Category: Survival

Backpacking On A Budget

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

If you’re like me, and love to get outdoors, you have probably considered hiking. Just to be clear, when I say hiking, I don’t mean going on a walk through the woods. I am talking about multiple days with everything you need strapped to your back as you explore God’s creation. That is the kind of hiking I like to do, but there was a time that I didn’t think I could afford to get into it. I, being a researcher by nature, gathered as much information as I could on gear, the trails around me, and the skills I needed to get the most out of my experiences. I found the cost a little “off putting” to say the least.

I was, however, determined to get out on the trails, so I weighed my options and found the cheapest way to get into the action while compromising quality and comfort as little as possible. Speaking of comfort, I also learned an important rule during this process. It is that there are all kinds of comfort, and all kinds of discomfort. When choosing your gear, keep this in mind. You will often find that there are items that make you more comfortable while on the trail, and items that make you more comfortable at camp. Usually, if an item does both of these things, they will be financially uncomfortable. So, I have compiled a list of items that are both affordable, and will help make your hike more enjoyable.

Some decent budget backpacks

First thing you are going to need is a backpack. Amazon has some great options for backpacks, but I would be doing you a disservice if I didn’t mention Facebook marketplace. You can usually find some good deals on hiking packs from people who have replaced their old gear with the latest and greatest. I really like Kelty brand backpacks, and have several of them. I have yet to pay full price for one. The cheapest I have paid for one is $5 at a yard sale. It has been a good pack, but has been “reassigned” as my get home bag. My current hiking pack is a 90s era Jansport external frame pack. It was a steal on FB marketplace at $40.

If it is a new backpack you want, you have some good choices online that won’t break the bank. I have 3 options for you that I wouldn’t mind buying, but the decision ultimately comes down to what you want. I am biased toward external frames because I believe they distribute, and support the weight of my gear better than internal framed packs while allowing air to pass between my body and the pack. Internal frames have their advantages because they are easier to store and transport.

Teton 65L Internal frame backpack

Teton 25L daypack

Maelstrom 50L

Affordable tents

Moving on from backpacks, you need a good tent. This is your home on the trail, and it needs to be good in 3 different areas in order for it to be worth buying. It needs to keep water out. It is inevitable that you will get rained on if you make a habit of hiking. When it does rain, you want a dry place to hide and sleep. It also needs to fit you and your gear. Look for a tent with a vestibule, or a good sized 2 person tent. Lastly, it needs to be a reasonable weight. A general hiking rule is, ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal fatigue. Don’t try carrying a 6 person tent. When I go hiking without my wife, a carry a 2.5 lb. tent. Its just big enough for me and my backpack.

Unlike your backpack, you will not want to buy a used tent. Cheap tents don’t last long, and most people use their good expensive tents until they are worn out and leaky. You might find a good deal on one somewhere, but don’t be surprised if your sleeping bag becomes a waterbed. There are plenty of options available to you from around $20 up to well into the hundreds of dollars. Here are some tents I wouldn’t be afraid to at least try out.

Ultralight trekking pole tent if you plan to buy trekking poles as well.

2 person backpacking tent May need additional waterproofing

2 Person tent with vestibule I actually added this one to my wish list.

Trekking poles

Trekking poles are great. They help to keep a steady pace while walking, and can even relieve some weight from your legs while going up hills. The available options are all pretty good, but the best option, in my opinion, is to make your own from a sapling. I like to use one pole instead of two, and I have had mine for over 6 years. It is made from an American hawthorn sapling, and is between 60 and 66 inches long. It is heavier than commercial trekking poles, but it supports a lot of weight that I would not trust to a telescoping pole. The best thing about it was that it was free!

Trekking poles if you are going to get the trekking pole tent.

Cooking on the trail

You’re going to need to eat. There are all kinds of options for ways to cook while hiking, but I will save you the guess work and money with one option. Get a cheap Chinese backpacking stove.

This is all you need and will last you for years. I have one that I bought in 2017 and it is still going strong. I like it so much, I bought another one for when my whole family hits the trail. You don’t need a Jetboil or whatever the new hotness happens to be. But please don’t try to carry a Coleman stove.          

Packable Sleeping solutions you won’t lose sleep over

Sleeping bags can be hit or miss. You don’t really want to buy a used one because, let’s be honest, that’s a health gamble. You don’t want to end up with scabies, or some other ailment that penicillin wont clear up. Instead, you should be looking for a decent new bag that is affordable and does two things. It should meet the temperature minimums you will encounter on your hike, but preferably will go just a little lower. It should also pack down small enough to fit inside of your backpack. Weight is not really a concern as much as size here. As the saying goes, “pack light, freeze at night”.

Teton 20 degree mummy bag

MalloMe 40 degree

Naturehike warm weather sleeping bag

Sleeping pads will help keep you off the ground. Not only will you be more comfortable, but you won’t lose body heat to the cold ground. This is completely optional, but you should definitely consider buying one.

Inflatable sleeping pad

Don’t forget chairs

There is much debate as to whether or not chairs are a necessary hiking item. For me, they are non-negotiable. Sure, you can sit on logs or rocks, or the cold hard ground, but if you find the right chair, it’s only a couple of extra pounds, and the relief it can bring you on breaks or at the camp site vastly outweighs the fatigue caused by the additional load. I have tried a few different options from regular folding camp chairs to my current choice, a lightweight three legged folding stool. Each have their own advantages and disadvantages. The camp chairs are more comfortable. You can lean back in them, and most have a cup holder and arm rests. However, they are heavy. The backpacking chairs have a little back to them, so they offer some support in that way. They are also light, but they sit so low to the ground that getting out of them with sore legs and back is not enjoyable. The three legged folding stools are regular seat height, and actually quite comfy. The only drawback is that they don’t have a backrest.

