You Are the Hospital Now
In a survival situation, there is no ambulance. There is no emergency room. There is no surgeon, no antibiotics on a shelf, no X-ray machine. There is you, whatever you know, and whatever you can find. That is the entire medical system.
This isn’t a medical textbook — it’s a field manual for keeping people alive when professional help doesn’t exist. The techniques here are simplified, prioritised for survival, and focused on the injuries and illnesses most likely to kill or disable you in a post-disaster or wilderness context. Some are crude by modern standards. All of them are better than doing nothing.
The survival medicine rule: Perfect is the enemy of alive. A tourniquet tied too tight is better than a bleed-out. A wound cleaned with dirty water is better than a wound not cleaned at all. A splint made from sticks is better than a broken bone grinding on itself. Do what you can, with what you have, right now.
🩸 The Priorities — What Kills First
Massive BleedingKills in: 2–5 minutes. A severed artery pumps the body dry in minutes. This is the #1 immediate killer in trauma. Stop the bleeding FIRST, before anything else. Everything else can wait — bleeding cannot.
Airway ObstructionKills in: 4–6 minutes. An unconscious person’s tongue can block their airway. Blood, vomit, or swelling can close the throat. If air can’t get in, nothing else matters. Open the airway immediately after controlling bleeding.
Tension PneumothoraxKills in: minutes to hours. A penetrating chest wound lets air into the chest cavity but not back out. The lung collapses and pressure builds on the heart. Seal chest wounds immediately.
InfectionKills in: days to weeks. The slow killer. Every open wound is an entry point. Without antibiotics, even minor cuts can become fatal if infected. Wound cleaning is not optional — it’s the most important long-term medical action you can take.
Dehydration & ShockKills in: hours to days. Blood loss, burns, diarrhoea, vomiting, and heat all cause fluid loss. Shock is the body shutting down non-essential functions to protect the brain and heart. Fluid replacement is critical for any serious injury.
Bleeding Control — The #1 Priority
METHOD ▼More trauma deaths are caused by uncontrolled bleeding than any other single factor. In combat medicine, the standard is “stop the bleed” before assessing anything else. The same applies in survival. A person with a clear airway and a functioning heart will still die in minutes from a severed femoral artery.
🩸 Bleeding Control Methods (In Order of Escalation)
1
Direct Pressure
Place the cleanest cloth you have directly on the wound. Press hard — harder than you think is necessary. Maintain constant, firm pressure for a minimum of 10–15 minutes without lifting to check. Lifting breaks the forming clot and restarts bleeding. If blood soaks through, add more material on top — do not remove the first layer. Direct pressure stops the majority of bleeding.
Place the cleanest cloth you have directly on the wound. Press hard — harder than you think is necessary. Maintain constant, firm pressure for a minimum of 10–15 minutes without lifting to check. Lifting breaks the forming clot and restarts bleeding. If blood soaks through, add more material on top — do not remove the first layer. Direct pressure stops the majority of bleeding.
2
Wound Packing
For deep wounds (stab wounds, deep lacerations, bullet wounds), direct surface pressure isn’t enough — the bleeding vessel is inside the wound. Pack the wound cavity tightly with clean cloth, pushing material deep into the wound with your fingers. Then apply pressure on top. This is painful for the patient. Do it anyway. An unpacked deep wound will bleed internally while surface pressure does nothing.
For deep wounds (stab wounds, deep lacerations, bullet wounds), direct surface pressure isn’t enough — the bleeding vessel is inside the wound. Pack the wound cavity tightly with clean cloth, pushing material deep into the wound with your fingers. Then apply pressure on top. This is painful for the patient. Do it anyway. An unpacked deep wound will bleed internally while surface pressure does nothing.
3
Pressure Points
If direct pressure and packing aren’t controlling the bleed, press on the artery above the wound (between the wound and the heart). Brachial artery: inside of the upper arm, midway between shoulder and elbow. Femoral artery: groin crease, where the leg meets the torso. Press hard against the bone to compress the artery flat.
If direct pressure and packing aren’t controlling the bleed, press on the artery above the wound (between the wound and the heart). Brachial artery: inside of the upper arm, midway between shoulder and elbow. Femoral artery: groin crease, where the leg meets the torso. Press hard against the bone to compress the artery flat.
