ll be faced with a quite different challenge much more often: dental problems. In this podcast, Dr. Joe Alton tells you how to deal with dental trauma off the grid. Also, Amy Alton, NP, discusses herbal remedies like tonic wines and syrups, hot-infused oils, and how to make capsules and powders, and Dr. Joe takes note of malaria cases transmitted right here in the U.S.A., and what you need to know. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don’t forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits at store.doomandbloom.net. Also, our Book Excellence Award-winning 700-page SURVIVAL MEDICINE HANDBOOK: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR WHEN HELP IS NOT ON THE WAY is now available in black and white on Amazon and in color and color spiral-bound versions at store.doomandbloom.net.

In this extended episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton discuss another wide range of topics, including how to make herbal remedies, dehydration from hot summer weather, how to diagnose, treat, and prevent heat-related emergencies, soft tissue infections like cellulitis, and much more.... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad! Joe and Amy Alton Hey, learn more about 200 medical topics in survival settings with the two-time Book Excellence Award winner in medicine, The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide For When Help Is NOT On The Way, available in black and white at Amazon and in color and color spiral-bound versions at store.doomandbloom.net! Plus, check out our entire line of quality medical kits and individual supplies while you’re there! You’ll be glad you did!

In this extended episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Joe Alton, MD, FACS, FACOG, and Amy Alton APRN, CNM go into various diverse topics! Dr. Joe Alton discusses bleeding issues in honor of National Stop The Bleed Day, then pivots, as school ends, to the Great Outdoors and the ticks that inhabit it. Nurse Amy goes into making herbal meds and tells you how to put together a good herbal first aid kit, and Dr. Bones answers a listener's questions about preventing dental cavities with various products you can stockpile for times of trouble. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton,aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Hey, learn more about 200 medical topics in survival settings with the two-time Book Excellence Award winner in medicine, The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide For When Help Is NOT On The Way, available in black and white at Amazon and in color and color spiral-bound versions at store.doomandbloom.net! Plus, check out our entire line of quality medical kits and individual supplies while you’re there! You’ll be glad you did!

In a survival scenario, the family medic will be called on to care not only for medical issues, but dental as well. Military medics during the Vietnam War reported that they dealt with dental problems almost as often as medical. Therefore, the survival medic should expect much of the same. Dr. Joe Alton discusses a strategy that can take care of 90 percent of all dental emergencies: Extraction! Plus, Dr.Joe and Nurse Amy discuss what you need to know to have a thriving medicinal herb garden underway well in advance of the zombie apocalypse! Everything about soil, cuttings, grow zones, etc. to get you on the learning curve for a successful supply of sustaining medicines. Plus, Dr. Joe Alton answers some questions from a listener about osteoarthritis. Our moving parts get wear and tear, and osteoarthritis is the inevitable result. What you should know. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with the Altons! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton

Water. You can't live without it, but in a survival scenario, bad water could be the reason you don't make it. In this episode, Dr. Joe Alton discusses various ways to deal with questionable water, including disinfection methods, filtering, getting fresh water from salt water, and much more. Also, you may want to hear about a new virus about as much as you'd like a hole in the head, but Ebola-like Marburg may be worth knowing about. Dr. Alton (Bones) tells you what you need to know in a calm, reasoned manner (In other words, don't worry, odds of it leaving its place of origin is very small). Plus, Dr. Alton answers a question from a listener about the passing of a friend from a stroke. What you need to know about this often life-threatening event. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast! Wishing you the best of health in good or bad times, Joe and Amy Alton Don't forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits at store.doomandbloom.net!

In this episode of The Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton discuss the importance of the medic knowing their role and job description in times of trouble, plus how to decide the types and number of medical supplies should be in your storage.  Also, the train derailment in Ohio last month caused a major chemical spill. Would you know what to do if 115,000 gallons of vinyl chloride were thrown at you from a train. Dr. Joe Alton tells you what you need to know. Plus, Nurse Amy discuss the medical uses of thyme as a natural remedies when the commercial medications run out. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Check out our Stomp Supreme to get an idea of what the serious medic might need in a long-term off-grid scenario without hope of medevac, plus our other kits, many one-of-a-kind, at store.doomandbloom.net. Learn about the medical supplies you’ll need in times or trouble and 200 other medical topics in disaster settings in the award-winning 4th edition of The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide For When Help Is NOT On The Way...

Recently, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake caused massive damage and loss of life in parts of Turkey and Syria. Over 22,000 deaths are confirmed so far, with more than 60,000 injured. Dr. Joe Alton tells you everything you need to know to increase your chances of surviving this unpredictable and devastating natural disaster. Also, Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton gives you the scoop of preventing allergies in the coming season, with a number of natural remedies to improve your quality of life. Dr. Alton returns to discuss the recent listeria outbreak that has caused 400 food brands to be recalled from the market in the last couple of weeks. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Joe and Nurse Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Hey, make sure you get your family medically prepared with quality medical kits and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad you did.

It's winter, and some folks are heading for ski resorts, and that means a big change in altitude for most. The National Academy of Sciences reports that 33.5% of the population lives below an elevation of 100 meters above sea level. That means that, in any major disaster, getting out of Dodge often means heading for the hills. There’s a possibility that we might have to abruptly relocate from a home at sea level to a “bug-out” location in the mountains. Many people adjust to changes of climate and altitude easily, but others don’t; the rapid change in elevation may cause a condition known as Altitude Sickness or Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Dr. Joe Alton tells you what you need to know, and discuss with Nurse Amy some case histories of backcountry high-elevation sickness. Plus, is it better to be a lone wolf or is it important to have a community to fall back on? Many preppers are keeping their thoughts to themselves these days, and they might survive a major disaster, but can it be done all by themselves? Some thoughts... This and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Joe and Nurse Amy Alton.  Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don't forget to get your copy of the survival medicine gold standard, The 4th edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide for when Help is NOT on the way, in black and white on Amazon or in color at store.doomandbloom.net.

Winter storms like "bomb cyclones" can be life-threatening, so it's important to know how to winterize, not only your car, but yourself. In this episode, Dr. Joe Alton discusses different ways to make sure you survive that car trip out in the blizzard, including all the supplies that would make sense to keep in the car just in case. Also, dental extraction is a rare thing you'd have to do yourself these days, but in long-term survival, someone has to do it, and you're elected. How to go about it? Dr. Alton tell you in this segment. Plus, Chestnuts have distinct health benefits which we'll tell you about, but also let's talk about the efforts to revive the American Chestnut, a rare tree in America's landscape today, but more than a quarter of our Eastern and Midwest forests 100 years ago.   Dr. Alton will talk about canine influenza, which seems to be more prevalent this year than others. What is the dog flu and can it, one day, mutate to infect humans. What you need to know for your dog and, maybe, yourself! All this and more in the latest episode of The Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Joe Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton

Joe Alton MD, aka Dr. Bones, covers a broad range of topic in this episode, including traumatic brain injuries like concussions and worse. Head injuries will be common in survival settings, and the medic can still be effective even with limited supplies and materials. Also, Paxlovid, the COVID therapy, has been free so far (which is good, since it costs an average of $530) but that changes in mid-2023, simply because the FDA hasn't approved it fully yet. Medicare Part D won't cover it until it does, but these things may take a while, which could put some lives at risk. Dr. Alton discusses further. Plus, a question from a listener who has become more and more allergic to bee stings. What can she do to desensitize herself and avoid anaphylactic shock? Dr. Bones thinks aloud as to some options. Finally, some pointers on soft tissue wound care to help the off-grid medic help an injured survivor recover fully. All this and more in the latest episode of The Survival Medicine Podcast! Wishing the best of health in good times and bad, Joe Alton MD Check out the 4th edition of The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide For When Help Is NOT On The Way!

People in off-grid settings are often called upon to perform activities to which they’re not accustomed. In daily survival, the inexperienced will suffer mishaps that lead to injury; in situations where sanitation is questionable, these injuries carry a risk of infection, especially in unsanitary conditions. One of these is known as “cellulitis.” Dr. Joe Alton tells you what you need to know about this common problem. Also, aquarium antibiotics have been a staple for survival medics since Dr. Alton's article in survivalblog close to 15 years ago. Now, the government is tightening the screws as to how citizens can access antibiotics, starting with food-producing livestock. What does it mean for the preparedness community? Plus, an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus on the west coast may become an epidemic and part of a triple whammy this winter along with flu and COVID. Find out about this surging virus.  Finally, some advice on what to do in falls into cold water from a capsized boat (or, in the case of recent headlines, a fall from a cruise ship!) All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe Alton MD, aka Dr. Bones! Hey, don't forget your copy of The Survival Medicine Handbook, the 4th edition, a 2022 Book Excellence Award Winner in the Medical category!

