Page 111 - American Survival Guide - October 2017

an effective caregiver? This is a question
I’m often asked as I travel throughout
the country to speak on disaster medical
preparedness. The success of the survival
medic depends on the accumulation of
three things: knowledge, training and sup-
plies. These can be obtained, over time,
with some effort and dedication.

DEALING WITH BLOOD
AND GORE
One thing that’s important, but difficult,
for an inexperienced medic to develop
is the ability to avoid feeling squeamish
at the sight of blood. A response similar
to the “fight or flight” mechanism, it’s a
natural fear reaction that causes blood
vessels to dilate, blood pressure to drop,
the heartbeat to slow—all leading to
lightheadedness and nausea. Medically,
this is known as a “vasovagal” response.
Of course, repeated exposure to blood
is one way to become accustomed to
it. One medical center director says his
students learn to compartmentalize fear
reactions by repeating words or numbers
in their head, rocking side to side and
tensing and relaxing leg muscles. Another
preventive measure is to drink a sugary, caf-
feinated beverage to raise blood pressure
and stay hydrated, and avoid low glucose ‹ In long-term survival situations, the helicopter isn’t coming.
levels (called “hypoglycemia”) that make
them feel faint. (As an aside, coffee is ALWAYS DETERMINE FIRST IF YOU CAN CARE
commonly thought to be dehydrating, FOR A VICTIM WITHOUT PLACING YOURSELF
but it doesn’t cause you to lose more
fluids than you ingest in the drink.) AT UNDUE RISK.

‹ Above: Beans and bullets don’t mean a thing without the bandages.

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