A Model For A Twelve Month Checklist: Part Three

This was first published on Survivalblog https://survivalblog.com/2023/01/27/12-month-preparedness-checklist-part-1-reltney-mcfee/ The publisher, James, Rawles, kindly allowed me to reprint it here, for your benefit. Thank you, Jim!

Abruptly changing gears, and (at least for now, on this topic) demonstrating some foresight, August is time to repack my Bug Out Bag (or, in my case, most likely to be a Get Me Home Bag). I checked licenses and documents of various sorts in May: in August I check the copies I have with me in my BOB. You may elect to carry hard copies, or copies on a thumb drive, or on an encrypted thumb drive. If hard copy, assessing condition/legibility of these documents that you elect to have with you, is reasonable. If hard drive, well, function test your drive, and make sure (a) that you can read the documents, as well as (b) that you can recall, and successfully enter, your key so as to access encrypted documents.

August is a good time to begin to change my summer load out for my winter/autumn load out. Doing so in August allows me time to address shortfalls or spoiled items, before the need for a cold weather bag drops on me.

BUG OUT BAG

Prep winter bag: inspect, inventory contents: (condition)(serviceability)(out-dates)

Change out BOB food, water

Change to winter bag 15 September

Emergency Cash: (Amount? Specie? Bills or coins?)

Documents: Marriage/professional licenses/certifications. ID. (passport copy?) Deed, vehicle titles. (thumb drive vs hard copy)

(FINISH CHECKS FROM JULY)

RECURRING CHECKS

FLUSH HOT WATER HEATER

CHANGE STORED WATER

CHECK RADIOS AND BATTERIES

SERVICE AMMO CAN DESSICANT PACKS (if not performed in July)

September is the month that I have selected to apply to medical and first aid matters. Should my CPR, first aid, or other training approach need for renewal/re-certification, I have 3 months to accomplish same in this calendar year. In my circumstance, my employer provides funds for continuing medical education, and this is a reasonable target for such an expenditure.

In addition, we put up the camper for the winter around this time, and that should be a trigger to inspect the camper itself, and, along with that, the supplies that go with it. Removal of the first aid kit and boo-boo kits from the camper, triggers a review of the contents of all the medic bags, first aid kits, and boo boo kits. After all, after a summer in the trunk/back seat/other of the camper/vehicle one/vehicle two, it’s reasonable to wonder what these hot adverse conditions have had on the contents. Tape, in particular, tends to coalesce into a useless gummy mass, and that ought to be identified, and replaced, BEFORE I find myself at the roadside at a rollover collision. Or, more prosaically, BEFORE I send my foot through the rotted deck of a trailer that I am loading, abrading the bejabbers out of my leg, and allowing me to provide all and sundry a continuing medical education moment on Field Care Of The Mark 1, Mod Ø Geezer-on-Anticoagulants Hematoma. Ya know, hindsight IS 20/20!

Since I am a midlevel, and routinely suture wounds (where that is appropriate), I have suture sets. I recheck these, evaluate for contamination as well as out-dates, and replace/repack as indicated.

Since I attempt to keep a couple of month (or more) cushion of my essential prescription meds, it is (again) reasonable to inventory these meds, and while doing so, take note of out dates. Similarly, over-the-counter (OTC) medications: decide what your desired baseline stock level is, decide the stock level that will trigger a restock shopping trip, and decide what your assortment of OTC meds ought to look like. AND! FOR EVERY MEDICATION THAT YOU STORE, KNOW, BEYOND QUESTION, THE DOSAGE, INDICATIONS, CONTRAINDICATIONS, ADVERSE REACTIONS (SIDE EFFECTS), AND OVERDOSAGE SIGNS OF EVERY MEDICATION THAT YOU ANTICIPATE ADMINISTERING TO SOMEONE! WRITE! THAT! STUFF! DOWN!

AND, KEEP IT WITH YOUR MEDICATIONS!

MEDICAL/FIRST AID

Check medic bags: Out-dates, spoiled supplies (TAPE!)

HOUSEHOLD MED STORES

OTC MEDS

(I have grandchildren in my life, so I not only keep OTC meds for TDW-Mark II and myself, I also put aside pediatric meds)

Acetaminophen/Ibuprofen/Naproxen/Nasal Steroid Spray/Cetirizine/diphenhydramine/Sore Throat Spray/Liniment (may be known in your household as “muscle rub”)

Inventory. Out-dates. Restock/Shopping List

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

Inventory.

Check out-dates.

Generate a restock/shopping list.

FEMININE NEEDS

Contraception

Menstrual Products

EMERGENCY CHILDBIRTH KITS

RECURRING CHECKS

Medic Bags/First Aid Kits/Boo-Boo kits: Replace meds, inspect contents

BOB: Change out for Winter load out

Check Radios and Batteries

October has a short list of evaluations. That provides an opportunity to do those checks that got past me earlier in the year.

WATER

Change stored water

Inspect, test assemble water filters.

RECURRING CHECKS

Check radios and batteries

Change BOB food, water

(have ALL the guns been cleaned?)

(has ALL the ammo been inspected and inventoried?)

November, having opening day of firearm deer season, is a sort of secular faux-holy-day in rural The Un-Named Flyover State. THAT precipitates thoughts of meat, and THAT triggers the thought that the freezers need defrosting, their contents require inventory, and restocking is pending.

FOOD

Freezers

Defrosting

Inventory Contents: Beef. Chicken. Bread. (other: decide for your household)

Compare present stock to desired baseline

Generate shopping list

Canned Food

Inventory

(Have any cans outdated or spoiled? What does that tell me about my baseline stocking levels, and required adjustments?)

