Note From JWR:

Today is novelist Herman Wouk‘s 97th birthday. Congratulations and Shalom aleichem!

—

Today we present two more entries for Round 40 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), and F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol. It is a $219 value courtesy of Next Level Training. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and E.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) 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, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 40 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. (At this point, with the queue full, any entries received will likely run after June 1st and be part of the Round 41 judging.) Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

A Secure Compound, Off Grid, by Steve R.

2

Listed below are mandatory needs, issues and items needed to successfully survive and weather any major natural disasters, deadly germ outbreaks, or government invasions such as martial law. This is a basic outline and your needs may differ according to location, elevation, and of course finances. Money is the root of all evil, but you will definitely need some to accomplish your survival goals.

Land and water are virtually priceless. The first and foremost thing needed to build a survival compound is water and land. Land as far away from large cities is ideal. Either find a piece of land that you can afford to install a well on or find a location that has a well cooperative. Water is key. Without water, you are done. Small rivers, creeks or springs are essential without a well. You will die without a water source. There are water machines that make water out of thin air, but they are costly and rely on humidity. Even then, you will probably only acquire enough water for drinking and food needs. You have to consider hygiene issues such as bathing and dishwashing among other things. Water is also needed for gardening and animals.

After that, you need to secure your property. Fencing such as a block wall, chain link or wired fence is ideal. Razor wire or equivalent is highly recommended along the top of your fence to provide added security. If unwanted visitors get in, they may not make it out. Locked gates with razor wire allow you access in and out easily while forcing others to cut your gate chains and alerting your animals. Dogs are great alarms and notify you of unwanted visitors. Plan on investing in a family pet that serves as a loveable alarm. You can also install fence alarms or electric fencing, but they require more power and cost.   

After your perimeter security, you need a place to dwell. Recreational vehicles (RVs) or a small cabin are ideal and cost-effective. If done correctly, an RV can be expanded if needed. A “mud room” can be built and attached to an RV. A “mud room” adds living space and a lot of extra room for a large home feeling. All the amenities of having a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom(s) and shower are in the RV; and you can build a large living room or “mud room” attached to the door side of the RV. It sounds crazy, but is very affordable and gives you a larger living space. Also, a wood-burning stove can be installed in this area to provide winter heating. Also, a wood-burning stove can be used to cook on. Thanksgiving Day is a breeze with a turkey on the wood burner overnight and prepared the day before. Wood burners are reliable and eliminate the need to use propane for heating and cooking during the winter months.

Propane may be a hard commodity to find as well as firewood, so plan ahead. Chainsaw(s) are essential, and the more expensive, the better. Husqvarna and Stihl are the best chainsaws in my opinion, and cords of wood are mandatory. Without a fireplace or stove, and a reliable chainsaw, you are done! Winter months can be brutal, and you will need these items to survive. Gas reserves, 2-stroke oil, and propane will make life much more comfortable during the winter months. Make sure you have resources near you, and plan on extra fuel for your pick-up truck or SUV with a trailer to transport your firewood.

Power comes next. Power is critical. Relying on the power grid is stupid. The best thing to do is build your own power supply. Batteries and a power supply are crucial. This is easy but expensive. Big “off-the-grid” batteries are costly, and a big battery bank can break the bank quick. Instead, try using large marine deep cycle batteries available from your local hardware store or big outlet stores such as Ace Hardware, Sears, or Wal-Mart. Well-maintained batteries will perform well, and are part of your secure compound.

To supply power to your batteries, you will need a wind generator and/or photovoltaic (PV) panels. Using both will greatly improve your power source to keep your batteries charged. Both are simple enough to install, and will keep your lights and refrigerator running smoothly.

Some suggest wiring your battery bank in a 24 or 48 volt bank, but many items run on 12 volts. Water pumps, water heaters, and lights are available in 12 volt, and readily available at many locations. PV panels and wind generators are available in 12 volt, and coordinate well with all the needed accessories such as batteries, water pumps, and lighting.

You will need certain items with your power system such as inverters and charge controllers. Inverters can power your AC devices such as television, DVD player, computer, microwave oven and compact refrigerator. Charge controllers will regulate your incoming power supply to your batteries and keep them from overcharging. Both inverters and charge controllers will make your life a lot easier. Reading and understanding how these systems operate together will help greatly in your survival. Use the internet while you can for knowledge on this information. Spend some time and learn how these systems work and interact with each other, otherwise you will be paying contractors to build your system and repair it. Self-reliance means you are on your own, and you need to know how to service, maintain, and repair problems in your power system.

After studying how to have modern conveniences in your compound, you need food. As discussed earlier, water is key to food. A supply of non-GMO vegetable seeds and gardening knowledge is essential. In summer months, having a garden is lovely. Fruits and vegetables without chemicals are beautiful, fun, and tasty. Fresh salads in the middle of nowhere are awesome. In winter months, gardens seem to fizzle. To combat this problem, learn about canning and food preservation. Canning your garden goodies for the winter are mandatory to survive. Canning fresh veggies will allow you to have tasty treats in the winter months.

Storable food is always reliable. It may not taste as good as fresh items, but can come in handy when needed. There are many sources for storable food, so you need to do some homework. Find what you like, what you can stomach, and what stores the longest. Buying food that you can store needs to be edible and withstand storage. Always keep these reserves cool, dark and dry. More importantly, you need baking/cooking supplies such as flour, sugar, yeast, and anything you deem needed. Sealed supplies will make life easier in an emergency.
Livestock, such as chickens, cows, pigs, turkeys, or other animals will breed and provide a great source of food. They require care, food, and treatment.  You get a reliable small farm for meats, dairy products, homemade cheeses, and milk.

Sheds or storage facilities are also helpful. If you can afford it, bunker type systems are useful, reliable, and concealable. If possible, hide your gear, goodies, food, and other supplies underground. This will prolong your resources from being found or stolen.

After planning, building, and fortifying your compound, you need to protect it. Some people are against weapons. Foolish people do foolish things. Arming yourself is not a foolish thing.. The government is stockpiling ammo. You should too. Common weapons and ammo will help you stay stocked up on a plethora of resources. Buy weapons and learn how to use them. If you have never used guns, then learn now. Your family’s survival may depend on it, and you need to be prepared. There are thousands of guns to buy. The best selection would be what the police and military use. Anything in .40 caliber or .223 caliber is advisable. There are many reliable types of guns and ammo, but you should use what may be readily available. If it is good enough for the police, it should work fine for you. After all this work, you should be prepared and ready. Bad things happen to good people, so be prepared.

Fuel reserves should also be considered. Fuel supplies for wood cutting, hunting, and possibly water runs are mandatory. Evacuations from your compound may be needed for short periods of time or longer, so have some fuel reserves available.

