Letter: “Be Smart Get Prepared” First Aid Kit

Hugh,

Scot’s review made me decide to review what I carry in my car trunk– the Be Smart Get Prepared First Aid Kit sold by Sam’s Club. It was designed as a kit for a small office and meets OSHA and ANSI requirements for such use. The cost is $19.98, so it is less expensive than the Chinook MinimalistPak, even though it is larger.

The Be Smart kit comes in a sturdy plastic case with a rubber gasket around where the lid meets the case. It appears this was intended to make the case waterproof when closed, but the tolerances are not good enough to give me confidence in how watertight it is. None the less the case is good enough to keep the contents dry in the rain while removing it from my car trunk. The case has spare compartments, which allow me to easily supplement the contents. The size is large enough to allow me to include a printed copy of our local County’s Emergency Guide, a small flashlight, a small Swiss Army Knife, and supplemental first-aid items (see below).

Contents include:

  • 21 antiseptic towelettes
  • 36 alcohol prep pads
  • 6 sting relief pads
  • 6 antibiotic ointment packets
  • 6 burn cream ointments
  • 10 antacid tablets
  • 10 aspirin tablets
  • 10 non-aspirin tablets
  • 1 instant cold compress 6″ x 9″
  • 1 English First Aid guide
  • 1 Spanish First Aid guide
  • 20 adhesive bandages 1″ x 3″
  • 50 adhesive bandages 3/8″ x 1-1/2″
  • 60 adhesive bandages 3″ x 3/4″
  • 10 butterfly closures bandages
  • 18 wound closure strips 1/4″ x 1-1/2″
  • 2 gauze rolls 2″ x 4.1 yds.
  • 2 eye pads
  • 8 sterile gauze pads 2″ x 2″
  • 4 sterile gauze pads 4″ x 4″
  • 1 sterile trauma pad 5″ x 9″
  • 30 cotton tip applicators
  • 1 adhesive tape roll 1″ x 5 yds.
  • 5 finger splints
  • 1 triangular bandage 40″ x 40″ x 56″
  • 1 tweezer
  • 1 metal scissor
  • 4 examination gloves

It does not include the Emergency/Survival Blanket, Elastic Bandage Wrap, Flat Duct Tape, Burn Jel, Moleskin, Non-Adherent Dressing, Povidone-Iodine Prep Pad, Anti-diarrheal, or Oral Rehydration Salts that the Chinook MinimalistPak contains but has larger quantities of many other items, since it was designed as an office kit. It contains alcohol prep pads, sting relief pads, burn cream ointments, instant cold compress 6″ x 9″, eye pads, cotton tip applicators, adhesive tape roll 1″ x 5 yds., finger splints, and triangular bandage 40″ x 40″ x 56″, not found in the Chinook MinimalistPak.

The contents of the kit are individually packed in heat-sealed sterile packets, which are in turn organized in plastic compartments in two layers inside the sturdy plastic case. There were enough empty compartments that I was able to put some medicines including anti-diarrheal from our supply at home into tiny zip-lock bags and add them to the kit. I also added a few sizes of Telfa non-stick pads.

As a car first-aid kit thrown in the trunk, I prefer the solid plastic case over soft zipper bags for protection of the contents. I also appreciate the many internal compartments, which keep things organized.

Like the Chinook MinimalistPak, the items with expiration dates had dates reasonably far in the future. – RAR

HJL Replies: Thanks for the review of that kit. As an EMT-B, I find most kits are okay for small scrapes and cuts, but they’re practically useless when dealing with trauma. I used to carry and depend upon a small belt first aid kit that was a bit bulky on the belt but was easy to throw in the car under the seat or in a backpack. I still carry that same kit, as it has cool tools and small packs of antispetic and bandages. However, I will never forget the first time I stopped at a motorcycle accident to render help. I stood there like a fool with my neat little first aid kit wondering what I had to stop the massive bleeding from the rider’s head. I ended up using a small blanket I had in the truck, but I swore I would never be caught flat footed again. The kits are a nice starting point, but none of them have enough gauze or bandage wrap in them. I now carry copious amounts of rolled gauze and 4×4 squares as an addition to any kit I use. You can even turn your old bed sheets into useful bandages by ripping them into 4” wide strips and rolling them. Also, be careful of the 3M elastic, self stick bandage rolls (or similar non-adhesive bandages). The heat of a car and age can make it near impossible to unwrap these rolls in a hurry.

Odds ‘n Sods:

The United States is not the only country facing severe issues from drought: Brazil’s biggest city faces rationing amid drought – H.L.

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Video: Study: You Have ‘Near-Zero’ Impact on U.S. Policy. – D.D.

