Monthly Archives: November 2013

Antibiotic Overuse – YouTube Video by Dr. Bones

For years now, Joe Alton, M.D. aka Dr. Bones and Amy Alton, A.R.N.P. aka Nurse Amy have written about the importance of adding antibiotics to your medical storage.  In times of trouble, simple cuts from chopping wood or other activities of daily survival can lead to infection that can become life-threatening.  In the History Channel series “After Armageddon”, an EMT got just such a cut, and watched himself slowly die from septicemia (an infection in the bloodstream) because the community had run out of antibiotics.  Our mission is to prevent such unnecessary deaths in a survival situation; many of our articles discuss fish antibiotics and other means of stockpiling needed supplies.

This doesn’t mean, however, that you, survival medic, should use antibiotics for every medical problem you encounter.  Here’s a video by Dr. Bones about the dangers of the overuse of antibiotics…

 

Joe Alton, M.D. aka Dr. Bones, the Disaster Doctor


JOE ALTON, M.D. AKA DR. BONES

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: doomandbloom

So, You Bought Fish Antibiotics. Now What?

Here is a great bit of advice from TX ER DOC.

———-

First, the disclaimers:  Nothing in this article constitutes medical advice.  It is for information purposes only.  It is not meant to diagnose or treat any disease.  Fish antibiotics are not for human consumption.  Never take any medication that was not prescribed specifically for you by your physician.  Hopefully, this information can help you be a more informed and involved patient.  Short of a true post-SHTF scenario, I strongly advise you not to self-diagnose and treat.  (Health care professionals are especially notorious for doing this.)  I have seen significant harm come to many patients because of this.  Recently, someone killed off their kidneys because they took cow doses of antibiotics.  As long as doctors, nurses, and other providers exist, please use them!  I say this not to drum up business (believe me, if anything I want less business in my emergency department), but rather for concern for the significant harm that I have seen happen to patients time and again.

I have just received my order of fish antibiotics.  (For my fish, of course!)  As a physician, I could easily hit up one of my colleagues to write me a prescription for any number of medicines.  So, why order fish antibiotics from the internet?  I live in a state with a medical board who likes to go on witch hunts for “non-therapeutic prescribing,” and I would not want to cause one of my co-workers to be the target of an investigation.  (This is a common reason your physician might not be too willing to prescribe medications for your personal preparations.)  Also, I was curious to see if they would come as advertised.

When the bottles arrived, I dug out my photographic drug reference and found that these are indeed the same pills that are given to humans, right down to the tablet color and markings.  It makes business sense.  It costs less for drug manufacturers to have one production line for each drug, rather than to build a separate process exclusively for veterinary medicines.  These are the same generic antibiotics that can be found on many pharmacy formularies on the “4 dollar” list.  They cost more to purchase as veterinary antibiotics, but are not prohibitively expensive.  (Please remember SurvivalBlog advertisers when shopping around.)

After checking my order, I placed the bottles in airtight bags and put them in the fridge.  The general consensus is that antibiotics will still retain most of their potency for years after their expiration date, especially if kept cool and dry.  The notable exceptions are tetracycline antibiotics, including doxycycline.  These can cause kidney damage if taken after their expiration dates.

The antibiotics I ordered were (US brand name in parentheses, if in common usage):
Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
Cephalexin (Keflex)
Metronidazole (Flagyl)
Clindamycin (Cleocin)
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra)
Doxycycline
Erythromycin

Judicious use of antibiotics

First, we must know when not to use antibiotics.  When they become a precious commodity they will need to be used very wisely.  Many of the patients I see in the adult emergency department, and most of the patients I see in the children’s Emergency Department for various types of infections do not need antibiotics.

There is also a growing and very real danger with antibiotic resistance.  It is a very legitimate fear that we may use antibiotics to the point that they are no longer effective, at which point it will be just like it was in the pre-antibiotic age.

Also, antibiotics are not completely innocuous.  They have the potential to cause harm.  (All medicines do, including the “safe, natural” remedies.)  Allergic reactions are common, and the only way to become allergic to a medication is to be exposed to it in the first place.  Drug reactions are also very prevalent, and range from the annoying (e.g. rash, diarrhea), to the life-threatening (e.g. skin sloughing off in sheets, causing the equivalent of a bad total body burn.)

