Ebola in my home town

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Before this summer I often glossed over bioterrorism in my Survival Medicine classes…that could never happen here, could it?

Now that Ebola has arrived in my home town I feel differently. No doubt you’ve heard of the health care worker who flew from Cleveland to Dallas the day before she reported symptoms of Ebola.  During her time in Ohio she visited the Akron area, Tallmadge actually, less than 5 miles from my home.  Yikes!  Time to take this seriously.  No wonder a  friend called from Alabama…to wish me farewell…just in case.

Not that this is bioterrorism – but it could be someday.  Ebola is on the CDC’s Category A list of potential bioterrorism agents.

For the local story, check out the Fox news coverage at http://fox8.com/2014/10/15/cdc-notifies-frontier-passengers-says-ebola-patient-traveled-on-flight-from-cle-monday/.  The house under quarantine could well be in my neighborhood.

Over the past month I’ve been receiving nearly daily Ebola updates.  I haven’t posted an article on my site before now, since readers have access to the same news I receive.  But today the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians sent out an alert, along with the following Ebola Virus Fact Sheet.

Note that physicians are being asked to try to diagnose patients via telephone and to NOT draw blood.  Check out the references below for the official Ohio response to Ebola.  I’ll keep you updated on the local scene if anything more develops.  And make sure you and your own community are prepared for the unthinkable.

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Ebola Virus Disease

(Source: Ohio Department of Health)

Ebola virus disease is one of several hemorrhagic fevers. It is spread through direct contact with:

  1. The blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with Ebola
  2. Objects (like needles) that have been contaminated with the blood or body fluids of a person sick with Ebola
  3. Touching the body of someone who has died from Ebola.

Ebola is not spread by air or water.

Ohio Information

On October 15, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified the Ohio Department of Health that a health care worker in Dallas, TX, diagnosed with Ebola recently visited family in Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Health has activated its Ebola preparedness plan and initiated a 24-hour-a-day call center to answer Ohioans’ questions about Ebola. The number is (866) 800-1404.

What Should Family Physicians Do?

According to Mary DiOrio, MD, state epidemiologist and interim chief of the Division of Prevention and Health Promotion at the Ohio Department of Health, physicians are asked to diagnose patients by telephone, if possible, for Ebola virus symptoms. Physicians should also verify whether the person in recent weeks has either traveled to West Africa or been in contact with someone who has. If the patient is being diagnosed in person, physicians should check for symptoms such as fever, body aches and fatigue, but should not draw blood.

The Ohio Department of Health also stresses that it is now also important to ask whether individuals have had contact with a person ill with Ebola in the United States. Physicians and other health care professionals are reminded of the appropriate use of personal protective equipment as indicated.

Physician & Patient Resources

– See more at: http://www.ohioafp.org/practice-transformation/ebola-virus-disease/#sthash.y6sqt9jX.dpuf

Posted in Bioterrorism, Disaster Relief, Preparation, Public health, Slide show | Leave a comment

One-day Suturing and Minor Surgery Workshop October 4, 2014

Posted on August 31, 2014 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Suturing and Minor Surgery – 1-Day Class
2015 Schedule TBA

This class is taken from Day 2 (Modules 3 and 4) of Survival Medicine 101

  • For a listing of what is covered, CLICK HERE or see below.

Suturing

  • Intro to suturing
  • Sterile technique
  • Wound cleansing
  • Local anesthesia
  • Hand suture ties
  • Instrument ties
  • Interrupted sutures
  • Alternate suture techniques
  • Skin stapling
  • Wound care & dressing
Minor Surgery
  • Cryosurgery
  • Hyfercation & cautery
  • Lesion excision
  • Lancing an abscess
  • Subungual hematoma evacuation
  • Digital nerve block
  • Nail excision
This class is specifically for those who cannot attend a longer workshop, or for those who want to “try out” a single class.

Additional details will be sent upon registration

Register for THIS CLASS ONLY per the form below:

Suturing & Minor Surgery

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The Practical Prepper – Book Review

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

The Practical Prepper

A Common-Sense Guide to Preparing for Emergencies

Book Review, by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD, www.armageddonmedicine.net

Did you ever wish you could find a single book with common-sense prepping advice you could actually implement?