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Doctors refuse to treat Obamacare patients, say they can’t afford to. – J.W.

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Massachusetts governor signs law tightening state gun rules – H.L.

There are fewer and fewer states in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic that give a darn about our 2nd Amendment Rights. Time to MOVE away!

JWR’s Comment: The fertile mind of Philip K. Dick anticipated this sort of law enforcement, and he voiced a warning in his novel Minority Report.

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In the latest attempt to make your head explode, the feds once again show how little they care for their own borders. Feds Buy Border Fence … for Ukraine – B.B.

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Don’t forget the Safecastle sale going on right now. Save 31-51% on Mountain House cans and 20% on Berkey Water Filters!

Notes for Thursday – August 14, 2014

August 14, 1945 was V-J Day.

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Today, we present another entry for Round 54 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,400+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. 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,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hardcase to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel which can be assembled in less then 1 minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouseis providing 30 DMPS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448.95) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  7. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
  11. Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
  12. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  13. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
  9. Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
  10. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  11. Organized Prepper is providing a $500 gift certificate, and
  12. RepackBoxis providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208, and
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  8. SurvivalBased.com is donating a $500 gift certificate to their store.
  9. Montie Gearis donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack. (a $379 value).

Round 54 ends on September 30st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Saving Your Marriage for the End of the World – Part 2, by Cottage Mom

Today, we continue the second portion of this three part article. Yesterday, we read that the purpose of prepping is to take care of your closest loved ones with wisdom and protection, not to hurt them and drive them away. Prepping should make your life better in the long run, not worse. If you are hitched to a spouse, here are my continued suggestions for embarking on your prepping journey:

  1. Don’t Play Tug-of-War Over Prepping or Anything Else; Instead, Negotiate

    This is human nature at its most counter-productive, but it is hard to identify when the tug-of-war begins to happen. Who sincerely changes their mind because they are strong-armed into it? Once the war is triggered, emotions rush in and cloud everyone’s judgment. Destructive words and tones are used. Embrace the attitude of “I want to work together with you; I’m on your side, and I’m not getting pulled into fighting with you,” and repeat that mantra to yourself until it becomes your nature. While in a conflict, pause, mature, and take a step back to look at the conflict as a disinterested third party, and then take two steps down in your emotional reactions so you stay cool-headed and in control. If you do this, you are in a position to sow words of peace, and create solutions that can work for both of you.

    Learn how to negotiate with one another. Conflict (embraced correctly) does not mean one spouse wins and the other spouse loses. Figure out solutions that make both of you happy. When at a crossroads, spouses should ask themselves, “What elements can make this decision a happy experience for me?” As an example, say one spouse wants to spend Christmas out-of-town with her family, but that will ruin the holiday for you. Instead of begrudgingly complying or obstinately refusing, gain understanding into why this is a negative experience for you and address those issues. Then brainstorm all the other possibilities that you could enthusiastically agree to. Perhaps what you really don’t like about going out-of-town is all the driving. Could flying make a difference? Maybe you hate the backbreaking mattress you have to sleep on, and sleeping at a hotel or bringing your own air mattress might help. Think of alternatives. Perhaps the day of Christmas could be spent at home and the following weekend could be spent with the in-laws. Or, maybe you agree to the out-of-town trip in exchange for scheduling another weekend to do exactly what you want to do. A good negotiation leaves both parties happy and actually enthusiastic about the result (not just a lackluster result one can merely tolerate); it pulls you both together, rather than driving a wedge between you.

    With prepping, the tug-of-war is over issues like how to allocate limited household funds, how to allocate space in the home, how to spend time. If you have invested in Point 2 above, negotiations over these things should go far more smoothly because one of the characteristics of a well-bonded marriage is generosity towards one another and a disposition to make the other happy.

    Before you discuss an issue, however, don’t just dive in impulsively. Consider your approach; have a plan. Think through what you want, and what you can offer. For example, if money is tight, is there a way you can earn extra or save money to offset the purchases you would like to make? Are there free windfall opportunities you can take advantage of, such as a relative who has too much garden produce? If space is a problem, can you reorganize, build shelves, or exchange current furniture pieces for those with storage capacity? If time is an issue, barter with your spouse—“I’ll do the activity of your choice for every hour I spend at [blank].” Can you think of ways to accomplish more than one thing at the same time? For example, landscaping with edibles can reduce lawn maintenance in the long run; it’s a wholesome activity one can do with children if they are old enough; and it will provide nutritious food in the future.