Most infections involving the nose, sinuses, throat, and respiratory tract are viral and will not respond to antibiotics.  Even some presumptive bacterial infections like otitis media (the common middle ear infection) will usually do just fine without antibiotic usage.  If you have one of the following, think twice before using your precious antibiotic supply:

Cold, cough, runny nose
Sinus pain or pressure
Bronchitis (coughing up phlegm)
Ear pain or pressure
Sore throat (there is debate about whether even strep throat needs antibiotics)

Obviously, this list is oversimplified.  For example, a middle ear infection can spread to the bone around it and cause mastoiditis.  The difference between a viral bronchitis (not requiring antibiotics) and a bacterial pneumonia (requiring antibiotics) can be difficult to distinguish.  Doctors, lab tests, and x-rays frequently get this wrong.  If symptoms persist for an extended period, or if you are getting worse, it may be more complicated than a simple viral infection.

When and how to use antibiotics

Which antibiotics to use is always a big subject of debate.  A roomful of physicians will seldom agree on the proper treatment of any disease, much less antibiotic use.  In fact, there is a medical specialty (Infectious Disease) in which physicians train for 5 years after medical school so they can run around the hospital and tell other physicians what antibiotics they can and cannot use.

If you are going to use antibiotics, remember some guidelines.  (Again, for information purposes only.)  Dosages are given in milligrams (mg).  Pediatric doses are given in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg).  All dosing notations here assume they are taken orally.

What follows is a list of common diseases and the antibiotics that treat them, limited to the list available above.  Remember that there are many antibiotics, most of which are not listed here.

Pneumonia/bronchitis—doxycycline 100 mg twice a day for 7-10 days, erythromycin 500 mg every 6 hours, amoxicillin (more often used in children) 45 mg/kg two times a day for 10 days.  Ciprofloxacin can be used in conjunction with another antibiotic, but it is not commonly considered a “respiratory drug.”  Its sister drugs, levofloxacin and moxifloxacin, are, but are not available without a prescription.

Ear infection—adult: amoxicillin 500 mg 3 times a day for 7-10 days, children: amoxicillin 30 mg/kg 3 times a day for 7-10 days

Sinusitis—amoxicillin 500 mg 3 times a day for 10-14 days, doxycycline 100 mg twice a day for 7 days

Sore (strep) throat—amoxicillin 500 mg 3 times a day for 10 days (child 25 mg/kg two times a day for 10 days), clindamycin 450 mg three times a day for 10 days (child 10 mg/kg three times a day for 10 days)

Intra-abdominal infections (diverticulitis, etc)— ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice a day PLUS metronidazole 500 mg three times a day for 10 days

Infectious diarrhea—ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily for 5-7 days

Urinary infection—child-bearing age females without a fever who are not pregnant: trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 160/180 mg two times a day for 3 days, ciprofloxacin 250 mg twice a day for 3 days; pregnant female: cephalexin 500 mg twice a day for 7 days, amoxicillin 500 mg three times a day for 7 days; other adults: ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice a day for 7-10 days; children: trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 5 mg/kg twice daily for 7 days (this dosing is based on the trimethoprim portion, which is usually 160 mg per tablet)

Bacterial vaginosis—metronidazole 500 mg twice daily for 7 days, clindamycin 300 mg twice daily for 7 days

Skin infections— trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole 160/180 mg (child 5 mg/kg) two times a day AND cephalexin 500 mg (child 6.25 mg/kg) four times a day for 7-10 days, clindamycin 300 mg (child 10 mg/kg) four times a day for 7-10 days, doxycycline 100 mg twice a day for 7-10 days. (Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, aka MRSA, is a consideration in all skin infections nowadays.)

Not common household diseases, but possible biological weapons:

Plague (Yersinia pestis) post-exposure prevention—ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice a day for 7 days, doxycycline 100 mg twice a day for 7 days
Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) post-exposure prevention—ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice a day for 60 days, doxycycline 100 mg twice a day for 60 days

Caution!  Do not cause harm to yourself or others.

Beware of allergies.  If you are allergic to a medication avoid any drugs in its same family.  Some of the families are related, such as penicillins and cephalosporins.  Depending on where you read, there is a 2-10% cross-reactivity.  However, as long as the reported reaction is not serious (e.g. a simple rash when someone takes penicillin), I will often give cephalosporins to penicillin allergic patients.

