Tag: prepared

Stop The Bleed

Stop The Bleed

The “Stop the Bleed” course is designed to teach individuals how to respond to bleeding emergencies effectively. It’s a crucial skill set for both everyday situations and emergencies, helping to control severe bleeding until professional medical help arrives. Here’s an overview of what you can expect from the course:

Course Objectives:

Recognize Bleeding:

  • Understand the types of bleeding (arterial, venous, capillary) and how to identify severe bleeding.

    Control Bleeding:

  • Apply Direct Pressure: Learn how to use cloths or bandages to apply pressure directly to the wound.
  • Use Tourniquets: Understand when and how to apply a tourniquet to control severe arterial bleeding from limbs.
  • Pack Wounds: For severe bleeding that doesn’t respond to direct pressure, learn how to pack the wound with gauze to control bleeding.

    Manage Shock:

  • Recognize signs of shock (e.g., pale skin, rapid pulse) and learn how to manage it by keeping the person calm and comfortable, and elevating their legs if possible.

    Hands-On Practice:

  • Practice techniques using realistic scenarios and mannequins to gain confidence and skill in controlling bleeding.

Course Content:

Introduction to Bleeding:

    • Overview of anatomy related to bleeding.
    • Discussion on how bleeding can be life-threatening.

First Aid Techniques:

    • Detailed instructions on how to apply direct pressure, use tourniquets, and pack wounds.
    • Demonstration of proper techniques and tools.

Scenario Practice:

    • Hands-on practice with simulations to apply learned skills in a controlled environment.

Review and Certification:

    • Recap of key points and techniques.
    • Certification or acknowledgment of participation (if applicable).

How to Take the Course:

Prepare for the Course:

    • Wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to participate in hands-on activities.

Utilize Resources:

    • After completing the course, review the materials provided and practice techniques regularly to keep your skills sharp.

Importance:

Save Lives:

    • Effective bleeding control can be the difference between life and death in emergencies.

Boost Confidence:

    • Knowing what to do in a bleeding emergency helps you act quickly and calmly.

Community Impact:

    • Being trained empowers you to assist others in need, potentially saving lives in critical situations.

The “Stop the Bleed” course is an invaluable skill set that equips you to handle severe bleeding emergencies effectively and confidently.

This course is two hours in length. All students will receive a certificate of participation upon completion of the course. The class is taught by an experienced CPR/AED First Aid and Advanced Bleeding Control instructor. Parking is free. Class Minimum: 4 students

Wilderness First Aid

Wilderness First Aid - First Aid in Austere Environments

Course Overview

Wilderness First Aid, remote and Austere environments create special situations not usually encountered in an urban or suburban environment. With this class, first aid providers in a remote outdoor or austere setting will be better prepared to respond with first aid training when faced with limited resources, longer times to care for someone and decisions about when and how fast to evacuate an ill or injured person.

This comprehensive 16-hour course meets or exceeds the Boy Scouts of America Wilderness First Aid Curriculum and Doctrine Guidelines, 2017 Edition.

Wilderness First Aid Course Includes

Information-filled slide presentation covering wilderness and remote first aid from a basic understanding of emergency response in an outdoor setting to specific techniques and considerations for a large variety of injuries and illnesses.

Class topics include

  • Preparation and Assessment
  • Preventing and Caring for Injuries and Illnesses
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Other Considerations

    Course length: Two Days

9am – 6pm Oct 26th 2024 and 9am – 6pm Oct  27th 2024

Prerequisite

Adult CPR and AED
Minimum of 4 Students required

Wilderness First Aid Information Request
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Wilderness First Aid

Wilderness First Aid - First Aid in Austere Environments

Course Overview

Wilderness First Aid, remote and Austere environments create special situations not usually encountered in an urban or suburban environment. With this class, first aid providers in a remote outdoor or austere setting will be better prepared to respond with first aid training when faced with limited resources, longer times to care for someone and decisions about when and how fast to evacuate an ill or injured person.

This comprehensive 16-hour course meets or exceeds the Boy Scouts of America Wilderness First Aid Curriculum and Doctrine Guidelines, 2017 Edition.

