Category Archives: Book & Product Reviews

Product Review: Meal Kit Supply MREs

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After Momma Bear’s post on MREs (meals ready to eat) we decided we wanted to add more MREs to our preps. We have a couple of cases but, with a family of six, those would go quickly. We decided that we should have one case for each person — eating two MREs a day, this would last six days.

The ones we currently have I bought from a military surplus store. They were already a couple of years old, I have no idea what conditions (temperatures) they had been stored at, and they cost $70 a case. So I was looking for another source when, coincidentally, I was contacted by Meal Kit Supply (after they saw Momma Bear’s post), and asked if I would consider reviewing their product. I said that I would, and a few days later a case of MREs arrived in the mail.

Like Momma Bear said, MREs have improved substantially over the years. My first MRE was in USMC boot camp in February 1986, and if you were starving (and we were) they were…okay. When I went back into the National Guard in 1996, it was obvious they’d done some work to improve them — and they were better. (The last MRE I ate was in 1999.)

When we opened the case from Meal Kit Supply the first thing I noticed is that they were packaged in clear, heavy-duty, plastic bags (instead of the tan military ones). That was kind of cool.

I wanted to get the whole family in on the sampling/reviewing. I wanted them to be familiar with the meals, including how to use the Flameless Ration Heater. So we randomly grabbed six out of the case (case of 12). Instead of trying to explain to them how to use the Heaters I chose to let them watch the video on the Meal Kit Supply website and then see how easy it was to follow the instructions.

Then, in the kitchen, we each opened an MRE. I explained that each had an entrée, side dish, dessert, bread/cracker, spread, beverage, spoon, and condiment packet, and I had everyone identify what they got in their meals. We then, without any issues, activated our Flameless Ration Heater to heat our entrée and then set it aside (it takes about 10 minutes to warm up). We sampled, and then let everyone else try, our bread or crackers with the included peanut butter, jelly, or cheese spread. Once the meals were warm we each went around and allowed everyone else to sample our entrée and side dishes so we each tried everything.

Now I need to mention that my kids (ages 18, 15, 13, 11) aren’t that picky when it comes to eating; they know if it’s put in front of them that’s what’s for dinner and there’s no “I’m not eating this” nonsense. But, overall, Sarah and the kids liked them, and were pleased with the diversity and flavors. Personally I was very impressed with the freshness and overall quality of the food and flavors. Maybe it was the years since I’d last had one, but I remembered them being much less flavorful and more stale tasting.

Once we were done eating we discussed each of them, recorded comments, and rated them on a scale of 1 to 5 (1=terrible, 3=not bad at all, 5=pretty darn good). So of the random six we had eaten, here’s our menus (menus may vary), comments and average scores:

  • Spaghetti, Potatoes Au Gratin, Carrot Pound Cake, Cracker, Cheese Spread, Grape Electrolyte Drink Powder (EDP), Cocoa Beverage Powder (CBP): “Spaghetti wasn’t bad, but noodles were kind of mushy” / “Cheesy potatoes were pretty dang good” — SCORE: 3.58
  • Chicken with Noodles, Fried Rice, Vanilla Pudding, Cracker, Peanut Butter, Grape (EDP), CBP: “Not bad” / “Chicken tastes normal” / “Chicken was really good” / “Rice was flavorless and mushy” / “Vanilla pudding was pretty darn good” / “Grape beverage was very good” — SCORE: 3.67
  • Vegetable Lasagna, Applesauce, Fudge Brownie, Wheat Snack Bread, Cheese Spread, Orange (EDP), CBP: “Slightly disappointed with the lasagna” / “Lasagna didn’t quite taste right” / “Need to add flavor to lasagna” / “Brownie wasn’t bad” / “Brownie was pretty tasty” — SCORE:  3.25
  • Chicken with Feta, Potato Cheddar Soup, Chocolate Pudding, Cracker, Peanut Butter, Orange (EDP), CBP: “Chicken with feta was really good” / “Chicken entree was very good” / “Soup was very good, yea very good” / “Pudding was yuck” / “Pudding wasn’t great, but would be better warmed up” / “I like the juice” — SCORE: 4.08
  • Pork Sausage Patty, Hash Browns with Bacon, Strawberry Toaster Pastry, Wheat Snack Bread, Peanut Butter, Orange (EDP), CBP: “Pork was too sweet” / “Pork tasted like real sausage” / “Bacon was nice in the hash browns” / “It’d be a nice breakfast.” — SCORE: 3.58
  • Apple Maple Rolled Oats, Hash Browns with Bacon, Nut Raisin Mix with Chocolate Chips, Wheat Bread Snack, Blackberry Jam, Fruit Punch (EDP), CBP: “Oatmeal had good flavor” / “Mixing in the nuts and stuff in the oatmeal was a good idea” / “Oatmeal was mushy” / “It’d be an odd dinner” / “Blackberry jam was good” — SCORE: 3.33

