Top Ten Essential Medical Preparedness Books That Could Save Your Life!

  1. The Ultimate Survival Medicine Handbook by Joseph Alton M.D. and his Nurse wife Amy Alton
  2. Living Ready Pocket Manuel: First Aid Fundamentals for Survival by James Hubbard
  3. The Complete Medicinal Herbal: A Practical Guide to the Healing Properties of Herbs by Penelope Ody
  4. Where There is No Doctor by David Werner
  5. Where There is No Dentist by Murray Dickson
  6. A Book for Midwives: Care for Pregnancy, Birth, and Women’s Health by Sheila Kitzinger
  7. Ditch Medicine: Advanced Field Procedures for Emergencies by Hugh Coffee
  8. Wilderness Medicine: Beyond First Aid by William W. Forgey
  9. The Survival Medicine Handbook: A Guide for When Help is NOT On The Way by Joseph Alton M.D. and his Nurse wife Amy Alton
  10. The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide for Herbalists by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne

***DON’T FORGET: Nurse’s PDFs; Wilderness First Responder manuals

Ready for Anything: The Top Ten Must-Read Books for Ultimate Preparedness

Top Ten Preparedness Books: 

  1. The Disaster Preparedness Handbook-by Arthur T. Bradley 
  1. How to Survive The End of The World As We Know It-by James Wesley Rawles 
  1. Build the Perfect Bug Out Survival Skills-by Creek Stewart 
  1. The Prepper’s Blueprint-by Tess Pennington 
  1. Where There is No Doctor-by David Werner, Carol Thuman, Jane Maxwell 
  1. The Ultimate Survival Medicine Guide-by Joseph Alton, MD 
  1. Emergency War Surgery-by the U.S. Department of the Army 
  1. The Ultimate Guide to Wilderness Living-by John McPherson and Geri McPherson 
  1. The Complete Guide to Emergency First Aid-by Paul McCarty 
  1. Nuclear War Survival Skills-by Cresson Kearney 

Honorable mentions and other books to have on hand:

Nurses PDFs 

Preparedness/Survival Fiction: Any books written by James Wesley Rawles 

Down and Dirty Old School Preparedness: Any old books by Ragnar Benson such as Survival Poaching 

Medical Information: Any material by Joseph Alton, MD and his wife; Where There is No Dentist-by Murray Dickson 

Homesteading/Long-Term Survival: The Encyclopedia of Country Living-by Carla Emery

Discover more survival and preparedness content at Arcturus Primitive Skills Institute!

     

Extreme Wilderness Medicine: APSI Instructor Teaches Suturing Skills for Wilderness Survival

Extreme Wilderness Medicine: APSI Instructor Teaches Suturing Skills for Wilderness Survival Using Fishing Line

In this video we show how to perform suturing using fishing line in an austere environment. #survivalskills #suturing #fishingline #wildernessmedicine #firstaid #survivalguide #outdoorsurvival #emergencypreparedness #survivaltactics #DIYfirstaid #survivaltraining #natureskills #bushcraft #selfsurgery #fieldmedicine #prepperskills #suturetechniques #survivalhacks #fishinglinesuture #wildernessfirstaid #wildernessfirstresponder 

Life-Saving Tactics: Mastering the Tourniquet for Emergency Situations

Life Saving Tactics: Mastering the Tourniquet for Emergency Situations

https://youtu.be/uOoSIjooYqk?si=3jfoG4IuTwoibv89

How to use a tourniquet. #survivalskills #firstaid #tourniquet #wildernesssurvival #emergencypreparedness #outdoorsafety #survivaltips #bleedingcontrol  #preparedness #lifesavingskills #survivaltraining #learntosurvive #stopthebleed 

Emergency Ready: The Ultimate Bugout Bag Checklist

Bugout Bag Kit List: We live in extremely uncertain times, from the port strikes, to the war in Ukraine, and to the soon-to-be apocalyptic war in the Middle East between Israel and Iran. We have no idea what is coming, but we all need to be ready for any emergency that may present itself, and I cannot recommend enough, having a bugout bag for yourself and each of your loved ones. Please see the checklist below.

