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Letter Re: Inexpensive Spare Eyeglasses
Hello JWR,
Thanks for the site. Information is the best currency. I will send 10
Cent Challenge money in
February.
Just wanted to give you a link to LBWEyewear.com,
a site I discovered which sells [made-to-order] prescription eyeglasses. Most
normal pairs are less than $25.
Some less than $15.
I don't have any connection to that site, just a satisfied customer. I'm sure
there are others like it.
I have found that paying 200+ dollars for a pair of glasses is not economical
because I lose them often and break them. It's always good to have a spare
pair in the car, or BOB. And even though ordering eyeglasses on a web site"sight
unseen" means you have to guess as to the style / fit, it's better to
have a clunky pair in an emergency than none. Also, post-SHTF, optometrists
appointments are probably low priority. I think this falls under the category
of medical supplies, such as prescription medicines.
For the second time now I have ordered 4 pairs for less than 60 dollars. There
is a pair in each vehicle I own, one by the television, one in the shooting
bag, etc. Also, after ordering once I now know which to order that are stylish
for me. This company sent both my packages snailmail within two weeks.
Here's the catch: you have to know your prescription. That means you have to
call your eye doctor and finagle this information out of their
receptionist. Legally they have to give you this info, but that doesn't mean
they will. Optometrists make their money selling their ability to check your
eyes. They're selling you the eye exam, not the glasses. But they give you
the exam "for free", because you will buy the glasses for hundreds
of dollars. The manufacturing itself costs only a few dollars for common glass
Also, your prescription is more than what is written on your contact lenses
box. You have to know the power of your near / farsightedness, the axis of
any astigmatisms, and your pupillary distance. Doctors don't
often give this information on the first try.
In support of buying local and supporting independent retailers you may want
to pay your optometrist something for their service. I however cannot justify
another pair of over-priced specs. Offering to "buy the exam" may
be a more honorable way to go.
Hope this info is helpful! Best, - N.
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Four Letters Re: Survival Dentistry, by The Army Dentist
Sir:
At the conclusion of his article, the Army Dentist says, "I think
this can at least organize a discussion or be a good stimulus for questions." So
(if it's somehow possible to do this in SurvivalBlog format) I'd like to ask
him, In case of an irreversible pulpitis or abscess, if professional dental
care is not available, then what are the best tools and techniques to perform
a "home extraction"? And how about anesthetics? - Charley S.
Hi Jim,
The Survival Dentistry article by The Army Dentist is a very informative
and important piece. Home dental care i.e., dental hygiene, is essential in
preventing decay, pain, potential loss of teeth and last, and perhaps least,
halitosis. I might add, and am sure that the good Army Dentist will agree,
that flossing your teeth, preferably daily, is nearly as important as brushing
the teeth.
Something else that can be useful in killing oral bacteria is a mix of 1/2
hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 water for occasional rinsing and gargling. It's cheap,
and it works.
In addition, tooth decay can lead to heart problems, though it's rare. - SLC
JWR:,
I just wanted to point out to the readers of survival blog that fluoride is
a poison. There has been a lot of research done lately about this. Those
of us that are health conscious avoid it. It is safer to use xylitol instead.
Check out FluorideAlert.org and
related videos on YouTube and Google Video. Your Fellow Countryman, - S.B.
James,
I would like to know what the dentist thinks about the use of peroxide
as a mouth wash? I am far from a poster child for proper dental care, but
since I have started using peroxide mouth wash the hygienist hasn't found
anything
for the dentist
to work on teeth or gums.- Keith S.
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Survival Dentistry, by The Army Dentist
Dentistry may be one of the least exciting topics under preparedness. You
will never see a television show on the daily life and death struggles in a
dental office and you won’t find too many stories “from the front” on
the dental team. But a dental emergency can quickly complicate or even bring
to a standstill, daily living and tasks. In a SHTF scenario, this is not something
you want to deal with. The confederate army was the first army to recognize
this and fielded a dentist for their troops. In Vietnam, dental disease accounted
for 11% of Disease and Non-Battle Injury (DNBI). Today, the military recognizes
this and has provided more and more dental support closer to the forward line
of troops (FLOT ) in an effort to keep troops on duty and out of sick call.
I have been practicing dentistry for 12 years now. I am currently in private
practice but I served on active duty in the army for four and one half years
and have been in the reserves the balance of my career. I have performed dental
procedures in the third world as both a civilian and a soldier in places such
as rural Jamaica, Guatemala and Kosovo (and in a few months I will add Iraq
to the list but I doubt I will ever leave the wire to treat civilians). Most
of these procedures involved nothing more than tooth extractions because it
is the fastest way to help the most people. And most of these people recognized
that follow up dental care was tenuous at best, and were not willing to gamble
on a questionable tooth. On each of the medical civilian aid missions (MEDCAPs)
in which I participated, the line to see the dentist was always at least as
long as the line to see the physician's assistants (PAs) and physicians.
I would like to present a summary of the caries process and the best way to
prevent dental pathology in the first place, a simple way to recognize and
or loosely categorize dental symptoms, and some simple treatment alternatives
until definitive care can be reached.
The first place I would start, would be to go to your dentist and have everything
taken care of immediately. Think of Tom Hank’s character in the movie “Lost” who
ended up extracting an abscessed tooth with an old ice skate. Need I say more?
Sometimes in dentistry, we will treat a questionable tooth in an effort to
save it but the tooth has a poor prognosis and we instruct the patient to return
if problems persist. If you feel that you will be remote to dental care for
an extended period of time, then I would attempt to limit these “watch
and wait” procedures. Always ask for the dentist’s prognosis. You
don’t want to find out that the procedure has failed after you no longer
have access to the dentist.
After all existing problems have been addressed, begin and maintain (make it
a habit) a preventive dental program. It is not a very difficult thing to do
and you can save untold thousands of dollars and a lot of pain by doing it.
Believe me, I’ll take your money to fix the problems but its better if
you just avoid the problems in the first place.
Caries begins when bacteria in your mouth, digests sugar and creates acid,
which dissolves tooth structure. As this process progresses towards the pulp
of the tooth, you will experience pain. I know you all have heard this a million
times but I’ll say it again because if you do this, you will have very
few problems. Brush your teeth nd limit your sugar intake. .
It really does work. If you can remove the bacteria, which predominantly resides
in plaque,
from your mouth, you will limit its ability to create acid. Also, the sugar
intake frequency is more important than the amount of
sugar. Every time you put sugar in your mouth, the bacteria will create acid
for thirty
minutes.
If you drink
one soda in 10 minutes, and then consume no more sugar the rest of the day,
then you will only have acid in your mouth for about 40 minutes. If you take
the same soda, and sip on it all day long, then you will have acid in your
mouth all day long. Certainly limit the amount of sugar you ingest, but more
importantly, limit the frequency with which you ingest it. Also, use a fluoride
rinse every night. You should brush your teeth, then rinse your mouth, drink
water if you want, and then rinse with the fluoride. Then don’t put anything
else in your mouth and go to bed. The fluoride will sit on your teeth and make
the enamel less soluble. It works.|
Toothpaste is not necessary in this regimen either. It is good but not necessary.
Toothpaste is nothing more than a mild abrasive, flavoring and fluoride. If
you want to make your own, you can use fluoride rinse and baking soda although
baking soda is much more abrasive than commercially made tooth paste and can
irritate your tissues. It is fine to use every now and then and just use fluoride
rinse or water if that’s all you have the rest of the time.
If you do develop a carious lesion (a cavity), you can expect the following,
which can take months or years to fully develop. These symptoms are never written
in stone and vary greatly between individuals and even between teeth in the
same person. But this should provide a general guideline so you can estimate
what you are dealing with, what symptom may be expected with time and what
treatment you may need.
When the tooth structure has been sufficiently weakened, it will break and
leave a hole (the cavity). At first you may have no pain and only experience
a gingival irritation as food gets packed in it. You may have trouble getting
all of the food out. Soon it will start to ache when you chew and possibly
will be very cold sensitive. This decay is approaching the pulp of the tooth
and is starting to irritate the nerves within the tooth. This is called reversible
pulpitis, literally a reversible irritated pulp. This can be treated with a
filling. When the tooth begins to hurt spontaneously, wakes you up at night
and is sensitive to hot, then you most likely have an irreversible pulpitis.
At this point, the tooth requires a root canal or an extraction. The toxins
from the decay have reached the nerve and essentially have mortally wounded
it. This may last for several weeks and if you gut it out, the pain will eventually
go away. When the pain goes away, the nerve has died. Do not leave
this tooth untreated! As the nerve decomposes, the body is unable to get inside
the tooth to take care of it and you will eventually end up with an abscess.
The pain will return with a vengeance. This tooth will no longer be sensitive
to hot and cold but it will be extremely painfully to the touch. You may begin
to run a fever and experience swelling. Some people say it feels like the tooth
has “raised up”. It has. The infection is pushing it up. The infection
will seek the path of least resistance in an effort to relieve pressure. If
you are lucky it will establish drainage toward your cheeks or lips through
the gums. Once the drainage is established, the pain may resolve somewhat.
Again, don’t leave this untreated. If the infection, however, travels
toward the tongue, neck or sinuses, to name a few places, it can become very dangerous, very quickly.
Possible sequelae include septicemia, airway obstruction and pericardial infections.
These complications are not common but are very dangerous and need to be treated
by a medical professional. Some of the symptoms of these very serious infections
will include increased temperature, swelling under your jaw, under your tongue
and around your chin, swelling extending toward your neck, swelling in your
throat that may begin to push your uvula aside, difficulty swallowing and/or
breathing. Do not ignore these! Seek medical care immediately!
As far as field dentistry for non-dental personnel, you are pretty much limited
to prevention, and possibly temporarily treating a reversible pulpitis. I have
in the past taught 18Ds [The Army MOS for Special Operations Medical Sergeants]
to extract teeth and even perform root canals but they are exceptional men
in exceptional circumstances and we had a lot of time to work on it. In this
venue I will suggest the names and techniques and perhaps you can fill in the
gaps with a willing local dentist.