Marchway ultralight chair

iClimb Ultralight chair

Redcamp portable stool

Gear you can’t cheap out on

The previous items were great examples of areas to save some money, but there are some things you should really consider spending a little extra on, such as knives. I’m not saying to go out and spend over $100 on a knife, but you should make sure your blade is going to hold up to hard use. Gerber usually has reasonably priced knives with good steel in the blades. You are going to use your knife more than you might think, so be sure to get a good one. There are too many options to list them all, so I will show you what I use, and you can go from there.

Gerber Strongarm . This is the closest thing I could find to the Gerber Prodigy that I carry

Gerber Paraframe

Gerber MP600 multi tool

A good flashlight does more than just light up the area at which you point it. A good light provides enough light, while conserving battery power. Believe me, you don’t want to run out of battery in the middle of a hike. Your light should also be small in size, and in weight. That is a hard combo to find at an affordable rate, but here are some options.

Olight i3t

Streamlight ProTac

NEBO inspector

You will also need to spend money on good footwear. I am partial to Merrel brand, but there are several others that are good. Pick what ever you like, but do yourself a favor, and don’t skimp out here. If you take care of your feet, they will take care of you.

Gear you don’t need

Hammock

Now that you’re feeling like I just told you to spend lots of money, here are some things you don’t really need to buy, such as hammocks. They are incredibly comfortable, easy to put up, and can come with bug nets. But they add weight, can be hard for some to get in and out of, and you don’t really need one. Will you regret bringing one on your hike? Probably not. Will your hike be unenjoyable without one? Absolutely not.

Electronics

Next is any form of electronic entertainment. Just don’t do this. Unplugging and experiencing God’s creation is part of the hiking experience. It is extra weight, extra battery power, noise and light pollution, and extra money. Also, things get wet, dropped, squished, and banged up against objects while you’re out on the trail. If your goal is to save some money, electronics are the last thing you want to bring with you. Do bring your cellphone, however, in case of emergencies, but if you keep it off, your hike will probably be a lot more enjoyable.

GPS

You are most likely not blazing a new trail to the pacific coast. You are probably not going to wander off the trail at all, so you will most likely not need a GPS. With that being said, if you do plan to wander off the beaten path, make sure you know what to do if you get lost. We can offer you training in wayfinding, and wildness survival in case you do. If you absolutely must have a GPS, don’t waste your money on a cheap one. A good compass and a map would do you as much good if you know how to use it.

Special backpacking clothing

Pants, shirts, a sweatshirt, extra socks, and underwear are all you need to have. Lightweight, moisture wicking, tear resistant fabric is good, and if you can afford it, you should probably try it out. However, it is not needed. I have never taken any kind of special clothes on the trail, and, unless someone gives me some for free, I never will. With that being said, ladies, you should not wear leggings into the woods. They are not designed to hold up to wear and tear. The same goes for Jeggings. You might not have an incident, but you sure don’t want to have one.

Communicating during a service outage part 2

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

I sat down with my wife yesterday evening and asked her if she had specific areas of concern if there were ever an extended crisis. I’m talking no power, no stores, nothing but what you have stocked up on, and the skills you have learned. She gave me a lot of great insights into the things she, as a woman, considers important, and I will be addressing them in future posts. Of the things she mentioned, she never said anything about communication, but I know from previous conversations how important it is to her to remain in contact with friends.

Why is it so important

Most of us men can go months without talking to our friends, and when we finally do, we are able to pick up where we left off with ease. Women are typically more social than we are, and I think that fact is often overlooked in our preparedness plans. If my wife goes a while without talking to a friend, she starts to wonder if the friendship is still healthy, or might begin to worry about them. That is why I suggested to my wife that she learn to use our radio in order to talk to her friends if cell phones are  not an option. By doing so, she will be able to contact her friends, as long as they also have a radio.

In our world, I think we take the distance between us and friends or family for granted. My Mother in law lives about 30 minutes away, but that is if we are driving. If there is ever a reason we couldn’t travel by car, that would be a much harder trip to take. I would imagine that it would take at least two days to get my whole family that far on foot. With a radio at both sites, and a plan to be available at certain times, staying in contact would be a breeze.

The solution

If you’re on the fence about getting into ham radio, or even getting some good GMRS equipment, now is the time. You have to learn how to use it before you need it. There is a lot to know. It does not work like a phone where you can simply key in a frequency and start talking to your friend. However, once you learn how to operate a radio, you will see how truly useful it is. There are networks of people over the whole country that you can join, and if you get a good contact plan set up, you will not have to worry about staying in touch anymore.

We do sell some starter radios that we can pre-program to reach all of the networks in your area as well as some simple frequencies to talk radio to radio. There are certain tones your radio has to be programmed with in order to activate the repeaters, and each repeater has its own required tones. Click here to learn more about our radios, and, as always, check out our contact us page for more information.

Communication During a Service Outage

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

 

Modern conveniences have made us forget what it was like years ago when you either had to be at home, or use a payphone to have a conversation with someone who wasn’t right next to you. If you are old enough, you might remember being able to make “collect calls” from a payphone if you didn’t have any change. Those days are long gone now that everyone is carrying a cell phone. Even landlines are becoming increasingly rare. But what happens when cell service is interrupted?

Early in 2024, there was a cell phone service outage that impacted everyone using AT&T service. While it did not last long, it serves as a reminder that we are far too dependent on our cell phones. During the outage, if you needed help on the side of the road, were trying to check in with friends or family, or had to call 911, you were out of luck. So, what can you do to break away from relying solely on cell service for your communication needs?

Reasons to consider alternative communication options

Cell service can be attacked

Cell service can be shut off during an emergency

Cell service can be over loaded during an emergency

You could be in an area without cell service during an emergency

Cell phones can break or run out of batteries

Cell phones are easily tracked (if you’re concerned about that sort of thing)

What are the options?

