4 DIY Survival Uses for Altoids Tins

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WARNING: Some of the content described in this story involves making fire with accelerants, which is inherently dangerous. The materials provided are for illustrative purposes only. Any use of the information contained in this article shall be solely at the reader’s risk. This publication and its contributors are not responsible for any potential injuries.

When I was young I remember people using cough-drop tins to carry or store all sorts of things. I have a dim recollection of grandma having some sewing supplies in one that she kept in her purse. Several people I knew had those cans rattling around in tackle boxes and on workbenches. They worked great for keeping little odds and ends at least somewhat organized.

The modern equivalent today is the Altoids mint tin. To the prepper and survivalist, these little containers are almost as useful as duct tape. Altoids tins have been turned into flashlights, radios, and more. We’re going to take a more tech approach, though, and look at a handful of projects you can do with these cans using what you probably have sitting around the house.

1. Alcohol Stove

This project takes a little more effort than the ones that follow, but it’s worth it in the end. The Altoids tin alcohol stove is small in size, but large in efficiency.

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Supplies:

  • Altoids tin
  • Perlite or vermiculite
  • Metallic window screen
  • Marker
  • Scissors
  • Denatured alcohol

Perlite and vermiculite are both soil additives that are commonly found in any lawn and garden store. While they’re different substances from one another, either will work equally well in this project.

If you don’t have an old window screen collecting dust in the garage, head to the hardware store and pick up a metal window screen patch kit. That will have enough screening for this project, so you don’t have to buy an entire roll of material.

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Open the Altoids container and place it face down on the screen. Use a marker to trace the outline of the can on the screen, then cut it out.

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Fill the tin to just below the rim with the vermiculite or perlite. Gently shake the tin to settle the contents, then place the window screen over them. Use a finger or a Popsicle stick to tuck the screen down along the edge all the way around.

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The stove is now assembled and just needs fuel. Denatured alcohol is best as it burns the cleanest. Rubbing alcohol will work but will be smoky. HEET, an automotive fuel additive, is also an option, but stick with the yellow bottle rather than the red. The yellow bottle contains methanol, which burns a lot cleaner than the isopropanol in the red bottle.

Pour a few tablespoons of fuel into the tin. The vermiculite or perlite serves to absorb the fuel and release it slowly, just as it would water in a flowerpot. Light a match and lay it right on the window screen. The alcohol vapors should ignite immediately. Be careful, though. The flames may be nearly invisible. Hold your hand several inches above the stove to feel for heat if you need to check if it’s lit.

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A pot placed directly on this stove will smother the flame. Grab a couple of bricks, flat rocks, or similar objects to place on either side of the stove, then place the pot on top of them. To extinguish the stove, simply flip the lid closed.

When transporting the stove, wrap a ranger band around the tin as recommended with the fire kit. Store it in a Ziploc plastic bag, too, just in case of leaks. Also be sure to pack a small bottle of fuel.

2. Candle

Turning an Altoids container into an easily transported, long-burning candle is a piece of cake.

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Supplies:

  • Altoids tin
  • Two to three tea light candles
  • Wax

Tip the candles out of the metal cups. Turn the candles over and pry the small metal disks out to remove the wicks. Then melt the wax (see sidebar). Note that you’ll need more wax than just what you recover from the tea lights.

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Position the wicks in the bottom of the tin. Space them evenly. Slowly pour in the melted wax and continue adding until the container is full and just the tips of the wicks are visible. Let the wax cool and harden before use.

While at first it might seem easier to just toss a few tea lights into the can and be done with it, this DIY candle will actually burn far longer than the tea lights would alone. Plus, with three wicks, the amount of light and heat can be adjusted. The Altoids box can get a little warm with all three wicks burning, so be sure to place the tin on a rock or, if indoors, on an insulated hot pad or oven mitt.

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The inside surface of the can’s lid is, if kept clean, very reflective. Propping it up so the light reflects off of it will increase the overall brightness of the candle.

Wax On

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When making homemade fire-starters, wax is a common ingredient. Fortunately, most homes have an abundance of old candles and broken crayons. Failing that, thrift stores usually have a ton of candles that can be had very inexpensively. Do not, however, rely on cheap crayons, such as those found at dollar stores. The wax used in making those doesn’t work as well for fire-starters — not to mention they could potentially be made of toxic materials.

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The easiest way to melt wax at home without ruining a pot and thus incurring the wrath of the family cook is to create a homemade double boiler. Procure an empty soup can and wash it out. Be careful, the inner rim is often sharp. Ask us how we know. Dry the inside of the can, then fill it about halfway with pieces of candle and/or crayons.

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Fill a small pot with a couple of inches of water. Put it on the stove and turn on the heat. Place the can with the wax into the water. As the water comes to a boil, the wax will start to melt. Use a stick to stir the wax from time to time and break up the larger chunks.

Once the wax is fully melted, remove the can from the water while wearing an oven mitt to avoid burns.

3. Fire Kit

Having the means to make a flame reliably in all conditions is a survival priority. Assembling a small kit ensures you can always carry everything you need to get a fire going, no matter what.

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Supplies:

  • Altoids tin
  • Butane lighter
  • Strike-anywhere matches
  • Ferrocerium rod and striker
  • Jute twine
  • Birch bark
  • Self-igniting fire-starters
  • Commercial fire-starters (Tinder tabs, Wetfire cubes)
  • Ranger band or similar

The general rule when it comes to prepping is to strive for three methods or tools to accomplish basic survival needs — in this case, three ways to light a fire, along with several types of tinder. Note that the supply list isn’t set in stone. Choose what works best for you. A butane lighter is a given in all fire kits, of course. A ferrocerium rod and striker, as well. Beyond that, the choice is yours.
One of my personal favorites is a few self-igniting fire-starters (see sidebar below).

Curiously strong_Fire kit pic 1.JPG

Placing a strip of duct tape inside the lid gives you extra tinder since duct tape burns very well. It can also be used to repair a hole in your tent or even clothing in an emergency.

Consider wrapping some jute twine just under the lighter’s valve button to prevent the button from discharging fuel. The twine could also be used as tinder in a pinch.

Altoids mint tin survival kit fire candle stove tools bugout shtf 8

Use the ranger band or a wide rubber band to seal the tin. This provides protection against water, keeping your tinder dry and ready to light. A piece cut from an old bicycle inner tube works very well.

4. Survival Kit

This is likely the most common prepper use for a mint can. Many survivalists carry a small kit like this in their pocket, just in case. The idea behind an Altoids tin survival kit is not to give you the magical ability to run off into the woods and live for weeks on end using the contents. Instead, it’s intended to provide the bare necessities in case the unexpected happens, such as getting lost in the woods overnight.

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Other than the Altoids tin, the contents here will vary. The kit’s contents will depend upon your location and your skill level when it comes to survival. In general, the kit should contain:

  • Small knife
  • Butane lighter or a ferrocerium rod
  • Some form of tinder
  • Fishing line
  • Hooks and sinkers
  • Adhesive bandages
  • Alcohol pads
  • Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen
  • Anti-diarrhea medication
  • Button compass

In this example, the knife is an Uncle Henry Rancher. The fishing line is wrapped around a sewing bobbin. The medications are in a sealed plastic pouch, along with the adhesive bandages and alcohol pads.

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Realistically, the fishing gear likely wouldn’t get used on an unexpected overnight spent outdoors. But, the hooks and such weigh almost nothing and fit quite well into the kit. If nothing else, the fishing line could be used in building a quick shelter.

Self-Igniting Fire-Starters

I first learned how to make these fire-starters from noted survival authority John D. McCann (www.SurvivalResources.com). They remain my very favorite homemade fire-starter as they incorporate the ignition right into the mix.

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Supplies:

  • Strike-anywhere matches
  • Toilet paper
  • Melted wax
  • Aluminum foil or wax paper

Tear one square of the toilet paper into two roughly equal pieces. Take two of the matches and hold them side by side, pinching one end of the piece of toilet paper between them. Tightly roll the toilet paper around the matches. Then, dip the whole works into the melted wax. Place it on foil or wax paper to cool, then dip the other end, completely sealing the matches in wax. Let it cool and harden.

Curiously strong_Self igniting fire starters pic 12.JPG

To use, gently scrape or rub the wax from the heads of the matches, then strike the matches as normal. As the matches burn, they’ll ignite the wax and toilet paper. One of these fire-starters will burn for several minutes, easily igniting your tinder and getting your fire going.

The Wrap-Up

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Recycling mint cans has never been more fun, or potentially life-saving. Next time you pop that last Altoid in your mouth, don’t chuck the tin in the blue bin. Instead, clean it up and use it for one of these four survival uses. Of course, as grandma taught me, these aren’t the only ways to reuse a tin. Like most aspects of survivalism, it’s all about adaptation. No doubt you’ll find a half-dozen other survival uses for our favorite curiously strong mint container.

