(survival.list) SURVIVAL LIST Rev. 1/18/91
FOOD
* MRE (Meal, Ready to Eat)'s - enough to last 30 days * 2 months of food in the pantry (American Red Cross recommends canned food)
* Can opener (non-electric) o Also about 4 weeks worth of backpacking food, freeze dried & nitrogen packed o High caloric items to keep up your strength o Add a supply of good single malt scotch to your stash. (This is no joke.)
Aside from the fact that it makes good trading material, and *maybe* an OK field expedient pain killer or disinfectant (don't take my word on the latter), it's a great way of calming shot nerves. Keep in mind that even though it may feel like it warms you, it really does the opposite, which can be bad in cold weather. Also, don't get so squashed that you can't respond to aftershocks or emergency situations. Guns and booze don't mix.
o cigarettes or pipe tabacco (if you're a smoker, so don't start now) :^)
WATER
* 50 to 60 gallons of water - 1/2 - 1 gallon/day
almost any dirty water into clean). It will also kill bacteria such as
Giardia. It won't take out things unless the molecules are bigger than 2 microns.
CLOTHING
* Good solid footwear (with ankle support)
* Work gloves * Extra clothing (At least 5 days worth)
* Layered clothing
SUPPLIES
* Flashlight and batteries (waterproof & explosion proof)
* Watch or clock - battery or spring wound * Radio and batteries (don't keep batteries in the radio) * Toilet paper (20-30 rolls for sanitation as well as for bargaining) * Toothbrush and toothpaste * Soap * Deodorant * Liquid detergent * Shampoo * Household bleach * Powdered chlorinated lime - add to sewage to deodorize, disinfect, and keep
away insects
* Large, plastic trash bags * Towels * Paper towels * Paper plates, napkins/paper towels, plastic eating utensils, plastic cups * Blankets * Sleeping bags * 4-8 pack of replacement batteries (rotate stock; keep in freezer) * Knife & razor blades * Garden hose, for siphoning and firefighting * Condoms * Money (at least $100.00 allin small bills & plenty of change) * Scissors * Tweezers * Rubbing alcohol * Sponges o Pre-moistened towelettes o Ground cloth o Candles o Matches - dipped in wax and kept in waterproof container o Newspaper, to wrap garbage and waste in o Large trash cans o Coleman lanterns o Stoves
o Pots - at least 2 o Chafing dish o Heavy duty aluminum foil o 8,000 btu heater that runs on propane o 12 volt battery backup system o Medium sized generator to maintain the refrig, provide minimal lighting, and
for power tools
o Tents - Four-man dome tent, or regular 9X9 tent o Set up for at least a week. That's my minimum time o Fold up toilet seat. (Sure beats squatting.)
TOOLS
* Fire extihguisher (A-B-C type) * Shovels, pick, axe, other 'round-the-house tools * Broom * Crescent wrench, screw driver, pliers, hammer * Coil of 1/2" rope * Coil of bailing wire * Plastic tape * Small and large crowbar (18") to help with jammed doors
* Small, high quality, tomahawk or hatchet (useful for opening car roofs, house
doors, and for clearing rubble)
* Knifes
pry, to make emergency shelters, do emergency surgery, kill alien invaders
knife) to do yet more surgery, as well as more mundane things such as peel
veggies, cut rope, open boxes - New designs of serrated edges that will cut through anything more quickly than a straight edged knife - Paramedic rescue knife (has an edge and a little bolt which enables it to be opened with one hand) - Sharpening device
o Trauma shears and pouch (20 times more useful than any knife I've ever had.)
o Leatherman (TM) Pocket Multi-Tool o A cold chisel o Bolt cutter o Guns
shooting feral dogs (practice!), and for self-defense (practice!)
