This week I begin with the Sharp Shooter Keychain Review then The Deadly Enemies to Your Survival, The Blizzard Survival 20% Discount offer, The KeySmart Review, Organizing your every Day Carry, The U.K mock SHTF scenario DX w/e (part 3), The Ribzwear 30% Discount offer, Catapult or Slingshot Small Game Hunting, The Enspire Body Cleansing Towel Review, The Wilderness121 10% Discount offer, Are you Prepared to Survive, Could you live the Prepper Lifestyle? The Midimax 10% Discount offer, Biox Aqua Tablets Review, Can you Afford to Prep, Making a Winter Car survival kit, The Fieldleisure 10% Discount offer, Get Ready for Bad Weather, The Buggrub 10% Discount offer, Survival Communication, The Hunters-Knives 10% Discount offer, Prepared for Disaster, The Bug out Week End is coming.
The Threat of
EBOLA has NOT Gone Away
BEAT
EBOLA order your Children’s PPE, Bio-Protection Suit and Order you Pandemic
Quick Kits HERE http://www.contagionsurvival.com/pandemic_quickkits.htm
Sharp Shooter
Keychain Review
This is the only
self-defence device that is patented and legal in all 50 states in the U.S.Easy to learn
Deploys quickly - speeds of 60 to 150 miles an hour
Consists of 550 tested paracord, this will last for a long time.
Retention ring to prevent the device from falling out of your hand, and prevent the device to be pulled out of your hand.
Durable shaft to grasp and also transfers the force away from the retention ring if an attacker were to get a hold of the keys.
4 in 1 Device
Short distant impact device (similar to a kubaton)
The cord can be used for choking or blocking
Flailing similar to the nunchaku
Most importantly has the ability to shoot out unlike a kubaton or nunchaku/ goes from a short range device to a long range device.
Voted Best Versatile EDC Gear of 2014 by social media Facebook & Instagram
Comes with Free Instructional DVD and a 1 year guarantee and your money back
Note: This product is patented, no resale or duplication is permitted. Any duplication of this product is not a Sharp Shooter and you may be jeopardizing your safety -Robert Moran/Inventor Patent No. US D558, 446 S
Bushido Productions Product Warranty
We are dedicated to your complete satisfaction and are confident you won't find better quality self-defence keychain so we offer a full 1 year money back guarantee for your complete satisfaction. Our goal is to ensure your safety and make you feel safe and happy with your purchase. If you don't like your device in any way simply return it for an exchange or full refund within 1 year. That's our guarantee! - Grand Master Moran
So what do I think?
This is a superbly
designed and very well made self-defence tool. OK, it is illegal here in the UK
but it is not in the USA and in I would imagine many other countries as well.
I fail to see why we
as law abiding British citizens are denied the right to be able to defend
ourselves against society’s low life. Surely it is a human right to be able to
defend ourselves, as to do otherwise are we not simply bending to violence and
threat? And in real terms standing on a high ledge just waiting to be pushed
off?
The Sharp Shooter
can of course be used offensively, but so can a rolled up newspaper, kitchen
knives, and bricks and of course the oldest weapon of them all the human body.
I would rather be
judged by 12 than carried by 6. Therefore I am as a responsible adult simply
preparing for the what if, event by carrying the sharp shooter.
After all it is just
a very well made key ring with some paracord attached to it. If it is totally
legal to carry a bunch of keys on a chain as truckers and bikers do then how
can it be illegal to carry this sharp shooter key ring?
I now have a Key
Smart in which my keys are held, not unlike a Swiss Army knife, this makes the
keys totally silent by the way and stops them from catching on clothing and or
wearing holes in my pockets.
I cannot advise you
to carry the sharp shooter, I can only bring it to your attention and leave it
to you the responsible preppers and survivalists that I know you to be.
The Deadly Enemies to Your Survival
When putting together survival kits, there are 8 enemies of survival to
consider – no matter whether the kit is for someone going into the bush, or if
the kit is being made for a teotwawki situation. Taking care of these eight
issues by stocking up your kit well will go a long way to ensuring your
survival in just about any survival situation.
Fear:
Fear often leads to panic and panic does no one any good…in fact it often
kills. The best way to temper fear is by preparing with proper survival skills
and survival gear.
Survival skills help reduce fear because you know that you can take care
of yourself in a survival situation. Without those survival skills people who
are lost are often so scared they don’t know what to do. They’re scared of the
animals, scared of the dark, scared of being without all of the comforts of
civilization.
Survival gear helps combat fear because it gives you the tools that makes
surviving easier.
Complacency:
Complacency is a bane of modern life. Complacency is dangerous because it
lulls you into believing everything is alright and causes you to ignore clear
signs of danger. A good way to combat complacency is by practicing the art of
relaxed awareness.
Relaxed awareness is similar to the art of meditation….it is achieved by
being fully immersed and aware of your surroundings. A good example of relaxed
awareness is when you are practicing defensive driving. After you practice
defensive driving, you remember the entire drive because your mind was fully
engaged and active the entire trip. Unfortunately relaxed awareness isn’t
something you can pack in a bag, but you can practice it constantly to help
ensure your survival.
Hunger:
Hunger can nag at you, slow you down, and eventually kill you. Combat
hunger by learning primitive hunting and fishing skills. Make sure that you
have snare wire, survival knives, paracord, a fishing kit and anything
else you can think of that will help you find and secure game and fish. Also,
learn what wild plant in the area are edible.
Thirst
You will die in only a few days without water. Depending on your activity
level and the environment, you will need at least a gallon of water a day.
Knowing how to locate, store and decontaminate water is essential. Always carry
a way to store and decontaminate water.
98.6
degrees Fahrenheit
If you can’t keep the core temperature of your body at 98.6 degrees, you
are in a world of hurt. Cody Lundin of “Dual Survival” fame covers this
reality very well in his book “98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass
Alive“.
You need to be able to protect your body from both heat and the cold.
Always have a way to make a quick emergency shelter in your survival kit. Bivy
bags are lightweight and take up very little room. You also need several ways
to start a fire in your kit. Also, always have clothing in your survival kit
that is rugged and made for the weather of the season that you are in.
Pain
Avoid pain at all costs. It can cripple or at the very least slow you
down to the point that you are in imminent danger of losing your life. If
possible, carry medications to deal with it. Injuries are more likely when one
panics or is fatigued.
Fatigue
Getting overly tired or fatigued makes the chances of injury greater and
increases the dangers of exposure. One important thing to understand is that
fatigue affects your mind just as much as it does your body.
Arctic explorers discovered that if you sleep when you need to rather
than pushing on, you will wake up when you become cold. If you push on till you
collapse from exhaustion you’ll freeze to death instead of waking up.
Boredom
Boredom is like a cancer that slowly eats away at morale. It is always a
good idea to keep a way to entertain you in your survival kit. Something as
simple as a deck of cards can do wonders for fighting boredom. To this one you
can add loneliness…if you are alone. Loneliness can be devastating.
As you can see, these enemies of survival can all make surviving an
emergency much more difficult…if not impossible. By understanding them you will
have a much better chance of getting out of your next survival
situation/emergency alive.
Blizzard Survival 20% Discount Offer
Blizzard Survival
.com have a fantastic offer for you the listener they are offering a 20% discount on all goods bought from them
at www.blizzardsurvival.com
The Ultimate in
Lightweight Thermal Protection.
The Blizzard Survival Brand incorporating Reflexcell™
material has become the new standard wherever thermal performance in a lightweight
compact package is essential - for military use, casualty care, emergency
preparedness, disaster relief, personal survival, outdoor activities...and
more.
Reflexcell™ products are totally unique: weight-for-weight
far warmer than goose down, yet 100% weatherproof, tough, ultra-portable and
re-usable.
Life-saving technology has never been so affordable.
All you have to do to get a 20% discount is enter the code
“PREPPER” at the checkout, it is that simple. Thank you Blizzard Survival.com
The KeySmart Review
The KeySmart goal is to save the world from bulky,
annoying keys
Are you constantly annoyed with thigh poke, key jingle, and
damaged pockets?
Well Mike the company’s owner set out to design a solution
to the bulky key ring. After months of prototyping, testing, and
redesigning, KeySmart was born.
The frame was crafted out of aluminium to be
ultra-lightweight, and the hardware was milled from stainless steel to
survive anything life threw at it.
After launching on Kickstarter in early 2013, KeySmart was
one of the most popular products ever launched.