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Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Buyer’s Guide: Hoodies

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With the temperature dropping and wetter weather on the way — if it hasn't already arrived in your region — the need for warmer clothes creeps back into our lives. Enter hoodie season.

While many people these days see hooded jackets and sweatshirts as fashion staples rather than as prepper apparel, this versatile piece of clothing has long proven that function can indeed match form.

Utility

Hoodies are warm enough to keep us from catching a chill, but light enough so that we aren’t suffering in our own personal saunas. They offer cover from the elements and a way to warm up our noggins in a hurry. But wait, there’s more.

Some hooded jackets are not only good for protection against inclement weather, but also provide camouflage opportunities. Want to blend into a crowd? A non-descript hoodie can help you look like an everyman. Need to draw from concealment? There’s one with built-in features for that, too. Carrying $1,000 worth of gear but don’t want to look like you have anything valuable? Read on to discover a hoodie that is actually designed for that purpose.

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Selection

Shopping for a hooded jacket is like shopping for anything useful; it’s best to pay particular attention to your needs and what the intended use is. A thick cotton hoodie won’t be great if you’re hiking in pouring rain, while a non-insulated windbreaker won’t do much to keep you warm when you’re out in the snow — get the picture? Weather, terrain, overall comfort, useful features, as well as your aesthetic preferences should dictate which hoodie is best for you and when.

Whether you’re preparing for a trip to a foreign city or a day trek out into the wilds, there’s a suitable hooded jacket that’s right for the job. Therefore, we try on several hoodies to find out which one can help you stay prepared.

A Brief Hoodie History

Where did the hoodie get its start? The skateboarders of the 1980s? Nope. The graffiti artists and break-dancers of the 1970s? Go back further. Much further — you can thank medieval monks for your favorite hoodie. Well, sort of. Monks wore hooded robes for warmth in unheated churches, and the style eventually spread throughout Europe. However, it wasn’t until the 1930s that the hoodie that we now know and love came to be. The Knickerbocker Knitting Company claims to have made the first hooded sweatshirt in the Dirty ’30s to protect athletes and laborers from bad weather. You know that company today under the brand name Champion.

5.11 Tactical Taclite Anorak Jacket

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Colors
Brown, stone, tundra (shown)

Material
Polyester/cotton shell with cotton twill lining

Features
RAPIDraw pass-through pocket, secure document chest pockets, structured hood, storm collar, adjustable cuffs

MSRP
$140

URL
www.511tactical.com

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Notes
Featuring reinforced stitching throughout its construction, this jacket is clearly designed for hard use. It does a good job keeping wet weather out with its three-panel hood, storm flaps, and adjustable cuffs. Unlike other jackets in this guide, the Taclite Anorak is built to let you quickly reach a concealed-carry weapon (CCW). Its front pass-through pocket allows for access to gear by both hands, and a covert pass-through at the bottom of the pocket allows you to draw from the waist. The jacket also has full-length zippered side vents that allow for access to waist-worn sidearms.

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Pros:

  • If staying warm and dry without sacrificing CCW capability is important to you, this is certainly a worthy option to consider.
  • CCW compatibility
  • Insulated throughout

Cons:

  • The all-over insulation comes at a cost. It’s on the heavier side, and its frumpy look doesn’t score any points in the style department.
  • Heavy
  • Unstylish look

Arc'teryx Squamish Hoody Men's

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Colors
Adriatic blue (shown), basalt, black, blaze, bourbon, magma, silver lining, twin leaf

Material
Nylon

Features
Gusseted underarms for enhanced movement, lightweight construction, compressible and packable, wind resistant, water repellent, hood is helmet compatible, stows away in its own pocket

MSRP
$159

URL
www.arcteryx.com

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Notes
Arc’teryx calls this hooded jacket a “hooded windshell,” which is a perfect description for it as it feels more like a shell than a full-on jacket. The Squamish Hoody is an extremely lightweight and compressible jacket, constructed of durable wind-resistant and water-repellent nylon fabric. In fact, it’s so light and packable that it can actually be stowed in one of its own pockets for compact storage. We’d be remiss if we didn’t point out that its lightweight design means that its not insulated, but if ounces and space are a premium in your pack, this jacket is a viable option. Arc’teryx designed it with freedom of mobility as a key feature. The Squamish Hoody’s cut and gusseting provides ease of movement for just about any activity. It is equipped with Arc’teryx’s StormHood, which is helmet compatible and can be cinched with one-handed draw cords.

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Pros:

  • A jacket that’s lightweight, wind-resistant, water-repellent, and small enough to be packed into one of its pockets is a keeper in our book. The fact that the hood is helmet compatible and can be cinched one-handed puts it over the top.
  • Lightweight
  • Packs into its own pocket
  • Wind and water resistant

Cons:

  • This jacket might be great for warmish to cool, windy environments, but this uninsulated windbreaker won’t do anything to ward off the cold when the mercury really drops.
  • Limited application
  • Light, thin construction may lack durability
  • Athletic fit makes layering underneath a challenge

Beyond Clothing Alpha Lochi Jacket

Colors
Navy/grey

Material
Nylon with synthetic insulation

Features
U.S. made, reversible, insulated with Polartec Alpha, water repellent, compressible, breathable

MSRP
$334

URL
www.beyondclothing.com

Notes
Beyond Clothing’s line is based on a concept called Axios, a seven-layer system for varying activities. The Alpha Lochi Jacket falls within the A3 layer, which is primarily for active insulation. Developed with cold environments in mind, this jacket features Polartec Alpha insulation that transfers moisture away from the body to keep you both dry and warm, even when you’re active in cold climates. It is reversible for low-profile use and features zippered pockets both inside and out. Its outer surfaces are treated with durable water repellent (DWR) to keep you protected from wind and rain.

Pros:

  • The Alpha Lochi can tackle it all. It’s water and wind resistant, insulated for warmth, and compressible for easy storage. On top of all that, it’s reversible and made in America, too. What’s not to like?
  • Insulated and compressible
  • Made in the USA
  • Reversible

Cons:

  • What’s not to like is the price — ouch! Also, the hood lacks drawstrings and cannot be cinched tight.
  • Steep price … but you get Jekyl and “hide” with this one.
  • Lack of cinchable hood

Kühl Spyfire Hoodie

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Colors
Olive, pirate blue (shown), raven

Material
Nylon with down insulation

Features
Water resistant, windproof, 800-fill goose-down insulation, advanced materials, five-panel adjustable hood, precision 3D fit, underarm zippable cooling panels

MSRP
$260

URL
www.kuhl.com

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Notes
The Spyfire Hoody is made up of four different fabrics, each engineered for a specific purpose. Its “precision 3D fit” is designed to naturally follow your body’s shape for the ultimate in fit and comfort. The goose-down-filled baffles are sized differently for better heat distribution. For example, you’ll find thinner, smaller baffles on the inside underarm panels to reduce bulk and overheating. The hood has a protruding brim, is made of five panels, and is adjustable at its opening and at the back for a fine-tuned fit. When not in use, the hood lays flat. The Spyfire Hoody is built with two zippered chest pockets, two zippered hand pockets, one zip pocket on the sleeve, and an inside mesh pocket.

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Pros:

  • Kühl has another winner on its hands. The lightweight Spyfire Hoody features a two-way adjustable hood and has ventilation options to keep the user from overheating.
  • Insulation and ventilation features
  • Lightweight

Cons:

  • This jacket’s slim profile isn’t for everyone. We’re also pretty sure that it prices itself out of a few budgets.
  • Fit isn’t for everyone
  • On the pricey side

Kitanica American Hoodie

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Colors
Black, flat dark earth, stone green (shown)

Material
Polyester

Features
USA made, 200-weight fleece, flat lock stitching, ventilated front pocket with admin features, covered pen tube

MSRP
$155

URL
www.kitanica.net

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Notes
Made in America of 200-weight fleece and constructed with flat lock stitching, the American Hoody is as warm as it is comfortable. Its gusseted hood has a stiffened brim with an adjustable cinching shock cord. The left bicep features Kitanica’s signature covered pen tubes mounted on a zippered pocket and the right arm has a Velcro patch field ready to accept your morale patch of choice. The large pocket on the front can be accessed from either side and features a mesh backing, serving as front ventilation in warmer temps when the pockets are left unzipped. The neatest feature is found on the interior of the front pocket. On the mesh backing is a Velcro enclosed small admin pocket used to help secure smaller items like keys, wallet, or phone.

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Pros:

  • There are plenty of storage options in and on this hoodie; our favorite is the admin pocket inside the large front pocket. Ventilation is available for warmer temperatures.
  • Pocket within a pocket
  • Ventilation option

Cons:

  • Those who live a “tactical lifestyle” can probably pick this hoodie out of a crowd, possibly making it more difficult for the wearer to remain unnoticed.
  • Tactical look
  • Pen pocket can snag when putting on a backpack or walking through rough terrain.