There are 5 alternative options I know of that will be useful if cell service goes down. I have ranked these options based on 3 categories. First is usefulness. How far away can you clearly communicate with another person. Second is ease of use. How foolproof is it really. Third is cost. Can the average person reasonably afford to do this.

LORA

There is a decent option called LORA which is a digital packet radio system that allows you to send text and data wirelessly. These systems use a frequency band that does not have licensing regulations (as of now) and few restrictions on what you can use it for. Some have claimed to get between 10 and 20 miles of range with these if they are set up properly. The best thing about this system is that they can be linked together in a mesh network, and your range can be extended greatly.

One perk of a mesh network is that if you overlap signal coverage from multiple units, if one goes offline, the others will pick up the slack. One challenge is that you need to be a bit tech savvy to set up a network, and each person in your communication plan needs a device that can use it, and these devices usually have to be built. Another challenge is the cost. Setting up a mesh network will have you sourcing components such as transceivers and power supplies. You have to decide if you are going to run solar (expensive), or battery (needs to be changed more often), or grid power (units won’t work during an outage). Prices could go well into the thousands depending on the network you are building.

Sat Phones

Satellite phones are amazing. They work almost anywhere, and they use the existing phone system making their range potentially limitless. They work by connecting to the nearest satellite which then connects your phone to the nearest land based phone system. However, if there is bad weather, or you are in a location that blocks signal to the satellites, it might not work. Using one is a breeze. You receive instructions on how to use them when you buy one, but it is essentially a telephone, and you dial it like any other. The cost is what lands sat phones so low on this list. Aside from the initial investment, you will need a service plan. This keeps the average person out of the sat phone game, but if you can afford it, it would be a good option.

FRS

FRS, or family radio service, are the blister pack walkie talkies that you can buy off the shelf at sporting goods and grocery stores everywhere. They make bold claims about their range, and I have to admit that I fell for it years ago. I have some walkie talkies that claimed to have up to 60 miles of range. I knew nothing about radios, but I knew that I had been had when they wouldn’t reach from my house to my workplace ¾ of a mile away. They aren’t a good option for long range comms. Realistically, if you have good conditions for signal propagation and a direct line of site between the radios, you might get a few miles of range. More often than not, you will not find yourself in those conditions.

They are the easiest option to use on this list. They have access to 22 channels and some have NOAA weather channels programmed into them. There is little you have to know or do to be able to start talking. You only have to make sure that all units are on the same channel and, if applicable, the same privacy channel.

Most of these radios will be inexpensive and can be found almost anywhere. You can even find them used and get really good deals. Just make sure the battery compartment isn’t corroded if you do buy them used. Also, if the units you get aren’t rechargeable, you need to include the price of frequently replacing batteries when considering your options.

GMRS

GMRS is like the big brother of FRS. There are a few blister pack radios that claim to be GMRS and FRS, but there are big differences between the two. For starters, GMRS radios can transmit at a higher power than FRS radios. You can also get a mobile unit for your vehicle or home, with the right setup. While the handheld units on average are transmitting at 5 watts, the mobile units can put out up to 50 watts. You also get the added bonus of larger antennas that can be mounted higher. As you go higher, your line of sight increases, and so does your range. With a direct line of sight, and good weather conditions, a 5 watt handheld radio can probably make it 10 miles or so. A 50 watt radio will go much further. You also have another added benefit over FRS, with the option the talk over a repeater. This acts as a relay point that receives your signal, and sends it out thus furthering your range. Repeaters are normally set up at high points to maximize their range.

For all this extra range, you are going to have some difficulties. First, in order to transmit on a GMRS radio legally, you need to have a license which cost $35, does not require a test, is good for 10 years, and covers everyone in your household. Second, in order to get the range, you need to know how to set up the radio. Most will come with the channels pre programmed, but if you want to access repeaters, you will need to have the right “tones” programmed into your radio. A quick search of repeaters in your area will show which ones you can access and what settings you need to have in order to do so. You could also set up your own repeater if you wanted to.

Most GMRS radios are affordable, and they are a good option if you have a good network, and your friends or family or using it. A decent handheld can cost as little as $20 and will give you more range than an FRS radio. A mobile unit requires an external antenna and has to be hooked into your vehicle’s power system. This setup will most likely cost around $200 or more depending on which options you choose.

HAM

Ham radio is by far the best option on this list, as you have access to longer range frequencies than you can get on GMRS. Ham radios have an extensive network of repeaters, and people have made contact with radios halfway around the world. In certain conditions, at the right frequencies, you can transmit point to point well over 1000 miles away. There are various laws in affect that limit the power of said transmissions, but it can be done well within those limits. With a little know how, you can also use satellites to relay your transmissions!

You will not get that kind of range, however, by simply plugging in a radio and pushing the button to talk. There is a lot to know about HAM radio before you can even start transmitting, and in fact, in order to legally use Ham frequencies, you need a license from the FCC. Unlike the GMRS license, this one comes with a test. You need to know how radio signals work, and the dangers involved in using them. That’s right, you can seriously injure yourself or someone else with the improper use of a high powered radio signal. That is why there are multiple levels of HAM licenses available. With each level, the knowledge you need to pass the test increases. If you are wanting to talk halfway around the world, you need to know what you are doing, and set your radio up in the right way to do it.

The cost is relative to what you want to get out of it. You can get into HAM for around $60 if you go for a cheap handheld unit and your license. However, you will need to program your radio in order to get the most out of it. If you’re interested, we offer an inexpensive handheld unit that can be preprogrammed for your area. On the other end of the cost spectrum, you can spend tens of thousands of dollars on radio equipment, and transmit up to a whopping 1500 watts! Most people find that they can get by with a good Handheld unit, and a “base” radio.

You need a plan!         