4
Tourniquet
For life-threatening limb bleeding that direct pressure cannot control: apply a tourniquet 5–8cm above the wound (between wound and heart), never on a joint. Tighten until bleeding stops completely. This will be agonisingly painful — that means it’s working. Note the time of application. A tourniquet can remain safely for up to 2 hours; beyond that, limb damage increases but death from bleeding is worse.
For life-threatening limb bleeding that direct pressure cannot control: apply a tourniquet 5–8cm above the wound (between wound and heart), never on a joint. Tighten until bleeding stops completely. This will be agonisingly painful — that means it’s working. Note the time of application. A tourniquet can remain safely for up to 2 hours; beyond that, limb damage increases but death from bleeding is worse.
🔧 Improvised Tourniquet
MaterialsA wide strip of fabric (belt, torn clothing, bandana, strap) — minimum 4cm wide. Narrow materials (wire, string, cord) cut into tissue and cause damage without controlling bleeding effectively. Also need a windlass: a stick, pen, screwdriver, or any rigid object to twist the tourniquet tight.
ApplicationWrap the band around the limb 5–8cm above the wound. Tie a half-knot. Place the windlass on the knot. Tie a full knot over the windlass. Twist the windlass until bleeding stops. Secure the windlass so it can’t unwind (tie it to the limb or tuck under the band). Write the time on the patient’s skin near the tourniquet.
Critical RulesNever place on a joint (elbow, knee). Never loosen to “let blood flow” — this washes clots out and restarts bleeding. Never remove once applied unless you have surgical capability. If one tourniquet doesn’t stop the bleeding, apply a second one immediately above the first.
Airway & Breathing
METHOD ▼After bleeding control, the airway is next. An unconscious person’s tongue falls backward and blocks the throat. Blood, vomit, broken teeth, or swelling can also obstruct airflow. If the chest isn’t rising, nothing else you do will matter.
💨 Airway Management
Check: Look, Listen, FeelLook at the chest — is it rising? Listen at the mouth and nose for breath sounds. Feel for air against your cheek. If the person is talking, crying, or screaming, their airway is open. If they’re silent and unconscious, assume it’s blocked until proven otherwise.
Head Tilt – Chin LiftPlace one hand on the forehead, two fingers under the chin. Tilt the head back gently while lifting the chin forward. This pulls the tongue off the back of the throat. The single most important airway manoeuvre. If you suspect a spinal injury, use jaw thrust instead (push the jaw forward from the angles without moving the neck).
Clear the MouthIf you can see an obstruction (blood clots, vomit, broken teeth, food), sweep it out with a hooked finger. Turn the head to the side to let liquid drain. Do not blindly finger-sweep — you can push an obstruction deeper. Only remove what you can see.
Recovery PositionFor an unconscious person who is breathing: roll them onto their side with the top knee bent forward for stability, bottom arm extended, head tilted slightly down. This prevents the tongue from blocking the airway and lets vomit drain out instead of being inhaled. Check breathing every few minutes.
🔫 Chest Wounds (Sucking Chest Wound)
RecognitionA penetrating wound to the chest that bubbles, hisses, or sucks air when the patient breathes. Blood may be frothy (mixed with air). The patient rapidly becomes short of breath, anxious, and may have unequal chest movement (one side doesn’t rise). This is immediately life-threatening.
Treatment: Chest SealCover the wound with any airtight material: plastic wrap, a plastic bag, tape, the foil from a food packet, or a gloved hand. Tape it on three sides only, leaving the bottom edge open. This creates a flutter valve: air can escape during exhalation but can’t enter during inhalation. If the patient worsens after sealing (increasing breathing difficulty), briefly lift one edge to release trapped air, then reseal.
Check the BackPenetrating injuries often have exit wounds. Always check the back for a second wound. If there’s an exit wound, seal it the same way. Two unsealed holes are worse than one.
Wound Cleaning & Infection Prevention
METHOD ▼In modern medicine, antibiotics handle most wound infections. Without them, wound cleaning is your only defence. More people in survival will die of infected wounds than from the initial injury. A shallow cut that gets infected can kill you in a week. Cleaning wounds is the single most important ongoing medical task.
🧹 Wound Irrigation — The Gold Standard
1
Stop the bleeding first
Never irrigate an actively bleeding wound — you’ll wash out clots and worsen the bleeding. Wait until bleeding is controlled, then clean.
Never irrigate an actively bleeding wound — you’ll wash out clots and worsen the bleeding. Wait until bleeding is controlled, then clean.
