Fellow Patriots,
Greetings and welcome to the Patriot Express Newsletter Edition #134. Thank you for stopping by to share your time with us. We are moving towards the holiday season quickly. We are seeing cooler temps here in the Tennessee hills. The beautiful leaves are just past peak color and will likely be on the ground after the heavy frost this weekend. This season was beautiful indeed.
While autumn is my favorite season and I enjoy the change, I always think about the soon to come freezing temperatures which brings higher heating cost to many families. This years rising cost in America nears record highs and the impact on American families will be severe. Families will go hungry, cold, and without needed medicines because they can't afford it. I pray this is not the case for any of you. Many who prepare can hopefully redirect their finances to pay for heat and medicine and live off some of their stocked food. No human should go to sleep hungry or cold.
I want to give a shout out to our new HFS Patriot checking in from Perth, Australia. It is great to have you with us. We also welcome our readers in Los Angeles, Wala Wala, Eugene, Portland, and other west coast locations. If you have time, drop me a note and share your story.
Let us move along...
Hope for Survival now a Satellite Phone Affiliate - I am being told the satellite phone stock is dwindling fast. Hopefully a new shipment arrives soon. I can tell you many reasons why it is a great resource to have day to day. When a disaster strikes, I personally want every tool available to me for surviving and keeping my family and friends safe. It is that simple.
Owning a Satellite Phone offers a great communication advantage to a Family Communication Plan. Here is a link to more information on this topic. Hope for Survival - Satellite Phone Affiliate If you have decided you want a satellite phone already, go to the HFS website main page or blog page to find a box on the upper left and right sides. They are preloaded with the HFS Code. Check it out here as well :Blog | Survival (hopeforsurvival.com) If you have any questions please feel free to email me at Preparedness101@hopeforsurvival.com These phones are available until they sell out. If you purchased a phone already or plan to do so, watch this short video as Justin walks you through some simple steps to assist you. It's as easy as 1, 2, 3.
Thursday Zoom Rallies – HFS Zoom Rally #74 was conducted with topics covering leadership, decision making, knowing yourself and family, and the "What would you do" segment. We then conducted our chatter that matters session. It was great spending time together for our weekly zoom rally. Thanks to those who attended.
Hope for Survival YouTube and Odysee Channels- I posted a new HFS video titled Tack Life Emergency Battery Charger video this week for your enjoyment. This video discusses the importance of having backup capability for your auto and other battery type components needed in your preparedness plans. New Patriots will find many other helpful videos on canning, food preparedness, security and defense in depth, firearm safety discussions, canning meat, and other important topics. Here is the link to the HFS YouTube page. (5) Hope For Survival - YouTube channel and the HFS channel on Odysee at Tack Life Emergency Power Pack (Jumper Cables, USB, Emergency Light) with multiple source plugs (odysee.com)
If you have not already, please consider subscribing to the HFS YouTube and HFS Odysee channels. We would appreciate your consideration. Because I still work a full time day job, time is limited and I have not been able to set up a routine schedule for recording and posting videos yet. Thanks for hanging with me. Share the link with family and friends. Thanks to everyone who subscribed in the past week few weeks.
HFS Mobile Training:
If you would like HFS to come to your community to conduct training classes or speak on the importance of preparedness feel free to contact me.
Communications: You can now follow HFS social media on the following outlets:
Facebook – Hope for Survival
YouTube Channel – Hope for Survival
MeWe: - //mewe.com/p/hopeforsurvival2
Odysee - Hope for Survival (odysee.com)
Rumble - HopeforSurvival (Platform established. Videos coming soon)
Connect and give me a shout. Share with family and friends.
