Letter Re: How to Survive a Serious Burn

Hello, Dr. Koelker presented some great information on surviving a serious burn. One significant issue that wasn’t fully discussed that is potentially more serious in the short term than fluid replacement. If you were to happen upon someone who suffered a serious burn and you determined it was safe for you to proceed and get your hands on the patient, you must verify that the patient has a good airway, i.e.: Can they or are they breathing? If they are making painful noises or yelling you know they do because otherwise they wouldn’t be able to use their voice. However, with …


Letter Re: Faraday Caging a Bed?

Mr. Rawles, My child is sick. I need to build a Faraday cage to surround my child’s bed. We are in a second floor apartment. Can I use wood and chicken wire? To create a ground [for the cage], can I: Take an extension cord, tear out the double prong but leave the ground post, cut off the opposite end attach the wires to the wire cage. Would that work? Thank You, – M.R. JWR Replies: I will pray for you and your child. Faraday cages have no positive health effects for humans unless for some very unlikely reason that …


Economics and Investing:

WWII shipwreck off Ireland yields $38 million of silver for deep sea firm Oil falls back to near $104 a barrel IMF urges effective Fed communication on exit strategy. JWR’s Comment: It is all just talk until they actually taper, and I don’t think they can. Items from The Economatrix: Are Big Banks Driving Up Commodity Prices? Trying To Stay Sane In An Insane World, Part I A Tour Of The Post-Crisis World Economy In 10 Easy Charts Cyprus Real Estate Prices Post Record Plunge


Odds ‘n Sods:

Several readers sent this: Feds tell Web firms to turn over user account passwords    o o o Bloomberg’s Anti-Gun Group Imploding as 50 Mayors Leave    o o o They say that “Men are from Mars, Women are From Venus,” but it seems that California’s Democrat Senators are from Zeta Reticuli: Pelosi: Congress Must Uphold Oath to ‘Protect and Defend’ Constitution… by Passing Gun Control. (Thanks to Jeff H. for the link.)    o o o Reader “Hushboy” sent a link to a key portion of the text of Canada’s Emergencies Act. (Enacted in 1985.)    o o o A …


Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD [is] upright: [he is] my rock, and [there is] no unrighteousness in him.” – Psalm 92:12-15 (KJV)


Note from JWR:

Today we present another entry for Round 47 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) B.) A course certificate from onPoint Tactical. This certificate will be for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses. (Excluding those restricted for military or government teams.) Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795, and C.) Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources. (A $350 value.) D.) a $300 …


Learning 52 Skills: Applying a Purchasing Plan Approach to Learning New Skills, by Seth T.

It’s common for Preppers to run into a misallocation of resources.  Some things are flashy (Read: Guns) and will attract a lot of attention. People will spend hours and hours researching their newest gun purchase but never take the time to conduct a test loading of their bug out gear into their vehicle.  People will spend hours comparing the XTP vs Golden Saber vs Hydra-Shok for their carry gun, but never work on drawing their weapon from their carry holster, manipulation drills, or shooting basics.  How much money is spent on QuickClot and trauma dressings by a person who doesn’t have any first …


Letter Re: Some Overlooked Risks

I appreciate what Havoc had to say.  As I read survival fiction I often find myself thinking that the authors are being optimistic about the situations they write about.  I couch that with my own understanding that if the authors were to write the stories as I fear they will play out then no one would want to read those stories.  Reality can be ugly. I think Havoc does well to mention the four horsemen, and it is worth noting that the rider of the pale horse (Revelation 6:7-8) is given authority to kill a fourth of mankind with sword, …


Economics and Investing:

Reader CDV sent: Peak oil lives, but will kill the economy How Detroit Drowned in a Sea of Troubles Farmland prices cooling in Iowa, Nebraska Items from The Economatrix: Worldwide Unemployment Crisis: There are 93 Million Unemployed Workers in G20 Nations Can the US Economy Keep Up With this Exponential Chart? SEC Warns:  Prepare for Repo Defaults Blame Ethanol For Spike in Gas Prices


Odds ‘n Sods:

For anyone who might feel in a Guy Fawkes sort of mood on any day other than November 5th, here is some useful data: State Codes Related To Wearing Masks    o o o News from Nanny State Norge: Man’s Home Raided by Police for Paying Cash    o o o Joe K. sent this: Is Your PIC MetaData Giving You Away?    o o o Pierre M. suggested five web pages on the topic of camouflage: Fundamentals of Unconventional Warfare: Camouflage and Concealment 101 Chapter 34 of FM 23-10 Slide show: Camouflage for the Patriot Hyperstealth’s “Metro” pattern: utility or …



Notes from JWR:

A final reminder: Don’t miss the upcoming Patriots and Self-Reliance Rally at Farragut State Park, near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, July 26, 27 & 28, 2013. There will be several SurvivalBlog advertisers with booths there. The speakers will include Stewart Rhodes, Sheriff Richard Mack, Pastor Chuck Baldwin, Dale Pearce, Kris Anne Hall, and Cope Reynolds. — Today we present another entry for Round 47 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A.) Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course. (A $1,195 value.) B.) A course certificate from …


What a Flash Flood Can Do To Your Preps, by Skylar

Last week I returned home, after being away for a few days, to find a good portion of my preps under 30 inches of scuzzy water due to a flash flood that hit my neighborhood.  They were stored in my unfinished basement that also housed a permanent sump pump installed in one corner which was supposed to prevent such flooding. When I started down the stairs to the basement I was met with a really strong musty smell.  I couldn’t get down the last 3 steps due to the high water.  I noticed a couple of my #2.5 cans of freeze dried food …


Letter Re: Query on Knife Recommendations

Jim: First let’s start by saying that the proverbial “do all” knife has never been made. Men have worked long and hard only to realize that for every action is an equal and opposite reaction.   You want a knife for chopping down trees? The blade must be very tough. This means though that the blade is not as hard and will not hold an edge very long. You want a knife that will skin a 300 pound animal without need to be sharpened? Then the blade will be very hard and thus somewhat brittle. Consequently more difficult to sharpen …


Letter Re: How to Survive a Serious Burn

Dear Editor: I read with interest Dr. Koelker’s description of burn treatment and had two follow-up questions: why is the issue of fluid replacement at the top of the treatment list, and of such critical importance to a burn victim? What causes the fluid loss that can be fatal?A second question: is it necessary to sterilize any water used before preparing the oral rehydration solution she mentions in the article? Thanks for all you do through SurvivalBlog. Peace to you and yours. – G.R. in Texas Doc Cindy Replies: Fluid replacement is at the top of the list for several …