Dried Milk

Dried Cheese

(MREs, freeze dried foods, etcetera)

RECURRING CHECKS

Check radios and batteries

December is the opportunity to review the preceding year’s plans, successes, and failures. Indeed, December 2022 was the month in which I developed this “calendar”, so as to systematize my checking up on my preps. I gathered scattered checklists, and assembled them into one document. I attempted to level the workload from month-to-month. (a cursory review of my efforts will reveal that THAT is a process improvement opportunity!) I drafted a few plans for 2023, and provided a copy to TDW-Mark II for critique/review. This document is a result of that review, this past December.

YEAR IN REVIEW

Review previous year:

What months went well?

What months went poorly?

Which preps went well?

Which preps went poorly?

Severe shortfalls? Where? Why?

Overstock? What/where? Why? (what was it that revealed an overstock to indeed be an overstock?)

Spectacular fail? Describe. Why did that fail? How to remedy?

Spectacular success? Describe. What went well? Could it have been improved further? How?

PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR FROM ABOVE ANALYSIS

Fitness plan for coming year

Bugout Plan: Review, walk through, identify fails, how to remedy?

Financial plan for coming year. (How did last year’s plan go? Why success/why fail?)

RECURRING CHECKS

Check radios and batteries

Check, change if indicated, BOB food and water

Let’s see what December 2023 reveals! I pray that my preps are even more dusty than they are at present, and that all the ammunition that I expend is expended at the range!

A Model For A Twelve Month Checklist: Part Two

This was first published on Survivalblog https://survivalblog.com/2023/01/27/12-month-preparedness-checklist-part-1-reltney-mcfee/ The publisher, James, Rawles, kindly allowed me to reprint it here, for your benefit. Thank you, Jim!

March is Personal Care Supplies, because I lack imagination, and it had to be somewhere, right?

Notice that I have question marks beside feminine products, as well as contraception. TDW-Mark II and I are out of the baby business, but if you, or some woman in your life is NOT definitively out of the baby business, plan for “romance”. I guarantee that somewhere around number 60 on your “Top Ten Things I Want To Do In TEOTWAKI” list, is deliver a child for a woman that you love. Under austere conditions. Likely, in the dark.

Similarly, if there are (or will be) women of near child bearing age in your household during Hard Times, they will think very highly of your having planned for their periods.

PERSONAL CARE

Razors # 52

Toothbrushes # 52

Dental Floss # 24

Toothpaste #26 tubes

(Feminine products?)

(Contraception?)

CLOTHING REPAIR

Sewing Needles #25

Buttons #100 (assorted sizes)

Thread (12 spools)(various colors, weights)

Shoelaces (#24)(different lengths: shoe length, boot length)

Patching Material

TREADLE SEWING MACHINE

Belts (#4)

Needles #100

Sewing Thread (12 spools)

RECURRING CHECKS

FLUSH HOT WATER TANK

CHANGE STORED WATER

CHK RADIOS/BATTERIES

April is gardening and outdoor items. Yes, I DO realize that active gardeners likely begin their planning in, oh, February. (That might be one reason that this is “A Model”, and not “THE MODEL”, eh?)

As you may guess from my map list, I work something like two counties over from my residence. So, when fully polished, my return home plan has multiple alternate routes, that do not rely upon the expressway system being open, with at least one alternate following tertiary roads. If I am forced to hike home, way-points that allow me to top off my water will be welcome. Identifying alternatives during leisurely meanders home seems like a prudent way to spend some time.

MAPS: LOCAL: COUNTY

(my county)(the county to the north)(south)(east)(west)

(county maps en route to work)

(topo maps for the above)

(state highway maps: my state, state north/south/east/west)(frequent destination states)

Gazetteer (see above list of states)

Water Sources (about home)(en route to work)

GARDENING:

Seeds

Fertilizer

Tools

Canning Jars #48

Canning Lids #300 +

Pressure Canner

Pressure Canner Gasket x 4

(Solar) Dehydrator

RECURRING CHECKS

Check Radios/Batteries

CHANGE BOB Food and Water

May is communications and finances. For one thing, it appears reasonable to assess how the budget decisions made in December, are coming along, before the wheels come off /I get too far along with the year. Doing these ruminations in May provides some time to correct assumptions that did not develop, as well as to adapt and rethink in the face of new realities, should such crop up.

In addition, inspecting my communication gear, and associated licenses, helps me get into gear for Amateur Radio Field Day, held annually on the last full weekend in June.

FINANCES

Status of Rainy Day Fund (compare to goals)

Status of particular savings accounts (eg, new vehicle, new camper, Moar! Guns!, etcetera)

Progress on paying off target accounts (credit card, student loan, mortgage, etcetera)

Check house deed

Vehicle titles, license plates

Out dates of licenses? (driver/concealed carry/amateur radio/GMRS/professional licenses and certifications)

Lay hands on marriage license, passports, other important papers. Are they where you thought that they were? Are they as secure as you intended for them to be?

RECURRING CHECKS

Check medic bags.

Change out meds in subordinate first aid kits: vehicle/camper/house

Service ammo can desiccators

Check Radios and Batteries (I have it twice, because it is THAT important!)

Clean Guns

June is the month to assess the animals: are their vaccinations current? How is that Veterinary Medic Bag coming along? (Hint, hint…) In addition, while I am out and about, June might be a nice month to function test my generator, and, following the thought that a power failure might require my generator to function, would it not be nice to have, gosh, LIGHT, while poking around getting such things set up?

Why, now that you ask, yes! Yes, light would be pleasant! I checked the batteries in January, and this month’s check both rides on January’s coat tails, as well as specifically focuses on the lights that I carry daily. Years ago, I was an RN working ICU on midnights. On a couple of occasions, the mains power failed and (to my dismay) the emergency generator at the hospital employing me did NOT power up.