In normal times, once you have stopped the bleeding and applied a splint or dressing, the emergency is “over.” You sit and wait for an ambulance or rescue helicopter to arrive and your part is over. In an austere setting, however, the medic must follow the status of the wound for more than a few minutes or hours. You’re in charge until the person is fully recovered. Constant, diligent wound care is your responsibility. It’s important to understand that a wound is not just a “hole”; it’s part of a person who should be informed of your plan of action and participate, if possible, in their care. Most wounds will heal completely over time, but some may never achieve full recovery. Due to massive injuries or complicating conditions such as diabetes, the best care may sometimes yield a less-than-optimal result even in good times. The medic’s duty is to care for the patient the best they can with the limited supplies and technology available off the grid. In this episode, Dr. Joe Alton discusses daily wound care in austere settings, including the removal of non-viable tissue using sharp debridement. It ain't pretty, but if you're the medic, it's you that has to do it. Also, questions that preppers should ask their doctors when told to take a new drug or get a serious diagnostic test. All this and more on the Survival Medicine Podcast! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad,  Joe Alton MD Hey fill those holes in your medical knowledge and supplies with award-winning books, kits, and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

A world weary of one viral pandemic is now experiencing the early stages of another: In the last three months, more than 88 countries have reported a total of more than 30,000 cases of the disease called monkeypox, which was previously restricted to parts of Africa. That’s more than we saw in the 2014 Ebola epidemic, so the survival medic should know about it. Plus, flooding in Kentucky takes more than three dozen lives. Flooding is a common disaster, and anyone who doesn't live on a mountaintop should be prepared to deal with one. Flash floods, burn scars, ice jams, snowmelt, dam failures, and more are discussed so you'll know what to do to keep your family safe. Lastly, one of the most common problems the medic will see in survival scenarios is mundane: constipation. At least, it's mundane until you get a bad case of it! Dr. Joe Alton discusses all you need to know to help your people stay at 100 percent in times of trouble. Bonus: What about MREs and constipation? All this and more in the latest episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton NP.... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad! Hey, don’t forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits at store.doomandbloom.net. Also, our Book Excellence Award-winning 700-page Survival Medicine Handbook is now available in black and white on Amazon and in color and color spiral-bound versions at store.doomandbloom.net.

t’s summer, and this is the time that people head out to the shore and take in the Great Outdoors. Millions will do just that, and the vast majority of beach-goers will experience nothing but a great time. On occasion, however, a person may run afoul of a sea creature during their time in the water. It’s their home, after all, and some can get pretty aggressive when disturbed or when looking for a meal. In this podcast, we discuss everything from encounters with jellyfish to sharks. Also, we review everything you should know about preventing summer drownings everywhere, including pools, rivers, lakes, and the ocean. Finally, Nurse Amy introduces a new first aid kit meant for minor wound care, and Dr. Alton discusses how to deal with minor soft tissue infections like cellulitis. All this and more in the latest survival medicine podcast with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton NP!  Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy Find out more about animal encounters, survival at sea, and 200 other medical topics off the grid in the Book Excellence Award winner in Medicine, The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide For When Help Is NOT On The Way. Plus, check out quality medical kits for beach outing and other scenarios at store.doomandbloom.net.

Well, it’s summer and a lot of folks are heading out into the great outdoors. In a disaster or any other situation that knocks us off the grid, we’ll be exposed a lot more to things like insect stings and poison ivy, as well as strange food items that we aren’t accustomed to. Being in contact with all this stuff may cause Allergic reactions in susceptible individuals. When we develop an allergic reaction, it might be mild or it might be severe. If severe enough, we refer to it as anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock. Dr. Joe Alton discusses what you need to know and options on how to get epinephrine auto-injectors at a discount.. Plus, a discussion all about lightning in summer storms, and what to do to avoid being a victim. Even if you’ve medically prepared, and have a big stockpile of conventional medications, hey, they’ll eventually run out. If you’re gonna be the family medic in a survival setting, you’ll need to find alternatives if you want to keep your people healthy long-term. What's the difference between alternative, complementary, integrative, holistic, and other types of care? Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Learn about 200 medical topics off the grid with a copy of the 2022 Book Excellence Award winner in medicine, The Survival Medicine Handbook's 4th Edition. Plus, check out our entire line of quality medical kits and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net

Today Nurse Amy and Dr. Bones talk about the health benefits of chamomile.  Yes, a regular MD and nurse practitioner touting the benefits of herbal tea, how about that?  Hey, in times of trouble, you gotta use all the tools in the woodshed! Plus, a thorough discussion on the basics of IV therapy, with emphasis on essentials and practical tips to get fluids into a dehydrated patient. Learn how to recognize signs of dehydration and an ancient, but useful off the grid, method of rehydrating an unconscious patient: rectal rehydration. Yes, that's a thing... All this and more in the latest episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton NP! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don't forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits, educational books, and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net! You'll be glad you did.

A bill entered in California’s state legislature has gone where President Biden’s “disinformation bureau” couldn’t. Bill AB-2098 gives power to the state’s medical board to investigate and punish doctors whose advice and treatment regarding COVID-19 varies from their perceived “applicable standard of care.” The medical establishment now has “disinformation” authority over others who dare to voice alternative options to their patients or even on social media. Dr. Joe Alton, aka Dr. Bones, gives his thoughts. Also, Nurse Amy Alton tell you about peppermint oil, and its potential as a viable tool in the survival medicine cabinet. Uses and ways to prepare it are included. Plus, Dr. Joe Alton talks about how to deal with wounds from sharp objects like knives in survival settings with limited supplies. Finally, a question from a listener about what to do about leg cramps. All this and more in this episode of The Survival Medicine Podcast, with Joe Alton MD and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad,  Joe and Amy Hey, don't forget to check out our entire line of educational books, individual supplies, and the highest-quality medical kits at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad you did!

It’s a rare individual who has never had a nosebleed and a lot of people have, over the course of their lives, been the recipient of a punch in the nose or other facial trauma. Dr. Joe and Nurse Amy Alton discuss nosebleeds, nasal fractures (broken noses) and foreign bodies in the nostrils of children in this episode. Also, Amy Alton, NP discusses the usefulness of valerian root off the grid for various purposes in the survival medicinal garden. Plus, a listener asks about the heart condition that causes palpitations, irregular beat, and much more: Atrial fibrillation. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr.Bones and Nurse Amy! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Hey, fill those holes in your medical storage with kits and individual supplies from our entire line at store.doomandbloom.net!

More than 20 million Americans experience some form of hormonal dysfunction related to the thyroid gland, so you can bet that the off-grid medic will eventually come across someone with it. You've gott to know  know how to recognize these conditions and improve them, if possible. This can be way harder off the grid than in today's modern world, but you might still be able to do something that helps. Dr. Joe and Nurse Amy explore the topic... Also, Dr. Joe Alton answers a difficult question from a person dealing with issues relating to alcohol use. How to get on the wagon and stay there. Are there ways to get back to full sobriety? If so, how? Dr. Alton explores the possibilities in this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, check out the greatly expanded 4th edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook, the essential guide for when help is NOT on the way, available in black and white at Amazon or in color at store.doomandbloom.net!

How long do you think you’d last when the SHTF if you can’t hear the zombies sneaking up on you muttering something about tasty, tasty brains? The ear is the organ that controls, not only hearing, but balance as well. It’s a rare parent who hasn’t had to deal with ear problems at one point or another during their life. In some cases, It could be a chronic issue that makes an otherwise healthy child (or adult) miserable. Dr. Joe  Alton discusses what the medic needs to know about ear problems off the grid. Plus, a question from a listener dealing with inflammatory bowel syndrome. Learn all about the condition and ways to diagnose and treat the condition. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr.Joe Alton and Amy Alton. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD Hey, fill those holes in your medical storage with high-quality medical kits and supplies from our entire line at store.doomandbloom.net!  (We also  have otoscopes at a reasonable price!) You'll be glad you did.

Some of our friends have discouraged us from speaking about the small possibility of a nuclear event in the unstable and uncertain future, but everyone should know about them, not panic, and understand that survival is possible in many cases. Dr. Joe Alton discusses different types of nuclear weapons and meltdowns, types of radiation, percentages and radius of damage, symptoms of radiation sickness, building shelters, treating the sick, and much more. Plus, a question about suture kits from a listener leads to a discussion of why and when to close wounds, and how to developing good judgment is more important than just learning how to throw a stitch. All this and more on the Survival Medicine Podcast!  Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, check out our medical kits, books, individual supplies, and more at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad you did.

In this topic-filled podcast, Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton discuss corruption in the medical establishment that has led to bad messaging and advice for the current pandemic, and why this happens in a highly politicized society. Also, Dr. Alton cover cold injuries like frostbite and immersion (trench) foot, and other cold exposure issues. Nurse Amy tells you all you need to know about clove bud oil, a useful item to have in long-term survival medicine cabinets, and Dr. Bones returns to discuss the significance of expiration dates and how they affect the survival medic... All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton

In good times or bad, families may face any number of events where trauma causes injuries. In the United States alone, there are over 37 million emergency department visits annually due to some type of trauma. Off the grid, it stands to reason that activities of daily survival performed by those unaccustomed will greatly increase the number of traumatic wounds. This week, Dr. Joe Alton discusses what to do for strains and sprains.  Also, the Alton discuss antiseptics, both commercial and improvised, and their use in survival scenarios to save lives. Plus, a Survival Podcast question about strokes leads Dr. Alton to tell you all you need to know about them in good times or bad. Hey, find out more about  150  medical topics in survival settings with a copy of the greatly expanded 4th Edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook, available at Amazon or get a personally signed copy at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad you did. Joe and Amy Alton

Well, we survived our first cold wave of the year down here in South Florida, where the temperatures dived all the way down into the high fifties. We’ve heard rumors that some places get even colder in winter, so, even though they’re probably just rumors, the Altons talked last time about general hypothermia. This time, they’ll talk about cold water safety in survival settings. Plus, Dr. Bones (Joe Alton MD) discusses things you should know about medical gloves, all about wound infections, and more. Nurse practitioner Amy Alton discusses nursing care in a comprehensive way in part two of her series, as much information as you'll find anywhere on the subject.. All this and more on the lastest Survival  Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, The Altons Consider getting your family medically prepared and use those HSA/FSA dollars at store.doomandbloom.net, where you'll find an entire line of medical kits, individual supplies, and the latest 4th edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook!