FIRST AID KIT GEARED TO MAJOR TRAUMA
* Sterile eye wash * Any long-term medications for family or pets (make sure they are current) * Large cold packs (disposable) - Kwik-Cold is the best brand I've used. * 1 space blanket * Bandages - store in Zip Lock bags
adhere well)
* Betadine * Hydrogen peroxide * Hibicleanse anticeptic soap * Safety pins * Pad and pen o Squirt bulbs (for irrigating wounds) o 1 unit instant glucose o Air splints or 1 wire splint (just in case I can't find cardboard) o Large selection of antibiotics and pain killers (check expiration dates) o Scalpels, suture kits, and other items to perform minor surgery o Stethoscope o BP cuff
o Latex exam gloves (several pairs, disposable) o CPR rescue mask (a mask you place on a victim to perform rescue breathing) o Tape (I hardly ever use tape) o Steri Strips or butterfly closures
to heal/close by themselves. This way, drainage takes place as the dress-
ing is replaced daily.
o Book called "Emergency War Surgery" that outlines the steps to perform
appendectomies, amputations, etc.
o Backpack to carry it all in o 1 set of 5 oral airways (see explanation below)
equipment, resue masks, bag valve masks etc. If used improperly, or with
the wrong size, a patient's airway could be blocked. This especially can happen if they're not inserted using the correct technique.
o 1 oxygen euipment tubing (connect my mask to supplimental O2,VERY important) o Surgical scrub brushes (Med Choice has) packaged in betadine or hebicleanse o Trauma Shears (actually, I carry those on my belt) o 'Extractor' venom pump kit o Book called "Emergency War Surgery" that outlines the steps to perform
appendectomies, amputations, etc.
o Fanny pack to carry it all in
SMALL FIRST AID KIT
10 4x4 Dressings* 3 Kling gauze rolls* 1 8x10 surgipad 1 roll wet proof adhesive tape 10 band aids assorted sizes 1 scissors 10 antiseptic wipes* 1 sterile water 1 pocket mask* 1 large trauma dressing 1 instant glucose 1 burn sheet
peroxide*
2 kerlix rolls 2 triangle bandages* 1 rescue or space blanket 1 roll hypo allegenic tape 1 tweezers 1 kwick cold 2 eye patches 2 pair sterile latex gloves 2 erg or gatoade packs 1 pen light
pen and paper
1 syrup of ipecac
STORAGE
* Outdoor shed o Sturdy, decorative footlocker or chest (keep it near the front door or patio)
o Rubbermaid Rough-Neck Totes - food in one tote, blankets in another, etc. o Enclosed utility trailer - ready to go should I have to leave the area
EVACUATION KIT
* Food * Water * Flashlight * First Aid kit * Clothes * Money (at least $100. in small bills) * Whistle or Police-shrieker * CURRENT pictures of family members (incl pets) * Documents like house deed, insurance, etc. o A game or two & books
CAR — * Keep gas tank full (refill at 1/2 tank) * 1 gallon water * High energy protein bars
* First aid kit * Fire extinguisher - CO2 * Metalic blankets * Flashlight/siren/radio combination * Sun logo emergency kit, in the SunWear catalogue * Swiss-army knife, or better yet a good folding blade knife with a 3-4" blade * A big knife * Maps of the area * Couple of MRE's (MEALS, ready to eat) * Small backpack to carry it all in * 4-5 D-cell Maglite with krypton bulb or 2 AA cells mini-maglite
* Road flares * Sealable plastic bags * Critical medication * Tissues * Pre-moistened towelettes * Tools - screwdriver, pliers, wire, knife * Spare Clothing
windproof, has 4 big pockets, a built-in hood, removable insulating liner)
are great. For upscale folks, a set of deerskin black leather gloves with
wool liners from Eddie Bauers.) - The nice thing about military clothes and stuff is a) it's rugged and b) it often is inter-designed to work with other components (Ex: the M-65 field jacket has fold out wrist liners to be cinched down by the military gloves). - Knit wool cap
* Money (small bills/change) * Toilet paper * Tissues * Tampons or pads (useful for first aid, also) * A few large black plastic bags (environmentally incorrect, but very useful) * Vitamins (at least C since fresh food may be scarce for a while) * Spare glasses (if you wear them) * Gas siphon - or short rubber hose o Tow chains, tire chains (4) o Tent o Shovel o Chemical lights (Cyalume) o Walkman/batteries
OFFICE
HOME
* Don't rely on hot water heater for a source of water
* Evaluate home and work-area for their strengths and weaknesses in the event
of an emergency---ie, where are the safest--and not-so-safe--places, know where the exits are, the location of first aid equipment, best place/s to store equipment, etc....
