Prepare. Think. Survive.

First Aid for a Broken Nose

Posted by Survive on January 30, 2012 Comments Off

Symptoms and signs of a broken nose:

Bleeding from the nose
Bruising
Swelling
Pain
Tenderness
Difficulty breathing

Also called a nasal fracture, a broken nose is caused by physical trauma to the face, such as being punched in the face, falling, various contact sports, and other physical activities.

What to do if you think you have broken your nose:

Breathe through your mouth and lean forward to reduce the amount of blood draining into your throat.
Apply an ice pack or cold compress immediately after the injury. Repeat four times a day for the following 1-2 days, 10 to 15 minutes each time.
Take an over-the-counter pain reliever
Elevate your head (even when sleeping) so as not to worsen swelling of the injury.
See a doctor for further medical care. The doctor may let minor breaks heal on their own, prescribe treatment and medicine as necessary, and in the case of more serious fractures (such as when the nose shape is deformed by the injury), may try to realign a broken nose. If you have difficulty breathing because of your injury, seek medical attention.

First Aid for a Bee Sting

Posted by Survive on January 27, 2012 Comments Off

When treating a bee sting injury:

Remove the stinger as quickly as possible, delaying will only cause more venom to be released into the injury.
Apply ice or a cold compress to the injury in order to reduce swelling and pain.
If the bee sting sufferer is known to be allergic to bee stings or you suspect he or she is having an allergic reaction, seek emergency medical care as soon as possible.
If the sufferer is known to have an allergy and he or she has an EpiPen handy in order to deal with such a situation, you can help administer the treatment. An epinephrine autoinjector, or EpiPen, contains epinephrine, which helps treat or prevent anaphylactic shock.

Try not to scratch the sting as this can make the problem worse. The sting will likely be painful for up to a few hours after the sting for most people. Doctors often recommend a tetanus shot after being stung by a bee.

Survial Gear for Staying Dry in the Rain and Snow

Posted by Survive on January 25, 2012 Comments Off

If you find yourself in the wilderness, staying dry is extremely important for your health and hygiene. Wearing wet clothes can contribute to some illnesses. In cold climates, staying dry is necessary for avoiding hypothermia. Having an extra set of clothes in your water-proof bag is a smart idea.

If you know ahead of time that you are going into a wet and possibly cold climate, you should invest in some waterproof gear. Note that water-resistant gear is not the same thing. Water-resistant gear can help you stay dry in light rain for a little while. However, for more severe and long-lasting weather conditions, waterproof gear is the way to go. Waterproof gear is typically a little heavier than water-resistant gear. Waterproof fabrics shed water because they have been treated with a waterproofing agent or because of how the fabric is woven or what it is made out of.

Dangerous Insects: Bees

Posted by Survive on January 24, 2012 Comments Off

Most folks are familiar with bees early from their childhood in the form of honey bees or bumble bees. They come in a large number of species on several continents. Hornets and wasps tend to have sleeker bodies and lack fuzz, compared to bees which look like little yellow and red poof-balls. Most bees, like honeybees) live in colonies.

Even honeybees can deliver a painful sting to a perceived threat, but unlike other insect species, a bee can usually only sting an opponent once before the stinger and venom gland rips out of the insects body, lodged in the opponent. At this point the bee dies and releases a chemical message alerting other bees in the area of the threat.

Save for those who have a severe allergic reaction to bee stings, a singular bee sting is painful but often not serious. Bees are generally less aggressive than hornets or wasps, with the exception of the dreaded and much-hyped killer bee species, which is a hybrid of different honey bees that happen to be much more aggressive than your typical bee. A singular killer bee sting likewise won’t kill you, but killer bees are known to follow perceived threats over longer distances more aggressively in order to kill the threat, thus making them more dangerous than traditional honey bees.

Avoiding a run-in with any bees is a good idea for protecting yourself. Be aware of the various fruits and flowers prefer to collect pollen to stay away from them.

Personal Safety: Take Off Your Headphones

Posted by Survive on January 17, 2012 Comments Off

In previous posts, I cautioned against wearing headphones while walking about town due to the increased risk of theft and crime you open expose yourself to, due to being less aware of your surroundings.

Now, there’s another good reason for ditching your headphones while walking the streets – wearing headphones has now been linked to an increased likelihood of pedestrian deaths and injuries. While wearing headphones (or maybe just fiddling with your smart phone while walking), you’ll be less likely to pay attention to incoming motor hazards. It’s a similar risk to texting or talking on your cell phone while driving. According to a new study, headphone related accidents have increased by more than three times in the last six years.

