Children of Fallen Soldiers Enjoy a Camp to Remember
Many children who have lost a parent miss out on some of life’s most important moments. Including receiving valuable instruction on things they’ll need to know as they grow and mature.
A Soldier’s Child Foundation (ASC) is dedicated to making sure that doesn’t happen for children of fallen U.S. military members. Launched in 2008 by Daryl Mackin, the nonprofit organization is based in Smyrna, Tennessee.
They provide meaningful gifts for approximately 3,000 of these children every birthday through age 18. ASC also hosts camps for the kids. And facilitates secondary and college scholarships.
One of the organization’s camps is the brand-new Jack & Jill Camp. The three-day event was held for the first time on a beautiful weekend earlier this month at Camp YI (Youth Incorporated) in La Vergne, Tennessee.
4Patriots, which makes a monthly financial donation to ASC, was also involved. We provided a day’s worth of our branded Survival Food for 28 attending kids, five mentors and six ASC staff members. And arranged for former Navy SEAL Cade Courtney to teach the children survival skills.
Working Up an Appetite
Other components of the camp included lessons on fishing, gardening, chopping wood and axe throwing. Plus birdhouse building and automotive instruction.
The kids, ages 9 to 17, also swam, played games and bowled. They sang around a campfire at night and attended a Sunday devotional.
And, of course, they ate. 4Patriots served a variety of breakfast foods. Including pancakes, eggs and fruit. As well as lunch items such as mac and cheese and freeze-dried meat and vegetables. Plus cookie dough and brownie bites.
For dinner, we served favorites like fettuccini Alfredo and more freeze-dried meat and vegetables. Dessert featured chocolate pudding. The kids raved about the food, including the pancakes, mac and cheese and cocoa. And, of course, the pudding.
Fire, Shelter and First-Aid Lessons
One of the most popular parts of the weekend was Cade’s survival skills lessons. His sessions focused on three main areas: how to build a fire, how to create a shelter and basic first-aid skills.
In these hands-on sessions, the children gathered materials for fire building (dry grass, sticks, twigs and branches). They also built a shelter using a rain poncho and logs.
In addition, they went through various first-aid scenarios. Such as what to do if someone is found bleeding or unconscious. And how to stabilize a broken bone. As well as what’s in a basic first-aid kit and what to do with it.
Cade used various fire-starter materials. Including three different kinds of lighters, fire starter sticks and magnesium. He also demonstrated basic shelter options. And walked through a first-aid kit and its contents.
Kids Are Now Better Prepared
In addition, he taught them what to include in a “go bag.” Including the HaloXT tactical flashlight, multi-tools, rope, paracord, etc.
The kids showed considerable interest, asked great questions and had a lot of fun. Cade also made all the children promise that in one year they will have completed a CPR course.
He told them about two separate times when CPR knowledge allowed him to save a life. One was in a restaurant. The other was when he came upon a car accident.
The kids definitely picked up some important skills and knowledge. They will now have a better understanding about what to do if they’re lost or hurt. Or if they find someone else who is.
‘Convicted in my spirit’
Daryl came up with the idea for ASC while preparing for his own 6-year-old son’s birthday party.
While typing out the invitations, he looked up at a photo of his neighbor’s son, Christian. Christian’s father, Marc Golczynski, was a fallen soldier from the Iraq War.
Daryl had been looking at the work he was doing for his son’s invitations as a “chore.”
“I looked up at my wall and was immediately convicted in my spirit for my negative attitude,” he said. “My heart turned to Christian, who will never be able to have a party planned by his dad.”
99% benefit from the 1%
“There are many children like Christian that will never receive another birthday from their father/mother. Because they gave their life while defending our freedoms.”
Daryl realizes he can never change that fact. But he also knows those children deserve much more than they receive.
“Ninety-nine percent of Americans never defended the freedoms that they get to live out in this country,” he said. “One percent of our population volunteers to do that and when they don’t come home, their children suffer for it.”
“We’re caring about a population of children that nobody in our country is really thinking about. Part of our mission is to educate our country that these children – these families – exist. And really, they should be No. 1 on our list of giving.”
How You Can Get Involved
ASC helps these kids live more courageous lives and makes sure they don’t feel forgotten.
They will carry this burden for the rest of their lives. But ASC tries to bring a positive outlook to a bad situation.