2
Use the cleanest water available
Boiled and cooled water is ideal. Clean drinking water is acceptable. Even untreated water is better than not cleaning at all — the bacteria already in the wound are more dangerous than most waterborne organisms. Dilute salt water (1 teaspoon salt per litre) is a good wound irrigant.
Boiled and cooled water is ideal. Clean drinking water is acceptable. Even untreated water is better than not cleaning at all — the bacteria already in the wound are more dangerous than most waterborne organisms. Dilute salt water (1 teaspoon salt per litre) is a good wound irrigant.
3
Irrigate with pressure
Pour water into the wound from a height (30cm+), or use a squeeze bottle, syringe, or punctured water container to create a directed stream. The goal is mechanical flushing — physically washing debris, dirt, and bacteria out of the wound. Gently pouring water over the surface is not enough. You need pressure to dislodge contaminants from wound tissue.
Pour water into the wound from a height (30cm+), or use a squeeze bottle, syringe, or punctured water container to create a directed stream. The goal is mechanical flushing — physically washing debris, dirt, and bacteria out of the wound. Gently pouring water over the surface is not enough. You need pressure to dislodge contaminants from wound tissue.
4
Use volume
Use at least 500ml of water per wound, more for dirty or deep wounds. A litre is better. The volume itself is what carries debris out. This seems like a lot of clean water to “waste” — it isn’t. It’s the most valuable use of clean water you have.
Use at least 500ml of water per wound, more for dirty or deep wounds. A litre is better. The volume itself is what carries debris out. This seems like a lot of clean water to “waste” — it isn’t. It’s the most valuable use of clean water you have.
5
Remove visible debris
After irrigating, use clean fingers or improvised tweezers (two thin sticks) to remove any remaining visible dirt, gravel, splinters, or dead tissue. Leave nothing foreign in the wound.
After irrigating, use clean fingers or improvised tweezers (two thin sticks) to remove any remaining visible dirt, gravel, splinters, or dead tissue. Leave nothing foreign in the wound.
🧪 Improvised Antiseptics
HoneyRaw honey is a proven antimicrobial wound dressing. Its high sugar content, low pH, and natural hydrogen peroxide production inhibit bacterial growth. Apply a thick layer directly to cleaned wounds and cover. Change daily. Used medically for thousands of years and still used in modern hospitals (Manuka honey dressings). The best improvised antiseptic available in nature.
Dilute Salt Solution1 teaspoon of salt dissolved in 1 litre of clean water. Approximates normal saline. Excellent for irrigating wounds. Doesn’t damage tissue (unlike alcohol or hydrogen peroxide at full strength). Safe for deep wounds and repeated use.
Alcohol (40%+)Spirits, liquor, or any alcohol above 40% concentration kills bacteria on contact. Extremely painful on open wounds and damages healthy tissue. Use only for surface cleaning around a wound, not deep inside it. Better used for sterilising instruments (soak a knife blade for 1 minute).
Pine Resin / SapConifer resin has mild antimicrobial properties. Warm it until pliable and apply over a cleaned wound as a natural bandage. It seals the wound, repels water, and provides a mild antiseptic barrier. Used traditionally by indigenous peoples across the northern hemisphere. Also works as an adhesive to hold bandage materials in place.
What NOT to UseDo not put dirt, ash, dung, or plant material you haven’t identified directly in wounds. Folk remedies like spider webs (infection risk), chewing tobacco (tissue damage), or tourniquet-then-suck for snakebite (doesn’t work, wastes time, introduces mouth bacteria) do more harm than good. Clean water and clean dressings beat everything except proven antiseptics.
🩹 Bandaging & Wound Closure
Leave Wounds OpenIn survival, most wounds should NOT be stitched or taped closed. Closing a wound traps bacteria inside, creating an ideal environment for deep infection (abscess). Instead, pack the wound loosely with clean material, bandage over the top, and let it heal from the inside out (secondary intention healing). This is slower but far safer without antibiotics.
Exception: Clean, Shallow CutsA clean, straight cut that happened within the last 6 hours, in a clean environment, with no signs of contamination — this can be closed with adhesive strips (butterfly closures), tape, or thin strips of sticky material. Pull wound edges together, apply strips across the wound perpendicular to the cut, spaced 5mm apart. This reduces scarring and speeds healing for suitable wounds only.