Two long-standing temporary filling materials are Cavit and IRM. Both of
these are a powder and liquid that when mixed will become very hard. The
benefit
of IRM is that it contains eugenol (clove oil), which is a sedative and can
sooth a sensitive tooth. These will keep food and “cold” out of
a cavity until you can reach definitive care. If you are somehow able to secure
it, Fuji IX is a wonderful restorative material that will also release fluoride
and can slow down/stop the decay process. I don’t know how you can get
it without a dental license but if you are resourceful…please, I am not
advocating non-dentists treating tooth pathology in any way, shape or form
(i.e. don’t sue me if you try something and it doesn’t work). I
am simply offering some observations from my own experiences that may be helpful
when dental care is not available. In the end, you will need to find a dentist
but hopefully these tips can help you prevent, treat or recognize the severity
of dental pathology that you may encounter in remote areas. This is about four
years of school crammed into a few pages so there are huge gaps of course,
and there are as many ways to treat disease as there are dentists. Others may
have different opinions and better treatment alternatives but I think this
can at least organize a discussion or be a good stimulus for questions.
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Letter Re: Dress for Survival Success
Jim;
That was
a great article by George Haystack in Tuesday's blog! I thought
I was the only one [that carried so much survival gear around on a daily basis.]
Mr. Haystack takes it further than I do. First, I
could not carry [a concealed firearm] at my workplace being within the secure
area of an airport. I generally carried a sturdy day pack, with the following:
(1) Lockback knife
(2) LED flashlights (9 LED's / 3 AA batteries)
(16) spare AAA batteries
(1) regular AA flashlight
(4) spare AA batteries
The following are all OTC medications, of course
(1) small bottle aspirin
(1) small bottle acetaminophen (Tylenol)
(1) small bottle ibuprofen (Advil)
(1) small bottle naproxen sodium (Aleve)
(1) small bottle antihistamine allergy medication
(2) bandanas 1 blue / 1 red
(1) pocket AM/FM radio uses 2 AA batteries
several pens
(1) steno pad
(1) change of underwear/socks/t-shirt
(12) decaffeinated tea bags
(4-6) pop tarts/granola bars, or similar quick food
(1) metal mug ("grannyware" type camp cup)
(1) set of tableware, knife, spoon, fork, and a "steak knife"
(1) hat and gloves
(2-3) cigarette lighters
(2-3) books of matches
(2) "space blankets"
This is far from what my co-coworkers carried in to work each day. I still
had room for my work papers, and such, which went in on the top, for ease of
access, and to keep my preparations from "prying eyes". I may not
have carried my sidearm at work, but the items in my pack would have raised
management's eyebrows, and gotten me a talking to, that's for sure. Luckily
for me, the company was shut down, and I am currently an unemployed student.
The only thing my co-workers knew was that if they had a headache or a cold,
I was the "go-to guy" for an aspirin! Or the guy with the multi-tool to fix
whatever is busted in the office! LOL!
On my person, I always carry at least the following, in normal pockets, or
on my belt:
(1) cigarette lighter
(1) multi-tool on my belt
(1) Swiss Army knife
(1) LED flashlight
(1) Wallet, which is regularly thinned out to keep only what I'm going to use
for the day/trip
(2) key rings, one for car keys one for house, general keys. Only frequently
used keys are on the ring.
(1) spare set of car keys in an undisclosed pocket or in my backpack, as well.
(1) cell phone
Mr. Haystack is so right that most folks simply give no "tactical" thought
to daily clothing choice. A few take the advice of frequent travelers and choose
natural fibers, and loose-fitting, comfortable clothes for air travel, but
many more simply wear the style of the day with no thought as to how hot that
artificial polyester shirt or top will burn if there is actually trouble.
How it clings to the skin like napalm, and burns severely. The problem with
air travel today, is that the items I mentioned carrying in my pockets are
now "prohibited items", and so every year, I fly less. At work, only
when I had to to keep my currency up for annual training. I'll take a mode
of transport that impacts my liberty and preparations a little less, thank
you. Great article! - R. in the Northeastern US.
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Letter Re: Essential Oils for Survival
Knowing that a survival situation will be most likely without medical help
- one of my first thoughts is - make sure I have some essential oils.
What are essential oils? Think herbs, with the important oils all "juiced" out
of them.
I first became interested in oils after learning that oils are mentioned in
the Bible quite frequently - both in the Old and New Testament. God had/has
a keen interest in them. Maybe I should too, I mused.
Lately, I've tried to stock up on my favorites, as they may become difficult
to buy in the future, as the economy weakens. If I had to pack my G.O.O.D. bag with oils, I would do them in this order:
1. Tea Tree Oil - an all around favorite for washing/sanitizing hands, applying
to cuts or wounds, and a general antibacterial, antifungal oil. Tea tree can
be obtained at Wal-Mart (a full 2 ounces--the big oil bottle,
for under $10 bottle. The price has gone up, just recently). Look in the vitamin
section.
2. If I had room for a second bottle, I would put in a concoction of several
oils to ward off/ deal with current typical illnesses (colds, flus, bronchial,
weak immune system, bleeding gums, etc).... It would consist of: thyme, oregano,
clove, eucalyptus oil. Some of these are harder to find than others, and the
price would be around $35 or so. You need to mix these (equal parts or so)
yourself. This can be applied directly to the chest and/or the bottom of the
feet. A few drops will do. Make sure you have a "dropper" style lid
under the cap.
3. A tie for second place bottle would be a "pain relief" bottle
- consisting of a blend I would make myself of peppermint, wintergreen, clove,
and cypress oils (go heavier on the peppermint and wintergreen). This should
be around $20. Peppermint has a heavy "fume" to it, and if it is
even near the eyes, it will feel like it's in your eyes - be careful (If you
do ever get oils in your eyes - any kind of vegetable oil helps bring it out
- not water). This is great for headaches, injuries (like a hurt knee or slight
sprain or backache), etc. Again, a couple drops will do. Have your dropper
style lid in place.
4. If there's still room in the bag, go for some Rosemary (under $5 for .5
oz). I've personally found Rosemary excellent at antifungal applications. A
survival situation may entail some tangles with athletes foot, toe/finger fungus
or ringworm, and the Rosemary (which can also be teamed with a little Tea Tree)
will almost always do the trick. Again, just one drop, using
the dropper lid.
I've found the key to essential oils is to use very little - maybe just one
drop, for your problem...but to do it constantly - like at least three times
a day. Conventional medicines don't require that kind of attention...but, who
can get a refill on prescription in the middle of the wilderness?
5. And, if you can, grab a bottle of Lavender oil. (Usually around $10).
The intense stress that we will all be under when times get really tough can
be relieved by a little lavender oil. It never ceases to amaze me how a drop
or two can relax and then - put to sleep! - myself and others - in anxious
circumstances.
People in the essential oil business argue which manufacturer is best. I'll
tell you my 2 cents and leave it up to you. Young Living is probably the most
expensive (purchased on the Internet), but they claim most of their oils can
also be ingested. That part is appealing. For oils that you can apply or use
in different ways, you may be happy with other brands. I've used Aura Cacia,
Thursday Plantation, and Sante with good results. They and others can be purchased
at health food stores.
There are many other varieties of essential oils that I could comment on, but
thought I would keep it to a few important ones.
I'm in the process of packing the family's G.O.O.D. bags. And I hope to not
leave home without the oils. Thanks for all you do, Jim. Take care, - Jean
L.
JWR Replies: Thanks for those suggestions. Here
is a good on-line reference on how to safely use essential oils.
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Letter Re: Some Disaster Preparedness Information for Asthmatics
Hi Mr. Rawles,
My son has asthma and I have had the unfortunate experience of not having power
when he needed a nebulizer treatment. Please inform you readers of the absolute
necessity of having power inverters and testing your needed appliances before
an emergency. Not knowing how sensitive a medical nebulizer is and knowing
that some equipment is sensitive to modified sine wave power from the cheaper
inverters was terrifying. Having the power out and an asthma attack at the
same time was bad enough.The prayer that I said when turning on our only
nebulizer plugged into a gizmo (my wife's word, not mine) that was attached
to a car running in the driveway with jumper cables was unique to say the
least.
Buy good inverters and test [them with your various electrical and electronic
equipment] before the
storm.
I now have several and we insist on our young drivers keeping their cars full
of gas.
My point in writing you was to inform your readers that everything in their
house can be ran in a emergency. Nebulizers are not very power hungry and can
be run with very inexpensive equipment. - GB
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Letter Re: Some Disaster Preparedness Information for Asthmatics
Dear JWR
I am fairly new to prepping but as a lifelong asthma patient I quickly realized
that I cannot depend solely on my current nebulizer WTSHTF.
This is because it plugs into a wall and does not have any other alternative
way to work when
the grid
goes down. When I did some research, however, I found a beautiful thing.
There are now handheld nebulizers that have both AC and
and DC car
adapter abilities as well as a rechargeable [gel cell] battery. They cost around
$200 or slightly
more but I can tell you that this is a bargain compared to dying of an asthma
attack because there was no power and the hospital is not an option for one
reason or another. For other people who will want to do this kind of prep for
themselves or family members with asthma a prescription is required for the
medicine and also the nebulizer.
The most common issue though is to acquire this unit, it seems to be on backorder
from most of the local places I have tried. So for preppers
I advise start the process now if you need one of these. I was just
told today by one company that they haven't yet received their order that was
placed in August .
Respectfully, - SKT
JWR Replies: This is a similar requirement than the CPAP machines
needed by some folks with sleep apnea. (This
has been discussed previously in SurvivalBlog,.,and elaborated on further
in a
subsequent letter about refrigeration for insulin.) Thankfully, most nebulizers
have fairly modest current requirements.