So Chicken with Feta was the top score and the Vegetable Lasagna was the bottom. But nothing was below 3.25 which is in the “not bad at all” range. Everyone commented that there was nothing they wouldn’t eat, and with some time and creativity they’d be even better.

Pet Approved!

There are many sources for MREs. My only hesitation about Meal Kit Supply’s is that they are a little bit more expensive than some others, at $124.95 for a case of 12 (though that price does include shipping the 22 pound case). But their MREs are guaranteed to be fresh, they are built to military standards but use premium components. And they actually make them themselves overseeing each step of the process, they’re not just the distributors.

MREs are the perfect ‘Week 1 Food’ in a disaster: they’re pre-cooked, mobile, and ready to eat. Meal Kit Supply MREs are 100% U.S. Military food components — the same as the military uses. Now I suppose you could say that’s good or bad, but at least there is a consistent base to compare them to. I was happy with Meal Kit Supply’s service, their MRE’s taste, and was very pleased with the freshness.

 

 

What I Learned From Charlie In ‘The Prepper Next Door’

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As I reviewed Charlie Palmer’s book, The Prepper Next Door: A Practical Guide For Disaster And Emergency Planning, I kept a notebook and pen beside me and a highlighter in hand. His book contains a lot of good information and I highlighted or wrote down notes about: stuff that I wanted to remember, stuff I knew that I needed to be reminded of, things I thought of while I was reading, and some brand new (to me) ideas. I appreciate that Charlie doesn’t hesitate to recommend products, resources, and websites; there are many I now need to follow-up on and learn more about.

Here’s a sampling of my notes/highlights from his book:

  • N95 masks effectively block the H1N1 virus
  • purchase masks with air exhalation valves so your glasses don’t fog up
  • have back-up water even if you have a well, your well could become contaminated
  • add two more 55-gallon rain barrels
  • add two more 5-gallon water jugs
  • consider rain collection on our greenhouse
  • 4 mm plastic sheeting has a variety of uses
  • research Katadyn Survivor 35 water filter, it’s expensive but it can desalinate water
  • use Pool Shock (calcium hypochlorite) for water purification (store extra for neighbors)
  • watch Twilight Zone episode “The Shelter”
  • add two more cases of MREs
  • look up nitro-pac.com
  • research XL50 Maglites (3 AAA) flashlight
  • research Tech 40 flashlight
  • look up brightbuy.com
  • research Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries (we just bought some)
  • buy small battery powered (AA or AAA) AM/FM/shortwave radio (consider Eton Mini 300 PE)
  • look up NorthernTool.com
  • stock up extra spark plugs (can the same ones be used for all vehicles and the generator?)
  • look up OBXSOLWIND’s Youtube channel for DIY solar and wind power
  • put lithium batteries in flashlights in the cars and BOBs (if they need to be used around the house, substitute rechargeable batteries)
  • look up YouTube: The Survival Bookshelf (review of prepper books)
  • research Ruger Mark III .22 and Browning Buckmark .22 pistols
  • look up gun-test.com for gun reviews (no paid advertisers)
  • look up sootch00prepper for gun reviews from a prepper angle
  • research ArmaLite AR-10
  • consider 20 gauge shotgun for Sarah
  • reseach Ruger SP101 (8 shot revolver 22LR)
  • research body armor at Youtube channels MrLockandload and CitySurvivalist, and website bulletproofme.com
  • to find your home’s security weaknesses, consider how you would break-in to your own home if you had to…
  • look up lorextechnology.com for security cameras
  • the Bug Out Bag chapter is a great guide on getting started and/or assuring you have everything you’re ‘supposed’ to
  • most of his BOV chapter was a learning experience for me; mechanical things (including cars) are not my strength
  • The welding part was also interesting; I don’t know anything about welding, but would like to learn
As I stated in my review, “the book isn’t just for novices, there are many things a seasoned prepper will learn.” I learned a lot, I’m glad I read it, and I consider it a valuable resource.