Guest and Newcomers
If you are a guest or newcomer to the HFS journey, please check out this link for additional
information offered through HFS. https://www.hopeforsurvival.com/post/guest-and-newcomers-information-page
Hope for Survival books: The holidays are approaching quickly and now is a great time to order and receive copies of my two preparedness books. In the past HFS members purchase books for family members who may be in their early stages of preparedness. It is also a good time to purchase books because all proceeds off the books goes to a local charity to fund food for those in need. The number in need today is high and they will go higher going in to winter as many work seasonal jobs or others who are losing jobs because of no vaccination. HFS donates the largest amount to this cause during the holiday period to help ensure all families will have a good meal over Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. HFS is very appreciative to past purchases of my books to help support this growing need.
You can obtain information on the two HFS books at this link: Survival, Preparedness, Disaster Management for individuals or family (hopeforsurvival.com)
Hope for Survival - How Food, Water, Shelter, and Security Could Save Your Life (Book 1)
Hope for Survival - The Mindset (Book 2)
We must make this brief public announcement to protect the innocent.
Ding, Ding, Ding....Attention HFS readers..... Opinions shared in this newsletter are just that, opinions, and nothing more. Read at your own risk. The owner and author of this site is not responsible for hurt feelings or thin-skinned readers. I do my best to show restraint and respect to the best extent possible. I take as many precautions as possible and try to remain as nonpolitical as possible, however, there are times when I just can't help but point certain things out. Occasionally I use words only Patriots recognize and understand. It's not personal against any non-Patriot. It's just the truth. Sometimes we must pull up our spenders and suck it up. Just saying. Stay the course, read what you want, and avoid the rest. Avoid fear porn as much as possible and the day will be okay. When all else fails… Keep the faith and always have Hope.
Let’s move along and get to some thoughts...
Thoughts for the week –
If you don't already, I would encourage you to subscribe and follow one or more YouTube medics and/or doctors to continue learning all you can on the medical side. If you live in an area where you could sign up to take training you should do so. As I tell a fellow Patriot friend he is golden. What do I mean? He is a doctor. Individuals with medical training skills, and degrees are going to be "golden" and highly sought after if/when things turn south. I tease him that he better make sure he drives around town and rips his name out of the local phonebooks. Some of you younger folks won't know what I am talking about. Ahh, the ease of the internet changed all of that phonebook stuff.
Recently during the HFS 2nd Annual Preparedness Rally in Waynesville, NC, a fellow HFS Patriot taught the ABC's of Trauma care. He was talking about treating the sucking chest wound. This is great information and we all can use training in this area. One of our HFS Sister Patriots sent this information and video to share with everyone on the same topic. This article and video is provided by Skinny Medic and if you have attended Heritage Life Skills or frequent YouTube on medical topics you have likely crossed Skinny Medic's videos. Thanks to our Patriot sister from SC for providing this information.
What's a Sucking Chest Wound?
A sucking chest wound is a name given to any wound to the thorax (front chest and back - basically anything within the rib cage) that causes air to leak into the pleural space of the chest cavity.
The pleural space is called potential space. Why? When the lungs are working properly, there is no space between the lungs and the chest wall.
To help picture this, imagine a car tire. You've got the tire itself, and then inside, you have the inner tube inflate within. There's no space between the inner tube and the tire threat, however, if a nail punctures the tire, the inner tube will deflate, causing air to develop between the inner tube and the tire.
This isn't a perfect analogy, but a similar thing happens when you "pop the lung" - air collects between the lung and the chest wall. As the air builds up, it pushes on the lungs, causing them to collapse (similar to an inner tube) and inhibiting the ability to breathe.
When air collects between the lung and the chest wall, it's called a pneumothorax. When air pushes on the lungs, restricting breathing, it's called a tension pneumothorax. Tension pneumothorax is deadly! Hence, why we apply a chest seal.
This is a simplified explanation, but it should give you an idea of how dangerous a chest wound can be.
Now, let's talk about how to use a chest seal.
10 Steps to Using a Chest Seal:
Using a chest seal is fairly straightforward. Instead of trying to stop the blood from escaping, you're trying to stop the air from entering.
It's very important to treat a chest wound quickly. However, there are two maneuvers to perform first. Controlling massive bleeding (applying a tourniquet) and opening the airway. That said, here are the steps to applying a chest seal.