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Two Letters Re: A Vehicular BoB
Mr. Editor:
I have been a reader of this blog for a little while now and one of the earlier
postings I read caught my eye: In regards to a vehicle “bug out” kit.
That list was certainly a good place to start, but it was missing a few items,
so I thought I would put my “two cents” worth in.
To give you a little bit of background, I would describe myself as essentially
being a realist. I watch the news, I read the papers. I know what is going
on around me. I am aware of today’s political and economic climate, and
I understand what that does (and can) mean; not only for today but for tomorrow
as well. In my opinion preparation and knowledge are the keys to not only surviving,
but for nearly anything in life.
I have worked both white-collar and blue collar jobs. I have been a soldier
(an NCO – I
worked for a living), and I have been what I term a “survivalist” for
a little over a decade now. Along the way I have managed to learn some of the
lessons the easy way; reading books, talking to people, experimenting, and
practice, practice, practice. While other lessons were learned at the school
of “hard-knocks”; try sitting on the side of the road in the middle
of a blizzard for six hours on Christmas Day with three children praying for
someone else to come along to help (I’m not kidding about that one) – all
because you thought “it could never happen to you”. I am an active
outdoorsman; camping, fishing, hiking, small game, etc. To date I have been
lucky enough to live through them all. Sometimes with a few bumps and scrapes
along the way, and sometimes with little more
than a bruised ego; but I have survived nonetheless. Not surprisingly on my
journey I have picked up a few things: “must have” items, advice,
knowledge, and most of all experience.
As for geography I have lived in the cold and wet of Washington state; the
extreme cold of Colorado; the hot and dry of West Texas; and now the hot, wet
and hurricane-prone area of East Texas; and this list contains items that have
literally saved my life on more than one occasion, while making crisis situations
a whole lot easier to deal with in others.
While I am not going to lay claim at being an expert on the subject of survival
or preparations; I have seen a done things that may genuinely surprise some
people (while possibly boring others) and could probably go on for hours on
end; but that is not my point here today. I now possess [what I feel] is enough
knowledge that I can speak with at least some authority. My point in this
is to allow others to learn from
my own mistakes
in the hopes that they don’t find themselves forced to repeat the same
errors that I have made. Learn from others – that is the point in all
of this.
As I write this I am proud to say that none of my vehicles are ever without
the bare essentials. In my opinion it is one of the things that everyone should
do, survivalist or not. I rank properly equipping my vehicles right up there
with having them registered, insured, and inspected, to me it is simply a necessity,
a requirement. In an attempt to make sense of this I broken the lists down
into four basic areas:
Vehicle Supplies
Personal Supplies
Glove-Box Miscellaneous (loose throughout the vehicle)
General Miscellaneous
While there is some repetition between the 4 areas, this is done so for a reason – it
is always a good idea to have a backup.
1. Vehicle supplies (most will fit in a small “duffle” or reasonably
sized “tool bag”, kept in trunk, cargo area, or under the seat)
Jumper Cables (get the good ones)
Tow Rope (at least 1)
2 cans of “fix-a-flat”
Air compressor (cigarette lighter plug in)
Roll of Duct Tape (if you can’t fix it, duck it)
100ft of parachute cord (550 cord)
X style lug-wrench (more torque, safer, and more versatile than the ones that
come with cars today)
2 1⁄2 ton bottle jack (again safer, and more versatile than the ones
that come with cars today)
Roadside Flares (3 minimum)
Hand-held spotlight, plug in type is fine
Electrical Kit with:
Spare Fuses – vehicle specific
Spare Bulbs – vehicle specific
Small roll of Red Wire (14-16 GA)
Small roll of Green Wire (14-16 GA)
Small Assortment of Butt Splices
Circuit tester (Screwdriver type)
Electrical tape
Spare belts – vehicle specific
Spare hoses – vehicle specific
Spare thermostat – vehicle specific
Assortment of hose clamps, at least two large enough for your coolant hoses
Flashlight (2 minimum – generator type are best, LED Generator types
are better)
Spare batteries – 1 set for each flashlight in the vehicle (if needed)
Tarp (8 x 10’ is usually sufficient)
Hand Tools:
Screwdrivers (4 minimum, 2 standard 2 Phillips-head)
Crescent Wrenches (2 minimum, 6” and 12”)
Slip-Joint Pliers
Needle-Nose Pliers
Wire Cutters
Channel-Locks (12”)
Socket set (basics only, 3/8” drive, SAE and Metric)
Combination Wrench set ((basics only, SAE and Metric)
Allen Wrench set
Small Hammer
Hatchet (axe)
Folding Shovel
Plastic Trash bags (2 minimum)
Coffee Can full of Cat litter (with lid)
Basic First Aid Kit, with the following additions:
Aspirin
Tylenol
Motrin
Antacid Tablets
Water purification tablets
Small tube of Neosporin
Additional alcohol pads
Additional band-aids (common sizes)
Cravat
Razor blade
Matches
Can of Sterno (large)
Wire coat hanger
Roll of bailing wire
Box of matches (at least 1 box)
Cigarette lighter (disposable, spend the buck and a half and get the Bic brand,
you can’t beat them)
Water bottle
Pen(s)
Small notepad
A small stash of cash ($50 to $100)
Spare compass
Rain poncho – 2
Emergency Blanket (foil type) – 2
Candles – 6
Sunscreen
Basic Fishing kit:
Hooks
Sinkers
Fishing Line
Bobbers
2. Personal Supplies (with a little patience and forethought, this will all
fit inside of and/or attached to a medium sized book-bag, i.e. backpack)
Basic First Aid Kit – duplicate of the aforementioned kit
1 pair of socks
Flannel shirt
Windbreaker
Baseball cap
Multi-tool
“Swiss Army” knife
Fixed blade knife
Basic Camping Mess Kit
Travel Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Toilet paper
Tissues
Sunscreen
Flashlights (2 minimum)
Compass
50 ft of parachute cord (550 cord)
Can of Sterno (small)
SPAM – 1 can
Tuna fish – 1 can
Rice – 1⁄2 lb
Lintels – 1⁄2 lb
“Gorp” (Trail mix) – 1⁄2 lb
Packet of powdered Gatorade
Zip-lock bag with:
Sugar packets
Salt Packets
35mm film canisters full of All-spice
Tea bags
Bullion Cubes
Vitamin Pills
Energy bars (3 minimum)
P-38 can opener
Rain poncho
Poncho Liner
Tarp – 5 x 8” is usually sufficient
Candles – 3
Matches
Cigarette lighter
Emergency blanket (Mylar foil type) – 2
Signaling mirror
Basic Fishing kit:
Hooks
Sinkers
Fishing Line
Bobbers
Small Hikers Trowel
Plastic trash bag (2 minimum)
A small stash of cash ($40 to $50) [JWR Adds: I recommend that be
in rolls of Quarters, so you can also use pay phones.]
Water purification tablets
Canteen
Canteen cup
Web Belt
3. Glove-Box Miscellaneous (kept loose in the glove box, in the vehicles console,
or in door pockets)
Package of Tissues
Cigarette Lighter
Small Multi-tool
“Button” or other small compass
Map of local city you are in, and the state(s) you are traveling – or
expect to travel.
Small tube with a mix of aspirin, Motrin, and Tylenol.
Pen(s)
Small notepad
A small, durable pocket-knife
Small Flashlight
One $20 bill
4. General Miscellaneous
Fuel can – store empty; you never know when you will run out of fuel
two miles form the nearest gas station. If you are evacuating, fill up as you
leave – this will reduce your risk of fumes/explosion.
One gallon of potable water
1 Qt Engine Oil (minimum)
1 Qt Transmission Fluid (minimum)
1 Pt Power Steering Fluid (minimum)
Assortment of “bungee” cords
Now I am sure that I have probably missed a few items here, but this list is
fairly comprehensive. Please feel free to add items to it – I am always
eager to learn more.
If you look through it, you should be able to think of one (and most of the
time multiple) uses for each and every item on this list. With this setup you
basically have what you need whether you are accompanied or alone and whether
you stay with the vehicle, leave the vehicle, or are for some reason forced
to separate your party (never a good idea – remember there is always
strength in numbers). But you get the point.
In colder climates, add more food, and more warmth items (sleeping bag, snow
boots, candles, or a heavy coat?). In warmer climates add more fluids and more
shade (bottled water, additional hats, or maybe an umbrella?).
On to the next topic – How much does all of this cost? Well that can
vary widely. Many of these items can be had at the local dollar store, while
other may take a little bit of searching. Check Wal-Mart, your local Military
surplus dealer, the flea markets, and pawn shops. You might be surprised just
how far you can make your dollars go. Plus don’t try to do it all in
one shopping trip – you will just frustrate yourself. Keep your eyes
open when you are at the grocery store or out doing your normal shopping; pick
up a few items here and there, and just slowly equip your vehicle. Within a
month or two you will suddenly find your vehicle is much better equipped than
it ever was before.
As to the vehicle preparation mentioned in the earlier post, this is all good
advice. But again I would add to it. Create yourself a short checklist of items
that you check weekly and monthly. Follow the owners manual that came with
the vehicle, they tend to be fairly comprehensive.
Some tricks I have learned include:
Remember to check the air pressure in your spare tire regularly. A spare doesn’t
do any good if it is flat too.
Don’t forget to check the brake fluid, power steering fluid, and windshield
washer fluid too, these are often over looked.
Never, ever overfill any of your vehicle’s fluids.
Keep all of your lights clean, headlights, brake lights etc. The better they
work, the better you see, and are seen.
Whenever adding accessories to your vehicle: make additions that work, and
that matter before you worry about “pretty”. Think of it this way
- which is more important (and useful) on a full-size truck – a good
trailer hitch, or a pair of fancy mud flaps? You get my point.
When adding electrical accessories, always use the next heavier gauge wire,
it will handle to load better, last longer, and prevent not only short circuits,
but fires as well.
