Doomsday: EMT & Paramedic Training For Societal Collapse
You never know what’s going to happen. That’s true of a lot of scenarios, and for the world at large: societal collapse could very well be looming.
In this uncertain world most people feel there is something wrong, a gut feeling that something is going to happen and more and more people are preparing. Well, what could happen?
• Economic collapse – dollar becomes devalued/worthless with hyperinflation or deflation
• EMP attack or Coronal Mass Ejection wipes out our electric grid
• Cyber-attack on any part of our computerized infrastructure (electric grid, water, sewage, banking)
• Civil unrest and/or war
• World War III
• Terrorism
• Pan influenza
What would you do if you woke up tomorrow and find your cellphone doesn’t work, car doesn’t start, ATMs don’t work, no food on the shelves, no gasoline for you to escape with, no emergency rooms or hospital, no government help coming?
How To Prepare For Societal Collapse
When thinking ahead to potential worst case scenarios, consider all of the implications: a shortage or complete lack of food, housing insecurity, collapsing government, and the incredibly deadly threat of little or no medical services. Imagine if there is no electricity. How would you keep food or medicine cold? An EMP can cripple all electronic vehicles. No food. No pumps. No water. No medicine.
If/when Doomsday comes, how will you and your community be prepared? Are you ready for the worst possible event? Now is the time to consider gaining the training and educational background of an EMT-B (EMT-Basic) or Paramedic to help you stay ahead of a Doomsday emergency and be in a position to protect the health of your family and loved ones.
How EMT Training Can Help You Be Prepared For Societal Collapse
Combating the issue of insufficient medical services is crucial to survival in the event of societal collapse. Any number of ailments could occur in this scenario including severe wounds, infection, dental emergency, or other pandemic. When chaos touches everything around you, even the most level-headed individual could be blind about how to react to these and other basic health-related crises.
With the training provided to an EMT or Paramedic, think-on-your-feet situations and high-stress environments are much easier to navigate. These professionals learn, as a part of their education, how to respond at a moment’s notice, how to think and react quickly yet correctly and safely to frightening scenarios, and how to address various urgent needs all at once without sacrificing health and safety measures. EMT/Paramedic training can serve anyone—even if you plan to wait out the time working as a lawyer or construction worker!
At Health Career Institute, EMT/Paramedic training can be obtained with its comprehensive diploma program. Coursework covers key life-support skills including airway clearing, assessing injuries and ailments, treating shock and fractures, assisting in childbirth, addressing poison, blood loss and burns, and safely transporting patients. With this education, any number of possible scenarios already have solutions for an EMT or Paramedic.
If disaster strikes—or when, as according to Ted Koppel in his 2015 book called Lights Out: A Cyberattack, a Nation Unprepared, Surviving the Aftermath, the United States is “shockingly unprepared” for a likely and devastating cyber-attack on the power grid—you can assume that the resources you’re used to having provided for you by the government or civil infrastructure will fail. Doctors and hospitals ready to admit you for any questionable ailment? Not likely.
“You’re going to need to take care of yourself,” said Al Howe, HCI’s EMS Program Director. “Who’s going to take care of you?”
Preparing Your EMT Supply Kit For Doomsday
You may be shocked to learn that what you consider a common side-effect of sickness—diarrhea—is actually, according to the World Health Organization , the cause of 4% of deaths, particularly in places without systematic medical care. Now consider a Doomsday scenario where our medical resources and toolkits are diminished. Infection, contaminated water, and malnourishment are all possible, if not likely, and can trigger a major health crisis.
According to one prepper community, here are the most crucial components of a supply kit to treat this leading threat:
1. An enzyme supplement to support digestive health
2. Black walnut wormwood complex for the treatment of parasites
3. An anti-diarrheal like Imodium to treat symptoms immediately
4. Activated charcoal tablets should toxins or poisons be ingested
5. Heartburn relief agents like Tums or Alka-Seltzer
6. Apple cider vinegar for acid treatment
7. Pedialyte or other electrolyte-rich supplemental drink
Having these supplies on hand and ready can help you be prepared and able to treat yourself or a family member immediately in the event of Doomsday. Outside of the above medications and treatment agents for the most likely scenario, preppers recommend the following first aid products to help you address other likely medical emergencies such as wounds and superficial ailments, respiratory ailments, pain and fever, flu and pandemics, dental complications, and other medical conditions:
1. Soap
2. Rubbing alcohol and hydrogen peroxide
3. Neosporin or antibiotic ointment
4. A wide variety of bandages, gauze, and medical tape
5. Burn treatment such as burn gel
6. Hydrocortisone cream
7. Moleskin and blister treatment
8. Ibuprofen
9. Instant cold and hot packs
10. QuickClot or unflavored gelatin alternative
11. Tweezers, sterile scissors, scalpel kit, splints
12. Sunscreen lotions, zinc oxide
13. Antihistamine
14. Cough drops
15. Thieves essential oil
16. Thermometer
17. Amoxicillin, FishMox or other fish antibiotics
18. Masks and gloves
19. Topical anesthetic gel
20. Dental kit
21. Supplies for diabetes treatment
22. Epinephrine or, as a non-prescription alternative, Benadryl or similar
23. Eye care supplies
24. 1-month supply of prescription medication
Becoming an EMT or Paramedic with training and education from HCI not only prepares you to spring into action should disaster strike, but it will also give you the background and understanding of chemical reactions and the human body to piece together the items in your “toolkit” for the best possible response.
Your Basic Needs Toolkit For Doomsday
Beyond first aid, smart Doomsday preparation includes other items necessary to stay healthy and strong. “A lot of people couldn’t figure out how to start a fire or purify water with a soda bottle,” says Howe, so relying on anyone to know what to do to get the supplies they need after the worst occurs is a poor plan. Prepare your non-medical toolbox by keeping a supply of food, water, and clothing. Howe suggests five-gallon buckets of food including beans, rice, freeze-dried food, and heirloom seeds.
You’ll need to keep warm and clean too, so don’t forget about needs like blankets, towels, and general cleaning supplies. Prepare for it by considering your daily routines and habits, and making a list of the items you rely on to get you through a typical day. Have them in large stock, and you’re on your way to being well prepared.
With a background in EMS training, you’re even better off than the guy next door with the same supplies. The experience you gain in becoming an EMT or Paramedic helps you think more creatively and see situations for more than face value. While others may see standard supplies, you’ll be able to see multiple uses for everyday items—a towel can be used for much more than drying off, if you know how to turn it into a tourniquet or better—and be more prepared to respond to unexpected situations.
You’re Not On Your Own In Societal Collapse Preparations
While it may well come down to a scenario where you must fend completely for yourself, know that your preparations for a societal collapse aren’t happening solo. “You’d be amazed,” says Howe. “Doctors, lawyers, electricians, nurses—all these people are getting prepared. They’re all worried.” Happy Preppers, Doomsday Preppers Training, and Survival Blog are just three of countless sites and online communities where people sharing their fears and concerns gather to discuss preparations and best practices.
The best way to prepare is to get involved with the community, and observe how much there’s left to do to be fully ready. “We need to be prepared for this kind of stuff to happen,” adds Howe, “so we don’t end up finding out that we’re on the short end of the stick.”