Antibiotic classes:

Please note that these lists are not comprehensive:
Penicillins (“-cillins”): amoxicillin, ampicillin, methicillin, dicloxacillin
Cephalosporins (“cef-“): cephalexin, cefaclor, cefuroxime, cefdinir, ceftriaxone, cefepime
Lincosamides: lincomycin, clindamycin
Fluoroquinolones (“-floxacins”): ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin
Sulfa drugs (this is a very broad category, and includes many non-antibiotics): trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, sulfasalazine, dapsone
Tetracyclines (“-cyclines”): tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline
Macrolides: erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin

Not all antibiotics can be used across all patient populations.  Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and children deserve special consideration.  Although some antibiotics should be avoided in certain patients, there is always a risk/benefit consideration.  For example, if my pregnant wife developed a life-threatening pneumonia, and all I had was doxycycline, I would give it to her and accept the risk to the baby.

Avoid in pregnancy:
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra)
Doxycycline

Avoid in children and breastfeeding women:
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
Doxycycline

I recommend getting some good references, mostly in EMP-proof paper editions.  These can often be picked up for free, as local physicians shed their bulky paper medical libraries in favor of putting everything on a portable smartphone or tablet.  I picked up several copies of the Physicians’ Desk Reference this way.  I think it is aptly named because it is the size of a desk.  However, it sure is good fun to shoot with various pistol calibers to see how many pages they will penetrate.  For a more portable version, I like the Tarascon Pharmacopoeia and the EMRA Antibiotic Guide.  Many of the regimens listed in this article are referenced in these books.

Be wise, be safe.  Remember with all your preps, primum non nocere—”First do no harm.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: survivalblog

The Four Prescription Drugs You Must Have in a Crisis… And How to Get Them

This article has been contributed by The Daily Crux and originally appears in The Doctor’s Protocol Field Manual by Dr. David Eifrig.

In any crisis event, you could be on your own for days… even weeks.

Hospitals could be impossible to get to. In fact, if we have a bioterrorism attack, plague, or viral outbreak, going to a hospital could be even more dangerous than staying home.

Your town could be without running water for a month or more.

No washing. No flushing toilets. No way to shower, clean dishes, or cleanse wounds.

Every year, poor sanitation kills more than 2 million people around the globe. We don’t see the effects of this very often in the United States, but in a real crisis, poor sanitation is deadly.

As a medical doctor, I can tell you that one of the most important things you must have in your home is a good supply of antibiotics.

Now… how do you get antibiotics when you’re not sick, and which ones should you keep on hand?

Let me explain…

In short, there are four (4) prescription drugs I strongly recommend you have at home.

One of these drugs is an often-overlooked antibiotic, called Doxycycline. Like all antibiotics, it treats bacterial infections.

But the reason you want to have Doxycycline is because it also treats “atypical” bacteria such as Rickettsia, which causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus.

I’m not sure how much you know about typhus, but it’s extremely deadly (without treatment) and is sometimes referred to as “camp fever” or “hospital fever” because it affects large populations living near one another in poor sanitary conditions.

Typhus epidemics have actually changed history.

Typhus killed 3 million Russians during WWI… and during one dark period in Britain, it killed 10% of the entire population.

The point is, in a city or town with no electricity or running water, and generally poor sanitary conditions, typhus and similar epidemic diseases could definitely strike again.

So Doxycycline is something you should definitely have around. And it’s a lot cheaper and easier to get than most people think. A 10-day generic for Doxycycline shouldn’t cost much more than $10 at any pharmacy.

And in addition to Doxycycline, you definitely should also have three other drugs on hand:

– Augmentin
– Ciprofloxin (“Cipro”)
– Bactrim (from the sulfa family).

These drugs can be used to treat things like pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus infections, skin problems, and dozens of other deadly infections… even exposure to the most common bioterrorism agent: anthrax.

Make sure you are not allergic to any these antibiotics before taking them.

Talk with your doctor now about how to get these drugs. He or she may  have free trial packs (like the popular “Z-Pac”) to share with you. Doctors will often prescribe Cipro and Bactrim DS (both as generics) for  people planning overseas trips.

You can get 60 pills (a one-month supply) of each at Wal-Mart for $20 or a 10-day supply for $10. Rite Aid sells generic Doxycycline for a similar price.

Store these drugs in a sealed freezer bag with desiccant (anti-moisture) packets inside. Place them in the freezer. Once thawed, they will last for six to 12 months when kept at room temperature.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: shtfplan

The “4 Block” Rocket Stove! – DIY Rocket Stove

How to make a “FOUR BLOCK” Rocket Stove!