The environment plays a large role in your success as medic in survival settings. If you don’t take weather conditions and other factors into account, you have made the environment your enemy, and it’s a formidable one. One major issue is cold-related illness, otherwise known as hypothermia. Normally, the body core ranges from 97.5 to 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit (36.5-37.5 degrees Celsius) when taken orally or rectally. Rectal temps tend to be slightly higher than oral, and oral temps slightly higher than skin readings, such as those taken in the armpit. Hypothermia begins when the body core drops below 95 degrees. Dr. Joe Alton discusses what to do when the family medic is faced with someone struck by cold exposure. Also, Nurse Amy Alton begins a series on nursing care off the grid. While not as sensational as emergency trauma care, the daily maintenance of the bedridden group member is so important that you're bound to lose people if you don't know how to properly care for them all the way to recovery. Amy discusses what you need to know in part 1... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, have you gotten your copy of the brand new, greatly expanded 4th edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook? You should check it out here! You'll be glad you did!.

Many of the medical items in your storage, like instruments and some dressings, may come already sterile, but in survival, dressings are consumed and the sterile instruments become dirty. This leads to the question of how to sterilize your reusable items and produce a store of sterile supplies. Dr. Joe Alton discusses how best to disinfect reusable and even some disposable items in the aftermath of a major long-term disaster. Also, a major obstacle to good sanitation and health in survival will be infestation of retreats by rodents like rats and mice. Their droppings, urine, saliva, and nests can contaminate your food supply and make things much harder. Dr. Bones discusses all sorts of strategies to keep your retreat rodent-free. Plus, a question from a listener about alopecia aereata, a hair loss syndrome that can be difficult to deal with in good times or bad. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast, with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton NP. Hey, if you want to know more about survival medicine in times of trouble, consider a copy of the greatly expanded, brand new 4th edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide for When Help is NOT on the way, available at Amazon or at store.doomandbloom.net.

Although science has made great progress against bacterial disease, our advances against viruses are still in their infancy. Now, potentially good news is being reported in the battle against the current pandemic: An experimental oral drug known as molnupiravir reduces the risk of hospitalization and death in phase III clinical trials. Today Joe Alton MD (aka Dr.Bones) and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton  are going to talk about two products developed by Merck Pharmaceuticals: Ivermectin and Molnupiravir, and the evidence for their effectiveness in the COVID pandemic. Plus, why is Merck pushing this new drug over ivermectin, already FDA approved for certain parasitic issues? All this and more on the latest episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Hey have you gotten a copy of the brand new, greatly expanded 4TH EDITION of the Survival Medicine Handbook? Check it out at store.doomandbloom.net along with our entire line of quality medical kits, individual supplies and personal protection gear (including N95 masks) or go to Amazon.com. You'll be glad you did.

The control of major hemorrhage (called “hemostasis”) is the territory of paramedics and trauma surgeon in normal times. In survival scenarios, however, the family medic is unlikely to be either of these. Although direct pressure on a bleeding wound may stop the bleeding, there are times when it just ain’t enough. In such cases, tourniquets are the best first course of action, but they can’t stay on there forever. While tourniquets, gauze rolls, and Israeli battle dressing will help stop bleeding, they don’t have anything special in them that specifically aids in the clotting process. In the last several decades, however, special substances have been identified that can help control the loss of blood. If you know how to properly use them in an emergency, often in conjunction with a tourniquet, you’ll increase an injured patient’s chances of survival. Off the grid, having a supply of these will save lives. Dr. Joe Alton and Amy Alton talk about different hemostatic dressings, including some improved ones that can still serve as a way to stop bleeding. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Hey, find out about all the latest materials for the survival medic in the brand-new greatly expanded 4TH EDITION of "The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide for When Help is NOT on the Way", available at Amazon and at store.doomandbloom.net! And don't forget to get more medically prepared with our entire line of kits, individual supplies, and personal protection gear (including N95 masks)! You'll be glad you did.

For the survival medic, increasing international tensions means that knowledge about nuclear events and the physical damage associated with them is a worthwhile topic to know about. Short of an asteroid hitting Earth or an ultra-deadly pandemic disease, we mean more deadly than COVID, no disaster has the potential to destroy society as much as a nuclear war. Even “minor” radiation accidents, such as reactor meltdowns, may cause long-standing damage to whole areas. The medic must always have a plan of action for every type of disaster to increase the chances for survival of group members. In this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcastl, Joe Alton, MD and Amy Alton NP discuss radiation events like dirty bombs, atomic and thermonuclear weapons, likelihood of survival from the various types of damage that could occur, fallout shelters, and diagnosis and treatment of acute radiation sickness. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad,  Joe and Amy Hey, check out the greatly expanded brand new 4th Edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook, now available for immediate shipment from amazon and from store.doomandbloom.net. Consider a limited-edition signed color copy for the survival medic in your family!

In the US, almost twenty percent of the population has problems with anxiety, which is defined as feelings of apprehension, nervousness, and unease. It might be about an imminent event, a current situation, or may be of unknown origin. For example, Israel announced that Iran will complete a nuclear weapon in 10 days, and that was 9 days ago. Also, are we going to need a vaccine passport to travel, work, go to the bathroom? Don’t be surprised. So, yeah, a lot of anxiety. And these are “normal” times. In survival scenarios, anxiety, depression, and PTSD are going to be epidemic among survivors, and the family medic had better be prepared to deal with people suffering from these conditions. Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton discuss ways that you could help out if you were knocked off the grid long-term. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD              Amy Alton NP Hey, don't forget to check out our entire line of quality medical kits, individual supplies, and more at store.doomandbloom.net, plus preorder a personally-signed copy of our upcoming 4TH EDITION of the Survival Medicine Handbook at the website! You'll be glad you did.

Last week The Altons said It’s a cruel, cruel summer, like the 80s song goes, and if you live on the coast or considering a trip to the beach during the dog days, you have more than sunburn to worry about. There’s all sorts of critters in the sea that can cause trouble, even close to shore. I’m not talking about sharks, it’s shark week on Nat Geo and some of you are probably all sharked out. I’m talking about other sea creatures that don’t bite you, but sting you like jellyfish, stingrays, spined catfish, scorpion fish, lionfish, etc. Plus, Joe and Amy discuss the heartbreaking tragedy of drowning accidents. How does someone drown, what happens in the body during the event, and how to treat near-drownings and prevent it altogether. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don't forget that a brand new edition (the fourth) of the Survival Medicine Handbook will be on bookshelves and at Amazon soon! To check it out or get a signed copy, go to store.doomandbloom.net!

It’s a cruel, cruel summer, like the 80s song goes, and everywhere from Oregon to Montana to New York City can experience big problems this year with blackouts taking out the AC and making homes and businesses into sweatboxes more often than ever before. In the west, wildfires have burned three times the acreage this year as compared to last year at this time. So, the family medic better be prepared to deal with heat-related illness. Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Practitioner Amy Alton discuss heat wave safety, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, first- and second-degree burns, and sun protection. Also, Nurse Amy discusses one of her favorite natural products, raw unprocessed honey as well as its medicinal benefits. This stuff is good for you! All this and more on the Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton, APRN. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Hey, we're coming out, after five years, with a new expanded and revised edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook! Check out the details at store.doomandbloom.net. Also, new kits for eye care, labor and delivery, and more!

Well, a lot of you might be wondering where we’ve been and why we took a hiatus from our podcasts and videos. It because ol' Dr. Bones had pneumonia, and recovery for me has been slow going. I have acid reflux, and it’s not just heartburn, it goes all the way up to my throat, a condition called laryngopharyngeal reflux. Laryngo means the voicebox, and pharyngeal is all about the throat. So one night I woke up coughing and gagging on a lot of acid that went all the way up and entered my airways. By the morning I had a temperature of 100 and, scarier than that, bloody phlegm. X-rays showed pneumonia in multiple areas of the right lung, after antibiotics and oral steroids, I improved despite being exhausted for more than a month, almost two months. I’m finally getting my energy back and keeping to a very low diet. So, this show is all about pneumonia and acid reflux, how to diagnose and treat both conditions even if you have limited supplies and the miracle of modern medicine just doesn't exist. Everything the family medic needs to know in times of trouble! Plus, all about gastritis and ulcers... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, if you support our mission to put a medically prepared person in every family, check out our entire line of quality medical kits and supplies at https://store.doomandbloom.net/. You'll be glad you did!

Six people are dead in the South after at least 23 tornadoes tore through Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia last week. The damage in places like Coweta County is Georgia, well, it looks like a bomb went off there. Five people lost their lives in Calhoun County, Alabama, after the state was hit with 17 reported tornadoes. Sounds like an apocalypse movie? Nope, stuff like this happens this time a year every year, in the United States, the world’s capital for tornadoes. Now why would an old country doctor be talking about general disaster preparedness? Where the blood and gore or the catastrophic pandemics we usually talk about. Well, with tornadoes there’s plenty of blood and gore, and you’d better get ready to deal with it, if you’re going to be the family medic, whether it’s in good times or bad. But even more importantly, the family medic can take steps to decrease the chances that a loved one with be injured or get sick, and that save precious supplies, which save a lot of headaches, and maybe a heartache or two as well. Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Amy Alton tell you what you need to know about keeping your family safe in Tornado season... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Hey, fill those holes in your medical supplies with quality HSA-approved medical kits from Nurse Amy's entire line at store.doomandbloom.net!