Mike quit his job to take KeySmart on full time and has been
making happy customers ever since.
Well good job very well done I say Mike, thank you, the
KeySmart is just what the doctor ordered as it literally does what it says on
the tin.
Now my keys are not only secure and very easy to reach but
as they are not hanging loose there is no jangling so they are now silent.
Now that is a great bonus for preppers and survivalists
alike is it not? Plus if you have ever scratched your car door when using the
car key you will appreciate this new solution to that problem.
I have lost count of the trouser and jacket pockets that
have needed sewing up as a result of having a bunch of sharp edged keys placed
in them.
Another great bonus with the KeySmart is that as you keys
are now enclosed you can carry them in a suit pocket and there is no
appreciable or noticeable bulge either.
In fact there is a KeySmart that will hold 100 keys, they
come in different colours too. You can even customize your KeySmart 2.0 with 19
different accessories, from blades, pens, usb, bottle opener and even a glow
fob.
I have taken it a stage further and have attached the
KeySmart to my Sharp Shooter key ring which works just as well as before but is
not totally silent too.
Organizing your every
Day Carry
Having a
proper every day carry (EDC) setup is one of the most important things you can
do to be prepared, well, every day.
While you
can get separated from your bug out bag and might not be able to get home
quickly, your everyday carry is always on you to help you survive and get
things done.
I have
covered some basics on the best every day carry setup before, but that’s really
only useful if you’re starting from scratch.
If you just
want to fine-tune your EDC however, there isn’t a lot out there to help. Lucky
for you, I have compiled a list of five ways to fine-tune your EDC setup so
it’s more useful and always at hand.
When
starting out with every day carry items, it’s common to start with things that
go in your pockets. This is great until you run out of room and your EDC makes
you uncomfortable.
Once you’ve
got some EDC experience, try moving to other locations on your body for keeping
items. The most common upgrade is moving to your belt.
By keeping
your knife or multi-tool on your belt along with other small items, you can
free up space in your pockets while keeping everything you need on you.
You don’t
have to go crazy here and have a belt that would rival an SAS Trooper, but
simply keeping your knife, fire starter, and multi tool on your belt can give
you a lot more space than you had before. Moving past your belt, think about
your trousers and shirts with additional pockets that can hold items, too. By
spreading your EDC out over your entire body, you ease the burden and make it
far more comfortable.
Weight vs.
Usefulness
If you’ve
had an EDC setup for some time now you probably realize that not everything
that you think is vitally important really is. It’s easy to go overboard and
fill your pockets with things you MIGHT use at some point.
If you’re
feeling weighed down by your EDC it might be time to take inventory of what
you’re carrying and see if the weight of each item is really worth it.
For
example, you might carry a small water filter straw with you in a cargo pocket,
but you could lighten the load by using a small pill container with some water
purification tablets in it.
Another
weight-saving idea is the use of a small LED light instead of a standard
torch/flashlight.
While the
torch/flashlight is better, the keychain light can free up space for other more
important items.
KISS
If you only
follow one tip in this list, make it this one. KISS stands for Keep It Simple,
Stupid. Don’t overthink your EDC setup by trying to plan for every possible
scenario. Your EDC is meant to give you a leg up on everyone else, not to be a
mini bug out bag.
Keep things
simple and don’t stress out about it. Keep the essentials like a source of
fire, a knife, a multi-tool, watch, and a weapon if you’re able to.
Beyond this
just include items that make you feel safe and comfortable without trying to
plan out scenarios. Trust me, even the most basic EDC setup is far more than
the average person has.
Less is
Sometimes More
Having an
elaborate every day carry setup is great, until it’s so elaborate that you stop
using it. The idea of an EDC is to have it with you every day.
If it takes
15 minutes to load yourself up chances are you’ll leave the house from time to
time without it, and that’s not good at all.
It’s often
better to have less items with you that you carry all the time than a lot of
items that you only carry every now and then.
Think about
what you need and ask yourself what would happen if the SHTF and you didn’t
have the item in question? Would it make a difference? If not, ditch it and free
that space up for something else.
The less
items you have the less chance you have at forgetting something or losing
something, and that means the pieces you do use are more valuable and overall
better.
Trial and
Error
Finally,
don’t be afraid to change things. I have talked about changing your EDC for
colder weather, but you can make changes to it every day if that suits you.
Try items
out and if they don’t work, ditch them and find something new. Don’t put up
with pieces in your EDC that you’re not in love with.
These are
things you have with you 24/7, so you better love them or else you’ll hate
carrying them.
Try a few
setups out to see how they work and if you like them or not. Try your knife in
a front pocket, back pocket, belt…try it all.
You won’t
know what you really like unless you try a few different ways.
The U.K mock SHTF
scenario DX w/e (part 3)
The U.K mock SHTF
scenario DX w/e (part 3) will be holding their 3rd year event on June the 27th.
It is an event for preppers and people like minded to get together over the air through CB and PMR for a weekend.
They have chosen CB and PMR as they are license free and simple to work and legal for anyone to use in the UK.
All people taking part get listed on a google map on line and giving a call sign for the weekend.
There will also be a time table so people can find each other over the 2 days and the night.
Most people take part and BUG OUT for the weekend but some just join in from a parked car on a hill or from home if they are not able to get out and about.
On their Face Book page you can see past events at Uk shtf preppers and all so one or two uploaded to you tube.
It is an event for preppers and people like minded to get together over the air through CB and PMR for a weekend.
They have chosen CB and PMR as they are license free and simple to work and legal for anyone to use in the UK.
All people taking part get listed on a google map on line and giving a call sign for the weekend.
There will also be a time table so people can find each other over the 2 days and the night.
Most people take part and BUG OUT for the weekend but some just join in from a parked car on a hill or from home if they are not able to get out and about.
On their Face Book page you can see past events at Uk shtf preppers and all so one or two uploaded to you tube.
The idea is as
follows.
It’s a SHTF
scenario of your choice.... zombie attack, a world war or a flood has took out
your town/city and all land lines, mobile networks and the internet is down due
to whatever you are prepping for and you need to make a call for whatever
reason...
So what do you
do????
Grab your BUG OUT
BAG and head for the hills!!!!!! radios normally work better from high ground
so the plan would be to bug out to high ground and see who you can find on the
radio.
More information
will be handed out closer to the weekend.
But there are a
few rules......
1if you bug out
please make sure you have permission to be on that land.
2after the
weekend please clean up your location before going home (LNT)
3the radios used
are open for anyone to use in the UK so please be polite and respectful to ALL
other operators.
4make sure you
are safe, you do not want to call out for help for real.
30% DISCOUNT FROM RIBZ
A front pack is a pack or bag that allows for access of
equipment from the persons chest. Front packs first and foremost allow for easy
access of gear without the removal of any equipment.
In many adventure outdoor activities it can be critical to
the sport to have the ability to reach essential gear fast without the removal
of a backpack. Simplicity is the foremost purpose of the front pack but there
are many additional benefits as well.
In all there are unlimited uses for the front pack. Front
packs are the best compliment to any outdoorsman’s gear when accessibility,
functionality, mobility and simplicity are required. From horseback riding,
long distance biking, motorcycling and kayaking.
All sports where fast and easy access of gear is essential,
a front pack is your best solution and as you can imagine it is going down a
storm within the prepping and survivalist community.
Your summer code is "TRAILBLAZE"
and can be used in the coupon section within the Store. http://www.ribzwear.com/store/ Have a
Great Summer!
Catapult or
Slingshot Small Game Hunting
Like most
British kids I played with a handmade catapult, hand made by me that is. Now
OK, I say handmade but in truth it was a cut “Y” shaped branch of the right
size with elastic bands, but you know, it actually worked.
The upgrade
then was for a steel caty with bands fitted by the manufacturer.
Last year I
was sent the Survivalslingshot from www.survivalslingshot.com and I fell in love again with this form of hunting.
We as
members of the preparedness community should consider slingshots and their
effectiveness as a small game hunting tool, especially in a large-scale
disaster scenario where food stockpiles may run out.
So let’s
talk about slingshots and their usefulness as a disaster prep.
Before
we even get into this topic, we need to make a couple things very clear.
First, a
slingshot is not a toy, it’s a weapon.
You should
be taking just as many precautions and safety procedures with a slingshot that
you would with any other weapon.
In fact,
due to the inherent design of a slingshot, you will want to take even greater
precautions, especially in eye protection. If you don’t believe me, go to
YouTube and search for “slingshot accidents”. Warning: some of those videos are
quite graphic.