Wilderness First Aid Course Includes

Information-filled slide presentation covering wilderness and remote first aid from a basic understanding of emergency response in an outdoor setting to specific techniques and considerations for a large variety of injuries and illnesses.

Class topics include

  • Preparation and Assessment
  • Preventing and Caring for Injuries and Illnesses
  • Environmental Hazards
  • Other Considerations

    Course length: Two Days

9am – 6pm Oct 26th 2024 and 9am – 6pm Oct  27th 2024

Prerequisite

Adult CPR and AED
Minimum of 4 Students required

Wilderness First Aid Information Request
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

Stop The Bleed

Stop The Bleed

The “Stop the Bleed” course is designed to teach individuals how to respond to bleeding emergencies effectively. It’s a crucial skill set for both everyday situations and emergencies, helping to control severe bleeding until professional medical help arrives. Here’s an overview of what you can expect from the course:

Course Objectives:

Recognize Bleeding:

  • Understand the types of bleeding (arterial, venous, capillary) and how to identify severe bleeding.

    Control Bleeding:

  • Apply Direct Pressure: Learn how to use cloths or bandages to apply pressure directly to the wound.
  • Use Tourniquets: Understand when and how to apply a tourniquet to control severe arterial bleeding from limbs.
  • Pack Wounds: For severe bleeding that doesn’t respond to direct pressure, learn how to pack the wound with gauze to control bleeding.

    Manage Shock:

  • Recognize signs of shock (e.g., pale skin, rapid pulse) and learn how to manage it by keeping the person calm and comfortable, and elevating their legs if possible.

    Hands-On Practice:

  • Practice techniques using realistic scenarios and mannequins to gain confidence and skill in controlling bleeding.

Course Content:

Introduction to Bleeding:

    • Overview of anatomy related to bleeding.
    • Discussion on how bleeding can be life-threatening.

First Aid Techniques:

    • Detailed instructions on how to apply direct pressure, use tourniquets, and pack wounds.
    • Demonstration of proper techniques and tools.

Scenario Practice:

    • Hands-on practice with simulations to apply learned skills in a controlled environment.

Review and Certification:

    • Recap of key points and techniques.
    • Certification or acknowledgment of participation (if applicable).

How to Take the Course:

Prepare for the Course:

    • Wear comfortable clothing and be prepared to participate in hands-on activities.

Utilize Resources:

    • After completing the course, review the materials provided and practice techniques regularly to keep your skills sharp.

Importance:

Save Lives:

    • Effective bleeding control can be the difference between life and death in emergencies.

Boost Confidence:

    • Knowing what to do in a bleeding emergency helps you act quickly and calmly.

Community Impact:

    • Being trained empowers you to assist others in need, potentially saving lives in critical situations.

The “Stop the Bleed” course is an invaluable skill set that equips you to handle severe bleeding emergencies effectively and confidently.

This course is two hours in length. All students will receive a certificate of participation upon completion of the course. The class is taught by an experienced CPR/AED First Aid and Advanced Bleeding Control instructor. Parking is free. Class Minimum: 4 students

Posted on

Skill Development – Knots you need to know

Today we will talk about the 7 knots you need to know;

  • Two Half hitches
  • The Figure eight on a bight
  • The Bowline
  • The Taut Line hitch
  • The Clove hitch
  • The Square knot
  • The Double Sheet bend

Knots are extremely useful and there are a myriad of choices. But, today we are going to examine what I consider to be the 7 most important knots that you need to know. With these knots in your skillset you will be able to deal with most any situation, requiring a knot, that arises. But please don’t consider this an all encompassing list, learn as many knots as you can.

That being said, let’s get started with some basic terminology;

  • Bight: Any part of a rope between the ends. Bight also is used to refer to a curved section of a rope within a knot being tied.
  • Loop: A bight becomes a loop when the two ropes cross. If the working end is crossed over the standing line, it is an overhand loop. It is an underhand loop if the working end runs under the standing part.
  • Working End: The active end being used to tie the knot.
  • Standing End: The end not being use in the tying of the knot. The rope part that is not being used is called the Standing Part.