In this audio episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast, Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Amy Alton discuss chronic medical problems in survival scenarios, such as thyroid issues and high blood pressure. We mentioned in a recent show that the family medic won’t have lab tests and fancy diagnostic imaging like MRIs and CT scans to help with medical issues if some disaster throws us off the grid. You, medic, will have to go by physical signs and symptoms, just like they did in the 19th century, which is just about where you’ll be thrown back to medically. This can be done if you learn about what signs and symptoms are visible in different disease conditions. The Altons discuss thyroid issues in detail off the grid, and answer a listener's question on hypertension, plus more! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD aka Dr. Bones         Amy Alton ARNP, CNM, aka Nurse Amy If you support our mission to put a medically prepared person in every family, check out Nurse Amy's entire line of quality medical kits, individual supplies, and personal protection gear at store.doomandbloom.net.

In a disaster, especially a long-term one, the family medic has to be able to handle a lot of different emergencies. Some of these are clearly survivable, such as a broken finger, and some are not, like a bullet to the brain. It’s important for the medic to have a realistic attitude towards the hard facts. Being realistic won’t make decision-making easier, but it might make it clearer. If you’re diligent in your role as medic you’ll accumulate various medicines that will help keep the family healthy and you’ll do it BEFORE the you-know-what hits the fan. We talked a little while ago about antibiotics. But you need more than just antibiotics, you’ll need a lot of different over the counter drugs, something we’ll talk about in the near future, and probably you’ll have people in your family or survival group that need medicines for high blood pressure, diabetes, and other medical problems. Dr. Joe and Nurse Amy Alton discuss the truth about expiration dates, and what role they have in choosing medications for storage purposes in times of trouble. Also, how to properly store drugs for the longest possible shelf life. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP! Do you support Amy and Joe's mission to put a medically prepared person in every family? If you do, check out their entire line of medical kits, individual supplies, and more at store.doomandbloom.net! You'll be glad you did.

All injuries carry a risk of infection. Various kinds of microbes can invade the body and cause Inflammation in soft tissues, also known as “cellulitis”. These infections develop when bacteria enter through a crack or break in your skin. You can imagine that, off the grid, and especially on the road or in the wilderness, that all sorts of injuries will occur that break the skin and get infected. Think of all the activities you might be doing that you don’t do a lot of now. Making a lot of campfires? Chopping a lot of wood for fuel. Doing stuff you’re not used to can certainly put you at risk. Dr. Joe Alton (aka Dr. Bones) and Amy Alton ARNP (aka Nurse Amy) discusses various soft tissue infections, how to identify and treat them, and how to lance a boil if required. Different antibiotics may help in oral form, several of which you should have in your medical storage for long-term survival scenarios. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Show your support for our mission to put medical prepared people in every family by checking out Nurse Amy's entire line of quality medical kits, individual supplies, and personal protection gear at store.doomandbloom.net.

It’s 2021, and over the last year, we’ve seen the most productive distributor of fish antibiotics, Thomas Labs stop manufacturing products, probably related to pressure from the FDA, who has repeatedly stated that it was increasing its “stewardship” of animal medications. This, they say, is because of antibiotic resistance issues, but reports of people using these medications without medical supervision probably had something to do with it also. As we’ve always said, these meds, even if they’re identical to human meds, aren’t candy, and shouldn’t be used in any situation where there’s a functioning modern medical system, which despite the pandemic, there still is. Still, for the preparedness community, the ability to have some of these in your survival medicine cabinet may save a life if a disaster knocks us off the grid long-term. Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy discuss new antibiotic brands that are taking the place of the non-defunct Thomas Labs fish and bird antbiotics... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton We don't sell antibiotics, but we have an entire line of quality medical kits that can save a life in times of trouble. Check them out at store.doomandbloom.net

COVID-19 was supposed to peter out around now, but cases are peaking again, with 300,000 cases reported just on Jan. 8th. Is 2021 going to be just more of the same as 2020? With vaccines now available, can you still get the virus? Can you still give it to others? Will you still have to wear masks? Dr. Fauci says he expects some workplaces and institutions to require the vaccination, will you need to carry a COVID-Card in your wallet in the future? The Altons give their opinion (just an opinion) on what's in the future. Also, what easily available products may help you avoid a bad outcome from exposure to SARS-CoV2. Amy Alton ARNP gives her recommendation (also that of Eastern Virginia Medical School). Plus, dress warmly or you'll catch a cold? It's smart to dress for the weather appropriately, for sure, but more to prevent hypothermia than getting an infection. The Altons, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, dispel some common myths about getting colds and flus, and tell you the real reasons why winter is cold and flu season. All this and more on the lastest episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD    Amy Alton ARNP Hey, don't forget to have your medical supplies in order for these uncertain times. Check out our entire line of quality kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net.

We’re coming up on the one-year anniversary of my original article “A New Pneumonia”, where I wrote about a strange new virus that had sickened 60 people in a place called Wuhan, China. That was Jan.7th, before anyone died or they even had a name for the pathogen we now know as SARS-Cov2. Now, almost into 2021, the virus will still be an issue well into 2021 and some places are at maximum lockdown. Ivermectin is considered a new option by some, is it the real thing or a flash in the pan? Dr. Joe Alton explains all you need to know. Also, Nurse Amy Alton worries about our listeners with depression due to cold weather and gray skies, as well as Christmas "blues". She talks about what to do if tough times are getting you down, with natural remedies and lifestyle advice. All this and more on the latest episode of The Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alto, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Wishing you the Happiest of Christmases and the healthiest of New Years! Check out our store at store.doomandbloom.net!

Todd Sepulveda of the popular PrepperWebsite.com brings his podcast onto our channel for an interview with our regular hosts Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Amy Alton, this time about pregnancy, labor, and delivery off the grid and other obstetric topics. Be aware that some of the subject matter may be graphic regarding the natural processes that occur during childbirth.  Be sure to check out Todd's website and his podcast channel!! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, check out Amy's latest one-of-a-kind kit, an obstetric kit that a modern hospital would envy, at store.doomandbloom.net!

In any long term survival setting, somebody’s  going to get pregnant at one point or another. Even if you daughter is 7 years old right now, a decade or so into an EMP strike that knocks us off the grid once and for all, she’s gonna be 17 and you might end up a grandparent in a world with power. You’ll need some equipment that will increase your chances of having a successful birth and a healthy mother afterward. This isn’t something to laugh at; during the era of the civil war, maternal deaths approached 1-2% per pregnancy. With women having an average of 10 pregnancies back then, that adds up to 10-20 percent. That’s a lot of heartbreak and tragedy when things have to running smoothly to survive.  Now, Certified Nurse Midwife Amy has put together a one-of-a kind kit that puts all the other ob kits to shame. This is pretty much what the hospitals use minus the fetal monitor machine. Listen in as Amy describes her latest brainchild and gives valuable tips on pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum care. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Check out Nurse Amy's OB kit and our entire line of medical kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad you did.

The person that’s responsible for the health of their family isn’t just there to stop a bleeding wound or set a broken leg. Poorly cooked or contaminated food will kill more people in survival settings than gunfights at the OK corral. Infectious disease might run rampant if you’re not vigilant about food safety. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, one in six Americans will get sick from food poisoning this year alone, with over 100,000 hospitalizations nationwide. Dr. Joe Alton discusses one microbe that has sickened more than 1,100 people this quarter alone called "CYCLOSPORA". Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention. Plus, principles of food safety to guard against feeding your people contaminated food in good times or bad. Plus, a short rant about COVID statistics and the idea put forth by health officials that only 9% of the US population has been exposed to COVID so far, making herd immunity impossible without a widespread (probably miulti-year) vaccination program. Dr. Alton thinks exposure is much more prevalent than suggested and that there may be little that guarantees any long-term immunity against COVID-19.  Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Support our mission in these uncertain times with medical kits and supplies from our entire line at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad (maybe very glad) you did.

Hey, today we’ve invited our old friend Leon Pantenburg of Survival Common Sense to the show. Leon Pantenburg is a wilderness enthusiast and journalist, and also the author of “Bushcraft Basics: A common sense guide to wilderness survival”. As an award-winning newspaperman for four decades covering stories about search and rescue events, Leon has seen his share of floods and forest fires, hurricane and tornadoes, earthquakes, mud slides and other natural disasters. He’s also reported on too many tragic outcomes from wilderness emergencies. It’s unfortunate that people die unnecessarily from outdoor accidents and emergency situations when simple, common sense actions can help. Leon teaches such common sense techniques to the average person in order to avert potential disasters. His emphasis is to apply thoroughly tested and practiced, simple techniques of wilderness survival. Plus, we've talked a lot about property defense and avoiding burn injuries, but today we'll talk about burn injuries in general regarding treatment for each category of injury. The wildfires continue to rage on in the American West, and we’ve talked about property defense but not much about burns. Whether caused by a forest fire or due to an accident while preparing food, burns are a major challenge both on and off the grid. Injuries from burns that require medical help top one million each year in the United States, with thousands of deaths reported. These numbers are alarming, given the fact that, in modern times, few are us are exposed to fire as often or directly as our ancestors were. Despite this, only a small percentage of families have formulated and practiced an escape plan for their own homestead. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr.Joe and Nurse Amy Alton!