4Patriots is proud to be associated with A Soldier’s Child Foundation. The children of fallen U.S. soldiers deserve everything this fine organization supplies for them as they cope with a major loss in their lives.
Anyone wishing to donate to ASC may visit asoldierschild.org and click on “Ways to Donate.”
How to stop bleeding from skin wounds
How To Stop Bleeding From Skin Wounds
Whether you essentially live in the great outdoors or simply enjoy an occasional camping trip from time to time, a few wounds here and there are inevitable. Injuries such as tiny cuts that trickle or deeper gouges, minor scrapes, or larger abrasions are pretty common among those who go out in the wild. Consequently, knowing how to care for them is a really great skill to have.
Without proper treatment, something as minuscule as an itty-bitty minor cut on a finger or a slightly scraped knee can quickly become infected, ultimately requiring you to cut your fun-filled outdoor activities short to seek professional care from a doctor.
Interested in learning more? Keep reading.
First Aid 101: How To Stop Bleeding
No matter how prepared you may be for your outdoor adventure, injuries can happen at any time. This is why it’s crucial to understand how to stop external bleeding while you’re in the wilderness. If you don’t treat your skin wounds, you’re risking infection and scarring. While a little scar may be no big deal, an infection can be serious and, in some cases, even life-threatening.
So, what’s the best way to stop bleeding? Follow these easy steps:
Step 1: First Things First. Identify the Severity of the Injury
Before you start to treat a skin wound, you should first identify its severity as best you can. Why? Because there are some situations in which you really shouldn’t try to administer first aid of any kind.
For instance, if you suspect that there is internal bleeding or if there happens to be an embedded object surrounding the site of injury, call 9-1-1 immediately and leave first aid to the pros.
Also, it’s best to seek immediate care for a wound or cut if:
- It’s on the face.
- It’s the result of an animal bite.
- It’s deep or a puncture wound.
- The bleeding will not stop after 20 minutes of applying first aid.
- There are visible objects like dirt or other debris that won’t come out after cleansing.
If your pal is bleeding profusely, be on the lookout for signs of shock. Cold, clammy skin and a loss of consciousness can all indicate that a person is about to go into shock from blood loss.
This is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Have your injured person lie down on the floor as you both wait calmly for medical care to arrive. Moving around could cause further injury.
Step 2: Wash Your Hands
Once you’ve assessed the skin wound and find it doesn’t require immediate attention, you can move forward to help stop the bleeding, but first — wash your hands!
It doesn’t matter if it’s a tiny scrape or a huge cut; sanitizing your hands prior to administering first aid is extremely important. You don’t want to introduce icky bacteria or parasites to an injured area. This might be a little challenging when you’re out in the wild, but it certainly isn’t possible.
First, take a look at your inventory. If you’re properly prepared, you may have sanitizing supplies already that can quickly cleanse your hands. Medical gloves can also reduce germ exposure. Whenever you plan a trip in the great outdoors, it’s best to be prepared for the unexpected by having a well-stocked first-aid kit.
Not sure where to find one? Check out our Stealth Angel Survival Field Medic First Aid Kit! With 36 first aid supplies, this medic bag essentially bursts at the seams with everything from tools like fire-starters and glass breakers to bandages, clean cloth, compresses, swabs, and more.
If you don’t have the ability to properly sterilize your hands, your next best bet is ash. While you should only use your bare hands as a last resort, this can work. Yup, it’s true: believe it or not, ash has antimicrobial properties.
Simply make a quick paste of ashes and clean water before thoroughly scrubbing your hands and rinsing. Make your ash from burning hardwoods and avoid pine as it tends to leave behind a resinous residue.
Step 3: Slow the Flow
Now that your hands are squeaky clean, it’s time to slow the flow!
Whether you accidentally sliced yourself with your handy-dandy pocket knife or scraped your knee on a rock, the first step in actually treating a skin wound is to get the bleeding under control. There are two primary methods to control bleeding: with a pressure dressing or with direct pressure.
A third option would be using a tourniquet which can help to control severe bleeding, but that’s something we’ll cover in a later article. Today, we’re talking all about skin wounds with minor—not life-threatening—bleeding.
Not exactly sure what a pressure dressing is? Don’t worry, not very many people do! Simply put, it’s a large dressing that’s put securely in place on top of a skin wound to apply…you guessed it…pressure to stop the bleeding.
One of the best benefits of using a pressure dressing to slow the flow is that it frees up your hands to work on other tasks.
