When the world’s gone to hell, you won’t have a doc on speed dial—cuts, breaks, and bangs are on you. Blood’s spilling, bones are crunching, or a bruise is swelling in a pandemic, nuke zone, or collapse. No panic—here’s how to handle it with what’s in your kit or your head. Prepper rule: stop the bleed, brace the break, and keep moving—fast.
Cuts: Seal the Leak
- Light Slash: Rinse with clean water—boiled if you’ve got it. Slap on antiseptic (iodine or alcohol) if you’ve got some, then bandage tight. No gauze? Rip a clean shirt, duct tape it. Check it daily—red or pus means trouble.
- Deep Gash: Blood’s gushing? Press hard with cloth—elevate if it’s a limb. No clotting in 10? Tourniquet time—tie above the cut, tight as hell, mark the time. Clean it later if you can—stitch with a needle and thread if you’re gutsy, but only if it’s sterile.
- Prepper Hack: Honey’s a natural antiseptic—smear it if you’re dry on meds. Shelf life’s forever.
Breaks: Brace It, Don’t Break It
- Bone’s Snapped: Don’t play hero—moving it screws you worse. Splint it—sticks, boards, anything rigid—tie with rope or strips above and below the break. No X-ray? If it’s bent wrong or screaming pain, it’s broke. Keep it still ‘til it knits—weeks, not days.
- Fingers/Toes: Buddy tape—lash it to the next digit with tape or cloth. Swelling? Ice if you’ve got it, or soak in cold water.
- Prepper Hack: Cardboard or a rolled mag works—stiff, light, everywhere. Pain’s your guide—numb it with OTC pills if you’ve got ‘em.
Bruises & Bangs: Tough It Out
- Blunt Hit: Swelling or black-and-blue? Cold pack—snow, creek water, whatever’s chilled—10 minutes on, off. Elevate if it’s a limb. No ice? Wrap it snug, rest it. Bad pain or it won’t move? Check for a hidden break.
- Head Smack: Dizzy, puking, or lights out? Concussion alert—rest, no sleep for a few hours, watch ‘em close. Skull’s leaking? You’re in deep—pressure, no pushing, pray for luck.
- Prepper Hack: Vinegar-soaked cloth cuts swelling—old-school, works when ice ain’t around.
SHTF Kit Musts (Check our First Aid Kit post HERE)
- IFAK Basics: Gauze, tourniquet, antiseptic wipes, tape—under 3 lbs, no excuses.
- Improv: Needle/thread, duct tape, honey, rags—scavenge what works.
- Pain: Ibuprofen, aspirin—stock it, rotate it.
Scenario Spin
- Pandemic: Germs rule—clean cuts fast, or infection’s your reaper. Breaks? Splint and hide—hospitals are traps.
- Nuke Zone: Fallout dust in a gash? Flush it hard—Iodine’s your friend. Breaks slow your bugout—brace tight, move anyway.
- Collapse: No meds, no pros—honey and tape for cuts, sticks for breaks. Bruises? Suck it up ‘til it’s worse.
Prepper Edge
Bleeding out, snapping bones, or taking hits—SHTF don’t care. Stop the red, lock the break, ice the bang—skills beat 911 when it’s gone. My Virginia bunker’s got an IFAK stacked; you better have yours. Practice this—your crew’s counting on you when the world’s ash.
Gear to Grab: First Aid Lifelines
Stock your kit right—North American Rescue Gen 7 CAT Tourniquet’s the gold standard for gushers, one-handed, battle-proven.
Buy Here: https://amzn.to/3FWRqzA
For cuts, Dynarex Antiseptic Wipes kill germs fast, shelf-stable, no sting.
Buy Here: https://amzn.to/3FJNnqp
These are my picks—grab ‘em, stay alive.