The CDC has recommended that Americans wear masks “in public”, but are vague on what to do in many situations. From the CDC website:  “CDC recommends that people wear masks in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.” The Cleveland Clinic is a little more lenient: ": If you’re unlikely to be around anyone or will have the option of maintaining a safe distance from anyone you encounter, then a mask likely isn’t necessary but having one handy is a good idea just in case." What's the history of social distancing defined as six feet? Distancing from sick individuals, for better or worse, has a long history. In ancient times, people stayed away from “leper” colonies (leprosy is now known as “Hansen’s Disease”).  No one really knew, however, how much distance was required. The Altons try to make sense of it all. Also, millions of tons of plastic refuse have entered our oceans annually since about 1950, forming a Texas-sized dump known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (or GPGP). People are often confused about what the garbage patch is. The GPGP isn’t a landfill-like continent made of plastic that you can walk on or build a vacation home. , but it's true that, due to currents, there is a higher concentration of plastic there than other parts of the ocean. Dr. Alton tells you what you need to know. All this and more in the lastest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad,  The Altons Hey, get medically prepared for the uncertain future with high-quality medical kits and individual supplies from Nurse Amy's entire line at store.doomandbloom.net.

Recently, Dr. Alton was asked to write an article on tourniquets for the highly popular Survivor’s Edge magazine, a great read if ever there was one. Most people know at this point how to place a tourniquet, but there are some principles you may not know about hemorrhage and how to stop it using this life-saving device. The risk of hemorrhage from traumatic injury is always a possibility, whether it’s due to a motor vehicle accident, a work mishap, civil unrest, or the zombie apocalypse. A major arterial bleed, if untreated, can cause a victim to be beyond medical help in just a few short minutes. The bleeding may be so severe that emergency medical personnel arrive too late to help.  Dr. Alton outlines more than a dozen important points that must be understand to properly stop hemorrhage with tourniquets. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD    Amy Alton APRN Learn more about bleeding and 150 other medical topics with a copy of the Survival Medicine Handbook's award-winning Third Edition, available at Amazon and store.doomandbloom.net.

Today on the Survival Medicine Podcast, we welcome good friend Charley Hogwood. Charley is the author of THE SURVIVAL GROUP HANDBOOK: How To Plan, Organize and Lead People for Short and Long Term Survival, the foremost guide, in the world probably, to planning, organizing and building a survival group for any situation.  He's also an accomplished post-apocalyptic fiction novelist, with Book 1 of his Bound To Survive series, the Unraveling, at Amazon and Book 2, Road Trials, being released in the near future. Also, some news updates on COVID treatments Remdesivir, Beta-Interferon, and....Pepcid-AC! All this and more on this episode of the Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, The Altons Hey, we know you could use some more personal protecion gear, individual medical supplies, and maybe an entire quality kit that will help in any disaster. Check out our entire line at store.doomandbloom.net! Also, please follow us on Twitter @Preppershow or on YouTube's DrBones NurseAmy Channel!

The podcast is not going to talk just about COVID today, but  it’s a good idea to keep a running update and how Dr. and Ms. Alton's views are evolving based on what seems to be happening these days. So the Altons throw a few stats at you and tell you what they mean, if they're believable, and how it affects, or should affect, peoples’ activity. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Tuesday that the country has approved a coronavirus vaccine despite not having completed crucial clinical trials to determine its efficacy and safety. What are clinical trials and why are they required in most cases for a new drug or vaccine? Plus, a listeners of our friend Jack Spirko's Survival Podcast asks about strategies to prevent Alzheimer's dementia even if you have the genetic markers and a family history. Dr. Joe Alton tells you what you need to know about this devastating disease. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Don't forget to check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

You know, we get dozens of questions from folks every week, and we do our darndest to answer as many as we can. You’re always welcome to send your questions to drbonespodcast@aol.com, we answer as many of them as we can. Sometimes, we answer them on the air, and that’s what we do with a few today. By the way, questions don't have to just be about COVID-19. 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!

Man, it’s hot. Summer is here with a vengeance and parts of the Midwest and Southern U.S. are experiencing record high temperatures in major heat waves. Officials predict a high-risk situation for 200 million citizens in the U.S. Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss heat-related emergencies and what you can do to save lives this summer. Also, what do you do about keeping tabs on family and friends during the COVID pandemic? Dr. Alton answers some common questions that listeners are anxious about, with his own specific take on the subject. Plus, Chinese officials report 1700 deaths from a mysterious pneumonia in the neighboring country of Kazakhstan. Health officials there say that their report doesn't "conform to reality". Is there a new virus or is it all a bunch of hooey? The Altons give their opinion... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD     Amy Alton ARNP\ Become more medically prepared by checking out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits and supplies at https://store.doomandbloom.net/

Many people are concerned about what appears to be a second wave of COVID-19, the pandemic disease caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus. Indeed, some states that were relatively unaffected by the virus are now reporting high numbers of cases and people are getting concerned about hospitals’ abilities to deal with the more severe cases. Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy discuss what goes into pandemic waves and discuss a brief history of the Spanish Flu of 1918-1919. To forget history is to repeat its mistakes! Regardless of municipalities closing pubic beaches and pools, In warm weather, many folks head to the waterfront for recreation. Some wind up getting in trouble, and I’m not talking about Jaws, We're talking about something just as scary though: Drowning. Dr. Alton tells you what you need to know to stay safe this summer. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Show you support of Joe and Amy's mission by getting your family medically prepared with kits and individual items from store.doomandbloom.net....

If you’re reading the headlines, you’re probably hearing that, as the country slowly reopens, we’re seeing many more people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s getting coronavirus and a lot of fear about second waves. What does this mean for second and third waves? Are hospitals going to be overwhelmed? Maybe not, say the Altons. Hear why in this episode. Plus, wound closure is a basic skill needed by any medic in areas without modern medical facilities. Suturing is just one of the way you can close a wound, and judicious use can help accelerate the healing process. Learn more about suture needles with Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Amy Alton. Also, when you think of protester-police confrontation, you think of tear gas. What do you do to protect yourself if you're in an area of civil unrest to deal with tear gas exposure? Dr. Alton tells you what to do, plus some myths and misconceptions about treatment. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, The Altons Fill those holes in your medical supplies with kits and individual items from Nurse Amy's store at store.doomandbloom.net!

In the news, COVID-19 cases are again on the rise as a second wave of infections coincide with the reopening of many businesses throughout the United States. Perhaps the first thing I should mention is that a second wave occurring as society reopened is an inevitable event. Regardless of the timing or the measures taken, pandemics commonly have this pattern. Health officials and political policy can do little to stop it from happening, but do their best to lessen or delay its effect. Also, important facts about immunity, plus how something we call COVID Fatigue and mass demonstrations are fueling the second and third waves of SARS-CoV2 in the United States. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, The Altons Hey, be prepared for any number of waves of infectious disease, civil unrest, or other disasters with medical kits and supplies from store.doomandbloom.net!

The Altons are happy to welcome author Terry Blackmore of the Pandemic Series, the first book of which (called "Antigenic Shift") is receiving good notices. Unlike most post-apocalyptic fiction, "Antigenic Shift" is set in Canada! Also, if we didn’t have enough reasons TO social distance as it is, now we have rioting in dozens of major cities, makes you want to live outside the city, or maybe outside the planet might be safer. Well, if you live in Minneapolis, interesting things are going on there, like the majority of the city council wanting to dismantle the police department. Interesting to know that the majority is a veto-proof majority, even if the mayor is against it and vetoes it, he can be voted down. Mayors in LA and NYC are also cutting band funding for police departments. Great idea? Good idea? Terrible idea? In COVID news, the country of new zealand has declared that its last case of coronavirus has recovered, making it the first country to have no active COVID cases and declare the pandemic in the country to be over.  The nation of 5 million is opening sports stadiums, scheduling concerts, weddings, retail commerce, and hospitality without restrictions.  Plus, Choloquines have been controversial since the moment they were mentioned by President Trump, with some studies reporting positive effects and others declaring the drug family downright dangerous. Now, some negative studies are being retracted, including one in the prestigious British medical journal "The Lancet". What's the deal? Dr. Joe Alton gives his thoughts. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, The Altons Fill those holes in your medical supplies with kits and individual items from store.doomandbloom.net

As Free Speech advocates, we support the people’s right to protest and make their opinions heard. Unfortunately, demonstrations in the U.S. these days are becoming more frequent and violent. After a short break due to the pandemic, people are again out in the streets. Some have legitimate concerns; others, however, have bad intentions. How can you stay safe if you get caught in the middle of civil unrest? Dr. Joe Alton gives his thoughts. With the violence we’ve seen in major cities, I’m sure there are quite a few people, especially law enforcement officers, that wound up getting hit by a brick or other projectile, and wound needing stitches. Lacerations of the skin can occur off the grid in survival scenarios, too, but there’s no hospital ready to close the wound. It’s up to the family medic, and that person needs to have a working knowledge of, not just how to throw a stitch, but when a wound should stay open due to risk of infection, and what type of suture materials would be best for the purpose. Some basics from the Altons. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don't forget to check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad you did.

As we reopen, some words will have permanently entered our vocabulary: Social distancing. Telemedicine. Self-quarantine. These are all words you didn’t hear just a few months ago, but now we are all hearing and using them daily. There is no denying that the coronavirus outbreak has dramatically changed just about every facet of life around the world. Amy Alton ARNP and Joe Alton MD discuss what you can expect in part 1 of a series on permanent societal changes due to COVID-19 Also, studies on chloroquines are turning up claiming it is ineffective or perhaps even deadly, but are they missing the most important ingredient? Zinc is an important mineral second only to iron in our body, and chloroquines only act to potentiate its anti-viral action. Yet, studies seem to not include zinc in their protocols, leading to results that you could predict would show chloroquine isn't effective on its own. Is there an agenda here rooted in politics rather than public health. The Altons discuss a controversial topic. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, thanks for listening. Joe and Amy Alton We still have a limited supply of masks and other personal protection gear in addition to our entire line of medical kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net...

