First aid is one of the big considerations when you look at bugging out. Our modern society has great medical care, but what do you do if you don’t have access to that medical care, either because you’ve gone off grid while bugging out or because those medical services are no longer available to anyone?
The answer is to go back to the “old ways,” the first aid and survival methods used by our ancestors.
Natural remedies are a Godsend when you’re off grid and out of pharmaceutical antibiotics, and one of the best natural remedies for wounds is honey. Yes, really. Rebekah White writes,
Various studies have proven that honey, when used as a topical ointment, not only clears infections but also prevents wounds from spreading infections. Scarring is dramatically reduced, and honey can help remove some of the odors associated with healing wounds. Honey’s anti-inflammatory properties also help to reduce pain.
White does specifically caution to use honey from germ-free hives that have not been treated with antibiotics and also to avoid “store bought Grade-A honey” for wound treatment, so it may be best to keep your own bees (or have a reliable, organic source) so that you can be sure that your honey is the purest available. Having said that, White also notes,
However, untreated raw honey has such strong germ-fighting properties that most contamination cannot survive. In fact, honey is effective against many antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. These antibacterial properties include the ability of honey to release low levels of hydrogen peroxide (the quantity depending, of course, on the type of honey used). It has even been used as a prophylactic for patients liable to contract MRSA or other antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. It has been reported to inhibit over 60 different types of bacteria, as well as some fungi.
When using honey for wound treatment, you’ll want to gently clean the wound before applying honey. Once cleaned and the honey is applied, wrap the wound, and periodically repeat this process of cleaning, applying honey, and wrapping the wound to ensure that the wound always has a fresh clean treatment.
Thus, with a access to good, raw honey and other basic first aid supplies, you have a great first aid option when you are at your bug out location.
Just say it, “Raw Honey”! Plain and simple. Natures neosporin.