It gets might, mighty dark in an ICU at oh-dark-hundred! I now carry two belt flashlights because “1 is none, and 2 is 1”. Due to this “2=1, 1=none” calculus, I also have two pen style flashlights in my shirt pocket at all times, as well as one coin cell click light on my badge, and an Streamlight Proton Light (powered by 4 x LR 41 batteries) on my key ring.

ANIMALS

Are vaccinations current?

Veterinary care supplies: (list)(out-date)(status/condition)

GENERATOR

Function Test/Run under load (heater)

Preventative maintenance: oil change? (Belts/other) need (inspection/servicing)?

LANTERNS AND BATTERIES (see battery list for locations)

Battery charge?

Battery condition?

EVERYDAY CARRY LIGHTS

Penlights

Click Light

O Light

Sure Fire light (on belt)

Thor Fire light (on belt)

RECURRENT CHECKS

Check Radios/Batteries

Change BOB Food and Water

July is the month I captioned “Transport and Security”. Transport, because TDW-Mark II and I like to travel and camp. You might wonder if that might be something to accomplish in, say March or April, rather in the thick of let’s-go-camping season. You would be correct in this wondering. Your list might well juggle which task(s) get assigned to which month(s), which is as it should be.

For myself, every month, when I enter into my checks, I review just that thought, and fine tune my calendar just a bit.

Security audits consist of, fundamentally, assessment of potential threats, and review of plans to address each threat. Some of the threats are addressed by responses to other threats. For example, should you have a plan for Antifa style rioting, it is likely that your plans would prove helpful in the event of a Zombie uprising. On the other hand, a plan for a B & E of your dwelling might not successfully address the hazards to be found in a wildfire approaching your home. You need to triage, or rank-order, what threats you consider a significant threat, and plan for those easily thwarted, and those whose attack would be catastrophic. THAT analysis is an entirely different topic, but you ought to annually consider what threats that you may face, and evaluate your plans to address them.

TRANSPORT

Gasoline: Amount, age, condition. Stored safely? (generally, storage in accordance with fire codes maps pretty neatly onto safe storage)

Propane: Amount, age, condition. Stored safely?

Kerosene: Amount, age, condition. Stored safely?

Charcoal: Amount, age, condition? Stored safely?

Butane: Amount, age, condition? Stored safely?

TRANSPORT: Medic bags/first aid kits/Boo-boo kits (my vehicle)(TDW-MarkII’s vehicle)(Camper) (house)

Out-date check. Condition check: visually inspect.

SECURITY

GUNS

Inventory. Clean/lubricate

AMMO

Inventory. Visually inspect: condition/age/recharge desiccant packs.

Restock/shortfall list

SECURITY AUDIT:

House

Vehicles

Clean, service guns for vehicles

Recurring Checks

CHECK RADIOS AND BATTERIES

A Model For A Twelve Month Checklist

This was first published on Survivalblog https://survivalblog.com/2023/01/27/12-month-preparedness-checklist-part-1-reltney-mcfee/ The publisher, James, Rawles, kindly allowed me to reprint it here, for your benefit. Thank you, Jim!

It has been said that amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics. I have attempted to put things aside for rainy days, and, with Mr. Biden at the helm, and Mr. Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation, well, my achy knees tell me that rainy days are a’coming.

This last November, I had the epiphany that I needed to check the condition as well as charge of my batteries. This is a task for me semi annually. I inspect for signs of leakage, I test the strength (using a voltage meter: Radio Shack used to sell them for $10-$20, once upon a time), and contemplate whether I have enough of each size. Unlike ammunition, “MOAR!” is not always the correct answer, for, ammunition keeps nearly forever if kept cool, dry and in the dark. Batteries have a self discharge phenomenon, and both rechargeable as well as alkaline (and carbon-zinc), or “primary”, batteries, will lose their charge over time. (“Primary batteries” are single use, and their charge derives from the chemicals with which they are made. “Secondary”, or rechargeable, batteries can be brought back up to charge, after discharge, although after a sufficient number of charge/discharge cycles, they gradually lose their ability to accept and hold a charge.) Therefore, in an ideal bunker, I would have just enough that I would have fully charged batteries in service, and enough fully charged replacements to cycle back and forth, so that no battery would die a lonely, unused, death, way back in the back of my battery shelf.

I am still striving for that level of efficiency.

When I checked this past month, to my disappointment, I found that most of my rechargeable batteries had discharged. Once I see if they will accept and hold a charge, I will know if they are in need of replacement, or simply every month assessment.

I have some primary cells, for items that are frequently used. I have an LED penlight fueled by AAA batteries, and another identical penlight, except that this LED emits in near UV. That is handy for illuminating rashes, sometimes revealing luminescence typical of certain strains of dermatophytes. You might recognize the rashes caused, such as “ringworm”, or dandruff, or athlete’s foot, among others. Not all the dermatophytes glow under UV, but when it does, it is an “AHA!” moment. (yeah, I am a midlevel provider.)

My Sure Fire and Thor Fire flashlights use CR-123 batteries, and ride in holsters on my belt. They are bright, “Light-up-the-yard” lights. There are two, because should one fail, it is likely that the other will function. I have spare batteries in my “Bag Of Tricks” (h/t to Felix The Cat as well as Commander Zero of “Notes From The Bunker”)

Our vehicles each have one or more “torches”, to differentiate the hand held lights, from the headlamp, the light-up-the-interior-of-the-vehicle lanterns, or the LED warning flashers. One torch is powered by CR-123 batteries, two are powered by C primary cells (the second torch, and one handheld flashlight)

The LED flashers are powered by AAA batteries, and are intended to allow oncoming traffic to see that there is something (Me!) in the roadway, in the event of a breakdown, collision, or other night time deviation from normal. It turns out, when you buy “budget” rechargeable batteries, they have fewer charge/discharge cycles in their make up, than quality cells. Guess which will replace the unsatisfactory batteries? Yep: buy once, cry once. Or cheap out, and cry. In the dark.