 

Book Review: The Prepper Next Door

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The Prepper Next Door: A Practical Guide For Disaster And Emergency Planning, by Charlie Palmer, covers about every topic a beginning prepper would need. But the book isn’t just for novices, there are many things a seasoned prepper will learn (there are many things I learned).

Charlie Palmer is a prepper. He writes as a prepper for preppers. His advice goes through his prepper filter, i.e. “From a pure prepping standpoint, I probably wouldn’t spend the money…”

He begins each chapter with the basics–clearly defining terms–then delves to a level that covers the topic well, with good insight and understanding. I was pleased with how much I learned in each chapter. Then I really like how he ends his chapters with an action paragraph, i.e. “what’s the minimum a prepper should do with regard to . . . ?”, presenting a good summation of initial goals to reached.

Unlike some instructional prepper books this one was easy to read, and even includes some humorous insights and comments (more than once I laughed out loud)–Charlie definitely doesn’t take himself too seriously.

I appreciate that he recommends specific brands. Sure we can all “Google” things ourselves, but it’s nice to have personal recommendations that the author likes and uses. I also like that there are things he recommends, but admits that he doesn’t use — but would if he could (or needed to). And I completely agree when he stresses, a “…general rule of prepping, whenever possible, test your preparations. Things don’t always work out as you’d expect.”

However there are things I didn’t agree with him on. For example, he believes you should only store a small amount of fuel for a generator and/or bug out vehicle, for safety reasons. I think you should do the math, figuring out how long you’d like to run your generator and/or how far you’d need to drive your bug out vehicle, then store that amount of fuel and have an established system to rotate it so it doesn’t go bad.

I also didn’t agree with some of his first aid chapter; but that is, in part, because I worked as a paramedic and have different insights and skill-sets. For example I disagree about not using pet antibiotics. I also think that his information about clotting agents, and his statement discouraging the use of tourniquets, are outdated. He breezed over topics I would have covered more, but he’s not a medical professional and he does recommend several resources for the layman. But I strongly agree with his statement that, “learning first aid isn’t something you can easily do on your own.” It’s a tough skill-set to learn without practice, and it’s hard for the non-professional to get that practice.

Recommendation

I thoroughly enjoyed Charlie’s book. Sure I didn’t agree with everything, but when an author goes into so much depth and detail about so many subjective topics there’s no way everyone will agree. I also don’t agree with all of his opinions, advice, or recommendations but I was pleased that he was willing to make them, that he defended them well, and gave so many sources of additional information. He also doesn’t hesitate to give the opinions of others he respects, and he by no means implies that he knows all or that there isn’t a different–even better–way to do things.

I would strongly recommend The Prepper Next Door it to anyone interested in prepping. This isn’t just a reference book but one that can, and should, be read cover to cover. I think people will be surprised with how much they learn — even (especially) if they think of themselves as a veteran prepper.

In fact, I got so many good ideas from Charlie’s book that next Monday my post will be entitled: What I Learned From Charlie In The Prepper Next Door.

(Wednesday: Momma Bear)

Product Review: Nomad 7 Solar Panel and Guide 10 Plus Battery Pack

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Yesterday I took the first step into the solar power world. It was a small step, but for the first time I harnessed energy from the sun.

I did it with a Goal Zero Portable Solar Power Pack Kit that we bought from Costco. The kit came with a Nomad 7 Solar Panel and a Guide 10 Plus Battery Pack (also included: Luna LED light stick, 12V car adapter port, and a set each of AA and AAA rechargeable batteries) and cost about $100.

We all know “buying stuff is easy”; so it was time to get everything out, read the directions, and actually used it.

Both the Solar Panel and the Battery Pack appear to be solidly built with good construction and design; a nice zip pocket is built into the back of the Solar Panel that can carry all the accessories including the Battery Pack. Both products are stated, and appear, to be “weather-resistant.”

The Solar Panel can be used independently to charge devices; but it’s more efficiently used in conjunction with the Battery Pack.

Solar Panel
The Nomad 7 Solar Panel is designed to be backpack portable (including being used, open and charging, attached to a pack while hiking). It folds up small: 9 inches wide x 6.5 inches long x 1 inch thick; open it is still small: 9 inches wide x 17 inches long x 0.1 inch thick, and weighs only 0.8 pounds. It’s rated at 7W with a monocrystalline cell type and a converting efficiency of 17-18%. Goal Zero states this “delivers more power per square inch than any other solar technology on the market.”

Attached to the back of the Solar Panel is the Solar Ports junction box, with: a USB port, a Battery Pack port, and a 12V output port for a car charger adapter.

The Solar Panel’s directions are simple, essentially: open, angle toward the sun, then plug your device into the appropriate charging port. I plugged my iPhone 4 into the Solar Ports junction box USB port and positioned the panel toward the sun. The literature said it should charge a smart phone in 2 – 4 hours. My phone started at 50% battery capacity. At one hour it was at 85%, and it was fully charged at an hour and a half. So for my phone, with full sunlight, about 35% charge per hour — not bad at all.

The Solar Panel can charge “most hand-held USB devices, like: cell phone, smart phone, GPS, MP3 player, Goal Zero products”.

Battery Pack
The Guide 10 Plus Battery Pack is designed to charge AA or AAA NiHM batteries (comes with a AAA adapter). The most efficient way to charge a smart phone is to plug the Battery Pack (with batteries in it) into the Solar Panel and then plug the phone into the USB port on the Battery Back. This way the batteries are charging the phone and the Solar Panel is charging the batteries. The device has a standard USB and a mini-USB port. It also has a small built-in LED flashlight that puts out “100+ hours of light per charge”; kind of a neat little bonus — not that you’d be setting up your Solar Panel in the dark, but it is designed for camping and an extra flashlight never hurts. And it’s easy to carry around at only 0.4 pounds (plus battery weight).

The Battery Pack holds four AA or AAA batteries. All four batteries must be charged at the same time, but not all batteries need to be empty (I believe this is standard with rechargeable batteries). The literature states “three hours expected charge times in good sun”; so I put discharged batteries in the charger, positioned the solar panel, and came back three hours later to fully charged batteries. Once you have charged batteries, the Battery Pack USB ports can be used to charge your devices without the Battery Pack being connected to the Solar Panel. So I then charged my iPhone from the (disconnected) Battery Pack without any issues. In summary, charge the batteries up when there is sun and use the energy stored in the batteries when needed.

Recommendation

It’s a pretty cool, compact, affordable system. It seems to work very well and couldn’t be much simpler. It looks rugged and practical enough that I wouldn’t hesitate to throw it in (or on) a pack and take it with me anywhere.

As a prepper–trying to be prepared in case of emergencies or disasters–communication is very important. Sure the cell network can go down, but if it’s up and available it’d suck if you couldn’t access it just because your phone’s battery is dead. This is a product that can help prevent that from happening.

I’d definitely recommend the Goal Zero Nomad 7 Solar Panel and Guide 10 Plus Battery Pack. Not only would it be great for hiking/camping, it would be a big asset to keep you more prepared in case of a disaster.

Here’s a short video by Goal Zero that shows their devices being used (I’ve discussed their small Battery Pack, they also have a medium and large Battery Pack that are shown in the video.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-pgoafc_bk&feature=player_embedded

(Friday: What We Did This Week To Prep)

Book Review: Holding Their Own

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Holding Their Own, by ‘Joe Nobody’ was a fun survivalist/prepper, post-SHTF book to read. Written in 2011, and set in 2015, it is very timely. There are many situations, in the book, that aren’t far from things that could happen in our own very near future.

The book begins as the nation is entering it’s second Great Depression. Iran, seeing the weakness and, finally, an opportunity to crush the “infidel beast”, activates sleeper agents in the United States. They unleash a series of murderous terrorist attacks against the population and the nation’s infrastructure. The U.S. government responds by closing down highways and bridges, declaring martial law and inadvertently pushing the nation toward collapse.

Our protagonist, Bishop (named by his chess loving father), is a former Army peace-time administrative officer. After his discharge he was unable to find work as a chemical engineer and is recruited by an old friend to work for a civilian security corporation (think Blackwater). Bishop had been a competitive shooter prior to working for the company; that, and the additional security training, weapons and equipment he was issued from the company, made him exceptionally well prepared when things began to deteriorate.

As the local troubles in the Houston-area worsen Bishop, and his wife Terri, suddenly find life as they knew it seems to be gone, possibly forever. At first the couple assumes (hopes) that it’s just a short-term situation and they band together with the neighbors to keep their homes safe. But soon the severity becomes undeniable and they must make a decision: Should they stay where they are and hope for the best; report to the established military checkpoints for “temporary housing and duties”; or attempt to drive 600 miles to Bishop’s old family ranch where they use to go to get away from it all–and where he’d established his bug-out location (BOL)?

They leave, after struggling between loyalty to their neighbors and their own self-preservation instincts. They know they don’t have enough fuel, any longer, to make the trip and are planning to be able to barter or scavenge resources along the way. The book describes their trip west across Texas; doing their best to keep their heads down and keep moving; occasionally being forced to stop and do what they believe is the right thing and helping others when they are able. Early on, the book establishes that Bishop doesn’t tolerate ”personal injustice . . .[it] started in elementary school with playground bullies, and I just have always been that way. It gets me into, um, well, uncomfortable situations now and then.” Those “uncomfortable situations” almost always turn out worse for the “bullies”.

The story moves along well and is very readable. Some of the dialogue was corny, and the few attempts at sexual innuendos were almost painful. The characters were mostly cardboardish, either good guys or bad. As a former medical professional I found the medical treatments, and recovery, inaccurate. Bishop–though not invincible because he gets hurt several times–recovers way too quickly; he is always ready, despite serious injuries, to charge forward. And while I think there’s a lot to be learned from the author about equipment and tactics, very little advice should be taken from the first aid described.

But I really enjoyed it overall. Because of it I have added night vision equipment and ballistic body armor to my ‘security wants list’. It also has provided me with my favorite new quote, “I will personally tie your body into knots, dip it in salt, and eat it like a pretzel while enjoying a beer.”

It is definitely as good or better than any of the post-apocalyptic books that I’ve read. I plan to give copies to a couple of my prepper friends, and as soon as I finished reading it I ordered the sequel, Holding Their Own II: The Independents.

(Wednesday: Sarah’s View)

Gun Show Review

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of the Washington Arms Collectors’ Gun Show at the Western Washington Fairgrounds
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Washington Arms Collectors sponsor gun shows at the Western Washington Fairgrounds, in Puyallup (which is only seven miles from our home), Evergreen State Fairgrounds, in Monroe, and at the King County Fairgrounds, in Enumclaw. Annually, in Western Washington, there are about twenty gun shows. This is the fourth time I’ve gone to show here in Puyallup.

The Washington Arms Collectors is a membership organization, affiliated with the NRA. Their shows are open to all, admission is $9 and parking is free. But to buy or sell firearms you must become a member. An annual membership is $35 (admission is free to all shows with a membership), and the application must be accompanied by a Concealed Pistol License (or other approved firearms license) or you can pay $12 for an instant background check. You can get a membership at any show.

Sarah and I went this past weekend. This was her third show, we enjoy going and spending the time together, and she learns more each time she goes (whether she really wants to or not). It’s an interesting place, with lots of personalities–all the stereotypes–but mostly good, hardworking, honest gun enthusiasts. It’s fun to go and browse the huge display hall filled with table upon table of merchandise.

Of course there are guns, lots and lots and lots. Everything from the most current semi-automatic rifles, to bolt-action, to lever-action cowboy-style carbines, shotguns, more handguns than you can count, custom firearms, and even collector’s pieces.

Then there are the gun accessories, every type of holster, magazine, part, upgrade, carrying bag, or specialty item you could want; if you can’t find what you want you can probably find someone to make it for you. Literally tons of ammo, from specialty rounds to bulk sales; they have the best prices on ammo I’ve seen, including online, in part because there’s no shipping. There is also a large variety of knives, from the cheap $10 ones to custom-made blades and sheaths. The experts there are willing to answer any of your questions and are happy to give you their opinions and advice on pretty much anything.

Since this is the first time I’ve been since I started the blog, I paid closer attention to the ‘non-firearms’ related tables – instead looking around for the prepper-type items that were available. There were definitely plenty. Shelf Reliance Thrive Foods had a large booth, offering bulk and individual items, even giving out samples of their LTS foods (though I don’t own any Thrive products, I’ve heard them referred to as the best tasting LTS foods). GettingPrepped.com had a nice booth advertising classes on emergency preparedness, carrying the Wise Foods brand of LTS foods, Berkey Water Filters, and food storage containers. There were tables full of books; books on pretty much any topic related to firearms or prepping/survivalism. There were first-aid medical supplies, bags, books, shears, suture material, bandages, and complete kits (we bought some QuikClot, that I’ll cover in a future post).

If it’s part of the firearm, knife, associated accessories, first-aid, and/or prepper/survivalism venues it was probably there. Good people and much to see make it a fun day to just wander and browse; if you’re willing to search diligently, and negotiate wisely, you can find some great deals.

(Wednesday: New guest blogger, The City Cousin (aka Shawn) will write about how he preps living in the big city in a small apartment. This, Part 1, will be an introduction to Shawn and his viewpoint on prepping.)

Note: All of the pictures in today’s post were taken from internet images, no pictures are allowed to be taken inside of the Washington Arms Collectors gun shows.

Book Review: Where There Is No Doctor

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by David Werner with Carol Thuman and Jane Maxwell

After posting my review of The Doom and Bloom Survival Medicine Handbook, I’ve had questions about how it compares to Where There Is No Doctor. Where There Is No Doctor is a medical reference that many have heard of, but few know much about. I thought it would be useful to review this also, and allow people to make the comparison themselves.

Where There Is No Doctor is published by Hesperian Health Guides. Hesperian is a altruistic nonprofit organization that publishes medical guides to “provide knowledge for action, and inspire action for health”. They have an open copyright and encourage the free and wide dissemination of all their material. They have many additional references available including: Where There Is No Dentist, Where Women Have No Doctor, A Community Guide to Environmental Health, and Water for Life.

Where There Is No Doctor is an incredibly useful reference that all preppers should have. NO EXCUSES, IT’S FREE! Just download the PDF. I’d recommend both printing it (it’s about 450 pages), and also storing it in a digital format (like a flash drive) that you can easily take with you.

The Hesperian publications are known for their simplicity of expression and copious illustrations. Their goal is to make them suitable for use by ordinary people in their homes and communities. They were originally written for rural Western Mexico, for a tropical and subtropical environment. They cover, in appropriate detail and diagrams, almost every medical problem and injury that is likely to occur in those areas. Their focus is primarily a third-world village audience.

Since the native culture, baseline medical understanding, and society is different than ours, much of that isn’t directly relevant to us. For example, they discuss the efficacy of traditional medical beliefs and whether they work or not – and why. However, in a collapse, our world will not be vastly different than theirs is today. Ironically, with their understanding of local plants and traditional healing methods, they will be better prepared than those of us who today depend on our family doctor or local ER.

There is also an involved discussion on diet and nutrition. While this is not as relevant in our current day-to-day lives, in a collapse–when you will be required to make each meal from scratch with locally available products–it would be very useful.

At the end are “The Green Pages”, 60 pages of prescription drug information. This section  contains appropriately detailed directions of how and when (and when not) to use prescription medications. The book concludes with a helpful glossary, index, and list of additional resources.

Because they are aware that some villages are very remote and medical assistance can be difficult to reach, they give as much information as possible to facilitate local care. But this book wasn’t written for a collapse, and they do encourage seeking out, or traveling to, additional medical assistance as necessary. Of course in collapse, as Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy stress, there won’t be much additional medical assistance anywhere.

Don’t underestimate or disregard this book because you feel it’s for those people in those countries. Yes, they discuss some regional and societal issues, but most health problems are similar for all of us no matter where we live – especially in a collapse.

My recommendation: download and print yourself a copy (it’ll only cost you the price of the paper) review it, and keep it in your medical reference library next to your copy of The Doom and Bloom Survival Medicine Handbook. Both of these books are very good; used together I believe they provide the best collapse medicine resource library available today.

(Wednesday: Sarah’s View: Time To Order Seeds)

Book Review: The Doom and Bloom Survival Medicine Handbook

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by Joseph Alton, M.D. and Amy Alton, A.R.N.P.
(aka Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy)

Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy, of the Doom and Bloom Hour, are my definitive ‘collapse medicine’ experts. So I was thrilled when I heard they had published a  medical survival book and I immediately ordered a copy. When it arrived, I spent several days pouring through it.

I could not be happier, it is outstanding! Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy have written a first of it’s kind, an incredible medical reference in the–previously non-existent–category of collapse medicine.

They tell you what to do when, “Help is NOT on the way” ever.

Collapse: The situation after a TEOTWAWKI event; modern society, infrastructure, and systems as we know it will no longer exist.

Collapse Medicine: Medical care that will be provided when “there is no access to modern medical care, and there is NO potential for accessing such care in the foreseeable future.”

First aid books tell us, when treating a critical patient, to first stabilize then transport to a hospital emergency room. This one doesn’t. This one can’t – in a collapse there won’t be any. This book is written in plain easy to understand English, and it is written for you. You, the non-medical provider who takes it upon his or her self to assume the medical responsibilities for the group; doing your best to keep your people as healthy as you can.

The book begins by teaching you how to become a medical resource. It provides detailed lists of Likely Medical Issues You Will Face, Medical Skills You Will Want To Learn, and Medical Supplies you’ll want/need (including a thorough list of what to stock in your medical kit).

There is not only a valuable section explaining Natural Remedies (including a chapter on Essential Oils) but, whenever possible, it shows you how to effectively use them in conjunction with traditional (allopathic) pharmacology. Someday the only medicines available may be the ones you can grow and gather.

This book is as all-encompassing as I believe it can be. From respiratory infections to fractures to hypothermia to pregnancy and delivery, the chapters and the knowledge continue. There is even a detailed chapter on suturing; including when–and when not–to close a wound. If you can think of a medical problem that you may have to deal with in a collapse, there’s information about it in this book and more. Then, to further your medical education, they include a list of medical reference books you can add to your library and YouTube videos that demonstrate the procedures discussed.

The book concludes with information I don’t believe you’ll find written anywhere else; on the medically controversial topics of stockpiling medications (prescription and over-the-counter), how to use antibiotics (without a doctor’s guidance), and what drug expiration dates really mean.

Finally, I especially appreciate that they dedicated the book to me – okay, all of us. We, who will take on the medical responsibilities when there are no others; the ones who your group will affectionately call ‘Doc’. To us, Doctor Bones and Nurse Amy write, “…we both dedicate this book to those who are willing to take responsibility for the health of their loved ones in times of trouble. We salute your courage in accepting this assignment; have no doubt, it will save lives.”

 

Product Review: Gerber EAB Lite Utility Knife

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When I was 8 years old, and became a Cub Scout, my grandfather gave me my first pocket knife. Since then I’ve carried a knife almost every day of my life (when I was a kid we could have a knife at school). For the last few years I’ve carried a  Benchmade 930 Kulgera. I love my knife and I don’t like to use it to cut cardboard (which quickly dulls it), sticky stuff, in the dirt, etc. – I will if I have to, but I’m not happy about it.

I first heard about the Gerber EAB Lite on The Survival Podcast (Episode 611). EAB stands for Exchange A Blade. The Gerber EAB is a folding, lightweight, utility knife that uses a standard size utility blade. It was described as a knife that was so compact and convenient that you could easily carry it–in addition to your normal every day carry knife–and have it available to use for those dirty jobs. Once the blade is dull, change it by either flipping it around or exchange the blade for a new one (like a traditional utility knife).

I decided to go ahead and buy one – it only cost $12. When I got it home I was very pleased. It’s a nice looking tool, very compact, with a good pocket clip. The blade is kept in place with a set screw so it won’t come loose; to change it you will need to remove the screw (but it can even be done with a dime). It clips and fits nicely in the right side watch pocket of my Carhartt jeans. The folded knife could also double as a money clip; when folded it looks very innocuous – most people would never notice that your money clip is actually a knife.

I was so impressed with this knife that I bought three more, one for: Sarah, Ryan, and Chanse. I stocked up on extra blades, 100 utility knife blades costs less than $15; with that you could change the blade of your knife each week for almost two years. Because of the durability of the handle and the razor sharpness of the utility blade, you could easily use it for anything from cutting carpet to skinning small game to minor surgery (it’s sharp enough, but not clean enough). All you do to keep sharp it is change the blade.