Check out the following steps for how to apply a pressure dressing to a skin wound:
- Sterilize your hands.
- Open your first aid kit and grab the sterile gauze pads. Apply directly to the wound.
- Using roller gauze, wrap the skin wound firmly to keep steady pressure on it.
And voila! Once the pressure dressing is applied, check your friend’s circulation, sensation, and movement to make sure you didn’t wrap the dressing too tightly. The idea is to slow the flow, not cut off circulation completely.
This method is pretty simple: find the source of the bleeding and apply direct pressure to that spot. Then, if you can, elevate the wound above your friend’s heart while maintaining pressure. Why? Because elevation slows blood flow simply because it’s much more difficult to flow uphill than downhill.
Keep your hands on the wound for roughly ten minutes of pressure. And whatever you do, resist the urge to take a quick sneak peek. Breaking the delicate platelet barrier too soon can cause the person’s blood to start flowing again. You see, the idea is to keep pressure on the wound long enough so that a clot can form. Once a blood clot forms on the wound, the bleeding should stop.
Step 3: Cleanse the Wound
Has the bleeding finally stopped? Perfect. Now it’s time to cleanse the wound.
Cleansing a skin wound prevents potentially life-endangering infections. Plus, the trauma site won’t heal properly unless you thoroughly remove all the dirt and debris.
Locate a source of fresh running water and gently wash the general area of the wound for a few minutes. If you have an antiseptic ointment in your survival kit, this is the time to use it.
Otherwise, a piece of sterile gauze or clean fabric dipped in saline to scrub away all the dirt and debris from the wound will do just fine. If you have soap, that will work too. However, it’s very important that you never apply soap to an open wound. This can cause serious irritation and slow down the healing process.
Is there still dirt or debris lodged in the wound? Check your kit for medical tweezers and proceed carefully.
<h3> Step 4: Dress the Wound </h3>
Minor scrapes and abrasions are best to be left uncovered so that they can breathe. Plus, your body will quickly form a scab that essentially acts as a natural bandage to heal these smaller wounds. If the wound is larger, on the other hand, it’s best to dress them in layers of fabric like gauze or bandages until they are no longer at risk for infection.
Wrapping It Up: Use the Cleanest Material
So, what’s the best way to stop bleeding from skin wounds, you ask?
Simply put: by applying pressure!
First aid is something every person who spends a lot of time in Mother Nature should learn. Whether you’re a casual camper or a hardcore survivalist, it’s of the utmost importance that you learn how to assess a skin wound, stop the bleeding and learn how to treat it. Be a step ahead of the unexpected…it may save someone’s life (or your own) one day.
Here at Stealth Angel Survival, our items have been hand-selected by our incredible experts to get you through any type of situation in the best way possible. From first aid kits to survival bug out bags and everything in between, you can count on us to keep you and your family protected.
Don’t settle for poor-quality survival equipment because you never know when your life may depend on it.
Sources:
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I Have a Cellphone… Why Do I Need an Emergency Radio?
When you need accurate information quickly regarding an emergency that might affect you, what do you rely on?
Many people immediately turn on their TVs. Especially if there is a major storm brewing. They assume local TV stations will break into normal programming to make sure people have the info they need.
Others use their computers or phones to access news or weather websites. Such as FoxNews, CNN, Weather.com or Accuweather.com.
Those media outlets might be on top of the evolving story or they might not be. Regardless, if your power is out or your phone is dead, you won’t be able to gain information in those ways.
Immediate information is crucial
The one tried and true method for quickly learning about imminent dangers is an emergency radio. Including extreme weather. I’ll tell you why in a moment.
We all know that extreme weather is occurring more often and becoming more violent. All we have to do is look at what Hurricane Ida did to Louisiana recently.
Even if you don’t live in an area normally affected by hurricanes, you probably have other weather-related concerns. Such as tornadoes or blizzards. There is also the danger of terror attacks, water contaminations and gas leaks to consider.
The common denominator is this. We need a device we can count on to tell us what we need to know. In a hurry.
A potentially life-saving device
Regardless of whether you are home, in your car, at a campsite or an outdoor sporting event or concert, an emergency radio is your best bet. It’s a big part of preparedness, which we’re especially focused on this month.
This type of immediate information is not about being the first among your friends to learn something important. It has the potential to be lifesaving.
People who have taken cover just in time thanks to an emergency radio will rarely go anywhere without one anymore.
