Many things will change in a SHTF scenario, but one of the most notable changes will be the lack of 24/7 medical care. Many people these days take little or no care of their own personal health care, they are more than happy to let the doctors and nurses at their local doctor's office or hospital take care of it for them . The day when local health services are no longer available may be closer than many of us think. With the ObamaCare debacle in full swing, it's high time that each of us started taking an active role in our own health. As has been mentioned many times on the Survival blog, before making sure you are fit is the best thing to do. can do for your health in the long and short term. Everything in your body works better when you are fit. You'll be able to work better, heal faster, and avoid all kinds of health problems, from heart attacks to back injuries. Everyone should also receive medical training. I recommend every prepper take a basic EMT course. You can usually find them at your local fire station or convents in your state. Being an EMT gives you a good overall foundation in medicine. You will be able to control bleeding, strengthen bones and give basic medications. You can also volunteer with your local fire department, which is a great way to meet locals and help your community. This also gives you excellent contact with local emergency services, which could prove very useful. When most people think of medical problems they might encounter in a network outage situation, they usually think of broken bones, gunshot wounds, and uncontrolled bleeding. the reality is usually much less exciting, but just as deadly. One of the biggest causes...... middle of paper...... replenishing your sodium. This is common among athletes and is why drinks such as gatorade are popular because they replenish sodium in the body. A normal blood sodium level is 135 to 145 milliequivalents/liter (mEq/L), but levels are difficult to measure unless you do a lab test ordered by a doctor. The next important electrolyte is potassium. Potassium is the important positive ion inside cells. Potassium regulates heart rate and muscle function, as you might imagine, both of which are critically important to the body. Extreme levels of potassium can affect the nervous system and increase the risk of irregular heartbeat, especially in older people or people with pre-existing heart conditions. Again, although difficult to measure without a doctor-ordered test, normal blood levels of potassium are between 3.5 and 5.0 milliequivalents/liter (mEq/L). Chloride is the important negative ion.