survival skills | Being prepared today

October 4, 2021October 5, 2021

Lifesaving safety skills

What could be considered Lifesaving safety skills? Personally I would think of things that you think ahead to or prepare and plan for. Things that you should know by thinking things through before acting or even learn by reading instructions or warning labels. There are also skills that one may have that go deeper than that.

Even common sense can be a lifesaving safety skill, even if the life you save is your own. Being a little knowledgeable in many different areas is beneficial in the sense that you understand the concepts and dangers of a given subject. Using that knowledge to be safe and aware at all times is going to pay off in the long run. Don’t you think?

I want to discuss and explain some of these safety skills that could keep you and your family out of harm or serious injury.

Being aware of surroundings a safety skill ?

Being aware of your surroundings at all times will sharpen your mind and senses. Your eyes can alert you to dangers very quickly and in cooperation with your mind, also identify hazards of various sorts.

Check out this article talking about wilderness survival skills.

Reading instructions should become a habit. They have danger warnings and precautions on them for a reason. Hazardous chemicals, aerosols and mixtures might be deadly or very poisonous.

Things in your everyday life might pose dangers as well. For instance the electrical breaker box at home. Jogging around the block in your neighborhood early in the morning. Your fireplace or firepit in the backyard.

Try to know the weather and climate conditions for your area. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher. Wear a reflective vest when jogging for higher visibility. Get into the habit of observing other people around you and their behaviors.

You can also read up on other specific dangers on Ready.gov.

Some safety skills pertaining to work

Implementing some habits in the workplace can save your life or others around you. As I spoke about in the previous section, just being aware of surroundings and noticing what others are doing can be one of the safest habits.

Using power tools in the appropriate manner and using the right tool for the task is always recommended. Wearing the proper attire like pants and reflective vests are usually required. Common sense dictates that you need a reflective vest at night, especially when near a road with possible traffic.

Take heed of the training that jobsites and employers offer. It will pay off in the long run by bringing you home safely to your family.

Active shooters and other dangers in society

Normalcy bias is a complacency you experience when you live your life without danger. For everyday that you live life without danger it takes you longer to react to that danger.

Situational awareness allows you to identify normal behavior or situations as opposed to abnormal or dangerous behavior or situations. You will notice personal behavior, mannerisms, clothing, sounds and objects that might be threatening.

Knowing and understanding what is happening around you will allow you to be prepared for dangerous situations and act accordingly. Observation and risk assessment will facilitate this understanding and help you to mitigate situations whether it be split second decisions or prolonged preparations.

First aid and child safety

When it comes to our children we all worry at some point and wonder How to teach them safety skills. Everything from plugging an open electrical socket to teaching them to keep pencils out of their ears can be worrisome.

Stranger danger can overwhelm and scare children so try and take a different approach. Everyone may do it differently but one suggestion I really like is that no adult should ask a child for help. If they need help or directions they should ask another adult.

Fire safety should be taught to everyone. Teach your children how to call 9-1-1 only in the case of emergencies and what info the responders will need. Teach them to head immediately for an exit to the home and the stop drop and roll technique.

Everyone knows to get under a desk or something solid to shield them from falling objects during an earthquake right? Well I like to think being outside is the safest bet, however if you can’t make it outside then that is the next best thing.

Basic First aid is a skill that everyone should know. Ranging from CPR to applying a simple bandage, Some common knowledge of basic medical care procedures and even field dressing wounds will be beneficial.

Learn the basics of antibiotics, ibuprofen and acetaminophen, bandages. Know how to spot a stroke or heart attack and how to know the difference as well. Strokes will cause one side of the face to droop, cognitive disorientation, and difficulty moving any part of the body. A heart attack is usually accompanied by excruciating pain on the left side of body, tightness in the chest and also a swimmy head.

There are tons of ideas for being safe and having the skills necessary to expand on that idea. Feel free to expand on it!

I hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you have any questions, comments or input feel free to leave them in the box below.

Thanks

August 31, 2021August 31, 2021

Ways to avoid exposure to the elements

Have you ever been so cold that it stops hurting? How about a heat stroke? Have you ever been in a flood or even a hurricane or windstorm? Hot or cold. Soaked or dehydrated. Wind or altitude. Insects or disease. After a flood comes the bugs and bacterial diseases. Believe it or not, wind can make you chapped and dehydrated but can also cut through your clothes leaving you frozen. These are obviously the worst case scenarios but on this semi-unforgiving planet, ignorance and complacency can catch you off guard and you would be wise to learn to avoid exposure.