Secondly,
before the clever emails roll in, yes there are several other weapons that are
better suited for hunting than a slingshot.
Depending
on the situation though, there can be several advantages to using a slingshot
over other types of hunting tools, which I will cover later.
The
benefits of using a slingshot for hunting
On the
surface it might seem that slingshots would be one of the worst choices for a
hunting weapon.
They’re not
nearly as powerful as a bow (let alone a firearm), they take a lot of practice
to be accurate with, you have to be much closer to your target and they’re
usually pretty limited as far as what kind of game you can really go after with
it.
However,
there are actually quite a few benefits for using a slingshot instead of a
normal hunting weapon, including:
They are
easier to use in an urban areas – IE you’re unlikely to get reported to the
police for shooting a slingshot in your backyard.
They are
legal to openly carry in most areas
They don’t
attract nearly as much attention as a firearm or bow
They are
one of the quietest ways to hunt game
Finding
ammo for a slingshot can be as easy as picking up a rock off the ground
They have
very few parts and can be made and maintained very easily
You don’t
need any sort of documentation or licenses to own a slingshot
A
commercial slingshot is a fraction of the cost of any other hunting tool
Slingshot
hunting is very challenging and can teach you to be a better hunter all-around
In a SHTF,
long-term disaster scenario, slingshots will be perfect for hunting small game
when ammunition and gun parts are scarce and you want to be as quiet as
possible.
Follow
the seasons
Just
because you’re hunting with a slingshot doesn’t mean you’re exempt from hunting
seasons. Although in many areas small game hunting is legal year-round, some
countries have specific seasons when you can hunt specific small game.
Safety-
slingshots really can kill you
A slingshot is simply a modified
form of a Sling, which has been used for hunting and even defensive purposes
for literally thousands of years. It’s not a toy. It can kill someone.
Most
commercial slingshots can shoot projectiles anywhere from 150-300 feet per
second. Specialty hunting slingshots can actually reach over 400 feet per
second.
Combined
with the heavy weight of most slingshot ammo, this is more than enough power to
kill someone.
Types of
slingshots
There are
several types of slingshots on the market today ranging from a simple plastic
fork with cheap bands, all the way to top-of the line hunting slingshots
outfitted with super-strength bands, stabilizing bars and even laser sights.
Usually
with gear, the rule of thumb is that you get what you pay for, however it’s
been my experience that slingshots are kind of an exception to that rule.
Some of the
most expensive commercial hunting slingshots out there are pure JUNK.
They’re
inaccurate and wear out faster than even traditional, forked stick,
backyard-made slingshots.
It almost
seems like the designers were much more concerned about making the thing look
cool instead of actually making it functional.
In my
opinion, the best slingshots are homemade. I’m not talking about a simple “Y”
shaped stick in your backyard, but actually designing a slingshot out of
high-quality material that fits your hand perfectly and experimenting with
several band and pouch options until you have something that is tailor fit just
for you and serves your purposes.
Types of
slingshot bands
There are
several types of pre-made bands you can buy for your slingshot. Most are made
out of decent quality rubber and will last for at least a few months of normal
use before noticing any decrease in performance.
That being
said, a lot of people don’t actually recommend buying pre-made bands for
slingshots. For one, they’re overpriced.
Secondly,
slingshot hunting is, unfortunately, not that popular. Slingshots in general
aren’t all that popular. When you buy a package of those replacement bands,
it’s very likely they’ve been sitting on that shelf for over a year. For
slingshot bands, that’s not good.
Your
slingshot bands need to be changed regularly. Not only will they deliver a more
consistent shot and velocity but it’s much safer this way.
Bands that
have been sitting around a while will dry out and could even be cracked
straight out of the package. There’s a real chance that it could break on your first
shot and cause injury.
So
why not buy band material and make your own. It’s extremely simple.
The most
common band material is called TheraBand Gold. It’s the industry standard for
custom slingshot makers.
Hunting
Slingshot ammunition
Yes, you
can shoot rocks and pebbles out of your slingshot with no problem. It’s been
done for generations. That being said, natural materials shouldn’t be your
usual ammunition for a slingshot.
Rocks and
pebbles are oddly shaped, have edges that could hurt your pouch and bands
aren’t usually weighted correctly to give you consistent, accurate shot
placement. Your best bet is to go with steel or lead shot.
Personally
I like steel shot better for hunting. I believe it’s just a better round for
the distances I like to shoot. Your experiences can and will be different
depending on your setup. One major advantage steel shot has though is that it
is magnetic, which makes it easier to collect after shooting it.
Don’t
hunt if you can’t hit your target reliably
Hunting
with a slingshot isn’t easy. You have to be much closer to your target since
the slingshot doesn’t generate enough energy to keep the heavy projectile from
falling mid-flight.
You also
have to be experienced with approaching small animals without spooking them.
Additionally,
slingshot ammunition doesn’t cause piercing damage, it causes blunt force
damage. This means that you have to put your shots in an area that isn’t going
to cause internal damage to your animal which can spoil your meat. This means
headshots only guys.
My
rule of thumb for this is simple. If you can’t hit a target the size of a 2P
piece consistently, keep practicing and don’t go out hunting. Killing an animal
humanely is a responsibility of every hunter.
Continue
practicing at varying distances from your target. Once you get proficient
enough that you can hit a target the size of a 2P piece reliably, then you’ll
be ready to take those headshots on small game.
The Enspire Body Cleansing Towel Review
Enspire manufacture a pre-moistened towel, in essence a
shower in a pouch that is used by the US Forest Service Firefighters, Phoenix,
Dallas and Austin fire depts. and have just received orders from the Fairfax,
VA EMS group.
And they see their use expanding too many companies that
have people in the field exposed to toxins and other elements.
Enspire® Body Cleansing Towel was created by a serviceman
serving in the Far East and was unable to shower for days. He returned
home and the Enspire towel was created. Currently the towel is sold
by the USMC company store in Okinawa and has been presented to other USMC
company stores.
The Enspire towel provides a portable freshness when you
don’t have access to fresh water for a shower.
Each HUGE, 24” x 48” pre- moistened towel is individually
packaged and will fit perfectly into your emergency kit, gym bag, hiking
backpack and more.
Enspire Towels are alcohol free, fragrance free and safe for
use on both children and pets. Each wipe is enriched with soothing Aloe
and made of a durable fabric that will not fall apart while in use.
They are actually strong enough to be used as an improvised
sling or bandage in an emergency situation.
Only one wipe is needed to clean the whole body and can be
disposed of after use. Ideal for use by Military, Medical, Preppers and
survivalists, Outdoor Sports, Camping, Boating, Traveling and more!
Each towel is proudly
made in the USA.
Portable, packaged individually
Fragrance Free, safe for children and pets
Enriched with soothing Aloe
Durable fabric will not fall apart during use • Can be used
as improvised bandage or sling • Alcohol Free • HUGE, 2’ x 4’ Wet Towel •
Disposable
Ideal for Military, Emergency Kits, Medical, Outdoor Sports,
Construction crews, Camping, Boating, Traveling and more.
If you have any thoughts of wet wipes then forget them.
The Enspire Body Cleansing Towel is the solution to survival
hygiene problems, using it will reduce water usage, with it you can wash easier
and even inside a tent/shelter.
It does not take very long at all for the average survivor
to begin to basically stink, now being a solo survival may not be a problem but
as we all know when in a group offensive smells can make for an uncomfortable
experience over all.
I have to say also that survival hygiene is not only about
not smelling, but in my opinion it is more important than that, it is about
maintaining good health and over all cleanliness which will contribute to you
chances of coming out the other end in good health, alive and well.
It seems very simple to me that the clear solution to
survival hygiene problems is the Enspire Body Cleansing Towel and you can order
yours at http://enspireproducts.com/
Wilderness121’s 10% discount
The new supplier of Purificup to the UK is Wilderness121 and
they really mean business, having spoken to the director Rob Williams he has
agreed to offer you dear listener a 10% discount just by putting the letters
UKPRN into the code box it is that simple.
Now pop along to www.wilderness121.co.uk
and check out their great range of survival related products.
Are you Prepared to Survive
The most important part of the survival is being prepared to
survive for an extended period of time whenever you leave the comforts of
civilisation and the nearness of travelled roads.
Many of us either are - or will be - involved in wilderness
activities of one kind or another, whether as part of your job or as
recreation.