A good CB is
always a wise investment, but make
sure that it is installed properly.
Engine and Transmission oil cooler can extend the life of your vehicle – and
mean the difference between getting there and getting stuck – especially
in hot weather and heavy traffic. They are definitely worth the money.
Own a truck, van or SUV? Look into an oversized fuel tank and/or a spare fuel
tank with a transfer pump. It may be expensive, but it will pay for itself
over time; between having the ability to fuel up for a cheaper price per gallon,
combined with the extended range the vehicle will now have – it is definitely
worth at least considering.
Consider installing an aftermarket, oversized fuel filter. Cleaner fuel means
longer engine life. Plus some of the newer vehicles don’t even have an
inline fuel filter – they are mounted inside the tank itself. Who was
the genius that came up with this gem anyway?
If your vehicle doesn’t have them, install tow hooks both front and rear.
They do not have to be conspicuous, but they need to be there.
Don’t skimp on wiper blades, buy the good ones and replace them often.
If you can’t see, you can’t drive.
Keep the engine bay clean – it makes finding a leak a whole lot easier,
and makes life a whole lot more pleasant when making repairs.
It also it isn’t a bad idea to add seasonal items to your kits. For example
if you live in area prone to snow, you should probably have a set of tire chains/cables
with you in the colder months, but then why would you want to carry them in
July?
Lastly a few words of advice:
First: know how to use everything you put in your kit. Practice with it before
you put it in the vehicle – few tools are as dangerous as the ones in
the hands of the uninformed.
Second: check your local laws on exactly what is considered a weapon,
and what is considered concealed. You may want to think twice before you run
out and buy that shiny Rambo knife with the 12 inch blade and have it strapped
to the outside of your back pack sitting under your seat.
Third: in regards to knives, multi-tools, hand tools and the like – you
generally get what you pay for. That cheap knife at the flea market is normally
just that – cheap. It may be better than nothing at all, and the truth
is that if that is all you can afford – then fine. But understand that
up front.
Fourth: when choosing the storage bags to put these items in – think
about the size, shape, and color of the bag you buy. There is not a right or
wrong here, get what fits your situation. And think about the straps. There
may be a situation where you find yourself forced to carry these bags, so good
shoulder strap are important. And just as with knives and hand tools – you
generally get what you pay for.
Lastly, a word about any and all foodstuffs you keep in your kit: remember
that all food expires sooner or later – a even water can only sit for
so long before it is no longer fit to consume. Trust me when I tell you that
yes, even SPAM can and will go bad with time (you really, really don’t
want to know how I know that). So rotate your foodstuffs regularly.
The long and the short of it is that some sort of vehicle kit really should
be in each and every car, truck, SUV, or van on the road. With a little bit
of thought and not a whole lot of money we can all prepare ourselves better.
No traveler should be without what they consider to be the basics. - David
H. in Southeast Texas
[JWR Adds: Thanks for those great lists! The only additions
that I'd make to your lists are a fire extinguisher, and depending on whether
off-road travel is anticipated, more robust pioneer tools. These should include
an ax,
pick,
shovel,
and if space permits, a Hi-Lift jack.]
Jim,
Hugh D. sent in a good letter about using his trailer as a large bug-out kit.
The concept isn't bad (as long as he's on the road and off again before the
masses figure out something is wrong) but then he said this:
"This has been overcome with careful planning on our part. First, we have
mapped out likely hide spots for ourselves and the trailer – mostly campgrounds
on National Forest lands," and then regarding some cabins near the campground, "...we
can move into a nice, if rustic, survival retreat."
No offense, but I wouldn't exactly consider this careful planning. If Hugh
doesn't think that for every marked camping site in America there aren't 100
guys (who also own guns) already thinking about that same site, he's crazy.
Worse, he has no claim of "right" when it comes to those cabins.
He is no more entitled to a cabin there than the next guy that comes along
and wants to evict him and take it for himself. Furthermore, he's got kids
in diapers (I do too) - he isn't going to be able to defend both his family
and his "stuff" in a public campground whose location is published
on every map and travel guide in America.
I'd suggest that Hugh reconsider his plans. The trailer is good but find somewhere
else to go. As an example, I live in the Dallas area and have friends who own
a ranch about three hours away in central Texas and can be reached using a
number of combinations of country roads and state highways. It's on 500 hilly
acres twenty miles from the closest town, whose population is a couple thousand
people. You can't see a single building on the ranch from the state highway
- you have to drive a winding county dirt road a few miles to get to the houses
and barns. My friends who own the ranch think I'm nuts (they aren't survivalists
by any means, but retired city folk who wanted to run a peach orchard in retirement).
Nonetheless, they have agreed that if I need to get out of town I can come
down there with no prior notice. - Matt R.
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Letter Re: Comments on Two of the Three Bs: Bullets and Band-Aids
Greetings Jim,
With [the] November 4th [US presidential and congressional election] behind
us, many of us are wondering how to proceed with our preps. With regard to
the
bullets
in
the "Three
B's" consider
this; your firearm will function with one magazine, most with even no magazine,
but
they all require ammunition. As a prep (as opposed to investment), I put forth
that a good supply of ammunition is a higher priority than spare magazines,
after purchasing the firearm, of course! In selecting a firearms battery, ammunition
availability is a common selection criteria. You should own firearms that ammunition
can be purchased readily at any country store in the middle of nowhere. Good
choices are .308,.223, .30-06, 12 gauge, 9mm, .45 ACP,
.40 S&W,
.22 LR,
and possibly 7.62x39. A post-November 4th trip to our local Wal-Mart found
them cleaned
out of the Federal brand 100 round white boxes of both .223 and 9mm.
Esoteric calibers
should play only a limited role in the defensive battery and be supported by
more
common calibers. A couple of notable exceptions are .50 BMG,
and .338 Lapua Magnum. These calibers are in limited use by various military
units for very-long range
engagement of medium and hard targets. If you own weapons chambered in these
cartridges then be sure to obtain a large supply ASAP. These
weapons can be very useful for special purposes, and typically represent large
financial
investments,
but are useless without ammunition. If ammunition is hard to find now, it will
only be more difficult and expensive later. From that point consider purchasing
a quantity of ammunition, in each caliber, that you maintain a commitment to not to
use any of it.
It's reasonable to start with calibers that you or your group
have the most firearms
for, and work down from there. After reserves in each caliber
are built up, purchase ammunition for training, target practice, or barter,
using the same (most guns to least guns) philosophy. Some people may choose
to start with rifle ammunition and work towards pistol ammo. As my favorite
Front Sight instructor says, "Your pistol is only to fight your
way to a rifle!" A thousand rounds in backstock, of each caliber,
is a good place to start (case lots are psychologically harder for me to break
open). One needs
only to hear of the purported attempt to ban imports of 7.62x39, or the ammunition "registration" bill
being pushed in Arizona to realize that there are many magazines, etc. available
on the market, but ammunition is a one-time use product. Bans, taxes, or "registration" of
loaded ammunition, or components would eventually make gun control a moot
point! So stock up now.
With regard to the band-aids in the "Three B's", on another blog
I happened onto a discussion of first aid kit components. The pre-hospital
care
giver was advocating obtaining all sorts of advanced tools like IV fluid
and
sutures. As Josh (hat-tip to my fellow Montanan) pointed in an earlier SurvivalBlog
letter ,there are many training, and medical-legal issues with having/using
this
type of equipment. And as many sources like Ragnar Benson, and Where There
is
No Doctor point out, these interventions have only a limited role in all
but a full of TEOTWAWKI
situation. One excellent product that everyone should
have
in their medical bag that requires no prescription or specific training is a
hemostatic agent like Quickclot. Here
is a YouTube link
to the military report on Quickclot (one specific brand, there are other
good ones also) should demonstrate it's effectiveness. The 6th edition of the
NAEMT's Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) textbook identifies
hemostatic agents
as most useful in a "delayed transport" scenario, that is, typically
greater than one hour to definitive medical care, like what you would find in
a wilderness or"grid down" type emergency.
Having the equipment without the proficient skill in its use is exactly like
having a firearm in the nightstand and thinking you are good to go. Here are
some ideas on medical training in addition to the WRSA,
and Medical Corps suggestions
that you've made. Start out with an American Heart Association (AHA) CPR Healthcare
Provider class (Healthcare Provider is the prerequisite for most other training,
and
much more detailed than the AHA's
Friends and Family CPR class.) The AHA offers other
basic medical training as well. Many community colleges offer excellent Emergency
Medical Technician (EMT) classes, they last about one semester, and may equal
up to four college credits). If you are currently enrolled in college this
is
a great class that offers
immediate job opportunities with varied schedules, and may expose you to a
career track
that you hadn't considered. Many volunteer fire and ambulance services provide
this same training for free with a time commitment to the service after course
completion.
Wilderness Medical Associates, and NOLS offer
a variety of non-urban setting EMS classes.
One of the best educational opportunities that is often overlooked is the National
Ski Patrol's Outdoor Emergency Care Technician program.
It closely mirrors the EMT curriculum
but emphasizes care in the outdoor setting, and improvisation. Think about
this; take the class, learn important skills,
and then ski for free! Lastly, as Ragnar Benson points out in some of his books,
even doctors use reference materials. In addition to the well known titles
like Emergency
War Surgery,
and Where There is No Doctor, some people may consider purchasing
EMT, Paramedic, or the OEC textbook. Gray's Anatomy or other texts
on anatomy/physiology, and pathophysiology are also important references .
The key is not just to have
the texts, but to learn them as well. Some people may try a self-study program
of
these resources. This last route is the least desirable, because so many skills
like assessment, splinting, etc. require significant practice and experience.
As a side note, the first aid kit in your latest auction from Cajun
Safety and Survival certainly seems
to be well equipped to deal with a variety of emergencies.