1. Shelter (You want to regulate your body’s core temperature)

  • Tent, rainfly, hammock or tarp: Lightweight, rain-proof, and weather-resistant.
  • Sleeping bag: You want a bag with down insulation. Down insulation is lightweight, compressible, and has the excellent ability to maintain warmth. This is what you want for cold weather.
  • Blanket: You want wool, it is easily compressible, lightweight, and is excellent for warmth, even when wet. You can even sleep with 2-3 wool blankets sandwiched in a tarp on the ground.
  • Emergency space blanket/mylar blanket: Use to keep you warm, for signaling, and for an emergency shelter. Drape it around your shoulders, sit against a tree, light a candle and warm yourself inside the emergency blanket.

2. Food/Water

  • Water purification device: Filters and devices such as a LifeStraw.
  • Water bottles or bags of water: Portable and easy to pack
  • Water purification tablets: Easy to pack and small.
  • Non-perishable food: MREs, freeze-dried food, energy bars, hard candy.
  • Mess Kit: Portable stove, cook pot, plate, cup, spork

3. Med Kit

  • Basic first-aid supplies: Bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, adhesive tape.
  • Medications: Personal prescriptions, allergy meds, antihistamines, pain-killers, heart-burn meds, (optional but recommended-Epipen, Narcan).
  • Tools: Tweezers, multitool, scissors, safety pins, cloth sail needle.
  • Tourniquet: Gunshot wounds, apply so you don’t bleed out.
  • Corn starch: Stops bleeding effectively.

4. Tools and Equipment

  • Multi-tool: Get a Leatherman such as the Wave.
  • Survival knife: Get a Mora Black or Mora Pathfinder.
  • Paracord/#36 bankline, cordage: So many uses.
  • Duct tape: For repairs, first-aid, signaling, cut into strips to light a fire, and make emergency fixes.

5. Navigation and Signaling

  • Map and compass: Always have a physical map, find them at MyTopo, get a Suunto mc2 compass.
  • Whistle: Use for signaling.
  • Portable charger, solar charger or power bank: For your iPhone, electronics, etc.
  • Walkie-Talkies: For comms between your teammates.
  • GPS with batteries: Most reliable method; map and compass are a backup to your GPS.

6. Clothing

  • Clothing: Waterproof coat, multiple layers when cold, you want real wool.
  • Extra dry socks and clean underwear: Keep yourself dry, clean, and comfortable.
  • Rugged footwear: Broken-in, durable, think Salomon shoes, they are the best in my personal experience and affordable. Merrell’s are good and affordable but tend to make your feet hot in my experience.
  • Gloves: Protect your hands when grid down and in rugged environments.

7. Personal Items

  • Hard Cash: Bring cash for emergencies, and if grid down, bring silver such as American Silver Eagles.
  • Toiletries: Soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, wet wipes which are easier to pack than toilet paper, gold bond.

8. Self-Defense

  • Hand Weapons: Buy a full-tang tomahawk, a good utility tool and self-defense weapon. Carry a good knife for both bushcraft and self-defense. I like my Mora Pathfinder. For something more intimidating, try the Becker BK9, it looks like a short sword. Also consider a foldable saw like the Bahco Laplander or Silky Gomboy.
  • Firearms: Just buy a Glock in .9mm.

9. Miscellaneous

  • Flashlight: Get a Sure Fire with extra batteries. A headlamp is also a good option.
  • Fire-making: You want a minimum of 3 ways to light a fire, such as fero rod, lighter, matches, or perhaps flint and steel. Put in a small bag, also add tinder.
  • Outdoor contractor bags: Buy at Dollar General, cheaper and more rugged than regular trash bags.
  • Notepad and a pen: Use for notes.
  • Cotton Bandannas: Many uses, bandaging, signaling, making char cloth, mark a waypoint, filter water.

10. Optional Items

  • Fishing kit: For gathering food.
  • Bivvy sack or emergency tent: Bring for a quick shelter.

Pro Tips:

  • Check your inventory and the condition of your gear once a month.
  • Mod your gear based on your own personal needs. Example, for me that would be including both Claritin-D and Xyzal for my allergies.
  • Get your family and practice bugging out twice a year at a minimum. Try it in warmer months (spring, summer) and cold months (fall, winter).
  • Try to keep your bag at 25-30 lbs or less, because ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain.
  • This list is highly modifiable!

Rise and Shine: Crafting the Ultimate Mountain Man Breakfast

Mountain Man Breakfast:

Ingrediets:

Breakfast Sausage-2lbs

½ Onion Diced

½ Pepper of your choice (banana, bell, jalapeno)

Smoked Paprika to taste (optional; other seasonings)

Add in 4 Hashbrowns or 1 Potato diced

Add 6 eggs

Add shredded Colby Cheese

First brown the sausage, then cook the onion and pepper(s). Add your seasoning. Throw in your hashbrowns or diced potatoes. Add 6 eggs (or up to a dozen if feeding more). Cook about 10 minutes or until done. Add shredded cheese and melt it in the dutch oven. Enjoy!