Subsequent to my battery experience, I developed a calendar of sorts. Each month has it’s own focus, such that I do not spend every single day off in any one month in my subterranean lair, checking off stores against a checklist. If all goes smoothly, I might get my inventory done in an afternoon. As a starting point for those who might be interested, I have included a representative sample of my present-draft month-to-month checklist.

The batteries that power my hand held radios are on an every month check, because if they are required to be placed in service, they are likely to be required NOW. Secondly, they are powered by battery packs, and the lead times, in good times, to obtain replacements are measured in days-to-weeks. These are NOT “good times”, and therefore vigilance regarding the radio batteries, and their state of charge, is prudent.

My lead off check list is my recurring checks. I list it first, because failing to perform these checks every six months/every month/ as planned, may lead to Bad Things. For instance, failure to check and replace my bug out bag, or first aid kit meds, might lead to administering out dated, for example, Tylenol. THAT might place somebody into liver or kidney failure, and THAT just might be bad, from a kharma perspective, and a “First Do No Harm” perspective, as well as a liability/litigation perspective.

RECURRING CHECKS

Clean Guns every 6 mos

15 Jan/15 June

Ammo Can Desiccant every 3 mos

15 Feb/15 May/15 Aug/15 Nov

Radio Batteries every month and as indicated

Stored Water change every 6 mos

change 15 Mar/15 Sept

Flush Hot Water Heater every 6 mos

15 Mar/15 August

BOB Food/Water change every other month/even months

BOB summer/winter gear: change every 6 mos

change 15 Apr/15 Oct

Jump Kit/Car Kit/Boo Boo Kit change every 6 mos

check, change 15 Sept/15 May

Generator: Function Check. Run under load. (every 6 mos)

Apr 15/Oct 15

My January checklist is Lights/Heat/Fire, well, because it’s dark in this, The Un Named Fly Over State in the winter, as well as remarkably cold. (well, EVERYBODY remarks upon how cold it is, so, I suppose, THAT makes it “remarkable”, right?) Some of the things on this list, such as “check lanterns”, or “check heaters”, perhaps ought to be performed in more pleasant weather, prior to the likelihood of, ya know, REQUIRING these things to properly function. But, I drew this up in the winter, and am now in the first year of implementation. As may be imagined, there is editing in my future!

LIGHTS/FIRE/HEAT

LIGHTS

Lanterns:

propane: Inspect, Function test

battery: Inspect, Function test (inspect batteries!)

AC light bulbs: Inventory, Inspect

Flashlights: Inventory, Inspect, Function Check

Batteries for Flashlights: Inventory, Inspect, Test charge (see Battery checklist for locations, baseline stock levels)

FIRE

Matches: Inspect

Lighters

Pocket: Inspect

Barbecue: Inspect

Candles: Inventory, Inspect (3 each day, 30 day supply)

Candle Lanterns (Mason Jar)(Pop can)

Charcoal: (3 bags)(store in tightly closed metal trash can)

Firewood

Solar Charging (Trickle)(100 watt)

Generator: Function Check. Run under load. (q every 6 mos)

Generator Fuel (amount stored)(fuel stabilizer)(condition)

Butane/Propane stoves: Function check. Fuel stored: amount, condition.

Propane heater: Function check (has batteries: Check same)

Kerosene heater: Function check. Fuel (amount)(condition)(fuel stabilizer) (has batteries. Check same)

Fire extinguishers. Inventory. Check condition.

FIRE PLAN: Review, rethink as indicated. Walk through.

RECURRING CHECKS

Clean Guns

Check Radios and Batteries

February was christened “Paper/Cleaning/Household” Month, because, basically, it’s the Third Anniversary Of The Covid TP Freak-out. Should you have a reason to check your own paper (etc) stores in a different month, be my guest. OTOH, making such a check in February, and identifying a deficit, gives you a couple of months to make it right, before Spring Cleaning pops up.

PAPER/CLEANING/HOUSEHOLD

TP: 52 rolls/person/year

(TP x 4 persons x 1 year = 200 rolls)

(TP x 8 persons x 1 yr = 400 rolls)

KITCHEN

Scrubbiesx12

Dish soap x 12, 75 fluid oz ea

Plastic flatware

Paper plates/cups/bowls

Bleach (unscented) gallon x 4 (8?)

Trash Bags, 13 gal, 200 bags/box, x 4 boxes

Trash Bags, 30 gal, 200/box, x 4 boxes

Trash Bags, 55 gal (contractor), 30/box, x 2 boxes

Zip Lock bags (freezer), quart, #100

Zip Lock bags (freezer), gallon, #100

Paper Towels, roll #24

Aluminum Foil, roll, #10

Dish Pans, #3-6

Plastic Wrap, roll, #10

BATH

Bar soap, # 52 bars

Shampoo # 12 bottles

Shampoo (Nizoral), #4 bottles

Deodorant (Me) (TDW) #13 each

Lotion, bottle, 20 oz, #12

Liquid hand soap, bottle, 40 oz, # 13

Baby Wipes, package, 100, #36 (VACUUM SEAL)

LINEN

Sheets x 4 sets/bed

Bath Towels x 2/person

Wash Cloths x 2/person

Pillow Cases x 4/bed

Laundry Bags x 1/person

Blankets x 2/person

Cleaning

Mop/Bucket x 2 (x 4?)