    As an example from my situation, I wanted to store extra fuel, and my spouse is averse to storing anything. However, we get gas points from grocery shopping, and merely fueling our vehicle does not take full advantage of our potential discount. I convinced my spouse that taking a couple of gas cans along would save us more money, and then it turned out, those gas cans have often come in handy as a time-saving measure when our cars are low on gas and we don’t have to time to hit the gas station. This is just one small area of our lives that serves three purposes– save money, save time, and extra fuel on hand.

    Whenever you have a successful negotiation (and not just for prepping), I recommend putting a “cherry on top.” What I mean is, make sure to praise your spouse, praise how well you work together, and celebrate that success in some fashion. By celebrate, it can be as little as a high five, a kiss, or (depending on what you worked through) it can be more than that– a love note, gift, or dinner out. Businesses celebrate deals like this all the time, so why not in your marriage? I think it is even worth documenting as a reminder during those times when future negotiating waters get rough. I would venture that most couples never learn how to successfully negotiate, but every successful negotiation fortifies your marriage bond and makes you a team, and in this age of rampant divorce, that is worth celebrating!, depending on what you worked through: a toast of your glasses or even rewarding your spouse with.

  2. Prepare in Ways that Make your Spouse Proud Rather than Embarrassed

    In general, there are prepping activities that are out of the mainstream and will incite shame in your mainstream-groomed spouse, and there are prepping activities that are admired and will be welcomed if you only use the correct terms instead of what your spouse might consider “wacko” terms. If, after you have studied and understood your spouse, you realize you have one that is prep-adverse, begin with the most admired prepper activities first.

    As you begin your prepping journey use familiar terminology, and gradually introduce other more radical activities after gaining your spouse’s enthusiasm and respect. For example, living within your means and acquiring savings is a respected activity, while also being a prepping activity. Conversely, digging holes in the backyard and planting five gallon buckets of grain in them is not.

    Even still, you should not IMPOSE any preparations on your spouse but rather gain your spouse’s buy-in and participation. Even with respectable prep activities, don’t begin by choosing one that will upset and threaten your spouse right off the bat. It is respectable to adopt a budget, but if you two have been arguing about money since the day you were married, that is not where you should begin to prep.

    Before moving on, let’s review the three above points:

    1. Prepare in ways that make your spouse proud rather than embarrassed.
    2. Do not IMPOSE even the mildest of preparations on your spouse.
    3. Do not begin even “mainstream” or “respectable” preparations if they involve emotionally sensitive areas for your spouse.
  3. Most Prepping Activities can be Termed Under these Non-Alarmist Categories:

    • Household Management
    • Financial Management
    • Health
    • Hobby & Recreational

    Is anyone, even the most mainstream-groomed person, going to argue against improving one’s household, financial, or health management? So instead of using terms like TEOTWAWKI, use those.

    Certainly, spouses might argue about hobbies or recreational pursuits, specifically about the money/time they cost, but they generally do not consider you crazy if you have a desire to take up a hobby. If you start by enriching your bond with your spouse and also gradually delve into a hobby (that also serves your TEOTWAWKI ends incognito), chances are, your spouse will come around to being receptive and even encouraging.

  4. Suggestions for Ways that You Can Prepare in Plain Sight that Won’t Upset Your Spouse:

    (Obviously there is some overlap between these categories, and the list could be longer, but these are ideas to get you started)

    Household Management

    • Hold regular devotions in the home.
    • Memorize scripture.
    • Sing spiritual songs.
    • Create a home maintenance manual.
    • Create a FEMA-informed emergency binder. (For example, “How to turn off the natural gas valve.”)
    • Hold fire drills.
    • Check fire alarms and extinguishers.
    • Practice negotiating skills with your spouse on non-survival related topics.
    • Reduce waste.
    • Recycle.
    • Purge and organize home storage areas.
    • Add security features to your home and property.
    • Make needed repairs.
    • Keep vehicles maintained.
    • Keep pets up to date on rabies shots.
    • Organize pet records.
    • Adopt a one-in-use, one-in-storage system.
    • Find ways to add extra supplies and equipment without labeling them as “end-of-the-world supplies.” (For example, stock up on extra blankets for use when children’s friends sleep over, or in order to add an extra one to each vehicle during winter weather.)
    • Develop beneficial skills.
    • Do a time study and increase your productivity.

    Financial Management

    • Adopt a budget, spending, and savings plan.
    • Complete your estate plan.
    • Adopt a retirement plan.
    • Organize important documents.
    • Review and update insurance policies.
    • Reduce and eliminate debt.
    • Keep cash in the home.
    • Stretch spending through sales shopping, couponing, and buying in bulk.
    • Buy non-perishable consumables during sales, which saves money and time and enables stocking up.
    • Make your own household products to save money.
    • Increase energy efficiency.
    • Sell excess stuff (eBay, yard sales, et cetera).