Safety - As always, try to ensure you have gloves and eye protection (if possible). Also, move the patient away from any life-threatening situations (like a car fire).
Treat life threats - As we already stated, make sure you treat life threats. Of course, a chest wound is a life threat, however, you want to control major bleeding and airway obstruction first.
Assess - If you notice one wound to the chest, there may be more (for example, multiple stab wounds). Of course, with a gunshot wound (GSW), you may have an entry and exit wound. Be sure you assess the front and back of the patient, performing a rapid trauma exam.
Cover the sucking wound - With your hand, cover the sucking chest wound while you prepare your chest seal. Covering the wound with your hand will act as a temporizing measure as you prepare the seal - similar to applying direct pressure before applying a tourniquet.
Ex[pose the wound - Tear the clothing away from the wound (trauma shears help). Trying to apply a chest seal over clothing isn't going to work. You need contact with the skin.
Clean the area - Quickly clean the area. Chest seals are pretty sticky, however, a lot of blood and moisture can disrupt their ability to adhere. Using a gauze pad or a towel, clean the wound.
Apply the seal - Place the wound in the center of the seal. Use your hands to push the edges of the seal down, like a sticker. If you have a vented chest seal, use it for the front of the patient. if you have a non-vented chest seal, place it on the back. (more about that later)
Monitor breathing - A chest seal doesn't fix the problem, it only slows it down. The patient could still develop a tension pneumothorax. If the patient begins having serious trouble breathing, you may need to "burp" the seal. you pull the seal off momentary, allowing air to escape (this should happen automatically with vented seals, but it doesn't always!) then replace the seal.
Needle decompression - This is beyond the scope of this article, however, professionally trained individuals operating within their protocols should know that needle decompression may be needed even with vented chest seals.
Evacuation - Get to the hospital as quickly and safely as possible.
Alright, hopefully, these steps weren't too hard to follow. Sometimes it's easier to watch than to read, so I'll include the video below:
Let's discuss the different types of chest seals below.
Improvisation - Standard chest seals are great, and I recommend everybody who's trained to carry them in their trauma kit. However, you can make an improvised chest seal. Also, the OLAES bandage comes with a small square of plastic wrap tucked inside, allowing you to cover sucking chest wounds. However, you could use food-grade plastic wrap or the clear wrapper from a gauze pad.
Vented Chest Seals - First let's talk about vented chest seals. Why would you need a chest seal that's vented? Below, I'll share a few reasons why.
Good reasons to use vented chest seals:
Allows wounds to burp - Essentially, the vent on a chest seal is built to act as a one-way valve - no air can get in, but air can escape. In theory, vented chest seals allow air to escape reducing the likelihood of a tension pneumothorax.
You can monitor the wound - Some vented chest seals will also allow blood to drain, which can be useful if you're concerned about a hemothorax (blood building up in the chest cavity instead of the wound is, as it's not always easy to gauge the size of the cavity.
Now let's look at the best times to use a vented chest seal.
Sucking chest wounds on the front of the patient. Vented chest seals work best when applied to the front of the patient. Why? If the patient lays on top of the chest seal, the vent won't likely function as it should.
Here are few brands that make vented chest seals:
- HALO chest seal. The Halo chest seal comes vented and non-vented. This chest seal is circular in shape. Also, Halo has slightly larger packaging than Hyfin.
- HYFIN chest seal. Square shaped. It usually comes in a two-pack. (If you're carrying chest seals, you always should have at least two!)
If you’re curious, here’s a video on how to pack and store chest seals. Also, you can fold chest seals if needed!
Unvented Chest Seals - Unvented chest seals are mainly applied to the back of the patient. However, they still work on the front of the patient - you just need to monitor closely for a tension pneumothorax (which you should do even with a vented chest seal!)
In addition to sealing the chest, chest seals have some "off-label uses."
Alternative Ways to Use a Chest Seal - If needed, you can use a chest seal for more than just chest injuries.
