Dr. Prepper : the disaster preparedness guide to home remedies

240 Pages·2016·2.11 MB·English

by  Jeff Garrett

Copyright © 2016 by Jeff Garrett All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any
manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Garrett, Jeff (Survival and preparedness
expert), author.
Title: Dr. Prepper : the disaster preparedness guide to home remedies/Jeff Garrett.
Description: New York, NY : Skyhorse Publishing, [2016]
Identifiers: LCCN 2016033462 | ISBN 9781510712027 (paperback) Subjects: LCSH: Emergency medicine.
| Survivalism. | Self-care, Health. |
BISAC: HEALTH & FITNESS First Aid. | MEDICAL Emergency Medicine.
Classification: LCC RC86 .G37 2016 | DDC 616.02/5—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016033462
Cover design by Tom Lau
Cover photo credit: iStockphoto
Print ISBN: 978-1-51071202-7
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-51071203-4
Printed in the United States of America
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I: FOUNDATIONS OF SURVIVAL
Introduction
Chapter 1: Your Bug-Out Bag
Everything You Need for When Disaster Strikes Unexpectedly
Valuables and Information
Nutrition, Communication, and Shelter
Trauma Kit
Health, Hygiene, and Comfort Supplies
Other Practical Tools and Supplies
Chapter 2: How to Lay the Groundwork
Basic How-Tos for Keeping Things from Falling Apart
How to Build Shelter
How to Dispose of Human Waste
How to Purify Water
How to Store Food
How to Start a Fire
How to Make a Splint
How to Make a Tourniquet
Chapter 3: The Homemade Apothecary
Natural Recipes for Homemade Salves, Teas, and Treatments
Headache Remedies
Stomach Troubles
Constipation Remedies
Nausea and Upset Stomach Remedies
Cold and Flu Symptom Remedies
Skin Protection and Healing Remedies
PART II: FIRST AID FOR WHEN HELP ISN’T COMING
Chapter 4: When Fauna Is Not Your Friend
How to Treat and Avoid Animal Attacks, Insect Bites, and Aquatic
Threats
Anaphylactic Shock
Snake and Lizard Bites
Insect Bites
Aquatic Threats
Chapter 5: The Environment Strikes Back
What to Do When Mother Nature Goes Against You
Poisonous Plants
Extreme Cold
Severe Heat
Lightning
Altitude
Drowning
Infectious Diseases
Chapter 6: Whole Body Maintenance
Healing and Treating Topical Wounds and Uncomfortable
Ailments
Assessment of Injuries
Skin Injuries
Wounds
Burns
Eyes
Nose
Ears
Mouth and Throat
Digestive
Orthopedic Injuries
Reproductive
Other Common Ailments
Psychological Care
Chapter 7: Full-On Medical Emergencies
Recognizing and Treating Life-or-Death Injuries and Coping with
Severe Pain
Shock
Breathing Difficulty
Heart Trouble
Stroke
Pain Relief Options
Pregnancy and Its Complications
INDEX
I.
FOUNDATIONS OF SURVIVAL
INTRODUCTION
Survival preparedness is not to be taken lightly. We live in a society full of
comforts, conveniences, and instantaneous answers to all of our questions. We
rely on the Internet, 24-hour services, and homogenous one-stop-shop
warehouse stores for everything from Q-tips and groceries to electronics and
furniture. But what if these things don’t last? What if, in an effort to live more
independently and explore what nature has to offer, we stumble and can’t get
help? From a broken down car, to natural disasters and tests of the wilderness, to
cyber-attack or infrastructure breakdown, there are threats small and large that
everyone should be prepared for. While not everyone has the means and the
know-how to ward off institutional threats or the powerful hand of Mother
Nature, there is no reason that we all can’t arm ourselves with a basic
understanding of how to endure, and how to take care of our loved ones in times
of threat and disaster, or in the face of wildlife, the elements, and medical
emergencies.
Getting yourself out of high-risk situations or knowing what to do when
someone goes into shock is not just about having the best supplies or the most
experience. These things are undoubtedly essential, but preparedness must first
begin on the inside. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with nourishing foods,
regular physical activity, healthy outlets to reduce stress, and regular medical
and dental exams are the foundational elements of wellness. Importantly, they
can often determine whether or not you can physically endure inclement
weather, broken bones in remote places, starvation, stress on the body, wild
animal encounters, poisonous plants, and unexpected medical emergencies. Poor
diet and sedentary lifestyles can lead to myriad health issues, and the simplest
toothache can transform into an abscess that poisons the blood. You never know
what small step you could have taken that would have helped you bounce back
from an injury or could have reduced your risk of falling ill, so it is important to