Every plan, no matter how much equipment you throw at it, can fail if you don’t know how to use it. No matter which option you choose for you communication plan, you have to be using it. You need to test its capabilities and limitations. Each person involved needs to be using their equipment with you. You have to do this regularly, and while you have access to much needed information to be able to get the most out of it. Don’t wait until an emergency to turn on your radios just to find out that you have no idea what you are doing.

Finally, to maintain readiness, your plan should include a schedule to have everyone tune their radios to a certain frequency at a certain time in case anyone needs to make contact. A basic rule that is easy to remember is the 3 3 3 rule. You turn your radios on every third hour, on channel 3 (or any frequency you designate), for three minutes, and you listen. Anyone needing to make contact can do so at these set times without the uncertainty of whether anyone is listening or not. This will also help to conserve battery power, and make your signal harder to pinpoint, if that is something you’re concerned about.

Tourniquets

Posted on by Adam Hoffman

Tourniquets

Over the last couple of decades, the likelihood of someone being involved in an incident that would require them to have life saving knowledge and equipment has increased. We have seen many riots and shootings and even had a large scale terrorist attack. Aside from the everyday dangers that one may encounter, these incidents are becoming more frequent.

For me, a major cause of concern is the sheer number of lives that could be saved if people nearby were trained and willing to administer life saving treatment to the victims of these attacks. Sadly, few people know what to do if someone gets a life threatening wound, like a gunshot. Because the damage from them comes from widespread hydrostatic shock, as well as the hole they make, many GSWs (gunshot wounds) can easily cause arterial bleeding. When they are on an extremity, such as an arm or leg, a tourniquet can be applied to cause “blood occlusion” which basically means the flow of the arteries has been clamped off.

Tourniquets have been in use for somewhere around 2600 years and have seen very little change in their basic function. However, they are now being mass produced, and a great deal of research and development has gone into the various designs. As a result, some great tourniquets have hit the market, and some that aren’t much better than a rope and a stick. Lucky for us laymen, there is a group that tests and approves medical care and equipment as it relates to the type of wound caused by mass casualty events.

The CoTCCC (Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care) examines the data on tourniquets, and either approves them, or doesn’t based on certain criteria. Until recently, there were 2 tourniquets on their list. At this time there are 8, but some of them are older versions that have since been replaced. A quick search will reveal a current list. The list is the deciding factor on what the military, police, and first responders carry in the field.

Wound Care Basics

Make no mistake, a hole in your body will do the same damage at the shopping mall or on the construction site as it does on a battlefield across the world. If you want to be prepared, you need to be able to recognize the types of bleeding, and know how to stop them.

First, there is minor bleeding. This is usually from a scrape or small nick, not even worthy of being called a cut. Slap a bandage on it and you’re going to be fine.

Second is heavy bleeding. This is a real cut. It could be bad enough to need stitches or surgery, but you only need to recognize that there is a lot of blood coming out. The blood will be oozing or dripping, and you will need to apply pressure or even pack the wound with gauze to stop it.

   

The third, arterial bleeding, is the most severe. Arterial bleeding is when blood is squirting, or pouring out. This type of wound will likely require more than just pressure and packing. If it is on a limb, a tourniquet will need to be applied. In the pictures below, you can see a training tourniquet being applied.

 

Someone with a wound like that does not have long to live. In fact, in less than two minutes, they could be gone. That does not leave time for an ambulance to come, so either they are going to have to get their own bleeding stopped, or someone else is. Being ready with a tourniquet, in this case, is the difference between life, or death.

Tourniquets We Trust

CAT Gen 7

The most common type of tourniquet you will find on the market is the CAT Gen 7. This tourniquet, which has been approved by the CoTCCC for a long time, is very simplistic in its design. It has a red tab that makes it easy to know where to pull while you are under stress. Believe me, when you are in a stressful situation, you fumble around, and lose fine motor skills. Having visual cues helps mitigate the confusion and fumbling when seconds become precious.

This is the reason the Army uses the CAT Gen 7 tourniquet. It is not only easy to use, but it deploys very quickly. In combat, soldiers need something quick and effective. The CAT fits the bill in every way. That is why they are so popular in the civilian market as well. The sooner you get blood loss under control, the better chance a victim has of surviving.                        

 
 
 

 
 
SAM XT

Another tourniquet that is approved by the COTCCC is the SAM XT. While it does retain many of the same qualities of the CAT, the SAM stands out with its locking mechanism. With the CAT, you have to back wrap it onto itself so it can engage the hook and loop strips before you tighten it. With the SAM, you pull it tight, and it clicks into place. No additional steps are needed before you start tightening.

 

 

 

Stay Away From Cheap Knock Offs and Gimmicks

Fake CATs

It has been said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. While that may be true, in the case of tourniquets it could be deadly. The phrase, “you get what you pay for” is the last thing you want going through you mind when you are applying a tourniquet, and the windlass snaps in half. The truth is, it is going to be hard enough to apply a tourniquet, so you will want to rest assured that when you do, it will do its job.

There are a number of tourniquets available online that look identical to the CAT. They are not the same thing. CAT tourniquets are made in America, and they are made to meet the needs of military, law enforcement, and first responders. The cheap ones are made to get you to buy them, and they are usually made in China. The materials used are not guaranteed to hold up to the forces applied when a tourniquet is tightened.

If you read the reviews given for them, you will find that the windlass, the stick used to tighten the tourniquet, will often snap. This means that all the time it took to get the tourniquet in place is now wasted, and it may need to be removed before another one can be applied. Take into consideration the time it takes for a person to bleed to death. You don’t want to waste any time.

The truth is, these tourniquets are merely a greedy attempt for someone to tap into a market without having to put the effort into R&D, good materials, or quality manufacturing. They don’t care that their product might fail, and a life will be lost. They got their $10. Don’t bet your life on a knock off. The real thing is only $20 more.