Wind and Altitude

Wind can vary from a light breeze to a hurricane. A light breeze at even 40 degrees Fahrenheit can be bitter cold and cause hypothermia if exposed for a long period. Obviously, extra clothing can help insulate you from the cold and keep body heat in. Hot, dry winds can dry your skin and cause chapping, even dehydrate you. Other than a windbreaker or other clothing that has wind protection technology, finding stable shelter or going indoors is the only other option.

Building a shelter in the wilderness is a handy skill to have. If you would like more info on that subject head on over to these links:

Wilderness survival skills

Building suitable shelter

AMS is the acronym for Acute Mountain Syndrome. AMS can happen to anyone and it’s not really known exactly what causes it. People who have climbed or hiked for years at high altitudes can suddenly experience it without warning. Early warning signs of AMS can include nausea, headaches, feelings of fatigue, dizziness and disorientation. If not addressed, they can get worse and effect your motor skills and even walking. The only surefire way to address AMS is to descend to lower altitudes as quickly as possible.

Heat and Cold

Frigid temperatures are quite uncomfortable to most people and if not properly prepared for are quite dangerous. Proper, warm clothing is your best bet for staying warm. However, constant movement of body and limbs causes friction which creates heat. Try to keep moving, even pacing in place or flexing your fingers when needed, it will keep the blood circulating and the heat flowing. A small fire can warm the extremities and keep frostbite at bay.

The Heat is just as dangerous. Exposure to the sun can cause dehydration or sunburn and with physical exertion can cause heat exhaustion and even heat stroke. Drink plenty of water with electrolytes. When the body sweats, you lose precious sodium and other hydrating minerals that must be replenished. The body needs them for proper muscle function, blood circulation and brain function as well. However, finding a nice shady spot to beat the heat, like under a tree, can be the simplest yet best idea.

Precipitation and Dehydration

A fair amount of people believe that getting caught in the rain can lead to the common cold. The combination of wetness and cold temperatures can indeed make you sick. Snow included. Rain jackets, poncho or even a large trash bag if your in a pinch, will keep you dry and slick away the moisture. Avoid letting your feet get wet or if they do, dry them as soon as you can to ward off Trench Foot. It is a rotting of the flesh cause by being cold and absorbing too much moisture. The body stops flow of blood to the cold, wet limbs in an attempt to conserve energy and it’s quite nasty, possibly leading to amputation.

On the opposite side of that storm is dehydration. Not drinking enough water or simply not having the electrolytes needed to maintain proper physical and mental operation can be deadly. First you will start to chap up or ‘parch’ as some people call it. You may seem very thirsty and that’s because you are and it may be accompanied by delirium or hallucinations. Next you will lose consciousness then organ damage followed by death. Keeping an amount of salt will keep up on the electrolytes and sodium that your body needs. If you don’t have any water with you, find shade immediately if you start to feel overheated or extra thirsty. Sometimes it is possible to dig down into the earth a couple feet and find ground water.

Insects and Disease

Flying and biting insects of the wild, especially mosquitoes, carry diseases like malaria (in some countries), Dengue, Yellow fever, blood borne pathogens and now even West Nile virus. Precautions like a bug spray or even essential oils that are effective at repelling pesky biting bugs are highly suggested. If you get caught in the wild without repellent of any sort then rubbing mud on your exposed skin will help protect you from biting insects. While it doesn’t deter them from trying they cannot bite through the mud. It is a method of protection the Native American Indians have used for centuries.

Staying safe and healthy

Take proper precautions to stay safe while on a hike, out in the wilderness camping or for any reason you might be at risk of exposure. Exercise, vitamins and eating healthy can help mitigate some of the more severe symptoms of certain exposures. The tips and suggestions in this article will also keep you from extreme exposure to the elements. This world can be harsh and Humans have evolved to a point where we have the luxuries of air conditioning, solid shelters we call houses and vehicles that can travel 10 times faster than any horse or covered wagon. So, next time you’re out and about you will now have the knowledge to keep yourself safe from the extremes.

I hope you found this article informative and if you have any questions, comments or input please feel free to do so in the comments box below.

Thanks

Other resources:

READY.GOV

January 19, 2021January 30, 2021

Field dressing injuries: Guide to dressing wounds with limited supplies

A field dressing or battle dressing is a kind of bandage intended to be carried by soldiers for immediate use in case of a wound, usually a gunshot wound. It consists of a large gauze or absorbent pad attached to the middle of an elastic strip used to fasten or hold the pad in place. Field dressing injuries is meant to protect the injury or wound and prevent further complications. They would be able to clean and bandage themselves up so not to bleed out and move on to seek medical attention before it got infected or a limb went gangrene. In this guide, I will explain how to field dress your injury, not necessarily a gunshot wound, with limited supplies and without having a specialized kit for the situation.

Continue reading “Field dressing injuries: Guide to dressing wounds with limited supplies”

Tag: survival skills