4Patriots Video Spotlights U.S. Veterans
If you’ve been a 4Patriots customer for any length of time, you know how important U.S. veterans, active-duty troops and their families are to us.
A vast majority of our financial and product donations – made possible by your purchases – go to organizations that support American military members and their families.
We believe these brave men and women are deserving of so much more than they receive after risking their lives to protect ours.
That’s why we feel it is both our responsibility and privilege to serve them after they’ve served us. And we believe the best way to do that is through contributions to reputable organizations established to do exactly that.
Tracing roots to 1919
As you know, yesterday was Veterans Day. Originally known as Armistice Day, it’s a day on which we honor military veterans who have served in the U.S. armed forces. It was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.
The first Armistice Day was November 11, 1919. In President Woodrow Wilson’s address to the nation, following the end of World War I, he said this:
“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service, and with gratitude for the victory.”
In 1947, the day was expanded to celebrate all U.S. veterans, not only those who died during World War I.
Veterans share a special bond
This year, in addition to our financial donations, 4Patriots decided to honor U.S. veterans by creating the short video above. I hope you’ll spend a few minutes watching it.
We interviewed U.S. veteran Andrew Lee for this video, highlighting his quilt-making work on behalf of other veterans.
Andrew, who served his country for 20 years, starts off by describing what the word “veteran” means to him.
“Veteran, I believe, means that we, as veterans, endured something together that only us, veterans, can relate to. Filling sand bags, digging foxholes, sitting on a tarmac for eight hours, waiting for a bird to come pick you up…”
He adds, “Being a civilian after being military for so long is tough. And it’s hard to transition to cuddly, touchy-feely, sensitive people. But I thought that this was my opportunity to do something to help myself.”
Combat Quilter displays patriotism
Surprisingly, that “something” turned out to be sewing. “I really feel that sewing allowed me to just completely compartmentalize and leave that stuff in the back of my mind,” he said.
But Andrew didn’t select sewing as merely a way to distract himself. He discovered a much higher purpose for this activity.
He began sewing patriotic quilts to give to veterans.
Andrew, also known as the “Combat Quilter,” has now completed 157 quilts, most of which are patriotic in nature.
Yes, you do deserve it
“What I did not realize was, when I awarded my first quilt of valor to a veteran… out of his mouth came, ‘I don’t deserve this.’
“My response to him was, ‘Mr. Carpenter, if you don’t deserve a quilt, neither does anybody else. You didn’t ride on a tank or in a jeep or jump out of an airplane. You walked into Normandy. Walked.’
“In that moment, I actually truly felt raw, pure emotion. Because when you’re giving or awarding a quilt to a veteran, they are broken and battered the same that you are.
“And now you don’t have to have some preconceived idea of how to form a bond. You just did it.”
If you’re looking for a way to honor our nation’s veterans…
Right now, through 11/15, when you stock up on Liberty Band Solar Radios during our Veterans Day event, you’ll help us TRIPLE our donation to Operation Homefront and give hundreds of meals to military families. All while being a hero to your own family.
Ultimate Emergency Essentials Guide For All Kinds Of Emergencies
The emergency essentials you need in your emergency kit will vary depending on the kind of emergency you are preparing for. Assemble different kinds of emergency kits and equip yourself for various emergency situations with our comprehensive list below. RELATED: Packing The Ultimate Survival Kit For One’s Survival Emergency Essentials | 13 Emergency Kits to […]
Stockpiling Food on a Tight Budget
Have you ever seen a photo of a family sitting comfortably in their underground bunker with big smiles on their faces?
Their living space might be a tad cramped, but it looks like they have several years’ worth of non-perishable food and other items at their fingertips. Including every form of entertainment imaginable.
I’m guessing these families did not do their prepping on a tight budget. But some of us have to. I’ve heard plenty of people say, “I wish I could prepare for an emergency. Unfortunately, I can’t afford it. I live paycheck to paycheck.”
But proper budgeting would enable many of us to have at least a small amount of income available to prepare for an uncertain future. And it’s not like it all has to be done at once. It’s an ongoing process. Slow but steady progress will get the job done.
Look for long shelf lives
Today I want to talk about the importance of stockpiling healthy, nutritious food for an emergency. It doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to do this. There are some simple and inexpensive things we can do to get ready for a crisis.