Hazard 4 Beachhead Fuzzy Lycra Hoodie

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Colors
Black, coyote (shown)

Material
UV-Protection Fuzzy Lycra

Features
Breathable, moisture-wicking interior, highly UV-protective, forearm zip-pockets, Raglan sleeves for ease of arm movement, won’t shrink or fade, dries quickly

MSRP
$110

URL
www.hazard4.com

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Notes
Hazard 4’s Beachhead hoodie has a stretchy feel and features a smooth exterior and a unique, breathable, moisture-wicking fuzzy Lycra interior. The interior’s fuzz is comfortable and adds additional warmth while not absorbing moisture. The hoodie is feature rich and includes plenty of pockets, as well as Velcro panels for your choice of patches. Its long zipper pulls make zipper manipulation with gloves on a breeze. The Beachhead is UV protective and quick to dry when wet. Hazard 4 promises that this hoodie will not shrink or fade, which makes it great for long-term wear.

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Pros:

  • The Beachhead’s raglan-style sleeves allow for ease of arm movement, and its fuzzy Lycra interior certainly is very comfortable. We especially like its lightweight and quick-drying properties.
  • Interior is warm and comfy
  • Lightweight

Cons:

  • The form-fitting cut may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Its tactical look could be a turn off for those looking to blend in.
  • Slim fit can be an issue for some
  • A little too tactical looking for those who prefer something more discreet

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Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original print version for the web.

Mommy, I’m Scared: 5 Keys to Children’s Fears

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“If the monster hides under your bed, it must be afraid of you,” a father says to his 6-year-old son during Hurricane Katrina. The family had been sitting in the living room for the past four hours watching the emergency weather reports and the local news as it covered what they termed “the impending disaster” when the Break Falls River crested its banks.

This had happened three times in the past six years, and each time, the family had waited for the evacuation signal, knowing that they could lose everything. But this time seemed different, and 10-year-old Margaret saw it in her parents’ faces.

The whispers back and forth and the furtive looks at the television left her with “scary feelings” that were growing worse — as if 100 butterflies were trying to get out at the same time. She began to cry and couldn’t stop. Suddenly, she felt the wetness running down her leg as her sobbing became uncontrollable. She had wet herself and began to shake as both parents turned away from the television. Her 3-year-old brother, who had been contentedly playing on the floor, looked at his sister and began to cry.

The fear response had completely taken over.

Little boy looking through window blinds

Going off-grid with children on board can present a myriad of problems, and one of your greatest concerns will be how to cope with, reduce, and prevent children’s fear reactions from endangering their lives and those in the group. For the purpose of this article, we’re talking about children 12 years of age and under. When the “fear response” is triggered, you need specific tactics to cope with a child’s fear. Unfortunately, when one child begins to scream, refuses to move, and becomes physically sick, other children will observe this and likely soon follow.

Knowing how to recognize a child’s fear response and what you can do to help should be an essential part of your mental bug-out bag. Knowing what to do when a child experiences fear may be essential for everyone’s survival, even if you don’t have children of your own.

Identifying a child’s fear response is the first step.

Children’s Fear Response

Any kind of natural or manmade disaster can be a frightening experience for any adult. But take a moment and imagine what it must be like to be a child under the age of 12.

Children have very little control over their environment simply because they can’t drive, operate complex machinery, and don’t physically have the strength, stamina, or speed of the average adult. They have to rely upon adults and parents for physical strength, emotional strength, and (most importantly) decision making.

Keeping mommy close

Kids below the age of 12, and especially younger than 5, are still in the process of accurately separating reality and fantasy. Bottom line: They just don’t understand what’s happening, and parents don’t explain everything because it may be more frightening to the child and there may not be time.

How can you tell if your child is experiencing a fear reaction? Many of the indicators are similar to those experienced by adults, yet some may be even greater in intensity, such as crying, screaming, or acting out. They include:

  • Dry mouth
  • Sweaty hands
  • Upset stomach
  • Urinary accidents
  • Loss of control of bowels
  • Trembling arms and legs
  • Incoherent speech or stuttering
  • Fear of the Dark

This fear typically affects children between the ages of 2 and 3 when they’re not old enough and don’t have enough experience to distinguish fantasy from reality. For a child (and sometimes adults), the dark is where everything that can hurt you dwells and the place where nothing good happens. All manner of scary aberrations may appear to a kid in the dark, and some of these fears may last into adulthood.

Depressed Boy Sitting on Stairs

Note: Children’s fears change as they grow, mature, and experience the sometimes cruel unpredictability of life. In this article, we’ll use various words and word combinations to describe children’s fears such as: scared, frightened, spooked, fearful, and some others. They all refer back to the basic children’s fear response.

What Not to Do When a Child is Fearful

  • Don’t yell or speak sternly or sharply. For example: “Stop shaking,” yelled the mother to her 7-year-old as the thunder became louder.
  • Don’t belittle or compare. For example: “Stop crying. You’re acting like a baby.”
  • Don’t use prescription or over-the-counter drugs to try to sedate your child unless prescribed by a physician for a chronic issue.
  • Don’t say, “You’re too little to understand,” as a response to questions by children.

Five Keys to Reducing Children’s Fear Response

Key #1: Reduce separation anxiety

Try to stay with your child. Brief separations (running into the store, using the bathroom) are OK, but let them know where you’re going and how long you’ll be gone. Don’t just say, “I’ll be right back,” and leave. For longer separations, have your kid stay with relatives or trusted friends, if possible. Of course, the key is to stay with your youngster and avoid separations.

Key #2: Learn one of the many simple techniques to control breathing and reduce heart rate

This needs to be learned and practiced ahead of time. There are numerous books and audio learning tools that will help you to teach a breathing technique that will calm children both emotionally and physically. There’s also the added benefit that breathing and relaxation techniques reduce heart rate, which, in turn, reduces the body’s physiological response to fear. Learning to control breathing may also have an added side effect of helping your kid become a better test-taker, reduce fear of talking in front of a group, and reduce performance anxiety. (See resources sidebar below.)

Key #3: Be a role model

Watching funny videos with her dad

They’re watching you! Help your child get rid of energy: stretching, running, and playing are good strategies. Take the time to sit with him or her and do an activity you both enjoy such as reading, playing games, or drawing and coloring.

Key #4: Make children part of the family’s decision-making process

Children don’t need to know everything, but give them information appropriate for their age and maturity level. Correct any misinformation that kids have about present and future dangers. “I know other kids said that more tornadoes are coming, but we’re now in a safe place,” you might say. Have your children crosscheck any information with you. Give clear explanations of what happened or is happening whenever your youngster asks, but try to avoid details that would frighten them.

Remind your son or daughter that there are people working to keep your family safe and that your family can get more help if needed. Try to talk about a positive future (even if not felt) rather than a traumatic past. But don’t give false hope.

Key #5: Physical contact

Hug and hold them close. Physical contact is one of the most powerful ways to say, “I’m here, and I won’t let anything bad happen to you.”

mother hugging her sad child

Note: I strongly recommend that no parent or adult purposely subject children under the age of 12 to what is called stress or fear inoculation whereby SHTF scenarios are artificially created. Think about putting your child in a Lord of the Flies-type situation. How well did that work out for the kids?

Resources

Make Your Worrier a Warrior: A Guide to Conquering Your Children’s Fears by Daniel B. Peters

The Wolf and the Shadow Monster: Helping Children Deal With Fears and Anxiety (Feel Brave series) by Arvil McDonald and Tatiana Minina

What to Do When You’re Scared and Worried: A Guide for Kids by James J. Crist

When the Ground Shakes — Earthquake Preparedness Book for Physical and Emotional Health of Children by Irit Almog and Shoshana Wheeler

Where is My Mommy?: A Book About Children’s Fears by Mary Kilgore

Helping Your Children Overcome Fear by Neal H Olshan, Ph.D.

Our author has a series of audio recordings for both children and adults to help cope with fear responses. For further information, contact Dr. Olshan at mindsetdoc@gmail.com or go to www.olshansbehavioral.com.

Final Thoughts

Mother Comforting Daughter

Everyone needs to be on the same page. You just spent time calming your 7-year-old after getting to higher ground and away from the flooding. Your wife has been reassuring the child by speaking slowly, softly, and using calming images. Enter older sister who yells out in a panicked voice, “We’re all going to die!” What can you do in this situation? The answer — be prepared. That’s the time to learn about children’s fears … it could be a lifesaver when you have to go off-grid.