Now for the Knots, I have included two pics for each knot, one loose so you can see how it is formed and one tight to show you how it should look when applied;

  • Two Half hitches, this knot is the simplest knot used to hitch a rope to a post. It consists of a wrap or loop around the post, followed by an overhand knot then a half hitch. It is basically a Larks Head knot tied with the working end on the Standing part, to form a loop that tightens when the standing end is pulled.2016-02-23 14.20.182016-02-23 14.00.39
  • The figure eight on a bight, this knot is commonly used by climbers because of its security and ease of disassembly. Especially useful when you need to make a secure loop somewhere in the middle of a rope and used in some compound knots. You can also tie a figure eight at the end of a rope as a stopper knot.2016-02-23 13.53.192016-02-23 13.58.45
  • The Bowline, this is the knot you always wish you knew. It is very versatile and easy to untie, even after being subjected to heavy loads while wet. It is basically a Sheet bend that forms a loop. Although this knot is very secure when under a load, it can tend to work loose when not. That is why climbers use a figure eight on a bight. Remember this little ditty “The rabbit comes out of the hole goes around the tree and back into the hole” the rabbit is the working end.2016-02-23 14.27.542016-02-23 13.52.11
  • The Taut line hitch is an adjustable loop knot for use on lines under tension. It is useful when the length of a line will need to be periodically adjusted in order to maintain tension. Very useful when securing rain flies or tarps, if they become loose you simply slide the knot to take up the slack.2016-02-23 14.21.272016-02-23 14.07.58
  •  The Clove hitch, this knot was commonly used to hitch your horse to the rail. You have seen it done a hundred times, if you watch westerns. It tightens when pulled from the standing end. It becomes unreliable when used on a square or rectangular post. This is the base knot for all lashings.2016-02-23 15.05.322016-02-23 14.12.07
  • The Square knot is a binding knot used to secure a rope around an object. This knot is an ancient one and is commonly mis-tied resulting in the failure of the knot. The working ends should always be on the same side of the knot. This is the knot you use to tie your shoes. It is useful whenever you need a strong bind that is relatively flat, It is also commonly used to tie two ropes together, but this is a mistake, as it is unreliable in this application, use a double sheet bend instead. Here is the rhyme to follow “Right over left and left over right makes the knot neat and tidy and tight.”2016-02-23 14.19.412016-02-23 13.56.11
  • The Double Sheet bend, this knot is used to join two ropes together, regardless of size or type. Done properly it is quite secure. The working ends should be on the same side of the knot. The larger rope should always be the Bight side (Black line)2016-02-23 14.18.362016-02-23 13.55.20

So there you have it, with a little practice these knots will become part of your skillset and indispensable in your outdoor adventures or survival situations.

As always,

Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

Posted on

Happy Holidays

From all of us at NW Survival

We wish all of you Peace, Joy, and Prosperity!

Thank you for supporting us!

Winter/Holiday Home Hazards

With the change in weather let us be aware of changes in home and personal safety hazards. Some things to consider:

-Christmas Trees – In addition to keeping a fire extinguisher nearby, check the water daily, turn tree lights off when away or asleep, & maintain distance from heaters.

-Warm clothing in GO Kits

-Blankets, food, water, etc. in cars in case of being stranded in a winter storm

-Working smoke and CO detectors -Here are some links to help identify other winter and seasonal hazard:

-Cold Weather Safety: Be Prepared for Winter

-Holiday Safety: Holiday Safety

-Pet Safety: Pet Safety

As Always,

Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

Posted on

Veterans Day

Today is not a day to celebrate those that died for their country.

It is a day to celebrate all of those that stood up and said, I will defend the Constitution of the United States of America and the principles that it stands for against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. I will do this at whatever cost it levies, up to and including my life.
 
They do not serve or fight for politicians, they serve and fight for us, the citizens of this country, after all, they are us. They serve and fight for those that stand next to them and those that stand behind them. This is the heart of the veteran.
 
They represent a very small group, only about 5% of our population 1 in 20, yet they are the defenders of liberty and freedom. They stand to and say, you shall not pass!
 