Lysol/Pine Sol x 6 bottles

Whip It x 6 bottles

Scouring Powder x 6

Toilet Cleaner x 6

RECURRING CHECKS

RADIOS/BATTERIES

CHANGE BOB FOOD/WATER

SERVICE AMMO CAN DESSICANT

Never Fuck Around With A Brooklyn Boy

My Dad was from Brooklyn, He told me, when I was a lad, “Never fuck around with a Brooklyn Boy!”

That is sound advice.

I used to work with a guy who, one time, when his wife was ill, and he was the only income in their two income household, fell behind on some bills. He is an ex street medic, himself, and, well, not in the “shit” business: he did not talk shit, he would not take shit.

So TINS, this one time he received a call from one creditor, who, once my friend had explained that he, the creditor, would not be receiving money in the near future, and would indeed be paid, once the finances in the household were approaching stability, responded (the creditor), “Oh, so you do not think that I can find you?”

My friend paused, and counseled this asshole. “Well, no, I do not think about that issue, one way or the other. But, now that you have brought it up, it is my opinion that, should your luck be exceedingly poor, you just might, indeed, find me. Have a nice day!”

My friend never saw that jackwagon, ever.

Years and years ago, I fell behind on my mortgage. (something about unemployment…) I was in touch with my lender, thinking that absence of surprise would be to my advantage.

Wrong.

I asked about any sort of program for an unemployed soul, whereby I could make partial payments, and have the arrearage added to later payments.

Nope.

Could I miss a couple of payments, and have them added to the tail end of my mortgage? I would continue to pay interest.

Nope.

Well, after buying groceries, and sucklike, gotta tell you that there simply was NOT the money to pay the house payment.

So, one day, a month or two into this niceness, I received a phone call from the mortgage company. The mortgage company asshole on the other end of the line advised me, “We are going to come out to inspect the house.”

“Why are you telling me this? You can drive by any time that you like.”

“Uh, no. We will come in and inspect the house.”

(my response)”Uh, no, you are not. You might make an appointment to come out, when I am home, and it is possible that I might escort one of your personnel to view selected portions of my house, but you are not simply going to ‘come in and inspect the house’. Not going to happen.”

(Mortgage Asshole) “You think you can stop us?”

(me) “Interesting that you should ask that question. Yeah, I know that I can stop you. If you do, indeed, plan to simply waltz in here without my permission, send orphaned bachelors, because whoever you send to walk on in, will be carried out.”

“Is that a threat?”

(me) “Nope, that is a prediction. Let’s consider this: you have just now threatened to have stranger or strangers break into my occupied home, and I have told you that that sort of activity will end poorly, for everyone. You threatened me with a B and E, I told you what my response will be. Your move.”

Oddly, nobody came over to “inspect” the house. What a surprise.

Dressing For Success

One time, my family gathered at a restaurant in Greektown, celebrating one occasion or another. This was in Downtown Da City, and, at this time, there had developed the phenomenon of flash mobs, wherein high spirited youths would apparently spontaneously congregate at one location or another, and in the course of the festivities, civilians, otherwise uninvolved with the group, would be assaulted and robbed.

TDW-Mark II and I spoke of such an event, and the potential for same to develop when our children, and grandchildren were at hand, and decided that this Would Be A Very Bad Thing. We selected our wardrobes accordingly.

It turns out that my son in law, my daughter, and my brother, all feel similarly about this sort of thing, for, when I counseled my sister in law, a very nice (and very naive) soul that, “If a group of folks all enter this restaurant all at once, I will tell you to take the children into the kitchen of the restaurant, and keep them there. Under no circumstances are you, or any of the children, to re enter the dining room, unless one of us physically arrives to escort you out!”

She protested, “But, we aren’t allowed into the kitchen!”

I showed her my wolf grin. “If I tell you to do so, I guarantee that nobody will say a word about you and the children being in the kitchen. The noise will be way, way too loud for you to hear them, if they were to do so!”

She looked puzzled. My son in law explained. “Mary, if Brenda grabs the kids and beelines to the kitchen, two things: do not be left behind, and do NOT get between her and the kitchen door!”

“Why is that?”

“If you are between Brenda and the kitchen door, and one of the ‘celebrants’ starts into the kitchen, he will be shot. Do not be in the way.”

Mary turned back to me. “Why would they try to go into the kitchen?”

I wolf grinned her way, again. “Because I had failed to kill them.”

My son in law chimed in, “I will have missed them, too!”

TDW-Mark II joined in. “Me, most likely I will have run out of ammunition. I do not plan to miss!”

My brother observed, “And, I will police up the stragglers, if any!”

Looking aghast, Mary declaimed, “You cannot believe that anybody would try to hurt somebody at random! I just do not believe such a thing could happen!”

TDW responded, “You just keep on believing that. In the meantime, if The Stretcher Ape tells you to get into the kitchen with the kids, do so right fucking now, pretty please?”

BATTERY MONTH

It has been said that amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics. I have attempted to put things aside for rainy days, and, with Mr. Biden at the helm, and Mr. Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation, well, my achy knees tell me that rainy days are a’coming.

This being November, it is Battery! Month! Semi annually, I inspect my batteries, and assess their charge. I inspect for signs of leakage, I test the strength (using a voltage meter: Radio Shack used to sell them for $10-$20, once upon a time), and contemplate whether I have enough of each size. Unlike ammunition, “MOAR!” is not always the correct answer, for, ammunition keeps nearly forever if kept cool, dry and in the dark. Batteries have a self discharge phenomenon, and both rechargeable as well as alkaline (and carbon-zinc), or “primary”, batteries, will lose their charge over time. (“Primary batteries” are single use, and their charge derives from the chemicals with which they are made. “secondary”, or rechargeable, batteries can be brought backup to charge, after discharge, although after a sufficient number of charge/discharge cycles, they gradually lose their ability to accept and hold a charge.) Therefore, in an ideal bunker, I would have just enough that I would have fully charged batteries in service, and enough fully charged replacements to cycle back and forth, so that no battery would die a lonely, unused, death, way back in the back of my battery shelf.

