These classes fit well into my preparedness and survival regimen because whether I’m in an urban or wilderness setting there is always the possibility of injury or illness. Typically there is more advanced equipment available in urban settings but general first aid and CPR are applicable in each environment. Knowing what to do in an emergency can save lives!

The photo illustrates the First Aid Recovery Position. Putting someone in the recovery position will keep their airway clear and open. It also ensures that any vomit or fluid won’t cause them to choke. It is meant to protect a person who is unconscious but has regular breathing and pulse.

To achieve this position start by placing the person on their back and kneel on the floor by their side. Take the arm nearest you and lift it outstretched above their head. Lift their other arm and place their hand on the shoulder nearest you so that the back of their hand is touching their cheek. Bend the knee farthest from you into an upright position. Grasping their far shoulder in one hand and the far knee with the other, pull them toward you so that their body rolls on axis until they are laying on their side facing you. Their head will be in a slight downward position enabling any fluids to drain and helps to keep their airway open. It is best to stay with the person and monitor their condition until help arrives.

First Aid and CPR courses are developed by organizations such as Red Cross, American Health & Safety Institute (ASHI), and American Heart Association and may be offered online or at different locations such as YMCA, Red Cross centers, Colleges, your workplace, or other Public Service organizations. It’s a great investment of time and money for the ability to save lives, including yours!

Cyanoacrylate (CA glue) has amazing strength in surface-to-surface bonding. Beyond everyday repairs, certain types are used for bonding skin for closing lacerations in emergencies and for other surgical procedures. One major factor of the glue’s effectiveness is the amount of surface contact. Originally produced as a liquid, CA glue is now also offered as a gel, enabling it to fill in small gaps in open cracks.

Recently I learned about a new application for CA glue that gives it a more third dimensional way for filling in larger gaps and forming better support for small points of contact. Recently I witnessed an auto repairman sprinkle a bit of powder on a broken part in my car then he added a drip of CA glue to it. The powder soaked the CA glue in immediately and in just seconds made a rock hard bond.

After doing a little research I found that baking soda can be used as the powder for this kind of bonding so I decided to try it out for myself. I broke apart a plastic beam from some window blinds to experiment with. As illustrated by the photo you can see how the two parts were joined and the missing gaps around the hole were filled in using a “build up” technique of successive CA glue applications. I also bridged the cracks inside the hollow beam to add more strength. To my delight the repair was incredibly strong!

The application of baking soda in combination to CA glue opens new doors for repairs. The ability to instantly close gaps and build points of support with rock-hard bonds is revolutionary. Caution should be taken when handling CA glue because it can bond your skin (such as your finger tips) together or to another surface. Acetone, often found in nail polish remover can be used as a solvent to loosen and separate bonded skin.

As part of my job requirements I attend First Aid and CPR classes bi-annually for certification. Because of the public/corporate environment there, other segments included are the operation of the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Emergency Oxygen Administration. In the photo I am practicing how to transport an unconscious person out of harms way by moving them along their spinal axis to avoid possible injury.

In my case the fees involved for these courses are covered by my employer as they are part of my job requirements but some companies have instituted a safety training program at their workplace and seek volunteers for training. This may be your opportunity to gain knowledge and experience so that you can be prepared to help yourself, family, friends, and your community in the event of medical emergencies.

Some folks who are reading this are already certified or may have been certified in the past. As in any field of endeavor there are always changes and improvements. If you fall in the category of “previously certified” you may want to consider enrolling in a current class to become familiar with updates and perhaps clear the fog of time and fading memory. There’s no substitute for “hands-on” learning for clarity and confidence.

First Aid and CPR courses are developed by organizations such as Red Cross, American Health & Safety Institute (ASHI), and American Heart Association and may be offered online or at different locations such as YMCA, Red Cross centers, Colleges, your workplace, or other Public Service organizations. It’s a great investment of time and money for the ability to save lives, including yours!

It’s comforting to know that Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responders are equipped with proper professional tools and supplies. However, most of us are not equipped beyond a simple first aid kit for day-hike trips or car kits. These usually consist of sterile wipes, adhesive bandages, gauze and possibly a variety of ointments. These are all good supplies but are limited and don’t address the primary rule of first aid response “universal protection”.

“Universal protection” is the approach by responders to employ appropriate barriers to possible transfer of infectious diseases when attending to persons requiring first aid. More folks are becoming aware of this need and have begun to carry disposable gloves as part of their kit. However if none are available, you can use other barriers such as sandwich bags, bread bags or shopping bags as gloves.

There are other ways in which to improvise first aid supplies. Towels, new diapers, or absorptive feminine hygiene items can be used as a compress to suppress external bleeding wounds. Rolled up magazines or newspapers can be used to stabilize possible broken limbs. Bandanas can be used as slings and bindings for stabilization.

