First Aid Training

In discussing our requirements for survival, we need to acknowledge a few painful details about survival scenarios. Unfortunately, emergencies and injury often go hand in hand. Depending upon the scenario, first aid potentially interacts with or influences all the survival priorities.  

Injury and illness interfere with the functioning of the body and mind.  For example, while some injuries clearly limit mobility and physical function, some injuries also produce pain, a serious distraction at best, and at worst, it completely short circuits rational thinking.  A high fever or other illness potentially produces similar negative effects.

The rules for dealing with injury and illness change dramatically when definitive care lies several hours, if not days or weeks away. This delay in care usually results from either a remote location or a large-scale disaster which then disrupts response infrastructure. 

Therefore, Survival U recommends first aid training for everyone.  In particular, seek out a curriculum that applies to remote or isolated situations (i.e. without the option of immediate 911 phone response).

The Wilderness First Responder program fits this description nicely. The curriculum usually breaks into a mixture of classroom and practical exercises which take place over a formal 70-hour course. Many outdoor recreation programs at universities and colleges offer such courses, as well as the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and the Wilderness Medical Associates (WMA) among others.

Positive Mental Attitude

Positive Mental Attitude (PMA), at the most basic, never means simply keeping a rosy outlook, or even enjoying the experience.  Rather it means taking positive steps toward a constructive or beneficial outcome.  The concept of PMA encompasses two major components for the potential survivor.

The first component of PMA is the psychology, or Will to Survive, of the survivor.  This involves all aspects of psychology under the survivor's control.  His / her internal motivation, desires, hopes and sense of self-worth constantly battle with the negative psychological impact of fears, insecurity and the imagination concerning the unknown.

Almost universally people believe they possess a strong Will to Survive. However, survival statistics from emergencies and disasters prove that large numbers lose their Will to Survive when faced with truly difficult situations.  The same research demonstrates the difficulty of identifying or predicting a strong Will to Survive ahead of time.  Those characteristics we think are useful to identify potential survivors usually fail to predict the actual survivors of an emergency.  Survival U's approach to PMA seeks to reliably support the Will to Survive with Awareness and Preparedness (see previous post It Can Happen to You!).  Keeping survival skills sharp and maintaining quality equipment displace reliance on luck and improvisation.

The second component of PMA narrows in on the physiology of the human machine.  The brain and body, to function properly, require a specific set of environmental conditions and supporting essentials.  We require a narrow temperature range, oxygen, proper hydration, access to energy, and the ability to rest and recuperate.  Put plainly, the body requires these things to stay alive.  Provide these and the body lives.  In an emergency, a focus outside of this set of requirements, or a focus on the wrong priority opens the possibility for a negative outcome, injury or even death.  Survival U practices guarding our brain’s ability to solve the complex problems of any situation. 

Follow us as we explore all the aspects of awareness and preparedness.

It Can Happen to You!

Most of us go about our lives with a false sense of what constitutes risk in our daily routines.  We never consider what happens when the electricity fails, the water lines break or travel proves impossible. 

We at Survival U believe in a straight forward way to combat the uncertainties of the world.  Awareness and preparedness.

Awareness means several key things.  First, it is an acknowledgement of the possibilities.  Events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes and blizzards, just to name a few, happen every day all over the world.  People get lost, crash vehicles and boats and suffer injury as well.  We need to be aware that these unusual events may happen to us.

Secondly, awareness also means access to reliable information.  Unfortunately, much of the available information on taking care of ourselves in these disasters and emergencies starts with either outdated material, misunderstandings or even fantasies like zombies and survival bunkers.  Crazy television shows and funny video clips add further confusion, mostly entertaining rather than educating.  These sources of information create a stigma about awareness and preparedness as merely the refuge of a radical fringe element.  They turn off large sections of the public who seek sound advice.  Instead, Survival U focuses on real issues and their ramifications followed by reasonable steps to take in the event of a natural disaster or emergency outside of our control.

Preparedness represents the whole range of skills and equipment needed to keep ourselves and loved ones safe when the unexpected happens.  Survivors, with poor equipment, as well as those who never practice survival skills face a severe test, relying only on luck and improvisation.  On the other hand, those who stay warm and dry, who equip themselves well, and who practice their survival skills give themselves the best odds for survival.

A disaster or emergency can happen to you at any time.  Join us at Survival U as we journey through realistic, fact-based, field-proven awareness and preparedness.    

Survival Myths and Misconceptions (Space Blankets)

Most survival publications recommend we carry a space blanket as part of our emergency kit.  If the space blanket fulfills the role of an immediate action shelter (IAS), we need to evaluate it as such.  

The seven requirements of an effective IAS (introduced in our last post:)

1. Compact:  Roughly the size of a deck of cards. (+)
2. Quick to deploy:  Difficult to unfold, especially with cold hands. (-)
3. Waterproof:  Only as long as you can keep your head, torso, bottom, and legs covered at all times.  Add injuries or wind this is impossible. (-)
4. Windproof:  Same as #3. (-) 
5. Traps heat: Not enclosed, it cannot maintain dead air space. (-)
6. Durable:  Shreds with the slightest tear or puncture. (-)
7. Brightly colored:  Under certain conditions, can be an effective signaling device. (+/-) 

When evaluated with these requirements, a space blanket clearly fails as an IAS.  

(Skip demonstrating the fragility of space blankets.  Blake Miller photo.)

Instead, we recommend carrying a blue, 2-mil, 78 gallon plastic bag as your IAS.  This is the same IAS used by our Department of Homeland Security, Search and Rescue and EMS clients.

(See right column of blog for ordering information)

 

Immediate Action Shelter

In our last post and video, we explored how preparedness improves our odds for survival.

  

Protecting the body's core temperature provides a key component for any realistic emergency preparedness plan.  Our clothing offers the first line of defense in maintaining core body temperature.  Unfortunately, because of societal norms, most of us usually "dress for success" rather than "dress to survive".  This creates problems when an emergency or natural disaster removes us - or our children - from the controlled environments in which we live, work, play, and go to school.  

 

We need to thrive in a room temperature world, but also meet our responsibilities by preparing our family for an emergency or natural disaster.  Carrying an immediate action shelter (IAS) solves this dilemma. 

An effective IAS must meet the following criteria:

1. Compact:  Small enough to carry all the time.  It easily fits into a school backpack, purse, cargo-pants pocket, or briefcase.
2. Quick to deploy:  Deploys in minutes (or seconds with a little practice).
3. Waterproof:  Impermeable to rain, sleet, and snow. 
4. Windproof:  Blocks the wind.
5. Traps heat:  Creates a dead air space.   
6. Durable:  Resists abrasions, tears, and punctures.
7. Brightly colored:  Passively signals rescuers. 

Whatever you choose for your IAS make sure it satisfies these seven characteristics. 

We recommend a blue, 2-mil, 78 gallon plastic bag as your IAS.  This is the same emergency shelter used by our Department of Homeland Security, Search & Rescue, and EMS clients.

(See right column of blog for ordering information)