When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need to Survive When Disaster Strikes
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Broken Blisters
Wash the area with soap and water. Broken blisters can have debris such as dirt or sand under the affected area that needs to be cleaned out. If necessary, gently cut off the flap of skin over the top of the blister to clean it out. Cover the blister with a sterile nonstick pad and then cover this with tape or moleskin. Watch for signs of infection (redness and tenderness extending beyond the blister, discolored blister fluid, or pus) each day.
The Basic First-Aid Kit
There is no one portable first-aid kit that will cover all of your needs, and there is perhaps no better way to start an argument between otherwise good-natured and intelligent people than trading opinions about what to carry in a first-aid kit. Yet compiling a good first-aid kit is basic and relevant for every household on earth. Your kit should reflect the amount of first-aid training your family has. A family comprised of a physician and nurse might have a very elaborate first-aid kit, as they have the training and the know-how to use it. We greenhorns will have far fewer bells and whistles, yet there's no reason we have to sit on the bench and watch the action happen. Like the contents of a survival kit, the contents of your family's first-aid kit will reflect many variables and should be custom-made to conform to your family's situation. Variables such as bulk, weight, cost, the number of people, and the proposed duration of your emergency will all factor in. Some items are staples, such as bandages and triple antibiotic ointment. If you live with a diabetic or someone on treatment for another medical condition, tailor your kit to reflect such a reality. One-size-fits-all first-aid kits are just as mythological as one-size-fits-all survival kits. Even if you live down the street from a hospital, don't assume it will be your saving grace after a catastrophe.
The following list, while solid for many first-aid needs, simply reflects a foundation upon which to build your custom kit. Be self-reliant and dare to think for yourself. The below supplies may be all you need, maybe even less. Although it seems like a lot of stuff to carry, most of it is very small in volume and weight. Be sure to pack the items separately in a well-marked pouch stating "First Aid." Don't throw the items into a huge jumble along with shampoo, deodorant, and breath mints. I have the majority of my first-aid items double-sealed in two zipper-lock freezer bags to keep the contents dry. The clear plastic makes it easy to locate certain items before opening the seal. Your first-aid container should be waterproof, highly visible, simple to open and use, and yet be rugged enough to protect its precious contents.
Foundational, Portable First-aid Kit Contents
(Important Note: The amount of medications and bandages will need to be increased for families. Stay-at-home kits can be larger but make sure to have a portable version for hitting the road.)
Latex gloves—5 pair
Bandages—small, medium, and large—10 or more of each
Sterile gauze pads, 4-inch squares—6 or more
Nonadherent gauze pads—6 or more
Butterfly strips—10 or more
First-aid tape, 2-inch width—one roll
Kling wrap (self-adhering roller bandage)—one roll
Elastic bandage, 3-inch width—one roll
Moleskin (for blisters), 4-inch squares—4 or more
Safety pins—5 to 10
Irrigation syringe, 20 cc—one
Triple antibiotic ointment—one tube
Topical antiseptic towelettes—10 or more
Topical anesthetic cream—one tube or pads
One- to four-ounce bottle of povidone-iodine 10%
Pain and anti-inflammatory medications, 50 tablets or more of each: acetaminophen tablets (Tylenol) 325 mg; ibuprofen tablets and aspirin, 200 mg. (Special note about pain relievers: In the case of serious body trauma, you will want the biggest, baddest pain relievers on the block. Many outdoor expeditions don't mess around with the realties of devastating mechanical injuries and remote locations. They typically carry Tylenol III, codeine, meperidine, and/or morphine. Check into the legalities of obtaining these and having them in your possession. Talk to your family physician, tell them your intention, and see what they recommend.)
Small bar of antibacterial soap or waterless hand-sanitizer packets
Decongestant—10 or more tablets
Antihistamine—20 or more tablets
Antacids—10 or more tablets
Hydrocortisone cream—one small tube
Antidiarrheal tablets—10 or more
Laxative tablets—10 or more
Cough drops—10 or more
Sunscreen—one small tube
Lip balm with sunscreen—one tube
Insect repellent—one small tube or towelettes
Powdered electrolyte replacement solution—4 to 6 single-use packets
Small notebook and pencil (wrap duct tape around pencil)
Tweezers—one pair
Small scissors—one pair
One small flashlight
Scalpel with blades, a few single-edged razor blades, and/or a small, very sharp knife
Matches or lighter
One large needle
One bandana
Motion sickness tablets, optional
Antibiotics (Note: As with the big guns of pain relief, antibiotics such as penicillin will need to be prescribed by a physician. Some family members may have serious allergies to several types of antibiotics. Talk with your family physician about your intention.)
Good first-aid book
A positive attitude and a little luck
After a major disaster, assume that all hospitals in the area will be overwhelmed.
Every family member of age should enroll in a basic first-aid and CPR class from a nearby provider as soon as possible. Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) courses are also available for those who want to learn more.
The average American home is the site of millions of medical emergencies every year, many of which can be avoided by paying attention and initiating home repairs or upgrades.
