Katie Fire - Member - The Prepared

Discussions

Reply to: Best portable solar chargers Posted June 28, 2020

Reply to: Best portable solar chargers Posted June 26, 2020

Does anyone have recommendations (or could you do a whole article???) on “semi-portable” solar panels, ideal for bugging-in instead of out? For home use during a prolonged power outage (assuming you are not trying to power big stuff like fridges, toasters, driers, etc), what is the best way to power a family’s worth of phones, laptops, radios, headlamps, and lanterns? Is it best to just buy additional BigBlue 28W panels? Or do the larger “briefcase” panels from companies like Jackery and Goal Zero make sense price-wise?

Reply to: How to understand ICU occupancy numbers and tell when your area is in the danger zone Posted June 26, 2020

Also important to keep in mind that ICU beds are not fixed in a given region. In a disaster (such as the Northeast in April and May) hospitals can convert other units to ICUs. My local hospital increased their ICU capacity by about 300-400%. That involved shutting down all elective surgeries so the PACU could be an ICU, converting part of the ER to an ICU, setting up tents in the parking lot to house non-ICU patients, and rapidly training lots of nurses to work in the ICU. It’s not pretty, but it can be done.

Reply to: Best survival knife Posted June 20, 2020

Thanks, Jon and Hydrae, for your quick, cordial responses. I was being narrow-minded about knives: I’d always considered it sacrilege to use a knife for anything other than cutting and slicing. If I think of a field knife less with my preconceived notions about a proper “knife” and more as a versatile chunk of strong, sharp metal with myriad uses, I start to see its value in a level 1 BOB Unfortunately, in the northeastern states where I spend much of my time, I’m limited to a 4-inch blade. Nevertheless, I plan to pick up a cheap Mora Craftline Robust (only 3.6 inches) and start carrying it daily to see what uses and abuses it finds. Thanks.

Reply to: Best survival knife Posted June 18, 2020

I love knives, especially beautiful, full-tang ones like these. But I am having a hard time seeing how to justify keeping one in a Level 1 BOB. You already have a decent knife in your multitool. So what added benefit is there really with a field knife? In a true wilderness survival situation, sure, I can see how it would be handy. But I would much rather have a hatchet+multitool than the somewhat redundant field knife+multitool in that situation anyway. I have spent thousands of hours camping and working in the wilderness as well as working in disaster response. I have always carried a pocket knife and a multitool. For longer periods in the wilderness I also carry a folding saw and sometimes an axe. But I have never missed a field knife in any of these situations. Disclaimers: 1. I am not a hunter. 2. I live in an area with hardwood forests. The main arguments I have against the field knife are: 1. It is fairly expensive and relatively heavy in the context of a Level 1 BOB. 2. In several states, knives of this length/type are illegal to carry in public. I imagine they could also attract negative attention in a refugee camp, public evacuation transportation, or if you were stopped/detained by the authorities. So, please convince me: Why include a field knife in the Level 1 BOB? Please give specific examples of what you would use it for. I am not posting this to try to convince you that you are wrong. You clearly know what you are talking about and most of the things on this website seem spot on. I am posting it to ask you to convince me why I am wrong.

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Reply to: Best portable solar chargers Posted June 28, 2020

Reply to: Best portable solar chargers Posted June 26, 2020

Does anyone have recommendations (or could you do a whole article???) on “semi-portable” solar panels, ideal for bugging-in instead of out? For home use during a prolonged power outage (assuming you are not trying to power big stuff like fridges, toasters, driers, etc), what is the best way to power a family’s worth of phones, laptops, radios, headlamps, and lanterns? Is it best to just buy additional BigBlue 28W panels? Or do the larger “briefcase” panels from companies like Jackery and Goal Zero make sense price-wise?

Reply to: How to understand ICU occupancy numbers and tell when your area is in the danger zone Posted June 26, 2020

Also important to keep in mind that ICU beds are not fixed in a given region. In a disaster (such as the Northeast in April and May) hospitals can convert other units to ICUs. My local hospital increased their ICU capacity by about 300-400%. That involved shutting down all elective surgeries so the PACU could be an ICU, converting part of the ER to an ICU, setting up tents in the parking lot to house non-ICU patients, and rapidly training lots of nurses to work in the ICU. It’s not pretty, but it can be done.

Reply to: Best survival knife Posted June 20, 2020

Thanks, Jon and Hydrae, for your quick, cordial responses. I was being narrow-minded about knives: I’d always considered it sacrilege to use a knife for anything other than cutting and slicing. If I think of a field knife less with my preconceived notions about a proper “knife” and more as a versatile chunk of strong, sharp metal with myriad uses, I start to see its value in a level 1 BOB Unfortunately, in the northeastern states where I spend much of my time, I’m limited to a 4-inch blade. Nevertheless, I plan to pick up a cheap Mora Craftline Robust (only 3.6 inches) and start carrying it daily to see what uses and abuses it finds. Thanks.

Reply to: Best survival knife Posted June 18, 2020

I love knives, especially beautiful, full-tang ones like these. But I am having a hard time seeing how to justify keeping one in a Level 1 BOB. You already have a decent knife in your multitool. So what added benefit is there really with a field knife? In a true wilderness survival situation, sure, I can see how it would be handy. But I would much rather have a hatchet+multitool than the somewhat redundant field knife+multitool in that situation anyway. I have spent thousands of hours camping and working in the wilderness as well as working in disaster response. I have always carried a pocket knife and a multitool. For longer periods in the wilderness I also carry a folding saw and sometimes an axe. But I have never missed a field knife in any of these situations. Disclaimers: 1. I am not a hunter. 2. I live in an area with hardwood forests. The main arguments I have against the field knife are: 1. It is fairly expensive and relatively heavy in the context of a Level 1 BOB. 2. In several states, knives of this length/type are illegal to carry in public. I imagine they could also attract negative attention in a refugee camp, public evacuation transportation, or if you were stopped/detained by the authorities. So, please convince me: Why include a field knife in the Level 1 BOB? Please give specific examples of what you would use it for. I am not posting this to try to convince you that you are wrong. You clearly know what you are talking about and most of the things on this website seem spot on. I am posting it to ask you to convince me why I am wrong.