Survival preparation is just as - if not more - important
when you are flying from one place to another and your flight plan takes you
over untracked wilderness, deserts or snow caped mountains.
Most of the following suggestions in this section are geared
towards land survival.
There are some key areas you need to be aware of in order to
survive over a long period.
Yes it is true that most people who survive are rescued or
find their way back to civilisation within three days of becoming lost or being
injected into a survival situation through illness or accident while in the
wilderness.
But - and this is what is most important to you - there are
some people who have to survive for weeks or months before they return to the
comforts of modern society.
If you ever have the misfortune to become one of those
people, a strong background in survival knowledge and technique may just save
your skin, as surely as ignorance will likely cost you your life.
There are still significant numbers of wilderness fatalities
who would still be alive - if only they had learned the skills they needed to
survive.
What do you need before you are really prepared for
survival? A positive attitude, training and practice, and a few essential
pieces of equipment.
ATTITUDE!
You need to want to survive and you need to believe that you
can. Otherwise, you become too easily depressed and willing to give up the
fight - and it really is a fight - against the worst that circumstances,
climate, weather, terrain, natural enemies (like wild animals and mosquitos)
and remoteness can throw at you.
As we sit in front of our computers – we have things pretty
good, although we may be getting further and further out of shape if we spend
TOO many hours here!
Things can be a whole lot different if you are faced with an
airplane that will never fly again, the beginnings of a three-day blizzard, and
two hundred kilometres to the nearest road, with injured companions.
Things are also a lot different if you are lost having
finally figuring out that you are not where you are supposed to be - and that
you haven't the foggiest idea of just where "here" is!
Think it can't happen? Ahhhh, but it does! Nearly every
day...
People who spend a great deal of time in wilderness areas
will probably never admit to being well and truly lost - though they may
confess to having been "a bit confused for a couple of days a time or
two".
A positive outlook, no matter how bad the situation, is one
of the keys to keeping you alert and aware of what's going on around you. If
you become depressed and give up, your chances of long-term survival decrease
drastically.
Training and Practice
No matter how positive your attitude, you will not do well
in a survival situation without the knowledge and skills you need to live off
the land with only the barest minimum of equipment and supplies.
It takes time to gain these, and you cannot learn everything
you need to know from books or websites alone, no matter how good the
information or how reputable its author(s).
Your primary survival tool is your brain, and it can never
be fully effective without the experience of actual survival living situations
and skills practices.
There is absolutely no substitute for starting a fire in the
rain without using a lighter or any matches, any more than there is a
substitute for preparing food you have obtained by collecting plants or killing
animals... Some of the essential tasks of survival are rather less than pleasant,
but you need these skills to keep yourself and your companions alive and
healthy enough to continue surviving.
Survival courses require a combination of classroom-style
work and hands-on experience with the techniques and tools. While some of the
training can take place during your usual meeting time, you will need at least
a full outdoor weekend for the practical side of even an introductory course.
More time will be required for survival training courses
that will help you build your skills to a level where you will be able to
survive a majority of situations.
Your skills will also improve if you haul them out and use
them frequently. You can also challenge yourself from time to time by spending
a weekend with a planned survival camp.
Equipping to Survive
There really is not space enough here to tell you how to
build survival kits, and doing so in this format would leave you without the
training you will need to be able to effectively use the items in the kit.
However, there are a few basic principles involved in
building a survival kit for yourself that I can mention to get you thinking.
Before you begin building your survival kit, you need to
decide what its purpose is. Will it need to be small enough to put in your
pocket, or will you be able to carry it in your backpack or a small daypack?
If it's for your pack, what will you have left over if you
lose the pack in a stream crossing or through some other misadventure?
Your survival kits (the one in your pocket and the one you
add to your pack) should change in content with the season.
For instance, you will need more ways of getting fires
started really quickly in the winter-time than you will in the summer, when you
will want to trade out some fire-starters for insect repellents.
In addition to whatever else you put in the kit, you should
consider getting a miniature survival guide - one that has a good
plant-identification section. While this may seem to be a trivial
recommendation, there are plants that mimic each other in appearance, with one
being edible, and the other, well, not...
Your best source of information for building an appropriate
set of survival skills for yourself will come from a combination of good
research and quality survival information.
Could you live the Prepper Lifestyle?
Living a prepper lifestyle is not only good for preparing
for the future, but it’s a great way to live a less stressful life. Many people
get tired of the rat race and long for something more calming.
A few give up their suburban lives and head for remote
locations. That’s not what being a prepper is about.
Being a prepper is not about pulling yourself away from
society and living like a hermit.
It’s simply living a life that doesn’t rely on the others to
see you through a short term or long term disaster. While being a prepper is a
great way to live, it’s really not for everyone.
So how can you tell who’s a good fit and who will absolutely
hate living the life of a prepper? First, living the prepper lifestyle takes a
complete commitment. The life is not for you if you think you want to dabble in
it and see how it goes.
You’re either into it, or you’re not. If you’re ready to
give up the way you’ve been living until now, and you’re ready to break free of
the capitalistic mentality taught by society, then the lifestyle is for you.
If you know that you’re ready to walk away from being
dependent on others for your needs, then this is for you. You have to believe
that what you’re gaining is a better life for yourself and your family.
If you know that you’re ready to get organized and are
committed to building your short term and long term list of goods and supplies,
then the prepper lifestyle is something you’d find to be a good fit.
Being ready to become totally self-sufficient is a good clue
that you’re ready for a life change. If you’re ready to learn about
self-protection and first aid and how to take care of yourself and your family
through anything, then you’re ready.
Being a prepper is not about living to the extreme the way
the wacky survivalists you see portrayed on television live. It means you
accept that there are things outside your control that could impact your life
greatly, such as disasters, government collapse, etc. – and you want to be
ready for whatever comes.
That’s when you know you’re ready for the prepper lifestyle.
But not everyone who thinks they are, actually is ready.
If you’re in a relationship and your partner is dead-set
against it, hates it, wants no part of it, you’re not ready if you don’t want
to risk ruining the relationship.
You’re not ready if there are certain things in your life
that you feel you absolutely can’t give up – such as a daily trip to the local
pub or that expensive cup of coffee.
You’re not ready and the lifestyle is not for you if you set
aside money for supplies but then spend it on going out to eat or shopping for
a new pair of shoes or the latest video game.
You’re not ready if you have a deep attachment to the
conveniences of life and rely too heavily on technology. You can’t imagine your
life without modern technology is a sign you’re not ready.
If you have an unwillingness to learn how to prepare for the
future or aren’t interested in sustainable living, then you’re not ready for
the prepper lifestyle.
But most people can I think see a day when the worst case
scenario happens, and if it happens to you, you’ll have to deal with it – ready
or not.
Ken
at MidiMax.co.uk is offering 10% off any product by using the code Midi10 so
check out www.midimax.co.uk[TL1]
Biox Aqua Tablets Review
A powerful water treatment in convenient tablet form for
when travelling in areas where safe drinking water may not be available.
Once dropped into a water bottle, the tablets take effect
immediately, killing a wide spectrum of bacteria and pathogens. Perfect for
treating water sourced from rivers, wells and yes even taps.
Add one tablet to one litre of water in a bottle.
If the water contains visible dirt or particles strain the
liquid first through fine cotton or t-shirt material.
If the water is suspected to be heavily contaminated or
contain Crytosporidium or Giardia add two tablets to the water.
Let the water stand for 10 minutes, or where heavy
contamination is suspected 40 minutes before drinking.
Dose rates and contact times vary with temperature. One pack
treats up to 30 litres of water.
Once treated with Biox Aqua water will be safe to drink for
24 hours. After this period water should be discarded.
If you are looking to reduce the weight of your backpack
then here is one solution that you may want to consider.
The Biox Aqua is one of the most effective water
disinfectants on the market today and they are safe and easy to use. By not
having a water filter and just carrying these tabs you would of course save
weight but not in any way put yourself at risk when it comes to treating
sourced water before drinking.
Using the Biox Aqua water treatment tablets means that you do
not need to light a fire and boil water to make it safe to drink.
I think the big question is what does it taste like and the
answer is, there is no nasty aftertaste or water colouration and it tastes very
nice and refreshing to be honest.
Now another great use for the Biox Aqua tablets is the
purification of emergency stored and collected water, for example, if you have
filled the bath full of water for an extra water source during an emergency, or
if you have a big rain butt full of rain and roof run off water.
