Active New Top (30 days) Compact Card Domestic Privacy and Security Bill Masen - February 22, 2021 Privacy and Security Ensuring our privacy and security during a crisis is vital, so its very important that we control the approaches and access to our homes and reduce light pollution that advertises our independence from the national grid power supplies. Blackout blinds and curtains (or window shutters) are an absolute must for every window and door to stop light escaping thus advertising your self-reliant position. Multi point locking on doors and windows is a must even in normal times, but after a crisis develops you may wish to add self-adhesive laminating security film to your windows which makes gaining entry to your home via a broken window far more difficult and noisy for the intruder. It is also essential that you keep some pre-cut marine grade ½ plywood boarding to secure any windows that do get broken. In recent years a new design of door called the COMPOSITE door has gained massive popularity in the UK, it is made of colour resistant / fire resistant polycarbonate, over wood and foam and metal core, it utilises over engineered hinges (often three or four) and much more robust multi point locking than used in UPVC doors. The door frame is of aluminium cored UPVC or Composite material and again is much more substantial than the older UPVC systems. The best versions are the government / home office APPROVED BY DESIGN types that have passed vigorous testing. Metal clad doors are also gaining popularity in urban areas. Some people have fitted security bars that pivot or swing over the doors to re-enforce the entry points. Apparently it is remarkably easy to kick in the bottom panel on most older UPVC doors made in the UK as they were designed this way to make access for firefighters easier. Equally the locks and hinges even on expensive double glazed doors do not stand up very well to police officers using a slide hammer to gain entry to execute a search warrant, so extra security devices, bars and hinges should be considered. Note* Very often modern double glazed doors external frames are only secured to the building wall with a couple of mild steel screws in each side, this makes it very easy to simply to pry or bash the entire door and frame out, its well worth getting high tensile steel self-tapping bolts fitted which massively increase the doors security strength. Read More 14 14 Fit feel and familiarity (Getting to know your kit) Bill Masen - February 22, 2021 FIT, FEEL AND FAMILIARITY (Getting to know your kit) So you have done the research, bought the kit, developed your plans and stockpiled everything including the assault systems kitchen sink. Now what are you going to do Wait for Armageddon? I hope not. It’s no good at all having a great piece of kit if you are not totally familiar with its feel and fit, and you need to be very comfortable about using it. Why buy an all singing all dancing tactical folding knife then put it away until it is needed? Does it open and close smoothly, can you cut a rope, fillet a rabbit, defend yourself with it, sharpen it or is it too big or to lightweight for the task? Does it sit comfortably on your hip or in your pocket now? What about after 8 hours with your rucksack pressing it into your hip, can you unleash it, open it and use it with cold, wet, tired hands? Your expensive flashlight with its lifetime warranty, can you strip and replace the self-cleaning switch, Is it big enough powerful enough to do the job for a full evening in your blacked out camp site or retreat, or is it always getting in the way, pulling your belt down, and eating batteries faster than a kids toy? Be honest, if you were stressed out, scared stupid and fleeing for your life along with your family, Could you put your hand straight to your compass, flashlight, map, knife or whatever in your bug out vest or bag without having to unpack or rummage about for it. What about the vest / bag itself Is the vest up to the job? Is it comfortable? not going to slide up or down, ride up into a knot or disintegrate at the first time its put to use. It’s the same with the BOV’s super duper tyres you paid a premium rate for, and what about the PV unit or wind generator you have obtained, will the tyres give the traction you seek or are you going to end up with terminal wheel spin in the inevitable piece of swamp along the route to your destination. Or the PV and turbine working flat out simply don’t provide enough energy to stop your freezer from thawing out. What if for example the turbine produces so much noise it lets the residents of the next county home in on your secluded retreat? You have the will, you have the need, and now you have the kit to enable you to survive, so get familiar with it use it, get comfortable with it, reassure yourself that it will be up to the task, Why not for example wear your vest for a few days at a time partially loaded, so you get used to it, let it find its shape, find out the best way to load it with your kit. You don’t need to go into town looking like you are ready to start a war, but it will do you no harm at all to use your vest as a gillet carrying your knife, flashlight, compass, first aid kit, Para cord, wallet etc for a few days. Perhaps you could make it your car coat or your dog walking jacket. It’s the same care that is needed with the new boots you have recently invested in. Now you have realised that bugging out in a vehicle is going to be almost impossible and have purchased those 200 dollar boots, are they up to the job? To stiff? Poor fit? Not broken in? Not water resistant? Do they take forever to dry out etc? You need your bug out boots, clothes and kit to be snug, comfortable and familiar at hand, and up to the job. I got myself what I thought would be an ideal garment to use as a bug out vest, I bought it, loaded it up, then put it away whilst I waited for Armageddon. Then one day I thought I would take the mutt for a good long hard walk and decided to try out the vest…………………………. It is now into its third set of alterations and modifications to make it more comfortable and better suited to the task I designed it for. Read More 10 4 Advice Where to carry your CORE EDC ESSENTIALS Bill Masen - February 22, 2021 Some years ago the IRA detonated bombs on the tube and on a bus in central London,(7/7) My associate was en-route to a conference. Six points I ask people to consider. 1 As soon as everything kicked off the authorities turned off all the cell towers cutting comms for central London leaving millions comms blind for hours. Many buildings were ordered to evacuate, including the one my colleague was visiting. the Cops told them in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS to LEAVE THEIR BAGS. (suspecting more bombs) 2 In the US on 911 as the towers burned then fell and people were fleeing blinded by thick ash and smoke, Most had NO OPPORTUNITY to grab their bags, AND also many surviving police hero’s on that day were telling people or even ordering people to leave there bags behind and to just run. 3 On the Madrid train bomb the travellers bags and luggage was stored at the end of the carriages, or in overhead racks. When the train blew up much luggage was destroyed, more was inaccessible because of structural damage, and more bags were simply scattered when the train screeched to a halt. Equally on the high speed trains that crashed in Spain ( Train went too fast round a bend) the baggage and luggage was again scattered or crushed or trapped. In the German high speed train that crash when it ploughed into a concrete overbridge the story was the same. 4 When the big ferries capsized and sank in the English channel ( Herald of Free Enterprise plus another in the Baltic) the lights failed quickly as the vessels began to role, most bags and luggage could not be grabbed as people tried to climb out of the sinking vessels. 5 When terrorists attacked the Bataclan Theatre in Paris and the Westgate Shopping center in Nairobi most people HAD to abandon their bags and packs as they scrambled to hide and escape, some climbing out of toilet windows or jumping from car park roofs. 6 During the recent wave of civil unrest in the US on multiple occasions drivers were ambushed by gangs of extremists and protestors, many people were forced to abandon their vehicles and flee with just what they were wearing, Few could recover their bags or packs. When the dreadful multiple mass shootings in schools occurred most students had to flee or were ordered to leave WITHOUT their bags and their hands above their heads. I respectfully suggest that the best and possibly ONLY place for your CORE ESSENTIAL EDC gear is ON YOUR PERSON and not in a bag, The USEFUL EXTRAS but not essentials obviously can go in bags because it makes sense. But I ask folks to think hard about likely scenarios you MAY face and how easy it is to get separated from your bags. Read More 7 2 Are you seeing more supply chain jankiness? Josh CentersContributor - February 22, 2021 I had an odd experience the other day, and I’m wondering if you might be seeing other weird stuff. We grabbed lunch at Sonic and my son complained that someone had eaten his sweet and sour sauce. I took a look and the container was half empty. I then opened a fresh container, and it was half-empty as well! Of course, we’ve all been dealing with various shortages like toilet paper, cleaners, and ammunition, but this is the first time I’ve seen a sauce container not even half-filled. I’m wondering if it’s an anomaly or a sign of supply chain issues. Read More 16 28 Creating a suture kit chopper20ss - February 21, 2021 Im creating a suture kit. I have noticed that the absorbable sutures are very expensive, but the PGA absorbable dental ones are very affordable. So I’m wondering if the dental sutures will absorb/dissolve for outside skin? Read More 7 11 GearSkills Glacier / Primo refill station for long term water storage opeepingtomo - February 20, 2021 I’ve been reading regarding storing water for longer than the recommended rotation of six months and it usually talked about bottled water or water from tap. What would the consensus be regarding taking my own sanitized containers to a primo or glacier refill station, filling them up and putting them away for storage? When I say container I mean an actual water storage container not a primo bottle. Could they then be kept for years without the need to treat it later? Would this water need to be treated before storing it long term? Thank you. Read More 10 2 Keeping your BOB / GHB Fresh Bill Masen - February 19, 2021 Keeping your BOB / GHB Fresh Bags are one of the keys to our survival in any given crisis or disaster, it is vitally important that our BOB’ / GHBs are up to the job we require them to do. That means keeping it ready and effective. We can and do leave our BOB’s untouched for months and some of the items within the BOB’s can be left for years. That in itself could be a problem if we do actually have to bug out in a hurry. Basically there’s not much point in having a BOB if its contents don’t work when we need them to, so we must keep the contents checked so that we are not left with a bag of junk instead of an effective survival system. I keep a check card on top of my BOB that lists expiry / use by and best by dates for the time sensitive items in the kit. When they get close to their best by / use by / eat by dates I change them for fresh supplies. EG Batteries (radios, flashlights, electronic sights, GPS devices) Medical dressings (lose sterility after certain time frame) Medical lotions (lose effectiveness after time) Eye Glasses and Contact Lenses (your eyes age making the kit lenses useless) Water Purification tablets (lose effectiveness Food Stuffs (dry out, lose nutritional value, spoil etc) Butane and petrol lighters drying out Water filter Elements Hygiene kit (toothpaste / deodorant etc) Clothing (have you grown out of it?) Wet wipes (they do dry out) Vitamin supplements (lose strength) In some cases during long term storage items such as switches on radios and flashlights can stick, radio receivers can simply refuse to work, magazine springs fail, medicinal potions can settle out etc It’s always worth checking on how mechanical and electrical as well as medical items function when you check your kit over. Remember to keep your batteries separate from the devices they are meant to power, there is a Sods Law that demands the more expensive your kit is the more likely the batteries in it will leak catastrophically. Make sure when you do bug out the kit is going to do what you want it to do, first time and reliably. Read More 10 5 OUR Water security Bill Masen - February 19, 2021 Gideon, I dont know if video links is permitted.Please remove if not. Water is the one essential we cannot have enough of as a resource, and personally I think THIS video is probably one of the best and most informative I have ever read. Please take time to view it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2DHGUMBwkg Read More 9 9 A definition of what prepping is. Bill Masen - February 18, 2021 Disasters can be roughly defined as natural, political, environmental or social in origin. They can be triggered by natural disasters, terrorism, military and police actions, political and social unrest etc. Though you can do little or nothing about disasters happening you can through planning and preparation minimise the effects on your family. The main objectives are to survive the initial disaster then to continue to flourish after the event. What do you need to be prepped? The answer to this question depends entirely on what event or contingency you are planning on surviving through. It could be that you only want to prepare to survive a winter power cut, so in this case flashlights, candles, matches and warm clothing may be all you need. Most preppers are concerned about much larger or prolonged events such as food shortages, civil unrest, major earthquakes, economic collapse, etcetera and feel driven enough to at least attempt to be self-sufficient in all the essential needs for at least 3 months or longer if necessary. In this brief review I will attempt to list the GROUPS you need to deal with rather than specific amounts and individual items, other ARTICLES and LISTS from this forum will help you fill in the gaps. But please note this is a GENERIC article and you must adapt and adjust the subject matter to meet your own individual needs. The PRIMARY groups you need to consider are (not in order of priority) basically Shelter Heat Light Fuel Food Water Communications Medical Reference Transport Planning Logistics Security From here each group will be sub divided as required EG Shelter will divide