Following an emergency, it’s likely the electrical grid will not be functioning properly. If at all. So you want to make sure a vast majority of your food items are non-perishable.
In addition, we don’t know how long an emergency will last. So it’s best to have as much food stockpiled as possible. And make sure most of it has a long shelf life. For items that don’t, rotate them out periodically so they don’t go bad.
If you’re not already in budget mode, try to get there. That means always thinking about how you can spend less and save more. Among the philosophies that must become part of your daily life regarding food are the following:
- Never pay full price for anything. Always look for bargains. You’re better off spending time than money.
- Buy items in bulk at places such as Sam’s Club or Costco. Or when they’re on sale in regular stores.
- Cut and use coupons.
- Find and use in-store-only offers.
- Grow your own food and preserve it. There is tremendous savings in growing fruits and vegetables. And storing some of them for the colder months of the year.
- Watch for the best deals on websites such as Amazon. They could have exactly what you’re looking for, at a price much less than what you’d spend at a local store.
Tips and tricks
One of the first places you want to look at to save money is your weekly grocery bill. If you’re not paying attention, it can really add up. The average couple spends up to $500 or more a month on groceries. Let’s look at a few simple ways to save.
Make a list. Grocers know how to position products so shoppers will purchase them. If you have a list, you know just what you need (and what you don’t).
And of course, if you avoid shopping when you’re hungry, it’s that much easier to resist tempting displays.
Also, choose foods that your family will eat. Variety is important, both physically and psychologically. But you could buy some of the healthiest food in the store, and if your family won’t eat it, you’ve thrown your money away.
Shop at Aldi. This no-frills chain offers a smaller variety of products. Usually one store brand of each item. If there is an Aldi in your area, you can easily save money on your grocery bill. Prices are often even better than at Walmart.
Aldi stores now offer imported foods, fancy cheeses and lots of fresh (even organic) produce. Take a quarter to rent a cart, and you’ll also save a few pennies by taking your own grocery bags.
Buy store brands. Buying store brands alone can take a huge chunk out of your grocery costs. Sometimes there will be a brand name item or two that you can’t do without. But more often than not you won’t notice the difference. Except when it’s time to check out.
Buy in bulk. I’m not talking here about warehouse stores, which have membership fees. And usually a minimum price tag of $10 per item. Even in a regular grocery store, you don’t want to buy large amounts of just anything on sale.
It’s about buying more of things you already use often when there’s a significant sale. If it means you shop less often, this can add up to even more savings.
Another item to purchase in bulk is produce. Onions, potatoes, apples and lemons are almost always cheaper when you buy the bag. Just make sure you actually use them so they don’t go to waste.
Buying beans and grains in bulk can also stretch your dollars while providing hearty, healthy meals.
Use digital coupons. Many stores offer digital coupons not available in the weekly newspaper. To acquire these savings, you’ll likely need to set up an account and check off the coupons you wish to use each time you shop.
Doing this ahead of time as you scan the weekly circular can help you write your shopping list around items with the biggest savings.
Stick to the store perimeter. Center aisles have many expensive, processed foods full of salt, sugar and other additives. The outside ring of the store is where you’ll find more foods such as produce, meat and dairy.
You’ll still need to visit the center aisles for a few things. But focusing on the perimeter will give you more bang for your buck. Try leaving your cart at the end of the aisle, and just dash in for the item you need.
Freeze meals. If you’re buying in bulk, you’ll want to make sure things don’t go to waste. You can freeze many items including bread, milk and chopped vegetables, as well as whole meals. Just remember your power could go out in a crisis.
There are cookbooks with recipes for freezing meals in bulk. When you make a meal, cook enough for two meals so you can serve one and freeze the other. It requires almost no extra work, but will save you time and money.
Use fewer ingredients. Sometimes the simplest food tastes best. But you wouldn’t always know it looking at some of the complicated recipes out there.
Sites such as Allrecipes (AllRecipes.com) are great for finding different options for your favorite recipes. And usually the top reviews will include tips on how to make them even easier.
I’ve saved one of the best tactics for last. Look for Buy One Get One Free deals. They’re also called BOGO deals. They might not show up often, but when they do, take advantage of them.