I still carry my Benchmade everyday, but now I also carry a second knife: a Gerber EAB Lite. (Repetitive and Redundant)

Stats for the Gerber EAB Lite

  • Open Length: 5.1”
  • Closed Length: 2.85”
  • Weight: 2.5 oz
  • Handle Material: Stainless Steel

UPDATE 2/3/12: There has been discussion on TSP Forum where several people complained about the clip easily breaking off the knife. I’ve carried mine, clipped to my pocket everyday, for a couple of months now without any issues. But just to do some follow-up, I contacted Gerber’s Warranty Department (by email). I told them we have several EABs and expressed my concern about the clip weakness, and asked them for a couple extra clips to keep on hand. They, no questions or hassles, sent me three replacement clips – no charge for shipping or anything. In summary, it’s a good little knife, good customer service experience, and I haven’t had any issues with the clip.

UPDATE 3/16/12: Finally, as everyone told me it would, the clip broke off. I had only carried it clipped to my pocket, every day, for about three months when it did. Fortunately, you say, I had extras on hand right? Sort of, they don’t go on well and two broke trying to get them on – before I gave up. Ironically, as I keep mine in the watch/change pocket of my jeans, it works just fine and actually now has a slimmer profile. If I ever buy a replacement one, I’ll just remove the clip. Final clip recommendation: Don’t plan on keeping it clipped to a pocket – the clip will break. The clip would work fine as a money clip (maybe that’s all the designers had in mind). But clip or not, it’s a handy, small, folding EDC utility knife that still has all of the benefits previously discussed. I love mine, carry it everyday, and would encourage anyone else to do the same.

(Disclaimer: I have no association with this product or any dealer or manufacturer. I researched and bought the product to add to my preps and I wanted to pass along the experience I have had with it.)

(Wednesday: My wife, Sarah, guest posts and answers the question she frequently hears, ‘What Do You Think About All This?‘)

Book Review: Alas, Babylon

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Alas, Babylon, by Pat Frank, was among the original TEOTWAWKI (The End of the World as We Know it) novels. It was written in 1959 about 1959. It was a time of national prosperity, racial segregation, and during the peak of the Cold War. A time of peace, but when people lived daily with the threat of global nuclear war looming.

Then it actually happens, with almost no warning, the Soviets launch a preemptive full-scale nuclear strike against the United States and its allies. To the survivors, including the people in the small Central Florida town of Fort Repose, it was just known as “The Day.” The day when everything that was and everything they knew, changed forever.

Our protagonist, Randy Bragg, is the scion of a once prominent local family. Before, he was living a quiet life with very little purpose. After, he struggles to find his role as he becomes responsible for his brother’s family, then the neighbors – both white and “colored”, and ultimately the town. Randy has a couple of days warning (from his high-ranking military brother) and tries to stock up on extra supplies. It was insightful to see what he thought was important and what he didn’t get. He also tries to warn some close friends, but the response he receives, “So here comes our local Paul Revere . . .  What are you trying to do, frighten my wife and daughter to death?”, would probably be similar to the denial we’d see from family and friends.

For me, with my medical background, it was very interesting to read about Dr. Dan Gunn, the town’s only medical provider. About his initial struggles to take care of so many people, most of whom are still in denial. His knowledge that he has so little equipment and supplies and that once they’re gone, they’re gone. How he, the caregiver, pushes himself to almost complete physical collapse. And watching his naivety about his own safety, until he’s targeted for the drugs and supplies he might have.

As resources become scarce, cash becomes valueless. Even early on when it was still accepted for payment, stores quickly sold out and nothing new arrived. People barter for what they need; food, gasoline, ammunition, alcohol, precious metals, and even coffee become currency.

When the initial food stockpile is depleted, they struggle to produce their own. Randy laments, “The end of the corn and exhaustion of the citrus crop had been inevitable. Armadillos in the yams was bad luck, but bearable. But without fish and salt their survival was in doubt.” Some of their needs were obvious, of course they had to quickly locate a sustainable source of drinking water. But no one thought of what would happen when they ran out of salt, and the dire consequences. They had to provide their own security, not only against humans but also animals. They were creative how they rationed energy–fuel and batteries–and how they reacted when it finally, inevitably, ran out.

This book illustrated that mental and physical preparation are what are necessary to endure. Randy sums things up, “Survival of the fittest . . . The strong [and prepared] survive. The frail die. The exotic fish die because the aquarium isn’t heated. The common guppy lives. So does the tough catfish. . . . That’s the way it is and that’s the way it’s going to be.”