Recently, we came across an article about coronavirus myths on, guess where, the AARP website, where old folks like Dr. Joe Alton get their news (just kidding). There are quite a number of misconceptions about COVID-19 disease and the virus that causes it, SARS-CoV2. Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, discuss what people think about coronavirus and pets, weather, vectors, and a troubling tendency for people to avoid hospitals even if they have significant medical issues. Also, Dr. Alton talks you through what you need to know about broken bones. 6.3 million fractures are evaluated in ERs, urgent care centers, and hospitals every year in the U.S., and in survival scenarios, the numbers will be greater. Learn about how bones heals, sprains vs fractures, casts vs splints, bone "setting", traction, and the materials used in placing casts. There's a lot more to learn, but this is a great start! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD    Amy Alton ARNP Hey, be better prepared for disasters, epidemics, and other times of trouble with books, medical supplies, and full kits from Nurse Amy's entire line at store.doomandbloom.net. Sign up at our website for our semi-monthly newsletter and get special discounts!

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to steamroll populations of many countries, and drive efforts to find a treatment, cure, or vaccine. The drug most recently approved by the FDA for emergency use is Gilead Sciences’ antiviral drug Remdesivir. What is Remdesivir and why is it considered to have potential against the SARS-CoV2 virus? Dr. Joe Alton and Nurse Amy Alton tell you all about it. Vitamin D is made in the body when the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays hit the skin. Vitamin D is important for many bodily function, including the absorption of calcium for bones, nerve conduction, and immune function as well. Now, it’s becoming clear that the worst COVID-19 patients seem to have more likelihood to be deficient in Vitamin D than other people. Recent studies are discussed by the Altons about whether Vitamin D makes a difference. Also, let's say you just got a blood test to see if you have had Covid-19. Many people don’t get symptoms, and so it’s possible you had it and didn’t even know, or maybe had some mild cough or GI complaints that went away after a week or so. There are a number of tests that can give you information about COVID-19 and you, but what do they mean? It's possible that they mean less than you think. Dr. Alton discusses antibody blood tests, swab tests, and much more.   Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Learn more about viral epidemic and pandemic disease with the Altons' latest book "Alton's Pandemic Preparedness Guide", available at Amazon or in a special color version at store.doomandbloom.net!

Survival Medicine Podcast The daily headlines are chock-full of stories about the COVID-19 pandemic. If you read them, you’re probably left with the impression that society was unready for the ravages of the SARS-CoV2 virus. Surprise, Surprise…Yet, epidemic outbreaks of viral infectious diseases are relatively common: In the last few years, we’ve seen Ebola in West Africa, Zika in South America, and Chikungunya throughout the Caribbean. Tropical countries experience yearly malarial outbreaks, just as nations in cooler climates experience influenza every winter. A contagious and, sometimes, lethal disease that infects almost every country on the planet, however, is much rarer.  Dr. Joe Alton welcomes Amy Alton ARNP back to the podcast to discuss various origin theories for the current pandemic, plus the idea that people may wind up getting reinfected a lot more often than previously thought. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD        Amy Alton ARNP Hey, fill those holes in your preparedness plan with kits, personal protection items, and more from Nurse Amy's entire line at store.doomandbloom.net!

In the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, extreme shortages of personal protection equipment (PPE) have been a major issue for medical workers and home caregivers. Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognize the problem, publishing guidelines for the extended use and limited reuse of disposable face masks and other materials. For those who didn’t include masks in their medical preps, the government says that homemade cloth masks or bandannas are acceptable, all after first saying that they weren’t effective a while ago. In this episode, Dr. Joe Alton discusses the use of UV germicidal irradiation to battle COVID-19. Also, Dr. Alton takes a break from COVID-19 to discuss natural disasters. Every year in the United States, we go through various natural disasters. During Spring, tornadoes become some of the most common deadly events in certain parts of the country. In Lee county, Alabama, a violent storm took the lives of 23 people. Unlike hurricanes, tornadoes are unpredictable and always a possibility. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe Alton MD Check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits, personal protection gear, and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad you did.

Survival Medicine Podcast Are you going to survive this pandemic? If I asked America this question a month ago, I would have gotten more than 27000 people saying yes that, well, were wrong. They are no longer with us. In order to succeed in situations where everything else is failing, you gotta have training, knowledge, and supplies. You must also have a mindset that is, perhaps, the opposite of what you were taught in your first responder course: That some disaster or epidemic has overwhelmed conventional medical resources and you are now the highest medical asset left to your family. Joe Alton MD discusses some important aspects in staying healthy in times of trouble. PLus, social distancing is the main strategy to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but is 6 feet enough? It's been reported that coughs can throw 3000 droplets with virus loads up to 19 feet, and sneezes 40000 droplets all the way to 26 feet away. Dr. Alton gives his thoughts. Lastly, the lab accident theory from Wuhan's Biosatety level 4 lab is gaining more and more currency as time goes on. What do they think happen and how does that compare with the live market theory? All this and more in the latest survival medicine podcast with Joe Alton MD Learn more about viral diseases with a copy of the Altons' latest book: Alton's Pandemic Preparedness Guide: Dealing with Current and Emergency viral threats, available at amazon and a special color limited edition at  store.doomandbloom.net.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to rampage throughout the known world, killing close to 100000 and ruining the economies of whole nations. There is no proven treatment, cure, or vaccine, a common but deadly problem whenever a new virus emerges. The lack of an option leaves scientists scrambling to find a medicine that works, immediately if not sooner. Dr. Joe Alton discusses a new treatment using an old anti-malarial drug, an antibiotic, and zinc. In infectious disease outbreaks, mundane chores like food shopping may become much more exciting (but not in a good way).  Yet, these activities are necessary to keep a family going. How can you avoid getting infected in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic? Joe Alton MD discusses CDC opinions and gives some of his own. Plus, how to deal with laundry if you're taking care of a COVID-19 patient at home. Guidelines exist that will decrease the chances of infection. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD Hey, learn more about viral diseases in our new book "Alton's Pandemic Preparedness Guide", available on Amazon and at store.doomandbloom.net...

COVID-19 tests are now available in larger numbers in the U.S. and the numbers of positives are jumping as a result. That means that it’s the testing that identifying the numbers that are there already, not that there are necessarily factors that are making the virus more contagious. Dr. Joe Alton and Amy Alton ARNP discuss numbers relating to cases and death rates, plus what it will take for Chloroquine, alone or in combination with other drugs or minerals, to be considered an effective remedy against the virus.  Plus, a discussion of official guidelines for caring of COVID-19 patients at home. Yes, even the government understands that overcrowded and understaffed hospitals may not be the best place for some of the milder cases of COVID-19, so they've put together advice that will help the home caregiver give sick patients the best chance of recovery. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad,   The Altons Hey, check out Nurse Amy's supplies and medical kits at store.doomandbloom.net! You'll be glad you did.

Well, we’re in the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., with close to 1000 cases and 30 deaths. Other countries like Iran, Italy are a lot worse off, but the U.S. hasn’t hit its peak, and probably we can expect thousands and maybe tens of thousands more. Old folks like me are advised to stay away from crowds, and we might have to deal with more restrictions before things get better. All because of a bug that’s measured in billionths of a inch…How did we first figure out that viruses exist? Dr. Joe Alton takes you through the first scientific steps to identifying a major killer all the way to the current pandemic. All that and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad!  Don't forget to check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits, personal protection gear, and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

In the last few weeks, we have found ourselves challenged by a new virus from a family that is known for being very unfriendly to humans: Coronaviridae. The coronavirus family mostly causes common colds, with four different strains accounting for 15% of more cases reported worldwide. Until very late 2019, there were only two other known coronavirus strains: SARS and MERS. These viruses, however, didn’t just give you a cold; they could kill you. Now, the current virus, called SARS-CoV2, is making the rounds of more than 60 countries and the disease it causes (COVID-1he9) is causing community-wide outbreaks in multiple regions of the globe. Amy returns from her Mystical Warehouse of Mystery to give her thoughts and to discuss the virus with Dr. Joe Alton. Can we expect more outbreaks? For sure. Can we control it? Maybe. Find out more in the latest episode of the Survival Medical Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, The Altons If you're in need of medical kits and supplies, check out Nurse Amy's entire line at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad you did.

The latest viral epidemic has been given an official new name! Instead of 2019-nCoV, it’s now COVID-19. World Health Organization officials wanted a name that doesn’t refer to a geographical location, animals, an individual or a group of people, so I guess they’ll be changing the name of the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918 one day in the name of political correctness. That’s ok, since that flu didn’t start in Spain but in Asia. Now you know there’s someone who being paid a salary to come up with catchy names for viral epidemics. There are currently 60,000 confirmed cases, almost all in China. 60,000 cases, that is, if you believe the Chinese government. It’s obvious that there are several times the amount of cases. Dr. Joe Alton puts the number likely to be well in the hundreds of thousands, and it could end up with millions of people getting sick. Dr. Alton tells you his thoughts in this podcast. Plus, what about COVID-19 in animals? Theories of viral lab accidents or deliberate release aside, there are coronaviruses that affect dogs, cats, bats, and many other animals, and they're all for sale (for slaughter) in live markets in China. Dr. Alton tells you about the risk to your pets from COVID-19 and other members of the coronavirus family. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe Alton MD (Nurse Amy is out making personal protection gear kits for her store at store.doomandbloom.net.!