We’ve all learned that preparedness is crucial. Regardless of how tight our budgets are. By following some of the suggestions above, we can all afford to be prepared for whatever life throws at us.
Safety Tips for Halloween 2021
New COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths have all been decreasing lately.
But we’ve seen coronavirus lulls followed by spikes before, so no one is taking anything for granted. And with Halloween coming in four days, some of us have questions.
Including, how will I keep children and grandchildren safe this year if they are trick or treating? Or if they are attending Halloween parties?
About 5 million children under 18 have tested positive for the virus since the pandemic started. Lately, hospitalizations for kids have increased.
And how do we keep ourselves safe if we’re answering the doorbell and handing out treats?
Safety guidelines for kids
Today I want to share a few suggestions for ways to enjoy Halloween safety. Some of these recommendations come from the CDC.
Starting with precautions for children and grandchildren…
- Consider an alternative to pumpkin carving. Such as decorating with markers, glitter glue, or paint.
- Don’t allow young kids to touch carved-out pumpkins with lit candles inside. Better yet, use flashlights rather than candles.
- Make sure their costumes include a cloth mask.
- A costume mask should be loose with openings for breathing if it’s worn over a cloth mask.
- Make sure their costumes, wigs and accessories are fire-resistant.
- If makeup is part of their costume, test it on them in a small dose in advance. That way you’ll be able to see if a rash or other skin irritation develops.
- If they are old enough to trick or treat on their own, make sure they follow a specific route in well-lit areas, accompanied by friends. Pin your name and phone number on their costume, just in case they get separated from their friends.
- If they’re going to be out after dark, fasten reflective tape to their costumes and bags, and/or give them glow sticks to carry. Kids are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than on any other night of the year.
- Remind the kids to only cross streets at corners or crosswalks. And to walk across the street, rather than run, and watch out for cars.
- Tell them not to share the treats they collect with other kids. And not to take treats from other children.
- Make sure they know not to have direct contact with anyone handing out treats door to door. And to NEVER enter anyone’s home or vehicle.
- Tell them to try to stay at least six feet away from trick or treaters outside their group.
- Make sure they know not to eat any of their treats until you’ve had a chance to examine them. Give them a snack before they go out to limit the temptation.
- Have them stop back home periodically to rest and wash their hands with soap and water. And have a set time to return after trick or treating. Then limit how much they eat when they come home for the night.
- Don’t allow them to attend any indoor haunted house events. Or go on hayrides or tractor rides with people not living in your household.
Safety recommendations for you
You are probably past the trick or treating stage of your life. But you may wish to participate in the holiday by handing out treats to kids who approach your front door.
Here are some things you might want to consider to keep yourself and the children safe.
- Wash your hands before handling treats you plan to distribute.
- Wear a facemask if you are opening your door and handing out treats.
- To be even safer, prepare individually bagged treats. Leave them on your front porch with a “Take One Only” sign.
- Or, sit outside near your bagged treats to make sure kids aren’t grabbing more than they should. Assuming the weather cooperates.
Retain some ‘normalcy’
You may not feel comfortable allowing your children or grandchildren to trick or treat at all this year. Especially if the coronavirus risk level is high in your community. But don’t avoid the holiday altogether. That could be disappointing to them.
Dr. Robert Glatter is an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Here’s what he says.
“Holidays help us maintain our sense of rituals and ‘normalcy’ during a not-so-normal time.
“Whatever we can do to keep holiday celebrations and traditions at least partially intact – while remaining safe – serves as a guidepost or compass during these turbulent times.”
Alternative suggestions
If trick or treating is not an option for your children or grandchildren, there are other activities you can engage in.
For example, carve pumpkins with the kids and display them on your front porch. Walk around the neighborhood with them today, admiring Halloween decorations.
Consider hiding treats around your home. Depending on the age of your children or grandchildren, they might enjoy that.
They can look for them and place them in their bags while wearing costumes. Or conduct a Halloween-themed scavenger hunt for them in your backyard.
Host a Halloween movie night. Visit a corn maze, pumpkin patch or apple orchard together.
COVID-19 has changed everything in our lives. And it’s not over yet. But it doesn’t have to eliminate fun for the kids. Or for us.
