The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!

And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?

And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

And the gospel must first be published among all nations.” – Mark 13:1-10 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Saturday — November 5, 2022

On this day in 1605, King James learned about the Gunpowder Plot. Hence there is Guy Fawkes Day.

“Remember, remember the Fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.”

—

Also on this day, 300 Santee Sioux were sentenced to hang.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 103 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  6. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $750,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 103 ends on November 30th, 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.

Mitigating the Drone/RDF Threat – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 1.)

Down and Dirty, Remotely Controlled Transceivers

Armed with the axiom that if something is ‘stupid, but works, then it is not stupid’, we can become creative. In the most austere environments where field expedient and unconventional means are the only means, I should mention that a Citizen’s Band (CB) radio with a Public Address (P.A.) function, or a hard wire intercom can also be used with the VOX feature of a transceiver to cause it to transmit. Using these means, we can transmit remotely, yet we can only receive via a transceiver located at the base station. This is not optimal, yet in many situations, it could be perfectly good enough. When it comes to field expedient means, keep in mind that “perfection is the enemy of good enough”, especially if it can save lives.

We can also operate two separate CB radios over two separate runs of WD1a wire as a crude phone system whereby each station can communicate. An intercom can perform similarly, as well. And we can use a C.B radio’s P.A. function to deliver instructions remotely at a checkpoint safely from an LP/OP. Field phones can assist at a checkpoint as well and in conjunction with a P.A. system. It would be good to be able to interview (interrogate) persons at the front gate from a safe distance, especially if overwatch is not available.

RF Propagation Techniques as RF Camouflage

Historically, RF propagation techniques were practiced extensively on the battlefield and were once SOP for our military, from WW2 through Vietnam and a bit beyond. Nothing I’ve mentioned is new under the sun, but proven. How we use it, could be another matter, so it would be good to define what it essentially is: RF camouflage.

Moving beyond field phones, we can use propagation methods as part of a defense. As a metaphor, these methods should be considered as a sort of electronic/RF camouflage that can be deployed on an electronic battlefield. Using one’s imagination, we might be seen or heard, yet we may not necessarily be identified or located. That is what camouflage does in the physical/visual realm. Camouflage does not actually make us invisible. Rather, it confuses the viewer about what he is observing. What kind of camouflage should be used will depend on the terrain, and circumstances.Continue reading“Mitigating the Drone/RDF Threat – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit”

Editors’ Prepping Progress

To be prepared for a crisis, every Prepper must establish goals and make long-term and short-term plans. In this column, the SurvivalBlog editors review their week’s prep activities and planned prep activities for the coming week. These range from healthcare and gear purchases to gardening, ranch improvements, bug out bag fine-tuning, and food storage. This is something akin to our Retreat Owner Profiles, but written incrementally and in detail, throughout the year.  We always welcome you to share your own successes and wisdom in your e-mailed letters. We post many of those –or excerpts thereof — in this column, in the Odds ‘n Sods Column, and in the Snippets column. Let’s keep busy and be ready!

Jim Reports:

My sprained ankle has much improved, so I’m now back to doing most of my regular chores around the ranch.

I’m continuing the carpentry work, adding partitions and shelves to our workshop. And adding the insulation panels is quite time-consuming. Those projects will surely occupy much of my spare time for most of the winter.

The rush of holiday orders has begun for my sideline mailorder business, Elk Creek Company. The large number of orders that I’m getting for pocketknives suggests that folks are already shopping for Christmas and Hanukkah gifts.

We received our first snow this week. The two quite useful weather sites that I check the most often the WeatherStreet Jet Stream Map, and the Forecast Models at TropicalTidBits.

Lily will fill you in on our local weather.Continue reading“Editors’ Prepping Progress”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired;

Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord‘s anger come upon you.

Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord‘s anger.

For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.

Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the Lord is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.

And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.

And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.

I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.

Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts.

The Lord will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.” – Zephaniah 2:1-11 (KJV)

Preparedness Notes for Friday — November 4, 2022

November 4th is the birthday of Medal of Honor recipient John Basilone. He was born in 1916 in Buffalo, New York. His amazing heroism was highlighted in the television miniseries The Pacific.

—

Ready Made Resources — our first and most loyal advertiser — now has a special sale price on White Phosphor PVS-14 Elbit XLSH Tube Gen 3 Autogated Night Vision Monoculars. They are being offered as a complete kit, with a mil-spec US-made tube. They have these in stock for immediate shipment. Note that this is a limited-time offer, so get your order in soon.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 103 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  6. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $750,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 103 ends on November 30th, 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.

