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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.
Read More
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 MoreGlacier / 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 MoreKeeping 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 MoreOUR 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 MoreA 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 MoreRural 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
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 MoreClothing 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 MoreHow 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 MoreUS Federal Government advice for power outages
Bill Masen - February 17, 2021 As per header, hope it helps. https://www.ready.gov/power-outages
Read MoreUrban 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 MoreUrban 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 MorePrepping, 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 MoreFrom 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 MoreYou 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 MoreWhat 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 MoreA 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 MoreThe 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 MoreWinter 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 MoreThe ultimate EDC bag?
Brandon - February 15, 2021 I was trying to imagine what the best EDC bag could be for a male, i.e. a murse that doesn’t look like one. Backpacks are great, but are a bit much for taking everywhere. In the past I’ve carried a jacket even on warm days just for the pockets. Obviously this comes with the bonus of having a jacket on hand. With this in mind, a Google search later and I found this.
It’s certainly not perfect, one of those single-product-Amazon-only companies that you can find no information about except it looks like they’re HQ’d in Florida. Durability is unknown beyond Amazon reviews. It appears to still be a bit bulky, but perhaps it can collapse.
Anyone know of anything else like this that’s a little more reputable and/or made of better materials, or have any other thoughts about a jacket-bag for EDC?
Read MoreAdvice Sought: New rural neighbor moving into a shared-land situation
SeaBee - February 14, 2021 Hello community, I’m asking advice on how to approach a land-sharing situation as a new rural neighbor. Sorry this is a little long, but the context will help, I hope.
I am pleased to report that I will soon close on a property in rural New York, over 40 acres and a small home. While I won’t be able to live there full-time right away, I am eager to invest in the home and land. The eventual goal is a mostly self-supported homestead.
The land has a large field, ~25 acres, and the prior owner (a mostly absentee owner) had a “handshake” agreement with the neighbor allowing use of the field. The neighbor hays about 15 acres (twice per year) and uses the other 10 to pasture his small herd (10-15 head). In return, the neighbor was to mow the owner’s ~1.5/2 acre lawn around the home (something the owner states the neighbor didn’t really do). This agreement has been in place for at least 6-8 years. The neighbor has erected an electric fence for the pasture and seems to have kept the pasture and field in good condition.
I would appreciate advice and thoughts from this wonderful community as to how you think I should proceed in this situation.
I am aware that I’m the new person moving into an established situation, and it’s important not be a a jerk. However, this neighbor is essentially getting something for nothing (he has less than 10 acres and could not have such a large herd without use of this field), and I feel it’s important to create a new agreement that isn’t simply a give-away. I don’t mind him continuing to use the field, but would want an exchange or barter in a written agreement. I’m not interested in the lawn mowing, as I’ll be up every weekend to handle that. Farmer friends in the area have suggested he raise one beefer each year for me and I pay processing costs (they have similar agreements with other farmers). I eventually plan to use that field for farming and livestock of my own, but that is a few years away. I have met the neighbor in person to get his side of things and start building a relationship. He seems friendly and eager to continue the old agreement, and talked excitedly of all the livestock trading he’s been doing lately: “I want to watch my retirement grazing from the back of my deck!” For anyone who is on either side of a similar situation, I’d love to hear what did or did not feel good in this process in your experience.At the end of the day, I know it’s better to have a buddy than an enemy as a neighbor, but I also feel that I need to reset the neighbor’s view of the situation without being a jerk, especially as someone who won’t be a full-time neighbor for a least a couple years.
Thanks for any thoughts you care to share, or any questions you think I should be asking. Always grateful for the shared expertise of this forum!
Read MorePrepper reading list factual & reference
Bill Masen - February 14, 2021 BOOK READING LIST
Book list factual and fictional. One set for reference and planning, the other set for mental preparation of how to handle likely scenarios.