More From Issue 17

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Read articles from the next issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 16

Read articles from the previous issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 18

Check out our other publications on the web: Recoil | Gun Digest | Blade | RecoilTV | RECOILtv (YouTube)

Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Review: Valley Food Storage Freeze Dried Meals

Written by

Every prepared individual should have a stockpile of freeze dried foods. After all, they offer huge variety, are generally easy to prepare, and are readily available on many grocery and outdoor store shelves. Freeze drying is nothing new — it is said that as far back at the 15th century, the Incas were using the dry air and low temperatures of their high-altitude settlements to freeze dry potatoes. The process has obviously been refined since then and has proven to be an economical way of preserving food’s taste and nutritional value. In SHTF scenarios, you’ll require adequate caloric intake, so being prepared with the right foods and a plan can mean the difference between making it through and becoming a statistic.

Valley Food Storage was established in Utah in 2005 to answer the growing demand of food storage needs while also providing high-quality ingredients. The company’s philosophy emphasizes food with no fillers, no artificial preservatives, no hydrogenated oils, no GMOs, and no MSG. Valley Food Storage products come in sealed mylar bags and their web site allows complete customization. When a representative reached out to offer us some samples, we jumped at the opportunity to see how these taste in comparison to others we have tried.

We opted for the Everything Family Emergency Pack, however we substituted chicken for beef and the vegetables for green beans, as they are a favorite in this author’s family. This kit is designed for 4 people for 1 week, with a total of 100 servings weighing in at 8 pounds. It shipped in a reusable food-grade plastic bucket for safe storage away from light, the elements, and critters and boasts a shelf life of 25 years. The Family Emergency Pack normally retails for $110, but we’ve seen it on sale as low as $80.

Valley Food Storage freeze dried food survival emergency preparedness meal storage 1v2

The kit we received consists of:

• Strawberry Oatmeal (10 Servings)
• Irish Pub Cheddar Potato Soup (5 Servings)
• Enchilada Beans and Rice (5 Servings)
• Mac and Cheese (5 Servings)
• Fettuccine Alfredo (5 Servings)
• Beef Dices (10 Servings)
• Apple Slices x2 (15 Servings/ bag)
• Green Beans x2 (15 Servings/ bag)

Each of these are simple to prepare — just add hot water, or in the case of the apples and green beans, you can eat them right out of the bag. In total, for all servings to be rehydrated you will need 4 gallons of water. We sampled each product by itself and followed the instructions on the package.

Strawberry Oatmeal

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The Strawberry Oatmeal provides a decent amount of carbohydrates and calories for being a standalone meal. The texture of the oatmeal was much finer than what we were used to from other brands, making it seem more like cream of wheat. The oatmeal was not flavor-packed —the strawberry flavor was present but was not prominent.

What we liked: Filling, and can be supplemented with fruits or spices (if available)

What we didn’t like: With 12 grams of added sugar, we would expect it to be much sweeter than it is.

Irish Pub Cheddar Potato Soup

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This is one we were really looking forward to, and it delivered. Cheese soups can be tough without the right consistency, so we were pleased to find that the Valley Food Storage soup was creamy and thick. This meal had plenty of carbs and a reasonable amount of protein, potassium, and calcium. Paired with a Guiness, this meal was excellent and we look forward to eating it again.

Valley Food Storage freeze dried food survival emergency preparedness meal storage 5

What we liked: Filling with rich flavors

What we didn’t like: This is great for fall and winter, but eating this when the temperatures are up does not seem appetizing.

Enchilada Beans and Rice

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This meal has everything going for it as a one-stop shop. It had the highest amount of calories per a serving in the kit (290), is a great source of carbs, protein, and fiber, and it has some iron in it. Being dairy- and gluten-free make it ideal for sensitive stomachs too. The down side, however, is that it has no discernible flavor. This should have been spicy and smoky, but instead it was simply bland. Being the resourceful survivalists that we are, adding a bit of taco seasoning and some salt and pepper made this an enjoyable dish.

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What we liked: Well-rounded and provides precious nutrients and calories

What we didn’t like: Weak flavor meant it needed to be amended with seasoning

Mac and Cheese

Valley Food Storage freeze dried food survival emergency preparedness meal storage 8

Everyone should like macaroni and cheese. We have eaten Mountain House Mac and cheese for years, and enjoy it as a meal or as a side. The Valley Food Storage mac and cheese is a little different from other types in that they use a smaller elbow noodle than what we are used to. This is not good or bad, it is simply different. The meal itself has a good amount of calories (270/ serving) and also packs some calcium. The texture and flavor is closer to Kraft than Velveeta. It is sure to be a crowd pleaser if you have little ones in your survival party.

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What we liked: Creamy and rich flavors, and with proper preparation we didn’t have any undercooked noodles.

What we didn’t like: Nothing, this was exactly what we hoped it would be.

Fettuccine Alfredo

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The Fettuccine Alfredo is a staple with freeze dried food companies, and rightfully so as it is simple and familiar to consumers. Valley Food Storage’s offering is OK, but not outstanding. The texture is what you would expect from instant noodles and the flavor is that of a not-particularly-rich alfredo. It has decent calories (250/ serving) and some protein. The nutrition facts don’t offer much else that will blow your skirt up.

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What we liked: Familiar taste and texture that is filling and easy to prepare

What we didn’t like: We added some seasonings like parsley and pepper to make it more enjoyable.

Beef Dices

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Beef Dices are an excellent addition to most meals freeze dried or otherwise. Valley Food Storage did not disappoint with these. The beef was uniform and did not contain any pure fat pieces, which we have seen in the past from other brands. Beef dices are really meant to be added to other meals, however we ate them plain to be sure of what we were getting. These are an excellent way to add much-needed protein and iron to other meals and they can give familiar textures.

Valley Food Storage freeze dried food survival emergency preparedness meal storage 13

What we liked: Great nutritional value and taste by themselves or with salt and pepper

What we didn't like: No complaints — this gets a thumbs-up from us.

Green Beans

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Freeze dried vegetables are usually predictably good and these were no different. When reconstituted per the package they are indistinguishable from canned green beans. We didn’t heat them up because the packaging didn’t mention that step, but we do recommend doing it when possible.

What we liked: Reconstituted or not, the taste was great

What we didn’t like: They stick to your teeth when eaten straight from the bag, but that’s is just us being picky.

Apple Slices

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Freeze dried apples have been a regularly-occuring snack in this author’s household for a few years now. They are simply delicious straight from the bag and there’s only one problem: they do not last long between two kids. We encourage all prepared families to have a healthy supply of these snacks on hand.

What we liked: Delicious to the point of being addictive

What we didn’t like: We ran out

Conclusion

Valley Food Storage has many more offerings than the sample kit we reviewed, and each one is made with high-quality ingredients and excellent packaging at a reasonable price. All of the meals we tried were significantly better than eating pigeons and rats or starving — that's not a jab at these products, that's just the reality of survival. If you are looking to get a basic supply of shelf-stable food for your family, we encourage you to look at the many packs and add-ons that Valley Food Storage offers. You can never be too prepared when it comes to food storage, and as they say “variety is the spice of life.”

For more info on Valley Food Storage freeze-dried food and family emergency kits, go to ValleyFoodStorage.com.

About the Author

Alexander Crown OFFGRIDweb author photo

Alexander Crown served as an Infantryman with the Scout/ Sniper Platoon of the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Ft. Richardson, Alaska, where he specialized in radio communications and reconnaissance. Since separating, Alexander spends his time as an avid outdoorsman and hunter with an appreciation for self-sufficiency in the form of gardening. He also enjoys woodworking, firearms, and reloading. You can follow him on Instagram @acrown509.

 

The No-B.S. Paramedic Guide to 3 Common Injuries

Written by

WARNING: This story is meant to be a general overview and not a detailed guide on emergency first-aid methods. Do not attempt to perform these techniques without first receiving professional paramedic or first-aid training.

The skill set of a U.S. special operations combat medic (SOCM) seems tailor-made for preppers. Through years of training, they learn to do much with little, to improvise equipment and techniques, and to scrap and scrounge in the name of keeping their teammates alive.

We had the privilege of learning how to treat some specific medical emergencies from a 26-year Special Operations Combat Medic. He’s uniquely suited to teach RECOIL OFFGRID’s readers since he’s accustomed to depending on himself to take care of things — whether waiting 72 hours for a helo to evacuate his wounded soldiers or having to triage a mass-casualty incident to decide who gets saved.

Medical Trauma Treatment combat truck humvee gunner 22

Because he’s still active-duty we can’t disclose his identity or unit affiliation. He started his career as a U.S. Navy corpsman in 1991 and, since 9/11, has spent more than five years in combat zones. He’s been deployed a sh*t-ton of times throughout the Middle East, South America, and Africa. Within his tight-knit community, he goes by the nickname of “LEGO” because he’s always tinkering with his gear.

“Though we only receive a paramedic qualification for practicing medicine in the states, as an independent duty corpsman (IDC) we are asked and trained to do much more,” he says. “I’ve had to perform amputations, placed chest tubes, performed minor surgeries, pulled teeth, practiced veterinary medicine, and diagnosed and treated diseases that most healthcare professionals only read about.”