Mitigating the Drone/RDF Threat – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit

Introduction

This is an extension to my recent SurvivaBlog article titled Advanced Field Telephone Techniques, yet it examines and details the topic in the context of a specific threat. It often pays to reiterate and reinforce. While partly an intellectual pursuit, this discussion is grounded in decades of real world experience, sans actual battlefield experience, or military training. With this disclaimer stated, we can rest assured because the method of remotely operating transceivers via field phones was once SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for U.S. military forces. It is well-proven on the battlefield as method of avoiding RDF, and subsequent direct attack by enemy forces.

It is also a method that can be used as a substitute for a radio repeater. However, in this modern age, we should be aware that the best that we can attempt is mitigation, and should not expect that we can totally avoid the threat. At any time that there is RF generated by any device to include, for example, the charge controller of our PV array, there exists RF (Radio Frequency) energy that could be detected. Total RF silence at a base station should be in effect for best results. I, therefore, use relatively RF-quiet charge controllers, the Morningstar TS-45/60 with the PWM switched off to lower my RF footprint. Typically, many MPPT-type charge controllers are relatively RF noisy.

JWR Adds:  Even the local oscillator within a radio receiver produces detectable RF energy  — but minuscule, compared to what you’d produce in operating a transmitter.

Understanding the Threat

Drone technology is here to stay and drones will increasingly become problems in many ways. They can be used to gather intelligence visually, day and at night. Thermal imaging can be used both during the day and at night. And now affordable drones have Radio Direction Finding (RDF) capabilities. Drones are increasingly used for intelligence gathering, and kinetic (offensive) measures. An ability to use doppler RDF technology, allows drones to locate a potential target. Learning how to deal with such a growing threat will be an ongoing process. As technology advances, we can adopt low-tech practices that can help us conduct a more secure communications plan. To better understand the threat and the measures proposed, we need to understand how drones are used in RDF operations. There is an excellent video on how RDF using drones works. Please first view this instructional video from S2 Underground, and then come back to this article:

Radio Direction Finding: AKA How “They” Can Find You

A drone does not necessarily need to have RDF capability to be a threat. Rudimentary direction-finding methods involving a yagi or a moxon antenna, and a handheld receiver with a strength meter, or simply a good ear, and a map of the area, can give the user a rough bearing as to where he should fly his drone to pinpoint a retreat location visually. If the location has enough electrical power to run a radio, then it is of interest as it likely has other desirable or essential supplies to attract looters.

Remote Transceiver Operation Using Field Phones

We begin with the most effective method that is available, one that may work for most people without much background in the subject. Field phones, and the devices mentioned, are relatively simple devices, devices so simple, that as a child, I was ‘messing with this stuff’. If I can, then you can. I would encourage anyone with any understanding of electrical circuits to use these methods. The terms mentioned in this article might be new and strange to the reader. But do not be discouraged, since this stuff is not rocket science. Anyone who can connect two wires to a field phone could be in business. And that is the beauty and strength of field phones, rugged simplicity that is sustainable low technology that can defeat the highest tech, and cutting edge of surveillance means and methods. It is a 25-cent solution to a million-dollar problem.Continue reading“Mitigating the Drone/RDF Threat – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. Most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor, JWR. Today, we look at how collectibles and other tangibles fare in times of inflation. (See the Tangibles Investing section.)

Precious Metals:

Hedge funds will remain bearish on gold price until the Fed slows its pace of tightening.

o  o  o

Could a Red Wave Cool Off the Retail Bullion Market?

Economy & Finance:

Just as predicted: Fed announces third consecutive 75-basis point rate hike.

o  o  o

Bram Berkowitz: Will the Fed Pivot This Week?

o  o  o

Video: “What’s Coming Is Worse Than a Recession” – Jeremy Grantham

o  o  o

An often-overlooked economic measure is signaling serious trouble ahead.

o  o  o

From the lefties at the Detroit Free Press: Is a recession inevitable in 2023? What the experts are saying.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“To me, a wilderness is where the flow of wildness is essentially uninterrupted by technology; without wilderness the world is a cage.” – David Brower  JWR’s Note: David Brower was the brother of my uncle Joseph Brower, who was much more conservative. Having a strident environmentalist liberal like Dave Brower in the family certainly made for some interesting and lively conversations at their holiday gatherings!

Preparedness Notes for Thursday — November 3, 2022

On November 3, 1903, Walker Evans, the American photographer best known for his portrayal of America during the Great Depression, was born.

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 103 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  6. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $750,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 103 ends on November 30th, 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.

Post-TEOTWAWKI Wound Care – Part 2, by M.V.

(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.)

Another type of abscess which might be encountered would be a perianal or perirectal abscess. Though hygiene can play a role it is typically caused by an infection in the perianal crypts which extends into the subcutaneous space. Pain and swelling typically occur as in all abscesses and prompt drainage is necessary. The longer that these progress; the more extensive that they become, so time is of the essence. Drainage is as previously described and your incision should be radially away from the anus as if the anus was a hub on a wheel and the incision is the spoke. You are looking for the softest spot on the swollen area which is typically away from the muscles which you do not want to cut. A generous incision is made with ellipse of skin and care as described previously. Most times you will not need oral antibiotics if you catch these early.