Despite annual vaccinations, influenza in the U.S. kills more than 36,000 people and causes another 200,000 to enter hospitals each year.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, having another flu pandemic is simply a matter of time.
One person can transmit the flu to dozens and even hundreds of other people. Use basic safe-hygiene skills, such as containing sneezes and coughs, washing hands, avoiding touching your nose, eyes, and mouth, and staying home if you are ill. Stay healthy by eating right, exercising, and keeping a positive outlook about life.
The possibilities of mass chaos during a pandemic are very real, as well as the realities of limited travel opportunities for buying needed supplies. Keep your family prepared with what they need to survive without outside assistance.
Wounds will be very common after a disaster. Ensure precautions against body fluids and bloodborne pathogens and stop the bleeding, clean the wound, and dress with a clean or sterile dressing and bandage to minimize infection.
Any wound can become infected. Common signs of infection are redness, swelling, increased pain and tenderness, pus, swollen lymph nodes, elevated temperature, and chills and fever for advanced infections.
Infected, pus-filled wounds must be allowed to drain and should not be allowed to reseal when the infection is still present. Soak the wound in warm, disinfected water four times per day for twenty to thirty minutes, as the warm water helps in the healing process. After soaking, carefully dry the affected area and change the dressings as often as required to keep them clean and dry. Over-the-counter pain medications can be given if needed.
Burns will be very common as people use their disaster supplies. STOP the burning, clean the burn of all debris, keep it clean, and prevent blisters from rupturing. Cover the burn with a thin layer of antibiotic ointment and then a clean or sterile nonstick dressing and bandage. Give over-the-counter ibuprofen for the pain. Burn victims will be dehydrated and should be encouraged to drink extra water.
People with severe burns require large amounts of fluids to survive, which must usually be given intravenously. All serious burns will need advanced medical care as soon as possible!
Diarrhea may be common after an emergency. There are two types of diarrhea, the less serious and more common "traveler's diarrhea" and the other, more invasive bacterial diarrhea. The latter is very serious and will require advanced medical care.
The replacement of fluids and electrolytes (sodium and potassium) is of prime importance to all victims of diarrhea.
Antidiarrheal medications such as Pepto-Bismol, Imodium AD, or Lomotil should be used with discretion for controlling painful cramps or during circumstances that are far more dangerous or uncomfortable than the diarrhea itself.
Due to stress and an irregular diet, constipation is possible. Most constipation can be remedied with an adequate fluid intake coupled with consuming high-moisture (fruits) and high-fiber (bran cereal) foods. Calming down and relaxing can help as well. Although mostly unnecessary if the above is followed, the most effective and safest laxative is Milk of Magnesia.
Go to the bathroom when you need to, stay hydrated, and eat healthy to avoid fecal compaction.
Nausea and vomiting are common side effects from drinking nondisinfected water. The replacement of lost water and electrolytes are all-important to the healing process. When possible, feed the victim bland foods, preferably liquids such as soups, for the next day.
Serious blisters caused from repetitive rubbing can be very painful and impede foot travel. Stop the rubbing, keep feet dry, change socks, and deal with hot spots before they mature into blisters. Keep blisters clean and watch open blisters for possible infection.
All families should compile and have ready a portable first-aid kit. What you choose to carry in a first-aid kit is dependent upon your family, the duration of your emergency, cost, weight, volume, and other variables.
First-aid containers should be waterproof, highly visible, simple to open and use, and yet be rugged enough to protect their contents.
20
Sensibly SERIOUS SELF-DEFENSE
"Though defensive violence will always be 'a sad necessity' in the eyes of men of principle, it would be still more unfortunate if wrongdoers should dominate just men."
—St. Augustine
This book is based upon the virtues of taking responsibility for your actions and whether or not you choose to actively prepare for an emergency. Much like opinions about knives in a wilderness survival context (how big, how many, what type of steel for the blade, etc. ad nauseam), the very nature of "self-defense" has strong supporters on both sides of the fence. These beliefs are spawned by many circumstances and ideologies, from the teachings of various religious doctrines, or personal experiences, to political slants or views on life in general.
I have included this chapter for reasons that should be obvious at this time in our planet's consciousness. My responsibility is to give you the best possibility in surviving your family's crisis. What you do or don't do with the information presented in this book is your business. The more tasks that you are able to perform yourself, the better off you'll be, and the less drag you will be on emergency response personnel in times of chaos. Self-reliance in any particular skill or commodity, and the mind-set and actions that go with it, give you options. These options provide you with alternatives to mitigate or deal with problems when outside help and resources are not available.
My Interview with Professor Mark Bryans
of the American Combato System
As my expertise in "self-defense" is minimizing and combating risks to your life from nonphysical threats of violence, I wanted to talk with someone who specializes in personal and family self-defense. I have always had an interest in self-defense training, but I was not interested in walking on rice paper and catching a fly midair with my toes in order to be able and willing to defend myself in a hairy situation. Survival and self-defense scenarios are identical twins in that, at their core, both deal with potentially life-threatening emergencies under extreme stress. In the same vein, both arts have a few ego-saturated jerks who either willfully or out of ignorance distort the truth about what is and what is not important in dealing with these life-threatening emergencies. The myth is coddled and fed by producers and editors in film, television, magazines, newspapers, and online who have zero experience in the realities of either genre. At the viewer or reader's expense, they shamelessly tout information that often is more geared toward supporting ratings than delivering sound advice.
Mark Bryans is blunt, unflattering with the truth, uncompromising in his ideals of self-defense, has zero tolerance for the bullshit in his field, and is completely driven to be and teach the best practical, real-life self-defense possible to his students. In short, he walks his talk. Some of his answers will shock you, make you uncomfortable, and cause you to think. Be shocked now, and then prepare, long before some whacko charges at you with a butcher knife.
CODY: Hi, Mark. Thanks for agreeing to do this interview on self-defense. I know there are a ton of different martial arts schools, so what is American Combato (Jen-Do-Tao™) (ACJDT) and who created it?
PROFESSOR BRYANS: Thanks for having me, Cody. ACJDT is a complete, comprehensive martial arts system focusing entirely on close-quarters combat and self-defense. Our students are trained mentally, physically, and tactically to defend themselves against deadly, unavoidable, and unprovoked attacks. The system was created by Bradley J. Steiner in 1975 and has absolutely no sporting or competitive application whatsoever. Professor Steiner combined his background and training in Eastern martial arts, western boxing, and wrestling with the immense knowledge and training programs taught to various operatives and soldiers during World War II. He also used his training in Taekwon-do, Ju-Jutsu, Indian varmannie, and Chinese-Hawaiian Kempo Karate, along with western boxing from the practical wartime methods of the Applegate system, Helson system, O'Neill system, Fairbairn system, Brown-Begala system, Sigward system, and the Biddle-Styers system.
CODY: Wow, it sounds pretty comprehensive.
PROFESSOR BRYANS: It is. Steiner also added miscellaneous modern Special Forces approaches, commando techniques, and the brutal tactics of rough-and-tumble "street," "prison," and "alley" fighting. He drew also upon his deep involvement in physical training and the art of progressive-resistance exercise and studies into the crafts of hypnosis, mind-control techniques, and other unusual philosophies as these things relate to combat arts, as well as his exposure to the world of secret intelligence. Cody, all methods of combat can be divided into offensive and defensive methods. ACJDT is the first martial-arts system in history to offer a comprehensive and in-depth syllabus of attack combinations and methods of planned aggression as well as "self-defense" techniques which we call counterattacks. The AC student is trained to be aware of an attacker before he attacks and to focus upon "attacking the attacker" once he perceives the beginning of the attacker's violent action or intention. We don't teach a student to react to the attacker's specific attack, whether it's a punch, grab, or weapon acquisition. We teach students to simply and destructively launch their own attack with nonstop destructive action to knock the attacker unconscious. The counterattack portion of the system prepares the student to "attack the attacker" if taken by surprise.
CODY: Now that you've filled us in on the system itself, what's your background?
PROFESSOR BRYANS: I've been studying American Combato with Professor Steiner since 1979. I was the first individual to achieve black belt ranking in ACJDT, and am currently the highest-ranking instructor in the system outside of Professor Steiner himself. My current ranking is sixth-degree black belt whereupon I was awarded the title of professor in the system. I've been operating my own school since 1992 where I teach all types of people from private citizens to the military and the police. The majority of my students are, and will continue to be, private citizens. I also work with individuals and groups in all aspects of mental and physical conditioni
ng, including drilling of offensive and defensive combat methods, progressive-resistance training (i.e. weights), and mind-set development.
CODY: Exactly what does it take to defend yourself and what are the qualities an individual will need?
PROFESSOR BRYANS: By far, the most important attribute is the combative mind-set. This is not the attitude of the "tough guy" or of the paranoid. It is simply the deeply held conviction of self-respect and understanding that no one has the right to initiate force against another, that force is to be used only in retaliation against unavoidable, unprovoked attack and only against those who initiate its use. As I've heard Professor Steiner say, "Any rational person prefers peace over violence and that all such individuals are pacifists until they are attacked." If you should find yourself under criminal attack and escape is not possible, then you should proceed without hesitation to viciously destroy your attacker by launching your own attack. All students learn during their first lesson to "attack the attacker." The individual seeking defensive, protective capability must know, subconsciously, that the attacker is wrong and that what the attacker is doing is evil and that any action and damage that the defender MUST inflict upon the attacker is right and necessary. Realize that the defender's motive is always defense, but the means is offense. The defender must master a few, simple, direct offensive attack combinations, and commit to relentless, brutal follow-up to their initial attack until the attacker is rendered harmless. Now, the attacker is harmless when he is unconscious, if he flees—don't pursue him—or if the defender can safely escape. Realize also that the defender must absolutely expect to be hurt, perhaps seriously injured, during any self-defense encounter and this is true even for an expert.