The Will to Prepare to Win



You may have heard this before:  “"The key is not the will to win... everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important." – Bobby Knight (remember that hot-headed NCAA basketball coach?  Yep that’s the him.)

I’d venture to say the will to prepare to win is an often overlooked skill set in today’s microwaveable ready world.  Can anyone blame us?  We’ve been programmed to take care of things at the last minute.  Everything we want, we get because of “just in time” logistics at the super-market or convenience stores.  With lay-away and credit cards do we really even have to plan and save for what we want?  And believe me, we’re not pointing any fingers.  The “just-in-time” thing effects all of us.

However, there are some things I think we can all agree that deserve a little farther look down the road when it comes to planning a favorable outcome for the protection of our family.  Taking time and spending a few dollars to learn or send ourselves for retraining when it comes to survival, self-defense and first aid can mean the difference in life and death.  Trying not to be melodramatic, the reality is that training equals proficiency and proficiency equals the speed in which we can help save lives, defend threats and find safety.

And unfortunately we can type away on blogs, write books, and theorize about what’s what, but it doesn’t replace getting “out there” with qualified instructors and learning new skills, or for some of us, knocking the rust off and retraining.  It’d be nice if it weren’t so, but survival skill sets are a perishable good if not used regularly. 

And that’s where the tag line comes in:  Having the will to win in a bad situation is common, but having the will to prepare to win is stacking the deck in your favor and is the key.  Having the will to get out there and prepare to win (by training) against life threatening situations is a great start.  Our families deserve the best protection we can offer.

Luckily for us there are a number of private companies in several different regions of the US that are willing to train law abiding citizens in wilderness survival, self-defense and first aid:  John Mosby (West & Northwest), SFMedic(East / Southeast), Max Velocity (East), DTG (Great Lakes) .  These are just to name a few.  It seems that most students are satisfied when finding training instructors who’s expertise is vouched for by those in their respective community of contact.  Equally important is feedback from fulfilled students.

Life gets in the way sometimes, but it’s important to take the time to prepare to beat the odds of a SHTF situation.  We hope that as summer is waning this post finds you and your family healthy and full of energy.  Perhaps we’ll see you in the field when it’s time to retrain some of those survival skills.

"Sugardine" Antiseptic



In the event that you cannot get antibiotics . . . you might consider having the items to make "Sugardine" on hand.  Read below, this excellent knowledge to have.

Reposted from Survivalblog.com :  http://www.survivalblog.com/2013/06/letter-re-sugardyne-for-wound-treatment.html

"I'm sure you've heard of this--but on the off chance you haven't, you definitely need to: The miraculous wound-healing benefits of a goop made from sugar and betadine (povidone iodine--available cheaply everywhere). You mix together and make a paste, which can be packed into deep wounds and gouges. Some people refer to it as "sugardine."
Not everyone knows that sugar alone has been used for hundreds of years as an effective gunshot wound treatment. The high osmotic gradient it promotes attracts and traps bacteria--and animal cells are better able to withstand high osmotic conditions than bacterial cells. The addition of the povidone iodine makes it even more effective.
There are countless stories of near miraculous saves of horses with bad wounds that wouldn't heal, using this paste. I've used it to great effect on myself and on my dogs--sometimes with deep canine puncture wounds.
Ideally, it should be packed in and covered, and rinsed out and replaced everyday. But any application, under any circumstances, is a lot better than nothing. Granulated (or powdered) sugar and lots of povidone iodine are very valuable additions to prepper medical stores, in my opinion.
Here are a few medical journal articles on the topic:  

• Use of sugar and povidone-iodine to enhance wound healing: five year's experience.
• Mixture of sugar and povidone-iodine stimulates healing of MRSA-infected skin ulcers on db/db mice.
• Mixture of sugar and povidone--iodine stimulates wound healing by activating keratinocytes and fibroblast functions

And here's a very practical video on using sugardine, from a veterinarian.
Stay Prepared! - Steve N."

The Blow Out Kit and John Q Public

 

 

There are literally a couple hundred versions of the "Blow Out" First Aid Kit on the web.  Each version has their own content list.  In this blog entry we will define what a Blow Out Kit is, how it differs from an expanded First Aid Kit and why.  We will also discuss why the average guy who lives, say . . . near Detroit . . . (or any other major crime infested city) should have a BOK.  "The Blow Out Kit . . .  Not JUST for soldiers"

 

WHAT IS A BLOW OUT KIT (BOK)? -  A BOK is a small first aid kit, that treats the three most common and preventable causes of battlefield death in accordance with Tactical Combat Casualty Care doctrine. 

 

Through self application of the kit (if you are able), or by a buddy (if incapacitated), the BOK is to aid you in getting back "into the fight" as quickly as possible so that you can stop your enemy and save your team (See Side Note 1 below).  The BOK has only the items that are absolutely necessary to save lives that are in immediate danger of expiring due to arterial bleeding from an appendage, sucking chest wound, or clogged airway (The three most preventable causes of battlefield death).  It's designed to be small and light weight so that you can have it close by (always immediately accessible), and to limit the items to that which you only will immediately need to save a life (so you are not fumbling through sutures and stethoscopes, while you're trying to turn off the hose of blood coming from the area that used to be your lower leg). 