Unless you just got back from a trip to Mars, you probably know that there’s an epidemic going on in China. I first reported on it briefly in my article on “A new pneumonia” on Jan. 7, 2020, when there were only 60 known cases of an infection of unknown origin. It turned out to be a virus. Viruses are tiny, much smaller than bacteria, and barely meet the definition of a living organism as it must enter the cells of a host to activate and reproduce. Yet, they are able to cause the downfall of organisms much more advanced and complex than they are. This virus is in the family coronaviridiae, or coronaviruses. It's named 2019-nCoV, and it appears to be highly transmissable and kills about 2% of those that are infected. Just in the last 24 hours, there are 2500 new cases.  In this episode, Joe Alton MD (Amy's off making Pandemic kits for store.doomandbloom.net) tells you all about 2019-nCoV and a lot more you don't know about viral epidemics. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD

Survival Medicine Podcast Reports from Yosemite National Park in California reveal that at least 170 visitors and personnel have experienced a mysterious intestinal ailment. Lab studies have identified a virus called “Norovirus” as the culprit in at least two cases, with most of the rest consistent with the illness. Find out what you need to know about the most common cause of the stomach flu in the U.S. Also, Dr. Alton discusses the first new antiviral flu drug approved by the FDA in years: Xofluza. Xofluza is a one-day treatment that is meant to decrease symptoms and duration of influenza illness. Learn more about a drug that deals with a lot of flu symptoms, usually with one dose. All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Podcast with Joe and Amy Alton Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, find out about norovirus, the flu and 150 other medical topics in the award-winning Third Edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook, your guide for when help is Not on the way!

Health authorities in China are reporting 60-70 cases of a previously unknown viral pneumonia that has put dozens in the hospital. Officials note that victims exhibit fever up to 105(!), difficulty breathing, and abnormal findings on chest X-rays.   Nothing gets my attention like a mysterious, probably viral, pneumonia showing up in some foreign land. The word “pneumonia” is defined as a lung inflammation usually caused by bacterial or viral infection. Occasionally, fungi or parasites may give rise to it. It’s a very general term and doesn’t identify the specific microbe that’s causing the problem.In the last decade or so, killers like Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) have entered the scene.  Dr. Joe Alton discusses the "new pneumonia" and tells you what you need to know about pneumonia in general: symptoms, treatments, how to tell pneumonia from regular flu symptoms, and natural remedies, plus preventative strategies... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don't forget to fill those holes in YOUR medical supplies with kits and individual items from Nurse Amy's entire line at store.doomandbloom.net!

Survival Medicine Podcast You know, the world isn’t getting any safer these days, and that means that, more than ever, you should be prepared for disasters, whether they be natural disasters or man-made. The family medic must assess their level of preparedness well before a disaster occurs, and now is as good a time as any. We refer to this as a "status assessment”. When performing this assessment, a number of questions must be asked and answered that clarify your job description and your level of readiness.   Dr. Alton (aka Bones) and Nurse Amy discuss the survival medic's job description, basic duties, considerations relating to the type of disaster, and misconceptions regarding the number of supplies and people that must be cared for in times of trouble... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD     Amy Alton ARNP Hey, don't forget to subscribe to DoomandBloom.net and check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

We often talk about trauma and infection, but less so about chronic diseases. We have to face the fact that in some settings, namely those without some of modern medicine’s miracle technology, some people will long-term issues may end up having life spans similar to those of their ancestors a hundred or more years ago. One category of patient that has less options off the grid are those with COPD, also known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis cause real damage to lung tissue from cigarettes and other reasons.Folks with these conditions may have trouble with stamina and work efficiency in tough times, especially in austere settings. In this episode, Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP talk about what you need to know about COPD and what strategies, if any, are helpful for those with severe cough, mucus production, and lack of oxygen intake.  Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Don't forget to check out our HSA/FSA-eligible medical first aid kits, plus our books and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

Survival Medicine Podcast #379 Today, we talk about a mosquito-borne illness. What? It’s freezing out there, there’s no mosquitoes! Well, Down here in South Florida, we get outbreaks of tropical infections even in wintertime. A while ago, I wrote about a mosquito-borne virus that strikes warm weather regions: Dengue Fever. At that time, I reported that places as far apart from each other as Singapore, Nicaragua, and Bangladesh had reported Dengue outbreaks. Not since the beginning of the year, but on the same day! This distribution meets the WHO definition of pandemic, characterized by community level outbreaks in different regions.) This week, the Florida Department of Health in Miami issued an alert after two local residents came down with Dengue symptoms, bringing the total to 14 for 2019. These cases were not thought to be contracted in other countries, but locally in the South Florida area. The implication is that local mosquitoes in the area are a reservoir for the disease. Dr. Alton and Nurse Amy discuss what you need to know about Dengue in terms of recognition, treatment, and prevention. Also, methods to apply Permethrin 0.5% solution to clothing (not skin). This insecticide gives long-lasting effective protection against mosquito bites and might be useful in epidemic settings caused by insect bites. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Don't forget to check out our entire line of medical kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

In the last couple of days, we’ve read about multiple stabbing incidents, one killed a freshman at a NY college, another killed two young men, and others just seem to pop up in the news pretty much all the time. Any incident like this or any kind of natural or man-made disaster puts your people at risk for injury. When it occurs, trauma may be minor or major; penetrating trauma such as stab wounds can be life-threatening, depending on the organs and blood vessels damaged.  In this episode, Joe Alton MD discusses important factors relating to stab wounds and trauma from sharp objects, and how to manage them in the safest way possible in both normal times and survival scenarios... Wishing the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits at store.doomandbloom.net!

This episode is broadcast (poorly) from a hotel room in New Yawk City, where we are visiting one of our daughters who's, well, a city girl. Ignore the police sirens and other "technical difficulties"! Hey, from time to time, old dr. bones or the lovely nurse amy are asked to come on other podcasts, radio shows, and even TV to talk about disaster medical preparedness, and just a few days ago, our good friend Jeff Anderson from Modern Combat and Survival .com asked us to come on his show, which we’ve put on our website if you want to hear the whole show. In addition, he does a little lightning round as well that he calls the 5 in 5, where he asks five questions and the guest has to answer each in a minute or less. You know that it usually takes me a minute just to get a sentence out so it was a real challenge, but I accepted it. Here goes… Plus, a question for Dr. Alton as a member of the Expert Council at Jack Spirko's Survival Podcast about soft tissue infections like cellulitis and more! Wishing you the best of health in good time or bad, Joe and Amy Alton For the best HSA/FSA eligible first aid kit on the internet, check out Nurse Amy's entire line at store.doomandbloom.net!

THE SURVIVAL MEDICINE PODCAST #376 Hey, I’ll bet you’ve wondered from time to time if you’re medically prepared enough. Do you have the supplies to deal with the medical issues you’ll face? To know that, you need to know what medical issues you’ll face. In my research, I’ve taken the experience of those in remote locations with limited supplies as guidance. People like medical missionaries  spend months at a time off the grid in communities where infections and injuries occur, and usually assume medical responsibility with very limited equipment. Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP talk about some of those duties, and what you can expect to face in times of trouble. Plus, a basic discussion of infectious diseases caused by bacteria and viruses and how they differ. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Learn about bacterial infectious diseases and the antibiotics available to the average citizen in Joe Alton MD's book "Alton's Antibiotics and Infectious Disease". And don't forget Nurse Amy's entire line of high-quality medical kits and individual supplies at her store at store.doomandbloom.net!

Survival Medicine Podcast #375 In survival, the medicines eventually run out no matter how well you’ve prepared if the disaster knock you off the grid for long enough. This is especially true for drugs for which you can only stockpile a limited quantity, simply because they’re too expensive. One item that isn’t too expensive is fish oil, commonly available in supplement or in FDA-approved prescription items. The scientific data shows that they can reduce triglycerides in your blood, a factor in coronary artery disease, and perhaps help in other ways. So what is fish oil and is it of any use off the grid? Should you accumulate it in quantity in your medical storage. That's your decision, but you'll know a lot more about it after listening to Dr. Joe Alton of doomandbloom.net! Also, Dr. Alton answers a question from someone suffering from symptoms similar (but not exactly) to carpal tunnel syndrome. Could he have Guyon's Syndrome instead? Learn about it in this episode of the new-format Survival Medicine Podcast! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD/Amy Alton ARNP Hey, show your support for our mission to put a medically prepared person in every family by subscribing to our website at doomandbloom.net and checking out Nurse Amy's often-imitated, never-equaled medical kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

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 (Alton’s Antibiotics and Infectious Disease: The Layman’s Guide to Available Antibacterials in Austere Settings), 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 aren’t in our book, because they can’t be treated with antibiotics. I’m talking about viruses. What are the worst viruses on the planet? Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP, in their new podcast format, give their thoughts on past, present, and future viruses that antibiotics can't cure and could cause a true epidemic apocalypse.... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don't forget to check out Nurse Amy's Health Savings Account-eligible first aid kits at store.doomandbloom.net!

After a brief hiatus, Joe and Amy Alton, aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy try out a new format that removes a lot of the up front "housekeeping" and get to the meat of the medical topic for the week immediately. They plan to put out more frequent shows lasting about 15-20 minutes each and stay on one topic to delve into it more deeply. This week, Dr. Alton discusses the Ebola epidemic from the standpoint of the health workers that are being killed by armed rebels in the area. Even the local population seem to hate medical personnel out of fear and superstition, blaming them for the civil unrest and spread of the epidemic, which was waning at last report. Now, health workers are being told to stay home out of concern for their safety. This situation can be extrapolated to fit survival scenarios. When the group medic is in a hostile situation, what should be their priorities? Dr. Alton and Amy give their thoughts on when good medicine may become bad, even dangerous tactics.... Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad... Don't forget that it's closing in on the end of the year, so get your money's worth out of that HSA or FSA account with one or more of Nurse Amy's many eligibile kits at store.doomandbloom.net!