The Practical Prepper is just that, a must-have read for both neophytes and seasoned preppers alike. The writing is down-to-earth, easy to understand, with sections logically organized according to expected needs.  Thus delightful book includes chapters on food and water storage, medical concerns, emergency heating, lighting, and cooking, sanitation, communication, fuel storage, shelter, and much more.  It is not a wilderness survival guide, but rather a realistic approach to what a normal family can and should so to weather a crisis and safeguard loved ones.

Throughout the book the authors offer multiple solutions to common problems, recognizing that one answer cannot fit every situation or budget.  For example, Chapter 8 discusses “Water Disinfection and Purification,” and includes sections on boiling, pasteurization, chlorine, calcium hypochlorite, iodine, solar water disinfection, as well as numerous types of filters.  Costs are discussed as well, allowing you to choose whether to invest in a $1500 Katadyn Expedition filter, or perhaps a $25 LifeStraw Personal Water Filter.  I especially enjoyed the discussion of “Emergency Cooking,” which stresses safety and inventiveness.  Who’d have thought you could make an oven from a paper box or an inner tube?

Lest prepping for every contingency appears an overwhelming task, just get started is the message of Chapter 1.  No one can accomplish it all in a day.  The book makes it easy to take small, practical steps toward improving your odds of survival should disaster strike.  Devoting only half an hour a week to emergency preparedness will put you far ahead of the unprepared masses.  But the authors don’t want to leave your neighbors in the dark.  Community is important now and will be so in the future.  An entire chapter is devoted to moving beyond your immediate family to helping your local community prepare.

Another major focus of The Practical Prepper is organization.  It does little good to have a dozen flashlights if you can’t find even one.  Where are your legal documents?  Where is your hand-crank radio?  How should your food be organized?  Again the authors offer many ideas from which you can pick and choose to fit your personal goals and budget.

Lastly, as a physician let me draw attention to Chapter 11 entitled “Medical – The Doctor Is Out.”  This section is a nice summary of concerns that must be addressed when no medical care is available, and includes discussions of prescription medications, first-aid supplies, over-the-counter preparations, keeping a personal medical information record, antibiotics, quarantine, and more.  Educating yourself is also stressed, from CPR to Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT).  Everyone would do well to heed their common sense advice, then consider moving to more advanced training once the basics are in place.

In summary, you can’t go wrong acquiring this handy survival manual.  Consider it an investment in your future and that of your children, when (not if) a crisis arises.

The Practical Prepper: A Common-Sense Guide to Preparing for Emergencies

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Free Antibiotic Indication and Dosing Guide

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Antibiotic Indications and Dose

Posted in Education, Medical archives, Perennial Favorites, Prescription Medications, Slide show, Stockpiling medical supplies, Stockpiling medications | 4 Comments

Survival Medicine Workshops

Posted on April 19, 2014 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

CLICK HERE for SURVIVAL MEDICINE CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

*  2016 Survival Medicine Classes *

New!  No prerequisite for any class

*******

FOR  DATES and DETAILS – CLICK HERE Continue reading →

Posted in Current Offers, LIVE SURVIVAL MEDICINE TRAINING | 17 Comments

Tip of the Week: Suture material – what to get and where

Posted on March 17, 2014 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

The best suture material I have found that anyone can purchase online is the brand Unify, available through Amazon and elsewhere.  For suturing of skin wounds, the 3-0 and 4-0 Nylon are most useful to have on hand, though having some 5-0 available for lacerations of tender skin (face/children/fingers) is a good idea.

For my own patients, I use professional suture, which does cost more, but is more difficult for the layman to procure.  (Check back soon – I may begin offering this for sale on my own site.)

The only problems I have had with the Unify suture, which I use for my live Survival Medicine classes, is that the needles may bend a little easier and the suture may detach from the needle a little easier than higher grade suture.  Still, I believe they are adequate for most wound closure and anyone can get them.

For additional articles on suturing, see Essential Medical Skills to Acquire: Introduction and Doc Cindy on SurvivalBlog.

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Free download – The Ship Captain’s Medical Guide – Childbirth

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Suppose you were at sea and went into labor.  What would you do without a doctor on board?

The same question could be asked of any situation where a woman went into labor without a doctor or midwife available.  I’ve been reading through The Ship Captain’s Medical Guide and want to encourage you to download the entire guide, or at least selected chapters.

According to their web site,

“The Ship Captain’s Medical Guide is intended primarily for use on ships where no doctor is carried and it is necessary for laymen to assess and treat injuries and to diagnose and treat ill health. The Guide can also be recommended for use in other situations where professional medical advice is not readily available, for example on expeditions.

“For the 22nd edition the Guide has been comprehensively reviewed and updated. It contains a wide range of authoritative advice – from birth to death, from first aid, general nursing, hygiene and the prevention of disease, to the treatment of injuries and diseases. The recommended measures for prevention and treatment can be safely carried out by an intelligent layman.”

Chapter 10 entitled Childbirth covers labor, delivery, and immediate care of the newborn, enough for a layperson to help with a normal delivery.  It can be downloaded for free at the web site below.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga-shs_capt_guide_chap10.pdf

Note – This publication is intended for UK ships, and mentions giving ciprofloxacin or erythromycin to a mother if she has a fever.  In the U.S. it is unlikely that ciprofloxacin would be given to a nursing mother, but is safe for non-nursing mothers.  (Ciprofloxacin is excreted in breast milk and may pose a risk of joint damage in children.)  Erythromycin is considered safe for both mother and child.

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Posted in Delivery, Education, Free downloads, Home birth, Labor, Medical archives, Newborn care, Perennial Favorites, Pregnancy | Tagged | 1 Comment

Tip of the Week: Casting material – what to get and where

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

The best plaster casting material I have found that anyone can purchase online is the brand Gypsona, available through Amazon and elsewhere.  For adult-size arm splints and casts, 3″ plaster rolls are appropriate.  For adult-size leg splints and casts, 4″ rolls are needed.

For children, these larger rolls can be cut to yield the correct width.  Generally speaking, the appropriate roll-width is approximately equal to the width of the palm; for legs the width should be a little more than the widest part of the foot.   You will also need to purchase cast padding (synthetic is less expensive than cotton) and 3″ and/or 4″ stockinette.

When buying online you generally will have to buy in bulk, that is, a case of 12 rolls at a time.  At my Survival Medicine classes I offer them individually.   (I may begin offering these supplies on this site, so check back soon.)

Posted in Ankle sprain, Equipment, Fractures, Injuries, LIVE SURVIVAL MEDICINE TRAINING, Perennial Favorites, Slide show, Sprains, Wrist sprain | 6 Comments

Birth control pills and TEOTWAWKI

Posted on September 27, 2013 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Today I was thinking about birth control pills. Now, is this really a concern in times of crisis?  Don’t people have more on their minds than sex?

1926 US advertisement. "Birth Control"

1926 US advertisement. "Birth Control" (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

My friend Eve, a crisis responder, tells me people at disaster sites are always requesting not only food, but condoms.  People seek comfort wherever they can get it.

As for birth control pills, how many months would you like to stockpile? If you really think the world’s in trouble, several years’ worth is a challenging goal.  However, most people don’t have and can’t get more than a few months of birth control pills at one time.  Some doctors will prescribe 12 packs in advance, however insurance will not usually cover more than 3 at a time.  You could buy more on your own, if your doctor will allow it.

But what if he or she won’t? Is there any legal way to get them, perhaps over-the-counter?

Officially, no, not in America.  However, the new Plan B (of which I’m not a fan) contains 1.5 mg of the progestin levonorgestrel, which is 50 times the 30-mcg daily dose of a progestin-only “mini” birth control pill available outside the U.S.  Seven or eight of these pills could amount to a years’ worth of contraception.  Although no birth control pill is suitable for everyone, low-dose progestin-only mini-pills are generally effective if taken correctly.  They are commonly prescribed when combination pills containing estrogen are to be avoided, such as in patients at high risk of blood clots, or in nursing mothers.

Could you crush a single 1.5-mg tablet and divide it into 50 individual 30-mcg doses?  I believe the task would be difficult, but not impossible.  (I haven’t tried it myself yet.) The daily dose could then be taken for 3 weeks on, 1 week off, just as with other birth control pills.