“Improvising” is a key element in survival whether for shelter, food, or navigation, but in the initial response to a first aid scenario it can make a huge difference in the victim’s chance for full recovery and in the extreme case for life or death.

My friend also share that her husband used to work in the forest service and had to use duct tape all the time to fix shoes or broken gear. He didn’t want to pack any extra weight so he put it on his water bottle. The most interesting time when the duct tape was needed was when he almost chopped his foot off with an axe. He had to walk 12 miles back to civilization to go to the hospital. He said he cut a long strip off his shirt and wrapped it around the cut in a pseudo tourniquet. Then he duct-taped around it to hold it on and offer a little more protection. That worked pretty well but he said he still bled through his bandage, sock, and shoe and left bloody footprints on the trail. She said “I’m sure God had his hand in that one so he is still here with us today.” “We would never go backpacking without it.”

I guess the important point is that they had duct tape WITH THEM on the trail. In a previous blog “Repackaging Duct Tape” I show ways to carry duct tape in a compact way. Their method of wrapping it around their water bottle keeps it ready at hand. Be prepared and find a method that works for you.

The book is split into 7 parts: personal defense/safety, water/filtration, food/nutrition, shelter/habitat, medical/first aid, communications/navigation/signaling and general. The reading is easy and I found the content to be quite engaging. It is clear that the author walks his talk and provides specific brand names and models of equipment and supplies that he has personally used and trusts to perform. At the end of each section he lists Tips, Do Now!, and Checklist. “Tips” offer survival techniques and cautions, “Do Now!” offers practical actions to begin the preparedness process, “Checklist” lists items to have on hand or acquire – a.k.a. a shopping list.

The author admonishes us to procure supplies and practice survival skills NOW before they’re needed. I hardily recommend this book for those individuals who have resolved to be ready for the time when things go “Boom” and want to learn more. It is a great resource for beginners and experienced individuals alike. I’m glad to have added this book to my personal reference library and find it helpful in developing my own strategy. 

Order Your Copy Today!

I put the tip of my index forefinger on the tick and began a rigorous circular motion for about 15 seconds, then reversed the direction for another 15 seconds. When I stopped to check the results, the tick was gone! It had backed out of it’s attachment area and dropped off. I was delighted to see that this method actually worked. I quickly searched the mat below to find the tick, and there it was! I picked it up to examine it to see if all of it’s parts were intact, and it began to crawl up my finger showing that It’s head had not been detached or left behind. It dawned on me that others would like to learn this method too so I grabbed my camera to capture the moment to illustrate this article.

What could be easier than using no tools or chemicals? If you, your friend or a pet is plagued with a tick, give this method a try. I hope that it will work as well for you as it did for me.

As my distressed son looked for an appropriate place for this treatment, he was notified that there was a fire station close by and so proceeded there with haste. Fortunately, he had already removed the attached tentacles by using a towel and flippers, thus avoiding injury to his hands. The Firemen looked for any remaining stingers and began to spray a vinegar/water mix to neutralize the venom. Subsequent research suggests that this treatment tends to work for many jellyfish but might be counter productive when used for Man-O-War stings. This may vary regionally.

Some paramedics arrived and began to monitor my son for typical symptoms of severe pain, cramping, shortness of breath, and any signs of anaphylactic shock. Man-O-War stings are seldom fatal, but are extremely painful. Of course, people with severe allergies are at great risk and should be treated immediately. Another treatment used by many locals is by applying powdered meat tenderizer which contains enzymes for the purpose of breaking down the toxins to neutralize them.

Eventually, the pain subsided, but lasted for hours. The stings left marks where they struck and can last for weeks. The photo above show the marks that remained after 5 days.

After researching various sources, my recommendation for Man-O-War stings First Aid is to remove tentacles and stingers with a neutral object like a towel or credit card, rinse with salt water (warm if possible), use cold compresses to alleviate pain, take Benedryll if you are not allergic to it to lessen the allergic reaction to the toxins, and watch for signs of anaphylactic shock, if in question, be sure to seek medical attention.

Needless to say, this is a case where I prefer having “second hand” experience, whereas my son will have a story for a lifetime.

I learned the “emergency action plan” for approaching an incident as well as the “ABCs” (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) of CPR. A new category of “D” or Defibrillation has be added when properly trained. Being able to help others, or even yourself, can save life and limb. Knowledge, enables you to properly approach an emergency situation, and when combined with practice, can give you confidence which contributes to clearer thinking and a calming effect in a time of panic or stress.

I would encourage you to attend these classes if you have not done so already. In many cases this will be offered through your employer, especially if you volunteer to be an emergency responder in their safety program at work. These skills will enable you to be better prepared in the case of natural disaster or other injury related situations. This is most certainly another tool that should be added to your survival skills.