Easy DIY. Four concrete blocks is all it takes to make it! Cost about $5.16.

This video shows you how to put it together.

The stove funnels all its heat up under the bottom of the pan.

Uses very little fuel, fueled by small sticks, twigs and leaves.

Cooks great.

Wind and rain resistant.

 

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

via: thesurvivalistblog

Cooking with your food supplies, Lentil Stew! – Survival Food

A simple stew using lentils, rice, canned tomato and vegetables, some frozen pork, a bit of oil and white pepper.
Lentils are a great source of protein, they have twice the amount found in wheat. Lentils go very well with rice, also tomato sauce and potatoes. Basically you can throw in there any scrap meat or leftover you may have. Lentils cook pretty much the same as rice and they dont require soaking before cooking.

 

How many other things or ways can you think of to use Lentils?

I know a few.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: ferfal

Body Armor Basics


SAFEGUARD KEVLAR ARMOR

We often write articles on how to treat wounds caused by traumatic force such as bullets or knives, but we have rarely discussed the possible prevention of penetrating trauma by the use of body armor. Although a significant investment, body armor may be an effective strategy in high risk environments where there is civil unrest.


ANCIENT GREEK ARMOR

Body armor has been used throughout history.  The introduction of high-velocity firearms around the time of the Renaissance, however, negated the protective advantages of heavy mail and plate armor.  As such, body armor fell out of favor for combat purposes until the latter part of the 20th Century.

The development of the protective synthetic fiber “Kevlar” by Dupont in the late 1960s led to the resurgence of body armor for use by the military and law enforcement.  Lightweight and durable, more than 3000 police officers’ lives and even more combat soldiers owe their lives to it over the past 30 years.

There are two types of body armor:


SOFT BODY ARMOR

  • Soft body armor: Useful for its lightweight nature, it is protective against handguns but will not stop a rifle bullet.


HARD BODY ARMOR

  • Hard body armor: This type is characterized by hard rigid plates which are effective even against rifle rounds.  This is most commonly used by the military and police tactical units.

There are different types of protection afforded by body armor:

  • Ballistic protection:  protection against firearm projectiles
  • Stab protection:    protection against direct attacks with sharp weapons such as knives
  • Spike protection:   protection against sharp weapons such as ice picks, needles, etc.

Each of the above types of protections are characterized in the U.S. by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).  To see what each level protects you against, go to this link:

http://www.safeguardarmor.com/articles/body-armor-levels/

Interestingly, body armor that provides ballistic protection may not provide stab or spike protection. The mechanism of knife wound penetration is different that the mechanism that stops firearm rounds, and even different from spike wounds such as could be delivered by an ice pick.

Here’s the inside info on the inner workings of body armor by our friends at www.safeguardarmor.com:

How Does Body Armor Really Work?

If you are in the Military, Law Enforcement, SWAT team, or even the FBI you always wear body armor. You will even wear body armor on low risk situations, but do you know how the body armor protects you from bullets or any other dangerous projectile? You will be surprised to find out that many people who wear body armor do not know how body armor, especially bullet-proof vests actually work.

When a bullet hits bullet proof armor, the bullet is caught in a web of very durable ballistic fiber. These fibers help attract and scatter the impact energy that is conveyed to the bullet proof vests causing the bullet to mushroom. Supplementary energy is absorbed in the bulletproof vest by each added layer of ballistic material until the bullet is stopped. Since the strength of ballistics in each layer of material combined with other layers, it forms what we call a larger area for impact energy to scatter and keep the bullet from penetrating straight through the bullet proof armor. This helps in non-penetrating injuries, which are blunt force trauma to vital organs.

Currently most bullet resistant armor will protect you against low risk threats. When you get into a Level III-A Body Armor, your protection level will increase dramatically. This will protect up from a .357 Magnum and a .44 Magnum, which happens to be serious handguns with serious bullets to be hit by.  Just remember that no bullet resistant vest or body armor is entirely bullet proof, but depending on the level of armor you are wearing can determine the amount of injury you may or may not receive.