Misleading Labels

Another thing you will see is the term “TCCC” approved on tourniquet’s label. You might think that means the CoTCCC has given their blessing for that model, but you should check the list before you make your purchase. There are tourniquets on the market that use this misleading tag, and they hope to gain your confidence with it. They will also use terms like, “combat proven”. I’m not sure what they mean by that, because the US military uses models that are on the CoTCCC list.

You might also see a doctor’s approval. This does not mean that they are effective. It simply means that a doctor somewhere, for one reason or another, signed off on them. I’m not saying that money was exchanged in order to gain that approval, but it wouldn’t be hard to believe. And even if it is approved by some unknown doctor, it does not prove its effectiveness. The only way to truly have confidence is if the tourniquet is CoTCCC approved.

Unproven Designs

There are a couple of types of tourniquets that fit into that description, and while there is a chance they will work, it is not worth the risk to use them. One model uses bungee cord material and requires the use of a knot that the user must tie to lock the tourniquet in place. When you lose fine motor skills, the last thing you want to do is try to tie a knot. Add slippery, blood covered hands to that and you have a recipe for failure.

Rubber hoses and tie-off bands

Another thing you will see is a flat rubber tie off band being passed as a tourniquet. While you can stop small veins from bleeding, you will not stop an artery. These bands are used to tie off an arm before an injection and are not useful in an emergency.

Likewise, rubber hose or surgical tubing can be called a tourniquet in some first aid kits. While there has been some success using them in a pinch, they have to be applied just right and held in place by a pair of hemostatic pliers. Even when applied correctly, they can shift position and need to be re-applied. Once again, please buy the real thing and get it right the first time.

 

Pro Tips:

GET TRAINED

Once you buy a tourniquet, you need to get trained in how to use it. There is a wrong way to use them, and you will want to make sure you get quality training. We offer classes on this, and many more life saving techniques. Contact us to learn more.

PRACTICE

Once you learn how to use one, you need to practice. Run Drills to see how fast you can get a tourniquet on your arm or your leg. Try it in different positions, and in different levels of light. If you train often, it will be second nature to you if you ever need to use one for real.

CARRY ONE

Carry one with you. If you go hiking, or are playing a sport, put one somewhere that is easily accessible in case you need it. Put one in your home first aide kit or carry an IFAK. We offer a couple of IFAK options that both include a CAT Gen 7 tourniquet, as well as other items to help stop heavy and arterial bleeding. Everything we put in them is top quality. I carry one in my backpack that goes with me everywhere.

Winter Driving

Posted on by Jeremy Wise

Preparedness: Winter Driving

With the new year comes an all too familiar reality in the northern US:  Winter has arrived.  And with winter comes snow, ice, cold temperatures, messy driving conditions, and occasionally getting stuck on the side of the road for hours.

If you haven’t already seen it, hundreds of drivers have been stranded on I-95 after an accident, many of whom are now out of food, water, and fuel.

Are you ready?  Here’s a quick checklist of things you should have in each of your vehicles.  This is a good time to make sure you’re up to date, your batteries are fresh, and none of your meds are expired.

A Fresh Car Battery

Check the date on your car’s battery.  If your vehicle starts a little slow in the fall, there’s a chance it might not start at all on the cold winter mornings.  If your battery is struggling, get it replaced now instead of waiting for a far less opportune time!

Snow Brush

For your safety and others’, it’s important to have a brush/scraper that you can use to clear your vehicle of snow and ice before driving.  It’s important to clean your windshields, windows, headlights, taillights, and license plate.  Also make sure you don’t have a bunch of snow on top of your vehicle that could fly up and land on a vehicle behind you.

Jumper Cables

So your battery wasn’t as healthy as you thought?  Keep a set of jumper cables in your trunk so you can have someone get you up and running.  Go directly to your favorite auto parts store, and now you really need to replace your battery.  Jumper cables are also great should you come across someone else whose battery just gave up the ghost.

A Spare Tire

At least once a year, check your spare tire to make sure it’s properly inflated and in good shape.  Also, make sure you have a jack and a wrench that you can use to swap tires should you get a flat.  The side of the road during a blizzard is not the ideal time to discover you don’t have the correct jack for your vehicle or that your spare tire needs a spare itself!

Sand or Cat Litter

Should you become stuck in snow, one of the easiest ways to get traction is to toss sand or kitty litter under your drive tires.  Rear-wheel-drive vehicles can also benefit from the extra weight over the drive wheels.

Small Shovel

Along with sand, a small shovel will allow you to dig snow out from under the vehicle or your tires.

Water and Snacks

In the rare instance you’re stuck on the side of the road or on a highway for several hours, it’s important that you have some kind of food and water with you.  Make sure you don’t leave water bottles in the vehicle overnight where they may freeze and burst.  For snacks, keep a stash of fruit or granola bars, candy bars, or similar sources of calories and protein.

First Aid Kit

You should have at least a basic first aid kit with treatments for small cuts and scrapes, common over the counter medications, and in the winter, some hand/feet warmers.  If you want to go a bit further, you could keep a trauma kit in your vehicle as well.

Full Tank of Gas

Whenever you’re warned that a significant winter storm is coming, you should top off your gas tanks.  Ideally, during winter months, your tank should never be less than half full.  This will stave off one of the worst issues when your trip takes a lot longer than you expected – running out of fuel.

Blankets

If you wind up spending so much time stuck on the road that your car runs out of fuel, it’s important to have blankets that you can use to retain body heat.  Small fleece blankets are compact and easy to stash and don’t take up a whole lot of space.

Flashlight

A flashlight can be used to provide light inside your vehicle, for signaling others, or for making yourself more visible should you need to walk on the road side.

Cell Phone Charger/Bank Charger

We rely on our cell phones everywhere today.  If you get stuck in a snow storm, there are many reasons it could be important to have a working cell phone.  If your car dies, you can continue to charge your phone using a bank charger.  Just remember to keep the bank charger charged and check it regularly.