Here are a few ideas:
Impaled object. Unless an impaled object inhibits airway management or CPR, you (generally) leave it in place. Chest seals can be cut and used to hold an object in place - sort of like medical duct tape.
Abdominal wounds. If someone was punctured around the belly button and no intestines protrude, you can use a chest seal to cover the wound. Though the seal doesn't offer bleeding control, it does protect the wound from contamination and peritonitis (infections within your abdomen - bad!)
Those are just a few tricks. Now let's wrap things up.
Final Thoughts Chest Seals
How to apply a chest seal is not always taught in basic first aid classes. However, this is an important skill. With that said, if you dedicate yourself to training, you'll be more likely to do the right thing during an emergency.
Next....
Food Storage Options (cont'd from last PENL)
These are options to consider once you have identified the required numbers of food types and built a nutritional guide to now select your food options. When choosing a food type, you need to keep in mind the information previously discussed. You should also know the long storage limits on the types of foods. Don’t focus strictly on dehydrated or freeze dried, canned foods, or Meals Ready to Eat (MRE’s). Build a plan based around your location, threats, special needs, available types of food, storage limits, and special diets.
When constructing the food plan, I put together multiple food types to build the plan. My plan consists of dehydrated, freeze dried, store bought canned items, canned meat and vegetables, garden vegetables, purchased bucket foods, #10 food cans, and I also packed my own 5-gallon buckets with an assorted selection of beans, oats, pastas, sugar, and flour. When a bucket is pulled from my stock, I review the inventory of the bucket to ensure the items needed are contained in the bucket. All selections packed in the bucket are first stored in mylar bags with an oxidizer to dry out any moisture. The mylar bag opening is then folded over and ironed to secure it air tight. I then place the selected item in the bucket. Once the inventory is completed, I secure the lid. You can find the food grade 5-gallon buckets at your local Lowes or Home Depot or else order online from most preparedness stores. I keep an inventory list of all my food resources, number of ounces, calories, and estimated life span.
Canned Food (Store bought) – 8 to 30 months – Food expiration dates are for store purposes. Canned goods are consumable past the expiration date unless the can is damaged. (This does not pertain to tomato or dairy products. Use common sense in each case or ask questions.)
Canned Meats (Store bought) – 5 to 15 years – These are excellent contributions to your food supply and diet as a great source of protein and nutrition. You can purchase about any selection of meat off preparedness websites, and at most local grocery chains, Sam’s Club, COSTCO, or Wal-Mart.
Canned Vegetables and meats – 5 to 8 years – This is a fantastic way to store healthy food. We use a pressure canner to process garden grown vegetables, wild game, and grass-fed beef purchased straight from the farm. We also can chicken and pork to add to our inventory. Canning is so simple, even I can do it. Most canners will come with a book that explains the exact weight you need to set on the toggle and the time and processes to use with each type of meat or vegetable. Fresh healthy food at your fingers tip, and as a bonus it’s already cooked. You can eat cold or warm through a method you have on hand.
Dried Food (Buckets) – 20 to 25 years. The food bucket provides great capability for quick access to food or to carry during a bug out event. This item comes in many brands and food choices. These are great bulk items for long term storage. If time permits, review brands and watch for sale events for cheaper prices. If the brand and price doesn’t matter to you, check out the bulk purchase from COSTCO where a pallet of food is delivered to your home. Calculate the total months needed for your order vs. selecting types of foods wanted. This is a quick fix.
Mason Jars (Glass Pint, Quart, and Gallon jars) – These are used for both pressure canned meats and vegetables, as well as for storing dry goods. When using for dry goods, be sure you include the appropriate oxidizer to help complete a dry seal of the product being stored. Label the lid with the product and date of being sealed.
Do your best to store food stock in a dry, cool climate as much as possible. Focus closely and carefully when setting up your food inventory. Remember, your life could depend on it. If you have limited space for food storage, there are several ways of disguising your home to hide parts of your inventory. I have witnessed food hidden between the walls, above ceilings, buried in old freezers and refrigerators, blocked and covered to appear as a lamb table, inside redesigned box mattresses, and inside redesigned sofas with hide-a-beds. How you do it is up to you, but you want to keep it out of sight to the average eyes. The last thing you want is for your neighbors to spread word that you have a large food stock. It may mean nothing today, but if we elevate to a Level 1-3 stage, your food could become a key topic of conversation to outsiders, and you might be the last to know it.
