You may have to save your own life and possibly those around you in an emergency situation. Medical preparedness is an important part of training that’s often overlooked. Dr. Joseph Alton has spent years educating individuals on a variety of medical issues. The Survival Medicine Handbook This book can be used as a reference to help improve your medical knowledge. The book has sections that are specific to medical topics, making it an easy reference. The fourth edition has many updates compared to the previous edition. The authors of this book intend it to be “a plainly written guide understandable by all” (p.3). This book succeeds at this goal.
The 411
I am aware of no other comprehensive books like this. The fourth edition is much easier to read and more user-friendly than the third edition. Each of the 35 sections in the fourth edition covers a specific topic, making it easy to reference for the “family medic.” I broke these sections into groups: the basics (Sections 1 to 6), medical issues (Sections 7 to 20), first aid (Sections 21 to 28), and other issues (Sections 29 to 35).
The first group, Basics, covers topics such as becoming a medical asset, and medical supplies. There are also extensive lists of items to stockpile. In the second section, medical issues are discussed. This includes dental, respiratory and skin problems. These sections give you an overview of the condition and its treatment. First aid is the third group and covers major and minor injuries as well as wounds. The last group, other issues, discusses topics such as mass casualties, nursing off the grid, and medications/antibiotics. These sections explain what to do in the event of an emergency medical situation that is not connected to the grid.
These sections are often filled with lists to help emphasize certain points in the text. There’s also an extensive glossary list at the back of the book. Dr. Alton provides over 20 additional readings on important topics.
The Verdict
This is an extensive and comprehensive book which serves as a primer on medicine for the average person living in a difficult environment. The handbook is extensive in some sections (e.g. Section 35 Antibiotics). Few sections (e.g. section 13 Heart Issues), are too shallow. This section, although it may have little to do with heart problems in a spartan setting, could use more content.
I would also like to see more photos to help illustrate some of the points made in the book. (Example: Section 18 Skin Issues). This book is best known for its alternative treatments, which use natural products. The section on Natural Medicine is a great narrative about using herbal remedies in the absence of modern medicine.
In Section 4, there are 24 natural products and 21 essential oils. Each of these examples includes information on the herb remedy, its recipes, and how to use it. In almost every chapter, there is a natural remedy and a recipe. This added value to the topics covered.
This book would be a great addition to your home library but is not suitable for your bug-out kit due to its 672 page length. It would be a good reference for a non-medical individual who wants to know how to survive in a harsh environment. This topic is too vast to be covered in less than 100 pages. The authors are excellent at communicating with the layman, who may have little or no medical knowledge. They did a great job updating the book.
The Book
- Book & Author: “The Survival Medicine Handbook: The Essential Guide For When Help Is NOT on the Way”, Fourth Edition By Joseph Alton MD and Amy Alton APRN
- Publisher: Doom and Bloom, LLC
- MSRP: $34
- URL: doomandbloom.net
- Pages: 672
- Rating: Thrive |
Survive|Die
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Editor’s Note: This article was modified from the original print version to be used on the Web.
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