Hats, Gloves, and Boots

When you drive in the winter, assume that you’re going to have to get out and walk – to your destination, to a nearby house, or to a nearby gas station.  Everyone in the vehicle should have warm coats, a hat, gloves, and boots.  Having these things will also help you stay warm even if you stay in the vehicle.

 

Conclusion

The chances of being stranded for 20+ hours on the side of the road are slim, but it does happen.  And when it happens, you have only what you prepared in advance.  Some of these things, like keeping your tank full or keeping your battery fresh, will set you up to avoid being stranded in the first place.

 

Survival: Community

Posted on by Jeremy Wise

Survival: Community

Now more than ever, we need to be part of a real community.  After a year of solitary confinement rolled out on a global scale, billions of humans are feeling the stress and pressure of being separated from others.  Suicide is skyrocketing, abuse of opioids and other drugs is out of control, and words like despair, depression, loneliness, and hopelessness are heard on a daily basis as the entire world has been turned into a giant prison.

In what seems like a well-coordinated effort, governments all over the Western world are shutting down businesses, banning the gathering of people in homes and churches, and fining or jailing people for crimes like going for a walk or having lunch with a friend.  It seems, at times, like community will be a fantastic idea that we’ll share with our grandchildren in remembering the days of old.  But it is in times like these that we need to be part of a larger group of people — not in isolation.

So how can we foster and grow a community when there is so much stacked against us?  For starters, see the blessing hidden in all of this.  As more and more people are finding themselves banned from social media, or at least unable to speak freely anymore, we are reminded that real community doesn’t take place on websites or over cell phones.

Look out for your neighbors

You’re not the only one feeling the pinch of isolation.  Your neighbors are feeling it, too, and they need community just as much as you do.  If you have a good relationship with your neighbors, find some opportunities to get together.  Share a meal together; work on a project together.  If you’re worried about the spread of COVID, then find something outdoors.  Find out if they have any needs that you might be able to help with, or see if they might be able to help you when you’re in need.  Community starts at home with those who are right next door.

Get involved with a local church

One great place to build relationships or find like-minded souls with whom you can congregate is at a local church gathering.  Though in some places, like Canada, the church is being pushed underground, if you are still allowed to gather with other believers, take advantage of it!  And make it a point to build relationships, not just to sit in a pew on Sunday morning to listen to a sermon.

Make a list of trusted persons and stay in touch

Whether next door or across the globe, you need a group of close friends and a plan to keep in contact with each of them.  If you see some of them on a weekly basis, that’s great.  If not, find a time that you can talk on the phone or over all the fancy video conferencing services that are available today.  Remember, they need connection just as much as you do.

Invest in your family

Those people who live under our roof are often the ones we take for granted.  Use the additional time at home to foster relationships with your spouse and your kids (or parents, or roommates, or whomever you have living with you).  Go on hikes together to get out of the house.  Have family game nights.  Shut off the screens and media IV drip and build deep and lasting relationships.  The work put into those relationships will pay off for years to come.

Find backup ways to communicate

Many of the communication methods we’ve come to rely on in the last several years are starting to disappear.  Social media sites are removing accounts by the thousands every day if their conversation doesn’t align with the determined narrative.  Instead of Facebook Messenger or twitter, switch to secure applications like Telegram or Signal.  If those disappear, you may have to get more creative, but now is the time to work on alternatives, not after the lights go out.

 

Survival: Food

Posted on by Jeremy Wise

Survival: Food

One of the most important, and yet oft overlooked, pieces of an effective preparedness plan is food.  There are far more exciting things to do like collect guns and ammo, buy books on homesteading, or even play with all kinds of modern amateur radios.  Piling up buckets of rice and beans just isn’t much fun.  But go a few days without anything to eat and you will suddenly have a new perspective on the importance of stocking up food.

In the near future, we will address the topic of growing your own food from seedlings to a plentiful harvest, but the main topic right now is the purchase and storage of food that has already been grown.  That said, if you can find fruit or vegetable seeds in your stores now, pick up several packets and keep them in a cool, dry place.  We’ll make use of them down the road.

The Need for Calories

The average person consumes about 2,000 Calories each and every day.  The Army has a handy calculator that you can use to gauge more precisely how many Calories you may need.  A man who weighs 185 pounds, in the middle of winter, needing to work heavily to keep firewood moving, animals fed and milked, and machines running, may need as many as 5,200 Calories to avoid losing weight!

If you figure your family will need on average 3,300 Calories a day, that equates to roughly 750 pounds of food a year per person.  So how much would you need to store up to keep your family of four going for a year?  3,000 pounds of food.  That is a lot of food, a lot of money, and a lot of space!

Long Term Food Stores

Most likely, many of us will not find ourselves without any access to food for more than a few days at a time and you should have enough to eat in your pantry to cover that.  Should the power go out for a few days and local shopping centers run low on supplies, you’ll be covered.  But what if a major geopolitical event brings an end to trucking in your area and you could be without grocery stores for a couple months?  This is where you should focus your purchasing efforts.

Ready-to-Eat

There are two types of food that you can purchase in bulk:  ready-to-eat, and raw goods.  Some good ready-to-eat options might include:

  • Spaghetti and sauce, or other pasta
  • Oatmeal
  • Canned soups, vegetables, and fruits
  • Pancake mix (just add water style)
  • Boxed food like macaroni and cheese or stuffing
  • Canned tuna and chicken
  • Peanut butter
  • Baked beans
Raw Goods

Raw goods take a bit more prep work and may need to be mixed with other ingredients that you may or may not be able to purchase in an emergency situation.  That said, these items can be stored safely for years and provide a great source of Calories.