Thanks for all you do. Keep up the great work. - J. in Montana (A 10
Cent Challenge subscriber)
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Letter Re: A Suggested Checklist for Preparedness Newbies
Here's a beginner's list I made for my [elderly] father today:
Food
{Brown pearl] rice does not store well. Neither does cooking oil so that needs to be fresh.
No, Crisco doesn't count.
Coconut oil would be your best bet.
Wheat berries - 400 pounds - bulk order at your local health food store
Beans - 400 pounds - bulk order at your local health food store
Mylar bags
Spices
Salt
Country Living grain mill
propane tanks, small stove and hoses to connect
freeze dried fruits, vegetables, eggs and meat if you can find them.
Water
500 gallons
of water [storage capacity. Rainwater catchment is a common practice
in Hawaii]
Water filter
Cooking
Cast Iron Cookware
Firearms
FN PS 90
10 PS 90 magazines
5.7 handgun
10 FN 5.7 handgun magazines
5.7 ammo
Training: Front Sight four day defensive
handgun course. (Note: eBay sometimes has
course certificates for $100!)
Body armor: Nick at BulletProofME.com
Medical
Personal medications
Augmentin antibiotic
Up to date dental work
Painkillers
Bandages
Iodine
Anti-fungal spray
Finances
$10,000 cash in small bills
100 one-ounce silver coins (GoldDealer.com or Tulving.com)
Transport
Gasoline in 5 gallon cans or better yet, this.
Gas stabilizer
Mountain bikes
Air pump
Miscellany
Flashlights
Rechargeable Batteries
Battery
charger
Hand held walkie talkies
Topographical map of your area
Spare eyeglasses
Shortwave radio
Home generated power
12 volt battery system
Good backpack
Good knife
Good compass
Good shoes
Bar soap
Toothbrushes
Dental floss
Toilet paper
Fishing kit
Salt licks
Connibear traps
Regards, - SF in Hawaii
JWR Adds: The following is based on the assumption that SF's
father also lives in Hawaii: Because of the 10 round magazine limit for handguns,
I recommend that Hawaiians purchase only large
bore
handguns for self defense--such
as .45
ACP.
Both the
Springfield
Armory XD .45 Compact or the Glock Model 30 would both be good choices. The "high
capacity" advantage of smaller caliber
handguns
is not available to civilians in Hawaii, so you might as well get a more potent
man stopper, given the arbitrary 10 round limitation.
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Letter Re: 11th Hour Preparations: It is Not Too Late to Start
Jim:
It is not too late to prepare for the hard times that are coming. But
time is short, so I am going to be brutally blunt. Prices are going up. If
you don’t
already expect double digit inflation, you haven’t been paying attention.
If you are just realizing that you need to prepare for the future, forget buying
barter goods. Forget precious metals to swap for what others may be willing
to sell.
The idea of buying things so that you can swap them for other goods or services
later is bad policy. That’s right. I’m advocating that you buy
no precious metals and no barter goods. Instead- you need to prioritize purchases
of things that you need right now. Sitting on a pile of sewing needles, can
openers, or thousands of dollars of face value in gold or silver is not going
to stop you from starving to death, freezing to death, or dying gasping in
your own fluids.
This is not a slam on Mr. Rawles' excellent advice to invest in tangibles.
It is not even a criticism of his recent post on barter items to acquire, or
of
his advice to invest in precious metals. JWR is a voice of reason in a world
gone mad. This letter is a reminder that all those things are good advice only
after you have squared away your personal needs. Only after you have
duplicate sources of potable water, shelter, a substantial food supply, a deep
medicine
chest, and ample supplies of sturdy clothing and footwear should you invest
in barter goods or precious metals.
Here are your priorities:
You need breathable air to live. Most of us expect that to be available for
free. Your next priority for sustaining life is shelter from extreme elements
(your home and a way to heat it during winter), then potable water. Let me
make this explicitly clear. Unless you have clean water to drink, you will
die in a matter of days. It is not the government’s job to make sure
that you stay alive. It is your responsibility to care for yourself and your
dependants. You are responsible to ensure that you have access
to clean drinking water or a method to filter, boil, or collect it. If you
have no method to
do so, go get one. At the very least, plan on a way to boil water over an outside
fire.
After air, shelter, and water – you need food. Come what may, you and
those who you love will need to eat. Buy food. The cheapest food that you can
get will keep you alive, but my advice is to buy extra of what you already
eat. Oatmeal, grits, rice, pasta and potatoes are all relatively affordable
and life sustaining. Potatoes will store for months. The others will store
for years if properly packaged. Yes these alone would make a very bland diet.
Use them to stretch your regular grocery meals while the other supplies last.
What next? Get over-the-counter medicines. Diarrhea will kill you. The stomach
flu will kill you. Pneumonia will kill you. Allergic reactions will kill you.
There may not be any 911 to send help. There may not be an emergency room to
flee to as a last resort. There may not be a pharmacy with inventory to sell
at 3 a.m.. Buy vital medicines now. Look in your medicine cabinet. If you do
not have the medicines to treat an allergic reaction, stomach flu, and a chest
cold; go buy them today. $10 spent on medicine could save
your child’s
life. It won’t if you can’t give it to them. Go buy it before you
go to sleep tonight.
If you can avoid getting sick that’s even better than treating illness.
Hygiene is critical to health. Buy toilet paper and tissues. You will need
them, why don’t you already have them?
You should have sturdy warm clothes and footwear for each member of your family.
And yes, you should also have a means of defense and forage. A simple shotgun
and shells for it will let you defend your doorway and harvest birds and bunnies
if need be. If you are contemplating buying your first firearm then I strongly
recommend that you take an NRA-sponsored firearms safety course as soon as
possible. Firearms are a vital tool, but whether you ever
need to defend you home, you
will need to drink, sleep in a dry place, eat, and stay healthy. God has given
you the resources and wisdom to prepare, the rest is up to you. Now pray for
wisdom and go take action. - Mr. Yankee.
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Letter Re: Impressions of Medical Corps Training
Dear Mr. Rawles:
Thanks for a wonderful book and blog site. They are very, very helpful. I also
wanted to thank you for a posting I saw last spring on your web site about
the Medical Corps class
led by Chuck Fenwick, called Field Medicine in a Hostile Environment. Because
of that posting, I took Chuck's course in Ohio in May and found it to be
invaluable. I couldn't believe all the techniques and information imparted
in such a short period of time. Although not on the curriculum, when I asked
if he'd show us how to give injections, he added that to the curriculum.
Chuck is extremely knowledgeable and you know he's experienced it all. His
workshop was life-changing for me and the 40 + attendees. I feel like I'm
ready to be of assistance to anyone who may experience injuries of almost
any sort. I can imagine nothing worse than seeing a loved one hurt and not
know what to do to help them. Now I've got peace of mind in that area thanks
to you and Chuck.
The reason I'm writing today is because I've noticed he's
bringing his class to Texas, just outside the Austin area, in December.
This may be the last time this course may be offered if TSHTF soon,
and I think that if many Texans knew about the class, they'd be forever grateful.
There are a lot of us down here in this great state who feel that readiness
for the schumer is very important. I recommend this class to anyone and everyone.
No one can afford not to have these skills.
Thanks again, Mr. Rawles, for letting your readers know about this life-changing
and life-enhancing workshop. Blessings, - Mary C
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A Girl Scout Troop Leader Wants to Get Her Girls Prepared
We recently got an e-mail from a Girl Scout troop leader, describing how
she wants to start a project making 72-hour "bug out" bags for the troop members.
Her goal is to get her troop members better prepared, yet not tip-off their
parents
to her own level of preparedness. She wants to avoid making herself look like
some sort of "preparedness nut" or "whacko".
The important
thing to keep in mind is that terminology and phrasing are
crucial to how people form opinions. Do not use terms such as "Bug Out
Bag" or "Get
Out of Dodge Kit" or "Survival
Kit." It is much better to use the
term Disaster Preparedness Kit, or even better yet to phrase the title
to match the locally expected disaster. (Such as "Earthquake preparedness kit"
or "Hurricane preparedness kit". You get the idea....Our scouting friends in
California
made
earthquake kits for their cars which they keep in a large Tupperware bin in
the trunk. They contain bottled water, canned tuna, a can opener, granola bars,
space blankets, knit hats, matches, and so forth. Suggested packing lists
are available
in PDF from the FEMA web site.
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Five Letters Re: Preparedness Advice for the Parents of a Newborn Infant
Dear Memsahib:
I'd like to suggest exploring the Wear
Your Baby site There are free directions for making your own baby wearing
wraps and free
videos demonstrating different wrapping/carrying styles. The free printable
items have good clear photographs to help in choosing the right fabric for
the job. Now that slings have become poplar and trendy the prices have become
rather
expensive. There is nothing like spending $30+ dollars to find that baby doesn't
like that carrying style or is wrong for momma's back. I'd rather buy fabric
and try different styles (more comfy). If it is a total washout at least the
fabric can be used for other projects. Another benefit is the cost is low enough
a spare can be handy for those oops that come with babies. HTH, - Stephanie
in Arkansas
Jim:
These folks may want to find a way to store and dose antibiotics. Kids develop
infections of all kinds from strep to severe ear infections. In a post-collapse
environment this may be very hazardous health wise. Buying clothes that are
several sizes bigger for the child to grow into is another thought. - Scott S.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Rawles,
I love your site. I have been reading for a few months now and hope to get
my act http://www.alertpay.com/together here. I am slowly but surely getting
prepared (my Dear Husband thinks I am crazy, but I tell him he will thank
me one day.) I am starting
a homemaker's preparedness section on my site. You know, what if you have
no washer, have to make your own laundry detergent, cleaning supplies. That
kind of thing. So this was right up my alley :)
I have two Babies and I can offer this advice.
1. Lots of pure water for Mom who is nursing. I have a water filter pitcher
that I got on sale and am saving for an emergency.
