Page 118 - American Survival Guide - October 2017

… IT’S
IMPORTANT TO
LEARN WHAT’S
IN YOUR OWN
BACKYARD
THAT CAN HELP
YOU KEEP
YOUR PEOPLE
HEALTHY. USE
ALL THE TOOLS
IN THE MEDICAL
TOOLSHED.

PREVENTION ‹ Top: An example Persons who carry or use fi rearms, knives and tools must be trained in their safe use.
of a typical medic’s
All the issues I mention here can quickly field tent. Other Prevention extends not only to injuries, but also to infectious diseases. When you
take up everything you have stored to accommodations suspect a group member is ill, you must make sure they are isolated from those who
can work—as long
help you function as the medic. Therefore, as they’re clean, are healthy. These concepts might seem obvious to you, but you’ll be (unpleasantly)
it just makes common sense to consider organized and surprised at how many will forget to take precautions to avoid injuries and infection.
meet the needs of
preventive measures to avoid head- the survival group.
aches—and, perhaps, heartaches. In other SELF-PRESERVATION
words, “an ounce of prevention is worth There is one last essential characteristic of the successful survival medic: a strong
a pound of cure.” That old saying is never ‹ Above left: A instinct for self-preservation. Although you might want to rush to the aid of the sick and
good supply of
truer than in a survival situation. dental supplies injured—even in the face of hostile fire—you must realize you are an indispensable asset
It’s important to enforce the use of is needed for to your group. If you frequently place yourself in harm’s way, you will eventually find
long-term survival
protective gloves, boots and eyewear in scenarios. yourself as the patient more often than you or anyone else would like.
any situation where injuries might occur. Always determine first if you can care for a victim without placing yourself at undue
Clothes should be appropriate for the risk. You must abolish all threats; if someone has a gunshot wound, it stands to reason
climate at your location. You might not ‹ Above right: The there’s a guy with a gun out there. Don’t become the next casualty.
survival medic
consider these items to be medical supplies, must always be In the next issue of American Survival Guide, I will discuss what supplies the effective
but they can prevent a lot of problems that ready and able to medic should have on hand in a long-term survival scenario, as well as other factors
improvise treat-
will take up your time and resources. ments. involved in dealing with medical issues. ASG

118 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [OCTOBER 2017]

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