Frequently asked questions
Chapter 1 - How to Prepare for Medical Care Off the Grid
Off-grid Versus No-Grid Medical Prepping
How to Use This Book
Chapter 2: Assessment and Stabilization
Assessment and Care
Initial Assessment
Survey the Scene • Check the Airway and Breathing • Check Circulation • Check Severe • Bleeding • Check the Cervical Spine
Focused Assessment
The Physical Exam
Vital Signs
Level of Responsiveness • Pulse • Respirations • Skin Signs • Blood Pressure • Temperature
Medical History and Physical Examination
Head • Neck • Chest • Abdomen • Back • Pelvis/HipLegs • Shoulders and Arms
Shock
Difficult Respirations
Foreign Body Airway Obstruction
Adult One-Rescuer Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Adult Two-Rescuer CPR
Rapid Breathing
Cardiac Evaluation and Care
Heart Attack—Myocardial Infarction
Rapid Heart Rate
Tachycardia
Slow Heart Rate
Bradycardia
Chapter 3: Body System Symptoms and Management
Symptom Management
Fever/Chills • Lethargy • Pain • Itch • Hiccups • Headache
Eye
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
Nasal Congestion • Foreign Body Nose Injury • Nosebleed • Nose Fracture
Ear
Earache • Outer Ear Infection • Middle Ear Infection • Foreign Body Ear Injury • Ruptured Eardrum • Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome
Mouth and Throat
Sore Throat • Infectious Mononucleosis • Mouth Sores
Chest
Bronchitis/Pneumonia • Pneumothorax • Pulmonary Embolus
Abdomen
Abdominal Pain • Gall Bladder Problems and Appendicitis • Vomiting • Motion Sickness • Diarrhea • Constipation • Hemorrhoids • Hernia • Bladder Infection
Reproductive Organs
Venereal Diseases • Vaginal Discharge and Itching • Menstrual Problems • Spontaneous Abortion • Ectopic Pregnancy • Pregnancy • Painful Testicle
Poisoning
Plant or Food Poisoning • Petroleum Products Poisoning • Ciguatera Poisoning • Scombroid Poisoning • Puffer Fish Poisoning • Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning
Managing Diabetes
Water and Waste
Oral Fluid Replacement Therapy • Water Purification • Human Waste Disposal
Chapter 4: Radiation
Units of Radiation Measurement • Diagnosis and Management of Radiation Exposure and Illness
Chapter 5: Dental Care
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
The Bleeding Wound
Stop the Bleeding • Clean the Wound • Antibiotic Guidelines
Wound Closure Techniques
Tape Closure Techniques • Stapling • Suturing
Special Considerations
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
Abrasions • Puncture Wounds • Splinter Removal • Fishhook Removal • Friction Blisters • Thermal Burns • Human Bites • Animal Bites
Finger and Toe Problems
Ingrown Nail • Paronychia (Nail Base Infection) • Felon • Blood under the Nail
Wound Infection and Inflammation
Abscess • Cellulitis
Skin Rash
Fungal Infection • Allergic Dermatitis • Bacterial Skin Rash • Seabather’s Eruption
Chapter 7: Orthopedics–Bone and Joint Pain and Injury
Management Off the Grid
Concepts of Orthopedic Care
Muscle Pain—No Acute Injury • Muscle Pain—Acute Injury • Joint Pain—No Acute Injury • Joint Pain—Acute Injury • Fractures
Diagnosis and Care Protocols
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 • Chest Injuries
Chapter 8: Bites and Stings
Venemous Stings
Anaphylactic Shock
Snake Bites
Identifying Common North American Poisonous Snakes • Signs and Symptoms of Pit Viper Bite • Treatment of Pit Viper Bite • Neurotoxic Snakebites • Treatment of Coral Snakebites
Insect Bites and Stings
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 Rash
Sea Urchin • Jellyfish • Coral Stings • Coral and Barnacle Cuts • Stingray • Catfish • Scorpion Fish • Sponge Rash
Chapter 9: Bioterrorism and Infectious Disease
Managing Infectious Diseases in North America and Potential Off-Grid Travel Destination
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 • Histoplasmosis • Leptospirosis • Lyme Disease • Malaria • Meningococcal Meningitis • Plague • Rabies • Relapsing Fever • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever • 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 • Yellow Fever • Zika Virus
Chapter 10: Environmental Injuries
Hypothermia
Chronic Hypothermia • Acute Hypothermia • Cold Water Submersion
Cold-Stress Injuries
Frost Nip • Frostbite • Cold-Induced Bronchospasm • Immersion Foot • Chilblains
Heat-Stress Injuries
Heat Cramps • Heat Exhaustion • Heat Stroke • Prickly Heat • Hyponatremia
Lightning
High Altitude Illnesses
Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
• High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)
•
High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)
Chapter 11: The OFF-Grid Medical Kit
Alternative and Herbal Therapy
Topical Bandaging Module • Non-RX Medication Module • RX Oral/Topical Medication Module • Rx Injectable Medication Module • Cardiac Medical Module
Replacement Medications
Clinical Reference Index
Murray Dickson, Where There Is No Dentist. Hesperian Health Guides (2018).
William Forgey, Basic Illustrated Wilderness First Aid, 2nd edition. Falcon Guides (2016).
William Forgey, Wilderness Medicine: Beyond First Aid, 7th edition. Falcon Guides (2017).
James Green, The Herbal Medicine-Maker’s Handbook. Berkeley, CA: Crossing Press (2010).
Cliff Jacobson, Camping’s Top Secrets, 25th anniversary edition. Falcon Guides (2013).
Jim Meuninck, Basic Illustrated Poisonous and Psychoactive Plants. Falcon Guides (2014).
Jim Meuninck, Edible Wild Plants and Useful Herbs, 2nd edition. Fal- con Guides (2018).
Jim Meuninck, Medicinal Plants of North America, 2nd edition. Falcon Guides (2016).
Jim Meuninck and Rebecca Meuninck, Basic Illustrated Medicinal Plants. Falcon Guides (2019).
Buck Tilton and Frank Hubbell, Medicine for the Backcountry. Globe Pequot (1999).
Buck Tilton, Wilderness First Responder, 3rd edition. Falcon Guides (2010).
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