2. The Nojo Sling is great for Mom who has to nurse/keep baby quiet/put baby
to sleep on the go or in emergency situation. [JWR Adds: The Nojo brand slings
are quite expensive if bought new. But if you shop around, they can be found
in "gently used" condition on eBay or even Craig's
List.] They can double
as blankets and changing pads.
3. Lansinoh Lanolin cream is food rated and is not only good for Mom, but cures
diaper rash and chapped skin.
4. Acidophilus will stop some diarrheas. Garlic
for a natural antibiotic (honey to make it go down for Mom but of course no
honey for Baby.
Baby will get garlic in breast milk), ascorbic acid (buffered Vitamin C) to
cure just about everything.
5. Coconut oil. Not only can you cook with it, you can use it to moisturize
sensitive baby skin, it is a natural sun screen, has anti bacterial and anti
viral properties, works on diaper rash and can help keep away bugs.
6. Bulb syringes. I just got two at Walgreen's [pharmacy store] for about $2
each. They suction noses and [can be used very cautiously to] clean ears. Invaluable
for
when baby is stuffy and can't nurse.
7. Saline nose drops for same thing. I am "thinking" correct me if
I am wrong, that these could double to clean out wounds.
8. Cloth diapers. I don't use them, but have some to use as light weight blankets,
wipe up clothes and for putting in the crook of your arm when you nurses so
baby's face doesn't stick to your arm.
9. Boppy [style sling baby carriers]. Great for nursing anywhere.
(The "Breast Friend" works well for on the go because you can strap it on and
walk if you have to,
otherwise
use
sling)
and
can support baby upward if baby is sick and can help baby sleep.
10. Oatmeal. Great nutrition, easily transported and stored, good for both
Mom and Baby to eat and increases breast milk production
11. Dr. Bronner's soaps are
great, multipurpose soaps the whole family can use. I use the Peppermint to
clean (it deters pests) and brush teeth, wash baby
with Baby soap. Can also use to clean dishes, as a shampoo and to wash clothes.
[JWR
Adds: I have used a 4 ounce squeeze bottle of Dr.
Bronner's Peppermint Castile Soap for many years, mostly on backpacking
trips. A little bit goes a long way!]
12. Rubbing alcohol to cheaply and effectively disinfect everything.
Hope any
of this helps. I tried to think in terms of compact and multipurpose. We
are in a crowded town, in a small apartment and I am doing what I can and asking
God
to help
me (and trusting him) with the rest. Keep up the good work! Many Blessings
- Ace
Jim and Memsahib:
As a mother of 13 children, I am very familiar with prepping
for newborns, toddlers, children and teens :-).
Our children range in age from 19 years old to 10 months old, (and one on the
way)
Here is what I have stocked up on for the little ones:
==Acetaminophen suppositories (I buy the baby, junior and adult doses).
They are wonderful for when a fussy baby or child will not swallow medicine.
A real life saver that has helped me keep my sanity.
==Children's Motrin and Tylenol liquid. When my babies reached 20 pounds, my
doctor said that they could receive a 3/4 dose of liquid Children's Motrin
if the fever was not coming down. I recently had to do this and thank goodness
it worked! Keep plenty of both liquids on hand..it goes fast.
==Pacifiers. If your child likes a pacifier, you don't want to be without one
in the middle of the night or during an emergency. I once had a child scream
for seven hours until I gave in and went to the store. I have gotten smarter
with age and now I have stocked up (I have several dozen in my storage).
==Bottle Liners, extra Nipples, extra holders. If you use a bottle for breast
milk or formula, you'll need these. You can never have to many. Any baby items
are good for barter.
==Humidifiers. I always have at least 6 new humidifiers in storage. A baby
can be miserable with a cold.
==Baby Food. I try to give the baby what we are eating..but if we are on the
road or are eating something the baby probably can't handle (chili, etc), I
whip out the baby food. I keep a years worth on hand.
==Suppositories (Glycerin). Babies do get constipated on occasion. I also keep "Baby
Lax" on hand (a liquid).
==Pedialyte [oral rehydration solution]. A must! Keep plenty
of it on hand. It could be a life saving item!
==Extra blankets, crib sheets, etc.
==Baby shampoo. I prefer not to use adult shampoo on the younger children as
it will eventually get in their eyes and they'll pitch a fit that'll raise
the hair on a bald man.
==Toothbrushes and special Toothpaste (non-fluoride as they will swallow it!)
I have them for the babies as soon as they get their first tooth. I get extra
for all age groups.
==Next size up in clothing. They grow fast! Thank goodness we have hand me
downs as all my children (except one) are boys!
==Books. Babies love books. Get them now as you'll be surprised at how young
an age they will enjoy listening to you read!
==Toys. Age appropriate toys. The more simple, the better (blocks are a favorite
around here).
I'm sure I have more items I could add to this list as we follow the "Alpha
Strategy"...but it's time to make lunch.
God bless all of you! You are an inspiration! In God's Love, - Walt and Wendy,
and our 12 (soon to be 13) blessings from God
Folks,
First, for those who have children, blessings.
Second, in addition to diapers, do not forget more blankets, bedding, a good
crib and a safely portable car set/trailer system / transport system depending
on your transportation options.
Stock up on supplies for milk, baby food and Pedialyte. (Gatorade is
not for small children). Contact your medical provider about
infant medical supplies, study and train up for infant CPR. What ever supplies
you have on
hand, add to them and remember rotate, rotate rotate. Formula is not cheap,
and does not have a long shelf life. As to diapers, well that is up to you
to choose, but A supply of disposables and cotton washables would be a good
idea. The disposables are not cheap.
Adult health products are not for children, including pain relievers and the
like, so please consult your pediatrician and your pharmacist. Also review
your home for hazards, like exposed electrical sockets and the like. - TFB
JWR Adds: As mentioned before in SurvivalBlog, there are
recipes
available for make-it-yourself Oral Rehydration Solution. (ORS). Be
sure to
print
out
a hard
copy for your
file. It could be a lifesaver!
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Letter Re: Preparedness Advice for the Parents of a Newborn Infant
Mr. & Mrs. Rawles,
I hope you and the family are doing well. I have been reading your
blog for over a year now and it has been quite helpful. We are making our way
slowly in our preps but now I have a new issue. My wife has blessed our home
with a child. We had been trying for 12 years with no luck, I guess God decided
it was time! My daughter is now two weeks old and with all the excitement
I hadn't put any thought into preps for a new born. Maybe the Memsahib could
give me some direction. Thanks so much for what you do! Also I'm a 10 cent
challenge subscriber and it's time for me to renew. I'll be getting that
done soon! - Jason in Missouri
The Memsahib Replies: Congratulations! The most important
thing is that your wife breast feeds your baby! I hope that she is doing so.
The first week or so is the hardest.
If she is having
difficulties do let her know it will get better. The La
Leche League is
the best resource for help with breast feeding difficulties.
If you hope God will bless you with more babies, you ought to be prepared!
You can order home birth childbirth kits from a number of vendors in
the US,
and in the UK.
Your biggest concern will be diapers. Depending on circumstances (availability
of spring or well water and grid, generator, or photovoltaic power to run a
washing machine) you will have to decide between cloth diapers or disposable
diapers.
When I nursed my newborns, I often changed diapers more than 10 times per
day, to prevent diaper rash! (My family has fair, sensitive skin.) Untreated,
diaper
rash can lead to serious infections. Proper
hygiene
is crucial.) Choose you diapering method and then stock
up,
in quantity!
The very most useful items in my experience are:
For childbirth:
Sterilized cord clamp
Betadine solution
A bulb syringe
Bed liners (like those made for the disabled, available at medical supply
houses)
For your newborn:
Plan on breast feeding, but as a back up consider stocking up on canned infant
formula
Lanolin cream for your nursing wife
Petroleum jelly ad zinc ointment as diaper rash preventatives
Diapers and diaper covers,
Multiple"onesees", sleepers, or saque gowns would be a real blessing.
They can be found at yard sales for maybe 25 cents per outfit.or less if you
don't
care
about stains. As you have already discovered babies spit up a lot and diapers
leak. In a post-TEOTWAWKI world, when washing and drying baby clothes won't
be so easy, then having multiple changes in every size would make
daily life easier.
I also would never be without a front pack infant carrier.
I'd appreciate other SurvivalBlog readers chiming in (via e-mail)
with childbirth and infant care suggestions, including recommend brand names
of useful products.
I should also mention that I highly recommend the childbirth book
"Heart and Hands". And, although not from a
Christian perspective (It has Hippie/Flower Child perspective!), the
book "Spiritual
Midwifery" presents
childbirth as a natural process--not
just as a medical
condition.
« Odds 'n Sods: |Main| Observations on a Life on the Gulf Coast During the Hurricane Season »
Letter Re: Some Thoughts on Practical Preparedness -- Things That Work
Jim:
To follow-up on the last two e-mails that you posted from me, here are some
random thoughts that I'd like to share on preparedness for when the Schumer
Hits
the Fan
(WTSHTF):
Use an eyeglasses "leash" (lanyard) to prevent the loss of glasses and reduce
the risk of damage.
Buy janitorial-size rolls os toilet paper, without perforations. Each roll
is 1,000 feet long, and a box of 12 rolls measures about two feet square.
These take up just a fraction of the room required to store the same length
of toilet paper in standard household rolls.
Use a kiddie-type pool to collect water from rainwater downspouts. The pools
with hard-plastic sides and vinyl bottoms are fairly durable. A six foot diameter
pool that is 15 inches deep holds 211 gallons of water.
Light-emitting diode (LED) lights are superior to traditional [filament] bulb
designs. They last much longer and are much more resistant to impact. When
used LEDs, batteries last much longer. LED headlights are close to ideal for
doing chores, since they keep your hands free. Tactical use requires a hand-held
or
weapon-mounted
light [with an intermittent switch.]
Krazy Glue [cyanoacrylate adhesive] is great for closing small cuts [after
they have been properly cleaned.] Steri-strips are the next step up in holding
ability.