National Grid Outage | How to Prepare for Power Grid Failure
Knowing how to prepare for a national grid outage is an invaluable skill for every survival prepper. Besides electricity, a national grid outage will disrupt other life aspects, including services such as water, food, trash pickups, and even communication. Check out our detailed guide to get you started. RELATED: National Power Grid Outage: What’s The Greatest […]
Don’t Forget Backup Power on Your Camping/RV Checklist
There are few worse feelings in the world than remembering that you forgot something. Especially if it happens at a time when you can’t un-do your forgetfulness.
Like when you’re well on your way toward a vacation destination. Or when you’re in your RV, traveling to that special cabin in the woods. Or after you’ve arrived at a campsite.
In fact, I hate that feeling so much that I always put together a comprehensive essentials checklist in advance of my trips. And I literally check off each item after it’s packed.
I’ve been told I’m anal-retentive. But I’d much rather be called that than suddenly realize I had forgotten to pack something after it’s too late to remedy the situation.
Fall camping is fun
The fall is a great time for camping. Whether you’re driving there in your car, truck or RV. The weather is not too hot and not too cold. To quote Goldilocks, it’s just right.
And if you have all the stuff you might need, you can fully relax and enjoy your time away from the busyness of everyday life.
Today I want to provide you with a list of camping essentials that I use. I’ve tried to include everything, but you probably won’t need it all. Just pick what works for you and your family or companions.
The last time I compiled a list like this for you, I emphasized food items. They’re still very important, but today I want to single out backup power. It always comes in handy.
I’m also adding items for those of you using an RV for the first time, or one of the first times.
Don’t over (or under) pack
One of my family members likes to say, “If you’ve got it, pack it.” I’m not too crazy about that idea. I want enough but not too much for a camping trip.
To me, camping is about getting away from the rat race. I want a different kind of routine when I’m away from home. It’s a nice change of pace to see, use, wear and eat different things than normally.
You can make do with less on a camping trip by reducing the clutter. At the same time, you can still take all the essentials.
So, here’s the promised list of camping items. How many of these you pack could depend on whether you’re roughing it or heading to a campground where some amenities are provided. It might also depend on how long you’ll be gone.
- Tent, with footprints, stakes and mallet/hammer
- Ground cloth/tarp
- Sleeping bags
- Sleeping pads
- Backpack
- Blankets and pillows
- Headlamps, flashlights and extra batteries
- Camp table and chairs (if the site doesn’t have them)
- Mini-grill or camping stove
- Lantern
- Clothesline with clips
- Toiletries
- First-aid kit
- Prescription meds
- Sunscreen and protective hats
- Insect repellant
- Lip balm
- Rain gear
- Extra clothing, including several pairs of socks and underwear
- Hiking boots
- Bandanas
- Survival knife
- Multi-tool
- Duct tape
- Paracord or rope
- Saw or ax for cutting firewood (if needed)
- Compass
- Binoculars
- Field guides for flowers and insects
- Whistle
- Walkie-talkies
- NOAA emergency radio
- Disinfectant wipes
- Documents including vehicle registration, insurance, reservations, etc.
Food/food-related items
- Perishable food packed in a cooler or ice chest
- Non-perishable food for snacking
- Plenty of bottled water and other beverages
- Personal water purifier
- Fire starters
- Cooking, serving and eating utensils
- Cooking pots, pans, plates and cups
- Tongs and skewers
- Oven mitts
- Cutting board
- Tablecloth with clips or tape
- Canteen/thermos
- Coffee pot
- Can opener
- Heavy duty aluminum foil
- Dishwashing liquid and sponges
- Paper towels and napkins
- Tupperware
- Zip-top bags
- Trash and recycle bags
RV Essentials
During the worst of the pandemic, sales of RV campers skyrocketed. Many people who traditionally vacationed in popular and often crowded places decided to limit their contact with strangers.