Aftermath, Charles Sheffield (Very Good)After Doomsday, Poul AndersonAtlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand (Hard to grasp)Alas Babylon, Pat Frank (Truly a superb classic)Amerikan sunset, Jennifer Ladewig (Drivel)A Wrinkle in the skin, John Christopher (A character essay )Black Sun, Robert Leininger Very goodBlood Crazy, Simon ClarkCrabs, Guy SmithComet, (The) Robert Charles Very GoodDamnation Alley, Roger Zelazny Better than the movieDay after Tomorrow, (The) Whitley Strieber
Day by Day Armageddon J L Bourne (SUPERB BOOK)Day of the Triffids, John WyndhamDeath of Grass, John ChristopherDeathlands, Jack AdrianDeluge, Fowler Wright
Deluge, Richard DoyleDrought ,(The) JG Ballard thought provokingDrowned world, (The) JG Ballard interestingDown to a sunless sea, (either version) David Graham (Truly great, another classic)Earth Abides, George R Stewart 2nd only to Alas BabylonEarth Winter, Richard MoranEternity Road, Jack McDevitt Interesting future shockEmpire of Ice, Richard Moran
Empty World John ChristopherFamine, Graham Masterson
Flood, Richard DoyleFreeman, (The) Jerry AhernHeavy Weather, Bruce SterlingIce, Arnold Federbush depressingIcefire, Judith & Garfield Reeth Stevens entertainingIce Quake, John R SpencerKraken Wakes, (The) John WyndhamLast Ranger, (The) Craig Sargeant ( Rambo wannabe crap)
Living is Forever J Edwin CarterLucifer’s Hammer, Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle. (Becoming a classic)
Long voyage back, Luke Rhineheart( In the top ten of all time )Long Loud Silence, ( The) Wilson TuckerLast ship, (The) William BrinkleyMalevil, Robert MerleMoonfall, Jack Mc DevittNight of the Triffids, Simon Clark (Good follow on from Day of the Triffids)New Madrid Run, (The) Micheal ReisigOn the beach, Neville ShuteOut of the Ashes, ( Ashes series) William W JohnstonePlague 99, Jean Ure
Plague of the dead (The Morningstar Saga) Z A RechtPatriots, James Wesley Rawles ( A Brilliant piece of work)Postman, (The) David Brin
Resurrection Day Brendan DuboisRift, (The) Walter J WilliamsSavage Dawn, Robert ColeShiva Descending, Gregory BenfordSome will not die, Algis BudrysStand, (The) Stephen King
Survivors Terry Nation ( British Classic)Survivalist, (The) series Jerry AhernThird Pandemic, (The) Pierre OuelletteThis is the way the world ends, James Morrow
Thunder & Ashes (Morningstar Saga) Z A RechtVirus, Japanese Author ( lost from my collection)When the City stopped, Joan PhipsonWild Shore ( The) Kim Stanley Robinson Deep stuff
World in Winter ( The) John ChristopherYear of the quiet sun, Wilson Tucker Suprisingly Good48, James Herbert8.4, Peter Hernon good read28 Days Later, Alex Garland299 Days the Preparation, Glen Tate ( My book of the year for 2014)
All good reading stuff for making your mind more accessible to the possibilities and permutations
Most of these books are very thought provoking and make you think about some issues you otherwise may have overlooked.
My Favourites are ALAS BABYLON and Patriots, and Day By Day Armageddon
Factual and reference
Archery Steps to Success. Hayward / Lewis
Build the perfect survival kit 0-87349-967-0The Survivalists Patrick Rivers 0-413-31650-5Earth Shock Basil Booth & Frank Fitch 0-7221-1778 7The Nuclear Survival Handbook Barry PopkessTappan on Survival Mel Tappan 0-916172-04-xSurvival guns Mel TappanThe Survival Retreat Ragnar Benson 0-87364-275-9The Modern Survival Retreat Ragnar Benson 0-87364-980-x
The Survival Nurse Ragnar Benson 1-58160-075-5Apocalypse Tomorrow Duncan Long 0-87947-089-5When Technology Fails Mathew Stein 1-57416-047-8The Coming Global Superstorm Bell and Strieber 0-7434-0888-8
How to live Off –Grid Nick Rosen 978-0-385-61127-5Life after doomsday Bruce D Clayton 0-87364-175-2Surviving Doomsday C Bruce Sibley 07219-0780-6Outdoor Survival guide Hugh Mc Manners 0-7513-0644-4Travel Vans John Speed 99920-1-158-0 (The book for building BOVs)SAS Survival guide ( pocket size) John lofty Wiseman 0-00-470167-4
Beneath the City Streets, Peter Laurie: 0586050558
When All Hell Breaks Loose Cody Lundin (VERY VERY American)
TRAVEL VANS John Speed (Building SUVS/ Campers)
EMERGENCY POWER FOR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS 978-0-872-615-3
by Michael Bryce
Read More