Improvised BandagesAny clean cloth: torn clothing, boiled fabric strips, clean socks. Non-stick layer first (cloth smoothest side down), then absorbent layer, then securing wrap. Tie snugly but not tight enough to cut off circulation. Check fingers/toes below the bandage for warmth and colour — cold, blue, or numb means it’s too tight.
🦠 Signs of Infection (Watch For These Daily)
Spreading RednessRedness around a wound is normal. Redness that spreads outward from the wound edges, especially in streaks up the limb toward the heart (tracking red lines) = infection is moving into the lymphatic system. This is a medical emergency even in normal times.
Increasing Heat & SwellingThe area around the wound becomes progressively hotter, more swollen, and more painful over days instead of improving. Normal healing shows gradually decreasing pain and swelling. Increasing symptoms = infection winning.
Pus (Yellow/Green Discharge)Thick, coloured, foul-smelling discharge = bacterial infection. Clear or slightly blood-tinged drainage is normal healing. Cloudy, yellow, green, or grey discharge with a bad smell is not.
FeverIf a wound is followed by fever (feeling hot, shivering, sweating), the infection has gone systemic (sepsis). This is the most dangerous stage. Without antibiotics, sepsis has a very high mortality rate. Aggressive wound cleaning, drainage of any abscess, and rest/fluids are the only field options.
Fractures & Dislocations
METHOD ▼A broken bone in civilisation means a hospital visit and a cast. A broken bone in survival means weeks of disability, risk of fat embolism, and infection if the bone breaks the skin. Proper splinting prevents a bad injury from becoming a fatal one.
🦴 Fracture Types
Closed FractureBone is broken but skin is intact. Signs: severe pain at one point, swelling, deformity (limb looks wrong), grinding sensation (crepitus) if moved, inability to bear weight or use the limb. The patient often knows — “I felt it snap.”
Open (Compound) FractureBone pierces through the skin, or a wound exposes the fracture. Medical emergency. Massive infection risk — exposed bone acts as a bacterial highway into the marrow and bloodstream. Control bleeding, irrigate the wound thoroughly, cover with clean dressing, and splint. Do NOT push exposed bone back in — you’ll push surface bacteria deep into the body.
🩼 Splinting Principles
Immobilise the Joint Above AND BelowA forearm fracture must be splinted so neither the wrist nor the elbow can move. A shin fracture must lock both the ankle and the knee. This prevents bone ends from grinding, which causes pain, tissue damage, and bleeding.
Pad Before BindingPlace soft material (cloth, grass, moss) between the splint and the skin. Hard splints on bare skin cause pressure sores within hours. Pad all bony prominences (ankle bones, knee, wrist).
Splint in Position FoundDo not attempt to straighten a broken limb unless circulation is compromised (no pulse below the fracture, limb is cold and blue). Splint it as-is. Trying to realign a fracture without training can sever blood vessels, damage nerves, or convert a closed fracture to open.
Check Circulation After SplintingAfter applying a splint, check the fingers or toes: can they wiggle? Are they warm? Do they have normal colour? Can you feel a pulse at the wrist or ankle? If the answer to any is no, the splint is too tight or the fracture is compressing a vessel. Loosen bindings and reassess.
🪵 Improvised Splint Materials
Rigid SupportsStraight sticks, boards, rolled-up magazines or newspaper, strips of bark, a tightly rolled blanket, tent poles, a rifle or walking stick. Anything rigid that spans the joints above and below the fracture. Two splints (one each side of the limb) are more stable than one.
Binding MaterialsStrips of cloth, belts, cordage, shoelaces, duct tape, vines. Tie at a minimum of 3 points: above the fracture, below the fracture, and at each immobilised joint. Firm but not circulation-cutting. You should be able to slide a finger under each binding.
Body SplintingIn an emergency with no materials: strap the injured limb to the body. A broken arm can be bound to the torso with cloth. A broken leg can be tied to the other leg. Not ideal but prevents movement and further damage while you find proper materials.
🦴 Specific Fracture Notes
Arm / ForearmSplint, then sling (triangular bandage or cloth tied around neck, supporting the forearm at 90°). A swath (cloth wrapped around the slung arm and torso) prevents the arm from swinging. The patient can usually walk and function with one arm.
Femur (Thigh Bone)The most dangerous common fracture. The femur is surrounded by large muscles and blood vessels. A broken femur can cause internal blood loss of 1–2 litres into the thigh. Splint from hip to ankle with a long rigid object. The patient cannot walk and must be carried. Monitor for shock (pale, rapid pulse, confusion).
