Wilderness and Survival Medicine

Life is uncertain, people who are involved in survival situations, disasters and accidents are often unprepared both in knowledge and supplies. This book is intended to give you grounding in medical care and encourage you to prepare supplies suitable to your level of knowledge and likely situations you may encounter. Chris Breen is a Registered Nurse who served with the RAMC, a Paramedic and Clinical Tutor with additional qualifications in Trauma and Remote Medicine. He has had a long term interest in Survival medicine and is the Medical Advisor for a Preparedness group and runs courses in Survival Medicine. Craig Ellis is a Medical doctor who trained as a Specialist Emergency Physician. He has a special interest in austere medicine and medical practice during prolonged disasters. He has both worked and taught austere medical practice. The aim of this work is to provide the lay person with the knowledge and skills to deal with a variety of medical conditions and traumatic injuries usually dealt with by Health Care Professionals. Equipment, medical supplies and initial first aid treatment is covered, if the injury or illness would benefit from more advanced measures then these are detailed as well as any skills needed to carry them out. We will also look at aftercare and the limitations of care without the benefit of a modern health service. Scenarios where this could apply is in a Survival situation, where the time normally taken to be rescued may be delayed or when involved in major disaster where normal health services are unable to cope or have ceased to function. Contents INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1 EXAMINATION OF PATIENTS CHAPTER 2 ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CHAPTER 3 BITES AND STINGS CHAPTER 4 DEALING WITH PARASITES CHAPTER 5 FOOT CARE CHAPTER 6 FRACTURES CHAPTER 7 SPINAL TRAUMA AND IMMOBILISATION CHAPTER 8 DISLOCATIONS CHAPTER 9 WOUNDS AND BURNS CHAPTER 10 LOCAL ANAESTHETIC CHAPTER 11 HEAD, CHEST AND ABDOMINAL TRAUMA CHAPTER 12 MANAGING ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS (RTCS) CHAPTER 13 JOINTS, MUSCLES, TENDONS AND LIGAMENTS CHAPTER 14 ALLERGIC REACTION CHAPTER 15 RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES CHAPTER 16 ABDOMINAL ILLNESSES CHAPTER 17 NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS CHAPTER 18 CIRCULATORY PROBLEMS CHAPTER 19 DIABETES CHAPTER 20 THE SCIENCE AND ART OF WATER PURIFICATION CHAPTER 21 POISONING CHAPTER 22 SHOCK CHAPTER 23 EAR, NOSE AND THROAT (ENT) CHAPTER 24 EYE PROBLEMS CHAPTER 25 SKIN CONDITIONS CHAPTER 26 MINOR MEDICAL PROBLEMS CHAPTER 27 MEDICATION CHAPTER 28 VACCINES (IMMUNISATION) CHAPTER 29 ROUTES OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION CHAPTER 30 CLINICAL SKILLS CHAPTER 31 MEDICAL KITS & SUPPLIES CHAPTER 32 EMERGENCY DENTISTRY CHAPTER 33 SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES CHAPTER 34 OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY CHAPTER 35 PLANNING FOR FUTURE MEDICAL NEEDS CHAPTER 36 ESTABLISHING A MEDICAL CLINIC CHAPTER 37 INFECTIOUS DISEASES, NUCLEAR BIOLOGICAL & NERVE AGENT WARFARE CHAPTER 38 GUNSHOT WOUNDS, EXPLOSIONS & TACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS CHAPTER 39 TRIAGE CHAPTER 40 NUTRITION CHAPTER 41 LEGAL ISSUES CHAPTER 42 PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS CHAPTER 43 SURGERY AND ANAESTHESIA WITH MINIMAL TRAINING CHAPTER 44 HOME LABORATORY CHAPTER 45 MEDICAL ASPECTS OF ISOLATED OR SHELTER LIVING CHAPTER 46 PRIMITIVE MEDICINE APPENDIX 1 GCS APPENDIX 2 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY APPENDIX 3 FURTHER READING INDEX 2nd Edition, Published November 2011