Contest Day Sixteen: The Doom and Bloom Survival Medicine Handbook

Lets start off this last week of giveaways, which should run into the weekend, with one of the favorite topics. Medical preparedness. For you today is  The Doom and Bloom Survival Medicine Handbook by Dr.Bones and Nurse Amy. This book was written to equip you to provide medial assistance for when the systems of medical aid have failed. Most survival and wilderness first aid books are written with the intention of stabilizing the patient until the pro’s show up.  What happens when getting help is not an option. This book covers all aspects of treating and more importantly preventing medical problems during a collapse. What will you do when there is not emergency personnel?

This book is BIG and comprehensive. It took me the better part of a month to get through it all. I can not think of any medical issue that would be treatable during a collapse not covered in this book. Some of the topics covered in The DBSMHB are: The principles of medial preparedness, Sanitation, Infections, injuries, chronic ailments and much more. It delves into each topic with detailed sections on many medical problems.

One of the things I really liked about this book was how  each issue, i.e Athletes foot, snake bites or diabetes, was given its own self contained section. The sections were short and precise. You are given a description of the issue, how to identify it and how to cure it. Many of these section are around two pages. Dr.BOnes and Nurse Amy have truly condensed their vast medial expertise into terms easily understood by those of us without a medical background. In an emergency I don’t want to drudge through a vast illegible tome. I want to quickly know what I’m dealing with and how to make it go away.

I was very happy to see the inclusion of and high importance given to natural and alternative medicine. The point was made that unless your super rich you will never be able to store enough medical supplies. You can however grow or cultivate natural resources. Although I’m highly interested in herbal remedies and natural medicine I know very little about them. There is only so much time in the day and I have too many interests as it is. I highly enjoyed the section on essential oils. The more I hear about them the more I like. They cover a very comprehensive list of essential essential oils. I plan on picking up them all as soon as I can.

One of my favorite chapters was on medical skills you need to learn. Having this book and reading it is great but without training and practice your likely to do more harm than good. Which is why the majority of the training classes I’ve taken have been medical related.There is a large section on supplies to get based on what level of assistance you plan on giving. There are supplies lists for you and your family, a bug out location and to set up a community clinic. The latter should only been done is an extreme collapse where you cannot be jailed for medical practice without a license. I’m a big fan of lists and loved the choices of the items chosen. Even the basic list though will set you back so prioritize and work on checking them off.

They cover so many problems in this book. Many ones you will likely face regularly. Of course they go over one of favorites of all of survivalist’s. Wound stitching. Any time a medical topic is brought up in the survival/prepper circle we get a sparkle in our eyes over doing stitches. I’m not sure why but interest in much more important issues, such as dehydration, go to the wayside when sewing up open wounds come up. This is covered in detail. This lots of pictures and homework that involves pigs feet. I would say this is the best I’ve seen on how to perform stitches. The only thing better would be to get hands on training.

This was by far one of my favorite items to review this month. Maybe that’s why I saved it to last before I could part my grubby hands from it. I will be buying this book to add to my personal library as soon as I can scrounge up the money. I would highly recommend all of you to go pick this up. It was a great read and a greater reference.

This is how you can win this amazing medical handbook. First make sure you have subscribed to the blog. You can do so here. Second leave a comment on this post. Third head over to the Doom and Bloom Facebook page like them and thank them! That’s it! Contest runs from the times its published until the next day when the new contest is published. If you’ve won already this month you are not eligible. I will comment on this blog announcing the winner and you will have 24 hours to email me your shipping address.

LET ME KNOW HOW BAD YOU WANT THIS IN THE COMMENTS!