RibsDo not bind or wrap the chest. Chest binding restricts breathing and promotes pneumonia. Treatment: pain management (position of comfort, support the area with a pillow or folded cloth when coughing), deep breathing exercises despite pain (preventing pneumonia is critical), and rest. Most rib fractures heal in 4–6 weeks.
CollarboneSling the arm on the affected side. A figure-of-eight bandage around both shoulders (pulling them back) reduces pain but isn’t required. The patient can walk but cannot use that arm for heavy work. Heals in 6–8 weeks.
Burns
DISASTER ▼Burns are extremely common in survival — cooking over open fires, boiling water without proper containers, handling hot rocks, and fire-related accidents. Even minor burns are serious without modern medicine because of infection risk and fluid loss.
🔥 Burn Classification
First Degree (Superficial)Red, painful, no blisters. Like a sunburn. Heals in 3–7 days. Treatment: cool running water for 10–20 minutes (not ice). Aloe vera or honey if available. Keep clean. Pain management.
Second Degree (Partial Thickness)Red, very painful, blisters. Weeping, wet surface under blisters. Heals in 2–4 weeks if kept clean. Treatment: cool water 10–20 min. Do NOT pop blisters — the blister is a natural sterile dressing. If blisters break on their own, clean gently and apply honey or clean dressing. High infection risk.
Third Degree (Full Thickness)White, waxy, charred, or leathery skin. Painless (nerve endings destroyed). Does NOT heal without skin grafting. Treatment: cover with clean, dry dressing. Do not apply water or ointments to large third-degree burns. Treat for shock. Massive fluid loss and infection are the immediate threats. Without hospital care, large third-degree burns have extremely high mortality.
💧 The Burn Danger Zone
Burns >20% Body SurfaceAny burn covering more than 20% of the body (roughly: one entire leg, or the whole chest and abdomen, or both arms) causes burn shock. The body loses massive amounts of fluid through damaged skin. Without IV fluid replacement, this is often fatal. In the field: aggressive oral hydration (small, frequent sips of clean water with a pinch of salt and sugar) is the only option.
Airway BurnsIf the burn was caused by fire in an enclosed space, inhaling flames, or steam: check for singed nasal hair, soot in the mouth/nose, hoarse voice, or difficulty breathing. Airway burns cause swelling that can close the throat over hours. Position the patient upright. There is very little you can do in the field except keep the airway open as long as possible.
Burn InfectionBurned skin has lost its primary bacterial barrier. Infection rates without sterile dressings and antibiotics are extremely high. Clean burns daily with clean water. Apply honey if available (the best improvised burn dressing known). Change dressings daily. Watch for signs of infection: pus, increasing redness, fever, foul smell.
Critical rule: Cool small burns immediately with clean water. For large burns, cover and focus on fluid replacement and shock prevention. Do not apply butter, oil, toothpaste, or other folk remedies — they trap heat and introduce bacteria.
Dehydration, Heat Illness & Cold Injury
ENVIRONMENT ▼Environmental injuries are the most common medical emergencies in survival. You don’t need a dramatic accident — simply being outside, exposed, and without adequate water or shelter is enough.
💧 Dehydration
MildSigns: thirst, dark urine, dry mouth, fatigue, headache. Treatment: drink clean water in small, frequent sips. Add a pinch of salt if available (replaces electrolytes lost in sweat). Rest in shade.
ModerateSigns: very little urine (dark brown), rapid pulse, dizziness when standing, sunken eyes, skin that “tents” when pinched (stays pinched instead of flattening back). Treatment: oral rehydration solution: 1 litre clean water + 6 teaspoons sugar + ½ teaspoon salt. Sip constantly. Rest completely. Cool the body if overheated.
SevereSigns: no urine, rapid weak pulse, confusion, loss of consciousness, cool clammy skin despite heat. This is shock. Without IV fluids, survival is unlikely. Oral rehydration if conscious. Recovery position if unconscious. Keep attempting small sips of fluid if the patient can swallow.
🔥 Heat Illness
Heat ExhaustionSigns: heavy sweating, pale skin, nausea, headache, dizziness, muscle cramps, weakness. Skin is cool and moist. The body is still trying to cool itself. Treatment: move to shade, remove excess clothing, cool with wet cloth, fan, sip water. Rest completely. Full recovery usually within hours.