They know all too well that a crisis could occur anywhere and anytime. And they want to be prepared when it does.
Communication breakdowns are likely
Some folks say they don’t need an emergency radio because they always carry a cellphone with plenty of battery life.
That’s definitely a good thing to do. But it’s hardly foolproof. There have been many emergency situations in which cellphone communications were disrupted.
The recreational vehicle bombing in Nashville, Tennessee on Christmas Day 2020 is an example.
Other such incidents have been caused by extreme weather. Including hurricanes, tornadoes, blizzards and derechos. Not to mention earthquakes and wildfires.
More reliable than a cellphone
No wonder Public Safety Communications (PSC) states that radio is still the most reliable way for people to access important information during a crisis.
“Disaster communication ultimately hinges on a surefire signal that’s accessible. And radio provides this.” That’s according to the PSC website.
And this is one of the reasons battery-powered and solar-powered radios are so important. They provide crucial information you sometimes can’t acquire through your cellphone.
And even if your cellphone is working, an emergency will mean many people using up available bandwidth in a hurry. Plus, radio waves travel farther than a 4G LTE broadcast. This is especially important in a more open, rural area.
A preparedness essential
Have you noticed that nearly every bug-out bag list includes a hand-crank emergency radio? It may not get as much attention as survival food and water, but it’s always there.
As well it should be. It is considered an emergency kit essential by emergency authorities. The most useful ones provide National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather alerts.
Some emergency radios look somewhat “low-tech” compared to our fancy phones. But they’re actually more trustworthy and relevant than ever before. If for no other reason than we are experiencing more emergencies than we ever have before.
Let’s face it. Cellphones are great, but cell towers and networks are vulnerable. They’re susceptible to service disruptions. Emergency radios, on the other hand, are dependable.
They can give you weather alerts, evacuation routes and other breaking news you need – when you need it. And the best ones also include a variety of ways to charge them (solar, hand-crank, batteries and USB). Not to mention a power bank to charge your USB-compatible devices.
If there is no emergency radio in your home, bug-out bag and vehicles, you’re missing an important part of preparedness. National Preparedness Month is a great time to seal up that crack in your preparedness armor.
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Weird – and Not So Weird – Ways to Start a Fire
What are the most basic survival elements? I think just about everyone would answer that question with food, water and shelter.
But if you find yourself in a survival situation in the wilderness, there’s another item that could lay claim to being No. 4. And that’s fire.
Being able to start and maintain a fire in the wild is crucial for many reasons. Including heat, light, cooking and purifying water. As well as forming tools. Plus protection from animals and attracting the attention of rescuers.
Today I’m going to provide you with a number of ways to start a fire. We’ll start off with the more traditional tactics. But stay with me because we’ll also get into some weird ways to do it when you don’t have common items at your disposal.
Fire’s three friends
First though, let’s review a few things about fire. Just as we need fire to survive, fire needs things to thrive. They are fuel, oxygen and ignition.
Fuel for a fire is pretty much anything that will burn. The slower it burns, the better. For cooking, items such as wood, various grasses and dry manure work best. When you burn manmade materials, they often smell bad and can result in toxic fumes.
Oxygen keeps a fire going. And the air surrounding fire is usually adequate for that. Except for some situations when the immediate area is too tightly confined.
The way to intensify the heat coming from your fire is to fan the coals. But watch out for flying embers. They could singe you or ignite a nearby fire you can’t control.
3, 2, 1… ignition
Ignition methods are plentiful. But most of them are not easy to accomplish. The easiest ways to start a fire are by using a disposable cigarette lighter or a magnesium starter stick.
As far as fire-starting materials are concerned, you want to make sure you have tinder, kindling and long-term fuel.
Dry paper is great for tinder. But if you need to depend on what you find in the wild, you’ll want to gather some or all of the following. You’ll note that the key word is “dry.”
- Dry wood or bark that is finely shaved
- Dry grass or leaves, shredded if possible
- Bundles of dried bird or rodent nests
- Dry tree moss (also known as “Old Man’s Beard”)
- Dry plant seed fluff, such as cattail heads
Kindling burns more slowly and can keep a fire going for a while. It includes sticks, twigs, bark or dried grasses that have been bundled.
Other items used for kindling can also be effective. Such as gas, oil and steering fluid. But they need to be used sparingly and handled wisely.