When in high risk situations such as the Military, Bomb Squad, SWAT team, and Law Enforcement, protection levels must be to the max. By adding a Type III or type IV ballistic hard armor plates to the inside of both the front and the back of your bullet resistant armor, your protection level increases tremendously.  By adding a Type IV ballistic plate to your armor can provide can allow you protection against a .30 calibers. Not to mention your level of confidence while wearing this protection is much higher, especially when you are in high risk situations. Your confidence will play a major role in your mission and being able to go home at the end of the day thanks to this bullet proof armor.

The next time you are out on the field just remember the higher the levels you go the better protection you will receive. Not to mention that it does not matter what level you wear there is still a chance that the bullet or projectile can hit in a spot and it can penetrate your skin because not all bullet proof armor is entirely bullet proof, so do not forget your inserts.

Dr. Bones says: We have obtained a Ballistic level II, Stab level I vest from safeguardarmor.com and find it lightweight and comfortable, and easily concealed with normal clothing.  Here’s some images below of the vest:


body armor 5.5 pounds


concealment factor!


Why so serious, Dr. Bones?


hmmm, better lose a few pounds, Dr. Bones!

Here’s a video by Reality Survival using this same vest and showing the protection level against both bullets and knives. I think you’ll be impressed.

Safeguard Armor is a top body armor manufacturer and has been a respected presence online for more than 7 years, and has outlets in the UK as well as the US.  Their website at www.safeguardarmor.com will tell you, in plain English, all you need to know about body armor.  If you, survival medic, are expecting a survival scenario that involves civil unrest, you should take a look.

Joe Alton, M.D. aka Dr. Bones


JOE ALTON, M.D.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: doomandbloom

Portable Military Wood Stove – Gear Review

by Jarhead Survivor on November 15, 2013


Winter approaches and this season I thought I’d branch out a little.  If you’ve been reading for a while you know that I’ve used the Ammo Can Stove in my 5 man ECW (Extreme Cold Weather) military tent as a heat source when it gets cold out.

It’s a good stove and you could even backpack it in on a long trip if you were so inclined, but last year when it got really cold, like around 10 or 15 F. it would only heat the tent up to about 45 degrees or so.  Not bad when you consider how cold it is outside, but still a little chilly.

The downside of the ammo can stove is that the wood has to be cut very short for it and it requires a fair amount of attention to keep it going.  Again, if you’re on a long hike it could be worth its weight in gold if you have a tent with a stove opening in it, bu this year I decided to try something a little bigger.

Enter the Portable Military Woodstove.  This is a larger stove – 18 x 10.2 x 11 inches- and it is not something I’d hike in somewhere as it weighs in at just under 30 pounds.  Now, I might use a toboggan or sled to move it around along with my heavy tent, but it’s definitely not for carrying.

Keep in mind the military does everything as a team, so moving equipment like this around would be done by a group of young, in-shape guys, pulling it on a sled, or maybe on a truck or Hummer.  But once it’s set up and running in the tent in a cold weather environment you’ll be happy to have it despite the extra work it entails.  We used to use the Yukon stove, which was an unwieldy piece of equipment that could burn gasoline or wood.  I nearly set my hair on fire once burning gas in it, but when we got up in the morning and got that baby going it was all worth it.  We spent a month or more living in the field in Norway and two weeks in the field in Minnesota in -40 F. weather and we were damned glad to have any heat we could get at the end of the day.

The stove arrived within two days and my son and I eagerly unpacked it.  It comes with the main stove itself, four sections of pipe and a stove cap, four legs to get the stove off the ground if you want, and a small poker and another tool to pull the ashes out of the stove so you don’t have to dismantle it every time.

The reviews that I read indicated that I should do a couple of burns outside first so that it could burn off the cheap paint that comes with it.  I did and some of the paint did indeed flake off.

Another thing people talked about was the design of the door handle.  Again, a valid complaint.  The door itself isn’t anywhere near air-tight; however, if you have a good draft it isn’t an issue.  I did notice that if you leave the door open on the stove when putting wood in it will smoke, so if you’re in a tent you’ll want to make sure to keep the door closed as much as possible.  When I tried to wedge it closed it seemed to make it worse, so I let the door hang as it came and that seemed to help it reduce the smoke.  I’ll report back on this more when I have it in a tent instead of outside.

One of the features I liked a lot were the air vents on both the front and back of the stove.  You can open both for a good hot fire or to get air to wood that might not be good and dry, or you can shut it down for a longer, slower burn.  If you’ve used wood stoves you know how important good ventilation is to their efficient operation.  So far this gets much better ventilation than the ammo can stove.