Water Filters - Culligan's
new EZ-change Level 4 [under-sink] filter [cartridge]
is rated to treat 500 gallons. That is five time the volume of most compact
backpacking filters. With a self-contained design, it would be easy to attach
a pump. The are available for $38 through Amazon.com. Most [other] under-sink
filters could be used the same way, but the Culligan design is preferable because
it is fairly compact.
For "ready made" backpacking filters, I prefer the First Need brand filters.
These are rated to remove viruses and radioisotopes.
Ball-shaped pin on magnetic compasses are compact, but they are more fragile
that the type designed to clip on to a watch band, such as the Brunton and
Suunto brand compasses.
Dental health is very important for long-term survival. Wal-Mart now sells
a dental kit including a mirror with scaling tool and pick, from Dentek. They
also sell Temparin temporary filling repair kits. These come in three-application
containers.
Temparin is far superior to the old standby of packing a lost filling void
with zinc oxide.
A big part of survival is preventing injury. In a post collapse word, an injury
will reduce available manpower, and something that would be considered just
relatively minor in the present day could prove fatal. Proper safety equipment
and training in the safe use of hand tools is crucial. Gloves, eye protection,
preventing falls, fire safety, and so forth should be stressed. Hygiene and
proper sanitation are equally important.
I believe that a good foundation for long-term family preparedness is learning
the basics of wilderness survival. Having a solid understanding of the first
four critical basics--water, food heat and shelter--helps set priorities in
developing a larger plan for long-term preparation. It is also the final "fall
back" position [in the event that you are forced to abandon your retreat or
in case you never make it there]. These basics are also foundational in making
important decisions.
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Letter Re: Recommended Preparedness Focus for a Dentist in Kansas?
Dear Sir,
It was James Howard Kunstler who alerted me to the problems that has caught
so many other people unawares in early 2002. Alas, although we're light years
ahead of our fellow citizens in terms of preparedness, we're many parsecs
behind the majority of your readers! We do have about six months of food
on hand (which keeps growing each day), plus containers for water storage
and
filters for water purification. We have some basic medical supplies. Our "battery" has
been augmented including the storage of several hundreds (although not thousands
yet) of rounds of ammunition. Soon, I'll have a basic reloading set up. I've
been buying whatever high-quality tools I can find, whether it's a 1930s
#8 Stanley plane or a King of Spades shovel. Our organic garden is growing
each year. We're not squeamish so we'll probably be gray-watering and humanuring
as soon as it is feasible. My wife is a green thumb and is becoming an expert
on foraging: she knows every edible plant/mushroom in Kansas!
So all hope isn't lost but there is so much to be done. Which brings me to
my point: thanks ever so much for this incredible resource!
But I have one question: knowing the little that you do about us (family of
four, in rural Kansas, slightly-prepared but not much) what would you recommend
as being our first priority? What products/skills should I spend the next year
focusing upon? Thanks again, - SF, DDS, in Kansas
JWR Replies: My recommendation, particularly
for anyone living in the Plains States and most of the western US is that
water should be your top priority, including
roof
downspout rain barrel conversions, and
locating
any nearby
creeks or reservoirs where you can
collect water, and the means to transport and treat it, even if you are ling
"Grid Down" and don't have gasoline available to operate motor vehicles for
hauling water..
In the next year, take advantage
of as much free and low cost training as your schedule permits. (Red Cross,
WRSA,
et cetera.) Next, move on to more sophisticated training, as your budget
permits. (Medical Corps, Front
Sight, OnPoint
Tactical, et cetera.)
Since you are a dentist, you might think in terms of operating
a minimalist general dentistry and dental surgery practice without grid
power.
Stock up on expendable supplies. Search for old-fashioned/alternative equipment.
Buy a full-up photovoltaic power system if you can afford it. You might even
be
able to
find a
foot-powered dental
drill. These are now considered museum
pieces, except in
the Third World, where
they are still in limited use.
As
I've previously mentioned in SurvivalBlog, I have some very strong
reservations about the humanure approach. To be done safely, it
takes very close temperature monitoring, and that might prove difficult
in a grid-down post-collapse environment.
I also consider it unfeasible for handing waste at a remote retreat that
is only occupied for part of each year. (Ideally, it would best done at a rural
farm or ranch that has at least five residents that are living there year-round.)
In my opinion the risks far outweigh the rewards for most of us.
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Three Letters Re: Welding Oxygen Versus Medical Oxygen
Jim,
I write to you again as I pull another EMS duty shift. So far tonight I have
had one EMS call and it was a "difficulty breathing" call. Our local
law enforcement officers (LEOs) already had the patient on 15LPM.
of 02 via
non-rebreather mask (NRBM)
before we got on scene. The LEOs tend to over inflate, so I titrated
the flow
down to 8LPM., which worked for the patient's breathing pattern. I'm glad
our LEOs are proactive, but this means that I don't get a baseline Room Air
(RA)
02 saturation for comparison and it does waste some O2 until I get there.
Hint: We use NRBMs on
the rig because from this one type of mask you can make the other types simply
by removing the circular rubber flap valves. The NRBM
has one inspiration valve at the top of the bag inside the mask; and two other
expiration valves outside the mask on each side of the nose. When you exhale,
the side expiration valves open allowing exhaled air and CO2 to escape outside
the mask. But when you inhale, these same valves close, and the inspiration
valve opens, allowing 100% O2 to enter the mask from the inflated bag. Hence
the name non-rebreather mask because the patient is not re-breathing his own
exhaled air. There is no outside air entrainment (provided the mask has a good
seal).
1) If you take the same NRBM mask and remove one or both of the expiration
valves from the side of the nose, you now have a partial rebreather mask, since
when the patient inhales, 100% O2 from the bag is mixed with room air from
the removed side valve port.
2) If you take both side valves off, and replace the bag O2 port with the straight
line O2 port (that is included in the NRBM package), you now have a simple
mask.
3) Here's another trick, if you take the straight line O2 port off the mask,
and replace it with the bottom medicine cup of a nebulizer, you have a aerosol
mask for administering nebulized medications like albuterol sulfate.
As more air entrainment is allowed, the overall O2 percentage decreases from
the 100% @ 8LPM. - 10LPM. of the NRBM to approximately 28% @ 2LPM. O2 of the
nasal cannula. It doesn't mean your wasting O2 by using a nasal cannula, (since
it uses a lower flow rate) your just choosing the best modality to meet the
patients need. Some chronic Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients
breathing drive can actually be suppressed with too much O2 over a period of
time.
(I've got to go, just got paged for an "Alcohol Overdose").
Now I'm
back again. The overdose call went okay. But I'm reminded that masks are
also good for combative, spitting, or TB patients
(Mask the patient and yourself) But on a sad note I found out that the patient
I transported three hours ago with difficulty breathing died of respiratory
arrest in the ER.
She didn't seem that bad, but she had a DNR order
and the family requested she not be intubated. I volunteer for this.
Regarding O2 itself. Almost all O2 manufacturers use the Air Liquefaction method
to make compressed O2 gas. The method is written on the side of the cylinder.
This is why you will see large stand tanks of Liquid Oxygen (LOX)
at the gas vendors' sites. The oxygen that boils off the LOX is piped through
a manifold
system to fill the cylinders usually on a cascade system. So although O2 USP has
the same basic source as industrial gases, it's specified., handled, distributed
and tracked differently. O2 USP has FDA mandated
lot numbers to facilitate product recalls. These lot numbers are tracked all
the way to the patient.
During the day I'm a Home Medical Equipment Technician in the respiratory department
of a major hospital. We jokingly call the hospital room
console the "magic" wall since compressed air, power, suction, O2,
etc. is right there. But the fact that O2 is flowing through a humidifier bottle
doesn't instantly change it to medical O2 as the previous supplier quote asserts.
It just adds humidity, and then really only at flow rates over 3LPM. Water
bottles are mandated in the hospital setting, but not in the home setting.
Oxygen is a natural drying agent. We do however use extra dry grades of O2
USP 99.995% and Nitrogen to calibrate our O2 analyzers.
A note on carbon monoxide poisoning. If the patient presents with the classic
cherry red complexion, they are too far gone for any O2 to do much good. The
carbon monoxide molecule binds something like 600 times more readily to the
hemoglobin in the blood than O2, and has to be forced out by O2 in a hyperbaric
oxygen chamber. Under double atmospheric pressure even the plasma in the blood
carries oxygen. (Which might be one reason our Pre-Flood forefathers could
run so
far and not become weary.) - Steve P., EMT in
Wisconsin
Mr. Rawles:
This is in regard to the oxygen discussion. I don't know the slightest thing
about the sources of oxygen, but as a nurse, I thought I would share a little
bit about administration of oxygen. The following is straight from my Medical-Surgical
Nursing textbook
" Indications for use: ...Oxygen is usually administered to treat hypoxemia
(decreased oxygen levels in blood) caused by respiratory disorders
such as COPD, pulmonary hypertension,
cor pulmonale, pneumonia, atelectasis (lung collapse),
lung cancer, and pulmonary emboli; cardiovascular disorders such as
myocardial
infarction, dysrhythmias, angina pectoris, and cardiogenic shock; central
nervous system disorders such as overdose of opioids, head injury, and sleep
apnea.
.....
-Oxygen toxicity- may result from prolonged exposure to a high level
of oxygen. High levels of oxygen.....can lead to acute respiratory
distress
syndrome....All
levels above 50% and used for longer than 24 hours should be considered
potentially toxic. Levels of 40% and below may be regarded as relatively
nontoxic and
may not result in development of significant oxygen toxicity if exposure
period
is short."
In other words, high levels of oxygen (100% via rebreather/non-rebreather
mask) is ideal for emergency situations, but not more than 24 hours!!