If this is the case do not treat the full bath or butt but
simply take the amount of water you really need then treat it.
Please remember to cover these extra water sources to help
prevent any or further contamination.
I really like these Biox Aqua Water Treatment Tablets, order a pack and try them for
yourself.
Can you Afford to Prep
Prepping can be quite expensive. If you choose to build up,
say a one year supply of emergency water, food, emergency first aid equipment,
tools, etc., you can easily spend thousands over time.
In fact, it would not be hard to spend more than £10,000 on
prepping supplies over a period of years as you keep gathering “must have” and
“good to have” items on your prepping list.
In fact some people can even afford to spend millions on
preparing to survive.
Here are some tips to help you justify the investment in
prepping supplies and education. They will give you ammunition in your
discussions with people who just don’t understand why you are wasting money on
preparing for future disasters.
By the way when I am asked “Why do I prep” my reply is why
do you not?
Compare Prepping to Insurance
You buy insurance to cover you in case of emergency. You
have car insurance, home or health insurance and life insurance.
If you have a business, you will have a few other types of
insurance as well.
Some of the insurances are mandatory by law (like car
insurance) and some are required by your mortgage company (like home insurance)
others you choose to get to protect yourself against any sort of future issue
that may arise.
If you are like most people, you go years without any claims
against any of your insurance policies. I know I’ve had car insurance for over
30 years with no claims. I’ve had home insurance for over 20 years with no
claims. And on and on.
Needless to say, lots of money was invested (and will still
be invested) to protect me just in case something bad happens.
Well, prepping is just like insurance – but even better.
Your extra food purchases protect you against future price
inflation of food and if you hit hard times in the future (job loss, disaster,
etc.), you have food that you can eat.
In fact, unlike other insurances, you are guaranteed to get
100% of your food insurance investment back as long as you eat it before it
expires.
Your investment in tools and other supplies also gives you
physical things for your money. You can use your tools when you need them. And
you can even sell them if you decide at some future time you no longer need
them. (And if you are like most handy people, you probably would buy many of
these tools anyways in case you needed them for a future home repair project.)
In fact, the only area where you may not make use of a
prepper type investment is if you purchase medicines that you don’t need before
their expiration date.
Compare Prepping to Education
People invest huge sums of money in education and I would
say that investment has been showing a poor return for most people.
When employment improves, that will reverse itself somewhat
but for many people, they need to work for several years to recover the cost of
their education, as we now charge to educate our students in universities
leaving then over £9,000 in debt before they even start work.
But very few people will tell a college student or an
apprentice that the investment in education is wasted. People can see the
future value of the investment.
Prepping is also a current expense that delivers future
value. As I have said before just about everything you purchase as a prepper.
Like an education, you make an investment today that pays off in the future.
And talking about education, you can also look at the value
of any skills you learn as a prepper.
For example, if you invest in a good first aid course
with regular updated training then this education could literally save
someone’s life. I’d call the value of that education priceless.
You may take courses in crafts and home repair skills and
mechanical skills. This may be knowledge that you don’t apply directly to any
money recovering situation but having hobbies that you enjoy pay off in
happiness dividends.
And having knowledge of basic repair skills will let you
know how to talk to a tradesman if you don’t do the work yourself. And this can
save you big money.
Compare Prepping to Investment
There are many people who invest. The stock market, rental
houses, precious metals, collectibles, etc. are all places where people park
their cash hoping for a future return.
As we’ve seen time and again, future return is not
guaranteed. If your timing is good, you can cash in your investments at a
market high.
If your timing is bad because of some need (medical expense,
retirement, etc.), you could be forced to cash in at a market low and lose a
significant portion of your original investment.
All of that is a fancy way to say that any investment
carries risk – sometimes substantial risk.
Just in case you did
not know financial investment is simply another form of gambling.
Investment in prepper supplies and knowledge, as I have
said, gives value back when you use the supplies/knowledge.
This doesn’t make it a superior investment. But it is
certainly a very low risk investment.
As you can see, there are many ways to look at your
investment in prepping supplies and education and justify the expense to others
(if you ever feel that is necessary.)
Making a Winter Car Survival Kit
Winter can
be cruel in some parts of the world; cruel, and very dangerous.
That danger exists
for everyone who is away from home when a winter storm hits…and that includes
the motorists.
It isn’t
unusual for winter motorists to suddenly find themselves in a life and death
situation because of a sudden winter storm. Their very survival can depend on
whether they have kept survival gear in a winter survival kit in their vehicle.
You need to
have a winter survival kit in every working vehicle you own.
Here are
some guidelines before you experience a winter storm.
Keep your
vehicles petrol tank at least half full at all times.
Before
winter hits prepare your vehicle for winter.
Keep your
winter survival kit inside the passenger area if you can. There is no sense
leaving the vehicle if you don’t have to, as you might not be able to access
the boot/trunk to get it in an emergency.
Winter car
survival kits save lives every year.
So what
should be in a winter car survival kit?
It’s cold,
you need something to keep you warm. I like to have sleeping bags for everyone
in the vehicle of course they will work but they can be bulky. If space is
at a premium you can pack bivy bags or space blankets.
It is
always a good idea to have a couple of ways to start a fire. Lighters,
waterproof matches, fire-steels, they all work. Some small candles are a good idea
too.
Extra hats
and gloves don’t take up much room but will be appreciated by everyone in the
vehicle.
A shovel.
A bag of
cat litter or sand. It can help the tires gain traction.
Drinking
water.
A large
empty tin. This can store lots of the smaller items and will also serve well to
melt snow over a fire for extra drinking water.
Energy or
survival bars.
A good
first aid kit.
Duct tape.
Always carry duct tape.
Large
plastic bags. These can insulate the body or cover a broken window. Here the
duct tape will come in handy.
A survival
whistle. Whistles can be heard much further than the loudest shout.
A signal
mirror.
A red
handkerchief, bandana of piece of cloth for signaling. Tie it to your ariel or
to a stick to alert rescuers.
Survival
knife.
Compass and
Local Street maps, motorway maps and a local OS map.
A powerful
LED flashlight. I like the Elzeta range plus extra batteries.
Vehicle
emergency kit with jump leads, tow chain, emergency triangle etc.
100 feet or
more of paracord. It has many uses, but can be a lifeline back to your vehicle
if you have to venture outside in a blizzard.
Windshield
de-icer and a good ice scraper.
Tool kit
and or a good multi tool.
Some
advice if you get stranded in your vehicle during the winter.
Don’t over
exert yourself. The last thing you need is to add a heart attack to your
problems.
Stay in
your vehicle and only venture outside when you must. You want to stay as warm
and dry as possible.
If you have
to leave your vehicle during a winter storm, attach the paracord from your kit
to you so you can easily find your way back during the blizzard.
Only run
the vehicle 10-15 minutes per hour to conserve on fuel.
If a snow
drift covers the vehicles exhaust there is a chance of CO2 poisoning. Open a
window a little on the side of the car away from the wind while you are running
the vehicle.
Doing so
will help protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Also, whenever you
go outside the vehicle make sure the exhaust is clear of snow.
As you can
see making a winter survival kit for your vehicle is easy.
It just
requires you gathering items that you should already have together in a box.
Remember
that you need to make one of these winter survival kits for each one of your
vehicles. If you don’t have enough for all of your vehicles it is easy enough
to buy a winter survival kit already made. Just 15 minutes of preparation can
save your life.
So that is
what you should keep in your vehicle 24/7 365. Don’t forget that in the summer
weather your kit should reflect the warmer weather and have sun block, sun
glasses and perhaps extra water.
When you
intend to venture out onto the road in your vehicle as yourself one question,
“Do I actually need to go in the first place”, can it wait? Is it really that
important?
If you then
decide that you must go you must add some extra items and actions before you
set off.
Check you
mobile phone is fully charged and you have a car charger in your vehicle, tell
someone your intended route and ETA. Make a hot drink for your thermos flask.
Check fluid
levels especially screen wash, check your tire pressure, lights and fuel if
under ½ a tank then fill up a.s.a.p. Remember spinning wheels is using even
more petrol than normal driving.
Finally
please let the person you left know that you have arrived safely.
Now thanks to the Managing Director Paul listeners visiting Field Leisure - The
Bushcraft & Wilderness Store
at http://www.fieldleisure.co.uk/
can get 10% OFF by entering the code UKPRN at the checkout now Paul guarantees
next day delivery all over the UK and fast European and US delivery and that is
reassuring and refreshing too.