Once you have made it this far, consider “fire watches” or patrols around your complex. Warm, winter gear during the winter months will help greatly. An alert brisk walk around your area every 20 minutes will keep most people away. It will be helpful to have family members to take shifts or “watches”  around the clock when the time comes.

This all requires some knowledge of everything. The more you do yourself, the more you will understand and appreciate. If you hire someone to do these things listed above, you probably will not make it far. The more you understand about survival, the more you do yourself. Remember, not knowing these things may contribute to your own demise. Understand your surroundings and learn as much as you can. Researching all this information will lead you to other interesting ideas. Study, research, and learn these tips. Your survival will someday rely on this. Large cities will not provide this level of safety and security. Learn, invest and plan now for your survival later.

Couponing for TEOTWAWKI, by Lynn A.

Our priorities have changed as a family and we have morphed very quickly into a completely different mindset like our very lives depend it and they may. A year ago, if you would have told me that I would be preparing for what we all know is on its way, I would have gotten a great laugh out of it. Not that we didn’t have an inkling, it was just easier to ignore the threat .  The more my husband and I began to sit up and pay attention to our nation, the reality of what is happening in this country hit home. We have been making up for lost time as quickly as possible to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead for our immediate and extended family.
I contribute to our preps by couponing like crazy. I have been able to score free hygiene items, food and other necessary items by paying attention to sale ads and spending a couple of hours a week to coupon.
The steps below will simply a sometimes confounding process when it comes to couponing. I used to coupon by simply clipping and buying the usual at the local Wal-Mart. If it wasn’t a brand we used, I simply would buy the item at full price. Coupons should almost always be coupled with a sale.  I feel almost ashamed of the way we used to treat our hard-earned money!! Now, we have no brand loyalty whatsoever and it has been a blessing to see our stockpile grow!

  1. People already do most of the work for you when it comes to couponing. The Frugal Family, Thrifty Wifey and Motherhood on a Dime (Also a wonderful resource for homeschooling articles and free material) are all excellent sources.  As well as ingoodscents.com that will detail deals by several well-known chain stores. There are free coupons available on the net at legitimate sites such as Couponmom.com, along with a listing by store that even tells you which coupons to use.  Coupon.com is also an excellent site to utilize. Subscribe to newsletters, “like” these sites on Facebook (deals will appear on your news feed) and use their knowledge to your advantage.
  2. Ask around to see if family and friends trash their coupons. If they do, ask if you can have them in exchange for products that you may have a surplus in eventually. I supply my grandmother and grandfather with products I am able to get at a reduced rate by using the coupons they save for me. They are on a fixed income and every little bit helps. They also reward my couponing with fresh produce from their garden. By having duplicate coupons, you are better able to utilize buy one get one half off or buy one get one free sales. For example, recently Walgreens had buy one get one free for Nexcare Band-Aids. One box was $3.29, but I had 55 cent coupons. I was able to get two boxes off brand name Band-Aids for $2.19.
  3. Sales run in cycles. For instance, January is “National Oatmeal Month”. I stocked up heavily by pairing store deals with coupons and was able to stockpile and store a significant amount.  Also, January is the “get healthy month” after the gluttony of the holidays, which means that vitamins a cinch to snap up at rock bottom prices.  February is national “Canned Goods Month”; we were able to stock up significantly. It is also “Hot Breakfast Month” and another fantastic chance to stock up on breakfast cereals.  April, November and December is when you want to stock up baking supplies and spices. May is for sunscreens, charcoal, outdoor living items and first aid supplies. A quick note on first aid supplies. Recently Walgreens ran a deal where you received a small first aid kit by purchasing two Johnson and Johnson items. The items themselves had peel off coupons on them and I was able to get the kit and two items for fewer than $3.00 every time! Each vehicle and bug out bag is stocked with everything we would need to deal with smaller injuries. (They usually run this first aid kit deal about every 3 months or so.) Hit August for all the clearance summer items and you will be shocked at what you can sweep up for rock bottom prices. November is not only a month to stockpile baking needs but also canned goods.  You can easily Google “Monthly Sales Cycles” for a more detailed list. The longer you coupon, you will almost begin to predict what coupons will be available when.
  4. Apart from the cycles, pick up your weekly ad and compare your coupons to what is available on sale that week. The sites listed in item one will assist you with this. Get to know your local stores policy and the people that work there. I am on a first name basis with manager at several stores in my hometown. They help me out so much by pointing me to deals I may have missed and making sure I get a rain check for any items they may not have in stock.  I know that CVS will have its brand of 24 bottles of water for $2.22 about every 12 weeks. I buy the limit. We are working on procuring a long term source of fresh water but if something were to happen before then, we would have something on hand.
  5. Many stores offer Register Rewards or Extrabucks that act like instant rebates and can dramatically reduce your overall expenses. I will often spend $9.99 on a product and receive the entire amount back in a rebate that I turn into five cans of salmon added to our stockpile. I may not immediately need to use the product that I got for free but I can add it our stockpiles. Also, sign up for mailing lists and use those loyalty cards. You may receive coupons in the mail and always be sure to scan your card at the coupon machines at the entrance of CVS. You will even get a coupon for a free product every once in a while.
  6. Snatch up those free items, even you are not quite sure if it’s something you can use. Feminine Hygiene products are items that can be easily couponed and will be necessary for cleanliness in a survival situation. They are also sterile and can be applied to a wound as a makeshift absorbent bandage.  Most Kroger stores will double coupons up to 50 cents. Snatch up those power bars when they are on sale 10/$10 and use a .50 cent off coupon that will double to make 2 protein bars $1.00. Protein bars are not a long term solution but can supplement the diet and are highly portable items for bugout bags. Also, many stores will also reward customers who spend a certain amount by offering discounted gasoline, take advantage and watch the savings add up! Also, most stores may not require you to buy 10 items to get that price so check the store’s coupon policy to be sure.
  7. The web sites listed above are also a huge help when scoring deals on pretty much everything imaginable. They will post available deals and this can also help you collect free samples (they are the perfect size for bugout bag, camping or hiking), point you in the direction of sales on the web and coupons that are available for printing. Recently I obtained a subscription to Urban Farm for a year for only $4.50. I have also been able to receive many free “Kindle” books (if you don’t have a Kindle, the download is available free for your PC or iPhone) on gardening, canning, making soap and survival techniques. While I realize this valuable information would most likely not be available during most possible scenarios, I am able to jot down notes from my reading in our “Prepper Bible”.  One of the sites I mentioned above even posted about a contest a survival web site was hosting. I entered to win a year’s worth of food. That sure would be a blessing for any of us and I never would have known about the contest if it wasn’t for the site.
  8. Yard sales, Thrift stores and Goodwill are tremendous assets to us in these times. We have a young daughter who continues to outgrow clothes as fast as we get them. When I find something at a yard sale that is two sizes too big but in great shape for the right price. I snatch it up and put it a labeled bin with the size on the side. I constantly worry that if something would happen, she wouldn’t have shoes. I have snow boots for her for probably the next seven years.  We have picked up a brand new camping cookware set at a yard sale for only $5.00! Our major scores have also been hand crank grinders, old-fashioned wash boards, iron skillets and camping gear. We have been able to accelerate the rate of our prepping by utilizing these sales to gather things that we could never afford to pay full price for.
  9. I have learned to make our own yogurt and add seasonal fruit to save money. We have learned to make soap, laundry detergent and our own cleaning agents and are stockpiling the things that we will need to continue the use of these skills. As well as learning these skills so that we may have products to barter with.

