Why we research. Type. Learn. Prepare. Connect.
Why we even have a financial collapse website…
Do you feel us?
Post found @ http://preparingforfinancialcollapse.com/2011/02/21/why-we-are-here/
What happens when everyone relies upon the strength of your money worldwide…and your money isn’t strong? A house of cards. Learn why at my new financial collapse website.
Sorry everyone! I’ve been extremely busy taking this whole blog to the next level. I’ve stopped using tumblr as the main platform for a variety of reasons - though I think I may still populate this tumblr with my normal blog posts. I need to research the SEO implications of that.
But if you found my content interesting - please check out my new site: Preparing for financial collapse.
I’ve posted some killer articles, especially concerning WHY we believe so strongly a collapse is coming. They are fact driven - and sure to get you thinking. Check it out!
I will be back soon once I get a daily habit in place regarding tumblr.
Much love.
~ J
A standard part of preparation is putting together a bag that you can quickly grab and leave with during a state of emergency. Here is the BASIC list I’m working on. It is a work in progress. There are three levels. Level 1 is the most important. Level 2 is second…etc…
Philosophy:
a. A bag that you can Hike with to a safe zone. (I.E. safer meeting house).
b. A bag that can enable Survival in a non urban area indefinitely - but ideally under 7 days.
c. A bag that is between 1/5 and 1/4 of your weight. (If male, slightly less if female).
d. This Philosophy assumes you are wearing good clothes and footwear that match your weather. It also doesn’t include your firearm in the weight.
f. Several of these items have already been listed as priorities. I will link the article that matches the specific item.
Level 1:
Water and Water filtration/purification system
Fire-starter (at least 2 methods)
Energy Booster (A couple high carb bars - like Cliff bars)
Compass & plan of where to go (map).
Small Bible
Personals: ID, Cash/Currency, SS card, etc…
Flash Drive with personal information on it.
Headlamp/Flashlight - (I will post a detailed review on a good headlamp soon).
Level 2:
Water proofing/poncho
1st aid (part 1 and 2) (If in a group, have one individual carry the level 2 bag and create smaller kits for all the other people in group).
Pot (blackened)
Tarp
Shelter/tent/additional tarp *this can be fashioned from branches/digging if you do the research and know how.
Needle and thread
Socks (smartwool type)
Additional water carrier (platypus pouch or 2nd nalgene bottle)
Fishing String and Hook
Food - Enough for 8-12 basic meals and some high carb snacks.
Guns and Ammo
Parachord/Rope - Get 7 strand/550 lbs para-chord
Toothbrush (cut the handle off for weight)
Change of clothes
Level 3:
Eating utensil
T.P
Batteries (Lithium)
Pocket Rocket/Fuel
Personal Hygiene
Knife Sharpener
Hiking Poles
Shovel/Hatchet/Saw (Choose separate ones for separate people in party)
Solar oven — (Walmart has the car reflectors on sale right now btw)
Trapping/Snare supplies
Books
~~~~~~
Until next time. Be Blessed. Be Focused.
~ J
I hope everyone is having a blast. I’m going to be brief today.
Don’t be afraid to talk about the future. Don’t be fearful and don’t be fear mongering. That’s the work of fools. But - if you sincerely think next Christmas is going to be significantly different, don’t be afraid to share your opinion and ask what your family is doing. You will likely be surprised. More people than you think are preparing…and just like you…they haven’t told anyone. And even if they aren’t preparing, they are likely to help you any way they can. Be the one to start the conversation. I have been on the receiving end of several blessings through my extended family because they wanted to help.
A group is better than one. And family is the best group there is.
And I will get into that with my next post…and next priority.
Have an amazing time with those you love. Don’t forget to build relationships.
~ J
Keeping a sharp and educated mind is one of the main resources you can have for predicting the future and preparing for it. Not just for “security” but also for opportunity.
Over the weekend I posted a link to a lecture that painted a fact driven picture of our economic future. That lecture has since been removed from the internet.
Today, Shuan Connell over at Stand Strong Research (a resource I have linked several times) sent out an email stating the following:
In the last few weeks the economy has shown signs of weakening. I’ve talked about this to the point of getting annoying. The Federal Reserve is printing another half-trillion dollars… dumping new money on an already fragile economy.
This means the government is essentially getting to the point where the only thing they can think of that will help keep it afloat is printing more paper money. Inflation is already hitting food and energy prices, and everything else is next.
Because of the circumstances, I’m no longer charging for my gold investing guide. I’m giving it away for free.
To get your download link, you just need to sign up for the Learn Gold newsletter — a different newsletter than this one. It’s free too. This newsletter is just about investing in general — the Learn Gold Newsletter is specifically about gold, silver, and other precious metals.