Get Ready for Bad Weather
Winter storms can bring freezing rain, ice, snow, high
winds, or a combination of these conditions. They can cause power cuts that
last for days, make roads and paths very dangerous, and can affect local
community services.
Planning and preparing can help you manage the impact of a
winter storm and keep you and your family safe.
A sustained power cut can have a significant impact on
people who require electricity to power medical equipment, so make sure that
you have a plan to take care of yourself and your family during an outage.
A winter storm occurs when there is significant
precipitation and the temperature is low enough that precipitation forms as
sleet or snow, or when rain turns to ice.
A winter storm can range from freezing rain and ice, to
moderate snowfall over a few hours, to a blizzard.
It can lasts for several days, or be a combination of
several winter weather conditions. Many winter storms are accompanied by
dangerously low temperatures.
Winter storms can occur from early autumn to late spring
depending on the region of the country.
Winter storms and colder than normal temperatures can happen
in every county of the country.
Extreme winter weather can immobilize an entire region. Ice
and heavy snowfall can knock out heat, power, and communications services,
sometimes for several days.
Driving and walking can become extremely hazardous due to
icy conditions, snowfall accumulation, low visibility, or extreme cold. People
may need to stay at home or work without utilities or other services, until
driving is safe. Pipes and water mains can break.
The majority of deaths caused by winter storms are from
vehicle accidents due to ice and snow. In addition, people can die from carbon
monoxide poisoning when using portable generators indoors, including in
attached garages.
Generators should be used only outdoors and should be
located at least 20 feet away from doors, windows, or vents. Individuals also
suffer cold injuries, such as frostbite or hypothermia, from being outside too
long and by not being well protected from wind and cold.
Your family may not be together when a winter storm hits, so
it is important to know how you will contact one another in an emergen[zcy, and
how you will get back together when it is safe to travel again.
A storm may overwhelm landline and mobile phone networks.
You may need to use text messaging or social media to
communicate with family and friends. Keep important numbers written down in
your wallet in case you cannot access the contact list in your phone.
As the wind increases, your body is cooled at a faster rate
causing the skin temperature to drop. This is why it “sometimes feels” colder
than the actual temperature.
Windchill is the temperature it “feels like” when you are
outside. A Windchill Chart will show the difference between air temperature and
the perceived temperature and the amount of time until frostbite occurs.
Plan now to be able to stay where you are when a storm hits.
If you are not at home when the storm starts, you may need to stay where you
are until the roads are safe.
This means having basic supplies of food and water in
several locations, including your workplace, vehicle, and, if possible, other
places where you and members of your household regularly spend time (e.g.,
church, community centre, and school).
You may be without power and heat for several days. Have a
family discussion; think through what three days without power, water, or heat
would feel like. Gather the basic supplies your family would need if you could
not get to the shops or other services were unavailable e.g. if power, water,
and gas is interrupted; or if you cannot leave your home.
Be sure to review your emergency supplies each autumn before
they will be needed. Basic emergency supplies should include the following,
most of which you probably already have in your home.
Ensure you have at least 1 gallon of water per person per
day for at least 3 days. (Store a longer than 3-day supply of water, if
possible). An average person needs to drink about 3/4 of a gallon of fluid
daily.
Individual needs vary depending on age, gender, health,
level of activity, food choices, and climate. You may also need stored water
for food preparation
Store at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food for
members of your household, including pets. Consider special dietary needs
(e.g., baby foods). Include a non-electric can opener for canned food
You will need to be able to charge these items without
electricity. Your torch/flashlight and radio should be either a wind up type,
or solar or battery-powered, and stored with extra batteries.
Your mobile phone charger should be wind up, solar, or able
to be charged from a car socket.
Include first aid kit, prescription and
non-prescription/over-the-counter medications, and medical supplies.
Pack supplies for sanitation, such as hand sanitizer, wet
wipes, loo roll, nappies, and plastic bags, for use when water resources are
limited.
Include battery backup power for power-dependent mobility
devices, oxygen, and other medical equipment.
Dress in layers to keep warm if you lose power. Ensure you
have enough clothing, hats, mittens, and blankets or sleeping bags for everyone
in the house.
Stock up on rock salt to melt ice on pavements and around
you home or sand or cat litter to improve traction and snow shovels or other
snow removal equipment.
Store a supply of dry, seasoned wood if you have a working
fireplace or wood-burning stove with a safe flue or vent.
It is important to consider the unique needs of your family,
including access and functional needs, and the needs of children and pets.
You may need to include: extra water; special food, such as
baby food or pet food; and supplies or equipment, such as nappies, glasses, or
medical equipment. BEFORE WINTER APPROACHES, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE
Winter driving conditions can be extremely dangerous. Before
winter weather sets in, make sure you or a mechanic completes a winter weather
check on your vehicle.
Ensure antifreeze levels are sufficient to avoid freezing.
Keep the battery in top condition and clean the terminals.
Check for wear on breaks and fluid levels.
Check for leaks on the exhaust and crimped pipes and repair
or replace as necessary. Carbon monoxide is deadly and usually gives no
warning.
Replace air filters and keep water out of the system by
using additives. Maintain a full tank of fuel to keep the fuel pipes from
freezing.
Ensure the heater and fans work properly.
Check all lights including hazard lights for serviceability.
Check for oil level.
Repair any problems and maintain proper washer fluid level.
Make sure the tires have adequate tread and are inflated to
the correct pressure for that vehicle.
Peter at buggrub
is not only sponsoring the competition on my website he is also offering a 10%
discount on all his products by using the word PREPPER. So have you got the
gonads, can you walk the walk, dare you, I dare you to buy some buggrub and
then eat it, go on I dare you. Peter’s website is www.buggrub.com
Survival Communication
I see a lot of discussion on survival forums and blogs about
the options available for radio communication among small groups in a post-SHTF
situation.
There are many types of radios that can meet some or most of
the communication requirements, including FRS (Family Radio Service), GRMS
(General Mobile Radio Service), in the states and CB (Citizen's Band) and VHF
(Very High Frequency) marine-band radios elsewhere.
Those who live in coastal areas or along major navigable
inland waterways who are planning to bug out by boat will already be familiar
with VHF radios, as they are standard equipment for most vessels, whether
hand-held or fixed-mount units.
While it is illegal to use channels in the marine VHF band for communication on land in normal times, in any scenario forcing you to bug-out in the first place, this will not likely be something to worry about.
While it is illegal to use channels in the marine VHF band for communication on land in normal times, in any scenario forcing you to bug-out in the first place, this will not likely be something to worry about.
The advantage of marine VHF radios over most of the
alternatives is that this band offers a large range of channels and hand-held
units have two power levels for the transmitter, usually 1 watt for low power
and 5 or 6 watts for high power. This gives good range, especially on the
water or in open country.
Another advantage of hand-held VHF units is that they are now more rugged than ever, and several models are available that are not only waterproof, but submersible as well.
Another advantage of hand-held VHF units is that they are now more rugged than ever, and several models are available that are not only waterproof, but submersible as well.
However when the grid goes down there will be a great many
people who will make a big mistake one day by assuming the ever present cell
phone will remain in use as a viable communications tool.
Now think about the circumstances that will cause you to
grab your bug out bag. Now contemplate whether or not it is just possible that
the mobile networks might be under the control of the very people you are
inclined to protect yourself and your family from.
So what you need is a communications PLAN just like you have
the food, firearms, bug out bag, escape plan in effect.
You need to think about and plan for the eventual disruption
of the Internet and the mobile phone network. People who are putting survival
communications plans into effect now are going to be very pleased with the
results one day.
I think it goes without saying that both CB radio and
amateur radio are going to be two of the biggest players when people begin
learning about radio communications.
Some keywords to begin your own search on include,
frequencies, antennas, license, radios, power, ham, and of course CB (there are
others as well but these are the most popular).
Just like you prepared as a survivalist or as a prepper the
simplest alternative to mobile phones and the Internet, is radio
communications. It stands to reason that 2-way and shortwave radio cannot be
controlled by whatever government agency has caused folks to bug out.
Sure they have the FCC in the states and OFCOM here in the
UK but no one will be listening to these bodies WTSHTF. So start working a
communications plan that will allow you to replace that mobile phone with
communications gear that YOU understand.
CB or HAM?
That's a discussion that will never be settled as there are
proponents on both sides of that argument that can make some pretty good points
about how their preferred communications systems is the better of the two.
