Category: Survival Mindset

Letter Re: The Profile of Wounding in Civilian Public Mass Shooting Fatalities

Dear Sirs, I read the excellent study (“The profile of wounding in civilian public mass shooting fatalities“) linked from SurvivalBlog on 7/30/16. The only criticism I have is the premise that civilian public mass shootings (CPMS) victims could receive prehospital care within 10 minutes and trauma center care within 60 minutes of injury. As we have seen in events such as the Orlando and Paris Bataclan nightclub capers, these goals are sometimes stymied. Insights I gleaned from the study are as follows: Blindly following an algorithmic approach to trauma care may lead you to select the wrong algorithm for the …


Budget Planning- Part 4, by Sarah Latimer

Flexible Expenses This is the list of all expenses that are generally short-term commitments and flexible in their amount. Initially, try to get a handle on where you are spending your money right now. Once you have that written down and can get the picture of how your income is being used, you can begin to make adjustments based upon your goals. So, be realistic and honest in this step! I will write more about how to cut some of these costs down in the next section, but for now get a handle on your spending. You will be able …


Letter Re: Keeping Children Safe

Hugh, The author did not explain that during emergencies, public schools will sometime remove children from the school and relocate all the children to a safe location. The local school should have the predetermined safe location address. (Obviously, if there is a big fire at the school or other emergencies, the school does not leave the children in the school or school yard.) You might want to mention this fact in some added on information by the SurvivalBlog editors. During Red Cross training at work, the Red Cross representative asked everyone in the room (100 people) if they know the …


Letter Re: Getting to Your Children

Hugh, This is very good information, but if I, as a police officer or a designated reporter (nurses, doctors, teachers, and the like), found someone with lots of observations and detailed notes and maps about the movement of children, I would be considering whether to assert control for some questioning, since some parents are legally restrained from contacting (kidnapping) the children – male and female, and this is exactly what a predator pedophile needs. The absentee parent is in an awkward position, and God help them if there is conflict of any sort. A casual comment of frustration can tip …


Getting To Your Children and Keeping Them Safe: Help For An Absentee Parent- Part 2, by J.C.

For older children, there are a variety of ways you can help them. The first is exposing them to the outdoors and teaching them the skills and knowledge you have learned. Do not rely on teachers, schools, or other adults to make sure they are prepared. Even if you have limited time with your children, small things can help. Every child should have some type of bug out bag at their main residence. This bag should cover these main categories: water, food, shelter, signaling, communication, and protection. Make sure that all items are age appropriate and they know how to …


Getting To Your Children and Keeping Them Safe: Help For An Absentee Parent- Part 1, by J.C.

The United States has nearly 1.2 million divorces* of married couples. There are an estimated 25 million children* living in single parent households, and many parents travel long distances for work, spending nights away from home. Setting aside for a moment the reasons for these situations, the fact is that a large portion of children are away from either one or both parents for extended periods of time. If you are a parent who spends time away from your child, how do you plan to save them in a SHTF moment, or more importantly, get to them in a crisis …


Lessons From the Oklahoma Ice Storm of 2006, by Dr. Prepper

What I have found most useful from many useful articles on SurvivalBlog are the ones that honestly deal with personal experiences of stressful events, for example, those who have gone through hurricanes, floods, other natural storms, or man-made events. While it is useful from a planning perspective to speculate how things might be in an event that changes the world for us, there is nothing like learning from other’s experiences and what they thought went well and not so well. My family and I discovered first hand the value of preparation as well as the cost of the lack of …


The Trusting Type?

I just received this e-mail: Greetings, I know you will be surprise to read my email. Apart from being surprise you may be skeptical to reply me because based on what is happening on the internet world one has to be very careful because a lot of scammers are out there to scam innocent citizens and this has made very difficult for people to believe anything that comes through internet. My name is Capt. Kate Carr Lee. I am a member of the US ARMY medical team deployed to Iraq because of the current ISIS problems. I discover 2 trunk …


Two Letters Re: Prepper Axioms

Hugh, I wanted to reaffirm a couple of points from these excellent, objective observations and guidance: CPR – I fully concur. I am 0 for 2 performing CPR. Optimism. My mother, still alive at age 83, has been through the following: Bedridden for over a year as a child with rheumatic fever Mentally and verbally abusive husband (Sorry, Dad, but it’s true) 10lb tumor removed at age 47, full rounds of chemo, full recovery Still a Democrat and liberal, in the face of all the facts Lesson: Optimism trumps pessimism. Fight first, treat later. I fully concur; been there, done …


Budget Planning- Part 3, by Sarah Latimer

Goals and Self Discipline Before we jump into the section on budget expenses, I want to emphasize the importance of self discipline and getting a handle on what money should be used for. I realize I have spent a lot of time writing about money already, but to properly utilize and manage our money requires the proper perspective of what it is, whose it is, and how we are to view it. Getting a handle on it is just as much about this intellectual understanding and psychological perspective as knowing how it is being utilized and making concerted choices about …


Letter Re: Prepper Axioms

HJL, It is most certainly true that people should not choose to bug out in certain situations unless they have a sustainable location prepared in advance. However, many SurvivalBlog readers work far from home (well over 2,000 miles for me) and we absolutely must have detailed plans in place to get back to our families in a TEOTWAWKI event. This will become more common in a severe economic downturn. In that case, you’d be wise to have those packs prepared the author of this article speaks against, just in case your primary mode of transportation doesn’t get you home. And …


Letter Re: Prepper Axiom #5

Dear James and Hugh, Your writer of the day for June 20th brought a smile to me when I read his comments on the fallacy of “bugging out”. This topic is one that is near and dear to me, both personally and professionally as the design director for Hardened Structures and as a former infantryman and Boy Scout. Even with my training and experiences (or especially because of this training) it’s really inconceivable to me to think of providing 2,000 calories per day, every day for my family of four indefinitely, out in the boonies, with only a pack and …


Two Letters Re: Prepper Axioms

Hi Jim, It’s been a while, but I thought I’d comment on this two-part article. This guy really nails it! A total realist. I like his understanding regarding the fallacy of “bugging out” for the average survivalist, along with other realities. His emphasis on physical fitness is locked-on, just for starters. Arguably, I even have to admit that in my efforts to be a Gray Man, I’m even standing out a little bit, at present (with a flat-coyote truck, and coyote and OD green clothing). I haven’t archived anything from the site in a couple years, due to the storehouse …


Prepper Axioms That I Find Puzzling- Part 2, by N.B.

(SurvivalBlog Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SurvivalBlog, its editors, or its advertisers.) Prepper Axiom #3: “Grey man” I cringe every time I hear these words. It sounds so reasonable, but it isn’t. In essence, the idea is to make yourself so nondescript that no one pays you any notice. In theory, if they don’t notice you, then they won’t harm you. In certain situations this could work. However, I think it is very dangerous to apply it all the time. …


Letter Re: Prepper Axioms

Dear Editor, I have to comment on the recent article on prepper axioms. The author suggested oats were not part of his daily diet due to the preparation time. I was introduced to cold oats with fruit and nuts by an old girlfriend over 25 years ago. I have been eating cold oats for breakfast every day since then primarily to the taste but also for the quickness of the preparation. I make a large pot of oats. I boil 4 cups of water, then add 2 cups of oats with some ground flax seed and cinnamon. I stir the …