We are fairly new at preparing for whatever it is that is heading our way. I feel like couponing and watching sales are a huge part of why we have been able to gather what we have at an accelerated rate.
We have a list of “priority” items that I always cross check when I make my shopping lists for the week. I feel that we have gotten started late in the game and every day I worry that we will not have enough time to gather and learn all we need to become self-sufficient.
Every dime that I am able to save by couponing or using yard sale shopping is turned into a weapon, ammunition, gardening supplies, alternate energy sources, survival seed banks as we struggle to pay off the debt that we have left. We have also begun to arm ourselves with knowledge that will pay off in spades. While we are building our stockpile, we are using every spare second to acquire knowledge on the use of weapons, water purification, the caring of livestock and anything that could possibly assist us when TEOTWAWKI hits. Our minds and bodies are getting stronger daily in preparation for the days to come.

Letter Re: Sound Judgment and Reasoning Skills for Preparedness

Anthony C.’s excellent article on logic and fallacies, Sound Judgment and Reasoning Skills for Preparedness, encouraged me to dust off an article I compiled some time ago to summarize some powerful thinking tools.

What follows are a variety of strategies which provide structure for analyzing decisions. Not all of these tools will apply to each situation.

1. Plus, Minus, Interesting (PMI)

2. Considering All Factors (CAF)

3. Consequences And Sequel (CAS)

4. Aims, Goals, Objectives (AGO)

5. First Important Priorities (FIP)

6. Alternatives, Possibilities, Choices (APC)

7. Other Point Of View (OPOV)

  • Try to see things from the other person’s viewpoint. Write out their views: How will they feel? What are their priorities? How will this affect them? How will this affect your relationship with them?
  • Doing this will keep you out of a lot of trouble in disagreements and difficult decisions.
  • http://humanscience.wikia.com/wiki/Taking_other%27s_point_of_view

8. What Is God Saying? (WIGS)

  • Whatever you may believe about God at least one thing is certain: psychology has shown that our judgment and decision-making ability are frequently compromised by personality clashes, pride, political considerations, and mood.
  • Humans are prone to “use” logic to justify our decisions, rather than to determine our decisions.
  • Looking outside ourselves humbles us and opens us to other possibilities we may be overlooking, reminds us that no situation is truly and totally under our control, and gives us input from the only One who can see beyond the now to what is going to happen in the next 5 minutes, 5 hours, or 5 days – and the only unlimited One who knows everything about the particular decision or situation or issue.
  • (1) We must be obedient to God’s moral will (the Bible); (2) We are responsible to choose within moral parameters; (3) We must make wise decisions according to our spiritual maturity; and (4) We must be ready always to submit to God’s overriding sovereignty. http://www.equip.org/articles/decision-making-and-the-will-of-god-/
  • (1) Be obedient to what God has already shown you. (2) Pray and continually seek God’s wisdom and guidance in everything you do. (3) Rearrange your priorities so your primary motivation is to glorify God. (4) Saturate yourself with the Word of God. (5) Learn from the examples of others. (6) Get involved in a variety of ministries. http://www.biblehelp.org/sixsteps.htm
  • http://christianity.about.com/od/newchristians/qt/decisionmaking.htm

Economics and Investing:

The UK is making contingency plans: Theresa May: we’ll stop migrants if euro collapses

I missed seeing this lengthy interview when it was first posted back in January: Chris Hedges “Brace Yourself! The American Empire Is Over And The Descent Is Going To Be Horrifying. Note that Hedges is a “Classical Liberal”–the only sort of liberal that I can really respect. Don’t miss his comments–about four minutes in–about what he calls a corporate coup d’état. Also see his comments on “Faux Liberals” and “Inverted Totalitarianism” starting at around 11:30. While I don’t agree with everything Hedges espouses (since I advocate a more laissez-faire approach and minimalist government), I do respect both his intellect and his sincerity.

Over at Zero Hedge: Flowcharting The Eurocalypse

Heist of the Century: Wall Street’s Role in the Financial Crisis

Nigel Farage Explains Why Greece Needs a Floating Drachma

Items from The Economatrix:

USA’s Creaking Infrastructure Holds Back Economy

Citadel Lost $30 Million In Facebook Fiasco

US Economy Has Momentum But Risks Remain

Summer Gas Prices Expected To Be Modestly Lower

Odds ‘n Sods:

Ed O. mentioned that readers in Western Washington may be interested in the Mother Earth News Fair being held at the Puyallup Fairgrounds on 2-3 June 2012. (Wear your SurvivalBlog T-shirt or hat and see who you meet.)

   o o o

News from an American Redoubt town: Idaho town seeks to lure gun and ammo makers

   o o o

Reader J.B.G. suggested this article over at Instructables: Make a Yak-Proof Survival Knife

   o o o

Chris M. liked this ABC News piece: Reduce Dumb Decisions by Thinking in a Foreign Language

   o o o

Stephen F. mentioned that Sears stores currently have a great price reduction on deep cycle and marine batteries.

   o o o

Another asteroid close call. (Thanks to C.A. in Oregon for the link.)
 

Jim’s Quote of the Day:

“I think it’s a bit like coming to the end of a book. The plot’s in its thickest, all the characters are in a mess, but you can see that there aren’t fifty pages left, and you know that the finish can’t be far off.” – Herman Wouk, Marjorie Morningstar

Note from JWR:

Today we present two more entries for Round 40 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), and F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol. It is a $439 value courtesy of Next Level Training. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and E.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) 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, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 40 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. (At this point, with the queue full, any entries received will likely run after June 1st and be part of the Round 41 judging.) Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

Survive or Thrive?, by Sarah M.

It was a bright, sunny day. I found myself scaling Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona with my mom, dad and 5 younger siblings (since I am a homeschooler, I have the privilege to visit some very exciting places in the United States. Such was the case this past March).

As my family and I were hiking up the hazardous ‘path’, a few thoughts crowded my brain. What if my eight-year-old brother fell or slipped in this pass? What if my nine-year-old sister falls down this slab of rock or my mom passes out? Would I know how to help them? Did I have the necessary equipment in my bag? Surrounding me was the beautiful scenery, but more importantly, there were multitudes of families climbing up this same rock that I was. Most of whom had nothing with them except a water bottle!

Many families each year take hikes such as my family did. Nothing happened, and we hope nothing serious ever happens. But, do you know what to do if something goes wrong on your next family hike? What if someone gets seriously injured you pick up your cell phone only to find out that you have no cell signal, or the battery has died, or that you can’t contact anyone? What do you do if you are in a situation where you have no one to contact? Do you know what do if someone gets injured, and the medics are delayed for a long time? Consider the scenario of a third-world country where there is no one to contact in case of a medical emergency, and you are the sole person to administer help until assistance comes.
In this essay, I will endeavor to show you some basic wilderness medicine and rescue skills that will help all those concerned should undesired circumstances strike on their adventure. I want to show three key wilderness medicine and rescue skills that are necessary for the average person to know. You do not HAVE to have a degree, or be an expert! The three keys in this essay are Preparation, Evaluation, and Perspiration. If you can learn the skills associated with these 3 keys, you will most likely have the confidence you need on your next family hike…or adventure!

Preparation
As with everything relating to survival, preparation is essential. But what does this really involve? First of all, you need to be mentally prepared for anything that may happen. This does not mean that you should worry or be afraid, but, rather, mentally prepare yourself so that you have confidence. If something does go wrong, you know what to do, and you have the means to carry out your plan. The ability to think clearly in the midst of chaos will be invaluable.  Mental preparedness will lead to an essential check-list of some items that may be needed on your adventure.
Your gear plays an important role as to whether you just survive, or thrive under the circumstances that you are forced to be in. There are numerous things that can flood the brain that should be in that “house on your back”, but, keep in mind, a more streamlined check-list is advisable. Obviously you will pack different things depending on whether you are spending a month or two in wild, mountain country, or if you are just spending a day or weekend in the woods.
It is humanly impossible to describe everything that you should pack for every adventure. Walter Picket, in his article called “The Rescue Pack”, put it very succinctly when he stated,
“There are few people who can carry a 40lb+ pack and be effective in the mountains. Experience can make a big difference as to what is carried in the pack. Also, sudden weather changes, difficult terrain and victims with serious injuries can place the rescuer in a rather awkward position. One way the rescuer can keep out of that position is to be prepared to cope with any situation that could come up before it happens. Assistance cannot always be called in or it might take them a long time to getting there so a rescuer should be completely self-sufficient for the duration of the mission. That does not mean that you carry everything but the kitchen sink in your pack…There is no perfect gear. No one backpack can fit everyone’s back. Some gear is especially suited for an individual’s need (or is it wants)…” (Pricket article “The Rescue Pack” www.1srg.org)

Organize your gear so that instead of frantically trying to find a something, the most essential items are easily accessible. You could classify your gear into 3 categories: personal gear (clothes, sleeping bag, tent, sunglasses, hat, chap stick, bandanna, extra socks, etc.), survival/rescue gear, and medical gear. Because personal gear is obvious to most of us, the focus of this part of the essay will be in regards to survival/rescue gear and medical gear.

Survival/Rescue Gear
Basic survival gear is a must. Caution must be used when going to an outfitting store and buying a survival kit. One reason for this is that a store’s main goal is marketing and making profit, not necessarily your personal benefit. Some stores will also try to cut costs wherever they can, and you probably won’t be getting the “best of everything.” Furthermore, some people never open their kit and figure out how to use it because they trust it. Also, some kits may contain ‘overall items’ that are not specific to the region, weather, and/or terrain that you will be traveling in, or situations that you might face. These types of stores, however, usually have good reading material that can give invaluable information on necessary items. Ultimately, you must be wise, and make sure that, if you buy a pre-made survival kit, you do your research and figure out how everything works BEFORE your adventure begins.

It is best to just make your own by purchasing the items you need individually. Tailor your kit to the region you will be traveling in, the possible weather you may encounter, and to what kind of activities you are going to be doing. Also, if you are leading a group, make sure you tailor your kit to your group’s possible needs. You may have to help everyone!

Assuming that you are wearing the appropriate clothes for your adventure and that you have appropriate hiking boots, here is a “check-list” of a few essential items to get your brain turning: Personal gear (such as a bandanna or sunglasses…) signal mirror, rain wear, fire starting devices (at least 2), trail tape, map/compass, matches (make sure they don’t get wet),sharp belt knife, solar (space) blanket, duct tape, water and food (be wise, always carry more than you think you might need), 3 sources of light and extra batteries, and  at least two heavy duty contractor weight plastic garbage bags (a great source of emergency rain wear, or waterproof backpack liner). A pencil and notebook may also be helpful. Furthermore, I would suggest waterproofing your gear by putting it in plastic Zip-loc bags or containers. You can use your pockets to hold important survival items, like a flashlight or a knife, or you can pack them in a small sack, or belt pouch.

Be sure to adapt your rescue gear to the type of activities that you will be doing, and to the type of region you will be in. Try to bring a good, professional climbing or rescue rope with you. Some people also like parachute cord for rescues.  If you do end up doing strenuous rescuing on your adventure, you will probably wish you had a helmet. (As a side note, you should probably pack one in your bug-out bag, or wherever you keep your TEOTWAWKI gear.) I would also highly recommend that you bring some type of work gloves to protect your hands. This will be invaluable if you do need to do any wilderness climbing. Depending on what you are doing, you may even consider bringing an emergency harness or emergency climbing equipment. Also, make sure you bring enough water. The average person needs 64 ounces of water a day. When you are hiking you will need much more. How much you need will depend on the outdoor temperature and humidity, as well as the length of the hike. For most conditions one liter per hour or a half liter per mile is a good rule. If you are involved in a rescue, you may need to give some of your water to the victim. Remember, what you pack could save your life, or a family member’s life!!!

Medical Gear
Medical gear also needs to be tailored to the area/region you will be adventuring in and the number of people in your group. Pack your gear in an organized manner. It is a very good idea to pack it in a separate pack so that it will be readily accessible. One of the best books I have found on the subject of wilderness medicine is Wilderness Medicine, Beyond First Aid, 5th Edition by William W. Forgey. On page 215 of this book he gives a list of items that will usually fulfill most of your emergency requirements:

“10 pkg   Spyroflex 2”x 2” wound dressings (or carry 2 for each person)                                                                                         
  2 pkg     Spenco 2nd Skin Burn Dressing Kits (or carry 1 for 2 people)
  15 pkg   Nu-Gauze, high absorbent, sterile, 2 ply, 3” x 3v, pkg/2
  25           Coverlet Bandage Strips 1” x 3”
   1                     Tape, waterproof
   1                     Sam Splint 36”
   1                     Elastic Bandage 3”
   1                      Elastic Bandage 4”
   1                     Max Strength Triple Antibiotic Ointment with pramoxine, 1 oz tube
   1                      Hibiclens surgical scrub, 4 oz bottle
   1                     Tetrahydrozoline Ophthalmic Drops, 0.05%, 15 ml bottle
   1                     Hydrocortisone cream, 1%, 1 oz tube
   1                     Clotrimazole cream, 2%, ½ oz tube [Antifungal cream.]
   1                     Cavit dental filling paste
   2 pair                     Examination gloves
   1                     Irrigation syringe
   1                      Sawyer Extractor [Vacuums the wound. Use to treat insect and bites.]
   1                      Surgical kit consisting of 1 needle holder, 2 each 3-0 Ethicon sutures,
   1 each 5-0 Ethicon suture, and 2 each 3-0 gut sutures
   1                      Over-pack container for above”
[To update this list, I would add a CPR mouth guard.]

Always take Tylenol with you. This works on fevers and pain, but if you want something that deals with inflammation as well, you will need to take ibuprofen along with you. Additionally, Imodium A-D is a very good thing to bring along, especially if you will be in the tropics or a foreign country (particularly a third-world country).

The preceding list is not exhaustive. You can use this list as a guide. You must alter it to fit your adventure. Also, don’t be afraid to improvise if necessary. Plastic food wrappers or plastic sheeting can be used to cover wounds as it will not adhere to it. Use any kind of tape to hold it in place. The wonderful thing about this is that you will be able to see the wound! A painless way to kill germs in wounds is by placing granulated sugar or honey on the wound. This will kill germs by dehydrating them and it will not injure human cells.

Remember that your equipment is not everything!  Skill and understanding is far more important! Learn emergency skills. The last thing anyone wants to be doing is sitting next to their injured partner and having no idea what to do!

The best way to organize your gear is to pack it all into individual “stuff sacks.” I would recommend that you label what everything is, and then put all of your “stuff sacks” inside your backpack. Also, separate your gear into categories, such as, ‘any items critical to survival’…these should be carried on your person (i.e. a knife should be in your pocket at all times). Then any items that you frequently need/use, should be in an outside pocket of your pack, or a belt pocket, or something like a water bottle could easily fit on a hip belt. Keep these items handy, so that you don’t have to stop and take off your pack just to get out your sunglasses or chap-stick. The rest of your gear in your backpack is the third category, which includes your medical pack, and personal items. Make sure you keep your most essential items, like your medical kit, near the top of your pack or somewhere where you can easily find it.

Evaluation
This second key, evaluation, is the word that should be flying through your brain when disaster strikes. Something happens, and now, all of a sudden, you become the rescuer (assuming you don’t need to be rescued first).  If you were on a search and rescue team you would have access to equipment and trained professionals. Now, you only have yourself, your companions, and whatever is in your pack. You are the victim’s only hope! The first question will almost undoubtedly come to your mind is this: “Oh no! What do you do?!?” Ah ha! I’m glad you asked! The answer is evaluate! There are two phases for this process, and two ‘C’s to help you remember.
Phase #1: Do not panic!!! Take CONTROL of the situation. Be calm, but confident. Immediately stop, and think “Assess and prioritize!” Assess the situation.  Spinal injuries should be a priority. Realize that you will need to protect their neck at all costs until it is unmistakably obvious that the victim does not have a spinal injury, or until you can get it properly looked at by a professional. Also, it is very easy to operate on impulse when you see a family member or friend in danger. DO NOT allow yourself to do this! Plan and think about every decision.
Phase #2: Exercise CAUTION! The last thing you want is to get hurt yourself, or for someone else in your party to get injured. Assess the danger and make it a priority. Look for the safest way to reach the victim, and then make a plan (before you start out) for how you are going to get to the victim (depending on the situation you might want to have a back-up route in mind just in case). Also, you might need to put on some protective gear such as medical exam gloves with a pair of work gloves on top, or extra rain gear. You also may need a helmet, or other equipment to protect you as you reach the victim. If you don’t have extra protective equipment, proceed with EXTRA CAUTION!

Perspiration
Perspiration, the last and final key, refers to the process of reaching the victim, stabilizing the victim, and getting the victim to professional help. This daunting task may take a long time, and it will undoubtedly consist of pressure and lots of hard work-or perspiration. There are seven phases for this process (and they all start with ‘S’).
Phase #1: SET OUT to reach the victim! This may be as simple as walking 10 feet out of the way, or it may be as complex as rappelling down a cliff. Also, depending on the size of your group, it is probably not necessary for everyone to go and reach the victim. Keep control and don’t let anyone panic as you (now the rescuer) reach the victim. Most importantly, you MUST work together.
I want to park here and give you a few techniques that I have found to be very helpful. As I learned this first technique some time ago, I realized that it should only be used if you need to reach the victim quickly.
1. Take your rope and wrap it around a big sturdy tree trunk or boulder, close to the “cliff” (or area that you will rappel down). Do NOT tie any knots!!! Just wrap it around.
2.  Pick up the now 2 pieces of rope, close to the trunk. Make sure that the ends of the rope match in length (basically the length of your rope has just been reduced by half).
3. Next, gently let the 2 pieces of rope down the cliff to make sure that your rope is long enough to reach the bottom. Face the tree trunk or boulder and hold both pieces of rope together.
4. Then, pass them between your legs and then around your right leg.
5. Next, pass it up across your chest and over your left shoulder.
6. Hold the rope with your left hand approximately at the middle of your lower back. Let the rest of the rope trail down behind and below you. With your right hand, hold the rope in front of you.
7. Then, SLOWLY let yourself down. Don’t grip with your right hand! Just rest in your left hand and lean your weight on the rope.
8. Finally, once you get down to the bottom, pull on one end of the rope and let the rope come down.

The only possible problem with this is that you will need to have a plan to get yourself and the victim back to safety. As I already stated, this should really only be used when you need to reach the victim quickly. Another option is to learn how to make a harness out of rope or use any emergency equipment that you brought, and have someone belay you. Usually a team of 3 is ideal for safe travel in treacherous country.
If you need to wade across a river or stream, plan before you enter. Currents can be deceitfully strong. Before you enter the water, throw a small stick into the water to see how fast the current is flowing. Make sure you wear shoes when you cross. Also, it is very helpful if you can cut a big branch, or somehow get a big stick to use as you cross to make a tripod effect. This will give you more stability in the crossing, and you will always have one leg and the stick on the ground, as opposed to trying to balance on one leg with rushing currents.
Also, another interesting fact to remember for dealing with serious trauma, is that emergency doctors speak of something called “the Golden Hour”. This refers to a period of time varying between the first few minutes after an accident, to approximately an hour after the accident. If you can get to the victim and stabilize them within this one hour time frame, they will have a better chance of survival. The bottom line is, get to the victim and give care as soon as you can.
Phase #2: SURVEY the victim (some refer to it as the primary survey). This means dealing with life-threatening emergencies. Doctors use the mnemonic acronym ABCDE to help evaluate the victim.
‘A’- airway. Make sure nothing is clogging the victim’s airway.
‘B’- breathing. Make sure that the victim is breathing (look, listen and feel for at least 10 seconds), if they are not breathing you will need to start CPR. These 2 are the most vital.
‘C’- circulation. Check to make sure that their heart is beating (if not start CPR) and check for any catastrophic bleeding. Deal with bleeding immediately by applying direct pressure to the area for 10 minutes by your watch. Use protective gloves, or use a cloth to protect yourself. If there is a foreign body in the wound, apply pressure around it. Only use a tourniquet in life-threatening situations, such as amputations or partial amputations, penetrating wounds, or open fractures. The victim may use the limb. If needed, apply the tourniquet for only 30 minutes and then release it slowly.
‘D’- disability. This part of the exam will place the victim in one of four categories: unresponsive to all stimuli, responsive to pain, responsive to verbal stimuli, alert. If the patient sees you and starts talking to you, he is obviously alert. Otherwise, gently squeeze the victim’s (uninjured) shoulder while placing a hand on their forehead to prevent any neck movement and ask a question like “Can I help you?” or “Where do you hurt?” If they respond, they are obviously responsive to verbal stimuli. If there is no response, pinch an uninjured part of their body to see if they are responsive to pain. If there is no response, you can classify them as unresponsive to all stimuli.
‘E’- exposure. This means protect the patient from hypothermia. Depending on the weather and condition of the victim, you might have to deal with this later.
If/when the victim’s ABC’s are stable, move on.

Phase #3: SHOCK: Shock is caused by an inadequate supply of oxygen reaching the brain or other vital tissues and organs, because of decreased blood circulation. One symptom of shock is that the victim’s skin is cool to touch and they may be sweating (cool, clammy skin). Also, their skin color may be ashen or pale. Some serious symptoms are dilated pupils, fall in blood pressure, increased breathlessness and/or irregular breathing. The main way to correct shock is to identify and treat the underlying causes. A few causes of shock are pain, bites and stings, fractures, burns, dehydration from sweating, and exsanguination. Also, keep the victim still and in a comfortable position where they feel like they can breathe well. Shock can lead to death. Make sure you treat any and all causes the best you can.

Phase #4: SECOND (secondary) SURVEY: Once the victim is for the most part stable, perform a secondary survey. This will help figure out the cause of the victim’s problem  or it will help you figure out if there are any further problems you may not see right away. This survey may also help determine more underlying causes of shock.

1. Check the victim’s vital signs: Recheck their level of consciousness. Are they alert, responsive to verbal stimuli, responsive to pain, or unresponsive?
Check their pulse (quality, rhythm, and rate). If a limb is injured, check the pulses on the uninjured and the injured limbs and then compare them. The normal pulse for the average adult at rest is approximately 60-100 beats per minute and the normal pulse for the average child at rest is approximately 70-130 beats per minute. Well trained athletes may have a resting pulse closer to 40 beats per minute.
Check their breathing (rhythm, rate, and quality i.e. labored, pain, noises like gasps).Adults breathe approximately 12-18 times per minute at rest. Children breathe faster.
Check their skin color. Also see if it is moist/dry or hot/cold (refer to shock).
Finally, if at all possible check their blood pressure. Systolic blood pressures ranging from 100-140 are normal.

2. Next, do a rapid head-to-toe exam. Check for other major injuries.  Try to communicate with the victim. Ask questions like “Does this hurt?” Start at the head and neck: Look for any bruising around the ears. Make sure their collarbone is not broken. Also, check for clear fluid from the victim’s nose or ears. This is a sign of a head injury with an open fracture. Gently feel along the cervical spine for pain (if conscious). Also ask about any abnormal sensations.
Chest:  Look for damage. Keep your hands wide and compress the ribs from both sides. Ask about pain (possible bruised or broken rib).
Spine and Back: If at all possible, without moving the victim, gently press along their spine. Stop immediately if there is any pain or significant tenderness.
Abdomen: Spread your hands wide, and gently press at the four corners and the center of their abdomen. Look for tenderness, rigidity, muscle spasms, tenderness, or swelling. Stop if there is any pain or significant tenderness and assume that there is an abdominal injury/problem, or a spinal or pelvic injury.
Pelvis: Placing a hand on each Pelvic crest (hipbone) press them backwards, and then towards each other gently. Stop if there is any pain and splint immediately (splint by tying legs together-not too tightly. Make sure you place padding material between the legs and between the legs and the tying material. If/when you need to move the victim, you must do so by stretcher).
Arms and Legs: Run your hand down each arm/leg slowly, gently squeezing as you go. Note any movement in the fingers/toes or lack of sensation or circulation. Check for deformities, swelling, and color changes (loss of circulation). Also, check for pain in the joints. (If you must splint an arm or leg, check for circulation, movement, and sensations (tingling, numbness, pins and needles) about every 30 minutes. You may need to remove the splint if there are any sensations or if there is a loss of circulation or if movement in that limb suddenly decreases.)

Phase #5: Your SOLUTION: This means that now that you have somewhat figured out what the problems are-figure out what you are going to do! Define problems and then figure out solutions. Apply splints to immobilize fractured or broken bones. If there is any bleeding, watch for infection. It may be necessary to repeat the Second Survey.

Phase #6: SAFETY: Retreat to safety. If you cannot move the victim without further injuries, leave them where they are and protect them from the elements.

Phase #7: STABILIZE the victim. Whatever the case may be, keep the victim stable until you can get them to help, or get help to them. This may mean that someone in your party has to run for help, while you stay and administer help to the victim. Also, you must get professional medical attention if necessary. This may prove crucial because sometimes it takes the eye of a trained professional to catch serious problems.

Conclusion
It is easy to get worried when prepping for or while on an adventure. You can minimize potential fears by familiarizing yourself with these 3 wilderness medicine and rescue keys: Preparation, Evaluation, and Perspiration. You don’t have to be an expert! Anyone can help a friend in an emergency! If you learn to apply these skills, you will have confidence to fight against the odds. So, are you going to just survive your adventure, or are you going to thrive under EVERY circumstance?

Lessons Learned by J.S.P.

I will begin with a brief introduction. I have been an avid reader of SurvivalBlog for a few years. I have never found a better collection of tips, ideas, and information. Every time I view the blog I learn something new. I was born and raised in the south, spending most of my time outdoors or in church. I grew up hunting, fishing, camping, and learning the value of a hard days work. I had believed that growing up as I did would provide me advantages in disaster situations without really making any in-depth preparations other than the occasional power outage. In my early twenties, I joined the Army. That is when I woke up and began to see the need for long term preparations. I started paying more attention to news reports and world events and realized I would not survive long on only good intentions when TSHTF.

I knew I needed to be better prepared, but I had no idea where to begin with such an enormous task. One of the soldiers in my unit suggested that I read the novel Patriots by James Wesley, Rawles. It was as if someone turned the light on. I now had a place to begin, a plan. I started out getting a bug out bag together and a small kit that is kept in my vehicle. I then moved on to food stores and other necessary tools. After I built up about six months worth of supplies I began to slow down. I had no real reason to slow down, I knew I still needed to have a larger stock of goods.

My continued efforts to increase my stores were given a new life and faster pace after April 2010. At the time of the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak I was serving in the Alabama National Guard and living in north Alabama. My Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) was Military Police, so as soon as I heard of the storm system heading our way I knew the probability of my unit being called up was high. The day seemed as if it would never end, the devastation was awe inspiring to say the least. One of the many tornados that touched down that day cut a path nearly a mile wide just a few short miles from a nuclear power plant which was less than an hour from my house. By God’s grace alone, the tornado left the power plant itself unharmed. This served as my first wake-up call, I hadn’t yet prepared for any kind of a nuclear disaster and hadn’t thought of a natural disaster effecting the nuclear power plant. Although the tornado missed the power plant, it did not miss the transmission lines supplying most of north Alabama with power. The few small hydroelectric dams in the area simply did not have the strength to cover the demand. Even if they could compensate for the loss of the nuclear plant the physical line damages would have prevented power coming back on line soon. From the Tuscaloosa and Birmingham areas north to the Tennessee state line, nearly half the state of Alabama, was dark and would stay that way for a week or more in most locations. Let me tell you first hand, it is one thing to hear someone say with the loss or damage to a supply chain or basic utilities we are only three days from total chaos, quite another to live it.

As I believed, my unit was called up within 24 hours to aid our fellow residents. We loaded up and headed to a city in the area that had been directly hit by an F-5 tornado. Nothing could have prepared us for what we saw upon our first arrival. More than half the town had been erased. Many had lost their lives in the storm and many more had been injured, lost their homes, or were missing. It was like rolling up to a live combat zone. We handed out nearly every scrap of food and water we had with us within just hours of our arrival. We continued to provide medical care and any other aid we could until other agencies arrived. Needless to say it was a long day for all involved.

In the coming days our role shifted to providing security for the area. After the initial shock wore off problems began to arise. We found that most people were completely unprepared for anything like this to happen. Most people didn’t even have any cash on hand, relying only on their debit or credit cards to buy anything they could from the few places that were able to quickly reopen. The problem with this was with a lack of power and phone service to authorize payments stores were only accepting cash. To make matters more stressful to people trying to snatch up any items left many stores, in an effort to prevent fights and theft, were only allowing customers accompanied by an employee in the store for a specified time limit. Many of the stores were even putting limits on how many items you could buy. The lines at the few grocery stores and gas stations quickly stretched to several miles long full of panicking people desperate for supplies. The grocery stores were full of empty shelves within hours. There was only one gas station that was able to sell gas at first due to the owner’s foresight to have a back up generator. Due to the lack of an operational power grid the fuel at other stations sat in the tanks with no way to operate the pumps. This too sold out in just hours.

There were a few small fights here and there usually occurring over the last of an item, bags of ice, or people cutting in front of others in lines. There were a few reports of people being robbed in parking lots after leaving a store, thankfully no one was harmed in these attempts but could have been easily. At this point power and distribution had only been interrupted for two days. People were becoming very desperate and in turn much more willing to take any step they thought necessary to get what they needed. The third day things started to improve overall. Many resupply trucks had rolled in to restock the open stores. Most of the larger chain stores and gas stations had brought in large generators to operate refrigeration systems allowing for cold items such as milk to be sold for the first time since the tornados. The generators also allowed the power needed to begin to process credit card payments. The next few days followed similar patterns with stores being resupplied in the mornings and empty at night. Stores still had incredibly long lines to purchase anything with waits ranging from 30 minutes to several hours. It seemed that the ability to purchase goods again and credit card systems back online provided enough of a sense of normality to keep most people from steeling or escalating to violence despite an operational power grid in many locations. From conversations with my family back at home I learned that things had followed a similar pattern. There were no large areas of destruction in my city other than trees down and a few houses missing roofs from trees falling on them. It was simply the loss of power that seemed to get everyone all riled up.

If there is only one thing that you take away from my experience here I would hope that it is the need to sit down and think of every possible thing that could occur in your area. As I stated above, I had not given much thought to a nuclear power plant being in my area simply because it would not be a likely target for a terrorist attack because of its location. I really hadn’t given much thought to something like a tornado hitting it directly, although looking back now it seems like such an obvious possibility. I guess that’s why they say hindsight is 20/20. I have now provided the necessary provisions for this possibility. Another area I would like to touch on is probably widely realized already by most survival blog readers but I feel the need to mention it anyway. As prepared individuals, we should never rely on the government or any other organization to provide us any aid in times of disasters or attacks. For our own safety we should never be in a position where we might have to give up our freedom or other rights in return for assistance, as in the case of many FEMA camps and shelters where once you enter you may not be allowed to leave until officially released.

One other topic I would like to discuss here is one that I have had difficulties with from time to time, tunnel vision. Tunnel vision can be problematic when making preparations. It can be very easy to focus too much on one aspect of survival needs and allow another area to fall behind. To put it another way, what good is it to have a two-year supply of food if you have failed to provide everything necessary to cook your stores or do not have the knowledge needed to properly utilize your stores. What would happen if someone showed up trying to take all that you have, would you have the necessary gear and training? One thing I have noticed in my own extended family is a family member would go out and buy a tool, no matter if it’s a rifle water filter or other survival tool, and feel like they were covered in that aspect. If you do not have the skills and knowledge to use the item then you might as well not have it. It is very important that you follow up the purchase of something with whatever training is necessary to make you proficient in its use. Take for example a rifle. This is a very important and useful tool if used properly. To use it properly you need training of some type on the safe operation of the rifle as well as fundamental marksmanship skills. Beyond the initial training it is crucial that you continue training with your rifle. Keep your skills sharp, shoot as often as your time and finances allow.