With all that being said, we asked LEGO how he’d tackle three common trauma situations that our readers may someday face with minimal medical equipment. Read on to see how you might be able to incorporate these concepts into your own preps.

Injury #1: Blunt Head Trauma

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RECOIL OFFGRID: Talk to us about head trauma, whether it’s from a fall, a vehicle crash, or a blunt weapon.

LEGO: The simple fact is that head trauma is one of the hardest things to treat in the field. There’s often a period immediately following where they seem to get better, but left untreated they can rapidly decompensate to the point of coma or death.

Visible signs of trauma or a known mechanism of injury (i.e. car crash) along with loss of their level of consciousness (LOC) are the main indicators of a concussion. You assess LOC by asking questions that require them to access long-term, short-term, and cognitive centers of the brain. Ask a simple math question or who the president is. Establish a baseline and then reassess every so often. Every five to 10 minutes at first, then spread it out to every hour if they’ve been stable for more than a half hour.

Even when they appear completely unconscious you can still check their LOC to some extent. You can flash a light in their eyes and look for pupillary response. Their pupils should be equal size and react to light. If they’re fixed and dilated you have a serious problem. Another way to establish LOC is to check their response to pain. Pinch them hard or rub on their sternum with your knuckles hard to elicit a response. You’re looking for a grimace.

There are other head trauma indicators that show up immediately, minutes, hours, or even days later. One is posturing. If you’ve ever seen someone get knocked out in a UFC fight and their arms and legs go straight out almost like a seizure, that’s a sign of brain damage. Other indicators are bleeding from ears or nose, one pupil bigger than the other, they can’t stick their tongue straight out, loss of smell, hearing, or eyesight, black eyes or bruising behind the ears, or headache.

Keep in mind that bleeding from the nose or ears isn’t evidence of significant head trauma in and of itself. You could break your nose or pop your eardrums and get blood. You can test if the blood is coming from within the skull by doing a halo test. You dip a piece of gauze in the blood and look for separation of blood and cerebral fluid. The blood tends to stay in the center as a yellow or clear ring (halo) forms on the outside, wicking away from the thicker blood.

ROG: What about short-term treatment, assuming that EMS is a simple 911 call and less than 10 minutes away?

LEGO: Like with most types of trauma, the ABCs (airway, breathing, and circulation) come first. Open their airway (mouth), check for breathing, and if they’re not breathing begin chest compressions. However, unlike other types of trauma, if you suspect head trauma, never put the feet above the head. Have them sit up slightly or lay on an incline. The object of treatment is to reduce swelling and decrease pressure. Have them relax to reduce heart rate, and never give aspirin for pain. It’ll thin the blood and increase the chance of bleeding. Also, don’t feed or give water in case they need surgery.

If bleeding from the skull, be careful with how you address it. Remember, if blood is getting out, the pressure is being relieved somewhat. If bleeding profusely from the head, never put pressure directly over the wound if there’s a chance for skull fracture. You can roll a bandage or cloth to form a donut. The donut will apply pressure 360 around the wound. The wound should be in the center of the donut you created.

ROG: What if EMS is going to be delayed for an hour or longer?

LEGO: If they are going downhill the only thing that will save them is surgery to relieve the pressure. You need to get them to the hospital ASAP. If EMS cannot get to you then you might have to get to EMS. This is when you think about life over limb. Sometimes the need to move them to get them to care outweighs other injuries that might cause more damage if you move them.

In the meantime, keep them calm. Monitor their vitals and LOC. Be prepared to manage breathing if pressure from swelling increases to the point that it puts pressure on the brain stem. Use mouth-to-mouth breathing, with one breath about every five seconds. Keep objects that can hurt them away from them in case they start flailing.

Injury #2: Blunt Abdominal Trauma

ROG: How about blunt abdominal trauma, like what usually happens in car crashes?

LEGO: Understanding the mechanism of injury is again a key indicator in determining whether they might have an internal injury. Look for abdominal rigidity (their belly will be hard as a rock), difficulty breathing, distention (this is when the belly is pushed out like a kid’s), blood on rectum or on the head of the penis, nausea or vomiting blood, or latent bruising, which shows up later. They might be very thirsty which is a common symptom with internal bleeding.

Also, crushing injuries may involve fractures to the ribs or pelvis. You can check by placing your hands around the rib cage or pelvis like you’re holding a basketball, and apply slight pressure. You’ll feel a grinding or crunching if bones are broken and see a grimace in their face. Fair warning, if the patient is awake they’re liable to come up swinging!

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ROG: We’ve always been told that if EMS is on the way, leave the victim inside the vehicle for fear of spinal injuries. But what if the car is on fire or EMS isn’t coming?

LEGO: Again, if it’s a life-over-limb judgment call, you do what you got to do. If they’re wearing a jacket you can grab the collar, which helps support the head. If the shirt will not hold up, then grab under the arms to drag them out. The point is to keep the feet in line with the head as much as possible, so that if the spine is broken you don’t sever the spinal column.

Remember, the idea to any internal injury is to keep internal organs from shutting down due to lack of blood and oxygen. So treatments for blunt abdominal trauma are focused on increasing blood pressure to the core of the body where the critical organs reside. Stop external bleeding first. If they have lacerations, add pressure to that spot.

Next is posturing. Elevate the legs and arms so the blood moves into the core of the body. If they have breathing issues, roll them onto the affected side or fractured side to take pressure off the good side.

If you have elastic bandage wraps, you can try adding one to the midsection to increase pressure or add them to the legs to force the blood to the core. Start from the feet and move up toward the thighs. If you notice bruising, trace the outline using a Sharpie. Mark time on it to give you an idea of how bad the bleed is. Make this part of your reassessment loop as you check vitals. Do what you can until you can’t do any more.

Many jurisdictions have good Samaritan laws that shield helpful bystanders from litigation. Regardless, it’s not a bad idea to take notes about any actions you took at the scene before they pass from your memory in case you are ever called on them.

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Injury #3: Penetrating Trauma

ROG: Can we talk about penetrating trauma, like a gunshot wound?

LEGO: Penetrating trauma is probably the most common of combat casualties. Whether it’s from a blast or gunshot, location and velocity of the object can produce a variety of injuries.

ROG: What about stabbings?

LEGO: In cases of a stabbing or impalement, damage tends to be localized. If the object is still there, leave it in. Stabilize it to protect it. This might mean cutting it down so it’s manageable, building donuts up around it similar to a head wound, or placing something over it like a cup and taping it in place. Leaving it in will maintain pressure created by the object itself against anything it severed.

If the penetration is anywhere in the trunk of the body, you should treat the wound with an occlusive dressing. That is an airtight dressing that prevents air from escaping or entering the chest cavity, which could cause the lungs to collapse. You can make one by placing a piece of plastic, like a wrapper or credit card, directly over the hole and taping the sides down.

Keep in mind that if the lung is punctured, air can escape into the chest cavity from the lungs themselves. With occlusive dressings placed, the trapped pressure can collapse the lungs further, even adding pressure to the heart until no exchange of air is possible. This is called a pneumothorax. The most recognizable sign of this is unilateral breathing, where one side of the chest rises, but not the other. You’ll see increasingly labored breathing and you might even see distended neck veins.

If you recognize these signs, you might need to burp the wound. To do this, peel up the plastic dressing and wipe away any clots so the air can escape. Replace the bandage once the pressure is relieved.

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OG: What if the wound is to a limb?

LEGO: Put a tourniquet on as high on the limb as possible. This is a precaution until you locate or eliminate the presence of an exit wound.

Do a blood sweep: Search with your hands 360 degrees on the body for an exit wound. Be thorough. You never know what path the bullet will take once it hits flesh. The path will often depend on the way the bullet is facing as it starts to tumble. I’ve seen people that appeared to be simply shot in the leg, but had an exit wound through their back.

If you find a wound, immediately apply pressure, place a tourniquet, then cover it with a pressure dressing. You apply a pressure dressing by first packing the wound with gauze. Once you locate the hole, open it so you can see the bleed, and shove gauze directly in the bleed. You must be aggressive with this.

With your fingers feeding it in, unroll the gauze as you pack the wound until you can’t fit any more gauze into it. Apply a couple wraps of elastic bandage wrap or other dressing to secure the gauze in place.

Once you cover the wound completely with the wrap, you can start adding a twist in the wrap directly over the wound. This will help add more direct pressure. Once the pressure dressing is in place and you’ve ruled out an exit wound, you can loosen the tourniquet and lower it to about 2 inches above the dressing.

ROG: How would you treat penetrating trauma in the longer term?