In the midst of a break from their podcast, Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP are interviewed by good friends Glen Tate and Shelby Gallagher from the Prepping 2.0 podcast. The topic is pandemic disease, what infections can become the next major epidemic to push society to the brink, what to do to keep your family safe, and the supplies you'll need to avoid infectious disease from running rampant among your people. Keep an eye out for future podcasts with Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, we'll be back soon! And don't forget to check out our medical kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net! Sign up at our website to get special coupon codes for the Thanksgiving shopping days!

A fractured femur or a gunshot wound to the chest are major injuries that affect your chances of survival in disaster settings, but not all injuries are so extreme. “Minor” injuries can also impact the efficiency of a group member off the grid.  Of these, nailbed injuries are some you’ll commonly see. You can imagine that nailbed injuries will be more common when untrained (and perhaps careless) people perform tasks to which they’re not accustomed. Joe and Amy Alton describe various types of trauma and their treatments. The journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) reports that 33.5% of the population lives below an elevation of 100 meters above sea level. That means that there’s a possibility that you might have to abruptly relocate from a home at sea level to a “bug-out” location in the mountains. Too abruptly, though, and you can get sick. Joe Alton MD discusses acute mountain sickness and what to do to prevent and treat it. Also, the second greatest cause of death from protozoal parasites, after malaria, is amebiasis (amoebiasis), a condition caused by entamoeba hystolitica. This organism attacks various organs, sometimes the intestines, other times the liver, and elsewhere. Find out how to recognize and treat this terrible pathogen and various ways to disinfect water which may contain  it.  All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Hour! Don't forget to get your medical kits and supplies from the many choices at store.doomandbloom.net! You'll be glad you did. Also, get a copy of our award-winning Third Edition of the Survival Medicine Handbook and our new bestseller Alton's Antibiotics and Infectious Disease: The Layman's Guide...

#369 SURVIVAL MEDICINE PODCAST The world is on the brink of destruction and you have all your preps together; You’ve got water, food, you can start a campfire, you’ve got your knife or knives, and you’ve provided for the common defense. You can sterilize water, your vehicle ready for the road if you need to go and your ducks are all in a row. Duck is good eating, by the way. Well, how about some baking soda? Joe Alton MD goes solo this week to talk about just some of the medical and other uses of this versatile item. Plus, how to identify, treat, and prevent common trail mishaps like blisters and splinters off the grid. Add to that some news about the invasive species the northern snakehead, which has reared its ugly, well, snakehead, for the first time in Georgia! And Tokyo is hit with a typhoon and an earthquake on the same day! Ouch! Lastly, a history of bacteria and human knowledge, as well as some amazing (and a little scary) development or two with ramifications for our future! All this and more on the latest Survival Medicine Hour with Joe Alton MD (Amy's folks came down to visit this week) Joe and Amy Alton Make sure to check out our medical kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll also find our Survival Medicine Handbook and Alton's Antibiotics and Infectious Disease: The Layman's Guide... at amazon.com!

In this episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, Amy Alton ARNP takes over the show! She's got a lot to say about some important medical problems that all of us have to care about: Heart disease, hypertension, and kidney disease. She'll describe risk factors, diet, prevention, treatment, and more. Did you know that frequent ibuprofen usage damages your kidneys? I'll bet you didn't, and Nurse Amy will tell you a lot more that might just surprise you.  These are issues she cares deeply about in good times or bad, so do yourself a favor and listen in as she gives you strategies to live a healthier and longer life in any situation. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Amy and Joe Alton Hey, have you put together that medical kit you'll need in survival scenarios? I know where you'll find some of the best on the web at Nurse Amy's store at store.doomandbloom.net!

A#366 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST You may have heard the phrase "Gone But Not Forgotten" but how about "Forgotten But Not Gone"? For some time, The Democratic Republic of Congo has been in the throes of a deadly epidemic: Ebola. I wrote a lot about the Ebola virus during the 2014 epidemic in West Africa and even wrote a book  (published by Skyhorse Publishing) about the disease. In West Africa, more than 28,000  got sick and 11,000 died. This time, more than 2,000 have succumbed to the virus since 2018 but you’d hardly know it with nary a mention in the media.Joe Alton MD tells you about the second deadliest Ebola epidemic in history, even if few others will. Wounds are tough to deal with in any circumstance, but especially if you’re the person taking care of the wound off the grid. Dead tissue doesn’t heal, so you have to make sure you remove every possible bit of it. Debridement is the removal of dead (necrotic) or infected skin tissue to help a wound heal. It’s also done to remove foreign material from tissue. Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy discuss the various types of debridement and when you should consider the procedure. Plus, a listener from Jack Spirko's Survival Podcast asks Dr. Alton about Type II diabetes and more.... All this and more on the Survival Medicine Hour podcast with Joe and Amy Alton! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, The Altons Don't forget to fill those holes in your medical storage by checking out Nurse Amy's entire line of kits and supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

Just back from a trip to the United Kingdom, Amy Alton ARNP and Joe Alton MD discuss some topics not recently covered in previous shows. Sleep deprivation is a serious issue: Some researchers believe that it carries health risks approaching that of cigarettes or heart disease. The mental and physical deterioration that sleep deprivation causes can break you: So much so, that it’s been used as a method of torture. The CDC estimates that up to 50-70 million Americans suffer from some kind of sleep disorder. The Altons discuss sleep disorders as an issue that can negatively affect your chances of survival in disasters, and offer some suggestions (might even help you night shift workers). Also, from time to time you'll find  the persistent notion on social media that tampons, the feminine sanitary product, are an excellent addition to your medical kit. Many, usually second- or third-hand, swear that these items saved the life of a soldier because a savvy medic made sure to carry what some call a “tactical tampon” in his pack. Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy have their own thoughts on the subject... Lastly, the Indian spice turmeric is more than just an ingredient in a decent curry: It has medicinal properties as well. Dr. Alton discusses the possible, although not fully proven, benefits of having some as part of the natural section of your medical toolshed. In times of trouble, you might have to depend on natural substances when the medicines run out. All this and more in the latest Survival Medicine Hour with Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Hey, don't forget to check out Nurse Amy's entire line of medical kits and individual supplies at store.doomandbloom.net!

#364 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST In this info-packed episode of the Survival Medicine Hour, Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss poisonous plants like poison ivy, oak, sumac, and poisonwood; how to identify, treat, and prevent medical issues related to contact with problematic flora! Plus, how to deal with broken bones off the grid, including reducing deformities, placing casts, creating traction, and much more. In addition, Dr. Alton answers questions in his role as medical expert for his good friend Jack Spriko's Survival Podcast. One involves hair loss and one listener's concerns about dietary causes, and another from someone with frequent soft tissue infections from insect bites and minor trauma. All this and more on 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 Hey, don't forget to fill those holes in YOUR medical supplies with kits and individual items from Nurse Amy's store at store.doomandbloom.net. PLus, get copies of our bestselling books "The Survival Medicine Handbook" and "Alton's Antibiotics and Infectious Disease" at our website or at Amazon.com! Also, if you believe in our mission, please follow us on twitter @preppershow and subscribe to our YouTube channel DrBones NurseAmy. You'll be glad you did.

SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST Our thoughts and prayers go out to the citizens of the Bahamas affected by the recent hurricane; we have been fortunate enough to escape its wrath here in South Florida, but many are still suffering. We ask our readers, listeners, and viewers to consider donating to the various relief funds aimed at helping our Bahamian friends. In this episode, Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP discuss the phenomenom known as the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and how the U.S. is poorly prepared to withstand even a small-moderate event without chaos. Also, Dr. Alton discusses the factors that go into deciding whether a wilderness wound should be closed or not; the answer isn't simple and might surprise you. Also, in long-term situations where the medicines run out or even in normal times, natural remedies such as herbal teas may be helpful tools in the medical woodshed. Amy and Joe discuss a number of different ones that you might consider for your medicinal herb garden. Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe Alton MD and Amy Alton ARNP Learn more about medical issues in long-term disaster setting with the Alton's award-winning "Survival Medicine Handbook" third edition! You'll learn about more than 100 medical topics in situations where modern medicine may not be accessible. Also, consider one of Nurse Amy's often imitated but never equalled medical kits at store.doomandbloom.net. You'll be glad you did.

#363 SURVIVAL MEDICINE HOUR PODCAST Outbreaks of hepatitis A are springing up in various parts of the country, leading us to want you to know all about this inflammation of the liver, plus the other types of hepatitis that can cause damage. Learn how to identify and prevent this disease which has been found in homeless populations in variouus cities. Also, Joe and Amy interview post-apocalyptic fiction author Jeff Motes of "Once Upon An Apocalypse" fame. The three books in the series has been Amazon bestsellers in several categories. His Books: !:  The Journey Home 2: The Search 3. Gathering Storm Check them out, they're bona fide good reads! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Don't forget to subscribe to our website to keep up on all our content and to get special offers on medical kits and supplies from our store at store.doomandbloom.net!

If you want to know how to keep informed on all the latest preparedness topics, you don't have to go further than Todd Sepulveda's prepperwebsite.com. Todd is a pastor and information guru that has compiled for you a daily smorgasbord of prepper articles from some of the best sources on the internet (including ours!). He also has his own weekly podcast at https://www.theprepperwebsitepodcast.com. Join us as Todd talks about his journey to preparedness and gives his thoughts on some of the best ways to stay up to date on not only preparedness topics, but everything you need to know in daily life! Wishing you the best of health in good times or bad, Joe and Amy Alton Find the best quality medical kits and individual supplies in Nurse Amy's entire line at store.doomandbloom.net!