Misc

Something like this could also be adapted quickly for emergency home use if need be… say the power went out for more than a week or two.  I have a pellet stove and if I needed to I could have this small wood stove up and running in its place in the matter of an hour.  It may not heat the entire house up to 80 degrees in the winter; however, it would certainly be enough to take the edge off.

You can use it outside if there’s a ban on open fires.  There’s a grate on top where you can put your water to heat.  You can flip the grates to the outside and dry your socks and gloves (carefully), and if you look closely you’ll see two hollow tubes running along the top of the stove.  Supposedly you can put a potato wrapped in tinfoil in there and cook it.  I might give it a try, but I’ve got to admit I’m a little skeptical.  I’ll report back on that feature later.

The grates fold up into a handle, so moving it is fairly easy.  I also like the fact that all the components are stored inside the stove itself, so when you’re done with it at the end of the season you just put it away and don’t have to worry about all the parts that go along with it getting lost.

*Update*

I put the stove in the tent last weekend and fired it up.  Outside temp was in the high 30′s.  Inside temp?  Must have been about 85 or 90 degrees!  This thing keeps it warm!  Of course I haven’t tried it at -10, but when I do I’ll give you another update.  It didn’t smoke at all although I took care to keep the door closed as much as possible.

I’ve got to say I’m really looking forward to trying this out in very cold weather.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: shtfblog

Doomsday, World War Z, and Revolution…Oh My!

Over the last few years there’s been a HUGE growth of interest in pretty much anything dealing with Survival and TEOTWAWKI (“the end of the world as we know it”).

Nobody can doubt the popularity of TV shows like Revolution, Doomsday Preppers, Dual Survival, Man Vs. Wild, Survivorman and many others. And let’s not forget the recent spike in popular movies like The Road, The Book of Eli, and most recently World War Z, and This is the End.

So what do you guys think? Are all these movies and shows good or bad for the prepping movement?

And why do you think these types of themes are gaining in popularity?

I know, when talking with some friends of mine, they think it has to do with people “sensing” that something isn’t quite right in our society. That it’s gonna get real bad real soon and these shows and movies are just triggering what we all know, deep down inside, is going to happen.

Other friends of mine think it’s just a fad.

Personally, I’m somewhere in the middle of those two extremes. Prepping is a huge part of my life, but whether TEOTWAWKI happens tomorrow, in ten years, or never, I don’t let what I can’t control rule my life.

The only thing I can control is how I respond to the situations I’m faced with — and that’s why I prep.

American Blackout

By the way, I just got word from a Nat Geo representative that they’re releasing a new 2-hour feature on October 27th called American Blackout. It depicts life in the days immediately following a blackout from an EMP cyber-attack.

The film was made in collaboration with expert analysts who supposedly show what would really happen following an EMP attack.

What’s pretty cool is that the film mixes in crowd-sourced material – home footage from real Americans during recent blackouts.

Here’s a trailer to American Blackout

Doomsday Preppers, World War Z…Good or Bad for the Prepper Movement

On a personal note, I love watching these shows and movies. Beyond entertainment, I’ll often become aware of weaknesses or shortcomings in my own preps or plans or it makes me consider scenarios that I’ve haven’t before.

But as far as the “general masses” go, if these shows are what’s needed to wake them up out of their stupor and start preparing for the tough times ahead, then I’m all for them.

After all, the more prepared the general populace is, the better off we’ll all be (and the less we’ll need to worry about when times get desperate).

On the other hand, if these types of shows (like Doomsday Preppers sometimes does) causes people to ridicule prepping and turn away those who otherwise would prep because they fear being labeled as a “doomsday prepper”, then I think it does the movement (and preparedness in general) a disservice.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

Via: tacticalintelligence

Fortune Magazine: “the preparedness crowd isn’t marginal at all”

You know that prepping has gone mainstream when the popular financial magazine Fortune has a positive write-up about the wisdom of being ready for whatever may come.