LEGO: If the wound continues to bleed after loosening the tourniquet, replace the tourniquet roughly 2 inches above the wound. You’ll need to loosen the tourniquet once every 30 minutes so they don’t lose their limb. Loosen it slowly so you don’t blow out any clots that’ve formed. And when you loosen it, make sure you leave it in place just above the wound site. This way it can be rapidly applied again if your dressing starts seeping. Eventually, the wound should clot and the bleeding will stop.

If you have it, give them broad-spectrum antibiotics. But any antibiotic would be better than nothing at this point.

You want to debride (remove dead and damaged tissue) and clean the wound aggressively. Note: Your patient will not like it! After debridement, pack the wound and keep it covered for the first five days, smelling it and checking for infection. You can consider closing smaller, low-velocity wounds at this point if there are no signs of infection. Larger holes that you can’t close will need to have their dressings changed often. As you rip out the old gauze it removes the top layer of scab, helping the granulation process. This is where it heals from the inside out. Keep the wound covered and do this daily until it no longer bleeds.

ROG: Is there anything else we should keep in mind?

LEGO: Always remember that attitude can have a huge impact on a patient’s survivability. I’ve seen individuals shot once or twice fold because they focused on the wrong thing. Others I’ve seen shot up to 26 times and survive. Don’t underestimate the power of the mind. Keep them engaged on doing a job if possible, to take the focus off of their wounds if you can. Keeping calm will help calm them. If you project confidence in the fact that they’ll make it, they will too.

Medic’s Gear

LEGO, a U.S. special operations combat medic, is used to saving lives in combat zones with little more than his medical kit and his experience. So adaptation is the name of his game.
“If I had five items to choose from, I would have ACE wrap, rolled gauze, tourniquets, shears, and 100-mph tape,” LEGO says. “You can improvise everything if you have these items. You can use the inside of the sterile wrappers for occlusive dressings, or if internal organs are exposed. You can cut your shirt for more bandages and use tape for just about everything.”

Paramedic guide common injuries trauma treatment medical survival shtf emergency 5

Medic Pack
For larger-scale supply storage, the Cerberus 72-Hour Medic Pack from Tactical Tailor carries enough for an entire family or survival group. The $400 price tag is high, but on par with similar USA-made packs of the same quality and size. The interior mesh pockets are completely separated and detachable. They can be positioned in dozens of combinations to fit each user’s unique needs. www.tacticaltailor.com/72hourmedicpack.aspx

Paramedic guide common injuries trauma treatment medical survival shtf emergency 4

Shears
Oftentimes, it’s important to remove a victim’s clothing to expose the wounds, especially if the patient is unconscious. The fastest tools we’ve ever seen for this are USA-made Rip­shears ($28). These patented shears combine trauma shears with an inline safety knife to zip through clothing, including boots, protective bunker gear, and heavy jackets in seconds. www.ripshears.com

IFAK
Medical tools must be portable and deployable immediately. The veteran 6.6 Med Pouch from 5.11 Tactical ($30) attaches to a larger backpack or duffle with MOLLE compatibility and zippered mesh pockets. The UCR IFAK pouch ($35) is a souped-up version with better separation, faster access and increased interior visibility, and can easily mount to a vehicle headrest. www.511tactical.com

Gauze and TQ
QuickClot Combat Gauze ($38) and the Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) ($33) are standard issue to our military, both available from North American Rescue. Its website offers all of these medic basics plus helpful videos to explain their use. www.narescue.com

Paramedic guide common injuries trauma treatment medical survival shtf emergency 1

Knife
The made-in-USA TOPS/BUCK CSAR-T knife ($95) was designed to be the best available knife for rescuers. With its Rocky Mountain Tread grip and chunky ATS-34 blade, it feels a lot like Mission Accomplished. But if you’re working on a first responder or combat medic’s budget, the very best tools may sometimes be out of your reach. In that case look for the imported Buck Redpoint rescue knife ($32). www.buckknives.com

About the Author

Andrew Schrader is a licensed professional engineer and is certified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as an Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Structures Specialist. His company, Recon Response Engineering LLC, advises state and federal government organizations on the subject of urban search and rescue and building collapse. He recently assisted the U.S. Department of State’s Italian Consulate in the development of their post-earthquake response and rescue protocol. Website: www.reconresponse.com Instagram: @reconresponse

More From Issue 17

Don’t miss essential survival insights—sign up for Recoil Offgrid's free newsletter today!

Read articles from the next issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 16

Read articles from the previous issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 18

Check out our other publications on the web: Recoil | Gun Digest | Blade | RecoilTV | RECOILtv (YouTube)

Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Video: Fire-Starting with Gunpowder and a Bow Drill

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Much like survival in general, starting a fire is all about thinking ahead and making the most of the resources you have with you. If one approach fails, you'll need to go to the backup plan… or the backup-backup plan. This adaptability and forethought will keep you alive in difficult situations.

charcoal-burning-fire

If you're out hunting and find yourself unable to start a fire, it's worth knowing that your firearm can provide an ignition source (it's right there in the name, after all). However, reliably lighting a fire with a gun is much harder than you might think — see our previous article Fire-Starting With a Firearm for some examples. The S.A.S. Survival Manual shows a method of replacing a bullet with a wadded-up piece of cloth and firing it into a tinder pile, but both YouTuber Survival Russia and “Survivorman” Les Stroud struggled to replicate this effectively. The result was usually a blast that scattered tinder material everywhere.

If you don't have pliers, it may be possible to pry a .22LR cartridge open with the lanyard hole on a knife...

Lighting a pile of gunpowder is easier if you have flint and steel or a ferro rod, but as we've said before, you probably won't be disassembling your valuable ammo if you already have those items. YouTube bushcrafter NW Primate shows how gunpowder can be paired with a friction fire-starter — namely, a bow drill — to create an immediate burst of flame that will greatly accelerate an otherwise tedious process.

NW Primate gunpowder fire starter 22lr bow drill friction ignition hunting rifle ammo 2

In the video below, NW Primate sets up a bow drill using some wood and a boot lace, then carefully breaks open two .22LR cartridges using the lanyard hole on his ESEE knife. The powder is poured into a notch right next to the bow drill divot, and within seconds of spinning the drill, he has a fire going. For more details on the process and materials, check out the description text below his video.

7 Common Self-Defense Mistakes

Written by

WARNING: The content in this story is provided for illustrative purposes only and not meant to be construed as advice or instruction. Seek a reputable self-defense school first. Any use of the information contained in this article shall be solely at the reader’s risk. This publication and its contributors are not responsible for any potential injuries.

“Win or lose, you always learn.” This quote has been used by coaches and martial arts practitioners in various iterations, and true to some degree. No one will forget the feeling of getting choked out for the first time or what actions, in training, lead to getting struck, thrust, or shot.

These experiences are great teachers. The wise fighter will catalog them to avoid them in the future. Sometimes, though, losing means losing it all. Some fight mistakes aren’t learning experiences — dying doesn’t afford someone a second chance to try again.

What follows are common mistakes that have killed some but taught many.

Mistake #1: “I’ll Just Run Away”

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Above: Running assumes your path won’t be blocked. Chain-link fences, locked doors, and tripping hazards can all impede your path and escape.

This is sound in theory. But reality isn’t always so kind. This assumption fails to take into account how real-life obstacles can slow or even stop the flight to safety. Uneven ground can trip you up. Loose gravel will prevent traction. And steep inclines, locked doors, and walls can slow or completely halt your escape.

These are merely the non-human factors affecting the “run defense.” How about the two-legged threat?

The attacker may be faster, have better endurance, or may be working with others. You might be baited into an ambush. The idea of fleeing assumes the end destination will be safer than the present location.

This pertains to a grander bug-out scenario, as well. Running is an option, but it isn’t a foolproof option. One should be ready to run, but also be willing to stand and fight.

Mistake #2: “I’ll Call the Police”

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Above: When seconds count, the police are minutes away. What happens when a touch screen can’t be unlocked? Or if the call doesn’t connect?

Calling for help is effective if there’s help within earshot and they’re quicker to respond than the attacker is able to inflict harm. If this sounds unreasonable, it’s because it is.

In a small town, with a population of only a few thousand, there may be only a few police officers or sheriff’s deputies. In some cases there might only be a lone state trooper. Yelling or screaming is ineffective at best, considering an unamplified human voice doesn’t travel far and there may not be anyone within hearing distance to recognize it and respond.

In a city, there might be dozens or even hundreds of officers on duty, but the chances of them reaching you in seconds are next to nil. Assuming you can reach your smartphone, this call will last as long as it takes to unlock the touch screen, enter the emergency number, wait for the dispatch to pick up, alert nearby authorities, and then however long it takes for officers to go from where they are to the scene of the emergency. This, of course, presupposes you have strong mobile phone service.

For these reasons, rape whistles, mobile phones, and personal alarms are not effective means of defense.