I’m wondering, would you try this, if no other option were available?

* * *

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Free Podcasts with Doc Cindy

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Cynthia J. Koelker, MD

Enjoy the following free podcasts with Doc Cindy and her guests

September 20, 2013 at 11:00PM (CST) · 1 hour 7 minutes
Do you have symptoms? Does your neighbor? Odds are, at least one of you does (or will, before the year is out). More common than the common cold, more prevalent than hypertension, more frequent than any injury – stress and anxiety disable millions of Americans every single day. What will you do when no doctor’s around? You can learn to help yourself, and PhD candidate, Derek McKay, tells you where to begin. Armageddon Medicine with Doc Cindy teaches you how to be your own doctor when there’s no other choice. Drawing from decades of experience as a family physician, Dr. Koelker empowers you to care for your loved ones and yourself under adverse conditions of any sort. Learn life-saving skills and information to help you thrive should the lights go out for 30 hours, 30 days, or 30 years. In addition to her book, Armageddon Medicine and teaching Survival Medicine Workshops across the Country, she also serves as Medical Editor for SurvivalBlog.com. For more great shows, visit Preparedness Radio Network™. Armageddon Medicine, How to Be Your Own Doctor in 2012 and Beyond Author, 101 Ways to Save Money on Health Care
September 13, 2013 at 11:00PM (CST) · 1 hour 5 minutes
For show #9 this week – What’s more common than the common cold? (And do you have it, too?) Do you have symptoms? Does your neighbor? Odds are, at least one of you does (or will, before the year is out). More common than the common cold, more prevalent than hypertension, more frequent than any injury – stress and anxiety disable millions of Americans every single day. What will you do when no doctor’s around? You can learn to help yourself, and PhD candidate, Derek McKay, tells you where to begin. Armageddon Medicine with Doc Cindy teaches you how to be your own doctor when there’s no other choice. Drawing from decades of experience as a family physician, Dr. Koelker empowers you to care for your loved ones and yourself under adverse conditions of any sort. Learn life-saving skills and information to help you thrive should the lights go out for 30 hours, 30 days, or 30 years. In addition to her book, Armageddon Medicine and teaching Survival Medicine Workshops across the Country, she also serves as Medical Editor for SurvivalBlog.com. For more great shows, visit Preparedness Radio Network™.
September 8, 2013 at 12:00AM (CST) · 1 hour 12 minutes
When you hate your job, yell at your kids, never feel rested, and the house is a wreck, is this just normal parenthood – or pathology? Today Doc Cindy discusses unhappiness and its cure with Jacquelyn (Jackie) Lee, MA, LPC, LLC, founder of Psalm One Counseling. Mrs. Lee specializes in treating stress management, depression, anxiety, anger, addictions, and hopelessness. Learn how to help yourself loved ones, should the need arise. Armageddon Medicine with Doc Cindy teaches you how to be your own doctor when there’s no other choice. Drawing from decades of experience as a family physician, Dr. Koelker empowers you to care for your loved ones and yourself under adverse conditions of any sort. Learn life-saving skills and information to help you thrive should the lights go out for 30 hours, 30 days, or 30 years. In addition to her book, Armageddon Medicine and teaching Survival Medicine Workshops across the Country, she also serves as Medical Editor for SurvivalBlog.com. For more great shows, visit Preparedness Radio Network™.
August 30, 2013 at 11:00PM (CST) · 1 hour 4 minutes
Mental Health and how to remain sane when everything falls apart. If you lose your house, your job, or your family could you go on? Would you even want to? Today Doc Cindy discusses mental health issues with Jacquelyn (Jackie) Lee, MA, LPC, LLC, founder of Psalm One Counseling. In times of stress, we all need ways of coping. Mrs. Lee specializes in treating stress management, depression, anxiety, anger, addictions, and hopelessness. Learn how to help yourself loved ones, should the need arise. Armageddon Medicine with Doc Cindy teaches you how to be your own doctor when there’s no other choice. Drawing from decades of experience as a family physician, Dr. Koelker empowers you to care for your loved ones and yourself under adverse conditions of any sort. Learn life-saving skills and information to help you thrive should the lights go out for 30 hours, 30 days, or 30 years. In addition to her book, Armageddon Medicine and teaching Survival Medicine Workshops across the Country, she also serves as Medical Editor for SurvivalBlog.com. For more great shows, visit Preparedness Radio Network™.