If there is significant distance between your home or bug in location to your alternate bug out location, consider establishing a cache at a secure location between home and your destination. You may leave home with some level of food to get you to your destination, however, unforeseen events may jeopardize your food for safe passage. Your food cache could be the difference in arriving at your alternate location without being famished.
The Starving
So how do you get around the issue of being a good-Samaritan with your food when others are starving? As part of your food plan, you should add extra food to your food plan. Personally, I purchased the large industrial cans of food (beans, corn, and rice). I do have food to provide to others, however, it will not come from my own plan. When the body begins to starve and the immune system begins to break down, a person is more susceptible to illness. Think about this, do you want to open the door when the hungry person is knocking for help? Not opening the door will probably tug at your heart, but remember, every time you open the door you are opening up the gateway to your family.
One of the hardest jobs you will have is keeping your family healthy. Okay, so you will not want to open your door to potential illnesses and diseases. So why would you not simply set up a table and put the donated food out on the table? Or hand it out from the table? Keeping what you have and where you have it stored a secret will be a big challenge as time goes on. When people are hungry and starving, word travels fast and once they realize you have food, guess who will be the target? When your neighbors realize you aren’t losing weight and you appear fairly clean and healthy, they will start to figure out you must be prepared. When hunger grows as fast as word that you have food, you now have a big problem. Your neighbors will now be on your door step. They will turn on you fast. Starvation will win over friendship every time. So, if you are going to donate food, you need to take it some place away from your home where most won’t know you. Wear baggy clothing to make it appear you have lost weight. Consider dirtying up your skin and face to make it appear you are in the same condition as the others. One of the most important aspects of this is to make sure no one follows you home. DO NOT lead others to your home. Do not allow anyone to follow you home or conduct surveillance of your property. You will be overrun and lose not only your resources, but possibly your life.
I struggled with this part of preparedness as much as any part. By nature I am a giving person who understands being hungry. I asked myself, what scripture addresses this? I offer you this:
Romans 12:20
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
1 Timothy 5:8
“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.”
2 Thessalonians 3:10
“For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
Find peace in your heart with what you decide is best for you and your conscience. I do believe each decision may be different for each family. I cannot make this decision for you.
And that is it for my thoughts this week. Let's move along now to some preparedness and other news for the week.
Preparedness News –
1. From Kathryn Dench - Ask a Prepper - 17 Lessons Learned From An 80 Year-Old Nurse - Ask a Prepper - Any and all information one can learn from a skilled senior should not be ignored. Remember, they learned skills and how to do task with far less equipment, internet access to learn skills and procedures. We can't learn enough from these folks.
2. From Prep School Daily - Prep School Daily: -Four Ways To Maximize the Shelf Life of Cooking Oils - Cooking oil is one of the stocked resources I really hate losing because of the cost, minimal use, and it going bad faster than many other resources.
3. From Old World Garden Farms - How To Safely Store Canning Jars - How To Keep Your Stored Food Safe! (oldworldgardenfarms.com) - Canning rings on or off? Safe to stack jars or not? Room temp? Here you go.
4. From Melissa Norris - Melissa K. Norris - How to Preserve Apples (Fresh Storage, Canning, Freezing, + More!) (melissaknorris.com) - Don't pass this one up. Excellent recipes included.
5. From Hillsborough Homesteading - 9 Health Benefits from Cinnamon (hillsborough-homesteading.com) - More excellent information and the smell is great as well. This is a win win article for our health.