Heat StrokeSigns: core temp above 40°C, skin is hot, red, and DRY (sweating has stopped), confusion, slurred speech, seizures, unconsciousness. This is immediately life-threatening. Treatment: cool AGGRESSIVELY — immerse in cold water if possible, or soak clothing in water and fan continuously. Apply cold/wet cloth to neck, armpits, and groin (major blood vessels close to surface). Do not give fluids if unconscious. Cool first, everything else second.
❄️ Cold Injuries
FrostbiteSigns: skin turns white/grey, feels hard and numb. Fingers, toes, nose, ears most vulnerable. Treatment: rewarm gently in warm (not hot) water (37–40°C) for 20–30 minutes. Do NOT rub, massage, or warm over a fire (damaged tissue is easily destroyed further). Do NOT rewarm if there is any chance of refreezing — thawed tissue that refreezes suffers catastrophic damage. If the person must walk on frostbitten feet, it’s better to walk while frozen than to rewarm and then walk.
HypothermiaMild (32–35°C): shivering, confusion, poor coordination. Remove wet clothing, insulate, warm drinks, huddle for body heat. Moderate (28–32°C): shivering stops (bad sign), drowsiness, incoherent speech. Handle gently (rough movement can cause cardiac arrest). Insulate from ground, wrap in any available material, apply warm water bottles to neck/armpits/groin. Severe (<28°C): unconscious, barely breathing, may appear dead. Do not assume dead until warm and dead. Rewarm extremely gently. Do not give up — hypothermic patients have been revived after appearing lifeless.
Bites, Stings & Envenomation
WILDLIFE ▼Without antivenoms and antidotes, the focus shifts to keeping the patient alive long enough for the body to process the venom itself. Most snakebite deaths happen from panic, bad first aid, or secondary complications (infection, compartment syndrome) rather than from the venom dose alone.
🐍 Snakebite
DoKeep calm and still. Increased heart rate pumps venom faster. Immobilise the bitten limb with a splint, keep it at or below heart level. Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing before swelling starts. Clean the bite with water. Note the time and the snake’s appearance if possible. Monitor for symptoms: swelling, pain, nausea, difficulty breathing.
Do NOTDo NOT cut the wound, suck the venom, apply a tourniquet (for snake bite), apply ice, apply electric shock, or give alcohol. All of these are myths that cause additional harm. Cutting introduces infection. Suction removes negligible venom. Tourniquets trap venom in one area, causing massive local tissue destruction. The patient needs calm, immobility, and time.
Pressure Immobilisation (Elapid Bites)For neurotoxic snakes (cobras, mambas, coral snakes, Australian snakes): wrap the entire bitten limb firmly with a broad bandage, starting at the bite and wrapping toward the heart. Firm enough to restrict lymphatic flow but not tight enough to stop blood flow (you should still feel a pulse below). This slows venom spread. Not for viper/pit viper bites (rattlesnakes, adders) — these cause local tissue destruction that bandaging worsens.
🐝 Insect Stings & Spider Bites
Bee/Wasp StingsRemove the stinger by scraping sideways with a flat edge (don’t squeeze or pinch — this injects more venom). Cold compress reduces swelling. Pain is temporary. Danger: anaphylaxis (allergic reaction) — difficulty breathing, swelling of face/throat, rapid pulse, dizziness. Without epinephrine, keep airway open, position upright, and hope the reaction is mild. Multiple stings (30+) can be toxic even without allergy.
Dangerous Spider BitesBlack widow / redback: severe muscle pain and cramping, sweating, nausea. Rarely fatal in adults but intensely painful. Treatment: ice, rest, pain management. Brown recluse / white-tail: local tissue death (necrosis) developing over days. Clean wound, monitor for spreading dead tissue. May require cutting away dead tissue (debridement) if severe.
Scorpion StingsMost scorpion stings are painful but not life-threatening (like a bad wasp sting). Exception: bark scorpion (southwestern US, Mexico) and fat-tailed scorpions (Middle East, North Africa) can cause numbness, muscle twitching, breathing difficulty, and death in children. Treatment: ice, immobilise, monitor breathing.
Gastrointestinal Illness & Diarrhoea
DISEASE ▼Diarrhoeal illness kills more people in survival and disaster situations than dramatic injuries. Contaminated water, spoiled food, and poor hygiene cause fluid loss that rapidly becomes fatal without treatment. The treatment is simple — fluid replacement — but it must be aggressive and sustained.