August 23, 2013 at 11:00PM (CST) · 1 hour 9 minutes
AVOIDING STARVATION . . . HOW TO FIND FOOD WHEN THERE IS NONE If the pantry’s empty and the stores are closed will you succumb to starvation? Not if you know how to find food wherever you might be. Today Doc Cindy welcomes Tom Laskowski, founder and instructor at Midwest Native Skills Institute and SurvivalSchool.com. Tom is one of the top experts in outdoor and wilderness skills in North America. Armageddon Medicine with Doc Cindy teaches you how to be your own doctor when there’s no other choice. Drawing from decades of experience as a family physician, Dr. Koelker empowers you to care for your loved ones and yourself under adverse conditions of any sort. Learn life-saving skills and information to help you thrive should the lights go out for 30 hours, 30 days, or 30 years. In addition to her book, Armageddon Medicine and teaching Survival Medicine Workshops across the Country, she also serves as Medical Editor for SurvivalBlog.com. For more great shows, visit Preparedness Radio Network™.
August 16, 2013 at 11:00PM (CST) · 1 hour 5 minutes
AVOIDING DEHYDRATION . . . HOW TO FIND WATER WHEN THERE IS NONE If the lights go out and the pumps go dry will you succumb to dehydration? Not if you know how to find water wherever you might be. Today Doc Cindy welcomes Tom Laskowski, founder and instructor at Midwest Native Skills Institute and SurvivalSchool.com. Tom is one of the top experts in outdoor and wilderness skills in North America. Armageddon Medicine with Doc Cindy teaches you how to be your own doctor when there’s no other choice. Drawing from decades of experience as a family physician, Dr. Koelker empowers you to care for your loved ones and yourself under adverse conditions of any sort. Learn life-saving skills and information to help you thrive should the lights go out for 30 hours, 30 days, or 30 years. In addition to her book, Armageddon Medicine and teaching Survival Medicine Workshops across the Country, she also serves as Medical Editor for SurvivalBlog.com. For more great shows, visit Preparedness Radio Network™.
August 9, 2013 at 11:00PM (CST) · 56 minutes
Doc Cindy answers listeners’ questions about Summertime Woes – problems you may encounter during the summer months, including bee stings, poison ivy, cat bites, sunburn, tic bites, and much more Drawing from her 30+ years experience as a Family Physician, Dr. Koelker teaches you how to be your own doctor when there’s no other choice. Learn life-saving information that will help you care for your loved ones and yourself should the lights go out for 30 hours, 30 days, or 30 years. In addition to teaching Survival Medicine Workshops across the Country, she also serves as Medical Editor for SurvivalBlog.com. For more great shows, visit Preparedness Radio Network™.
August 2, 2013 at 11:00PM (CST) · 1 hour 11 minutes
Disaster in your home town – what’s it really like? How should you prepare? What might you forget? Listen as Doc Cindy interviews Eve Gonzales from Caring Hearts, Inc., a Christian disaster relief organization helping with disasters both at home and abroad. For more great shows, visit Preparedness Radio Network™.
July 26, 2013 at 11:00PM (CST) · 57 minutes
In this episode, Dr. Cindy answers common questions from readers. Are doctors afraid of herbal medicine? Can over-the-counter medicines be substituted for prescription drugs? What is her book Armageddon Medicine about? Want her to answer questions of your own? Send to them to: DocCindy(at)ArmageddonMedicine(dot)Net. Drawing from her 30+ years experience as a Family Physician, Dr. Koelker teaches you how to be your own doctor when there’s no other choice. Learn life-saving information that will help you care for your loved ones and yourself should the lights go out for 30 hours, 30 days, or 30 years. In addition to teaching Survival Medicine Workshops across the Country, she also serves as Medical Editor for SurvivalBlog.com. For more great shows, visit Preparedness Radio Network™.
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Posted in Diseases, Education, Medications, Podcasts, Prescription Medications, Slide show, Symptoms | Leave a comment