My uncle once said to me 

I do not wear this uniform and serve my country because I love war, I do so with the greatest of hopes and convictions that the generations to follow me will not have to. So that they may inherit a world where peace and love rule.

 
He finally retired when he returned from Iraq, after serving 27 years.
Some veterans never saw the violence of war and never will, yet they made the same commitment and steeled themselves against the possibility.


These are the men and women we honor today!

As Always,

Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

Posted on

National Preparedness Month

Well, here we are well into the third week of National Preparedness Month. What have you done to make yourself and family more prepared? Nothing, why not? Who is going to get you prepared? Do you think you will just magically be able to deal with whatever crises are presented to you? Do you believe the government will save you?

A disaster is defined as an incident where the needs of those affected exceed the available resources!

Read that again! There is a common phrase used by people that live outside of the urban/suburban areas where response times by emergency services is easily in excess of 30, usually 60 minutes. It is YOYO, (You’re On Your Own), this is how it will be should a disaster strike. The resources provided by the Federal, State and Local governments will be stretched beyond their capacity. It is a simple truth, by definition.

It is advisable and important for each of us as responsible citizens to do our best to have at least the basic supplies needed to endure through a crisis or disaster. We not only owe it to ourselves and family but our community as well. By getting ourselves prepared we make ourselves an asset to all those around us. It is similar to the safety briefing on a plane. When the oxygen masks come down, put yours on first, only then are you prepared to assist others.

Do you want to be an asset or a liability?

Now, I don’t want you to feel like you need to be an over the top prepper unless you want to be. All I am asking is that you take a few minutes and dollars and put together a few things for just in case.

Grab-n-Go Bag

Here is a good start on a Grab and Go bag. It takes very little time or resources to put one together. You can get the backpacks at a resale shop, the clothes you already have. You can use last years clothing if it is out of style you won’t care when you are warm and dry. Put that pair of shoes you just replaced because they were just too dirty in a plastic bag and stow them in your vehicle. There is literally very little excuse not to at least put something together, something is better than nothing. Remember to include feel good items, like toilet paper, fresh underwear, a clean shirt, and clean socks. Make a bag for each member of your family. If you have children have them help!

Most important of all, just start doing something!

Every journey starts with the first step, without it we will never go anywhere. So stop putting it off. Get up off your couch, go to the thrift store. Take your list with you to the dollar store. Just start moving towards being an asset to yourself, your family, and your community.

We offer classes on most subjects related to urban safety and survival.

CERT.jpgIf you are interested in contributing to the welfare of your fellow citizens during a disaster, consider joining your local CERT organization. They will provide you with training for free, all you have to do is show up!

As Always,
Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

 

 

Posted on

August Heat

It’s been hot here in Portland and there has been an uptick in aggression and erratic behavior in people. It seems like everyone I talk to feels like life is throwing them a lot of unexpected challenges of all kinds. I myself have encountered a lot of erratic and aggressive drivers. I’m bringing this up because it got me thinking about self-regulation in stressful situations, like a natural disaster, a mass shooting, or economic collapse. When we experience stress our body releases the stress hormone cortisol, and the sympathetic nervous system is activated. This can evoke the fight, flight, or freeze response. This can be useful if you can regulate it. That is because you will start losing some of your brain’s function and that won’t do anyone good. I’m going to list below a few techniques I like to use to manage my nervous system and at the end, I will describe a possible real-world emergency and how you can incorporate these techniques. 

First, breathe. And I’m not talking about those shallow chest breaths most of us do when we aren’t being aware of our breathing. I’m talking about slow and deep belly breaths. You know you are doing it right if you are keeping your shoulders relaxed and you can watch your belly expand and contract with each breath. This breath uses your diaphragm, the muscle between your lungs and your intestines, to pull air into the lower part of your lungs. This fills your lungs more completely and is much more effective at calming your nervous system. I find it helpful to visualize it, so here’s a picture. By focusing on your breath, you are bringing yourself back into your body and lessening the negative effects of a stress response.

breathe-fully

Second, take a break. If it is possible, step away for a moment and collect yourself and take a few breaths. If you are stressed, it is very easy to get fixated on the situation at hand and often it can do more harm than good. If you are becoming overwhelmed, do yourself and everyone else a favor and step back, even if it’s for 5 minutes. This action alone can significantly improve your problem-solving abilities.