Consider this factor as well: Crowded streets are filled with “sheeple” that are less likely to intervene than to whip out their smartphone cameras to record what they think will be the next viral video. When a fatal attack takes seconds, help is minutes away.

Mistake #3: “Fighting Dirty Isn’t Fair”

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Above: In a street fight, there are no rules. This includes staying out of the optimal range of their weapon. Understand the “sweet spot” of a long-range weapon and the timing of when to close the reactionary gap.

Biting, thumb rakes, groin strikes, small-joint manipulation — these moves normally aren’t allowed in training sessions for their damaging and unsporting nature. These and other unorthodox moves aren’t considered fair. They also don’t win friends in the gym or on the mat.

However, they’re moves that can be used if the opportunity presents itself and the situation dictates them on the street. Sadly, not incorporating these moves into training creates a negative installation of habit. These moves aren’t repped in practice and, therefore, not likely remembered when they’re needed. When they are considered, the momentary hesitation may be all the time necessary for a thug to get the best of a situation.

There is no expectation of chivalry on the street. In a life-and-death situation, you don’t need to treat an opponent with any respect.

Mistake #4: Confusing Preparation with Ability

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Above: According to Colonel Jeff Cooper, “Owning a handgun doesn’t make you armed anymore than owning a guitar makes you a musician.” Don’t buy a $2,000 handgun if you aren’t willing to invest in an equal amount of training.

Aside from the initial firearms safety training undergone to receive a concealed carry or handgun license, very few shooters undertake additional formal education. Range time isn’t formal education anymore than driving in a vehicle and amassing miles is, but many firearms owners will equate one with the other. Time spent at the range creating training scars increases the chance that bad habits will reappear under stress and lead to failure.

Simply owning a quality firearm, an alarm system, or a safe room isn’t enough. It’s essential to train and build familiarity with your own equipment. Also, training must mimic reality. If you keep a gun loose in a drawer, skip the holster training until you’ve learned to efficiently produce the firearm from where it’s usually kept.

Depending on the range visited, training from a supine position as well as shooting from awkward angles and learning to perform one-handed reloads may be frowned upon. In these circumstances, employing snap caps or a SIRT pistol in the comfort of your own home is a better option than not training at all. Of course, formal defensive training from a reputable source is the best option for learning to use defensive weapons.

Mistake #5: Training in Just One Discipline

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Above: Mixed martial arts are fantastic for the Octagon, but do little to recognize weapons and their ability to be drawn at any time in a fight. Train for realistic scenarios where ring rules don’t apply.

When the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) emerged on the scene more than 20 years ago, it opened the eyes of many martial artists and fight enthusiasts. Far beyond the beauty of kata and forms is the graphic reality of fighting. Since the UFC’s debut in 1993, training in mixed martial arts (MMA) has become popular. More fighters than ever know how to properly apply an arm bar or sink a rear-naked choke. However, training in MMA isn’t enough.

Weapons-based training is vital for survival in the streets. Since weapons stack the odds of success heavily on the side of the armed combatant, training in only striking and grappling severely handicaps a warrior. Combat occurs at all ranges, from grappling to projectile range, and a weapon can be introduced during a fight at any time. There’s no such thing as just a knife fight, a gunfight, or fistfight. There’s only fighting, and the stakes are very high as any fight can be life threatening.

Ground fighting — such as wrestling and Brazilian jiujitsu (BJJ) — takes on a whole new element when a training blade is introduced. The traditional BJJ closed guard becomes a liability rather than a protective position. Equating a street fight to a UFC match is a recipe for disaster.

Mistake #6: Failure to Scan

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Above: Despite being across the street from a police station and having trained in various martial arts, one of the author’s friends was slashed outside of a bar in NYC. Any deeper a slice and he’d be 6 feet under. Even the most aware can’t be aware at all times. Exhaustion settles in and guards are dropped.

USAF Colonel John Boyd articulated the OODA (Observe Orient Decide Act) loop, explaining the thought process for fighter pilots in combat. This process applies to all aspects of daily life — especially in determining the outcome of a fight. If the OODA loop is followed appropriately, it’s a continuous loop with scanning done regularly. Unfortunately for some, scanning is replaced with tunnel vision, and the only thing seen is the opponent directly in front of them. Or worse yet, the only thing they see is their smartphone, and they don’t even sense the opponent coming.

Peripheral vision is lost and, in turn, valuable fight data. Without scanning, it’s possible to miss the changing conditions, such as additional threats, the presence of friendlies, the introduction of weapons, or reasons to break contact and find cover. Scanning is a process of collecting information in a fight, and with each second, countless variables change. Failing to scan means being locked in a moment. Even in a brief altercation, that moment is a lifetime.

Practice scanning before, during, and after a fight. At the range, after each course of fire, a thorough perimeter scan should be built in. Similarly, one should learn to identify the voices of coworkers, teammates, friends, and family to differentiate their commands from those of others.

“Zoning out” or “spacing out” is not an option.

Mistake #7: Failing to Have an After-Action Plan

Self defense mistakes fighting combatives survival shtf attack martial arts 8v2

Above: A daughter initiates the call to 911 as her father deals with the threat. Always be the first person to call the police. Don’t become the “wild man with a gun” or someone passersby would describe as the aggressor. Tell authorities your description and what happened before they show up. 

For many martial arts/combatives practitioners, the vision of the fight they’re preparing for ends with them victorious after employing some form of striking, choking, cutting, or shooting. But that’s actually just the start.

When the authorities arrive, the real fight begins. In general, the first person to call the police will be treated far differently than the person with the second story of what just happened. If and when lethal force is used, a demand should be made for a medical evaluation, and no statement should be given until it’s determined the survivor isn’t in shock. One should expect an investigation and even a lawsuit to follow any defensive/offensive action.

You should prepare far in advance should things go south and you’re the one who’s handcuffed. Like a fire drill or a hurricane response plan, you should have a plan for a worst-case self-defense scenario — this includes having a trusted contact who can call your lawyer and relatives. See our feature “Aftermath” for more on this topic in Issue 1 of our sister publication, CONCEALMENT.

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Conclusion

Hollywood, profit-driven instructors, gun-shop counter talk, and Internet commandos ensure fight mistakes will continue. Don’t make the additional mistake of trusting questionable knowledge or not heeding these seven tips. Seven — some say it’s a lucky number. Don’t make the mistake of relying on luck either. The wise fighter will learn from others, catalog his mistakes, and run the mental reps so he won’t make the same fight mistakes as those who came before him.

Technique Tutorial: A Flat Ally

Having your back to the wall doesn’t need to be a bad situation. The wall can become a weapon. In the Filipino martial arts curriculum taught by Bayani Warrior, the wall becomes a stationary fist. The author zones out of the path of an incoming fist while simultaneously parrying the strike to the outside. A left elbow is thrown over the top as the attacker’s right arm is extended and their body thrown into the wall face first. Using the back of the collar as a handle, the attacker is thrown to the ground. A thorough scan is done to ensure no other attackers are present.

Technique Tutorial: Get to the Point

Instead of absorbing strikes with blocks, elbow destructions target the jab and cross that’s often thrown. To an onlooker, the moves look defensive in nature, making it seem like the opponent has the upper hand. After the 1-2 combination is thrown, the defender uses a back fist to the face and follows up with a knee to the stomach.

About the Author

Kevin Estela is an associate level 2 Sayoc Kali instructor and a black belt at RiSu Martial Arts in Bristol, Connecticut. He’s a striped blue belt working toward purple in Brazilian jiujitsu under Sifu Chris Smith at IMBCT. Kevin’s interests include handgun and rifle marksmanship, as well as the study and use of primitive weapons. He’s the owner and head instructor of Estela Wilderness Education and has traveled around the USA to pursue further martial arts training. www.kevinestela.com

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Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Parental Preps Issue 29

Written by

We gladly debut Parental Preps with the hopes of establishing a network of preppers who share their advice on making our kids and communities safer. Got a tip you’d like to share? Send it to offgrid@recoilweb.com along with a well-lit, high-resolution photo of yourself. Also include your name, and your website or social media handles if applicable. Please keep your tip submissions between 250 and 350 words. By sending in submissions, you grant TEN: Publishing Media the unrestricted, transferable and sub-licensable, irrevocable, royalty-free, world-wide, and perpetual license to reproduce, distribute, publicly display, make derivative works of, and otherwise use the Submissions in any media whatsoever now known or later invented throughout the world for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or not.

NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program is the nation’s largest and most comprehensive firearms safety education program, having partnered with more than 15,000 law enforcement departments to distribute more than 37-million free firearm safety kits that include a cable-style gun lock in all 50 states. The cable lock fits most types of firearms and adds an extra level of safety because firearms must be unloaded in order to install it. The lock comes with a brochure that shows how to use the lock on various firearms, discusses safe handling and storage, as well as considerations when keeping a firearm for home and personal protection, and illustrates various storage options in addition to the free lock, such as lockable gun cases, quick-access lock boxes, and full-size gun safes. Any community in the country can request free gun locks through its law enforcement department at the program’s website.