💧 Oral Rehydration — The Most Important Recipe in This Guide
Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS)1 litre clean water + 6 level teaspoons sugar + ½ level teaspoon salt. Mix thoroughly. Sip constantly — small amounts every few minutes, not large gulps (large volumes trigger vomiting). This simple mixture saves more lives worldwide than any antibiotic. The sugar is not for energy — it enables the intestine to absorb salt and water. Without sugar, the salt water isn’t absorbed effectively.
Improvised AlternativesNo sugar? Use honey, crushed rice, or cereal water (water that rice or grain was boiled in — it contains starch that works like sugar for absorption). No salt? Use a pinch of ash from a hardwood fire (contains potassium and mineral salts). Any combination is better than plain water alone during severe diarrhoea.
🚫 Key Rules for GI Illness
Replace Fluids AggressivelyFor every episode of diarrhoea or vomiting, drink at least 250ml of ORS. The patient may not feel like drinking — insist. Dehydration from fluid loss is what kills, not the infection itself.
Continue EatingDo not stop eating during diarrhoea. The intestine still absorbs nutrition even when inflamed. Bland, simple foods: boiled rice, plain bread, bananas, boiled potatoes. Avoid fatty, spicy, or dairy foods until recovered.
Isolate the PatientDiarrhoeal illness is often contagious. The patient should use a separate latrine area, downhill and downstream from camp. Anyone caring for them must wash hands with soap or ash-water before touching food or their own face. One case becomes an epidemic without hygiene discipline.
Blood in Stool = SeriousBloody diarrhoea suggests dysentery (bacterial invasion of the intestinal wall). This is more dangerous than ordinary diarrhoea and may require antibiotics to resolve. Without them: aggressive ORS, rest, and close monitoring. If available, charcoal from fire (not ash — the black charcoal itself) ground fine and mixed with water can help absorb some toxins.
Improvised Medical Kit
FIND ▼You don’t have a first aid kit. But you’re surrounded by materials that can serve the same functions. The most valuable medical supplies in survival are the simplest: clean cloth, clean water, and something to immobilise injuries.
🧰 Scavenged & Natural Medical Supplies
BandagesAny clean cloth: T-shirts torn into strips, socks, scarves, pillowcases, sheets. Boil fabric for 10 minutes to sterilise. Even duct tape over a clean cloth pad works as a wound dressing. Sanitary pads and tampons are excellent wound dressings — they’re sterile, absorbent, and designed to manage blood.
HoneyAntimicrobial wound dressing, burn treatment, and sore throat remedy. The single most versatile natural medicine. Apply generously to any cleaned wound or burn.
Splint MaterialsSticks, boards, cardboard, rolled magazines, bark strips. Anything rigid and longer than the injured area. Padding: cloth, moss, grass, crumpled paper.
Cordage / BindingShoelaces, wire, strips of cloth, duct tape, vines, inner bark fibres. For tying splints, making slings, and securing dressings.
Pine ResinAntimicrobial wound sealant. Warm until pliable, apply over cleaned wounds. Also works as adhesive to hold bandage materials.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)Crushed leaves applied to wounds have mild antimicrobial and blood-clotting properties. One of the most widely distributed and well-documented medicinal plants. White flat-topped flower clusters, feathery fern-like leaves. Only use if you can positively identify it — it resembles poison hemlock to untrained eyes.
Willow Bark (Natural Aspirin)Willow and poplar inner bark contain salicin, a precursor to aspirin. Chew or make tea from the inner bark for mild pain relief, fever reduction, and anti-inflammatory effect. Not as strong as modern aspirin but genuinely effective. Do not use if allergic to aspirin.
Activated CharcoalCharcoal from a fire (not ash, not briquettes — the black chunks of burned wood) ground fine and mixed with water can absorb some ingested toxins and help with diarrhoea. Not a universal antidote but a useful field option for suspected food poisoning. Dose: 2–3 tablespoons in water.
Psychological First Aid
METHOD ▼Psychological trauma is as real and as dangerous as physical injury. Panic, despair, and emotional shutdown kill people in survival — not directly, but by causing them to stop drinking, stop eating, stop building shelter, and stop trying. Psychological first aid is as much a survival skill as wound care.