Other News -
1. From Tyler Durden - Zero Hedge - I've Been Driving Trucks For 20 Years, I'll Tell You Why America's "Shipping Crisis" Will Not End | ZeroHedge - This does not come as a surprise but it is sometimes good to hear it from another voice who is from the profession. Folks are still sleeping and they do not realize the impact this will have nationally and long term. They may wish to go back and read my very first article titled "When the 18 wheelers stop rolling." No trucks, no supplies, no food, angry starving people. Not a comforting equation. (Thanks Festus for this submission)
2. From Patriot Man - American Partisan - Don Shift Sends: Bullet Resistance of Typical Suburban Homes | American Partisan - This is an area of security that can be tough and expensive, especially when working with a pre-existing structure vs being one from the ground up and designing the structure with ballistic protection in mind. (Thanks Festus for this submission)
3. From Jon Fleetwood - American Faith - Companies Mandating COVID Vax Are Owned By Same Company That Owns Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, J&J - American Faith - If I had a penny for every time I have heard "follow the money" during this ongoing Covid-19 period, I would retire and buy Ms. Lucy a case of ramen noodles. Just follow the money and you will likely find many answers to your wonders and questions. (Thanks to our Patriot Brother from central Alabama for this submission)
4. From Zoe Warren - The New American - The Case for the Citizen Militia to Prepare for the Coming Collapse - The New American - Scroll down to the video from Zoe Warren of 2A For Today and invest 20 minutes hearing this Patriots message. Good stuff. Check it out. (Thanks to our NC Patriot sister for sharing this video)
5.
Drum roll...........
That's all my Patriot brothers and sisters.
Prayers - Please keep our great nation, our elected leaders, military and first responders in your thoughts and prayers. We pray for good health and wisdom. Please pray for our leadership to find answers and guidance to the problems facing our great nation. May your faith remain strong and answers to the unknown provided. God is good and may our prayers blanket and protect you and your circumstances. I pray for each, and every one of our Patriots.
May we pray for all the blessings and things in life to be thankful about and continued hope for revival around the world. We must continually pray for the unsaved, our family and friends who live each day without the protection for eternal life and salvation.
Even with all the worldly challenges, struggles, and heartbreaks we must always give thanks for the blessings in our own life and our family each day. Life can be hard and sometimes unfair to us, but we still have many things to be thankful for each day. We must not forget them.
Many HFS Patriots are in tough situations and having to choose between the Covid-19 vaccine or losing their jobs. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as these folks move forward with a decision.
We have Patriots with personal prayer needs and/or family members with prayer needs as well.
Please pray for our Patriot family as they work through the struggles of life each day after the death of family member in the Middle TN area. We watch the nation unravel around us and wonder about the future. This family lost a husband, father, and friend and the struggles are in the home and everyday life. This loss has impacted and challenges this family in many ways.
Please continue prayers for our Patriot sister for continued heeling following eye surgery. We pray her vision will be better soon.
Please continue praying for our Patriot brother in Northern Alabama as he recovers from emergency surgery two weeks ago. His mending process has been slow.
We continue praying for author Glen Tate who wrote the 299 Days series and is the co-host of Prep 2.0 Podcast. I have not heard an update in the recent days but earlier in the week he was in the hospital in very bad shape battling Covid-19.
Please pray for our Christian sisters and brothers around the world being denied access to their church because they aren't vaccinated. These stories are surfacing more and more weekly.
As we have prayer needs for answers to health and family matters we also have prayers of thanks for recent health answers and recoveries.
We all must pray strong and often for the citizens of our great nation. Many of our sisters and brothers are struggling daily with things they witness, encounter, and are surprised with out of the norm. Many times we are in unchartered areas, however, we still must keep our faith and focus on the big picture. Our prayers and faithful strength together will be required often to battle the evils being thrown upon all of us minute by minute.
As Patriots we must stay strong and never give up. Our home, community and nation needs us now more than ever. Stay focused on your local community and things that will impact you around the nation. Don't allow the events around you to create fear in your life. Build your own self-reliance and focus on hope. Remember we are a blessed nation and we must continue to be great people today and make a better tomorrow. Keep charging.
Blessings,
Bravo Echo Out,