    Health

    • Begin/increase fitness training.
    • Become current on all health appointments, and take care of any needed medical/dental procedures.
    • Increase nutritional eating. Trying to eat healthier will naturally dovetail with storing larger quantities of food. For example, purchasing organic, grass-fed beef at a reasonable price can involve buying and storing a fractional part of a cow.
    • Purchase food at farmer’s markets.
    • Update your first aid kit.
    • Take a first aid/CPR class.
    • Study alternative remedies.
    • Purchase quality shoes.
    • Cook nutritious, TEOTWAWKI-friendly recipes, like bean soup.
    • Make your own baking and seasoning mixes to leave out harmful chemicals.
    • Buy small quantities of freeze-dried foods to use in cooking or making your own mixes. This may help acclimate your spouse to food in this form.
    • Cook in quantity and freeze extras, to keep the family from resorting to fast food.
    • Learn food preservation of your own garden produce.

    Hobbies/Recreational Interests

    • Start a hobby, such as coin collecting, in order to procure some nickels and silver.
    • Pursue a TEOTWAWKI-useful, but spouse-approved, hobby– quilting, fishing, hunting, et cetera.
    • Delve into pioneer skills.
    • Get involved in 4H activities with your children.
    • Build a play fort.
    • Go camping.
    • Acquire knowledge in topics related to survival.
    • Store books with survival value.
    • Download free and store useful information.
    • Have a read-aloud family time with TEOTWAWKI-value classics, like Robinson Crusoe, Swiss Family Robinson, or books that tell of real–life survival, like The Hiding Place.
    • Learn new skills as family projects or recreation.
    • Start a garden.
    • Plant fruiting plants and trees.
    • Preserve food in “respectable” quantities– quantities that do not alarm your spouse. It is doubtful that any spouse would dispute if you dried your own fresh herbs or preserved produce from your own garden. Also, you could go berry picking. However, do not foist this work upon your spouse; either get enthusiastic agreement or do it all yourself.
    • Once you have prepped all you can prep in those above categories, you will have obtained an enviable amount of preparation, and then you can attempt a conversation about acquiring a deeper, long-term larder, or some other mainstream-adverse prepping activity. Make sure you use wisdom when broaching these topics.
  5. Capitalize on Your Spouse’s Interests

    If you are creative, you can dovetail your prepping interests with your spouse’s non-prepping interests and your spouse will go along with you. Most people like to think of themselves as fair and non-selfish, so if your spouse has an interest, even one you consider frivolous, you can encourage it while at the same time negotiate some of your prepping requirements. (Hint: Don’t call them “prepping” requirements.) Chances are, your spouse’s desire to be fair will lead him/her to acquiesce to your desires. Here are some examples of how you can take even the most non-prepping interest and make it into a preparatory activity.

    Say your spouse wants a well-decorated home. In your thinking, this is a waste of resources that should be dedicated to more worthy items. What’s the best solution? Define a budget together, and when it comes to something like window treatments, insert energy efficiency or black-out capability to the list of requirements. When purchasing furnishings, negotiate for those with storage capabilities. Here are some other ideas:

    • Say your spouse likes a fashionable wardrobe—negotiate quality winter wear.
    • Golf—take up golfing too; it is good exercise and skill development.
    • Spas—you go too; after your workout a massage will feel great. Also, while your spouse is interested in beautifying the outside, make a case to your spouse that growing and storing your own organic power foods will beautify from the inside out.
    • Jewelry—set aside a few of your own pieces as another form of currency.
    • Adding a deck—learn carpentry skills; gain valuable tools; a place to use your solar oven; wood you can re-purpose to board up your home if/when the SHTF.
    • Movies—negotiate watching some survival flicks.
    • Couch potato—negotiate that part of the time on the couch has to be spent your way–reading good books, listening to quality audios, or watching quality videos. Or better yet, negotiate that every hour on the couch has to be earned by an hour of physical activity.

    Can you see it’s almost a game of how you can turn an area of conflict around into something survival-related? As an extra benefit, practicing these mental games regularly will serve to sharpen problem-solving skills for TEOTWAWKI.

    Yet, chances are, not all of your spouse’s interests are diametrically opposed to prepping and can be an asset should the SHTF. Do not discount these but encourage and maximize them.

Three Letters Re: Time “OUT”

Hugh,

Thanks for publishing the pertinent article by KT entitled, “Time OUT”. Timing and coordination with other group members can and will be very critical ability in the future. Many of us grew up watching old World War 2 war movies, and this article reminded me of memorable scenes from some of these classics, to-wit: a scene with a bombing group having a pre-raid briefing and the closing of the meeting would conclude with the commanding officer having all pilots and crew members “setting” their watches. This was done by a “hacking” mechanism in the watch movement. One can pull out the stem and the movement stops. This allows everyone in the group to reset their watches to the exact same time. A hack feature is still available in many mechanical movements and would be an added benefit to coordinating group activities that, by their nature, might require precise action…down to a matter of single seconds. Again, a most excellent submission by KT!

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Hugh,

The shadow from a plumb bob passing over a meridian line can get you local apparent solar noon to within +/- one minute of accuracy. A special tool called a theodolite should get you better accuracy. The following articles discuss some of these techniques:

Then use a table based on the equation of time for your location to determine how many minutes to add or subtract to adjust solar (sun dial) time to your local standard time.

RLH in Ohio

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HJL,

I came across instructions on how to make your own star clock. I have not tried it yet, but it does seem useful. – JC in TN.

HJL Replies: I was intrigued enough that I printed the parts out on my printer and assembled it. It does indeed work. Now if I could only find one of these in durable plastic or metal.

Odds ‘n Sods:

Article and Video: Michael Bloomberg’s anti-gun money up in smoke as pro-gun sheriff wins in Wisconsin – JBG

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St. Louis Cabela’s Protects Guns From Looters. – T.P.

It’s a shame that the population is so on edge that they will use any act of violence to perpetuate acts of violence against those who are not involved. I cannot condone the police’s initial reaction, nor their heavy handed response, but neither can the actions of the general population be condoned.

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When money is not a constraint: GUN Linux: On the range with TrackingPoint’s new AR-15s – P.S.

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For those with musical tendencies and a little bit of redneck in them – Video: DiResta AK47 Guitar (AKA the GATTAR). – T.P.

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Looks like Google is getting ready to take a big step forward (and I am sure they are not alone) in being able to visually dig even more deeply into our spaces: Google’s Satellites Could Soon See Your Face from Space. – M.P.

Hugh’s Quote of the Day:

“As long as enough people can be frightened, then all people can be ruled. That is how it works in a democratic system and mass fear becomes the ticket to destroy rights across the board.” – James Bovard

Notes for Wednesday – August 13, 2014

SurvivalBlog is having a 50% off sale on the archive DVD for a limited time. If you want your SurvivalBlog available off-line, this is for you! The sale ends at Midnight on August 17th!

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Today, we present another entry for Round 54 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The $12,400+ worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate, good for any one, two, or three course (a $1,195 value),
  2. 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,
  3. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper with a hammer forged, chromlined barrel and a hardcase to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR type rifle to have quick change barrel which can be assembled in less then 1 minute without the use of any tools and a compact carry capability in a hard case or 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  4. Gun Mag Warehouseis providing 30 DMPS AR-15 .223/5.56 30 Round Gray Mil Spec w/ Magpul Follower Magazines (a value of $448.95) and a Gun Mag Warehouse T-Shirt. An equivalent prize will be awarded for residents in states with magazine restrictions.
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $300 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear,
  7. A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value),
  8. A $300 gift certificate from Freeze Dry Guy,
  9. A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo,
  10. A roll of $10 face value in pre-1965 U.S. 90% silver quarters, courtesy of GoldAndSilverOnline.com, (currently valued at around $180 postpaid),
  11. Both VPN tunnel and DigitalSafe annual subscriptions from Privacy Abroad (a combined value of $195),
  12. KellyKettleUSA.com is donating both an AquaBrick water filtration kit and a Stainless Medium Scout Kelly Kettle Complete Kit with a combined retail value of $304,
  13. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $300 gift certificate.

Second Prize:

  1. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  2. A FloJak EarthStraw “Code Red” 100-foot well pump system (a $500 value), courtesy of FloJak.com,
  3. Acorn Supplies is donating a Deluxe Food Storage Survival Kit with a retail value of $350,
  4. The Ark Instituteis donating a non-GMO, non-hybrid vegetable seed package–enough for two families of four, seed storage materials, a CD-ROM of Geri Guidetti’s book “Build Your Ark! How to Prepare for Self Reliance in Uncertain Times”, and two bottles of Potassium Iodate– a $325 retail value,
  5. $300 worth of ammo from Patriot Firearms and Munitions. (They also offer a 10% discount for all SurvivalBlog readers with coupon code SVB10P),
  6. A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials,
  7. Twenty Five books, of the winners choice, of any books published by PrepperPress.com (a $270 value),
  8. Two cases of meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value),
  9. Dri-Harvestfoods.com in Bozeman, Montana is providing a prize bundle with Beans, Buttermilk Powder, Montana Hard Red Wheat, Drink Mixes, and White Rice, valued at $333,
  10. TexasgiBrass.com is providing a $150 gift certificate,
  11. Organized Prepper is providing a $500 gift certificate, and
  12. RepackBoxis providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances,
  6. Ambra Le Roy Medical Products in North Carolina is donating a bundle of their traditional wound care and first aid supplies, with a value of $208, and
  7. APEX Gun Parts is donating a $250 purchase credit, and
  8. SurvivalBased.com is donating a $500 gift certificate to their store.
  9. Montie Gearis donating a Y-Shot Slingshot and a Locking Rifle Rack. (a $379 value).

Round 54 ends on September 30st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Saving Your Marriage for the End of the World – Part 1, by Cottage Mom

Could there be a greater, more important survival topic than building a stronger marital union, which is the bedrock of civilization? This topic reminds me of a young man I once spoke with. He noticed a young lady and heard the Lord telling him that she was to marry him. Even though he barely knew her, he intended to declare God’s will to her, go to the altar, check off the wife box on his bucket list, and move on, clueless to the reality that winning her is a journey. I counseled him that he was trying to barge in, uninvited, through the front door, and would most likely be refused. What he needed to do was enter her heart through the back door—the door good friends use—and the door of romance, and the pursuit of her over time.

In like manner, since I became aware of the survival community, I have read many stories of those who awaken to the idea of prepping, and unfortunately, come barging in through their spouse’s front door, not realizing the spouse feels as though his/her life is being turned upside down with either shocking tales and fear for the future, or the fact that their spouse has gone wacko. Instead of approaching the gargantuan-sized project of survivalism by the back door of wisdom, consideration, and understanding, the green prepper approaches the subject without tact and an understanding of how his/her spouse is wired. Then, they are surprised when they are rebuffed by their spouse’s hostility and refusal to follow along. They lament how their adversarial spouse will just not get on board; they become a house divided, and some of the tales I have read actually ended in divorce.

Dear Prepping Brother or Sister, if your marriage turns cold or ends over YOUR prepping activities, you have missed the point of preparation in the first place. The purpose of prepping is to take care of your closest loved ones with wisdom and protection, not to hurt them and drive them away. Prepping should make your life better in the long run, not worse.

FWIW, I too, have a Prep-Adverse Spouse who alternates between support and mockery, interest and anger, being gung-ho and being ashamed. It is not easy to navigate his emotional landscape, but the challenge my spouse and your spouse presents is in itself an opportunity to hone our survival skill of human relations. So, instead of being frustrated by your life partner, see him/her as a gift to further develop your human relations survival skills.

If you are hitched to a spouse, here is my suggested route to embark on your prepping journey:

  1. Your First Preparation Should Be Spiritual

    “Wisdom is the principal thing;

    Therefore get wisdom.

    And in all your getting, get understanding.

    Exalt her, and she will promote you;

    She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.” – Proverbs 4:7 & 8

    Can you hear wisdom imploring you to prepare by storing up as much of her as you can? So often we read our Bible, but its truth does not sink in and leave its mark. “In all your getting, get understanding.” Preppers, I have seen list after list of items to stockpile, but I have never seen “understanding,” on even one of them. Most of us have not heard God’s audible voice telling us to stockpile buckets of grain, and thus we experience a lack of certainty as to whether we should fill our storerooms or simply trust God for those future times; but there is no lack of certainty when it comes to wisdom! We have His clear written word telling us something we can safely stockpile with no double-mindedness: wisdom and understanding.

    Would any of your prep-adverse spouses throw a fit if you were to be the wisest one in your circle of friends and relatives? Would your spouse chafe at how deeply you have studied and understood him/her, and how expertly you navigate the geography of your marriage landscape, creating not discord, but through wisdom, build a bond that holds firm when all else may be shaken? Of course not!

    How do you get wisdom? This can be an in-depth topic, but for brevity’s sake: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. I define the “fear of the Lord” as knowing that there is a Creator God who is watching all you do and will hold you accountable for your actions once you die. If you have the awareness of a final judgment, it will drive you to seek salvation through Jesus, then to study the Bible, and all other God-ordained sources of wisdom. Other sources of wisdom are prayer (asking for wisdom), faith (believing God will grant it), as well as seeking for it through multiple sources as though it were gold coins and precious gems, including: counsel from experts and associates (I count reading and classroom instruction as a form of counsel); personal life experience; observation of the natural world, history, and human nature; asking questions and having discussions; Biblical meditation and pondering; and finally, direct guidance from the Holy Spirit.

    In the case of your spouse, having regular conversation together can be a fountain of wisdom as to what delights and motivates versus what will offend him/her.

    The other key area of spiritual preparation is to make sure you are praying with and for each other daily (which happens to aid greatly in the next point as well).

  2. Enrich Your Bond with Your Spouse

    As a preliminary remark, imho, the only time you cannot succeed in enriching your marriage is when your spouse has a serious addiction. Addictions require targeted, professional, and experienced assistance. If you are in that circumstance, you are already in a survival situation of your own and need to address that before piling anything else on top of it.

    Otherwise, if your marriage is having trouble or maybe just limping along, your priority prep should be to build a good marriage first. Marriage counseling is outside the scope of this article—suffice it to say, locate the help that you need and if your marriage doesn’t get stronger, keep searching for more help until you figure out what works. Don’t give up until you and your spouse are bonded together in love. It is true you may never get there, but never give up trying. I recommend MarriageBuilders principles.

    To get you started, here are three key ways you can enrich your bond with your spouse:

    1. Spend at least 15 hours per week or more of nurturing, undivided attention with your spouse. This is not time together merely in the same house or car. It is spending time in a way that is enjoyable for both parties—find what you both can do together that is enjoyable for both of you. Do not drag your spouse along to something you like but your spouse only endures.

      With a busy lifestyle, and especially during childrearing, it may seem impossible to get these hours in, and then, once you set time aside, it may seem impossible to actually make them enjoyable instead of fighting with each other. Regardless, stick with the program and do not give up because practice makes perfect; yes, it takes practice to have enjoyable time together, and it is a process to discover what activities you both can enjoy at the same time.

    2. Learn what things delight your spouse and do those things regularly, while keeping in mind, your spouse’s needs might be very different from yours. (For him, the bedroom may matter most; for her, it may be conversation.) These also can change over time. Simply stated: make your spouse’s life sweet.
    3. Learn what things you do or don’t do that hurt your spouse and stop/start doing those things.
  3. You are Both Different for a Reason

    Future-seeing people are different than those who “live in the now.” Yet, both types feel ill-at-ease—they do not feel right, or “comfortable,”–with the other spouse’s viewpoint. It is not a matter of one spouse is right and the other wrong. Both perspectives have their strengths and weaknesses. My spouse’s focus becomes crystal clear during an emergency, but he has a low ability of seeing the long term and actively resists thinking about the future. He is a powerhouse of productivity when at work, fun when at play, and outperforms everyone else (like me) in an emergency whose mental functions seem to freeze up.

    I have learned a lot from observing him, and the importance of this cannot be overemphasized as it even allowed me to save a little child who was choking on candy. As the realization hit the other adults in the room that the toddler was in trouble, they were paralyzed, waiting for someone else to take action. Something of my husband’s role modeling rose up in me, and I swiftly moved to dislodge the candy. This is not my nature but a strength I gained from my spouse, for I would typically be in the paralyzed cadre, thinking through oatmeal sludge before acting. The point is to appreciate and learn from your spouse’s God-given differences.

    Identify and consciously discuss each other’s unique strengths, rather than fight over these differences. Try to adopt the beneficial side of your spouse’s giftings, so that you grow stronger and better. For example, most couples will be comprised of both a “saver,” and a “thrower-away.” The saver will tend to save too much, even to the point of crowding out living space, and the thrower-away will callously injure loved ones by disposing of sentimental or prized possessions. Both spouses have valid feelings that drive them to operate in that mode. They “feel” right in doing what they do, and consequently, “feel” wrong operating in any other mode. These feelings can easily lead to an inner rage at those who encroach, which can lead them to complain against their spouse and seek validation from others, among other negative reactions. Each spouse should find the strength of each perspective and learn from it. In our example above, the saver needs to practice the benefits of letting go; the thrower-away needs to be more understanding.

    Most likely, you, as a prepper, have a future-seeing perspective, while your prep-adverse spouse, probably likes to live in the now without much regard for the future (far-sighted and near-sighted). Whatever the case, find the strengths in your spouse’s perspective and both emulate and validate those strengths. Chances are, if the SHTF, all of what you both have to offer will be needed.

  4. Act with Circumspection Rather than Your Typical Human Nature

    When Queen Esther of the Bible approached her husband King Xerxes with the objective to gain Survival for her people, she didn’t rush the project; she didn’t immediately barge into the throne room with a big mouth and emotional urgency, like most of us would do. She waited and crafted a strategic course of action. She gathered understanding, and by my definition, she is the poster child of taking the back door of courtship. She understood her political landscape. She was patient, yet she did not fail to act. She honored. She captivated. She whetted the king’s curiosity. She so bonded the king to herself; he trusted her and her perspective. Read her story and do likewise.

    Do you wish your spouse were united in your pursuit of preparation? Then wait a while before proposing such a life change to your spouse. Gain a deeper understanding of your spouse: how the mind of your spouse works, his/her upbringing, feelings about money, the future, dreams and plans, and all factors related to the changes you would like to make.

    Take time to know your spouse and how he or she came to have the feelings they have. As a child, I was proud of my grandmother’s canning prowess and drank in the heavenly aroma in her kitchen when a batch of peaches was put up. When I was asked to get a jar of greens beans for dinner that I helped string and snap, I knew a good plate of food awaited and it was a form of security to have so many jars of green beans on the shelf for future dinners. Whereas, in contrast, my spouse’s family regularly laughed at and recoiled in horror at the gruesome-looking contents of their grandmother’s canning jars in her creepy, spidery basement. At home, they were used to food that came in cans with colorful pictures and happy giants on the labels versus their grandmother’s see-through jars featuring food products in unappetizing shapes and hues.

    Can you see how these contrasting childhood experiences made indelible but extremely different impressions on how we both came to view food storage, one positively and the other negatively? I understand how my spouse would react against replicating his negative childhood memories, and need to refrain from triggering that spot in his emotions.

    If you wish to introduce a prepping activity in your home, think through how you can carefully introduce the process as positively as possible. As it is said, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” I didn’t realize it at the time, but I began my canning endeavors in this way. I brought home a bin of grapes and canned grape juice. It made the house smell wonderful. The jars were filled with a lovely intense purple, and every time we opened a jar, we felt a sense of delight and ownership. Next, I made crabapple jelly that shone ruby-red through the jars, and later I canned fruit from our own trees that left the house scented more wonderfully than any Yankee candle could ever attempt.

    In like manner, think of ways to get your spouse on board without using alarming terms. Introduce buying in quantity as a cost-saving measure rather than “stocking up for the end of the world.” Instead of canning “to prevent starvation,” sell the idea that you are stocking up so that your family can have your secret recipe for pasta sauce, salsa, strawberry jam, or whatever conveniently on hand.

    To sweeten the deal, if you do manage to save some money, one option is to take the savings and buy a gift for your family or spouse. I once bought a quantity of laundry soap on sale and with coupons, which I calculated to have saved me $60.00 over what I normally would have paid. Instead of letting that money fold back into the family budget like I did, you could use it to convince your spouse you are making your lives happier. Prepping should make your life better in the long run not worse.

Letter Re: Time “OUT”

Sirs

I believe that K.T.’s well-meaning recommendations regarding timepieces for survivalist situations is flawed, and incomplete. The best choice would be a Seiko SN007 Coutura Kinetic Perpetual Watch or other similarly-featured model from Seiko.

As documented in the links below, it is widely acknowledged that electronic movements are more accurate than even the best mechanical movements (even in the $20,000 and upwards range), though as with all things made by men, some items will by “luck” be right on the money, even a cheap Timex. However, since we are talking about survival, it would be best to go with what is proven, as the general rule.

From this standpoint, one could not do better than select the Seiko SN007 for the following reasons:

  1. It does not use a battery, but rather kinetic arm movement charges a capacitor that typically can last dozens of years or even dozens of decades. (Mean-failure time data for the capacitor is hard to obtain from the Seiko engineers – I tried. They probably don’t really know either, but compared to ANY battery needing regular replacement or mechanical movement requiring periodic “tuning” or cleaning, this option is by far the most reliable and simple.)
  2. It can sit on a dresser (or in a bugout kit) for four years WITHOUT arm movement or other movement and yet instantly reset itself accurately when shaken a few times.
  3. It accounts for leap years and monthly date variations automatically up to the year 2100
  4. It is relatively inexpensive, compared to the “Classic” mechanical watches suggested by K.T.

The fact that there simply will not be any corner watch shop repairmen available during or after a major societal upset is a strong argument against a mechanical watch. (Even now they are hard to locate.)

Having accurate time is important, not just for coordinating military-style maneuvers or for rendezvous with traders or other groups, or for ham radio contacts and so forth, but let’s be sure to choose what’s really best for the scenario, rather than tradition and glitzy “name” recognition, such as Rolex, et cetera.

Thanks for an overall fine job of presenting useful information and the occasional contrasting viewpoint! We all come out winners by such continuous careful scrutiny and subsequent decision making.

R.L.