After stabilization
of initial symptoms, it is best to go to a lower oxygen percent, usually
2-3 LPM (for a delivery of 21 to 30 percent oxygen). Of course, these
guidelines are designed for medical professionals who can monitor the PaO2 and SpO2 so
unless you have a pulse
ox[imeter] at home, you're going to be going
with best guess. Watch for breathing difficulties such as trouble breathing,
rapid
breathing,
cough, restlessness.
So, in summary, high oxygen to deal with the immediate emergency, then
switch to low oxygen after stabilization or before 24 hours pass. I am
a recent
graduate, so anybody with more experience please feel free to jump in
with any corrections.
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Five Letters Re: Welding Oxygen Versus Medical Oxygen
James:
Just a quick note, never ever use oxygen under pressure
near oil! Never use oil on the thread's or fittings! The high pressure will
cause the oil to detonate,similar
to a diesel ignition! If you must,and probably should never need to, use
a teflon tape seal!And if you have an acetylene bottle, let it stand for 24
hours
as
it may have been laid on it's side before using it, separating the acetone
from
the gas. - Dean
Jim
The letter in response to welding oxygen versus medical oxygen was interesting.
Unfortunately [that readers} was wrong on one point. Oil is never used around
oxygen, period. Quoting from a Compressed Gas Association safety alert "Liquid
oxygen containers must be properly cleaned for oxygen service and must be
kept clean and free of grease, oil, or other hydrocarbon materials, which
can combine with oxygen with explosive violence."
The other danger is that the manufacturer does not know what the end use of
the gas will be. If they allow any impurities in it, they could be liable for
contaminating an end product of causing a substandard weld. I can assure you
that virtually all oxygen is safe for human use. - Docliberty
Jim:
If you go to a local oxygen supplier and ask, (and they are being honest) they
will tell you that they fill the welding oxygen, the aviators oxygen and
the medical grade oxygen tanks from the exact same bulk tank, which is to
say, they are all medical grade.
The previous e-mail is correct in that it is important to know that if you
are using a compressor for breathable air, it should be medical grade, preferably
an oil-less compressor.
His/her reasoning is correct but in the oxygen industry, no one I know makes
their own oxygen with compressors on premises any more. Rather, they buy in
bulk from dealers (You can make oxygen yourself with an oxygen concentrator
but then you are back to needing electricity.) and the dealers only make one
grade: medical grade.
The difference is not in the quality of the oxygen but the chain of custody
of the tanks. If you bring an oxygen tank in to get refilled, they will give
you another refilled oxygen tank of the same category (i.e. welding, aviators
or medical) that you gave them but not likely the exact one you brought in.
Here's the issue: If a welding tank is used, you don't know where it's been
and if it has been left open, contaminants may have gotten in at some work
site that used it previously.
If you want to save money or avoid a prescription and use welding oxygen (which
I have personally done) then here's the solution: Buy a new welding tank and
spray paint your name on it. When you get it filled/refilled, demand your personal
tank back. Now you have chain of custody. The oxygen will be medical grade
and since you started with a clean tank there will be no contaminants. Make
sure that you don't tell the refill station why you really want it or they
may not refill it for you. If they ask, have your cover story, like welding...
Also, you will want a regulator that has a range of about 5 to 15 liters per
minute. The oxygen that comes out will need to be controlled so you don't waste
it. Get one that has both liter-per-minute (LPM)
and pressure gauges so you know both how fast you are using it and how much
you have left. For medical
applications,
you
don't need 100% oxygen unless you are dealing with something like smoke inhalation
or carbon monoxide poisoning. Raising the inhaled oxygen content from 21% (normal)
to say, 50% will be a boon for your injured mates and make your limited supply
of this valuable resource last longer. I would use oxygen with lung injuries
or loss of blood, but this is a topic better answered by others.
You will also need to get/make an adaptor with the appropriate male nipple
size to fit on the end of the regulator that will attach to the female end
of the plastic hose that goes to the mask you will be using.
Welding regulators are not set up to go directly to a mask and medical grade
oxygen regulators (which will go right to a mask hose) will not fit on a welding
tank (by design to thwart this very thing).
Masks are inexpensive, but medical supply houses can be sticklers for requiring
a prescription for them. Online purchases rarely require them. You will want
what is called a rebreather
mask. They look the the ones you see fall from
the airplane ceilings in movies.
If you want to give 100% oxygen and not waste any, look at the rebreather bag
attached to the mask. Decrease the LPM of oxygen until you see it deflate with
each inhalation but not all the way. If it stays fully inflated at all times
you are wasting O2, if it goes empty/flat on inhalations, you are dropping
below 100% oxygen and forcing the patient to pull in extra air from outside
the mask which not only decreases the oxygen level but may be difficult for
the injured. If you want to go below 100% oxygen, then make sure that the mask
has valves or ports on it to allow air to be breathed in from outside or loosen
the mask a bit so air can get in from the sides. Test this by making a tight
seal with the mask on your face, plug up the hose and breath in. If you can
do this without effort, you're set up is good. Don't go with nasal cannulas
as they waste 50% of the oxygen and you're not likely to get a refill anytime
soon.SF in Hawaii
Sir:
Despite the dire warnings, there is no difference in oxygen purity or
suitability for breathing among the four “grades.”
From a
major supplier's web site:
‘There are four kinds of oxygen that are merchandised or sold to users;
Aviation, Medical, Welding and Research. There is a ongoing controversy
if there is any
difference between the different types. Oxygen gas is produced from
the boiling off of liquid oxygen. It would appear that the oxygen is therefore
the
same.
Where we obtain oxygen, all the different types of oxygen are supplied
from the same manifold system. Then someone says that medical oxygen has
more moisture in it. That is partly true. The oxygen going to a hospital bed
is
plain
oxygen
that comes from liquid oxygen. At the bed location, there is a unit
on the wall that adds moisture. At this moment we now have medical oxygen. If
the
oxygen is in a pressure vessel or in a manifold system (like inside
a hospital) then it is regular oxygen. The cost of medical or welding oxygen
is normally
much less than the oxygen you get at an airport.
”Also of interest, we have been told by the suppliers of welding oxygen,
the purity level required for welding and cutting purposes is more critical
than for breathing.
”The bottom line about the different types of oxygen is in the insurance
liability of the oxygen supplier. The gas is the same but the insurance
liability is
different.”
All oxygen is generated from oil-free compressors/liquefiers because any oil
(of whatever nature) is highly flammable in 100% oxygen
The bottom line is safety – oxygen makes things burn, even people. Safe
use requires scrupulous attention to cleanliness and detail. Don’t do
it if you don’t know if it is safe or not. - JB, MD
James,
I sent in a letter about using aviation or welding oxygen instead of medical
oxygen and another reader replied, objecting that compressor oil could compromise
the safety of the oxygen. I don’t want to get into a tit-for-tat over
the subject, but I think it’s important to address the reader’s
concerns because the lack of a prescription may keep people from obtaining
oxygen that could later save a life.
Unlike SCUBA air, oxygen is not pumped with a compressor at the point of bottle
filling. It is dispensed from a large tank that has been provided by a supplier
like Air Products or Praxair. Oil, whether petroleum based or vegetable based,
is not present in the compressed oxygen. Oil and grease can burn spontaneously
when exposed to pure oxygen – especially under pressure – so the
suppliers take care to remove such impurities before bottling.
When I said that medical, aviation and welding oxygen are all clean, pure and
dry, I meant exactly that. They come from the same source! ABO, medical and
welding oxygen are all U.S.P. grade oxygen and all are safe to breathe. The
only differences among them are that ABO has had an additional drying step
to prevent ice formation at altitude and there are slight differences in filling
methods (evacuate first or not) and paperwork, all inconsequential when we’re
talking about supplemental oxygen delivered through a mask or cannula.
Private pilots have been using welding oxygen for years with no ill effects.
If welding oxygen somehow scares you then by all means, buy ABO: We know that’s
safe to breathe. My main point was that there is a no-prescription option available.
I just Googled a good resource. This
guy is an
expert on the subject and
perhaps his paper will clarify things and end further debate on this subject.
- Matt S.
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Letter Re: Welding Oxygen Versus Medical Oxygen
Jim,
In one of the letters about acquiring oxygen, the following statement was made
by a SurvivalBlog reader: “Aviation,
medical and welder’s oxygen are all pure, dry and inexpensive. There
is a deadly difference between oxygen made for use by a machine and oxygen
made for use by people. Compressors, like any other machine, must be lubricated.
Air compressors used in a dive shop [or a medical supply company] will use
a natural oil, like peanut oil. Compressors used to inflate a car tire, or
produce
air
and
oxygen
for
welding
and manufacturing processes, generally use a light machine oil. Breathing air
containing trace amounts of machine oil can cause serious health problems or
even death. Leaking oxygen can also cause normal chemical process to become
explosive.
We all need to keep in mind that some things, like oxygen, explosives,
and chemical storage are best left to experts. If someone is dead set on
doing something, then they should spend the time and take the training to become
an expert.
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Two Letters Re: Survival Medicine and Ditch Medicine
James
Josh’s article [on Survival Medicine and Ditch Medicine] was very good.
I wanted to address the fact that a medical oxygen bottle is illegal to possess
without a prescription and/or doctor’s
care.
Actually, I don’t think the bottle itself is illegal. Just illegal for
someone to fill it with medical oxygen without a prescription. But that’s
beside the point because there is a simple, legal alternative: Aviation oxygen.
Aviation oxygen tanks and gas are easily obtained and not inordinately expensive
($150-to-$250 depending on size). Aviation, medical and welder’s oxygen are
all pure, dry and inexpensive. With the “ABO” (Aviator’s
Breathing Oxygen) label the tank can only be filled with aviation oxygen. Remove
the ABO label and it can be refilled at an industrial gas supplier that sells
welding oxygen. No prescription required in either case.
The same people who sell the tanks also supply disposable nasal cannulas and
masks. Best, - Matt S.
JWR,
I was glad to see Josh in Montana submit his article on basic medical in