I am still striving for that level of efficiency.

When I checked this month, to my disappointment, I found that most of my rechargeable batteries had discharged. Once I see if they will accept and hold a charge, I will know if they are in need of replacement, or simply every 3 month assessment.

I have some primary cells, for items that are frequently used. I have an LED penlight fueled by AAA batteries, and another identical penlight, except that this LED emits in near UV. That is handy for illuminating rashes, sometimes revealing luminescence typical of certain strains of dermatophytes. You might recognize the rashes caused, such as “ringworm”, or dandruff, or athlete’s foot, among others. Not all the dermatophytes glow under UV, but when it does, it is an “AHA!” moment.

My SureFire and ITP flashlights ride in holsters on my belt. They are bright, “Light-up-the-yard” lights. There are two, because should one fail, it is likely that the other will function. There are two, because should one fail, it is likely that the other will function. I have spare batteries in my “Bag Of Tricks” (h/t to Felix The Cat)

Our vehicles each have a “torch”, to differentiate the hand held lights, from the headlamp, the light-up-the-interior-of-the-vehicle lanterns, or the LED warning flashers. One is powered by CR-123 batteries, two are powered by C primary cells (the torch, and one handheld flashlight)

The LED flashers are powered by AAA batteries, and are intended to allow oncoming traffic to see that there is something (Me!) in the roadway, in the event of a breakdown, collision, or other night time deviation from normal. It turns out, when you buy “budget” rechargeable batteries, they have fewer charge/discharge cycles in their make up, than quality cells. Guess which will replace the unsatisfactory batteries? Yep: buy once, cry once. Or cheap out, and cry. In the dark.

Each month has it’s own focus, such that I do not spend every single day off in any one month in my subterranean lair, checking off stores against a checklist. If all goes smoothly, I might get my inventory done in an afternoon. As a starting point for those who might be interested, I have included a representative sample of my battery-and-lights checklist.

BATTERIES

EDC: UV Penlight AA x 2

Penlight AA x 2

Surefire CR-123 x 2

ITP CR 123 x 2

Proton Light

Keyring LR 41 x 4

Badge LR 41 x 4

Bedside

Surefire G-2 CR 123 x 2

Ultrafire 18650 x 1

Camper: Lantern Box

Coleman Quad Lantern #1 D x8

Coleman Quad Lantern #2 D x 8

Siege Light #1 D x 3

Siege Light #2 D x 3

Siege Light AA AA x 3

CAR LIGHTS

TDW Car

Torch C x 2

Headlamp AA x 2

LED Beacons AAA x 3 each (6 beacons)

My Vehicle

Torch C x 2

Headlamp AA x 2

LED Beacons AAA x 3 each (12 beacons)

Small Handheld light CR 123 x 2

Large Handheld Light C x 4

Medic Bag Surefire CR 123 x 2

Field Phones

Set #1 (2 phones x 2 D cells each) D x 4

Set #2 (2 phones x 2 D cells each) D x 4

Night Vision

AA x 4

Red Flashlight Toolbox

Mini Mag Lights x 2 (2 AA ea) AA x 4

Ray o Vac x 1 (2 AA) AA x 2

Mini Mag 3 cell AA x 3

Sure Fire Hurricane Light (weak CR 123, holds 12)

CUMULATIVE TOTALS, FOR EACH TYPE OF BATTERY

AA x 24 in service at any one time

AAA x 64

CR 123 x 8

18650 x 1

LR 41 x 8

C x 8

D x 30

Another post, from another website

Bad Dancer (commenting at Gun Free Zone blog) says:

October 21, 2022 at 9:50 am

Thank you for the article and links Reltney McFee I’ve read it several times and will go through it again to make notes soon. I appreciate you sharing your experience and advice.

I’m building a few kits as Christmas presents this year. Are there any supplies you recommend added for a family that has a 1-2 year old?

Thank you for reading. Outstanding question! With regard to families that have toddlers (or infants), my first pass suggestions would sound very much like, “What did you want on your last camping trip, that you did not have?” along with, “what sort of comfort item does your child love?”

If I were to add to that, I would look to my own “Grand Kids Are Here: What Might I Need RFN?” (GKAHWMINRFN) supplies. Now, remember, I’ve been a paramedic, paramedic instructor, ED Registered Nurse, and mid level provider since Jimmeh Cahteh was the HMFIC (OK: President).

On the top of my “GKAHWMINRFN” bag is a pediatric BVM (Bag-Valve-Mask: commonly referred to as if they were all branded as Ambu Bags). You might be happy with a pediatric sized rescue breathing mask of some sort, or, easier to pack, mastery of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Near the top would be comfort items, so as to both distract the child, as well as help the child “buy in” to the procedures to be performed. Blankets, pacifiers, stuffed animals: whatever floats the child’s boat.

Remember that children, particularly infants and toddlers, are NOT simply pint sized adults. Due to differences in body surface area, kidney function, maturity of their livers and other factors, they may metabolize medications quite differently from adults. So, just slapping some QuikClot on Little Johnnie’s wound may be a problem. OTOH, here is what I did find in a reference that I use, myself, clinically every day:

“Compared with standard sponges, the use of the kaolin-impregnated sponges in 31 infants undergoing the Norwood procedure had a significantly lower intraoperative use of blood products and lower incidence of perioperative bleeding requiring return to operating room for hemostasis (0 versus 41 percent) [44].” (source: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/overview-of-topical-hemostatic-agents-and-tissue-adhesives?search=quick%20clot&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H2249912903

That means, better bleeding control. THAT suggests that a kaolin-impregnated sponge (QuikClot), at least, is not inappropriate for use on bleeding in children that is not otherwise controllable by dressing, direct pressure, and (in extremis) tourniquet-ting. So, small (2×2, 3×3) dressings impregnated with QuikClot appear to be reasonable.