  • Flour or whole wheat (if you have a mill)
  • Rice
  • Cornmeal
  • Oats
  • Beans (black beans, navy beans, pinto beans)
Valuable Extras

By themselves, these may not be the most appealing options (especially if you have young kids), but they will provide sustenance and keep you from starving to death.  You can greatly improve the flavor and presentation of these foods as well by keeping a few other staples on hand as part of your food storage plan:

  • Salt
  • Sugar (white and brown)
  • Herbs and spices
  • Chicken and beef bullion
  • Freeze dried fruits and vegetables
  • Canned tomatoes
  • Syrup
  • Vegetable oil
  • Vegetable shortening

By keeping recipes on hand that make use of items you’ve stocked up, you can know what you need to purchase and also know that you will have more options than a bowl of rice and beans every night.  We have begun compiling a list of simple recipes that you can print off and keep with your long-term storage food.  We will continue to add to the list over time, so keep your eyes peeled.

One last important note:  Don’t just stash away thousands of pounds of food and hope that when the time comes, you will know how to use something like cornmeal or flour.  Practice the skills now.  Get a tortilla press and boil some rice and fry up some canned chicken, and see if you can make a meal of burritos using just the supplies you have on hand.  Also, as much as possible, start working your supplies into your everyday living.  Use the food you purchase but restock your shelves.  This will guarantee you’re experienced at using your food and will also keep your shelves fresh.

Survival: Water

Posted on by Jeremy Wise

Survival: Water

The human body needs water.  You can survive three minutes without oxygen, three hours without shelter (in harsh elements), and only three days without clean water.  That being the case, in a survival situation, or even if your home suffers a multi-day power outage, it’s important to be able to acquire water, and if necessary, purify and store that water.  We’ll unpack a few options in each of those areas.

As a rule of thumb, assume that you will need one gallon of water per person per day.  So if you have a family of five, you’ll need a supply of at least 5 gallons a day, or 35 gallons a week.  If you have pets, assume they’ll need some water as well.

Collecting Water

Some parts of the United States make collection of water far more difficult than others.  In some states, it is actually illegal to collect water, even on your own property.  But for those of us who still have such freedom, there are some things to keep in mind.  First, moving water is always safer than stale or stagnant water.  If you need to collect water, look first to a stream, spring, or river, then to a lake, and finally to ponds or puddles.  Water that doesn’t move tends to house all kinds of critters, many of which you do not want to put into your body.

Another great way to collect water is to capture it when it comes out of the sky.  If you rig a collection barrel (or several barrels) to collect water off of your roof, you can have a good water supply almost year-round.  Even in non-life-or-death situations, you can use this collected water to water your gardens or wash your cars or any other activities that could save your money or your well.

If all else fails, you can actually collect small amounts of water by tying plastic bags around tree branches with green leaves, especially in the morning hours.  If the bag is sealed, water will collect inside the bag and can then be combined with several other bags.  Try that this coming summer if you don’t believe it.

For a great list of water collection designs, take a look at this post.

Purification of Water

Just because you’ve found a source of water doesn’t mean you can drink it… yet.  A lot of water contains bacteria, chemicals, and other harmful things that could decimate your body at a time when you need to be on top of your game.  There are a number of ways to purify water once you’ve collected it.

Boil Water: Bringing any water to a rolling boil will effectively kill any living organisms.  Once the water cools, you can then drink it.  It may not taste the greatest, but it will hydrate your body.

LifeStraw: If you’re outdoors and away from clean running water, you would be wise to pack along a LifeStraw.  These are lightweight and can filter as many as 1,000 gallons of water before they’re expired.  Having a few in your home will also allow you to add an additional level of purification beyond boiling or collecting clean water.

Countertop Filters: If you have a good source of water but want to filter it regularly, you can invest in a home water filter such as this Berkey Filter.  A lot of people use one of these filters on a daily basis anyway just to remove some of the chemicals and other contaminants from tap water.

Chemical Treatment: Finally, if you don’t have any of the above options, you can keep water purification tablets on hand which will kill any living creatures in the water before you drink it.  These don’t always taste the best, but again, water will keep you alive even if it doesn’t taste great.

Storing Water

Once you’ve collected water, there are many ways to store it, but you should stock up on some of these things now so you’ll have them when the need arises.

Two Liter Pop Bottles: Each bottle can be cleaned and used to store water anywhere that isn’t frozen.  Milk jugs are not a good idea because if you don’t get them totally clean, the milk can have bacteria that ruin the water over time.

55 Gallon Drums: As you saw from the site on water collection, you can easily store water in 55 gallon drums.  These can be quickly adapted to collect, store, and dispense water easily, though water should be filtered and purified before drinking as it is stagnant water and could have bacteria in them.

Rigid Containers: You can also purchase rigid, stackable containers that are designed to store water long-term.

Water Bobs: If you have some advance knowledge of a water shortage or power outage (e.g., you know that an ice storm is coming through that could take your power out for several days), you can use a WaterBOB to store up to 100 gallons of water in your bathtub.  This can be a great short-term solution if you can get it filled before the lights go out.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are going to store water, there are a couple things you should keep in mind.  First, be sure to cycle your water stores every six months to keep it fresh and clear of bacterial growth.  Second, you can add a bit of extra safety if you put small amounts of chlorine bleach in stored water.  The ratio is ¼ teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water, or 1 teaspoon for 5 gallons of water.  This can be done in conjunction with the other purification steps listed above, but will improve the quality of your water over time.

Survival: Rest

Posted on by Jeremy Wise

Survival: Rest

This is the fourth segment in a series covering the general things that we need to survive. We have covered the following already, if you missed them or need a review:

In this article, we’ll take a look at the idea of rest. The reason this comes as #4, ahead even of water and food, is because in a survival situation, we tend to panic and overexert ourselves. If you push yourself to the point of exhaustion, no stash of food, water, or anything else is going to save you.