To sign up, just go to Learn Gold Coins. Enter your email in any of the fields/forms. They all get you signed up and will have the guide automatically sent to you.
If you have questions, let me know. This is important. Feel free to forward this to your friends, and share a link to LearnGoldCoins.com on Facebook or Twitter or via email.
I know it’s difficult and politically incorrect to say this, but it’s a fact: the economy is going to get much, much worse before it gets better. Gold prices are going to skyrocket. You need to get educated ASAP. Click here and sign up. It’s free. -Shaun Connell
Last week H2OCory alerted me to a live 90 minute presentation that Mike Dillard was giving Monday night. The presentation blew me away (along with 86,000 other people) because it succinctly described what is happening in our economy on so many levels. I knew much of what he was presenting, but he put the entire picture together in a very clear and concise way unlike anything I’ve seen.
Now, of course Mike is also selling an educational membership. After several days of research, I found the membership to be worth my money. You might not. I’m not linking this presentation because I think you should join as a member. That is for you to decide, just like I decided. I’m linking this presentation because it clearly demonstrates FACTS about our economy and the direction it is heading that cannot be ignored. I urge you to check this lecture out for that reason alone.
It has two basic parts that are 40 minutes each (after his introduction). They are as follows:
1. The big picture of our economy of the next 6-36 months. Lots of charts and graphs. (This part will make all of your time completely worth it. I promise.)
2. What Mike is doing with his assets as a response (i.e. - the part that convinces you a membership to The Elevation Group is worth your money. *grin*)
I’m going to be talking a lot about this movie over the next two days. Mike is closing down the membership to The Elevation Group after Sunday at midnight because the response to this movie was much bigger than he expected. (150,000 people have watched it in the last three days). When he closes the membership, he is also taking down the presentation.
I really want my readers to see at least the first half of the presentation because its that good.
Please, at least watch the first half of this lecture. It will change how you view everything.
~ Jonathan
I’m going to get right back into the shopping list.
DISINFECTING:
1/2 oz mini bottle of Povidone-Iodine solution,
30ml BandAid-brand antiseptic wound rinse (others ok too),
PDI-brand 10% Benzoin Tincture swabs in foil package (5),
BD-brand Alcohol Swab (16), —
other swabs are small and light on alcohol. You will use these to disinfect all your tools before using them on flesh. You can also, obviously, use these to help disinfect flesh itself (though it stings).
PDI-brand Povidone-Iodine prep pad (medium size, 10),
Neosporin NeoToGo spray, (comfort item)
Neosporin-brand antibiotic ointment (1 tube),
4 oz Swift-brand Eye wash,
4 oz Hydrogen Peroxide,
Don’t expose this to sunlight.
1.5 oz hand sanitizer gel;
OTHER:
Adventure Medical Kits-brand compact Emergency Bivy sack,
A bivy sack is much better than a space age blanket because it retains heat way better.
6 inch ACE bandage (1)
4 inch ACE bandage (1)
Safety Pins (5)
An alternative to ACE Bandages that someone might want to try is Camo Form - you don’t need clips because its self adhesive.
moleskin sheets (2)
These are most effective when applied when the blister is first “heating up” – not once the blister is formed.
Oral thermometer within a protective case,
Cotton balls
Its extremely common that people “reviving” after CPR vomit or cough into the giver of CPR’s mouth. Get at least one of these.
Flexible finger splint,
Suturing kit (includes syringe and 1% Xylocaine local anesthetic)
Don’t use this type of kit if you haven’t done some research on how to stitch people up. This is a last resort. I will dedicate a post to the details of what a suturing kit contains later and online info about it, so don’t worry about this item yet.
PHARMACY:
salt packets in baggie (6),
Get these from McDonalds. Use for emergency dehydration circumstances.
Extra-Strength Tylenol (lots),
Advil (lots),
Loperamide (lots),
Diarrhea can kill.
Benadryl tabs (20),
Large antacid tablets (5),
(pharmacy) heavy duty pain killers (your choice, use with care),
(Pharmacy) antibiotics (10 days worth);
Please note – you use these at your own risk. I don’t know your allergies…and you don’t know other peoples allergies. If you are using narcotics, you also don’t know other peoples drug history. These can be addictive. I am currently talking with experts to find the best “general purpose” type. I will post names once I know.
COMFORT:
If you are having trouble with space/weight - these are the things to be eliminated/traded.
Chapstick,
GoldBond-brand single use antiseptic wipe,
itch relief cream or Benadryl-brand itch relief stick,
½ oz Clear Eyes-brand eye drops,
10ml transport tube of Burn Free or Medi-Burn relief gel,
These tubes are great for transporting small amounts of liquids/gels. Find them here.
EXTRA: These are items to consider, but will likely not fit unless you remove other things - they also go over the 100 dollar mark.
Don’t use this until you have researched it! There are some big risks that the manufacturers don’t really talk about.
flexible splints (like the one here),
emergency dental kits (something like this, modified to fit your pack),
medic book: Some free for download. To buy: Check out “Where there is no doctor”
Here is a good general medical supply link: StatMedical
Other items have been linked to google products or can likely be found in a local store (like walmart). If anyone has specific problems finding something, please message me!
I think this first aid kit will enable you to deal with most circumstances with the right tools.
You should feel good and prepared having one. Enjoy the feeling.
~ J
P.S.
Just for visualization’s sake, I’m going to go through the quick steps of taking care of a wound. These steps should be verified by your own research.
Wound:
Access wound. (Scissors, etc…)
Stop the bleeding. (Gloves, Pressure, Elevation, Gauze’s, Blood Sponges, Feminine products ect… - worst case scenario: tourniquet)
Wound cleansing. Hydrogen Peroxide/Povidine/Band aid wound wash…ect… Remove foreign objects. (Magnifying glass/tweezers/etc…)
Wound closure if needed. (Tape/Steri Strips/Suture)
Wound dressed. Non Adherent down first. Topper/Sponge. Tape down. OR just Tegaderm.
When needed, change dressing. When you take the dressing off without a Non Adherent…you will rip tissue. So if you don’t have a Non Adherent or Tegaderm, soak the topping in CLEAN (boiled then cooled) water first to help eliminate tissue damage.
It helps to visualize different things in your kit in use. :)
P.S.S. Please realize that your first aid kit is yours. Especially if you know much about first aid - you will probably not agree with some of my choices. That’s fine. I would love to hear feedback on what you would include and why. Please realize the constraint of trying to stay mobile. It is an important priority for me. But beyond that - build one! Something is always better than nothing when it comes to saving lives.
My next post will be focusing back on the economic side of things. There have been some amazing resources and developments in the economic world this last week…and you deserve to know about it ASAP. (That is why I released part two so soon!)
First Aid
This topic is huge. So grab some hot tea. I have spent several hours doing research. What you decide to go with depends on your philosophy. Mine has always been priority/likelihood first, and then mobility. When I prepare, I want to prepare for things that I think are most likely to happen. In addition I want something I can hike with. Portable. Things will be sacrificed in terms of “firepower” for mobility.
Before we get started I want to remind everyone, I’m not a doctor or EMT. This is simply my opinion formed through my research.
Priority:
What will typically kill someone the fastest in a first aid circumstance is choking/airway obstruction/lack of breathing and bleeding.
Most response to choking is physical. There are some tools, but for the most part, if someone is choking you aren’t going to be pulling out a first aid kit. You are going to be doing the Heimlich, CPR, etc…
So the philosophy behind the first aid Kit I’m putting together has four parts:
1. Focuses on stopping blood loss as first priority.
2. Attempts to address other 1st aid areas in a general way
3. Strives to be mobile so someone can carry it on their person.
4. Doesn’t have things that I don’t know how to use.
This isn’t an ideal Kit if you are staying at home without “Rule of Law” for a year or so. This is a smaller kit that can be backpacked and will work for a short term 1st aid solution in a short term emergency without doctor/hospital access. Short term is my first priority because a short term 1st aid situation is more likely than a long term one. I don’t have the money to put together an entire ER center in my house at this time and I don’t have the knowledge to operate it. I do have the money to develop a short term emergency solution.
This entire kit will be around 100 bucks and weigh close to 5 pounds. It is extremely powerful. It is based upon the kit presented by Nut N Fancy (5 part youtube series). After researching several kits, his 140 minute youtube med kit fit my philosophy the best.
If you agree with my philosophy, using this post can save you hours and hours of time.
THE SHOPPING LIST
Here is your shopping list. Most of it is self explanatory – but I make detailed notes on some items. Several of the items can be found at walmart. I will provide links for specific items that are harder to find, and a few other general resource links at the bottom of the second post.
Pouch/Container.
You want something with several divided compartments and around 16x12x10’’ dimensions. Pouches you can see through are the best. Here are some starting points.
Blackhawk Emergency Medical Roll.
A Roll up shower bag can even be used.