Getting back to the tunnel vision issue, having a military background I tend to lean heavily towards the tactical aspects of prepping because it is what I am most comfortable and familiar with. I have to constantly remind myself to take a step back and look at the big picture. I encourage all of you to also take a step back and look at the big picture. May God bless you and keep you safe in your prepping adventure. I leave you with a verse to look up, one of my favorites Romans 8:28.

Letter Re: A Week in a Bucket

Mr. Rawles:
I just “discovered’ your site and find it interesting and informative – thank you for this great service. I love the idea of A Week in a Bucket by ChemEngineer. It is simple and cheap and low key – three good rules to follow for most things in life. I currently have a few week’s supply of food in cardboard and plastic boxes but really want to move in this direction – I have been thinking about it for some time now. I would love to see a follow up by you or the original poster that addresses the following points that are frustrating me:
 
1) Storage life of crackers and cereals – The expiration dates on boxes of Saltines (and other crackers) and packaged cereals are typically only a few months. What is the “real” storage life of these products and how can you keep them even longer? Having a breadstuff to spread things on is pretty useful but so far the only thing with much of an expected shelf life is canned brown bread.
 
2) Is there a requirement to use mylar bags to pack food products that are already in envelopes, bags, (dry soups, pasta, Hamburger Helper, instant mashed potatoes) etc? Is there any value to putting these packages into Ziploc freezer bags to protect/extend their storage life?
 
3) Wise Foods sells rectangular plastic buckets with their freeze-dried food assortments that stack and pack closer than standard round buckets. Can you find these anywhere else? What do you think of using the rectangular plastic buckets that some kitty litter comes in? The buckets are “free” if you have friends with cats and have really great handles and a fitted lid that can be sealed with electrical or duct tape to help keep out bugs and moisture. If I wash them out with bleach they should be clean and odor free? Everything else would be in cans or plastic bags – would that be okay? Should I use Mylar bags? – Tom K.

JWR Replies: In answer to your questions:

Most low-oil content crackers and cereal products will store for up to ten years, if protected from moisture and intrusive odors. Vacuum-sealed mylar bags provide the best protection.

Clear plastic bags as interior bucket liners don’t add much protection, aside from preventing foods from getting mixed together. This is because most plastics are not long term vapor barriers. They are essentially gas permeable. For that matter, so are the HDPE plastic buckets themselves, long term. But a well-sealed food grade mylar bag is 99% effective as a vapor barrier. Buy oversize mylar liners that will protect the entire contents of a 6 gallon bucket. These mylar bucket liners are available from a number of Internet vendors, including several SurvivalBlog advertisers. (Be sure to do some comparison pricing, as the prices on these vary widely.) If you are worried about strong food odors affecting the other contents of your bucket, then also use smaller supplementary mylar liners for each food product that might be vulnerable. Note that if you are careful with mylar bags, they can be washed, thoroughly dried, and re-used.

Regarding re-using cat litter pails: Be advised that not all HDPE plastic buckets are food grade.  Many of them give off toxic vapors that can ruin stored foods.

Rectangular food grade buckets with lids are available from Yankee Containers.

Economics and Investing:

Debt Contagion Ahead! (Conveniently timed for after the U.S. Presidential election.): Citigroup Economists Say Greece To Exit Euro Zone On Jan. 1, 2013. (Thanks to K.A.F. for the link.)

From G.G.: Poverty Increasing Among Retirees

G.G. sent this: Smith & Wesson booms as firearms owners fear prez crackdown

Sean B. flagged this: Vallejo, California, once bankrupt, is now a model for cities in an age of austerity. Buried in the story, not surprisingly, is the revelation that the local sales tax was raised by 1% to a whopping 8.375% to bail out the spendthrift city government. (Only a leftist Washington Post journalist would have the temerity to headline this tax-gouging city a “model” for “austerity.”)

Items from The Economatrix:

The End of Inflation-Deflation Debate

Psychological Sentiment War is Raging in Precious Metals Markets

Gerald Celente:  Apocalypse Now.  The System is Falling Apart

Odds ‘n Sods:

Some great stuff from our blogosphere friend Patrice Lewis: Going Country: Moving Rural for Self-Reliance

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James C. suggested this instructional video: Five gallon bucket camp sink.

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Reader F.G. sent us another case of form over function: In Reversal, Army Bans High-Performance Rifle Mags. This is the typical boot-polishing “dress-right-dress” garrison mentality. The next thing you know, they’ll ban soldiers buying their own ACOG scopes or supplemental body armor. Talk about institutionalized stupidity! What a far cry from the Vietnam War, where carrying a personally-owned .38 Special or .357 Magnum revolver was not uncommon. (Although not officially sanctioned.)

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Brandon Smith: Low-Tech Solutions To High-Tech Tyranny

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Countering the U.N. gun grab: HR 5846 – The Second Amendment Sovereignty Act. SurvivalBlog readers in the U.S. are encouraged to contact their congresscritters to insist that they co-sponsor this legislation. (Thanks to Pierre M. for the alert.)

Notes from JWR:

I heard about a new web site that deserves prominent mention: PrepareHub.org. It is a spin-off from the popular EMPAct America organization, which has done yeoman service in educating the American people of the risks posed by EMP and large solar flares. PrepareHub is a sort of community web site on nationwide scale. It is intended to be a clearinghouse of ideas on all things preparedness-related. Among other projects they will be offering a comprehensive calendar for preparedness expos and training classes, and a wide range of preparedness products AT COST. (Think of it as prepper “Group Buys” on steroids.) They are also establishing numerous discussion forums for preppers, where civility will be stressed. Be sure to bookmark the site and visit it often.

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Today we present another entry for Round 40 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize: A.) A gift certificate worth $1,000, courtesy of Spec Ops Brand, 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 gift certificate from CJL Enterprize, for any of their military surplus gear, E.) A 9-Tray Excalibur Food Dehydrator from Safecastle.com (a $300 value), and F.) A $250 gift certificate from Sunflower Ammo.

Second Prize: A.) A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol. It is a $439 value courtesy of Next Level Training. B.) A FloJak FP-50 stainless steel hand well pump (a $600 value), courtesy of FloJak.com. C.) A “grab bag” of preparedness gear and books from Jim’s Amazing Secret Bunker of Redundant Redundancy (JASBORR) with a retail value of at least $300, D.) A $250 gift card from Emergency Essentials, and E.) two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value) and F.) A Tactical Trauma Bag #3 from JRH Enterprises (a $200 value).

Third Prize: A.) A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21. (This filter system is a $275 value.), B.) 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, C.) Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy. This is a $185 retail value, D.) A Commence Fire! emergency stove with three tinder refill kits. (A $160 value.), and E.) Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security.

Round 40 ends on May 31st, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. (At this point, with the queue full, any entries received will likely run after June 1st and be part of the Round 41 judging.) Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and articles that relate practical “how to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.