Medical Preparedness with Doomandbloom - an AAR

Self, with doomandbloom ^ | 25 FEB 2013 | Old Sarge

[Old Sarge]

Greetings, Folks!

Today I'd like to share with you what The Bride and I did over this last weekend, because it was pretty exciting stuff.

The Bride had the opportunity to enroll in a Medical Seminar geared to disaster medicine, including suturing, stapling and wound care, taught by none other then Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy of DoomandBloom.net.

On Sunday, we made the trek to Weston, FL, just west of Ft. Lauderdale. In the class were eighteen people (including three MD's) learning how to suture wounds using stitch and staples; nine folks were in the back of the room, schmoozing and drinking coffee, and gazing longingly at the medical bags that Doc and Amy had available.

Sarge listened in on the lecture given by Doc and Amy, as The Bride sat down at the student station. They were a joy to listen to; each one played off the other's knowledge, and the humor banter was delightful. After a 20-30 minute talk and slide show by Doc, the students got to practice their stitching skills, and not a few learned new stuff. Doc and Amy had provided pigs' feet at each station for the students to stitch up; that gave an added realism that made the class that much better.

As The Bride showed off her knitting to an appreciative Nurse Amy, Sarge got to talking with various watchers and others who drank coffee in the back. Sarge struck up a conversation with a former Marine who had extensive medical equipment knowledge. The Marine also told much of what he knew about the situation in south Florida, from a prepper's perspective (for which Sarge took copious notes)...

After the stitching was examined and judged by Doc and Amy, each participant was awarded a certificate. Sarge and The Bride got to have an extended conversation with Doctor Bones and Nurse Amy; The Bride sharing her career exploits, and Sarge quizzing Doctor Bones about comments he made during the lecture.

It seems that, according to Doctor Bones, several polls have been conducted among medical first responders across the nation. If you search on the phrase, "willingness to respond to work during catastrophe" you can find some of these articles. Doctor Bones stated that in major population centers, anywhere from 30% to 55% of first responders and medical personnel would NOT report for duty in a catastrophe situation, be it natural disaster, pandemic, or mass casualty event. In light of this, he went on, it was all the more imperative that those people with medical training and knowledge be prepared not only with supplies and equipment, but also with the knowledge that THEY might be the only medical help responding, that they might be fully on their own.

Folks, that to me is chilling. We have heard talk of Law Enforcement circling the wagons and not taking action; I've written a few articles underscoring historical events that saw that very thing. In such a situation, many of the prepper community have steeled themselves to the challenge of self-defense and community defense. We see here the increased likelihood that the medical personnel might not report as well. This knowledge should be (I would strongly recommend) incorporated in any and all disaster plans that you, or any group you're with, are developing.

I would recommend this seminar and anything taught by Doctor Bones and Nurse Amy to anyone who can make the effort. The seminar itself was $60 per participant; we dropped $70 in gas round trip, and $30 in food (Cracker Barrel on the way home). WELL WORTH the investment of time and money.

I now yield the floor for discussion.

SARGE

[Kartographer]

My personal recommendations: Elite First Aid Large M17 Medic Bag

Contents List:
1 EFA First Aid Book
20 Pill Bottles
100 Bandage Strips, 1"x3"
14 Pain Relievers
10 Bandage Strips, 2"x4"
4 Triple Antibiotic Packages
10 Knuckle Bandages
4 First Aid Cream Packages
10 Butterfly Strips
2 Burn Aid Packages
4 Bandage Gauzes, 2"x6 Yards
1 SAM/Universal Splint
4 Elastic Bandages, 6"
1 EMT Shears, 7.25"
2 Triangular Bandage
1 Pair of Tweezers
3 Field Dressings
1 Stethoscope
4 Multi Trauma Dressings 12"x30"
1 Tourniquet
1 Blood Stopper Kit
1 Scalpel handle #3
4 Sterile Pads, 4"x4"
2 Scalpel Baldes
10 Sterile Pads, 2"x2"
1 Skin Probe
10 Abdominal Pads, 5"x9"
2 Stainless Steel hemostats
2 Eye Pads
1 Pen Light
15 Alcohol Wipes
2 Suture Sets
15 Iodine Wipes
5 Tape, Rolls, Adhesive, 1"
15 Antiseptic BZK Wipes
2 Tongue Depressors
15 Clean Wipes
2 Airways
6 After Bite Wipes
2 Ammonia Inhalants
1 Burn Spray
1 CPR Mask
1 Petroleum jelly
2 Irrigation Syringes
1 Lip Treatment
3 Instant Ice Packs
1 Calamine Lotion, 6 oz.
6 Safety Pins
1 Sterile Flushing Solution
1 Box of Sponges, 4" x4"
1 Hand Sanitizer
1 Box of 100 Cotton Tips
1 Hand Soap
6 Pairs Latex Examination Gloves

[blam]

Prepper bump.

[Vendome]

What did you speriment yer sewing skeelz on?

Baby pigs?

I do need to take a course like this. My aunt stitched the bottom of my foot when I wuz a lad of 11 years.

1.5”s and I don’t ever think of it.

Had stichin on my fore finger and years later cuz made into a walking zipper when a failed appendectomy resulted in me opened from pelvic bone to diaphram. pretty kewel for a couple of weeks and odd feeling when they pulled staples.

I look like eyez been in a knife fight or sumpin ...

[Old Sarge]

They had laid out pig’s feet, one to a student. So they had real flesh to work on with the needles and the staples.

[outofsalt]

Chickens work well for suture practice and are more easily obtained. (Remove sutures before cooking.)

[NTHockey]

Good info. How about a list of theirs and other comparable seminars around the country? I’m looking for one in DE-PA-MD-NJ area.

[Vendome]

Good idea. I like to roast whole chickens and turkeys.

[DuncanWaring]

And if your bacon-on-the-hoof ever gets hurt real bad, you’ll be able to take care of it.

[Old Sarge]

Okay, here's a list right off of Doomandbloom.net for their upcoming road show:

Lectures and Suture/Staple Classes, April 26/27 2013 Arlington TX Arlington Conv Center, times TBA

Booth June 1/2 2013 Puyallup WA Mother Earth News

Free Lecture June 8-9 Bakersfield CA, location and times TBA

[M Kehoe]

Bttt.

5.56mm

[yorkiemom]

Thanks for the list of upcoming shows. I will without a doubt be attending!

[PatriotGirl827]

“The Marine also told much of what he knew about the situation in south Florida, from a prepper’s perspective (for which Sarge took copious notes)...”

As a resident of south Florida (Palm Beach County) I would love to know what this guy had to say. Can you share any of it?

Thanks in advance.

[4everontheRight]

bookmark

[4everontheRight]

any idea of a class similar located in the Upstate of SC or Western NC?

[Sarajevo]

Dump all that stuff into an ALICE pack. The M17 bag can be a PITA to move around.

[TEXOKIE]

bttt