Your best long-term fuel is logs. They will burn better and longer if you split each one several times. Dead branches also work.
Another item as effective as long-term fuel, if you can handle gathering and burning it, is dried animal poop. It goes by more polite names such as cow pies, buffalo chips, Texas road apples and smart pills.
Choose the right matches
Returning to our ignition methods for a moment, here are two items you should have with you in the wild. Even if they’re not your primary fire starters:
- Waterproof matches. You can find these at sports outlet stores. They work very well, although they’re somewhat expensive and should be rotated out every few years.
- Stick matches. They’re better than paper book matches, but need to be rotated out every six months or so. You also need to keep them dry.
As mentioned, your two easiest fire starters are magnesium sticks and cigarette lighters. A mag stick can be used about 100 times. They’re perfect for outdoor usage because they’re waterproof. And they don’t age or freeze.
Remember to practice using them BEFORE you have an emergency. Disposable cigarette lighters have many advantages. Including being cheap, lightweight and easy to use.
Now that we’ve discussed what works for fire starting, let’s mention what doesn’t – paper book matches.
When they’re even slightly damp, they’re useless. And even when dry they deteriorate quickly. Don’t let the fact that they’re free in most restaurants influence you to toss them in your bug-out bag.
9 unusual methods
As promised, here are some of the more unusual ways to start a fire. You may want to choose one of these methods if you don’t have the materials previously discussed. Or, if you’re the type of person who doesn’t like to do things the easy way.
9V battery & steel wool. Keep a container of lint from your dryer in your backpack. Fluff up your steel wool to get some air in it. Then touch it all over with the positive and negative terminals of a 9-volt battery to spark a fire. Continue to touch it in multiple places, then add the lint as tinder and blow on it softly.
Aluminum can & chocolate bar. Rub a candy bar on the bottom of an aluminum can until the can bottom shines like a mirror. With direct sunlight on the can bottom, it will heat up to the point where it can ignite your kindling when held against it.
Sandwich bag & water. Crush a piece of dry tree bark into a powder. Place the powder onto a solid piece of bark. Pour water into a sandwich bag until it’s half-full. Tilt the sealed baggie to the side and then twist it at the top, making it into a liquid sphere. Use the baggie as a magnifying glass over the powder until the sun’s rays make it start smoldering. Then press the powder onto your kindling.
Vaseline & cotton ball. Pull a cotton ball apart – but not completely apart – and rub Vaseline or petroleum jelly all over it. Roll the cotton back into a ball. Use a magnifying glass or reading glasses and the sun’s rays to heat the cotton ball, which will hold a flame well once ignited.
Gum wrapper & battery. While you’re chewing a stick of gum, cut the foil it was wrapped in into a bowtie or hourglass shape. With two fingers of one hand, hold the two ends of the foil against the ends of a small battery. The foil will ignite and you can quickly light your tinder.
Dead lighter & paper. Maybe you were planning to use a lighter to start a fire, but it died on you. Not to worry. Remove the lighter’s safety lock and slowly roll the lighter over paper, back and forth. As the steel wheel grinds down on the flint rod, flint shavings will be created. Form those shavings into a small pile and then flick your dead lighter repeatedly over the pile until it ignites.
Water bottle. We all know that water is used to put out roadside brush fires. But did you know that water actually causes some of those fires? Lay a clear plastic bottle full of water on its side with the cap on. Then place dark-colored tinder in the beam of sunlight that passes through the bottle. Once the tinder begins to smolder, place it into your fibrous tinder and blow on it softly.
Citrus fruit. Because citrus oils are flammable, you can set it on fire if you can generate some sparks. Take a citrus fruit such as an orange, carve out a hole on the top and clear out some of the flesh. Let the orange dry out. Now push a small rock into the hole and rapidly rub a tool such as a knife on it until it sparks.
Flashlight. After removing the top lens of a flashlight, pull out the reflective cone that the light bulb rests in. Put dried moss or grass into the spot where the bulb was and place the cone in direct sunlight. Eventually the sunlight’s reflection will heat the tinder enough to cause it to burn.
Friend or enemy… you choose
Just as fire can be your best friend, it can also be your worst enemy. Yes, it can protect you, but it can also kill you.
When contained, fire can be controlled and used however you want. But when it escapes containment, it can destroy thousands of acres of forest, land and buildings.
Fire can save your life, but only if you learn how to create it and control it.
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