 

Very rarely on the net do you see any of this mentioned.  Why is that?  Who knows, it could be a lack of study time in what Tactical Combat Casualty Care doctrine is and how it relates to the BOK.  It could be driven by excluding certain items due to pricing margins . . . or any number of combinations.  Either way it causes a major problem for the average person and what happens is that a bunch of different variations of Blow Out Kits are sold, leaving the consumer to wonder how one BOK is better or worse than another?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

*Side Note 1:  How is treating battlefield preventable deaths applicable to John Q Public you say? 

 

Anyone who's ever lived in or near a major city or ghetto can tell you gun fights do happen, gunshot wounds do need to be treated to save lives, and if/when the SHTF, there is going to be a potential for an even higher number of shootings. 

 

As mentioned earlier, the drug addict, carjacker, or mad man is the enemy of the citizen.  The battlefield is the area that the altercation happens in.  The "fight" may be the race against time to save one's life.  The actual attacker may be gone, but the enemy now becomes the loss of life.  The tragedy in Boston is a perfect example of this (what was encouraging were the citizens jumping into action to help save lives).  So it might make sense how TC3 training and kits are very applicable to the John Q of this day and age even if you don't carry a firearm for a living like soldiers do.

 

The simple trip across town today could end up in a carjacking for the guy sitting in traffic next to you, which could leave him bleeding out and you with the decision to help him.  Would you know how?  Would you have the required items to save his life?

 

*Side Note 2: Can you please define Tactical Combat Casualty Care in a nutshell?

 

Tactical Combat Casualty Care is care provided to treat the three most preventable causes of battlefield deaths during the following situations.

 

1.  Providing Care Under Fire - CUF - (Providing care while the attack is happening).

2.  Tactical Field Care - TFC - (Providing care after the attack has stopped or paused).

3.  Combat Casualty Evacuation Care - CASEVAC - (Providing care to evacuate the casualty for more thorough medical attention).

 

________________________________________________________________________________ 

 

 

The link below is a great place to start with what should be in your "BOK".  The second link is an excellent look at the same ex-SF soldier's perspective on TC3.  Take it to heart, the guy knows his stuff.

 

http://mountainguerrilla.blogspot.com/2012/06/ifakbok-contents.html

 

http://mountainguerrilla.blogspot.com/2012/03/tactical-combat-casualty-care-part.html

 

Great Lake Survival has put together one of the most affordable Blow Out Kits around, with all of the items needed to provide immediate life saving care in line with tactical field care doctrine.  We don't push a lot of our products on this blog because they generally sell themselves.  However we have a good product, it's relatively affordable, so you might consider it. 

 

http://www.greatlakesurvival.com/First_Aid_Kits.html

 

you can also get our kits here:

 

http://www.defensivetraininggroup.net/First_Aid___TCCC.html

 

The list of contents in the GLSC Blow Out Kit:

 

2 Pairs Black Nitrile Gloves NSN: 6515-01-515-0197 1 EMT Shears NSN: 6515-00-935-7138

1 Nasopharyngeal Airway / Lubricant NSN: 6515-01-529-1187

1 Compress gauze 4.5”x4.1 yds. NSN: 6510-01-503-2117

1 Israeli Bandage 4” or 1 ETD dressing NSN: 6510-01-558-4114

2 - HALO Chest Seals NSN: 6510-01-581-0553 

1 Decompression Needle  NSN: 6515-01-541-0635

1 TK4 Tourniquet NSN: 6515-01-542-7696

1 2-mil re-sealable plastic pouch 

 

 

To get a better understand in depth of "TC3" or Tactical Combat Casualty Care doctrine that is in use by the US Armed forces there is the current Ranger Medic Handbook (4th Edition) can be bought at http://www.defensivetraininggroup.net/First_Aid___TCCC.html .  It describes TC3 in detail.  It's also waterproof.  You can also download the free Combat Life Saver Course Study Guide from http://www.greatlakesurvival.com/uploads/IS0871_Edition_C_ALMS.pdf

(Note that simply having the right kit doesn't replace going out and getting proper first aid instruction.)

 

 

Thanks for Reading

 

 

 

 

 

Survival Medicine

An excellent resource: 

If you've never been exposed to these books, or if you don't have your own free copy . . . here it is . . .

Every home should have a copy of these books.  They are free.  Download.  Print.  Educate. :)  There may come a day when one of us is "on our own". 

1. "Where There is No Doctor"

2. "Where There is No Dentist"

3. "Where Women Have No Doctor"

 

http://hesperian.org/books-and-resources/

Thanks for reading,

- GLSC Team

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead

Our ability to survive, and thrive on this rock has its long term dependability based on the nutrition that we give to our bodies.

In the age of meals that are made predigested, Genetically Modified Organism foods, and rising grocery costs, we need to think about proper nutrition and what it actually means.

How much is my family’s health worth to me?  Is it worth a bit of investigation and meal planning?

How nutrition relates to our output, is a simple algebraic equation:

If, Input = Output

Then, (Quality Food + Knowledge + Exercise) = (Feelings of Motivation + Wisdom + Energy)

Motivation, Wisdom and Energy directly relate to how well we take care of ourselves and our loved ones when “bad events” happen.

It’s something to think about.  The link below is for a film called “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead”.

Time to go after some Knowledge about Quality Food, and turn it into Wisdom:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/289122/fat-sick-and-nearly-dead

Thanks for reading,

- GLSC Team