into Primary (your home or retreat) Mobile (tent or improvised shelter) and Temporary (a place of safety other than your permanent home. So are you planning on weathering the event in your home, if so what improvements must you make to adapt the house to your needs, or are you planning on bugging out to a secondary location, and what does that place need to function the way you want to? So for example if you have decided to stay at home during the crisis you need to ensure that your home can sustain you independently of the national grid, utilities, supermarkets and authorities for the length of time you feel you need to plan for. Most preppers keep an absolute minimum of 72 hours emergency supplies, the general accepted norm for UK preppers with families is believed to be 3 months supplies but 6 / 9 and 12 months stockpiles and caches are very common. It is also well noting that since around the year 2000 more and more preppers are making steps to produce at least SOME of their own food and many preppers now have allotments whilst others have converted flower beds into vegetable plots. Others now keep and breed small animals such rabbits, chickens, miniature breeds of pigs and goats etc. Moving on to look briefly the other PRIMARY groups, you need to build up as your finances allow and as time permits enough food, fuel and water in order to provide your family with a healthy balanced diet of foodstuffs you family is already familiar with and actually likes to eat. Do not waste money on buying foods in because of the cheap price buy only the foods your family is familiar with and like. What you are attempting to do is to make sure that if something major goes wrong with society that you have independence from the vulnerable grid or chain of supply; Food to sustain you for the duration of the crisis Water for drinking, cooking, washing and cleaning Heat for warmth and heating water for cleaning Light for vision after sundown (Lanterns, Solar systems, Flashlights etc) Fuel to power lights, cookers, heaters, stoves and generators Clothing to sustain you for the period heavy duty outdoor gear recommended) Bedding, sleeping bags, towels etc Medical supplies and prescription medicines (and dentures, eyeglasses etc) Emergency medical kits for dealing with injuries and traumas Books / Maps for reference and information Logistics such as garden tools, DIY repair materials, spare batteries etc Radios for monitoring radio broadcasts Transport for bring in supplies, bugging out or patrolling. Weapons for self-defence and security These are the PRIMARY groups and the sub groups and LISTS of kit can be found listed here and almost any other Prepper or Survivalist forum. Other issues you will become aware of quickly is the extra equipment and plans preppers make to be able to respond almost instantly to an event, crisis or disaster occurring, you will see frequent reference to Bug out Bags and Get Home Bags, these are pre-packed items of luggage containing essential tools, food, water, clothing, maps and supplies keep by the front door of the office or home to allow them to simply grab the bag and go immediately the incident happens. They may be called various names from bug out bag, get home bag, commuter escape kits, get out of Dodge bags or whatever. But they all serve the same purpose and that is to sustain the prepper on his or her journey home or to their retreat. Other items of note are the vehicle choice of many preppers with modified panel vans fitted out as stealth campers, discretely uprated 4×4 vehicles, mountain bikes and even Kayaks in some cases being selected for their utility and durability to get to a destination when ordinary vehicles would get stuck or bogged down. Imagine getting up one morning and finding the gas, electricity, water, sewage, phones, street lights etc were out of service and the shops did not open. Most of your neighbours will be floundering around not knowing what to do, unable to cook a meal or even get washed or showered, no lights, no television, just confusion. Everyone except the prepper who has back up lighting, auxiliary cooking equipment, caches of food and fuel and a well sorted plan to work from. That’s Prepping. Read More 7 1 Rural preparing – manual well pump backup? pwocken - February 18, 2021 I’m newer to prepping (starting lurking on The Prepared in March 2020 after realizing I was woefully underprepared when COVID lockdowns hit). I’m looking for advice on prepping in a rural location. We already live in a rural area in Minnesota, which is great, so I don’t have to worry as much about bugging out. But, I’m trying to figure out what steps to take to bolster our shelter-in-place plan. We already have a dual-fuel generator that is wired to our house to run core services like septic/well pump/appliances/HVAC/etc., large on-site propane stores, spare fuel for the generator, a bunch of 5-7 gallon Reliance water containers, extra food stores, personal/home protection gear/supplies, and some moderately equipped bug out bags in case we do need to leave. I have a question that I haven’t yet been able to resolve. We have a private well on our property that uses an electric pump to draw water into the house. The well pump is set up to be able to run on the backup generator, so we’d certainly be able to grab a bunch of fresh water if we lost power for any length of time. Is a manual pump necessary as a fail-safe? I’m semi-handy, so I feel like I could figure out setting up the manual pump as a backup, but is that overengineering it? Is it worth the effort? Thanks in advance!! Read More 11 25 Advice 1 image to show that difficult weather can happen anywhere Bill Masen - February 18, 2021 Read More 6 12 Various back up ideas to our everyday utilities – don’t be without when they are interrupted Bill Masen - February 17, 2021 Backing up back ups ( Belt and Braces) Just a few points to ponder about your preps, If we rely on mains utilities etc we overly expose ourselves to unnecessary risk, We can mitigate against this with assorted back ups ( budget and circumstances permitting) So first and foremost our domestic utilities even in first world nations they can be very vulnerable. So can you back them up. EG Central Heating, Back up Wood Burning Stove and (or Wood / Coal Combo) / or Bottled Gas Fire. Domestic Water Supply, Back up Berkfield / Berky Filter and or Stored water / Water Catchment System/ Domestic Well or Borehole / Pool. / Extra tanks in Attic. Mains Connected Toilet, Back up Portable Camping Toilet plus bio chemicals/ Soak Away Hole in garden. Mains Lighting, Back up 12vdc LED lighting ( battery powered) and or Candle and Lantern Refrigeration Back up 12vdc / Propane Fridge Combo , Root veg Cellar, Water Immersion. Domestic land line phone, Back up Cell phone and or Ham / CB radio (Battery / PV powered) Authority Trash Collection Back Up Garden Incinerator and Compost Bin / Waste fed food critters Motor Vehicle, Back up Motorcycle or Quad and or Bicycle with endless chain and puncture proof tyres (Skidoo in the cold zone, Boat in wet zones) Read More 9 15 Clothing Considerations Bill Masen - February 17, 2021 Clothing Considerations When we talk about Prepping Supplies the normal focus in on stockpiling food, fuel and medicines, plus ammo if you live in the US of A. But nearly as important in our plans we need to think about what we will WEAR or USE in the period between a crisis and normal commerce starting up again. That interim period could be many years long and we must plan for that as well if we can. Let us think about this issue whilst many items of clothing are still very affordable and easily available , If you feel the threat to your own situation could involve a long term disruption what sort of things could you buy now and set aside for future use. Not only could you ensure you have some of the clothing essentials you need but you may end up with a valuable commodity for bartering. We will focus primarily on personal clothing but will briefly look at other items you may wish to obtain. The sort of items you may consider worthy of bulk buying could be many and varied but try and think about think you may need that will no longer be easily available. T Shirts / Undershirts * Polo shirts* Vests / Bras / Sports tops * Underwear briefs / Panties* Socks* Cargo pants or work jeans Micro fleece Shirts / Cotton shirts Cargo vests Fleece sweaters / Hoodies Woollen sweaters if they are what you like Fleece jackets Cotton canvas Work Jackets (Fatigues) Water proof outdoor jackets Winter Parka / Coat Work gloves Leather belts Head Scarfs / Bandanas / Baseball caps etc Work / Hiking / Walking shoes boots and spare insoles. Sandals / Clogs / Flip flops *= Multi Packs I tend to buy “Value” packs from Tesco, Matalan, Makro etc then try them out to see if they are durable, comfortable, and good value for money. You need to check because at times stores will try and sell off some real substandard junk as bargains. For Example I once bought two packs of Polo Shirts from a well-known store, and even when washed on a low temperature and room dried instead of tumble dried they still shrunk so much they would have fitted my youngest son instead of me. On a similar point I bought some budget range of walking / approach shoes (UK made as well) from a national retail outlet, they wore out in weeks and had such little internal foot bed support they rapidly become useless. Kids Let us not forget the children and their expensive but necessary habit of growing. Hand me downs may become the norm like fleeces etc but some items such as underwear and footwear really need to be obtained in multiple sizes to allow for growth as will maintaining some level of personal dignity for the children. When the kids grow out of items post collapse do not discard clothing as once washed and cleaned these clothes probably will have much barter value for families with kids who did not prepare as well. Cleaning and personal hygiene materials are covered in the stockpiling and caching lists. The list of items above is not absolute everyone will have their own list of requirements but can use this list to work from. Read More 7 7 How y’all doing with the unexpected cold? Grey Lady - February 17, 2021 Friends in the southern U.S., how are you doing with the cold/snow/power outages? Read More 9 3 News US Federal Government advice for power outages Bill Masen - February 17, 2021 As per header, hope it helps. https://www.ready.gov/power-outages Read More 5 5 Urban Personal Equipment. Bill Masen - February 17, 2021 URBAN Personal equipment I believe the kit and clothing requirements will match those or even surpass those of rural preppers especially the need for extra protection from pollutants and toxins in an urban environment after TSHTF. Any foraging or movement that could kick up or disturb toxic particles from burnt or decaying buildings will require eye and mouth/nose protection (goggles and face mask) gloves and closed hems, draw cord, cuffs etc is also likely to be an important consideration. Work gloves are likely to be essential in urban areas with its inevitable large amounts of broken glass and sharp fractured bricks and stonework. One piece of feedback I received from an urban prepper suggests that preppers buy as much clothing as possible for foraging and recce roles made from RIP-STOP fabric as its very very likely the damaged buildings and debris is likely to cause very heavy wear on clothing. He also added that the soles of boots MUST be inspected after each foray out to ensure nail, tacks, glass, wire, stones etc are not greatly shortening the life of the boots, (he also suggested that after TSHTF when streets are badly littered with debris that air filled footwear like Dr Martens or Nike Air Max are NOT used) Extra protective clothing is likely to mean greater thirst caused by getting too warm whilst working so extra drinking /washing water is likely to be required. Tools for prying open doors, hatches, windows, lift shafts, water tank covers, manholes etc is likely to become standard kit for long term urban preppers. Feedback from established urban preppers I have received suggests that a “Spring Loaded Centre Punch” will be a useful addition to kit for safely shattering toughened glass windows and doors in abandoned structures when out foraging. I think that in the long term preppers determined to utilise every possible resource left in the city are likely to need climbing gear, ropes and harnesses to access some locations where staircases are no longer accessible and to assist in escaping if the prepper falls through a decayed surface into a void. A couple of Urban preppers have also pointed out the increased risk in cities after a disaster from packs of feral dogs and suggest other Urban preppers consider measures to keep them at bay (preferably QUIET measures for OPSEC) Aerosols of bright coloured paint will assist in marking routes in dark subterranean locations as a means of retracting the route out or marking areas that have been checked out. I also guess (and it is a guess) that urban preppers are likely to end up relying on bicycles for most transport needs as its likely to be the only truly viable swift and cargo capable vehicle for travelling through clogged abandoned streets. Urban preppers in situ now should consider obtaining AT bikes with puncture proof tyres NOW whilst they can still obtain them through normal means. I think the mantra of the Urban prepper is going to be “Don’t just look left and right, look up and down as well” and at night the Mk 1 Eyeball is definitely going to be at a disadvantage and your hearing is likely to be the most useful way of detecting approaching trouble, So ensure your URBAN BOL does not have any extraneous noises at night from things like wind chimes, rattling gates, busted windows rattling, curtains or abandoned washing flapping about. A few handfuls of broken glass and gravel on the approachs to your BOL should give notice of people approaching on foot. Urban preppers should be able to rule the night in the cities providing they remain unseen and unheard but even simple recceing is not going to be so easy in a large city. Preppers wanting to find out what is going on in a new neighbouring area are likely to have to move quietly into the area at night and set up an OP/LP and spend the daylight hours watching, listening and noting what is going on for at least 24 hours before moving into the area to access resources. Read More 11 14 Urban Prepper Planning Bill Masen - February 16, 2021 Urban Prepper Planning What sort of planning issues and threat subjects that urban preppers or ordinary preppers need to consider if stuck within a large town or city after TSHTF. Avoiding