A few years ago, I did a short review on the first edition of The Survival Medicine Handbook by Joseph Alton, MD, and Amy Alton, ARNP. You can find that review here, if you’re so inclined. That book came out in 2011, I believe. In 2013, they came out with the 2nd edition. Now, they’ve upped the ante even more with the 3rd edition.

First edition was roughly 400 pages. The second edition clocked in at about 580 pages. Now, this new edition adds almost 100 more pages, coming in at around 670 pages! This book is over 1.5 inches thick. Each and every one of those pages is chock full of great information, too.

Here’s the thing. In a true grid-down, SHTF scenario, heading to the clinic or hospital for treatment, even if such facilities are still running, will be a dicey proposition at best. The journey itself may be very risky. On top of that, you’re going to see very limited resources being stretched beyond belief. It may well be that your best option will be to treat the injury or illness at home.

Before I go any further, let me say this. Proper medical care by licensed and experienced professionals is ALWAYS the ideal and should be sought whenever possible.

Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I have long admired Joe and Amy Alton. I consider them to be both colleagues as well as friends. I have been a guest on their various shows multiple times and we’ve even shared dinner a time or two.

Okay, with all of that out of the way, let’s talk about their book. I’ve often said that The Survival Medicine Handbook is THE medical resource for preppers and that opinion hasn’t changed with this new edition. One thing I love about Doc Bones and Nurse Amy is they take a very well-rounded approach to medicine. Some would say that today’s medical community seems to just want to throw pills at a problem until it goes away. Bones and Amy aren’t afraid to suggest medications, of course, but they also take time to discuss more natural remedies, such as using essential oils and herbal teas.

The Survival Medicine Handbook takes the approach that you will be the medic and, as such, will need to address any number of injuries, ailments, and other medical situations for the foreseeable future. The book assumes you will have no backup medical treatment options. You are it, for all intents and purposes. With that in mind, Doc Bones and Nurse Amy have covered just about every type of medical scenario you can imagine, from delivering a baby to suturing a wound, handling infections to dental emergencies. The Table of Contents along with the Index make it quite easy to quickly locate the information you need in a given situation.

Each and every section of the book is written in plain English. Any and all medical terms used are defined so they are easy to understand. Along the way, they present all sorts of great information on how to prevent injuries and ailments before they arise. An ounce of prevention and all that.

They also share several lists of equipment and supplies you should have on hand for medical emergencies. Ho hum, you can find those anywhere, right? Throughout this book, though, they explain how to use all that good stuff. The most comprehensive medical kit in the world won’t do you much good if you don’t know how to use the stuff inside.

Bones and Amy are at the forefront of medical information for those working on their emergency preparedness plans. They’ve spent the last several years traveling the country, sharing their information as conferences and expos. The Survival Medicine Handbook is about the next best thing to having them at your side in person.

You can find The Survival Medicine Handbook here on Amazon. Whether you get it from Amazon or elsewhere, please be sure to check that it is the Third Edition.