Table of Contents
Chapter 1 How to Prepare for Medical Care Off the Grid 1
Off-Grid versus No-Grid Medical Prepping 1
How to Use This Book 2
Chapter 2 Assessment and Stabilization 4
Assessment and Care 4
Initial Assessment 6
Survey the Scene
Check the Airway and Breathing
Check Circulation
Check for Severe Bleeding
Check the Cervical Spine
Focused Assessment 8
The Physical Exam
Vital Signs 9
Level of Responsiveness
Pulse
Respirations
Skin Signs
Blood Pressure
Temperature
Oxygen Saturation
Medical History and Physical Examination 12
Head
Neck
Chest
Abdomen
Back
Pelvis/Hip
Legs
Shoulders and Arms
Shock 13
Difficult Respirations 16
Foreign Body Airway Obstruction 16
Adult One-Rescuer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) 17
Adult Two-Rescuer CPR 20
Rapid Breathing 21
Cardiac Evaluation and Care 22
Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)
Rapid Heart Rate 25
Tachycardia
Slow Heart Rate 25
Bradycardia
Chapter 3 Body System Symptoms and Management 27
Symptom Management 27
Fever/Chills
Lethargy
Pain
Itch
Hiccups
Headache
Eye 36
Eye Patch and Bandaging Techniques
Foreign Body Eye Injury
Contact Lenses
Eye Abrasion
Snow Blindness or Ultraviolet Eye Injury
Conjunctivitis
Iritis
Allergic Conjunctivitis
Sties and Chalazia
Spontaneous Subconjunctival Hemorrhage
Blunt Trauma to the Eye
Glaucoma
Nose 51
Nasal Congestion
Foreign Body Nose Injury
Nosebleed
Nose Fracture
Ear 53
Earache
Outer Ear Infection
Middle Ear Infection
Foreign Body Ear Injury
Ruptured Eardrum
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome
Mouth and Throat 59
Sore Throat
Infectious Mononucleosis
Mouth Sores
Chest 62
Bronchitis/Pneumonia
Pneumothorax
Pulmonary Embolus
Abdomen 65
Abdominal Pain
Gall Bladder Problems and Appendicitis
Vomiting
Motion Sickness
Diarrhea
Constipation
Hemorrhoids
Hernia
Bladder Infection
Reproductive Organs 77
Venereal Diseases
Vaginal Discharge and Itching
Menstrual Problems
Spontaneous Abortion
Ectopic Pregnancy
Pregnancy
Painful Testicle
Poisoning 84
Plant or Food Poisoning
Petroleum Products Poisoning
Ciguatera Poisoning
Scombroid Poisoning
Puffer Fish Poisoning
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
Managing Diabetes 86
Water and Waste 88
Oral Fluid Replacement Therapy
Water Purification
Human Waste Disposal
Chapter 4 Radiation 96
Units of Radiation Measurement
Diagnosis and Management of Radiation Exposure and Illness
Chapter 5 Dental Care 109
Gum Pain or Swelling
Mouth Lacerations
Dental Pain
Lost Filling
Cavity
Loose or Dislodged Tooth
Pulling a Tooth
Chapter 6 Soft Tissue Care and Trauma Management 116
The Bleeding Wound 118
Stop the Bleeding
Clean the Wound
Antibiotic Guidelines
Wound Closure Techniques 126
Tape Closure Techniques
Stapling
Suturing
Special Considerations 130
Shaving the Wound Area
Bleeding from Suture or Staple Use
Scalp Wounds
Eyebrow and Lip Closure
Mouth and Tongue Lacerations
Control of Pain
Dressings
Other Types of Wounds 133
Abrasions
Puncture Wounds
Splinter Removal
Fishhook Removal
Friction Blisters
Thermal Burns
Human Bites
Animal Bites
Finger and Toe Problems 144
Ingrown Nail
Paronychia (Nail Base Infection)
Felon
