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19 Comments

  1. The folks at Dark Angel (Navy corpsmen) have taught that the tourniquet can be left on for up to 48 hours as their experience in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown.

    1. yes, i have taken two of their classes and they are excellent. i highly recommend them.

      there has been a ton to usful data come out of the fighting in the mid east regarding tourniquet use and Kerry and the folks at Dark Angel are up to date with it all. they can be used much much longer than ever though before and still return a limb to function. the trick is to keep at least one on you and have it handy.

  2. good advice on your corrections, as to walking to your retreat or ex-fil out of a problem area during a collapse scenario, I think it would realistically resemble an E and R scenario. good advice on low profile clothing , but camo does have its uses.
    Preparation should be of the Type “fast and light in interesting times” a small pack (less than 20 liters) filled with the essentials , shelter, water purification, PDW, and light weight high calorie food. sort of what a pilot may carry in his survival vest. as far as a PDW, a centerfire reliable Hand gun that you feel comfortable with and a .22 cal hand gun for forage etc would be better served due to the fact that having a long gun slung over your shoulder WILL MAKE YOU A TARGET. it is also concealable and lighter in weight ( If you live in a free state you might consider getting that $200 tax stamp for a certain barrel accessory.
    I use a Kifaru tailgunner 2 Lumbar pack as my get home bag it is easy to carry , durable , allows movement , mobility is life( you can also add a small pack for extended duration). for shelter I have a Bushcraft outfitters MEST (5X7) milspec Tarp, a BCB survival hammock net and a Bothy Bag for winter, water purification Sawyer mini and a Portable aqua electrolytic water purifier, Titanium canteen system (heavy Cover),mountain house FD food and millennium bars for emergency food .you can carry 5 days of food approx 10 lbs max. add a lightweight sleeping bag or Kifaru Woobie and you have a sleep system with the hanmmock (include a space blanket , sol heat sheet) as a PDW I prefer revolvers Center fire should have at least a 6″ barrel (S&W model 27 is a good choice), Rimfire (S&W 617 4″ a good choice) modified browning Buckmark with a can is a very good choice (subsonic ammo).
    The main Item of you prep is your mind, be resourceful, adaptable and determined, above all trust in the Creator of all things. See you on the other side of what is coming and I have no doubt it is coming.

    Night Breaker

    1. Good day “Nightbreaker”,

      Thankyou for the resources and information you have provided to the readers. On a personal note I will see about trading my DMR for a PDW amongst other upgrades.

      God bless,

  3. Regarding tourniquet use, in my area, trauma care now teaches that a tourniquet is the preferred treatment for gunshot wounds to the extremities ( arms and legs) as experience has shown that there is often more damage than initially realized. Additionally, many of our EMS people served in or have contact with veterans from Afghanistan, where arrival at a hospital may take hours. They report TQ’s being left on ( no periodic loosening) for 24 plus hours with no adverse effects. We now have a program where every police officer, fireman, and EMS Personnel along with some civilians are being trained in tourniquet use and the use of chest seals and issued windlass style TQ for carry.
    In a recent mass here (Arkansas) 25 people were wounded, some critically, but none killed due to immediate trauma care onscene of this type.
    On a separate note, a 9mm pistol is probably less desirable than a 45 or a magnum due to penetration issues. However, I don’t live in fear country so I don’t have direct knowledge.

  6. Both the 9mm and the 45acp are designed for shutting own a human body. Both, with modern defensive ammo will do an adequate job if you do your job. For bear both are inadequate. Might they work; yes, but you would be better served with a magnum caliber preferably 44 mag or larger. It all depends on what your primary fear is; two or four legged. I could write pages this, it But I hope you get the idea.

  7. For a get-back-home bag, where you find yourself away from homebase when ‘the music stops’ and can’t get a ride or find a bike and might have to walk up to a week: You want to do it as quick as you can to minimize time exposed in that danger zone on the road or trail. That means base pack of essentials for fastest movement has to be very light, ideally under 10 lbs, incl lightweight handgun/ammo, before adding food/water. (Clothes, shelter/sleeping system will vary by seasons, of course.) Water mostly needs to be foreseen where it can be acquired and purified along the way. Forget weight and wasted time of stove/cooking food, just go forth with ‘eat on the run’ assortment of energy bars, gorp, and the such, < 1.5 pounds a day. Pack for 7 days then < 20 lbs total. And, it'll be getting a pound and a half, or so, lighter every day. If you know for sure it'll take less time than number of days of food you start off with, then share or bribe away some excess food to lighten your pack even sooner. Key is to maximize moving even faster/farther by being as light as possible and thus getting back home, and out of that exposed danger zone, even sooner.

    Then, after you get pack/equip/food together, go out and see how many miles you can really cover in a day with that full pack before falling out for sleep, so you'll get that essential glimpse at your potential range and what needs work in tweaking your set up, clothes, footwear and/or physical conditioning.

  8. Kudos to you for the article and for correcting your error on the time and tourniquet use. I am reminded though of a statement we had on one of the HQ office’s wall in one of the places I served.

    To Err is human.
    To forgive is divine.
    Neither of which is the policy of this command!

    Relax and don’t worry, you’re not going to get a court martial or even an article 15! I enjoyed the article and found it informative. I do find myself wondering what they’re teaching the medics/corpsman nowadays and how it differs from what we were taught back in the 60’s and 70s.

  9. Good day Sir,

    Thank you. Your response has benefitted my personal morale. I have been, and still am, in contact with former service members (and indeed current service members) from the 60s and 70s.

    I have personally found their wisdom and experience to be of great benefit.

    God bless,

  10. As a addendum, I would like to add my choice for an AR-15 to be your primary platform,

    To sum up my decision, a good friend said it best: Get yourself a Man’s Gun.

    God bless,

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