🧠 Psychological First Aid Principles
Stabilise the Immediate SituationMove the person to safety. Meet immediate physical needs (water, warmth, shade). People cannot process emotions while they’re still in danger or physical distress. Safety first, then talk.
Be Present and CalmStay near. Speak in a calm, steady voice. Don’t say “calm down” (it doesn’t work and feels dismissive). Instead: “You’re safe now. I’m here. We’re going to figure this out.” Your calm is contagious — panic is too. Choose which one you broadcast.
Give Small, Achievable TasksA person in shock or despair is overwhelmed by the big picture. Break reality into one task: “Hold this cloth on the wound.” “Drink this water.” “Help me gather these sticks.” Accomplishing small tasks rebuilds agency. Agency is the antidote to helplessness.
Listen Without FixingIf someone needs to talk about what happened, let them. Don’t minimise (“it could be worse”), don’t advise, don’t try to find silver linings. Just listen and acknowledge: “That sounds terrible. I hear you.” Being heard is therapeutic. Being lectured is not.
Routine & PurposeEstablish daily routines as quickly as possible: wake time, water collection, fire maintenance, meals, shelter improvement. Routine provides structure that replaces the collapsed structures of normal life. Purpose — having a reason to get up — prevents the despair spiral that leads people to stop trying. See the Maintaining Sanity guide for more on long-term psychological survival.
Quick-Reference First Aid Decision Flowchart
1
Is there massive bleeding?
→ YES: Direct pressure. Pack deep wounds. Tourniquet for limbs if pressure fails. STOP THE BLEED FIRST.
→ No massive bleeding. Proceed to step 2.
→ YES: Direct pressure. Pack deep wounds. Tourniquet for limbs if pressure fails. STOP THE BLEED FIRST.
→ No massive bleeding. Proceed to step 2.
2
Is the person breathing?
→ NO: Head tilt – chin lift. Clear the mouth. If still not breathing, begin rescue breaths (pinch nose, seal mouth, 2 breaths, watch for chest rise).
→ Yes, breathing. Proceed to step 3.
→ NO: Head tilt – chin lift. Clear the mouth. If still not breathing, begin rescue breaths (pinch nose, seal mouth, 2 breaths, watch for chest rise).
→ Yes, breathing. Proceed to step 3.
3
Is the person conscious?
→ NO: Recovery position (on their side). Monitor breathing every few minutes. Check for injuries you haven’t found yet.
→ Yes, conscious. Proceed to step 4.
→ NO: Recovery position (on their side). Monitor breathing every few minutes. Check for injuries you haven’t found yet.
→ Yes, conscious. Proceed to step 4.
4
What is the injury?
→ Wound: Clean with pressurised water (500ml+). Remove debris. Dress with clean cloth. Honey if available. Leave open (don’t close). Monitor for infection daily.
→ Fracture: Splint (immobilise joints above and below). Check circulation. Sling for arms.
→ Burn: Cool with water 10–20 min (small burns only). Don’t pop blisters. Cover with clean dressing. Honey for open burns.
→ Snakebite: Immobilise, stay calm, splint the limb. Do NOT cut, suck, or tourniquet.
→ Diarrhoea/vomiting: ORS (1L water + 6tsp sugar + ½tsp salt). Sip constantly. Continue eating. Isolate patient.
→ Wound: Clean with pressurised water (500ml+). Remove debris. Dress with clean cloth. Honey if available. Leave open (don’t close). Monitor for infection daily.
→ Fracture: Splint (immobilise joints above and below). Check circulation. Sling for arms.
→ Burn: Cool with water 10–20 min (small burns only). Don’t pop blisters. Cover with clean dressing. Honey for open burns.
→ Snakebite: Immobilise, stay calm, splint the limb. Do NOT cut, suck, or tourniquet.
→ Diarrhoea/vomiting: ORS (1L water + 6tsp sugar + ½tsp salt). Sip constantly. Continue eating. Isolate patient.
5
Ongoing care:
→ Check wounds daily. Clean and re-dress. Watch for infection signs: spreading redness, heat, pus, fever.
→ Keep the patient hydrated. Small frequent sips, not large gulps.
→ Rest. The body heals during rest. A patient who keeps working aggravates every injury.
→ Check wounds daily. Clean and re-dress. Watch for infection signs: spreading redness, heat, pus, fever.
→ Keep the patient hydrated. Small frequent sips, not large gulps.
→ Rest. The body heals during rest. A patient who keeps working aggravates every injury.