EDUCATION
* Knowledge of how to use the equiment * American Survival Guide, monthly magazine * Backpacking books * Firearms training
COMMUNICATIONS
* Plan how to contact spouses, SOs, children, pets, etc. o Handheld transmitter (i.e. "walkie talkie") o CB radio o Battery operated TV o Ham radio o Get involved with a community neighborhood preparedness
are concerned about Earthquake Preparedness and would like to discuss how.
Have some brochures or handouts for them.
COPING
o Major factor in surviving is trying to return to as close a normal life
WHERE TO BUY
o Rational Behavior Co, 1615 El Camino Real West, Mountain View, 415-969-5555
o Cambrian Surplus, 2059 Woodard Rd, San Jose, Phone: 377-6953
Hours: Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat 9:30-5:30 Sun 11-4
o Stevens Creek Surplus, 3449 Steven Creek Blvd., Santa Clara-San Jose (Between
San Thomas & Winchester), Phone: 244-0773 Hours: Mon-Fri 9-9 Sat-Sun 10-6
Tonight I'll login and post addresses of two mail-order places that sell *new* genuine mil-surplus stuff. There's a lot of cheap copies of mil-surplus stuff out there, and it's not as good quality. The U.S. Cavalry Store catalogue has nice little "Official Issue" stamps on all the appropriate items, which helps a lot.
The local "surplus" places are pretty poor pickings unless you're an experienced shopper, but hey, check em' out yourself on a weekend. If nothing else you find lots of cool stuff to examine :-), and they often do carry useful, mundane, things like camping gear, or knives.
The best I have is:
U.S. Cavalry Store 2855 Centennial Ave. Radcliff, KY 40160-9000 Orders: 1-800-626-6171 Fax: 1-502-352-0266 Store: 502-351-1167
The second best is:
Brigade Quartermasters 1025 Cobb International Blvd. Kennesaw, GA 30144-4300 Orders: 1-800-486-4327 FAX: 404-426-7726 Telex: 54-2461 Store: 404-428-1234
Both places sell hunting, camping, and mil-surplus type stuff. I think U.S. Cavalry has a better selection, so if you ordered only one catalogue that would be the one. U.S. Cavalry has official military issue items so listed, which makes it easier to pick them out. They also have stuff like MREs, water purifiers, goretex clothing, knives, flashlights, backpacks, sleeping bags, etc. Both places also stock a selection of books on wilderness survival, and other esoteric subjects.
Note: a few things in these catalogs may be illegal to carry, or in a couple of cases, own in California. Unless you decide to order something bizarre like a blowgun or nunchaku, you shouldn't have any problems, but be aware.
BOTH places I noted sell paramedic shears if anyone is interested.
The serrated edge referred to is probably the "Spyder Edge" developed by Spyderco knifes and now ripped off, uh, I mean proudly used, by other manufacturers. I believe it's supposed to last longer than a flat edge and cuts better. The primary down side is that it requires a special crockstick affair to sharpen when it does get dull, but I think this is pretty easy if you have the crockstick set.
o SI Outdoor Food and Equipment
P.O. Box 3796 Gardena, Ca 90247 213-324-8855
They publish a catalog of specials bi-monthly. It takes several issues of the catalog to get through their whole product line.
There is a good source for alternative energy equipment called Real Goods. They sell an inch thick book/catalog for $10. I'll get their address and put it out in another email.
A surgical supply house is the only place to buy supplies for trauma. Drug stores don't carry the quality or selection of items that are needed to really render serious care.
Two companies that are popular with EMT's are Dynamed and Life Assist, both up North a ways. Both places will provide a catalog.
However, locally, in San Jose there's a supply store called Med Choice that has the lowest prices available.
There is another good source for preparedness items:
o Nit-Pak
13243 Rosecrans Ave Santa Fe Springs, Ca 90670 213-802-0099 800-866-4876
in San Jose there's a supply store called
Med Choice that has the lowest prices available.
There is another good source for preparedness items:
o Nit-Pak
13243 Rosecrans Ave Santa Fe Springs, Ca 90670 213-802-0099 800-866-4876