Columnist David Z. Morris attended a preparedness expo called Life Changes, Be Ready! in Lakeland, Florida last week, where he discovered that our concerns are the same as those of the average American. “LCBR gave an immediate sense of one big way that the preparedness crowd isn’t marginal at all – economically.” He wrote:

More and more Americans are spending money to get ready for an uncertain future — gathering food, water, tools, and skills to help them weather anything from a hurricane to a pandemic. Contrary to images of deluded or gun-obsessed “lone wolves,” many preppers are average consumers reacting to concrete worries, and their way of thinking is spreading, fueling an emerging lifestyle trend. That lifestyle is generating demand for a broad spectrum of products offering survival — or even comfort — when large-scale systems go down…

…The diversity and type of products on offer was also remarkable. Egger’s seeds, for example, were prominently labelled “Organic” and “Non-GMO” – and so were all the other seeds on sale at the show. Those are distinctions you might not think were important to the same crowd in the market for a crossbow, but according to Egger, “you don’t have to explain to people anymore” why eating organic matters. That was just one element of the unique mix of gritty survivalism, back-to-the land self-sufficiency, and outright hippie dream-science on display at LCBR. There were earthworm farms and beehives for sale, and two different companies dealing in essential oils. In a back corner, Mike Mah, or “No Stress Mike,” offered $30 pain reduction sessions using his “Hoy Chi” energy healing techniques. Mah’s flyers proudly advertised that he attended every Tea Party event he could, and he manipulated the spines of dozens of willing customers with a pistol tucked discreetly in his waistband. (source)

Morris’s article pointed out that education was a large part of the expo, and that many of the mainstream stereotypes about preppers were not necessarily accurate. He cited the non-threatening atmosphere and quote vendor Jim Egger. “If you go to the speaking engagements, you won’t hear any racist crap, you won’t hear any discriminatory talk. We don’t allow it.”

As preppers know, the end of the American way of life is upon us. Less than half of the population is employed, and as incomes are dropping, expenses are increasing. The divide between the rich and the poor in this country has never been greater, and the advent of Obamacare will widen the chasm even further. More than half of the population is receiving some type of government benefit in order to feed their families. The response is slow when natural disasters occur (think Katrina and Sandy), and when the EBT cards stop getting topped up, we can expect widespread civil unrest. Never has the need been greater to stock up on beans, bullets and band-aids. (If you’re new to the idea of prepping, check out some sites like Ready Nutrition (especially the 52 Weeks to Preparedness Series), Survival BlogSurvival SherpaPrepper WebsiteLew Rockwell, and SHTFplan. Check out the Pantry Primer series on The Organic Prepper to learn how to build a one-year food supply in 3 short months.) The clock is ticking, so buy as much as you can, while you can. Despite what many veteran preppers may tell you, it’s NOT too late!)

Although most of the review was positive, the article concluded with the obligatory “doomsday crackpot” reference.

Still, it was impossible to completely ignore the presence of an element many would consider reactionary. Political and social initiatives represented at the show included the Polk County Libertarians and the admirable entrepreneurship mentoring program Patriot Mission, Inc. – but also the marginal, conspiracy-minded John Birch Society. After a relatively measured primer on the threats of inflation, featured economist Dr. Kirk Elliot encouraged me to look into how the Rothschild and Rockefeller families continue to own the Federal Reserve – a common canard among New World Order conspiracists of the Alex Jones stripe.

Finally, at the end of my conversation with John Egger about the rise of “suburban homesteading,” a man with a white shock of hair interjected himself into the conversation. “You know what chemtrails are?” he asked, referring to another conspiracist trope that sees chemical tampering in jetstream vapor trails. “They’re changing the weather, then selling drought tolerant seeds. George Soros and Bill Gates are behind it.” Egger nodded politely and smiled, tolerant of a potential customer’s eccentricities.

While normalcy and centrism may be the goal for businesspeople like Cindy and Jim Thompson, it seems the preparedness lifestyle hasn’t completely shaken loose its extremists and kooks. (source)

Besides all the great sites talked about above, go back through all the old posts here to get a good idea about where to start and what to do and even how to do it.

 

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

 

Via: thedailysheeple

Shoot First or Call 9-1-1: What Would You Do If Someone Kicked In Your Door?

In the wee hours of the morning on September 13th, Air Force Sgt. Matt Pinkerton and his wife were entertaining guests at their home when an acquaintance of Mrs. Pinkerton’s came knocking.

It was 2 AM. After being told to leave by Matt Pinkerton, who closed the door, Kendall Green decided that he’d kick it in and force his way into the home.

Matt Pinkerton, having armed himself with his Glock17 9mm prior to approaching the door, then proceeded to discharge two rounds into Green.

Green was subsequently killed in an obvious act of self defense.

But the story didn’t end there, as it should have.

The district attorney’s office has now filed second degree murder charges against Sgt. Pinkerton.