We can probably ignore the treatment of diabetic ulcers and venous and arterial ulcers and wounds because these patients will likely not have the required care and medications necessary remain stable for an extended period of time. Let us now discuss large wounds with significant tissue loss and necrosis. These can occur if a simple abscess is allowed to progress significantly as well as with traumatic injuries. The body’s response to large wounds is the same as with small, just on a grander scale. Modalities which we would employ in the here and now such as rotation flaps, skin grafts, wound vacuum devices will not be available. The biologic substances that are also available and quite expensive will also not be available.

One of the biggest issues with large wounds is control of infection. There are issues of fluid losses but we are not going to discuss wounds that are that large since the likelihood of survival in a post-collapse world with that type of wound will be an act of God.Continue reading“Post-TEOTWAWKI Wound Care – Part 2, by M.V.”

The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “JWR”. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. Today, some updates on the nuclear war threat.

Rule of Law Clinic Reports: Maintaining Continuity of Government

Over at the Fordham Law School website: Rule of Law Clinic Reports Focus on Maintaining Continuity of Presidency and Congress. The piece begins:

“Two new reports released by Fordham Law School’s Rule of Law Clinic conclude that the federal government is not adequately prepared to continue functioning in a crisis. One of the reports recommends reforms to the presidential line of succession, while the other considers how Congress can continue working in the aftermath of a catastrophe.”

Pentagon May Now Use Of Nukes Against Non-Nuclear Threats

In Stunning Strategy Reversal, Pentagon Will No Longer Rule Out Use Of Nuclear Weapons Against Non-Nuclear Threat.

US Boots Are On The Ground In Ukraine

Over at Zero Hedge: Pentagon Confirms US Boots Are On The Ground In Ukraine.  The article includes this:

“This week Finland has been among the first European countries to document the spread of West-supplied weaponry outside of Ukraine’s borders and into the hands of criminal elements, as we detailed previously. “Weapons shipped [by various countries] to Ukraine have also been found in Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands,” Finland’s federal National Bureau of Investigation chief Christer Ahlgren was quoted by national broadcaster Yle as saying.”

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — November 2, 2022

On November 2, 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour submitted a declaration of intent to establish a Jewish homeland, known as the Balfour Declaration. While Arab hostilities and the outbreak of World War II delayed the desired outcome, the Nation of Israel was eventually re-established in 1948.

—

We are continuing the deeply-discounted sale on all of our shootable replica black powder revolvers at Elk Creek Company. Note that no FFL is required to order, and that cartridge conversion cylinders are available for many of these models. This sale will end on Tuesday, November 8th, so order soon!

—

SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 103 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  6. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical 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,
  2. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  3. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  2. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  3. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $750,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. Round 103 ends on November 30th, 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.

Post-TEOTWAWKI Wound Care – Part 1, by M.V.

Wound care is not the most glamorous of subjects but might come in handy down the road. We are not going to discuss the care we can provide in the here and now, which can be quite advanced as well as incredibly costly, but what we can do in a pinch if needed with stuff we have hanging around. This first part is the basic science of wound healing in a nutshell. It might glaze your eyes over but bear with it since it is always good to know what is actually happening in order to fix it.

It goes without saying that in order to talk about wound healing you first need a wound. Whether it is large or small the general process is the same and there are four phases: hemostasis, inflammatory, proliferative and remodeling.

If your body cannot stop the bleeding the outcome will not be good. Hemostasis (blood clotting) occurs in a couple of phases, which we will simplify. As an injury to a vessel occurs the vessel will constrict to stop the flow. The injury to the cells of the vessel wall will cause your platelets to activate which in itself has its own process. The platelets get sticky and try to stick to one another and to the injured cells, which causes a plug to form to try to stem the bleeding. This is primary hemostasis. Drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and clopidigril (Plavix) inhibit primary hemostasis in a variety of ways. There effect on hemostasis is why people with heart disease, coronary and vascular stent placement, strokes, et cetera take these drugs. The science behind aspirin in relation to prevention of heart disease is undergoing some changes with newer long-term data, which does not show the benefit that was once thought.

This is probably a good time to mention that real science has real studies that take time to run. Data from long-term studies sometimes corroborates the early work, sometimes not. These studies can reveal new issues, unintended complications and maybe other benefits not previously known. The “science” and “data” over the past few years has at times been pretty shoddy. I think that is a polite way of describing the damage done. Enough of the soapbox. Let’s get back to hemostasis.Continue reading“Post-TEOTWAWKI Wound Care – Part 1, by M.V.”