#MountainManBreakfast #OutdoorCooking #CampfireCooking

Lucky 13 Best Places to get your Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics and Med Kits:

Doom and Bloom (doomandbloom.net) has lots of good supplies and information

The Wellness Company (twc.health) med kits and supplies for vaccine injuries (not that you would need anything for vaccine injuries because vaccines are completely safe)

Fish Mox Fish Flex (fishmoxfishflex.com) fish antibiotics (definitely not for humans)

Jase Medical (jasemedical.com) preppers antibiotic kit

Murdochs (murdochs.com) (animal antibiotics; definitely not for humans)

Chewy (chewy.com) (animal antibiotics; definitely not for humans)

Contingency Medical (contigencymedical.com) antibiotic kits

All Day Chemist (alldaychemist.com) wide variety of health products

My Go To Doc (mygotodoc.com) antibiotics

MD Anywhere (mdanywhere.com) antibiotics

Refuge Medical (refugemedical.com) IFAKs, med kits, meds

Duration Health (durationhealth.com) med kit

My Patriot Supply (mypatriotsupply.com) med kits, potassium iodide

APSI CAMPFIRE CHRONICLES-LATE NIGHT CHATS

During an August 2024 class, I listened to very interesting conversations about Artificial Intelligence. Having done numerous weekends before, I have come to find that students enjoy interesting and strange conversations around the campfire during the late-night hours after the class is done for the day. This is one of my favorite things about doing these weekends! I love the camaraderie, and the interesting conversations we have while sitting in that circle around the fire. There is something primitive, invigorating and very human about being out in the wild and sharing stories around a fire, something as old as human history itself. This inspired me to start a Podcast involving the late-night campfire talks, called the APSI Campfire Chronicles-Late Night Chats. These can be found by episode (I am on episode 2 at the time of writing this blog post) on YouTube, TikTok, and my Facebook page, Arcturus Primitive Skills Institute. Check it out! Even better, come on out, and be a participant on the Podcast yourself! Come on out and join the APSI family, and experience the primitive, and what it means to be human.

Wild foraging in july

Today in late July I did a plant walk, in which I found Ghost Pipe, Mullein, St. John’s Wort, and Rose Campion. I posted a YouTube short giving a brief overview of their medicinal qualities. I will admit I was a little surprised to find Ghost Pipe this late in the season as I usually find it growing during the first week of July. I use Ghost Pipe during my July classes and make an infusion from the plant. This tea is a powerful tool against pain. Rather than a standard pain-killer, Ghost Pipe works by raising your bodies pain-tolerance. During a summer class two years ago, I had a woman attend who suffered from neck pain that was the result of a past car wreck. She volunteered to drink the Ghost Pipe tea and reported how it relieved her neck pain. This plant also has medicinal properties that act as an anti-anxiety medicine. Ghost Pipe makes the most powerful medicine when made into a tincture. Mullein has many uses, most notably it is used to treat lung ailments. This can be done by smoking the leaves or inhaling steam from the plant. The leaves can be used as TP, or as a makeshift bandage. Make a poultice from the leaves and apply it to a cut or wound, then wrap the poultice in place with a bandage. Wrap Mullein leaves around a sprained ankle to reduce swelling. St. John’s Wort is used widely in Germany as an antidepressant. This plant can also be used for kidney and lung ailments. Start building triangle formulas by combining St. John’s Wort with Mullein for lung problems. St. John’s Wort also has wound healing properties. Start building another triangle formula by combining St. John’s Wort with Mullein and Rose Campion to treat wounds. Rose Campion is best used for healing wounds. It can also be used for digestive issues and respiratory problems (another ingredient for a medicine to treat lung ailments). I enjoy experimenting with various triangle formulas. Just make sure you get a positive ID of the plant before you use it! I will see you in the wild.

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Survival weekend-may 2024

My mid-May 2024 weekend survival class was quite an adventure! Shout out to Tammy, Steve and Aaron. The weekend was packed full of valuable skills and memorable experiences! Students learned essential survival techniques in a fun and engaging environment, showing once again that Arcturus Primitive Skills Institute is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and beginners alike. If you get a chance, don’t miss out on this unforgettable learning opportunity! Check out my videos on Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok. I will see you in the wild!