You may be asking yourself under what pretext?

According to the DA, Pinkerton exhibited “bizarre behavior” by grabbing his weapon when an unexpected knock came to his door at 2AM that morning. And, because he failed to call 9-1-1 between the time Green kicked in his door and rushed him, he has now been charged with murder by the state.

Mike Pinkerton, one of the guests and brother of Matt, recalls the incident via Bullets First:

“He (Green) kept coming forward so Matt fired. He rocked backwards and took another step forward at which time Matt took his second shot. He stumbled backwards and fell out the door onto the porch.”

“When the shots were fired Jessica called 911.  Matt spoke to the operator; he removed the clip from his gun and the bullet in the chamber. Police arrived within five minutes.”

So what did Matt do wrong when a crazed man broke in his front door at 2am and was after his wife?  To me, nothing.

Yet according to the state of Maryland, Matt should have called 911 first and waited for the police.

That isn’t some glib, pro gun caricature of the how when seconds count cops are minutes away.  This is the reason he is being charged with murder.  It doesn’t help that on top of the lack of a Castle Doctrine Statute the  Assistant State’s Attorney, Glen Neubauer, is an rabid anti gunner himself.

Besides maintaining the ridiculous notion that calling 911 while a crazed intruder just smashed his way into your house is the only legal option, Neubauer also claims that  even the act of grabbing the gun in the first place is “bizarre behavior in itself.”

Read the full report at Bullets First

As an important note, Mrs. Pinkerton was in no way involved with Kendall Green and a long list of evidence suggests they were merely friends, until Green decided he wanted more out of the relationship, at which point Mrs. Pinkerton ended their interactions.

Thus, it should be obvious that Kendall Green was likely demonstrating irrational emotional and mental behavior the morning he kicked down her door and entered her home.

The Pinkertons have set up a Facebook page in an effort to bring awareness to Matt’s plight against an overzealous District Attorney, who himself is a staunch supporter of anti-gun laws.

Through no fault of his own, Matt Pinkerton is now facing the real possibility of being imprisoned for doing what any self respecting, individually responsible person would do – defending himself, his wife, his guests and his home.

His legal expenses have already exceeded $25,000, plus an additional $25,000 so that Sgt. Pinkerton could be released on bond while awaiting his trial. The family was forced to take out loans in order to make these payments.

So, not only is the State now threatening the freedom of a man who defended those he loved, they are impoverishing him and his family for no other reason than to make a political statement.

The Pinkertons have received an overwhelming show of support since making their story public, with thousands flocking to their Facebook page. Matt Pinkerton was compelled to respond to his many supporters directly:

The monetary support is simply amazing! While I appreciate it, I don’t want anyone to overextend themselves. I am still working, and still getting paid. I received word that the GiveForward effort was reported. They shut it down when they learned it was not medically related. That said, they are cutting a check, IN THE AMOUNT OF $12,453!!!, give or take 20 bucks or so. Words can’t express my appreciation. I was standing guard at the gate when my wife texted me that our friend, Erica, set up the donation page. It’s a blessing to have so many supporters! From what I have been told, the reps at GiveForward suggested to Erica another site. I have since learned she has set something else up…or so I believe she has given the mass amount of emails I am receiving about PayPal donations/

I hate accepting money from anyone! I wouldn’t even allow my parents to purchase my first vehicle at the age of 16. However, I understand there are some that still want to help.

I have a LOT I would like to say. However, as you all likely know and understand, my lawyer would suggest I not. When this is all said and done, regardless of the outcome, I will share my story.

It is a travesty that Sergeant Matt Pinkerton has been put into this position.

The majority of people with any common sense at all know the answer to the question: What Would You Do If Someone Kicked Your Door In?

Matt had to make an immediate determination about how to respond to an intruder who had just kicked in his door, had made the decision to target him directly, and was making his way towards him.

He had mere seconds to decide, because 10 – 15 feet is not much ground to cover when someone is racing towards you with violence on their mind.

The last thing on Matt’s mind was whether he should call 9-1-1 at the particular moment in time.

We often say it’s better to be judged by twelve than carried by six.

This is a real life representation of the adage.

If you’d like to lend your support to Matt Pinkerton and his family, their friends have set up a crowd funding page to help with his defense.

Visit the page and leave a comment or donation if you have the means available to do so.


(Pictured: Matt Pinkerton with his sons)

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Via: shtfplan