Detection by gangs or criminals and avoiding being rounded up by authorities (NEVER BECOME A REFUGEE) Identifying and Recovering water sources and materials to purify water* Identifying and recovering food sources ( primarily this will be tinned, freeze dried, dehydrated etc) Locating and foraging for wild growing NON POLLUTED foods Developing transit routes to and from place of safety (BOL) Collecting specialist access keys like storm drain keys, subway maintenance access doors etc Finding safe places to shelter and cook that won’t give away your position Mapping CCTV and other surveillance equipment (and plotting ways to avoid it) Finding B O routes not likely to be used by refugees and displaced persons Noting where unsafe and unstable building are and unstable or collapse prone paved areas are. Identify choke points where desperate refugees may congregate Identify likely locations for official check points and unofficial ambushs Identify URBAN specific threats such as local gang territory or places with live rail lines, places likely to face flooding Identify safe locations for shelter if civil unrest triggers large scale riots or out of control arson triggered fire storms Identifying useable Elevated and Subterranean travel routes (Ariel walkways and underground passages) Identifying suitable places to set up OP and LPs Identifying suitable urban locations to hide caches of supplies securely and safely Identifying areas for future planting of food stuffs Setting up suitable URBAN comms short range SECURE systems (and concealing antennae) WATER specific concerns Urban preppers will need methods of testing water sources in urban locations to see if they have been treated with rust inhibitors, anti-bacterial agents, anti-fungal agents, excess dissolved lead or copper levels, antifreeze agents (alcohol and / or glycol based), excess sodium hypo levels, build ups of explosive hydrogen sulphide gases in water systems, faecal matter levels, typhus or other nasty’s etc””” Boiling does not remove chemical additives or metallic additives. Understanding how the water network operates Locating Underground service reservoirs Sourcing a gate Key (for closing/opening valves on the water network) Read More 7 6 Scenarios Prepping, not as taboo as it used to be. Odd isn’t it? (an observation) Bill Masen - February 16, 2021 Isn’t it odd that, Before 911 or 7/7 Preppers were ridiculed, mocked and abused, and our stockpiling was condemned as hoarding, our efforts at self reliance as “odd” and we were seen as selfish fear mongers. After 911 or 7/7 The Establishment ( globally) sort of tolerated prepping and many governmental and NGO agencies started suggesting citizens to build their own Disaster Emergency Kits and store supplies to weather storms and disasters, but we were still looked down upon by the MSM and many establishment types as being radicals outside of civilised society. But in this Covid 19 crisis we see NO ONE is mocking preppers any more, not even cynical governments or TV hosts, Almost every agency issues PLANS FOR CITIZENS to build Bobs and Caches and they open encourage everyone to BE PREPARED.. Articles in globally respected new papers state openly Preppers were right to get ready for the unforseen. Now just about every celeb, dot.com billionaire and many of our ruling elites are now ardent preppers…. just like us. I think that over the last 20 years we have proven our community and its beliefs to not only being RIGHT, but pretty darn essential in these strange times. I dont want to say ” I told you so” but I am thinking it. BUT I also know NOW that I NEED to learn and interact with others on forums exactly like this one. Read More 9 13 From the BBC: Sugar for treating badly infected wounds. Bill Masen - February 16, 2021 https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180328-how-sugar-could-help-heal-wounds Doctors are finding one way that sugar can benefit your health: it may help heal wounds when antibiotics fail. By Clara Wiggins30th March 2018 As a child growing up in poverty in the rural Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, Moses Murandu was used to having salt literally rubbed in his wounds when he fell and cut himself. On lucky days, though, his father had enough money to buy something which stung the boy much less than salt: sugar. Murandu always noticed that sugar seemed to help heal wounds more quickly than no treatment at all. So he was surprised when, having been recruited to come to work as a nurse for the UK’s National Health System (NHS) in 1997, he found that sugar wasn’t being used in any official capacity. He decided to try to change that. Now, Murandu’s idea finally is being taken seriously. A senior lecturer in adult nursing at the University of Wolverhampton, Murandu completed an initial pilot study focussed on sugar’s applications in wound healing and won an award from the Journal of Wound Care in March 2018 for his work. In some parts of the world, this procedure could be key because people cannot afford antibiotics. But there is interest in the UK, too, since once a wound is infected, it sometimes won’t respond to antibiotics. To treat a wound with sugar, all you do, Murandu says, is pour the sugar on the wound and apply a bandage on top. The granules soak up any moisture that allows bacteria to thrive. Without the bacteria, the wound heals more quickly. Evidence for all of this was found in Murandu’s trials in the lab. And a growing collection of case studies from around the world has supported Murandu’s findings, including examples of successful sugar treatments on wounds containing bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Even so, Murandu faces an uphill battle. Funding for further research would help him reach his ultimate goal – to convince the NHS to use sugar as an alternative to antibiotics. But a great deal of medical research is funded by pharmaceutical companies. And these companies, he points out, have little to gain from paying for research into something they can’t patent. The sugar is the plain, granulated type you might use to sweeten your teaThe sugar Murandu uses is the plain, granulated type you might use to sweeten your tea. In the same in vitro trials, he found that there was no difference between using cane or beet sugar. Demerara, however, wasn’t as effective. The pilot showed that strains of bacteria grew in low concentrations of sugar but were completely inhibited in higher concentrations. Murandu started recording case studies in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Lesotho (where he first trained in nursing). Included among them is a woman living in Harare. “The woman’s foot had been measured, ready to be amputated, when my nephew called me,” Murandu says. “She had had a terrible wound for five years, and the doctor wanted to amputate. I told her to wash the wound, apply sugar, leave it and repeat. “The woman still has her leg.” This, he says, is one example of why there is so much interest in his methods, particularly from parts of the world where people can’t afford antibiotics. In total, Murandu has now carried out clinical studies on 41 patients in the UK. He hasn’t yet published the trial results but has presented them at national and international conferences. One question he had to answer during his research was whether sugar could be used on diabetic patients, who commonly have leg and foot ulcers. Diabetics need to control the level of glucose in their blood so this isn’t an obvious healing method to use on them. But he found that it worked for diabetics without sending their glucose levels soaring. “Sugar is sucrose – you need the enzyme sucrase to convert that into glucose,” he says. As sucrase is found within the body, it is only when the sugar is absorbed that it is converted. Applying it to the outside of the wound isn’t going to affect it in the same way. While Murandu continues his research on human patients, across the Atlantic US veterinarian Maureen McMichael has been using this healing method on animals for years. McMichael, who works at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, first started using both sugar and honey on pets back in 2002. She said it was a combination of the simplicity of the method and the low cost that attracted her – especially for pet owners who couldn’t afford the usual methods of bringing the animal to the hospital and using sedation. McMichael says that they keep both sugar and honey in their surgery and often used it on dogs and cats (and occasionally on farm animals). Honey has similar healing properties to sugar (one study found it to be even more effective at inhibiting bacterial growth), though it is more expensive. The sugar treatment may work on wounds afflicting not only people, but pets (Credit: Getty Images) “We have had some really great successes with this,” McMichael says. She gave an example of a stray dog that had come to them after being used as “pitbull bait”, hung from a harness and attacked by pitbulls being trained for fighting. The dog came in with up to 40 bite wounds on each limb – and was healed within eight weeks. “She was a stray so there was no money for her. We treated her with both honey and sugar and she did fabulously,” McMichael says. “She’s all healed now.” As well as being cheaper, sugar has another upside: as more and more antibiotics are used, we are becoming resistant to themBack in the UK, tissue engineering specialist Sheila MacNeil of the University of Sheffeld has researched how naturally occurring sugars can be used to stimulate the re-growth of blood vessels. Her research stemmed from from her work on tumours, when she noticed that one particular small sugar derived from the breakdown of DNA (2-deoxy-D-ribose) kept cropping up. MacNeil’s team experimented by applying this sugar to the membrane surrounding chick embryos. According to MacNeil, the sugar stimulated double the number of blood vessels than would grow without it. But of course these types of naturally occurring sugars found in our bodies are a long way from the type of everyday sugar used by Murandu in his experiments. The “dream ticket”, MacNeil says, would be to find a sugar that could be used in both ways. She believes this is the next step research should take. Meanwhile in Wolverhampton, Murandu’s plan is to set up a private clinic using his sugar method. He hopes that one day sugar will be commonly used, not only by the NHS but also at public hospitals in some of the other countries where he has been working. He continues to get regular emails from around the world, asking for his advice – and guides patients remotely over email and texting. His far-away clients send him photos of their results along with their gratitude when they are healed. It is an ancient method and one used unofficially by many poor people in developing countries, but for Murandu it was only by coming to the UK that he realised the significance sugar could have in the medical world. He sees it as a blending of his local knowledge with the modern research facilities in Britain. “Like sugar, the knowledge came raw from Zimbabwe, was refined here – and is now going back to help people in Africa,” he says. This story is a part of BBC Britain – a series focused on exploring this extraordinary island, one story at a time. Readers outside of the UK can see every BBC Britain story by heading to the Britain homepage; you also can see our latest stories by following us on Facebook and Twitter. Read More 8 3 You need a plan to work from. Bill Masen - February 16, 2021 You need a Plan to work from, but it must be flexible Many people drawn to prepping may be able to muddle through for a while but eventually they will need to develop a working plan to follow that will help them get better prepared and with the right kit and facilities in the best location. First you need to consider your location! Are you going to: STAY WHERE YOU ARE and adapt your current home (Urban or Rural) STAY WHERE YOU ARE whilst developing a remote bug out location RELOCATE NOW or ASAP to a more suitable location PLAN ON RELOCATING in the near future Or perhaps choose a mix of the above, it is your choice but either way you need to have a working plan with options and alternatives. What are you preparing for? Pandemic ( like the Global Covid 19 outbreak) Terrorism Natural Disaster Economic Collapse Recession Unemployment Ethnic Unrest Extremist Government Power Cuts Extreme Weather Events Societal Collapse or all of the above or something else. You may be planning on surviving a specific threat and base your plans around that threat. Let’s say just for example you plan to survive in your present home from a risk from a massive terrorist attack. But what happens if you focus all your attention and resources on protecting yourself from that terror attack but before it occurs a natural disaster hits your country? Many of your preps may be wasted or lost as the natural disaster overtakes you because you did not have the right resources in place to deal with it and they were designed only to deal with the terrorism threat. Ideally you really need to direct your preps in a general manner but with a focus or bias towards the specific threat you are most concerned about. Make your plans more generic and flexible so you can rapidly adapt to as many threats and risks as possible. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket or all your survival supplies in one location. Resources The logistical aspects of prepping can be very complicated but roughly speaking you need to consider the following: What do you want? What do you need? What have you already got? What can you adapt? Where are you going to keep it? Where can you get it from? How long do you want it to last? How long will it actually last? Where will you get more from? Can you make some more? Does it do what you need it to do? Can you get something better suited to do the job? Can you afford it and can you afford NOT to have it? Will it do the job you want it to? How can I make it work better for you? Is it in the right location(s)? Is it safe and secure? Is it legal? Can you get to it in a hurry? Who else knows you have it? So what do you need? A safe and secure place to live so a HOME / RETREAT is normally the first item, be it a house or apartment in the town or the countryside, how can you make it safer, more secure and more self-reliant or do you need to move home? Once you have gotten as far as you can in the property choice department you need to consider issues like: Food supplies (and food production if you deem it necessary) Water supplies, purity, filtering, storage, transportation and security Medical supplies including prescription medicines Heaters, Cookers and Lights plus fuel supplies to provide heat and light and hot water, you need a heating and lighting system that is independent of the mains utilities and supplies / stores of fuels kept safely and securely to power the cookers, heaters and lights. Clothing, you will need a range of suitable clothing and footwear of good quality and durability to keep you warm and protected from the worst weather your region can throw at you. Tools and Materials to help you repair maintain and keep secure your home after the disaster strikes. You will need everything from flashlights to shovels, prybars to weapons to help sustain your family. You may also require tools and materials to allow you to start producing your own food supplies if the crisis is prolonged. Transport, you may find that you need to maintain some sort of transport to enable you to bring in more food, fuel or supplies, and also be able to use it to escape in if your homes safety becomes unsustainable. You will also need fuel for your transport be it petrol for your car or hay for your horse, and a goodly selection of spares as well from fuses, bulbs, belts and tyres, to reins, tack and harnesses. Communications, you most certainly need a few multi power sourced AM / FM / SW radios to listen for news broadcasts from the authorities or other survivors. And CB / Amateur radios if you are working with neighbouring families of preppers. Energy, Consider a backup generator or micro wind turbine or solar panels or a combination of all three. Books and Manuals on various subjects from improvised medicine to DIY repairs to growing your own food are wise investments. Start now and make yourself a plan of action. Special skills for preppers (or not) Heinlein – Specialization is for Insects A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. -Robert A. Heinlein Read More 6 2 What to consider when buying an acreage? UbiqueContributor - February 15, 2021 Because I was raised on a farm, I related mostly to farming and larger sections of land and didn’t consider smaller holdings. Then I acquired a copy of “Living off the Land – A handbook for survival” by John H. Tobe and his words lit a fire in me. I live in a small rural town, but have been searching for acreage since I moved to the region. There was a property several years ago. It was in a hilled area with property access off one entry point via a driveway from a secondary highway. The property was situated on a bit of a curve and not readily seen from the highway. The driveway was suitable for a gate and cattle guard to discourage intrusion. The home was positioned on land that dropped off to a deep gully on one side. This made access from that side extremely difficult and the property more defensible. The price was right, but I didn’t buy it for one reason: the driveway was shared with another house. The layout was a bit too close for comfort. The person or persons in the other house could have been great neighbours and an ally in a crisis, but what if they sold their home or passed away? I’ve learned from my current community that when houses change hands, the community changes and not always for the best. Today, when I thought about that property, I realized that lately, I have been chasing price in the acreage hunt and not paying attention to other criteria. I also believe that if one has clarity and detail about a goal, it is more achievable. I don’t want to make the wrong choice either from a prepping or personal standpoint. I questioned if my criteria needed to change or be revised. It’s been awhile since I laid out what I wanted. So, for those looking for property, I ask what is your criteria for acreage selection? If we take price out of the equation, what are you looking for in an acreage? And for those who have acreage, may I ask how did you know it was the right property? Read More 6 29 Advice A suggested medical kit Bill Masen - February 15, 2021 BASIC MEDICAL KIT A decent but comprehensive medical kit is likely to be an essential part of your preps, don’t forget to obtain by any means necessary extra prescription medicines needed by anyone in your family. Sterile Packs, containing coated sterile field, 2 comp procedure tray, non-woven swabs, dressing towels, latex gloves, yellow disposable bag. Gauze swabs Sterile dressings assorted sizes Field dressings Band-aids / Blister dressings Tapes Alcohol wipes Burn gel squares Steristrips Sterile gloves Stitch cutters Tweezers Scissors Spencer Wells Forceps/ Haemostats Syringes for irrigation Aspirin (liquid and tabs) Paracetamol (liquid and tabs) Ibuprofen (liquid and tabs) Calpol (for kids) Antihistamine cream and tabs Anti-inflammatory cream and spray Anti-fungal cream and spray Antiseptic cream Anti-biotics, tabs, powder and liquid Bonjela mouth ulcer & teething treatment IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) Tabs (Colofac) Eczema spray and cream Insect repellent lotion and spray Hydrocortisone cream Acne & spot treatment (Nicotinamide 4%) Vaseline / petrolium jelly Eye ointment / allergy drops Nasal decongestant (Otravine spray) Diarrhoea treatment Eye drops Ear drops Worming treatment Re-hydration sachets (Dioralyte) IF AVAILABLE Broad spectrum antibiotics Local anaesthetic spray and cream Malaria treatment Multiple bottles and sprays of Detol / Detox Important do obtain All prescribed medications for everyone in group Spare sets of all prescribed spectacles, dentures, hearing aids etc This kit is in no way complete or comprehensive, but it does provide a good basic kit to build from, watch out for expiry dates and rotate / replace as necessary. Read More 9 24 The prepper scout (reconnaissance) Bill Masen - February 15, 2021 The Prepper ” Scout” Sooner rather than later when TSHTF you and your family will need to venture out to assess the damage, secure your property, salvage supplies, look for threats, gather intel etc. This is Reconnaissance (to Recce UK and Aus, Recon US and Canada) its a French term to describe a combination of preliminary survey, survey, exploration, observation, investigation, examination, inspection, probe, scrutiny, scan;. It is gathering intelligence, information, identifying possible threats, to locate allies, supplies etc and to see what everyone else is doing. To safely Recce or Recon your area of operations its both prudent and wise to try and employ some sensible precautions and practice some skills. With this in mind below is a rough draft of some guildlines that hopefully will assist you in your mission. These rules are NOT written in stone and to be used with considered judgement RULE 1 The Prepper Scout is a Civilian not a Soldier.You are probably just one person, with a family to take care of and not some fictitious super soldier with the combat capabilities of 100 men, remember that fact and work within your ACTUAL not IMAGINED skill set.Your job is to venture forth to seek out what you need be it food, fuel, building supplies, medical kit, transport, or just to see how safe it is for your family. When you have ventured forth your SOLE job is to carry out that selected mission and return home to your family unscathed and safe and UNDETECTED and not to accidently leave a trail back to your home that others can follow . RULE 2 is ” Get out and back safely and undetected”RULE 3 is ” Leave no sign of you having passed by” Watch where you walk and try not to leave noticable footprints or trampled grass to show your recently passed by. RULE 4 is ” See all you can without being seen, Learn all you can without giving anything away”Use Binoculars or scopes to observe from afar. Look and listen to your environment and surroundings, Has surface dust been disturbed, has debris been recently moved, has foliage recently been cut, are those footprints recent, can you smell a recent cooking fire all are “tells” of recent activity. RULE 5 is ” Shoot and Scoot”If by some misfortune you are located by unfriendly people, you should try to not get involved in a prolonged firefight, Your family needs you more than you need to feed your ego. Fire only enough to allow you to safely withdraw, remember that gun fire can also attract MORE people to the area. RULE 6 is ” Watch and learn”If your passing through insecure or unfamiliar territory its always a good idea to lay up and observe the area for a while before moving on, You may detect possible ambushes or security threats, so BE PATIENT and OBSERVANT. RULE 7 ” Go around, dont go through”If your objective lays beyond where others are based, it is better if and when possible to take a wide diversion to avoid endangering yourself. RULE 8 ” Write it down, Make a note, Take a Photo”Along your route you may come across other useful materials, supplies , locations that may benefit your family later on, so make a note of what you come across. RULE 9 ” if it looks to good to be true, it probably is (a trap)”After a major crisis few people are going to leave food, vehicles, fuel, weapons and supplies laying round, and most bridges, tunnels, streets etc that look WAY to accessible may be there to draw you in (ref rule 6) RULE 10 ” Different routes out and Back”For your patrol do not use the same route out and back, keep pausing and LISTEN, if you are being follow they will make SOME noise. Avoid roads and paths instead walk parallel to the road far enough away to avoid ambushes but to be able to follow the route. At your destination RULE 6 every time. RULE 11 “Short broadcast then move”If you need to use your radio to communicate back home, Broadcast short and brief then MOVE, It is best if your home base station does NOT respond to prevent others triangulting your home location. RULE 12 ” Get off the path before you rest”On longer trips you will obviously need to R & R, if the patrol has more than one person then One sleeps/cooks/eats the other goes on guard, then swap around. If your on your own then get away from the path or trail, get under cover and ensure you have more than one escape. Make no cooking smoke / flames or strong smells and leave no rubbish. RULE 13 ” Dress for the occasion”Wear clothing that matches as best possible the territory you are operating in EG Cammo in the Countryside, Tans and greys in the towns, and make sure NOTHING shines or rattles.Dont forget foul weather clothing if needed Read More 9 20 Winter prep check list Bill Masen - February 15, 2021 WINTER PREP CHECK LIST () Prevention is better than cure keep your house and vehicle etc properly maintained at all times. House / Retreat Winter fire wood obtained / cut / dried and accessible when snow has fallen Coal / Oil stocks ordered? Delivered and stored properly Gas bottles changed and empty ones refilled / replaced Gutters cleaned, drain traps cleared of debris Fencing and posts checked for integrity and stability Check security lights (Bulbs, Clean lenses, Clean PIRs) Window seals checked (black and green algae scraped off seals / drain points) Boiler (furnace) serviced and certified Set thermostat on heating to prevent freezing of system Bleed Radiators Doors /windows draught proofed Drains free flowing and clear of debris Locks and hinges oiled Spare candles / flashlights / Chemical Light Sticks / lanterns etc, Emergency heating kit checked Snow shovel / ice scrapers to hand Pre-salted sloping access roads / drives? Spare fuses/ circuit breakers Boarding up shuttering for broken windows set aside (with fittings) Weather warning radio working and tuned in to local service Sweep Chimney if you have wood / coal stove, check ventilation – drafting Clean solar panels, check wiring / battery bank / specific gravity/ fluid levels. Check and maintain external aerials TV / CB / Cell / Ham and cable connectors Check & replace bottled gas regulator and hose if over 3 years old Defrost and clean out freezers if heavily iced up Clean, oil and maintain power tools like Chainsaws etc Garden furniture brought in or covered up *Check on neighbour’s well-being? * Livestock / pets sorted out Animal feedstock got in. Greenhouses cleaned and disinfected, glass checked for integrity Tools cleaned, disinfected, oiled and put away Sheds / Garages/ Stores checked for weatherproofing and security Personal / family Extra food stocks got in case of snow / ice storm / whiteout Rotate food stocks if necessary to ensure freshness Prescription medicines got in if required by family members Winter clothing got out of storage cleaned / aired and reproofed if necessary Boots weatherproofed and cleaned New script eye glasses obtained if necessary Cans / foods rotated Water filters cleaned / elements changed Caches checked, updated etc Bug out routes reccied BOB’s checked and updated if necessary Contact plans / pick up plans arranged for family members stranded by weather at school or work etc. Personal security equipment cleaned / oil / checked etc Vehicles Get the latest Council winter road gritting map and plan your commute / BO routes accordingly Check CB / Ham radio installation Top up / change antifreeze Tighten /adjust drive belts Tyre condition /pressures Jet wash underside, valet / polish bodywork Check hoses for cracks, splits and tightness of hose clips Lube locks Change wiper blades (normally bi-annually) Replace HL bulbs if over 5 years old (they have lost 20% of their brightness) Check M & S tyres condition if still in store Check your tyre chains Fit thinner oil if you live in very northern climes. Check battery condition and leads Check demister / de-icer systems Degrease windscreen inside and out Radio set to accept weather and traffic news reports Update Satnav data / Get new road map Sleeping bag/ survival blanket Chemical light sticks / flashlights/spare batteries Candle/ matches Snow dye Survival kit Shovel Snow mats Short wave radio / batteries Hot drink making kit Vehicle Spares, bulbs & fuses, belts, plugs, leads, oil, coolant, hose clips, hose repair kit, exhaust repair kit, cable ties & duct tape snow chains / snow mat wheel brace spanners / sockets and screwdrivers sockets Tyre levers & tyre pump Read More 7 8 < Prev 1 2 3 … 47 48 49 … 57 58 59 Next > Recently Active Has anybody blood tested the Oroweat keto tortillas? - 4 days agoNews for the Week 2024-04-22 - 4 days agoNews for the Week 2024-04-15 - 5 days agoWhat is the best camp stove for an emergency power outage or camping? - 7 days agoChickens for preppers: Important considerations - 1 week ago RULES This forum is heavily moderated to keep things valuable to as many people as possible. Full community policies are here. The basics: 1. Be nice to each other. 2. Stay focused on prepping. 3. Avoid politics, religion, and other arguments. 4. No unfounded conspiracies, fake news, etc. 5. Debate ideas, not people. FILTER Show all Advice Gear Meta News Scenarios Skills

Domestic Privacy and Security

Bill Masen - February 22, 2021

Privacy and Security

Ensuring our privacy and security during a crisis is vital, so its very important that we control the approaches and access to our homes and reduce light pollution that advertises our independence from the national grid power supplies. Blackout blinds and curtains (or window shutters) are an absolute must for every window and door to stop light escaping thus advertising your self-reliant position.

Multi point locking on doors and windows is a must even in normal times, but after a crisis develops you may wish to add self-adhesive laminating security film to your windows which makes gaining entry to your home via a broken window far more difficult and noisy for the intruder. It is also essential that you keep some pre-cut marine grade ½ plywood boarding to secure any windows that do get broken.

In recent years a new design of door called the COMPOSITE door has gained massive popularity in the UK, it is made of colour resistant / fire resistant polycarbonate, over wood and foam and metal core, it utilises over engineered hinges (often three or four) and much more robust multi point locking than used in UPVC doors. The door frame is of aluminium cored UPVC or Composite material and again is much more substantial than the older UPVC systems. The best versions are the government / home office APPROVED BY DESIGN types that have passed vigorous testing. Metal clad doors are also gaining popularity in urban areas.

Some people have fitted security bars that pivot or swing over the doors to re-enforce the entry points. Apparently it is remarkably easy to kick in the bottom panel on most older UPVC doors made in the UK as they were designed this way to make access for firefighters easier. Equally the locks and hinges even on expensive double glazed doors do not stand up very well to police officers using a slide hammer to gain entry to execute a search warrant, so extra security devices, bars and hinges should be considered.

Note* Very often modern double glazed doors external frames are only secured to the building wall with a couple of mild steel screws in each side, this makes it very easy to simply to pry or bash the entire door and frame out, its well worth getting high tensile steel self-tapping bolts fitted which massively increase the doors security strength.

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Fit feel and familiarity (Getting to know your kit)

Bill Masen - February 22, 2021

FIT, FEEL AND FAMILIARITY (Getting to know your kit)

So you have done the research, bought the kit, developed your plans and stockpiled everything including the assault systems kitchen sink. Now what are you going to do Wait for Armageddon? I hope not.

It’s no good at all having a great piece of kit if you are not totally familiar with its feel and fit, and you need to be very comfortable about using it. Why buy an all singing all dancing tactical folding knife then put it away until it is needed? Does it open and close smoothly, can you cut a rope, fillet a rabbit, defend yourself with it, sharpen it or is it too big or to lightweight for the task?

Does it sit comfortably on your hip or in your pocket now? What about after 8 hours with your rucksack pressing it into your hip, can you unleash it, open it and use it with cold, wet, tired hands?

Your expensive flashlight with its lifetime warranty, can you strip and replace the self-cleaning switch, Is it big enough powerful enough to do the job for a full evening in your blacked out camp site or retreat, or is it always getting in the way, pulling your belt down, and eating batteries faster than a kids toy?

Be honest, if you were stressed out, scared stupid and fleeing for your life along with your family, Could you put your hand straight to your compass, flashlight, map, knife or whatever in your bug out vest or bag without having to unpack or rummage about for it. What about the vest / bag itself Is the vest up to the job? Is it comfortable? not going to slide up or down, ride up into a knot or disintegrate at the first time its put to use.

It’s the same with the BOV’s super duper tyres you paid a premium rate for, and what about the PV unit or wind generator you have obtained, will the tyres give the traction you seek or are you going to end up with terminal wheel spin in the inevitable piece of swamp along the route to your destination. Or the PV and turbine working flat out simply don’t provide enough energy to stop your freezer from thawing out. What if for example the turbine produces so much noise it lets the residents of the next county home in on your secluded retreat?

You have the will, you have the need, and now you have the kit to enable you to survive, so get familiar with it use it, get comfortable with it, reassure yourself that it will be up to the task, Why not for example wear your vest for a few days at a time partially loaded, so you get used to it, let it find its shape, find out the best way to load it with your kit. You don’t need to go into town looking like you are ready to start a war, but it will do you no harm at all to use your vest as a gillet carrying your knife, flashlight, compass, first aid kit, Para cord, wallet etc for a few days. Perhaps you could make it your car coat or your dog walking jacket. It’s the same care that is needed with the new boots you have recently invested in.

Now you have realised that bugging out in a vehicle is going to be almost impossible and have purchased those 200 dollar boots, are they up to the job? To stiff? Poor fit? Not broken in? Not water resistant? Do they take forever to dry out etc?

You need your bug out boots, clothes and kit to be snug, comfortable and familiar at hand, and up to the job.

I got myself what I thought would be an ideal garment to use as a bug out vest, I bought it, loaded it up, then put it away whilst I waited for Armageddon. Then one day I thought I would take the mutt for a good long hard walk and decided to try out the vest…………………………. It is now into its third set of alterations and modifications to make it more comfortable and better suited to the task I designed it for.

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Advice

Where to carry your CORE EDC ESSENTIALS

Bill Masen - February 22, 2021

Some years ago the IRA detonated bombs on the tube and on a bus in central London,(7/7) My associate was en-route to a conference. Six points I ask people to consider.

1 As soon as everything kicked off the authorities turned off all the cell towers cutting comms for central London leaving millions comms blind for hours. Many buildings were ordered to evacuate, including the one my colleague was visiting. the Cops told them in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS to LEAVE THEIR BAGS. (suspecting more bombs)

2 In the US on 911 as the towers burned then fell and people were fleeing blinded by thick ash and smoke, Most had NO OPPORTUNITY to grab their bags, AND also many surviving police hero’s on that day were telling people or even ordering people to leave there bags behind and to just run.

3 On the Madrid train bomb the travellers bags and luggage was stored at the end of the carriages, or in overhead racks. When the train blew up much luggage was destroyed, more was inaccessible because of structural damage, and more bags were simply scattered when the train screeched to a halt. Equally on the high speed trains that crashed in Spain ( Train went too fast round a bend) the baggage and luggage was again scattered or crushed or trapped. In the German high speed train that crash when it ploughed into a concrete overbridge the story was the same.

4 When the big ferries capsized and sank in the English channel ( Herald of Free Enterprise plus another in the Baltic) the lights failed quickly as the vessels began to role, most bags and luggage could not be grabbed as people tried to climb out of the sinking vessels.

5 When terrorists attacked the Bataclan Theatre in Paris and the Westgate Shopping center in Nairobi most people HAD to abandon their bags and packs as they scrambled to hide and escape, some climbing out of toilet windows or jumping from car park roofs.

6 During the recent wave of civil unrest in the US on multiple occasions drivers were ambushed by gangs of extremists and protestors, many people were forced to abandon their vehicles and flee with just what they were wearing, Few could recover their bags or packs. When the dreadful multiple mass shootings in schools occurred most students had to flee or were ordered to leave WITHOUT their bags and their hands above their heads.

I respectfully suggest that the best and possibly ONLY place for your CORE ESSENTIAL EDC gear is ON YOUR PERSON and not in a bag, The USEFUL EXTRAS but not essentials obviously can go in bags because it makes sense. But I ask folks to think hard about likely scenarios you MAY face and how easy it is to get separated from your bags.

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Are you seeing more supply chain jankiness?

Josh CentersContributor - February 22, 2021

I had an odd experience the other day, and I’m wondering if you might be seeing other weird stuff. We grabbed lunch at Sonic and my son complained that someone had eaten his sweet and sour sauce. I took a look and the container was half empty. I then opened a fresh container, and it was half-empty as well!

Of course, we’ve all been dealing with various shortages like toilet paper, cleaners, and ammunition, but this is the first time I’ve seen a sauce container not even half-filled. I’m wondering if it’s an anomaly or a sign of supply chain issues.

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Creating a suture kit

chopper20ss - February 21, 2021

Im creating a suture kit. I have noticed that the absorbable sutures are very expensive, but the PGA absorbable dental ones are very affordable.  So I’m wondering if the dental sutures will absorb/dissolve for outside skin?

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GearSkills

Glacier / Primo refill station for long term water storage

opeepingtomo - February 20, 2021

I’ve been reading regarding storing water for longer than the recommended rotation of six months and it usually talked about bottled water or water from tap.

What would the consensus be regarding taking my own sanitized containers to a primo or glacier refill station, filling them up and putting them away for storage?  When I say container I mean an actual water storage container not a primo bottle.

Could they then be kept for years without the need to treat it later?  Would this water need to be treated before storing it long term?

Thank you. 

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Keeping your BOB / GHB Fresh

Bill Masen - February 19, 2021

Keeping your BOB / GHB Fresh

Bags are one of the keys to our survival in any given crisis or disaster, it is vitally important that our BOB’ / GHBs are up to the job we require them to do. That means keeping it ready and effective.

We can and do leave our BOB’s untouched for months and some of the items within the BOB’s can be left for years. That in itself could be a problem if we do actually have to bug out in a hurry.

Basically there’s not much point in having a BOB if its contents don’t work when we need them to, so we must keep the contents checked so that we are not left with a bag of junk instead of an effective survival system.

I keep a check card on top of my BOB that lists expiry / use by and best by dates for the time sensitive items in the kit. When they get close to their best by / use by / eat by dates I change them for fresh supplies.

EG

Batteries (radios, flashlights, electronic sights, GPS devices)

Medical dressings (lose sterility after certain time frame)

Medical lotions (lose effectiveness after time)

Eye Glasses and Contact Lenses (your eyes age making the kit lenses useless)

Water Purification tablets (lose effectiveness

Food Stuffs (dry out, lose nutritional value, spoil etc)

Butane and petrol lighters drying out

Water filter Elements

Hygiene kit (toothpaste / deodorant etc)

Clothing (have you grown out of it?)

Wet wipes (they do dry out)

Vitamin supplements (lose strength)

In some cases during long term storage items such as switches on radios and flashlights can stick, radio receivers can simply refuse to work, magazine springs fail, medicinal potions can settle out etc

It’s always worth checking on how mechanical and electrical as well as medical items function when you check your kit over.

Remember to keep your batteries separate from the devices they are meant to power, there is a Sods Law that demands the more expensive your kit is the more likely the batteries in it will leak catastrophically.

Make sure when you do bug out the kit is going to do what you want it to do, first time and reliably.

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OUR Water security

Bill Masen - February 19, 2021

Gideon, I dont know if video links is permitted.Please remove if not.

Water is the one essential we cannot have enough of as a resource, and personally I think THIS video is probably one of the best and most informative I have ever read. Please take time to view it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2DHGUMBwkg

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A definition of what prepping is.

Bill Masen - February 18, 2021

Disasters can be roughly defined as natural, political, environmental or social in origin. They can be triggered by natural disasters, terrorism, military and police actions, political and social unrest etc.

Though you can do little or nothing about disasters happening you can through planning and preparation minimise the effects on your family. The main objectives are to survive the initial disaster then to continue to flourish after the event.

What do you need to be prepped?

The answer to this question depends entirely on what event or contingency you are planning on surviving through. It could be that you only want to prepare to survive a winter power cut, so in this case flashlights, candles, matches and warm clothing may be all you need. Most preppers are concerned about much larger or prolonged events such as food shortages, civil unrest, major earthquakes, economic collapse, etcetera and feel driven enough to at least attempt to be self-sufficient in all the essential needs for at least 3 months or longer if necessary.

In this brief review I will attempt to list the GROUPS you need to deal with rather than specific amounts and individual items, other ARTICLES and LISTS from this forum will help you fill in the gaps. But please note this is a GENERIC article and you must adapt and adjust the subject matter to meet your own individual needs.

The PRIMARY groups you need to consider are (not in order of priority) basically

Shelter

Heat

Light

Fuel

Food

Water

Communications

Medical

Reference

Transport

Planning

Logistics

Security

From here each group will be sub divided as required EG Shelter will divide into Primary (your home or retreat) Mobile (tent or improvised shelter) and Temporary (a place of safety other than your permanent home.

So are you planning on weathering the event in your home, if so what improvements must you make to adapt the house to your needs, or are you planning on bugging out to a secondary location, and what does that place need to function the way you want to?

So for example if you have decided to stay at home during the crisis you need to ensure that your home can sustain you independently of the national grid, utilities, supermarkets and authorities for the length of time you feel you need to plan for. Most preppers keep an absolute minimum of 72 hours emergency supplies, the general accepted norm for UK preppers with families is believed to be 3 months supplies but 6 / 9 and 12 months stockpiles and caches are very common. It is also well noting that since around the year 2000 more and more preppers are making steps to produce at least SOME of their own food and many preppers now have allotments whilst others have converted flower beds into vegetable plots. Others now keep and breed small animals such rabbits, chickens, miniature breeds of pigs and goats etc.

Moving on to look briefly the other PRIMARY groups, you need to build up as your finances allow and as time permits enough food, fuel and water in order to provide your family with a healthy balanced diet of foodstuffs you family is already familiar with and actually likes to eat. Do not waste money on buying foods in because of the cheap price buy only the foods your family is familiar with and like.

What you are attempting to do is to make sure that if something major goes wrong with society that you have independence from the vulnerable grid or chain of supply;

Food to sustain you for the duration of the crisis

Water for drinking, cooking, washing and cleaning

Heat for warmth and heating water for cleaning

Light for vision after sundown (Lanterns, Solar systems, Flashlights etc)

Fuel to power lights, cookers, heaters, stoves and generators

Clothing to sustain you for the period heavy duty outdoor gear recommended)

Bedding, sleeping bags, towels etc

Medical supplies and prescription medicines (and dentures, eyeglasses etc)

Emergency medical kits for dealing with injuries and traumas

Books / Maps for reference and information

Logistics such as garden tools, DIY repair materials, spare batteries etc

Radios for monitoring radio broadcasts

Transport for bring in supplies, bugging out or patrolling.

Weapons for self-defence and security

These are the PRIMARY groups and the sub groups and LISTS of kit can be found listed here and almost any other Prepper or Survivalist forum.

Other issues you will become aware of quickly is the extra equipment and plans preppers make to be able to respond almost instantly to an event, crisis or disaster occurring, you will see frequent reference to Bug out Bags and Get Home Bags, these are pre-packed items of luggage containing essential tools, food, water, clothing, maps and supplies keep by the front door of the office or home to allow them to simply grab the bag and go immediately the incident happens. They may be called various names from bug out bag, get home bag, commuter escape kits, get out of Dodge bags or whatever. But they all serve the same purpose and that is to sustain the prepper on his or her journey home or to their retreat.

Other items of note are the vehicle choice of many preppers with modified panel vans fitted out as stealth campers, discretely uprated 4×4 vehicles, mountain bikes and even Kayaks in some cases being selected for their utility and durability to get to a destination when ordinary vehicles would get stuck or bogged down.

Imagine getting up one morning and finding the gas, electricity, water, sewage, phones, street lights etc were out of service and the shops did not open. Most of your neighbours will be floundering around not knowing what to do, unable to cook a meal or even get washed or showered, no lights, no television, just confusion. Everyone except the prepper who has back up lighting, auxiliary cooking equipment, caches of food and fuel and a well sorted plan to work from.

That’s Prepping.

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Rural preparing – manual well pump backup?

pwocken - February 18, 2021

I’m newer to prepping (starting lurking on The Prepared in March 2020 after realizing I was woefully underprepared when COVID lockdowns hit). I’m looking for advice on prepping in a rural location.

We already live in a rural area in Minnesota, which is great, so I don’t have to worry as much about bugging out. But, I’m trying to figure out what steps to take to bolster our shelter-in-place plan.

We already have a dual-fuel generator that is wired to our house to run core services like septic/well pump/appliances/HVAC/etc., large on-site propane stores, spare fuel for the generator, a bunch of 5-7 gallon Reliance water containers, extra food stores, personal/home protection gear/supplies, and some moderately equipped bug out bags in case we do need to leave.

I have a question that I haven’t yet been able to resolve. We have a private well on our property that uses an electric pump to draw water into the house. The well pump is set up to be able to run on the backup generator, so we’d certainly be able to grab a bunch of fresh water if we lost power for any length of time. Is a manual pump necessary as a fail-safe? I’m semi-handy, so I feel like I could figure out setting up the manual pump as a backup, but is that overengineering it? Is it worth the effort?

Thanks in advance!!

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Advice

1 image to show that difficult weather can happen anywhere

Bill Masen - February 18, 2021

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Various back up ideas to our everyday utilities – don’t be without when they are interrupted

Bill Masen - February 17, 2021

Backing up back ups ( Belt and Braces)

Just a few points to ponder about your preps, If we rely on mains utilities etc we overly expose ourselves to unnecessary risk, We can mitigate against this with assorted back ups ( budget and circumstances permitting)

So first and foremost our domestic utilities even in first world nations they can be very vulnerable.

So can you back them up.

EG

Central Heating,       Back up Wood Burning Stove and (or Wood / Coal Combo) / or Bottled Gas Fire.

Domestic Water Supply,         Back up Berkfield / Berky Filter and or Stored water / Water  Catchment System/ Domestic Well or Borehole / Pool. / Extra tanks in Attic.

Mains Connected Toilet,     Back up Portable Camping Toilet plus bio chemicals/ Soak Away Hole in garden.

Mains Lighting,     Back up 12vdc LED lighting ( battery powered) and or Candle and Lantern

Refrigeration       Back up 12vdc / Propane Fridge Combo , Root veg Cellar, Water Immersion.

Domestic land line phone,      Back up Cell phone and or Ham / CB radio (Battery / PV powered)

Authority Trash Collection   Back Up Garden Incinerator and Compost Bin / Waste fed food critters

Motor Vehicle, Back up Motorcycle or Quad and or Bicycle with endless chain and puncture proof tyres (Skidoo in the cold zone, Boat in wet zones)

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Clothing Considerations

Bill Masen - February 17, 2021

Clothing Considerations 

When we talk about Prepping Supplies the normal focus in on stockpiling food, fuel and medicines, plus ammo if you live in the US of A. But nearly as important in our plans we need to think about what we will WEAR or USE in the period between a crisis and normal commerce starting up again. That interim period could be many years long and we must plan for that as well if we can.

Let us think about this issue whilst many items of clothing are still very affordable and easily available , If you feel the threat to your own situation could involve a long term disruption what sort of things could you buy now and set aside for future use. Not only could you ensure you have some of the clothing essentials you need but you may end up with a valuable commodity for bartering.

We will focus primarily on personal clothing but will briefly look at other items you may wish to obtain.

The sort of items you may consider worthy of bulk buying could be many and varied but try and think about think you may need that will no longer be easily available.

T Shirts / Undershirts *

Polo shirts*

Vests / Bras / Sports tops *

Underwear briefs / Panties*

Socks*

Cargo pants or work jeans

Micro fleece Shirts / Cotton shirts

Cargo vests

Fleece sweaters / Hoodies

Woollen sweaters if they are what you like

Fleece jackets

Cotton canvas Work Jackets (Fatigues)

Water proof outdoor jackets

Winter Parka / Coat

Work gloves

Leather belts

Head Scarfs / Bandanas / Baseball caps etc

Work / Hiking / Walking shoes boots and spare insoles.

Sandals / Clogs / Flip flops

*= Multi Packs

I tend to buy “Value” packs from Tesco, Matalan, Makro etc then try them out to see if they are durable, comfortable, and good value for money. You need to check because at times stores will try and sell off some real substandard junk as bargains.

For Example I once bought two packs of Polo Shirts from a well-known store, and even when washed on a low temperature and room dried instead of tumble dried they still shrunk so much they would have fitted my youngest son instead of me.

On a similar point I bought some budget range of walking / approach shoes (UK made as well) from a national retail outlet, they wore out in weeks and had such little internal foot bed support they rapidly become useless.

Kids

Let us not forget the children and their expensive but necessary habit of growing.

Hand me downs may become the norm like fleeces etc but some items such as underwear and footwear really need to be obtained in multiple sizes to allow for growth as will maintaining some level of personal dignity for the children.

When the kids grow out of items post collapse do not discard clothing as once washed and cleaned these clothes probably will have much barter value for families with kids who did not prepare as well.

Cleaning and personal hygiene materials are covered in the stockpiling and caching lists. The list of items above is not absolute everyone will have their own list of requirements but can use this list to work from.

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How y’all doing with the unexpected cold?

Grey Lady - February 17, 2021

Friends in the southern U.S., how are you doing with the cold/snow/power outages?

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News

US Federal Government advice for power outages

Bill Masen - February 17, 2021

As per header, hope it helps.  https://www.ready.gov/power-outages

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Urban Personal Equipment.

Bill Masen - February 17, 2021

URBAN Personal equipment

I believe the kit and clothing requirements will match those or even surpass those of rural preppers especially the need for extra protection from pollutants and toxins in an urban environment after TSHTF. Any foraging or movement that could kick up or disturb toxic particles from burnt or decaying buildings will require eye and mouth/nose protection (goggles and face mask) gloves and closed hems, draw cord, cuffs etc is also likely to be an important consideration. 

Work gloves are likely to be essential in urban areas with its inevitable large amounts of broken glass and sharp fractured bricks and stonework. One piece of feedback I received from an urban prepper suggests that preppers buy as much clothing as possible for foraging and recce roles made from RIP-STOP fabric as its very very likely the damaged buildings and debris is likely to cause very heavy wear on clothing. He also added that the soles of boots MUST be inspected after each foray out to ensure nail, tacks, glass, wire, stones etc are not greatly shortening the life of the boots, (he also suggested that after TSHTF when streets are badly littered with debris that air filled footwear like Dr Martens or Nike Air Max are NOT used)

Extra protective clothing is likely to mean greater thirst caused by getting too warm whilst working so extra drinking /washing water is likely to be required.

Tools for prying open doors, hatches, windows, lift shafts, water tank covers, manholes etc is likely to become standard kit for long term urban preppers. Feedback from established urban preppers I have received suggests that a “Spring Loaded Centre Punch” will be a useful addition to kit for safely shattering toughened glass windows and doors in abandoned structures when out foraging.

I think that in the long term preppers determined to utilise every possible resource left in the city are likely to need climbing gear, ropes and harnesses to access some locations where staircases are no longer accessible and to assist in escaping if the prepper falls through a decayed surface into a void.

A couple of Urban preppers have also pointed out the increased risk in cities after a disaster from packs of feral dogs and suggest other Urban preppers consider measures to keep them at bay (preferably QUIET measures for OPSEC)

Aerosols of bright coloured paint will assist in marking routes in dark subterranean locations as a means of retracting the route out or marking areas that have been checked out.

I also guess (and it is a guess) that urban preppers are likely to end up relying on bicycles for most transport needs as its likely to be the only truly viable swift and cargo capable vehicle for travelling through clogged abandoned streets. 

Urban preppers in situ now should consider obtaining AT bikes with puncture proof tyres NOW whilst they can still obtain them through normal means. I think the mantra of the Urban prepper is going to be “Don’t just look left and right, look up and down as well” and at night the Mk 1 Eyeball is definitely going to be at a disadvantage and your hearing is likely to be the most useful way of detecting approaching trouble, So ensure your URBAN BOL does not have any extraneous noises at night from things like wind chimes, rattling gates, busted windows rattling, curtains or abandoned washing flapping about. 

A few handfuls of broken glass and gravel on the approachs to your BOL should give notice of people approaching on foot.

Urban preppers should be able to rule the night in the cities providing they remain unseen and unheard but even simple recceing is not going to be so easy in a large city. Preppers wanting to find out what is going on in a new neighbouring area are likely to have to move quietly into the area at night and set up an OP/LP and spend the daylight hours watching, listening and noting what is going on for at least 24 hours before moving into the area to access resources.

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Urban Prepper Planning

Bill Masen - February 16, 2021

Urban Prepper Planning 

What sort of planning issues and threat subjects that urban preppers or ordinary preppers need to consider if stuck within a large town or city after TSHTF.