Let me give you a little bit of an explanation without going
overboard with radio jargon and stories about how far away a radio signal can
travel.
Enter the CB Radio
Three things make CB radio attractive to preppers and
survivalists, and they are:
- PRICE
- AVAILABILITY
- LEGAL
ISSUES
Starting with the first item price, leads us to discover
that you can find CB radios available for as little as $5 in working condition
at local flea markets, swap areas, and even garage sales in the states and
around £10 to £20 here in the UK.
There are higher priced, base and mobile, units but a
survivalist will general trend towards the least expensive gear. One of the
main issues with CB operation it that of its low power output.
Granted there are modifications and amplifiers available but
these are generally beyond what your average survival focused operator is
looking for.
As for the availability of CB, we have already mentioned
flea markets and garage sales. And then you have Craigslist(tm), eBay(tm), and
a host of other online sources for CB equipment.
The only real legal issue concerning CB radio is that you
are no longer required to have a license to operate either a base station or a
mobile operation. There are other legal issues such as being on frequencies a
CB is not authorized to operate on and the use of excessive power output. But
these issues pertain more to the operator of the CB station than the CB
equipment itself.
Ham Radio
Let's talk a little bit about ham radio. Ham radio has many
frequencies available to those who hold an amateur radio license (ham radio
license). The more popular HF (high frequency) bands have characteristics that
allow people to communicate with someone in the next county or another ham in
another part of the world.
The highly popular 2 meter ham band includes all frequencies
between 144 megahertz up to and including the 148 megahertz frequencies.
Not wanting to go too deep into any form of radio technology
I would encourage you to learn the phonetic alphabet.
Simply write it down as I did then read car number plates as
you drive around or street sign etc. and practice it, this way you will soon
master it.
When it comes to PMR communications I recommend the
GXT1000VP4 2-Way Midland Radios from http://www.buytwowayradios.com
you will not be disappointed.
And referring to Marine Radio, well I am already licensed to
operate anywhere in the world while at sea, the license cost me £75 but it may
have gone up in the last four years.
Nigel at www.hunters-knives.co.uk has offered
you dear listener 10% on all his products simply by using the code PREP10.
Prepared for Disaster
Are you prepared for a disaster that could affect the daily
function of your life or the lives of your family members? Or do you even
believe a disaster will ever affect you?
Blizzards, floods, power cuts, and who knows what else
happens all the time. Still, most of us ignore the warnings. "It can't
happen here," some say. "The government will take care of me if it
does," others think.
But not only do they happen, they can happen to you. And
when they do, you will be on your own. The recent UK flooding events have
proved this. Look at the total disruption of transportation when it snows for
example.
This was followed by the immediate and complete paralysis of
air transportation at major international airports. Thousands were stranded for
days on their own in strange cities.
As serious as these events were, they pale in comparison to
the possibilities. Consider a major biological or nuclear attack or accident.
Hundreds of thousands of casualties are predicted in some scenarios.
These disasters or attacks would overwhelm local, regional,
and national emergency resources and cause widespread panic. Transportation
would stop, markets would be stripped of food within hours, essential emergency
services would be overwhelmed, and food, medical supplies, and emergency service
workers would be sent to the disaster area, leaving critical shortages in local
areas.
Are you prepared?
Now, more than ever, you need to prepare for the possibility
of disasters or attacks on a scale and type never before imagined. It is your
duty to yourself, your family, and your country to be prepared.
Some of us need to be prepared for being at "ground
zero." Certain areas are the most likely direct targets of terrorists or
natural disasters. All of us need to be prepared to be indirect targets, those
affected by the temporary collapse of our nation's infrastructure.
In short, we all need to be able to live
self-sufficiently for a period of time.
What to prepare for will depend on your geographical area.
Natural disasters and the risk of major terrorist attacks vary by where you
live. The first thing you need to do is make a list of the possible disasters
for which you need to prepare.
Some of the things you will want to consider include natural
disasters, such as blizzards, floods, and even wild fires, as well as
technological disasters, such as nuclear, biological, chemical (NBC) attacks,
and hazardous material accidents.
Don't forget cyber-attacks, the possibility that an enemy
could attack our computer systems, shutting down electrical, gas, communications,
transportation, and emergency and medical services. What about attacks on our
farms and agricultural processing plants? While they would likely affect only a
small number of people directly, they would completely shut down food
production and distribution systems.
While there are many things to plan for, your response to
all of them is one of two things: stay at home or evacuate. For blizzards,
earthquakes, cyber-attacks, nuclear fallout, quarantine after biological
attacks, and collapse of the infrastructure, you will want to stay at
home.
For floods, hurricanes, or with some advance notice of NBC
attacks, evacuation may be your course of action.
Whenever possible, staying at home in your own environment
and with your own emergency supplies is the best choice.
When you evacuate, you are essentially a refugee at the
mercy of government evacuation centres or the compassion of the local
population.
In a major disaster, don't expect to be welcomed by the
locals who are struggling with their own survival.
In all situations, you will need to be able to think for
yourself. Confusion always accompanies a major disaster and initial information
and instructions may be conflicting and incorrect.
So, monitor the radio and television for official instructions
on what to do, such as whether to evacuate or not, but don't assume they are
correct. Make your own decisions based on your plans and preparation.
Bugging-in
Key to your survival is preparing a disaster supplies kit,
essentially the stockpiling of all materials that you would need to live on if
you are cut off from outside utilities, water, and supplies. Once a disaster
occurs, there won't be time and materials may not be available.
How long you will need to be self-sufficient is hard to say.
My advice would be that everyone store enough food, water, and supplies to take
care of their family for three days.
Preparing a "72-hour kit" is a good idea. It can
be used for immediate evacuation and part of your overall disaster supply kit.
Place items in a portable, easy-to-carry container, such as a large plastic box
or duffel bag, ready to grab at a moment's notice.
But, is it enough? A blizzard, earthquake, quarantine, or
nuclear fallout could confine you for much longer. You need to be able to take
care of all the needs for your family for a period of at least two weeks and
possibly longer.
Having supplies for one to three months is not all that
unreasonable or hard to accomplish.
There are six basics that should be part of your home
disaster supplies kit: water, food, first aid supplies, tools and emergency
supplies, clothing and bedding, and special needs items.
Tools and emergency supplies Tools and emergency supplies
should include such things as battery-operated radio and flashlights with extra
batteries, cups/plates/utensils, non-electric can opener, matches, lantern,
fire extinguisher, hand tools for repairs and to turn off household water and
gas, a whistle, and plastic sheeting.
For sanitation, include toilet paper, soap, toothpaste,
personal hygiene items, disinfectant, and household chlorine bleach. Many more
items can be added.
Think through the things you use on a daily basis.
Clothing and bedding Clothing and bedding would include a
change of clothing and footwear for everyone in the household, rain gear, cold
weather clothes, hat and gloves, and blankets or sleeping bags. Remember, a
house or car can get very cold without heat.
Prepare for the worst weather that you might encounter.
Store your disaster supply kit in a convenient place that is
known to all family members and make sure they know your family's disaster
plan. Evaluate your kit once a year and update it according to family needs.
Evacuation
You may not have much time to prepare when you need to
evacuate. A hazardous materials spill could mean instant evacuation, so always
have a smaller version of your home disaster supply kit in the boot of your
car.
When you have advance warning of an evacuation, bring your
portable "72-hour" disaster supply kit, along with additional food,
water, and clothing. Keep important family documents in a waterproof, portable
container, ready to bring with you in an evacuation.
These may include your will, insurance policies, contracts,
deeds, stocks and bonds, passports, social security card, bank and credit
account numbers, family documents (birth, marriage, and death certificates),
inventory of valuable household items, and important telephone numbers.
It would be a good idea to always keep some cash in this
container, so you have it for an emergency. If there is time, valuable family
heirlooms or photographs can be added.
Now that you have a basic plan for any emergency, let's
consider plans for some specific risks.
Nuclear
attack/accident
A nuclear disaster could result from an accident at a
nuclear power plant, a detonation of a nuclear device by terrorists or a rogue
nation, or an explosion of a "dirty" bomb, an explosive surrounded by
radioactive material. Individuals at "ground zero" will have little
chance of survival.
The risk for others is the exposure to radiation.
Radiation is dangerous because of harmful effects on the
body. In large amounts, radiation can cause radiation sickness, thyroid and
other cancers, and death.