Splinting materials for fingers, limbs, or whatever, are going to be a challenge, both because children do not, as a rule, comprehend the entire “lay still while I splint you” thing, nor the bit about “do not wiggle about, you will work you way out of this splint, and your injured (whatever) will hurt, and be injured further.” So, however much tape or gauze you THINK that you will need, you are wrong, and will require considerably more than you guessed. Unless, of course, you have made it a habit to secure IV armboards to infants and toddlers, several times a day, for the past several years. If you have done so, and done so successfully, please tell me when/where your classes will be, and save me a seat.

Another tangent from adult IFAK/Jump Bag/Holy Fertilizer kits, and child directed emergency care, is that children will both dehydrate, as well as become hypothermic way, way more rapidly than adults, and, once they have burned through their reserves, will crash and burn, often irretrievably. The axiom is that children generally do OK with their injuries, until they don’t. And, when they don’t, they crash biggly. Adults generally slowly decline, until they die. Therefore, measures to protect a child from heat loss are important. That means blankets and knit caps in appropriate sizes. The foil “emergency blankets” are a mixed bag: they are not going to get saturated in whatever bodily fluid is present (good thing), but they are not going to trap heat in a maze of air pockets formed by a Mark 1, Mod Ø fuzzy/fleece/wool blanket. (and you will notice the difference). Select thoughtfully.

Another feature of kid injuries, particularly infants and toddlers, is that they are top heavy. Their heads are a greater proportion of their body weight than adults, and that means that their initial point of impact may be more likely to be their heads, than their hands/wrists/forearms. Therefore, when you are in the hot seat, you need to be suspicious of the possibility of a head injury, when children fall. You have learned to spine board/cervical collar/secure for transport, head (and that is often spelled N-E-C-K) injured patients, right?

Right?

Another needful skill, that you pray is never needed.

That is it for my off the cuff, just got home from work and warmed up my laptop, answer to your question.

Thank you for the stimulating inquiry. Gonna be food for more rumination!

Reltney McFee

Lessons Learned From Other’s Experiences

Another blogger posted a recounting of his experience, recently, at a public range (I believe he is in Canada). He cited Elisjsha Dicken, the armed civilian who stopped the Greenwood Indiana mall shooter, hereafter referred to as Some Asshole In Greenwood, within 2 minutes of the crime beginning, and, according to Dicken’s attorney, from a distance of 40 yards.

Speaking only for myself, and throwing no shade one way or the other, I attempted to recreate Mr. Dicken’s accomplishment, with my EDC sidearm, and no time/life threat pressure. I failed, miserably. My personal take home, is “Moar! Range! Time!” If you get advice to practice, practice, and practice some more, that is sound advice, and we all should do so.

Other reports that I recall seeing, assert that Dicken’s girlfriend, a student nurse, responded to care for casualties, once the shooting had stopped.

THAT reminds me of everyday carry. As is often asserted on the blog, Gun Free Zone, if you carry a sidearm in order to put holes in bad people, should the need to stop such arise, then you ought to anticipate that these selfsame bad people may put holes in you, yours, or other innocents. Therefore you (and I) ought to be ready to address that problem.

There are many ways to address that need. I carry a CAT tourniquet in an ankle holster, as well as a SWAT-T elastic tourniquet in my pocket, all the time. There are two exceptions: when I carry TWO CAT tourniquets, or when I am swimming.

While it is worthwhile to carry a medic bag, suitable to your own training, getting that training is JOB NUMBER ONE! I betcha that I can finagle trauma dressings from at hand materials, faster than I can learn, in the first place, what sort of thing is immediately needful to care for a trauma patient.

Of course, I have something approaching 50 years (not a typo) of experience in this business, so, there is that going for me, I suppose.

If you wonder what you ought to pack for bad times, look over my blog post, here. Or, you could see what Aesop has to say. He is controversial, but, regarding medical matters that I have the experience to have an opinion about, he is spot on. No crap, straight up. He recently posted a set of links to his “greatest hits”. I direct you to peruse same: there’s GOLD in them thar hills!

So, I will attempt to let my preachin’ end, here, for a while. Thank you for riding along.

FPC: Phenomenal Phone Company

A long, long time ago, in a state capitol city not so very far from here, I was seated in the basement of The Enormous Hospital System Mothership, where She Who Would Become TDW-Mark II was undergoing surgery of some sort. I was seated next to, well, let’s simply call him my father in law.

At this point in the celebrations, the divorce from The Plaintiff had concluded, and she and I had a week-on-and-week-off child custody arrangement. My adolescent children had cell phones, and had both me and their mother on speed dial.

So, Number Three Son had occasion to call me, but I could not make out what he had to say, and my attempts to re connect with him were for naught.

I did not know if this was generic adolescent ‘gotta call dad’, or something emergent. That latter was very unlikely, but, after all, I have kinda spent my life in the “this is sort of an emergency” business, and therefore considering that possibility is an occupational hazard. Therefore, since I was NOT at home, and, should my children need me, their ability to communicate that to me in a timely manner was mission critical, well, The Phone Company, and their inability to connect a freaking call something like 12 blocks from the freaking state freaking capitol, well, to understate the thing, I found it unsatisfactory.