The topic of rest dates all the way back to creation. God spent six days creating everything, and on the seventh day, He rested. He didn’t rest because He was tired, but because He was providing a model. We know this because Jesus said in Mark 2:27, “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.” No work is so important that we need to work at it non-stop. And if we believe that God provides for our needs (see Matthew 6), then following His model of work and rest is a really good idea.

So how do we integrate the concept of rest into today’s chaotic schedules? If COVID has provided one thing to us, it’s an abundance of time that we never realized we could get back. A few things come to mind, though I’m sure every one of us could come up with some more.

 

Dump Social Media

This is probably a better tip for all-around living, but social media has become today’s addiction. We feed off the constant stream of information, and we look for likes and comments to validate our value on this planet. None of that is healthy. Now, there are probably some good uses for social media, but by and large it is a constant source of frustration, angst, worry, and anxiety. You don’t need any of that clogging up your mind and robbing you of peace and rest.

 

Disconnect Well Before Bedtime

Perhaps related to our social media addiction, the last thing we’re looking at when we go to bed is our phone, and the first thing we reach for in the morning is that same phone. Not only are the problems mentioned above causing issues with your ability to sleep, but even the light and the noise of our devices messes with our body’s chemistry. If you need something to quiet your mind before bed, try a book. Turn off the TV screens and the video games and the cell phones and the media streams.

 

Add Margin to Your Life

Most of us today are juggling insane amounts of work, blended with raising a family, chasing a career, fixing up a house, trying to build a hobby, and maybe even volunteering. The most common answer today to the question, “How are you?” is, “Busy!” We seem to equate busyness with success, whether we’re accomplishing anything or not.

Instead, we need to realize that growth happens in the margins. When you spend time daily, weekly, monthly stepping outside of your todo lists and just being still. I’ve heard the most difficult command in Scripture is, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Yet in those moments of rest, we can hear above the noise and chaos of the world. Schedule some time every day, every week, and every month, to just be still, to reflect, to ponder, to plan, and to rest.

 

Surround Yourself with Likeminded People

We are creatures who tend to look a lot like the people with whom we hang out. You can easily encourage others to take a break, to rest, and to work on the things mentioned above. Similarly, find people who can hold you to the same. A good fishing trip or a hike through the woods can provide a great opportunity to find some peace and quiet and to recharge before the next battle.

Now that you’ve finished reading this article, put the device down and go take a break!

Survival: Shelter and Clothing

Posted on by Jeremy Wise

Survival: Shelter and Clothing

Depending on your situation, the topic of shelter can be daunting.  There have been several TV shows in the last several years focused on “bugging out”, especially in the case of a catachlysmic event.  More likely, though, the shelters you need to care about fall into three areas: Your house, your vehicle, and your clothes.  We’ll dig in depth into each of these topics eventually, but for now let’s just consider a few key pointers.

Your House

With the events of 2020, nearly all of us have spent far more time at home than in the past.  The reality is, your home is your fortress.  From a shelter perspective, your home needs to provide you and your family protection from the elements, protection from unwelcome guests, and a comfortable and peaceful reprieve from the insanity of the world around us.  With winter upon us, this is a good time to address issues with the roof, siding, or other projects you’ve been putting off for too long.  Make sure your doors seal well, and if you haven’t already, replace the screws in your hinges and door jamb with some that are at least 2 ¼” to 3” long.  This will make it quite a bit harder for a burglar to kick in your door.  You may also want to invest in additional cameras, security lighting, or even a security system if you don’t have those things in place already.

Finally, and this may be the most difficult, work to develop your home as a safe haven with your family.  Whether you live alone or have little kids running around everywhere, you need your home to be a place where you can rest, recharge, and encourage one another.  Be intentional about developing that atmosphere.

Your Vehicle

Again, with winter upon us, this is a great time to make sure your vehicle is in great condition.  Make sure your tires have good tread and hold pressure; top off the fluids and change the oil.  Make sure you have a good first aid and trauma kit, jumper cables, blankets and warm clothes (including boots matching weather conditions), and food and water for everyone in your vehicle.  In a bad snowstorm, some highways have been shut down, stranding many vehicles and their occupants on a highway with nowhere to go.  If that is your vehicle, you want to be sure you can stay warm while you wait or perhaps even walk to an exit and come back for your vehicle later.  Having essential resources buys you time and options.

Also make sure you know how to change a flat tire and that you have the jack and lug wrench that work for your vehicle.  Discovering on the side of a busy highway in the middle of a snowstorm that your vehicle doesn’t actually have its jack is never a good thing.

Your Clothing

Finally, the most likely form of shelter that you’ll have available are your clothes.  If you’re going to be away from your home, in a vehicle or not, you should have at least one change of clothes, and layers that you could put on if you had to walk some distance, perhaps to get gasoline.  Accounting for the following layers will allow you to match your conditions and stay warm and dry, even in inclement weather.

  • Wicking Layer: This layer draws moisture away from the body so that moisture can’t suck heat away from you.  There are many synthetic fibers that make great “long underwear” today, but this layer should be light and thin.
  • Clothing Layer: Most of your clothes are going to fall into this category.  Shirts and pants that are designed for your environment are ideal.  Keep in mind that blue jeans, though comfortable, make for a terrible option if they get wet and cold!
  • Insulation Layer: This could include things like a sweatshirt or fleece, and is purposed to keep your body heat inside this layer of clothing.  Think of it like fiberglass insulation for your body.
  • Shell Layer: Finally, outside of the insulation layer, you need something that will keep the wind, rain, snow, sleet, and sun from getting to your skin.  Dark colors will absorb the sun’s energy while light colors will repel it.  Windbreakers, parkas, and other outerwear will go a long way toward protecting your body from even the coldest wintery day.

If you have already put all of these things into place, now might be a good time to review this information with your friends or family.  For example, most drivers are very underprepared while on the road for the situations they may suddenly find themselves in.  Even in a world of cell phones, you may find yourself stranded for hours in a place you’d rather not be.  Preparedness is essential!