Avoiding Detection by gangs or criminals and avoiding being rounded up by authorities (NEVER BECOME A REFUGEE)

Identifying and Recovering water sources and materials to purify water*

Identifying and recovering food sources ( primarily this will be tinned, freeze dried, dehydrated etc)

Locating and foraging for wild growing NON POLLUTED foods

Developing transit routes to and from place of safety (BOL)

Collecting specialist access keys like storm drain keys, subway maintenance access doors etc

Finding safe places to shelter and cook that won’t give away your position

Mapping CCTV and other surveillance equipment (and plotting ways to avoid it)

Finding B O routes not likely to be used by refugees and displaced persons

Noting where unsafe and unstable building are and unstable or collapse prone paved areas are.

Identify choke points where desperate refugees may congregate

Identify likely locations for official check points and unofficial ambushs

Identify URBAN specific threats such as local gang territory or places with live rail lines, places likely to face flooding

Identify safe locations for shelter if civil unrest triggers large scale riots or out of control arson triggered fire storms

Identifying useable Elevated and Subterranean travel routes (Ariel walkways and underground passages)

Identifying suitable places to set up OP and LPs

Identifying suitable urban locations to hide caches of supplies securely and safely

Identifying areas for future planting of food stuffs

Setting up suitable URBAN comms short range SECURE systems (and concealing antennae)

WATER specific concerns

Urban preppers will need methods of testing water sources in urban locations to see if they have been treated with rust inhibitors, anti-bacterial agents, anti-fungal agents, excess dissolved lead or copper levels, antifreeze agents (alcohol and / or glycol based), excess sodium hypo levels, build ups of explosive hydrogen sulphide gases in water systems, faecal matter levels, typhus or other nasty’s etc””” Boiling does not remove chemical additives or metallic additives.

Understanding how the water network operates

Locating Underground service reservoirs

Sourcing a gate Key (for closing/opening valves on the water network)

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Scenarios

Prepping, not as taboo as it used to be. Odd isn’t it? (an observation)

Bill Masen - February 16, 2021

Isn’t it odd that,

Before 911 or 7/7  Preppers were ridiculed, mocked and abused, and our stockpiling was condemned as hoarding, our efforts at self reliance as “odd” and we were seen as selfish fear mongers.

After 911 or 7/7  The Establishment ( globally) sort of tolerated prepping and many governmental and NGO agencies started suggesting citizens to build their own Disaster Emergency Kits and store supplies to weather storms and disasters, but we were still looked down upon by the MSM and many establishment types as being radicals outside of civilised society.

But in this Covid 19 crisis we see NO ONE is mocking preppers any more, not even cynical governments or TV hosts, Almost every agency issues PLANS FOR CITIZENS to build Bobs and Caches and they open encourage everyone to BE PREPARED.. Articles in globally respected new papers state openly Preppers were right to get ready for the unforseen.

Now just about every celeb, dot.com billionaire and many of our ruling elites are now ardent preppers…. just like us.

I think that over the last 20 years we have proven our community and its beliefs to not only being RIGHT, but pretty darn essential in these strange times.

I dont want to say ” I told you so” but I am thinking it. BUT I also know NOW that I NEED to learn and interact with others on forums exactly like this one.

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From the BBC: Sugar for treating badly infected wounds.

Bill Masen - February 16, 2021

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180328-how-sugar-could-help-heal-wounds

Doctors are finding one way that sugar can benefit your health: it may help heal wounds when antibiotics fail.

By Clara Wiggins30th March 2018

As a child growing up in poverty in the rural Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, Moses Murandu was used to having salt literally rubbed in his wounds when he fell and cut himself. On lucky days, though, his father had enough money to buy something which stung the boy much less than salt: sugar.

Murandu always noticed that sugar seemed to help heal wounds more quickly than no treatment at all. So he was surprised when, having been recruited to come to work as a nurse for the UK’s National Health System (NHS) in 1997, he found that sugar wasn’t being used in any official capacity. He decided to try to change that.

Now, Murandu’s idea finally is being taken seriously. A senior lecturer in adult nursing at the University of Wolverhampton, Murandu completed an initial pilot study focussed on sugar’s applications in wound healing and won an award from the Journal of Wound Care in March 2018 for his work.

In some parts of the world, this procedure could be key because people cannot afford antibiotics. But there is interest in the UK, too, since once a wound is infected, it sometimes won’t respond to antibiotics.

To treat a wound with sugar, all you do, Murandu says, is pour the sugar on the wound and apply a bandage on top. The granules soak up any moisture that allows bacteria to thrive. Without the bacteria, the wound heals more quickly.

Evidence for all of this was found in Murandu’s trials in the lab. And a growing collection of case studies from around the world has supported Murandu’s findings, including examples of successful sugar treatments on wounds containing bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Even so, Murandu faces an uphill battle. Funding for further research would help him reach his ultimate goal – to convince the NHS to use sugar as an alternative to antibiotics. But a great deal of medical research is funded by pharmaceutical companies. And these companies, he points out, have little to gain from paying for research into something they can’t patent.

The sugar is the plain, granulated type you might use to sweeten your teaThe sugar Murandu uses is the plain, granulated type you might use to sweeten your tea. In the same in vitro trials, he found that there was no difference between using cane or beet sugar. Demerara, however, wasn’t as effective.

The pilot showed that strains of bacteria grew in low concentrations of sugar but were completely inhibited in higher concentrations. Murandu started recording case studies in Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Lesotho (where he first trained in nursing). Included among them is a woman living in Harare.

“The woman’s foot had been measured, ready to be amputated, when my nephew called me,” Murandu says. “She had had a terrible wound for five years, and the doctor wanted to amputate. I told her to wash the wound, apply sugar, leave it and repeat.

“The woman still has her leg.”

This, he says, is one example of why there is so much interest in his methods, particularly from parts of the world where people can’t afford antibiotics.

In total, Murandu has now carried out clinical studies on 41 patients in the UK. He hasn’t yet published the trial results but has presented them at national and international conferences. One question he had to answer during his research was whether sugar could be used on diabetic patients, who commonly have leg and foot ulcers. Diabetics need to control the level of glucose in their blood so this isn’t an obvious healing method to use on them.

But he found that it worked for diabetics without sending their glucose levels soaring. “Sugar is sucrose – you need the enzyme sucrase to convert that into glucose,” he says. As sucrase is found within the body, it is only when the sugar is absorbed that it is converted. Applying it to the outside of the wound isn’t going to affect it in the same way.

While Murandu continues his research on human patients, across the Atlantic US veterinarian Maureen McMichael has been using this healing method on animals for years.

McMichael, who works at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, first started using both sugar and honey on pets back in 2002. She said it was a combination of the simplicity of the method and the low cost that attracted her – especially for pet owners who couldn’t afford the usual methods of bringing the animal to the hospital and using sedation.

McMichael says that they keep both sugar and honey in their surgery and often used it on dogs and cats (and occasionally on farm animals). Honey has similar healing properties to sugar (one study found it to be even more effective at inhibiting bacterial growth), though it is more expensive.

 The sugar treatment may work on wounds afflicting not only people, but pets (Credit: Getty Images)

“We have had some really great successes with this,” McMichael says. She gave an example of a stray dog that had come to them after being used as “pitbull bait”, hung from a harness and attacked by pitbulls being trained for fighting. The dog came in with up to 40 bite wounds on each limb – and was healed within eight weeks.

“She was a stray so there was no money for her. We treated her with both honey and sugar and she did fabulously,” McMichael says. “She’s all healed now.”

As well as being cheaper, sugar has another upside: as more and more antibiotics are used, we are becoming resistant to themBack in the UK, tissue engineering specialist Sheila MacNeil of the University of Sheffeld has researched how naturally occurring sugars can be used to stimulate the re-growth of blood vessels. Her research stemmed from from her work on tumours, when she noticed that one particular small sugar derived from the breakdown of DNA (2-deoxy-D-ribose) kept cropping up. MacNeil’s team experimented by applying this sugar to the membrane surrounding chick embryos. According to MacNeil, the sugar stimulated double the number of blood vessels than would grow without it.

But of course these types of naturally occurring sugars found in our bodies are a long way from the type of everyday sugar used by Murandu in his experiments. The “dream ticket”, MacNeil says, would be to find a sugar that could be used in both ways. She believes this is the next step research should take.

Meanwhile in Wolverhampton, Murandu’s plan is to set up a private clinic using his sugar method. He hopes that one day sugar will be commonly used, not only by the NHS but also at public hospitals in some of the other countries where he has been working. He continues to get regular emails from around the world, asking for his advice – and guides patients remotely over email and texting. His far-away clients send him photos of their results along with their gratitude when they are healed.

It is an ancient method and one used unofficially by many poor people in developing countries, but for Murandu it was only by coming to the UK that he realised the significance sugar could have in the medical world. He sees it as a blending of his local knowledge with the modern research facilities in Britain.

“Like sugar, the knowledge came raw from Zimbabwe, was refined here – and is now going back to help people in Africa,” he says.

This story is a part of BBC Britain – a series focused on exploring this extraordinary island, one story at a time. Readers outside of the UK can see every BBC Britain story by heading to the Britain homepage; you also can see our latest stories by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

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You need a plan to work from.

Bill Masen - February 16, 2021

You need a Plan to work from,  but it must be flexible

Many people drawn to prepping may be able to muddle through for a while but eventually they will need to develop a working plan to follow that will help them get better prepared and with the right kit and facilities in the best location.

First you need to consider your location!

Are you going to:

STAY WHERE YOU ARE and adapt your current home (Urban or Rural)

STAY WHERE YOU ARE whilst developing a remote bug out location

RELOCATE NOW or ASAP to a more suitable location

PLAN ON RELOCATING in the near future

Or perhaps choose a mix of the above, it is your choice but either way you need to have a working plan with options and alternatives.

What are you preparing for?

Pandemic ( like the Global Covid 19 outbreak)

Terrorism

Natural Disaster

Economic Collapse

Recession

Unemployment

Ethnic Unrest

Extremist Government

Power Cuts

Extreme Weather Events

Societal Collapse

or all of the above or something else.

You may be planning on surviving a specific threat and base your plans around that threat. Let’s say just for example you plan to survive in your present home from a risk from a massive terrorist attack. But what happens if you focus all your attention and resources on protecting yourself from that terror attack but before it occurs a natural disaster hits your country? Many of your preps may be wasted or lost as the natural disaster overtakes you because you did not have the right resources in place to deal with it and they were designed only to deal with the terrorism threat.

Ideally you really need to direct your preps in a general manner but with a focus or bias towards the specific threat you are most concerned about. Make your plans more generic and flexible so you can rapidly adapt to as many threats and risks as possible. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket or all your survival supplies in one location.

Resources

The logistical aspects of prepping can be very complicated but roughly speaking you need to consider the following:

What do you want?

What do you need?

What have you already got?

What can you adapt?

Where are you going to keep it?

Where can you get it from?

How long do you want it to last?

How long will it actually last?

Where will you get more from?

Can you make some more?

Does it do what you need it to do?

Can you get something better suited to do the job?

Can you afford it and can you afford NOT to have it?

Will it do the job you want it to?

How can I make it work better for you?

Is it in the right location(s)?

Is it safe and secure?

Is it legal?

Can you get to it in a hurry?

Who else knows you have it?

So what do you need?

A safe and secure place to live so a HOME / RETREAT is normally the first item, be it a house or apartment in the town or the countryside, how can you make it safer, more secure and more self-reliant or do you need to move home?

Once you have gotten as far as you can in the property choice department you need to consider issues like:

Food supplies (and food production if you deem it necessary)

Water supplies, purity, filtering, storage, transportation and security

Medical supplies including prescription medicines

Heaters, Cookers and Lights plus fuel supplies to provide heat and light and hot water, you need a heating and lighting system that is independent of the mains utilities and supplies / stores of fuels kept safely and securely to power the cookers, heaters and lights.

Clothing, you will need a range of suitable clothing and footwear of good quality and durability to keep you warm and protected from the worst weather your region can throw at you.