Father In Law offered the use of his phone, on Another Carrier. I entered the number of my son, hit “connect”, and, par miracle’!, just like that, I was speaking to my son!

We concluded our conversation, since it was a generic “ought to call dad” call, and I asked Father In Law if I could make one more call. He assented.

I then called “customer service” (spit!) of The Phone Company. I explained my problem, and how this was not acceptable. Phone Company Minion asked my location, and I described myself as being one floor down from street level, in waiting lounge of Enormous Hospital System Mothership. Minion then regaled me with a bit of RF theory, to wit: “You cannot reasonably expect a cell phone to have a reliable signal when you are underground!”

I asked Minion, do you have caller id?

Affirmative.

Could you tell me the originating telephone number for this call we are having, right now?

He read back Father In Law’s phone number.

Is that a Phone Company number? If not, what carrier services that number.

Why do you ask?, responded the Minion.

“Because, that is the carrier who is henceforth going to be receiving checks from me approximating $200/month, because my phone, my childrens’ phones, and the phone of every mo$%#r f@!%&er who will stand still long enough to hear this story, will be giving their business to this carrier, whose phone I presently hold in my hand, in this basement, as you and I converse!”

Having said that, I realized that there is no satisfying way to slam down a cell phone. I miss plain old wired phones.

TASK STACKING

Eaton Rapids Joe, proprietor of the eponymous blog, must have been an engineer in a previous life. (and, I must have been dyslexic in my previous life, as the previous 5 words, pre-auto correct, read “enbgineer in a previous lidfe.”. Sheesh! I scare me!)

In any event, I seem to recall he once explained the concept of “tolerance stacking”. As I recall, however imperfectly, the concept might translate into, say, a rifle trigger pack, wherein one would take Part One, at it’s maximal permissible dimension(s), and add it to Part Two, similarly pushing the boundaries of out-of-spec-large, and add that assembly to Part Three, (ditto), until, finally, you had, say, a trigger pack, each part in spec, yet the assembly would not function, or else would not fit into the firearm at all.

Not so very long ago, I was reminded of that when TDW-Mark II assigned me (or, maybe, I was voluntold….) the task of cleaning the piles from the dining room table. I confronted the concept of “task stacking”.

To be honest, I had several probably 12-18 inch tall piles (more about that, in a moment…) of papers, magazines (the literary kind), boxes, and assorted whatnot, that (a) I had NOT addressed appropriately, (b) in any sort of timely manner, and (c) that TDW had, at long last, grown weary of seeing.

Along the way, may I observe that I share my home with several cats? And that cats are Agents Of Entropy? My appraisal is that cats are genetically incapable of viewing an organized stack, of whatever sort of stuff, and of whatever degree of righteous organization, without feeling the overwhelming need to Tear! It! Down!.

Of course, having several days off in a row, I was, well, “willing” probably overstates my enthusiasm for this task. Still, it will do. So, I was “willing” to address this problem, but I needed to have a space to take the stack-du-jour, in order to unstack it, triage each component, and then address same.

That meant establishing subsidiary stacks, one of trash (simple: stack same in the…wait for it!…trash can!), one of things to be shredded, and one of other, kind of valuable, things. That last stack would then be the subject of a re-triage, and once suitably thinned, put away.

This process was to be repeated, until the dining room table had my computer, and one (SMALL) stack of whatever needed to be addressed in the next couple of days. And, nothing else of my bullshit.

Well, in order to accomplish THAT task, I had to clear the table in the kitchen, that had, itself, become home to (yes, he admitted, embarrassingly) several stacks of things awaiting disposition to the garage, the trash, or other longer term, somewhat organized, rest.

The trash component, here, was simpler, due to being closer to the trash can, after all. The put-this-crap-away-somewhere-not-the-kitchen-table task, elicited it’s own task-stack, as my imaginings of organized stowage in the basement, required that there be horizontal surfaces, in that basement, that were unoccupied.

Do you, as well, see a pattern here?

So, I thinned the herd of bullshit in the basement, and changed the trash can. I imposed some modest organization in that basement, and then found homes, however transiently, for the keep-this-crap-just-not-on-the-kitchen-table items.

I shredded much of the shred-able stuff, and changed the trash can. Again.

I eventually had emptied the kitchen table, which I then re-filled with dining room table stuff.

Rinse and repeat.

So, it turns out that I am not the only pile challenged soul. I get several days off in a row, that follows a stretch of many 12 and 10 and 8 hour shifts. When I am in the midst of my duty week, well, my ambitions do not particularly exceed “get up and get around”, “get to work”, and do the above in accordance with my employer’s expectations (that is, on time). So, being a geezer, after a 12 hour shift, I get home, graze a bit, and turn in.

I had requested TDW to thin the herd of home chores, so that I might kill of the remainder on my first day off, then to laze away the rest of my stretch of off days.

Hard fail. She injured her foot (neither of us has any clue how. It hurts, that limits her mobility, and that mobility is kind of mission critical to things like putting away the dishes, moving the laundry along, and so forth. In addition to nurse-maiding an ailing dog and ailing cat)(can’t say we don’t know how to have good times!)

Being the loving husband that I am, I offered to heat and deliver some supper to her.

Task stack. Be nice if I washed my hands.

Which would be helped by access to the sink.

Which would be facilitated by loading the dirty dishes into the dishwasher, thereby emptying the sink.

Which would be easier, from a no-two-objects-may-occupy-the-same-space perspective, it the dishwasher were to be emptied, and the clean dishes put away.

Which, aesthetically, ought to be performed by clean hands.

Which required soap and water, currently unavailable due to the mosh pit of our sink.

Which inspired my present blog post.

After the dish part of the foregoing had been accomplished.

Finishing the dining room table is Tomorrow’s Task.