Third, tune into your five senses. Tune in to each of your senses, one at a time, and identify 3-5 things that you are experiencing. This can be done at any point. Tune in and start with whatever sense you’d like. For example, say I have PTSD and I am triggered by something in my environment. I know there is no threat but now my body is pumping cortisol into my bloodstream, my thoughts are becoming scattered, and my hands start to shake. I’m able to recognize what is happening and I start with the first thing in the environment I notice. Mmmm, I smell cookies… the wood stove, and pine. I hear the piano, laughter, and crackling wood. I could taste the cookies, the wine, or the roast. I can feel the hardwood floor, the heat from the fire, and the soft blanket. I can see my favorite ornament, presents, and the cat curled up under the tree. This quick exercise quickly reduces your fight, flight, or freeze response and calms your nervous system. If it doesn’t work right away, keep trying, remember to breathe, or change your environment.

images

There are many ways that you can calm yourself down. These are just a few of them that are effective with my clients, and community. Next, I am going to walk through a possible scenario.

Let’s say I hear a gunshot come from my neighbors’ house. My nervous system is now on high alert. Instead of panicking, the first thing I’m going to do is take a few deep breaths as I assess the scene. I can safely observe with my eyes 3 things: their kitchen light is on, the front door is wide open, and their children ran across the street to the neighbors. Next, I don’t hear anything coming from the house, I hear the children crying, and I hear the neighbor say that they are calling 911. Then I remind myself, breathe. Next, I smell gasoline, the lavender bush I’m standing next to, and smoke. Breathe. Taste doesn’t apply to this situation. So next, touch. I can feel the sweat on my brow, my shaking hands, and my 9mm. Breathe. Before I act, I make sure I am grounded and regulated. Breathe. Now that I’m managing and aware of my nervous system I can continue with the next steps, all while continuing to regulate my nervous system and assess the scene. Breathe. In this moment I have been able to regulate without taking a break so I continue. However, after the event when there is no immediate danger and everyone is safe, one of the police officers asks me to debrief. At this moment, I realize I’m having a difficult time forming words because my nervous system is still on high alert. So, before I try to dive in, I take a break. I ask for some water, I step back, and I focus on my breathing. Then, when I am calm and feel that I can communicate more clearly, I approach the officer.

images (1)

Using these techniques means the difference between being helpful or harmful. Breathing helps you physically regulate your nervous system, by focusing on what you sense in your environment, you are interrupting your erratic thoughts, and by taking a break you are creating an environment in which you can do those things. We can not control our bodies automatic responses but we can attempt to manage them, allowing us to make safer, and more effective decisions. So, instead of laying on your horn because someone didn’t see your blinker and let you into their lane, take a deep breath, assess the situation, and try again. 😉

Sam

Posted on

Happy Independence Day

Good Morning Citizens

I beg of you one thing on this Independence Day. Please take a few minutes to consider this.

It was on this day, or close to it, 243 years ago that the wealthiest and most educated men of the colonies, if not the world, pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to embark on the most audacious of endeavors.

They made a conscious and calculated decision to rise and stand against the most powerful government and military in the world. They did this at the greatest of personal peril and some paid the ultimate price for this decision. Most paid with their fortunes as well, but none paid with their honor.
The reasons for this seemingly sacrificial act are diligently listed in The Declaration of Independence. If you haven’t read it recently or at all, today is a great day to do so. http://www.ushistory.org/Declaration/document/

We live in the country generated by this audacious act of treason against the empire. But, it is not the country they dreamed of. It has been perverted and distorted by greed and avarice. Our Federal government is bloated and unconstitutional. You may find that it is now the very same tyrannical, over-reaching, self-serving empire these men deemed a sufficient catalyst to risk everything and start anew.

“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.”

Thomas Paine, December 1776

Happy Independence Day!

As Always,
Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared


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