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- Feb 1, 2018
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I just finished reading this entire thread, and through it all, Mr. Hugh Glass kept popping into my mind (see the subheading "Grizzly Bear Mauling" in the link below).
In spite of incredible odds, he survived a severe bear mauling and more. Not many could survive such odds! Yet, some folks do.
What increased his odds? I noticed a few clues in the Wikipedia article. (I probably could find more if I did a more extensive search elsewhere, as well as looking into clues how and why other people survived horrific injuries without medical help.
In Hugh Glass' case:
1) extreme motivation to survive his incredibly bad injuries.
2) to prevent infection and gangrene, he allowed maggots to "clean" his wounds This historically popular treatment likely saved his life (see second link below for more details about that).
3) he had enough knowledge to set his own broken bones and survive on insects, wild berries, roots, etc.
See subheading 'Grizzly bear mauling'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Glass
Historical and medical validation of maggot therapy:
Maggot therapy - Wikipedia
Yes, maggot therapy seems (and looks) disgusting to our sanitized view of medical treatment. But in a truly austere situation, where there are NO more antibiotics or any semblance of modern medicine left, we can look back in history to see what worked for our ancestors and has been validated by modern medical science.
It looks like getting the "right" kind of maggots is key. There are several species of fly maggots that feed on live flesh, I assume this would likely be evident by pain. Naturally, in that case, they need to be removed to allow maggots that feed on only dead flesh to do their job.
Speaking of medical validation, treating wounds with honey (or sugar) is another lifesaver. There are many reports of sugar and honey being used to treat infections and to even reverse gangrene. (Google dat.)
I have a respectable stockpile of modern antibiotics and medical supplies cached in several locations. But I am constantly exploring the notion that someday I may run out of them, and that medical help may not be available for a long time. I may eventually run out of pills, but a supply of sugar and honey has also been given high priority in my preps (enough to cache in several locations).
In spite of incredible odds, he survived a severe bear mauling and more. Not many could survive such odds! Yet, some folks do.
What increased his odds? I noticed a few clues in the Wikipedia article. (I probably could find more if I did a more extensive search elsewhere, as well as looking into clues how and why other people survived horrific injuries without medical help.
In Hugh Glass' case:
1) extreme motivation to survive his incredibly bad injuries.
2) to prevent infection and gangrene, he allowed maggots to "clean" his wounds This historically popular treatment likely saved his life (see second link below for more details about that).
3) he had enough knowledge to set his own broken bones and survive on insects, wild berries, roots, etc.
See subheading 'Grizzly bear mauling'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Glass
Historical and medical validation of maggot therapy:
Maggot therapy - Wikipedia
Yes, maggot therapy seems (and looks) disgusting to our sanitized view of medical treatment. But in a truly austere situation, where there are NO more antibiotics or any semblance of modern medicine left, we can look back in history to see what worked for our ancestors and has been validated by modern medical science.
It looks like getting the "right" kind of maggots is key. There are several species of fly maggots that feed on live flesh, I assume this would likely be evident by pain. Naturally, in that case, they need to be removed to allow maggots that feed on only dead flesh to do their job.
Speaking of medical validation, treating wounds with honey (or sugar) is another lifesaver. There are many reports of sugar and honey being used to treat infections and to even reverse gangrene. (Google dat.)
I have a respectable stockpile of modern antibiotics and medical supplies cached in several locations. But I am constantly exploring the notion that someday I may run out of them, and that medical help may not be available for a long time. I may eventually run out of pills, but a supply of sugar and honey has also been given high priority in my preps (enough to cache in several locations).
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) Will report-back to Base, if we do.. 
