Role 13People & Care

Health & Medicine

Recommended holders

2–3

Load rating

Season

Year-round; unpredictable acute events

About this role

In a remote northern location, the nearest emergency room may be 60–90 miles away on roads that may be impassable in winter. A well-prepared health role, with at least one holder at the level of a Wilderness First Responder (WFR), can manage the vast majority of medical events that will occur in a community of 55 people. This role almost universally pairs with Gathering & Foraging (Role 05) — the herbalist is the forager is the health practitioner.

Key processes

Medical skill baseline

Every collective should have at minimum two members trained to Wilderness First Aid (16-hour) or Wilderness First Responder (70-hour) level. Skills to develop: wound care, bone and joint injury management, burn care, shock recognition, childbirth support, CPR/AED, anaphylaxis management.

Herbal medicine practice

The medicine garden grows the collective's pharmacopeia. Key plants: echinacea (immune support), yarrow (wound care, fever), elderberry (antiviral), calendula (wound healing), valerian (sleep), St. John's wort (mood, nerve pain), comfrey (topical wound healing), plantain (wounds, stings), mullein (respiratory), garlic (antimicrobial). Process into tinctures, salves, glycerites, and teas.

Medical supply inventory

Trauma supplies (tourniquets, pressure bandages, hemostatic gauze, chest seals), wound care supplies, OTC medications, diagnostic tools (blood pressure cuff, pulse oximeter, thermometer, stethoscope), and prescription emergency medications (work with a supportive physician to maintain these).

Relationships with outside providers

Establish relationships with: a family medicine physician in the nearest town, a dentist, and an emergency veterinarian. Know the locations of the nearest urgent care, ER, and Level 1 trauma center.

Mental health

Coordinate with Mediation & Counseling (Role 16) on community mental health. Monitor for burnout, depression, and seasonal affective disorder. Normalize help-seeking.

Critical warnings

This role is not a substitute for emergency services. Serious trauma, cardiac events, and complicated obstetric emergencies require hospital transport.

Medical supplies expire. Audit the supply cache annually and replace expired items.

Connects directly to

Gathering & Foraging Childcare & Nurturing Mediation & Counseling Needs Assessment & Procurement

Good supplement pairings

Gathering & Foraging (herbalism); Childcare & Nurturing; Education & Skills (health literacy)

Key insight

One holder should have serious medical training (EMT, nurse, or retired doctor). Proximity to a trusted doctor and dentist in town is also essential.