Project ChildSafe reminds parents, whether they’re gun owners or not, to talk to their children on a regular basis (not just once) about how to react if they should encounter an unsecured firearm anywhere. For young children, the warning is: Stop, Don’t Touch, Get Away, Tell an Adult.

For older children, the warning is the same, though they also may want an introduction to firearm use. In that case, the warning is that you need a supervised introduction to firearms, with your parents’ permission. There’s a longstanding tradition of youth involved in the target shooting sports through Boy Scouts, 4-H, the Scholastic Clay Target Program, Amateur Trapshooting Association, and other groups. Recreational target shooting is a safe activity and enjoyed by millions. Similarly, so is hunting. Youth interested in hunting might want to take a state hunter education class or try hunting through an apprentice hunting license, if offered by their state. Visit www.projectchildsafe.org for more info.

Parental preps issue 29 Bill Brassard

Bill Brassard
Senior Director, Communications
National Shooting Sports Foundation

OPSEC/PERSEC (operation security/personal security): Teaching your kids what is and is not OK to say to others. For example, we are preppers, we have guns, etc. All information is private unless it’s a teacher or law enforcement officer. We need to teach our kids their home address and mom and dad’s phone number, but also that not everyone needs that information.

Communication: A Gizmo Gadget watch is a great device that can aid in communication with your child. You have the ability to call or text them and know where they are physically via a GPS mapping system. In our home, this device is often used to call grandparents, but it’s a backup system to communicate vital information and to find them if they go missing.

When kids are alone: My kids are too young to leave alone (8 and 2), but even if your kids are old enough to be left alone they need to know what to do. Having age appropriate sand table/rock drills/role playing discussions is a great place to start. These exercises serve as glorified pretending to walk the kids through the physical movements as practice so when it comes time to utilize them in real life they understand what’s necessary. Essentially a “dry run.”

Acting out these scenarios can also help solidify the necessary steps for an intruder. “Son, grab your brother and go hide in mommy’s closet!” Something as simple as that, and having them act it out, can aid in their attention to the situation and following the necessary steps to stay safe at home. Again, being age appropriate is key here; you don’t want to instill an unhealthy fear into your kids, but a healthy respect for their environment.

Parental preps issue 29 Nila Rhoades

Nila Rhoades
www.milspecmom.com

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Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Reader’s Tip: Carving a Survival Staff

Written by

Editor's Note: We received the following email from a reader named Ron, who has developed a hobby of carving his own multi-purpose survival staffs. We appreciate several aspects of his advice he shares. First, it's a good lesson in the value of creativity — with practice and experimentation, you'll be able to improve your carving skills and find the design that works best for your needs. Second, it goes to show that being prepared isn't just about spending money on high-end gear. Plenty of valuable tools can be hand-made from common materials if you're willing to put in the effort.

If you have any survival or preparedness tips of your own, you can email them to us directly at OFFGRID@RECOILweb.com.

I enjoy all the RECOIL family of magazines, especially OFFGRID. I just finished reading Issue 29. Another great read. After reading the article on the Crawford Survival Staff, I couldn’t help but send you a note.

The modular Crawford Survival Staff, as seen in Issue 29 of our magazine.

The modular Crawford Survival Staff, as seen in Issue 29 of our magazine.

The Crawford staff is certainly a great product, and I couldn’t agree more with the author’s comments about fashioning something quickly in the woods if the need would arise. But if you fashion it beforehand and have it with you, it’s a little easier.

I’ve been making hiking staffs for a few years now that I just give away — at last count over 70. I got to thinking about the survival need and started trying a few ideas. These are simple, easy ways to make a hiking staff a survival staff for nothing more than some time and effort. My first thought was to just sharpen the end of a hiking staff and make an end cap for it. With the little bolt and wing nut, it works great. To go from hiking staff to spear, just take off the wing nut, pull out the bolt and pull off the cap.

Ron A wood survival staff carving hiking stick spear hunting diy 1

Next idea was a longer, narrower pointed end. So I took a small branch, made a spear point out of it and fastened it to the hiking staff with toggle bolts and wing nuts. I made a couple of different versions of this one, one with tip up and one with tip down. With tip up, simply take off one wing nut, flip the tip around, and insert the toggle bolt in the extra pre-drilled hole. With the tip down you actually have to take off both toggle bolts, slide the spear end down the shaft and insert the bolts in the two pre-drilled holes.

With way too much time on my hands, I kept trying to come up with other ideas. The last two I fashioned by drilling a hole in the end of the staff. With one, I just cut down an old wooden spoon into a spear point and with the other I decided to spend an afternoon whittling something a little more like a true arrow point. These last two I just tie to the paracord wrist strap I put on all my staffs. Just untie it and stick it in the slot when needed. It’s a great way to tinker in the garage during the winter months and it keeps me busy. Of course my wife thinks I’m crazy, having made well over 100 of these in the last few years!

Thanks for listening.
Ron A.

Review: Southern Specialties Folding Lock Pick Set

Written by

Editor's Note: The following article was originally published by our friends at Breach Bang Clear. It appears here in its entirety with their permission. For more from the Mad Duo and crew, go to BreachBangClear.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.

The original OSS Jack Knife Lock Pick Set

The original OSS Jack Knife Lock Pick Set

In this episode of Monday Night Knife Fights, we take a look at a modern take on an old classic knife. Back in World War II secret agents were issued a “Jack Knife,” more commonly referred to as the OSS Lockpicking Knife, pictured above with the tension wrench. These knives were issued beginning in 1944, weighed 1.5 ounces (42.5 grams) and measured less than three inches long by one inch wide and a quarter inch thick. This modern incarnation takes inspiration from the OSS version but with advanced manufacturing techniques. So even though it doesn’t have a knife blade, read on.

Southern Specialities folding lock pick set review survival lockpicking entry 1

Before we get too hot and bothered, let me say that lock picking can be a fun and exciting hobby. However, you do need to adhere to a simple rule: you may only pick locks that belong to you or those you’ve been given permission to pick.

Southern Specialities folding lock pick set review survival lockpicking entry 3

I bought my first set of picks about a year and a half ago because I had always been fascinated with the ability to pick locks, and movies and video games always made it seem so simple. It was a basic introductory kit that covered simple needs and allowed me to learn. I began collecting several different brands and types of locks and would spend downtime playing with them, studying how they worked and learning how to pick them. One such lock was a clear acrylic training lock, which would allow me to see the pins and how they interacted with a key and different picks; I highly recommend one of these for the budding locksmith.

Southern Specialities folding lock pick set review survival lockpicking entry 4

Given some of the misconceptions surrounding lockpicking, I haven’t wanted to carry around my whole kit, especially when traveling. I have a hard enough time with the TSA when I have a pelican filled with silencers and machine guns. So after some searching, I found the Southern Specialties Folding Pocket Set 7P. The price was right and it looks slightly less menacing than a full kit in a leather pouch.

The folding kit weighs a whopping 18 grams and measures right at three inches long. As the name suggests it includes seven different types of picks; three rakes, a full ball, small diamond, short hook, and a FALE reach. The tension bar fits conveniently onto the housing. which is made of glass filled nylon. A locking bar swings up to unlock the picks, then back down to keep the chosen pick in place. All the picks can be removed for replacement.

Southern Specialities folding lock pick set review survival lockpicking entry 5

Using the folding kit proved easier than I had anticipated. All my prior experience had been with full-sized, rubber handled picks and longer tension bars. I enjoy single picking each pin sometimes and will regularly use a short hook, since being able to feel spring tension is a large part of this and even with the bulkier, less streamlined handle of the kit I was able to accomplish this. With some practice, I am now able to pick all the locks I have with both the full-sized kit and the folding kit.

Southern Specialities folding lock pick set review survival lockpicking entry 6

Overall the Southern Specialties Folding Kit has been worth the money. I wouldn’t recommend it as a first lock picking kit but as a lightweight and compact package for leaving in your bag or on your keys, it is a great option. If I were to do it again, I would probably spring the extra $20 for the stainless handle instead of nylon, but that isn’t necessary.

Lock sport can be a very entertaining and useful hobby, and I highly recommend it. It’s important to bear in mind that not everyone will look at it as an honest hobby, and it’s up to you to keep this skill set on the right side of the law.

About the Author

Alexander Crown OFFGRIDweb author photo

Alexander Crown served as an Infantryman with the Scout/ Sniper Platoon of the 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment in Ft. Richardson, Alaska, where he specialized in radio communications and reconnaissance. Since separating, Alexander spends his time as an avid outdoorsman and hunter with an appreciation for self-sufficiency in the form of gardening. He also enjoys woodworking, firearms, and reloading. You can follow him on Instagram @acrown509.