FOR BLEEDING: (Brands are opinions only)
5x9 Kendall-brand Abdominal Pad (1)
4x4 in J&J (Johnson and Johnson) -brand Topper Sponges (4)
4x4 in J&J Surgipad thick gauze pads (6)
4x4 in J&J All-Purpose sponges (gauze pads) (6)
3x3 in J&J (or other brand) Gauze Pads (8)
2x2 in J&J (or other brand) Gauze Pads (6)
2 Equate-brand maxi-pads (soaks blood at a fraction of the price of gauze pads)
Kendall-brand 4.5 in x 3 yd gauze roll
Polymem® 4x4 non adhesive bandage
3x8 in Oil Emulsion Adaptec dressing (4)
These are dressings that are soaked in a Vaseline type substance. So when the wound starts to heal, and you have to change the dressing, you won’t have flesh stuck to the dressing when it’s removed. If you don’t have these, soak the dressing in CLEAN water (boiled and then cooled is best) before removing.
10cmx12cm 3m Tegaderm® transparent dressing (4)
6cmx7cm 3m Tegaderm® transparent dressing (8)
Tegaderm is new bandage technology. Think of it as a Goretex for your wounds. It allows vapor to escape – but water cannot penetrate reducing the risk of infection. It will not allow your wounds to scab – so don’t use it more than a couple days if you can help it. Don’t use anything like Neosporin with Tegaderm. You will want to swab adhesion area with Benzoin Tincture to help it stick and stay clean (item later on in the list).
1 roll Nexcare-brand microspore medical tape or J&J paper tape.
Atheletic tape and other tapes don’t breathe. You need tape that breathes.
¼ inch 3M-brand Steri-Strip (4)
1/2 inch 3M-brand Steri-Strip (4)
Steri Strips are a great alternative to stitches. In a worst case scenario, you can use medical tape for the same reason. These strips won’t work if the flesh around the wound isn’t clean and dry. A picture can be seen here.
BandAid-brand (or Nexcare-brand) large bandaids (15)
BandAid-brand (or Nexcare or 3M-brand) large elbow/knee adhesive bandages (5)
2x2 in non-adherent pads (Telfa-style) gauze pads (4)
latex tourniquet
Use this as a very last resort to stop bleeding. Gauze pads, pressure, elevation above the heart, etc… should all be tried extensively before using this tool.
Military compressed triangular OD bandage (1)
A great and diverse tool – one of the main reasons to include it is its ability to be used as a sling.
Mini super glue tubes in baggie
(don’t want superglue all over your kit!) This can be used to patch a wound as well.
TOOLS:
Streamlight Stylus Pro penlight with AAA lithium batteries
A very well reviewed light. Extremely bright. You may need light to clean a wound.
Fiskars general purpose scissors
EMT (public) scissors are wimpy. Medical scissors dull.
Hemostat (1)
Think of these as medical pliers/vice grips. They are crucial for grasping things within a wound, and if worst comes to worst, for stopping blood flow from a vein by clamping it.
Size 11 Scalpels (4)
These are crucial for any cutting you might need to do.
sharp tweezers
You have to have a fine/sharp tip tweezer to clean wounds/shrapnel/splinters.
LaCross-brand Tini-Tweeze tweezers (small, flat bladed)
Sometimes you need some tweezers with more leverage and power than the fine tipped ones. These are cosmetic and only cost a few bucks to add.
Benchmade-brand Rescue 5 cutting tool
An extremely small and light tool that can cut away any clothing, boot, etc… that can no longer be removed because of swelling (or you don’t have the time). A broken ankle can swell up quick –and if you are wearing boots…you will certainly want this tool.
4x6 in plastic zip bags (2),
Used as back up for waterproofing gauzes.
1 Mylar Envelope/bag (1 gallon)
Put your most important “keep dry” stuff in here. Also, cut this up and tape it to a sucking chest wound. Nutnfancy originally had a different Mylar bag. I could no longer find it for sale online.
Wooden cotton swabs (10),
Apply cleaning agents to wounds with these.
Large sewing needle on index card material
Single edge razor blade (1 maybe 2)
The sharper your tool, the less painful and finer the cut. Don’t skimp on something that costs less than a dollar.
Gorilla-brand duct tape wrapped on a part of a plastic card
Hundreds of uses if in a pinch. You can even use some of this on areas that are starting to blister.
Latex gloves (2 pair),
Don’t be cleaning out a bloody wound of a stranger without these. Also, if you tend to be light headed with blood – these help separate you from the job so you can work with your mind instead of your emotions.
Folding magnifying glass,
See if the wound is cleaned out of foreign objects, find splinters, etc…
Container for eye washing
Drug stores have cheap glass ones. A Shot glass works. Just find something small you can hold up to your open eye to rinse it with.
I told you this was long! The next post will be part two. Disinfectants, Pharmacy, and other things you can’t do without. I sincerely hope you are making a shopping list and spending a few hours now so that you can save someone’s life in the future…
…and I hope you enjoyed your tea.