Blood under the Nail
Wound Infection and Inflammation 147
Abscess
Cellulitis
Skin Rash 149
Fungal Infection
Allergic Dermatitis
Bacterial Skin Rash
Seabather's Eruption
Chapter 7 Orthopedics-Bone and Joint Pain and injury 154
Management Off the Grid 154
Concepts of Orthopedic Care 155
Muscle Pain-No Acute Injury
Muscle Pain-Acute Injury
Joint Pain-No Acute Injury
Joint Pain-Acute Injury
Fractures
Diagnosis and Care Protocols 164
Head
Neck
Spine
Collarbone
Shoulder
Shoulder Blade
Upper Arm Fractures (Near the Shoulder)
Upper Arm Fractures (Below the Shoulder)
Elbow Trauma
Forearm Fractures
Wrist Fractures and Dislocations
Thumb Sprains and Fractures
Hand Fractures
Finger Fractures and Sprains
Hip Dislocation and Fracture
Thigh Fractures
Kneecap Dislocation
Knee Sprains, Dislocations, and Fractures
Ankle Sprains, Dislocations, and Fractures
Foot Injuries
Chapter 8 Bites and Stings 193
Venemous Stings 193
Anaphylactic Shock
Snakebites 196
Identifying Common North American Poisonous Snakes
Signs and Symptoms of Pit Viper Bite
Treatment of Pit Viper Bite
Neurotoxic Snakebites
Treatment of Coral Snake Bites
Insect Bites and Stings 200
Spider Bites
Ticks
Caterpillar Reactions
Millipede Reactions
Centipede Bites
Mosquitoes
Black Flies
No-See-Ums and Biting Gnats
Scorpion Stings
Ants/Fire Ants
Aquatic Stings, Cuts, and Rashes 208
Sea Urchin
Jellyfish
Coral Stings
Coral and Barnacle Cuts
Stingray
Catfish
Scorpion Fish
Sponge Rash
Chapter 9 Bioterrorism and Infectious Disease 212
Managing Infectious Diseases in North America and Potential Off-Grid Travel Destinations 218
Anaplasmosis
Babesiosis
Blastomycosis
Chikungunya Fever
Cholera
Coccidioidomycosis
Colorado Tick Fever
Dengue
Echinococcus
Ehrlichiosis
Encephalitis
Giardiasis
Hantavirus
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis D
Hepatitis E
Hepatitis G
Leptospirosis
Lyme Disease
Malaria
Measles (Rubeola)
Meningococcal Meningitis
Mumps
Plague
Rabies
Relapsing Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rubella (German Measles, 3-Day Measles)
Schistosomiasis
STARI
Tapeworms
Tetanus
Tick Paralysis
Trichinosis
Trypanosomiasis, African (African Sleeping Sickness)
Trypanosomiasis, American (Chagas Disease)
Tuberculosis
Tularemia
Typhoid Fever
Endemic Typhus, Flea-Borne
Epidemic Typhus, Louse Borne
West Nile Virus
Yellow Fever
Zika Virus
Chapter 10 Environmental Injuries 246
Hypothermia 247
Chronic Hypothermia
Acute Hypothermia
Cold Water Submersion
Cold-Stress Injuries 252
Frostrip
Frostbite
Cold-Induced Bronchospasm
Immersion Foot
Chilblains
Heat-Stress Injuries 255
Dilutional Hyponatremia
Heat Cramps
Heat Exhaustion
Heat Stroke
Prickly Heat
Lightning 261
High Altitude Illnesses 265
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)
High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)
Chapter 11 The Off-Grid Medical Kit 269
Alternative and Herbal Therapy 269
Topical Bandaging Module
Non-Rx Oral Medication
Module
Rx Oral/Topical Medication Module
Rx Injectable
Medication Module
Cardiac Medication Module
Replacement Medications 296
Prepper's Medical Resource Bookshelf 298
Clinical Reference Index 300
About the Author 312