Tools and Materials to help you repair maintain and keep secure your home after the disaster strikes. You will need everything from flashlights to shovels, prybars to weapons to help sustain your family. You may also require tools and materials to allow you to start producing your own food supplies if the crisis is prolonged.

Transport, you may find that you need to maintain some sort of transport to enable you to bring in more food, fuel or supplies, and also be able to use it to escape in if your homes safety becomes unsustainable. You will also need fuel for your transport be it petrol for your car or hay for your horse, and a goodly selection of spares as well from fuses, bulbs, belts and tyres, to reins, tack and harnesses.

Communications, you most certainly need a few multi power sourced AM / FM / SW radios to listen for news broadcasts from the authorities or other survivors. And CB / Amateur radios if you are working with neighbouring families of preppers.

Energy, Consider a backup generator or micro wind turbine or solar panels or a combination of all three.

Books and Manuals on various subjects from improvised medicine to DIY repairs to growing your own food are wise investments.

Start now and make yourself a plan of action.

Special skills for preppers (or not)

Heinlein – Specialization is for Insects

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

-Robert A. Heinlein

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What to consider when buying an acreage?

UbiqueContributor - February 15, 2021

Because I was raised on a farm, I related mostly to farming and larger sections of land and didn’t consider smaller holdings. Then I acquired a copy of “Living off the Land – A handbook for survival” by John H. Tobe and his words lit a fire in me. 

I live in a small rural town, but have been searching for acreage since I moved to the region.  

There was a property several years ago. It was in a hilled area with property access off one entry point via a driveway from a secondary highway. The property was situated on a bit of a curve and not readily seen from the highway. The driveway was suitable for a gate and cattle guard to discourage intrusion. 

The home was positioned on land that dropped off to a deep gully on one side. This made access from that side extremely difficult and the property more defensible.

The price was right, but I didn’t buy it for one reason: the driveway was shared with another house. The layout was a bit too close for comfort. The person or persons in the other house could have been great neighbours and an ally in a crisis, but what if they sold their home or passed away?

I’ve learned from my current community that when houses change hands, the community changes and not always for the best.

Today, when I thought about that property, I realized that lately, I have been chasing price in the acreage hunt and not paying attention to other criteria.

I also believe that if one has clarity and detail about a goal, it is more achievable. I don’t want to make the wrong choice either from a prepping or personal standpoint.

I questioned if my criteria needed to change or be revised. It’s been awhile since I laid out what I wanted. So, for those looking for property, I ask what is your criteria for acreage selection? If we take price out of the equation, what are you looking for in an acreage? And for those who have acreage, may I ask how did you know it was the right property?

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Advice

A suggested medical kit

Bill Masen - February 15, 2021

BASIC MEDICAL KIT

A decent but comprehensive medical kit is likely to be an essential part of your preps, don’t forget to obtain by any means necessary extra prescription medicines needed by anyone in your family.

Sterile Packs, containing coated sterile field, 2 comp procedure tray, non-woven swabs, dressing towels, latex gloves, yellow disposable bag.

Gauze swabs

Sterile dressings assorted sizes

Field dressings

Band-aids / Blister dressings

Tapes

Alcohol wipes

Burn gel squares

Steristrips

Sterile gloves

Stitch cutters

Tweezers

Scissors

Spencer Wells Forceps/ Haemostats

Syringes for irrigation

Aspirin (liquid and tabs)

Paracetamol (liquid and tabs)

Ibuprofen (liquid and tabs)

Calpol (for kids)

Antihistamine cream and tabs

Anti-inflammatory cream and spray

Anti-fungal cream and spray

Antiseptic cream

Anti-biotics, tabs, powder and liquid

Bonjela mouth ulcer & teething treatment

IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome) Tabs (Colofac)

Eczema spray and cream

Insect repellent lotion and spray

Hydrocortisone cream

Acne & spot treatment (Nicotinamide 4%)

Vaseline / petrolium jelly

Eye ointment / allergy drops

Nasal decongestant (Otravine spray)

Diarrhoea treatment

Eye drops

Ear drops

Worming treatment

Re-hydration sachets (Dioralyte)

IF AVAILABLE

Broad spectrum antibiotics

Local anaesthetic spray and cream

Malaria treatment

Multiple bottles and sprays of Detol / Detox

Important do obtain

All prescribed medications for everyone in group

Spare sets of all prescribed spectacles, dentures, hearing aids etc

This kit is in no way complete or comprehensive, but it does provide a good basic kit to build from, watch out for expiry dates and rotate / replace as necessary.

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The prepper scout (reconnaissance)

Bill Masen - February 15, 2021

The Prepper ” Scout”

Sooner rather than later when TSHTF you and your family will need to venture out to assess the damage, secure your property, salvage supplies, look for threats, gather intel etc.

This is Reconnaissance (to Recce UK and Aus, Recon US and Canada) its a French term to describe a combination of preliminary survey, survey, exploration, observation, investigation, examination, inspection, probe, scrutiny, scan;.

It is gathering intelligence, information, identifying possible threats, to locate allies, supplies etc and to see what everyone else is doing.

To safely Recce or Recon your area of operations its both prudent and wise to try and employ some sensible precautions and practice some skills. With this in mind below is a rough draft of some guildlines that hopefully will assist you in your mission.

These rules are NOT written in stone and to be used with considered judgement

RULE 1 The Prepper Scout is a Civilian not a Soldier.You are probably just one person, with a family to take care of and not some fictitious super soldier with the combat capabilities of 100 men, remember that fact and work within your ACTUAL not IMAGINED skill set.Your job is to venture forth to seek out what you need be it food, fuel, building supplies, medical kit, transport, or just to see how safe it is for your family.

When you have ventured forth your SOLE job is to carry out that selected mission and return home to your family unscathed and safe and UNDETECTED and not to accidently leave a trail back to your home that others can follow .

RULE 2 is ” Get out and back safely and undetected”RULE 3 is ” Leave no sign of you having passed by”

Watch where you walk and try not to leave noticable footprints or trampled grass to show your recently passed by.

RULE 4 is ” See all you can without being seen, Learn all you can without giving anything away”Use Binoculars or scopes to observe from afar. Look and listen to your environment and surroundings, Has surface dust been disturbed, has debris been recently moved, has foliage recently been cut, are those footprints recent, can you smell a recent cooking fire all are “tells” of recent activity.

RULE 5 is ” Shoot and Scoot”If by some misfortune you are located by unfriendly people, you should try to not get involved in a prolonged firefight, Your family needs you more than you need to feed your ego. Fire only enough to allow you to safely withdraw, remember that gun fire can also attract MORE people to the area.

RULE 6 is ” Watch and learn”If your passing through insecure or unfamiliar territory its always a good idea to lay up and observe the area for a while before moving on, You may detect possible ambushes or security threats, so BE PATIENT and OBSERVANT.

RULE 7 ” Go around, dont go through”If your objective lays beyond where others are based, it is better if and when possible to take a wide diversion to avoid endangering yourself.

RULE 8 ” Write it down, Make a note, Take a Photo”Along your route you may come across other useful materials, supplies , locations that may benefit your family later on, so make a note of what you come across.

RULE 9 ” if it looks to good to be true, it probably is (a trap)”After a major crisis few people are going to leave food, vehicles, fuel, weapons and supplies laying round, and most bridges, tunnels, streets etc that look WAY to accessible may be there to draw you in (ref rule 6)

RULE 10 ” Different routes out and Back”For your patrol do not use the same route out and back, keep pausing and LISTEN, if you are being follow they will make SOME noise.

Avoid roads and paths instead walk parallel to the road far enough away to avoid ambushes but to be able to follow the route. At your destination RULE 6 every time.

RULE 11 “Short broadcast then move”If you need to use your radio to communicate back home, Broadcast short and brief then MOVE, It is best if your home base station does NOT respond to prevent others triangulting your home location.

RULE 12 ” Get off the path before you rest”On longer trips you will obviously need to R & R, if the patrol has more than one person then One sleeps/cooks/eats the other goes on guard, then swap around.

If your on your own then get away from the path or trail, get under cover and ensure you have more than one escape. Make no cooking smoke / flames or strong smells and leave no rubbish.

RULE 13 ” Dress for the occasion”Wear clothing that matches as best possible the territory you are operating in EG Cammo in the Countryside, Tans and greys in the towns, and make sure NOTHING shines or rattles.Dont forget foul weather clothing if needed 

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Winter prep check list

Bill Masen - February 15, 2021

WINTER PREP CHECK LIST ()

Prevention is better than cure keep your house and vehicle etc properly maintained at all times.

House / Retreat

Winter fire wood obtained / cut / dried and accessible when snow has fallen

Coal / Oil stocks ordered? Delivered and stored properly

Gas bottles changed and empty ones refilled / replaced 

Gutters cleaned, drain traps cleared of debris

Fencing and posts checked for integrity and stability

Check security lights (Bulbs, Clean lenses, Clean PIRs)

Window seals checked (black and green algae scraped off seals / drain points) 

Boiler (furnace) serviced and certified

Set thermostat on heating to prevent freezing of system

Bleed Radiators

Doors /windows draught proofed

Drains free flowing and clear of debris

Locks and hinges oiled

Spare candles / flashlights / Chemical Light Sticks / lanterns etc,

Emergency heating kit checked

Snow shovel / ice scrapers to hand

Pre-salted sloping access roads / drives?

Spare fuses/ circuit breakers

Boarding up shuttering for broken windows set aside (with fittings)

Weather warning radio working and tuned in to local service

Sweep Chimney if you have wood / coal stove, check ventilation – drafting

Clean solar panels, check wiring / battery bank / specific gravity/ fluid levels.

Check and maintain external aerials TV / CB / Cell / Ham and cable connectors

Check & replace bottled gas regulator and hose if over 3 years old

Defrost and clean out freezers if heavily iced up

Clean, oil and maintain power tools like Chainsaws etc

Garden furniture brought in or covered up

*Check on neighbour’s well-being? *

Livestock / pets sorted out

Animal feedstock got in.

Greenhouses cleaned and disinfected, glass checked for integrity

Tools cleaned, disinfected, oiled and put away

Sheds / Garages/ Stores checked for weatherproofing and security

Personal / family

Extra food stocks got in case of snow / ice storm / whiteout

Rotate food stocks if necessary to ensure freshness

Prescription medicines got in if required by family members

Winter clothing got out of storage cleaned / aired and reproofed if necessary

Boots weatherproofed and cleaned

New script eye glasses obtained if necessary

Cans / foods rotated

Water filters cleaned / elements changed

Caches checked, updated etc

Bug out routes reccied

BOB’s checked and updated if necessary

Contact plans / pick up plans arranged for family members stranded by weather at school or work etc.

Personal security equipment cleaned / oil / checked etc

Vehicles

Get the latest Council winter road gritting map and plan your commute / BO routes accordingly

Check CB / Ham radio installation

Top up / change antifreeze

Tighten /adjust drive belts

Tyre condition /pressures

Jet wash underside, valet / polish bodywork

Check hoses for cracks, splits and tightness of hose clips

Lube locks

Change wiper blades (normally bi-annually)

Replace HL bulbs if over 5 years old (they have lost 20% of their brightness)

Check M & S tyres condition if still in store

Check your tyre chains

Fit thinner oil if you live in very northern climes.

Check battery condition and leads

Check demister / de-icer systems

Degrease windscreen inside and out

Radio set to accept weather and traffic news reports

Update Satnav data / Get new road map

Sleeping bag/ survival blanket

Chemical light sticks / flashlights/spare batteries

Candle/ matches

Snow dye

Survival kit

Shovel

Snow mats

Short wave radio / batteries

Hot drink making kit

Vehicle Spares,

bulbs & fuses,

belts, 

plugs, 

leads, 

oil, 

coolant, 

hose clips, 

hose repair kit, 

exhaust repair kit, 

cable ties & duct tape

snow chains / snow mat

wheel brace

spanners / sockets and screwdrivers

sockets

Tyre levers & tyre pump

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