RVs are a great way to travel and camp. But it’s best to know what to take with you in order to handle potential problems with a new-to-you vehicle. Here are plenty of items to consider, taken from a variety of sources:
- Your RV manual
- Drinking water hose
- Sewer kit including hose
- Surge protector
- Generator
- Electrical adapters
- Water pressure regulator
- Tire pressure gauge
- Emergency road kit
- Extra motor oil and fluids (washer, transmission, brake)
- Fire extinguisher
- Wheel chocks
- Rubber gloves
- Emergency brake cable
- Tire iron
- Tire patch
- Jack
- Leveling blocks
- Emergency warning light
- Fuses
- Well-stocked tool box
- Jumper cables
Stay powered up
As mentioned, I want to remind you of the importance of backup power when you’re on a camping trip. There are plenty of reasons for needing backup power. They include charging up your…
- Cellphones
- Emergency radio
- Mini-fridge
- Electric blanket
- Blender
- Hotplate
- Lights inside a tent
- Outdoor security lights
- Laptop or tablet
- Coffee maker
- Toaster oven
- CPAP machine and other medical devices
- Handheld electronic games
- Boombox
- Electric razor
- Mini-TV
- Blow-up mattress pump
- GPS unit
Without backup power, any one of the things listed above could prove useless to you on a camping trip. Yes, you could get by without some of them, but what if you had to make an emergency phone call?
What if an unexpected storm was headed your way and you needed information about it quickly? What if your perishable food started to go bad? Worst of all, what if you needed to power up crucial medical equipment?
Camping trips are a lot of fun and a great way to unwind with family or friends. They’re good for your body, mind and soul.
Just make sure you don’t forget to pack any of the essentials before you leave home.
Seed Harvesting Tips for Survival – Part 2, by R.B.
(Continued from Part 1. This concludes the article.) How Do I Store Seeds Inexpensively and Efficiently? During the summer, save empty envelopes from mail received and carefully cut one end open to remove the contents. If it is an envelope with a cellophane window, slice open the end closest to the window. (There is now […]
Household hacks you should know
When it comes to life-saving gear, you are limited only by your imagination — and your commitment to use it. Luckily, there are plenty of versatile items you already own that can double as survival gear. The following items, combined with some knowledge of basic survival skills, may one day give you the advantage in a survival situation.
-
ALUMINUM FOIL – Great for signaling, it can create a bowl for cooking, or when connected to each side of a battery is great to start a fire.
-
BAG OF CHIPS – Because of their oily nature, it can make a great signal fire.
-
BANDANA – Fanning smoke signals, bandages, signaling.
-
BATTERIES – Can never have enough of these and other than the obvious are great for starting fires.
-
BED SHEETS – Shelter, clothing, signaling.
-
BLEACH – Great for disinfecting and can be used to make unsafe water potable.
-
BRA – The cup of a bra makes a great facemask when in a toxic or dusty/smoke-filled environment.
-
CANS (food/coffee) – Makes a great makeshift stove or fireplace.
-
CHAPSTICK – A great little candle when a cotton wick is inserted into the middle. Also ideal for making things waterproof.
-
COFFEE FILTERS – Filter dirty water, toilet paper, bandage.
-
COTTON BALLS – First-aid or tinder for fire.
-
DENTAL FLOSS – Can be used as fishing line or to make a snare.
-
DUCT TAPE – You name it – pound for pound the best!
-
FROZEN BAG OF VEGGIES – Ideal for use as an ice pack to reduce heat/swelling.
-
HAND SANITIZER – Other than the obvious, great on cuts and to start a fire.
-
PANTYHOSE – Can be used as a fish net and to help filter water.
-
PLASTIC BOTTLE – Storage, and you can make a solar still by cutting the bottom off, folding that inward, placing upside down and being patient.
-
POP CAN – Can make a fishing rod by wrapping with dental floss and the tab can be made into a fishing hook.
-
SALT – Can preserve food and as an antiseptic (sore throat).
-
SOCKS – The thin liner socks are great to prevent blisters and also ideal for water filtration.
-
TRASH BAGS – Outstanding raincoat, water collection, shelter.
The true sense of the word “improvised” means you could take just about anything and make it help you survive. Be creative and never quit.
31 Clever Camping Food Hacks | Easy Ideas, Cool Gadgets, Meal Prep
Before you head out for camping, there’s one thing you must not forget to bring–food. However, planning and preparing your food for camping can be harder than you think. Check out these camping food hacks that’ll make your outdoor cooking a breeze. RELATED: 10 Quick & Easy Camping Food Ideas For Anytime of Day 31 […]
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: