Survival, are you prepared if or when the SHTF? Part 4

In our continuing adventure, we are looking at critical life-saving skills for survival. We have looked at making or finding fire, shelter, food, and water, all critical to life. There is one skill however that while necessary we all hope we never need.

First-aid.

First aid is not just a survival skill it is a technique that is not just the basic medical needs, it is the primary way in which you act to survive. DO NOT PANIC, remain calm, and do what you have to do to take care of yourself. STOP means Sit, Think, Observe, and Plan.

The greatest tool you have in any circumstances is your mind. You must above all else make sure you can keep it working. Most survival situations require only dressing for small cuts, bruises, and personal medication needs, make sure you know what you have with you and how to use it. Buy a first-aid kit or build one. Band-aids, gauze, tape, aspirin, bandanas, ointment, sunscreen, oil of clove for toothaches, calamine lotion, medicine for stomach aches, any medication you will need at least 72 hours worth, but 30 days is better. You can if you like add rubbing alcohol, but do not use the rubbing alcohol on open wounds. When applied to an open wound, rubbing alcohol can cause tissue damage and slow the healing process, this is also true for hydrogen peroxide. It can be used to sterilize tools, start a fire, or remove poison ivy oil. Soap and water are better for cleaning. 

Prevention of an injury is also first-aid, protect yourself from sunburn, heat stroke, and hypothermia. If you are on foot spare dry socks, well-worn boots, and foot powder. Chapstick for chapped, dry lips. Again Vaseline works well too and has multiple purposes. U.S. Marines are taught a nice little trick in boot camp. It is an efficient packing method. It is called a skivvy roll. The U.S. Army uses a technique called Ranger rolls for their BDUs. I like to keep at least two changes of clothing and skivvy rolls in each of my bug-out-bag.

In a directly unrelated, but I think as an important category of first-aid navigation maps, compasses, and books for living off the land are a must-have in each BoB as well.

As has been said in all of our adventures, you may not ever need any of these tools, but for the peace of mind they bring, the few dollars they cost a first-aid kit, training in first-aid, is in my opinion worth both the time and money you’ll spend.

There is also free online training which can be found here.

With only 50 days left till Election Day, we need everyone to vote, before you do I suggest you research every candidate of your choosing. Every Congressional rep and each Senator has a voting record. which can be found here.

Remember ONLY you can stop RINOs and democrats Socialists.