These effects are greater the longer a person is exposed to
the radiation and the closer the person is to the source. If radiation is
released into the atmosphere, it can travel for thousands of miles,
contaminating the ground and living organisms as it settles back to earth on
dust or rain.
This is called fallout radiation.
Time, distance, and shielding are the factors that minimize
exposure to nuclear radiation. Most radiation loses its strength fairly
rapidly, but it is important to limit the amount of time spent near the
radiation source.
The farther away an individual is from the radiation source,
the less exposure. Shielding is a barrier between an individual and the
radiation.
Concrete, earth, and structures are good shields. Depending
on the distance from the source, the best protection from radiation fallout may
be to remain indoors.
After a nuclear disaster you may be advised to evacuate. If
so, remain calm, pack your evacuation survival kit in your vehicle, and follow
the evacuation routes out of the area. If there is time before leaving, close
and lock windows of your house, close fireplace dampers, turn off air
conditioning, vents, fans, and furnace.
Doing these things will make your house safer when you
return by minimizing exposure to the inside of your house to fallout.
If you are advised to remain at home, bring pets inside,
secure your house from fallout by closing and locking doors and windows,
closing fireplace dampers, turning off air conditioning, vents and fans.
If your emergency supplies are stored in a garage or barn,
bring them inside and, if there is time, store additional water in tubs, sinks,
and available containers. Inside the house, the safest area is a basement or
underground area, followed by an interior room with no windows.
Stay inside until authorities say it is safe to go outside.
When coming in from the outdoors after exposure to fallout, shower and change
clothes and shoes. Put the contaminated items that were worn outside in a
plastic bag and seal it.
Open water sources (streams, creeks and lakes), fruits and
vegetables from outdoor gardens, and livestock will all be contaminated. Do not
eat or drink products from these until you know it is safe.
Bioterrorism
Very few people were actually infected in the anthrax
attacks in the USA after 911 because it took direct physical contact with the
bacteria to develop the disease. Other biological agents are contagious (passed
from person to person), however, and are much more dangerous.
Biological agents are microorganisms (bacteria or viruses)
or toxins that produce diseases in humans. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC)
lists 17 biological agents that may be used as weapons, including anthrax,
smallpox, plague, and botulism. They are not immediately detectable, may take
days to grow and spread, and it is impossible to know when an attack occurs.
While preparations are being made for defence against such attacks, nobody
really knows what to expect.
Fortunately, most of these biological agents are hard to
make into weapons. Worst-case scenarios, such as suicide terrorists infected
with smallpox traveling through metropolitan areas, are staggering, however.
Thousands of victims would overwhelm medical services and
die.
Likely? Hopefully not, but who knows? Those at "ground
zero" who are infected will need professional medical help.
With air travel, people will spread the disease all over the
country before we even know an attack occurred. The rest of the country
will shut down as soon as authorities realize what happened.
Expect widespread closure of the country and mandatory
quarantines. Transportation, food, and vital services will stop. Plan to stay
at home if advised or ordered and avoid exposure with outsiders who may carry
disease.
Your stockpile of food and supplies should get you through
this disaster. You may want to have some medical-type masks and gloves on hand.
Should you stockpile antibiotics in preparation for such
attacks? Authorities say no and this may be practical advice.
A large number of different types and amounts of antibiotics
would need to be stored to protect your family against all likely biological
weapons.
Many of the diseases are viruses, not treatable with
antibiotics, and those treatable by antibiotics might be altered to make them
resistant to available antibiotics. Besides, you will need professional medical
care if you are exposed.
Chemical terrorism
and hazardous spills
Chemical agents are gases, liquids, or solids that are
poisonous to humans. Depending on the type and amount of the material, exposure
to chemical agents can cause illness or be fatal.
Chemical agents include chlorine or ammonia gases that are
transported on trains daily, other hazardous industrial chemicals, and chemical
warfare agents, such as nerve agents, blister agents, blood poisons, and
others.
The CDC lists 58 known chemical warfare agents.
Some nerve agents, such as Sarin, used in the attack in
Japan, kill quickly. If you are at "ground zero" in such situations
your only chance is to evacuate immediately.
A hazardous materials spill is probably more likely than a
terrorist chemical attack. For gases and other chemicals that spread in the
air, evacuation to avoid exposure is critical.
Leave the area as soon as you are aware of the incident.
Full face respirators (gas masks) may be useful for escape in such situations.
Buy good quality, new masks designed for industrial or rescue use, not army
surplus masks.
Natural disasters
Natural disasters are somewhat easier to prepare for—you
either get out of their way (evacuate) or you protect yourself indoors.
In floods Sandbag doors and windows, move furniture and
other items to higher ground, and evacuate if necessary. Do not drive or walk
through flood waters and stay off bridges when they are covered with water.
Be prepared
Bad weather Preparation should include boarding up windows
and flood-proofing your home. Bring in outside furniture, bicycles, and rubbish
bins. Listen to recommendations of emergency officials and evacuate if advised.
If not advised to evacuate, stay indoors and away from windows.
Blizzards Stay indoors and use the telephone only for
life-threatening emergencies. Use fires safely and properly ventilate. It there
is no heat, cover windows, close off un-needed rooms, and stuff towels in
cracks under doors.
Wear layers of warm clothing. Eat and drink plenty. Food
generates body heat and water helps circulation to keep the skin warm.
It is important to know what to do and have a plan before a
disaster strikes. The internet can provide additional information for preparing
for and dealing with natural disasters and terrorist attacks.
Consider your risks, develop a plan, prepare your disaster
supplies kit, and discuss with your family what to do in case of an emergency.
Remember, the future belongs to those who prepare. You
must be ready before disaster strikes.
The Bug out Week End is coming
Community of UK Preppers on FB are having a (Bug out
weekend)
So why not join them on the 2nd to the 4th may 2015 to share
and learn ideas with other like-minded people
Location
The location is Winteringham Lane, West halton. DN15 9AX
Available Spaces
All spaces are designated specific areas of the Bug Out
Weekend location that are suitable for that type of bugging out system as the
location is a wild managed area and has a range of different types of ground.
All the places listed
here are for the tree covered areas of the location.
1. Hammocks: ---------------------15 spaces.
2. Tarps and tents----------------10 Places
3. 4x4 and off road vehicles----20 places.
4. Campervans and trailers----15 places
There is a large open ground area of the location for the
Bug Out Weekend to use whatever system you choose, but I will be limiting these
spaces to 40 spaces.
Admission Fee
£20.00 for adult over 16 years
£10.00 for child under 16 years
Free for child under 10 years
Traders and promoters are welcome for no extra cost to the
entrance fee
Anyone who says they are going to the event must pay a
non-refundable £5.00 deposit per person to secure their place.
How to make deposit
payment.
Only if you wish to attend say you are going and I will
message you and give you the Paypal address with a payment reference number.
Once payment has been made i will send you your payment
receipt reference number. This number is to be presented on entry to the Bug
out Weekend where the deposit will be deducted from the admission cost.
Arrangements
Please arrange any train Tickets to Scunthorpe as soon as
possible (ASAP) as this will save you money and could be cheaper than your own
car.
We can arrange to pick you up from Scunthorpe Train Station
and drop you back off for a fee of £3.00. Please let me know as soon as
possible if you require this service.
Facilities
There will be a toilet facility in place.
There will be ranges for Archery, Crossbow, Air rifle, live
round rifles and shotgun too.
There will be a solar Shower available with hot water
available if needed..
There will be a Marquee set up in case of any wet weather so
it won't stop people who want to do a bit of socialising
There will be a BBQ for anyone who wants to have a good old
meat feast at the cost of £5.00 per head
UK Firearms Licensing Act
For anyone who wishes to bring along a gun or rifle that
requires to be licensed under the UK Firearms licensing act 1968.
It is every owner’s responsibility to ensure they are covered
under the Uk Firearms licensing act and proof of cover for any such firearms
must be shown before you are allowed entry to the Bug out Weekend meeting.
The organisers or associates will not be held responsible
for any transportation of unlicensed Firearms to or from the Bug out Weekend.
See the link below
Ranges
Strict safety rules and timing guidelines at the range
points must be followed at all times.
Disclaimer
All guidelines and disclaimers will be presented on entry to
the Bug Out Weekend meeting by security staff.
All guidelines and disclaimers must be read and understood
before entry to the Bug out Weekend.
To be sure of a place go to FB and find the bug out weekend
“CUP”
No comments:
Post a Comment