Featured Photo by Courtney Leigh

Dangerous Insects: Hornets

Posted by Survive on January 12, 2012 Comments Off

Hornets have stingers which they use to both kill prey and defend their nests. These stings can be very painful to humans, significantly more than a bee sting. Unlike bees, hornets can sting repeatedly; making them that much more unpleasant to deal with. Hornets are provided this benefit because their stingers are not barbed, such as those of bees.

A single hornet sting is not fatal, with the exception of anyone with an allergic reaction to the sting. Multiple stings from non-European hornets can be fatal. The stings of the Asian giant hornet is very poisonous and can even be fatal to those who are not allergic.

Image by William Warby

S

Posted by Survive on January 12, 2012 Comments Off

There’s a new portable electric charger out on the market that you can use to charge your phone, iPod, or GPS device. It simply requires the addition of a little water, even urine or muddy water will suffice. Yes, it sounds gross., but it works and could be very useful in a wilderness setting. The device is called the PowerTrekk Fuel Cell Charger, developed by the company SiGNa Chemistry. It even fits in your pocket. The device won’t go on sale until May of 2012.

The device does require refills of powdered sodium silicide, but if you are out somewhere in the middle of nowhere with a dead GPS device and no electric outlet in site, this could be a very handy device. The device won’t be terribly cheap, somewhere around $200 to $220 for a unit, though I expect the price will go down if the technology proves to be practical. The US military is interested in it, after all.

Check out the SiGNna Chemistry homepage for more information. Read more »

How to Avoid Being Struck by Lightning

Posted by Survive on January 11, 2012 Comments Off

There’s really no full-proof way to avoid being struck by lightning. Luckily for us, lightning strikes are a rare occurrence compared to many other deadly situations out in the world. According to the National Weather Service, 2011 set a new record for the least amount of lightning-related deaths in America, with less than 30 people having died due to lightning strikes. This is about half the yearly average. In fact, over the past few decades there’s been a continuous decline in lighting-related deaths, perhaps due to increased education on the subject.

You should be mindful of weather conditions and take precautions to reduce your risks of being struck. Lightning most often becomes a threat when the victim is in the outdoors and caught off-guard by a storm.

If you can see lightning and/or hear thunder, the risk is already present

When a storm approaches your area, avoid large open spaces (like a field or golf course) or high-elevation locations (like a mountain). Get away from light poles, metal fences, large bodies of water, and isolated trees.

If there is a time delay of less than thirty seconds between spotting the lightning and hearing the resulting thunder, you need to be extra careful.

Take refuge in a large, enclosed building if possible.

Note that a lightning strike can easily be fatal, but this is not always the case. Roy Sullivan, a U.S. Park Ranger managed to be struck by lightning 7 times throughout the course of his life. Still, many people are not so lucky.

Featured Photo by carolynconner

Dog Attacks

Posted by Survive on January 9, 2012 Comments Off

Despite their nickname as “mans best friend”, dog attacks can come without warning from either domesticated or wild dogs. Depending on the side of the dog compared to the size of the victim, these attacks can range from mild/inconvenient (think a chihuahua attack) to attacks fatal to humans.
Whatever the breed of dog, there can be a risk of dog attack, especially if it is rabid or carrying the viviparous. These attacks is less of a problem in the USA than in much of the rest of the world, but is still an in issue in the USA. The victim of a bite can carry the threat of bacterial infection which can be fatal.

If a dog starts to run at you and attempts to attack you (and you are in the unfortunate position of lacking a weapon to defend yourself) - Try to grab the dog by its neck with your arm to keep its head away from you to keep it from biting you. If this is not possible, try to grab and hold onto the animals lower jaw.

Dangerous Sea Critters: The Stonefish

Posted by Survive on January 2, 2012 Comments Off

The stonefish is native to the waters of Australia. It has been called the most poisonous fish on the planet. They tend to blend into their surroundings, and the usual way that a person is stung by a stonefish is by stepping on it. Less frequently, someone is stung when picking a stonefish up with his or her hands. It has toxic venom in its spines. Stonefish can stay out of water for as long as a day.

A stonefish sting can be fatal and requires immediate medical attention. An antivenom has been developed for the treatment of stonefish poisoning.

Featured Photo by walknboston
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