Situational Awareness For Everyone - Lesson Plan: SAFE Lvl One Part 2 of 5

satasco2017 (28) in education •  yesterday

This is part two of a five part series of lesson plans for the Situational Awareness For Everyone (S.A.F.E.) level one course I developed at SATAS Co. I believe those in the emergency preparedness community will find this very helpful. This course is designed to be meaningful to all citizens. You are free to review this material, you may even share this material - so long as links to the original material and credit are given to this author, me, V. Andrew McMillan of SATAS Co. www.SATAS4.me

Lesson Plan

Topic/Title: Thinking Beyond 72 Hours – An Exercise In Critical Thinking

Presenter/Instructor: V. Andrew McMillan

Lesson Length: 90 Minutes

Required Resources:
Supplies/Reference Materials
Demo Items
Handouts – Self-Evaluation Form & Skills Audit
Projector/Blackboard/Whiteboard
Pens, Pencils & Stationery (PP&S)

Introduction:

Welcome. This is our second lesson for SAFE One. I hope you enjoyed the previous lesson.

Before we engage with our new lesson I would like to define: Situational Awareness – (1) The art of knowing what is happening around you, recognizing threats/hazards, contriving a response plan & then putting your plan into action to minimize risk to your personal survival. (2) Is the sphere around a person which the person is aware of in the physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, meta-physical and/or psychological planes of existence. This is the BUBBLE, more specifically, this is your BUBBLE. Tactical Assessment – Is the critical thinking process when something enters your BUBBLE. Is it a THREAT?? Do you NEED to deal with it?? What SKILLS do you need to deal with it?? Do you HAVE those skills?? Did you ACT/REACT in the situation?? What did you LEARN?? What will you do next time??

I have found that using real world examples helps keep learning in focus and cross-trains our minds to look at everyday life from a new perspective. So, in this lesson I would like to take the 72 Hour Plan to the next level. The government has endorsed every citizen to be ready for at least the first 72 hours in any type of natural disaster or man-made emergency because if the event is too big or effects too many people, it may take days or weeks for first responders to reach all areas. The 72 hour kit, reduces the strain on the emergency response system, by allowing survivors to be self-sustaining for the first 3 days after the event. However, if the event is too large or covers too much area, 72 hours is not going to be enough. So, today, I want to explore preparing for the period after 72 hours. What to expect. Who to expect it from. What you can do to save your family and friends. Thinking Beyond 72 Hours – An Exercise In Critical Thinking.

Main Topic:

In the pamphlet, Your Emergency Preparedness Guide (ISBN: 978-0-662-45388-8) from Public Safety Canada; you are given the basics for a 72 Hour Kit. You are told to know your hazards, make a plan, make a kit and be ready to respond.

The pamphlet is a little thin on details and too limited on items to pack in your kit to be helpful to most citizens. Thus, most folks will not follow through, because if the government does not take this seriously, why should I?? That kind of thinking works well if you want, or expect, the government to hold your hand and take care of you during a disaster. Problem is, the level of care being offered is very primitive and privacy is not a consideration. You owe it to your family and yourself to strive for more. But to get more, you have to do some work before an emergency happens. That starts right now.

Your family needs an all risks emergency plan. You need to know what may happen in your specific area. You need to know how to prepare for those type of events. You need to have a plan for sheltering-in-place. You need to have an evacuation plan. You need a plan to gather your family together. You need a communications plan. You need a transportation plan. You need a shelter plan. You need a water plan. And, you need a “What if we can never return home plan?”
All of this is introduced in the 72 Hour pamphlet. So, I am assuming you have all done that planning already. You have, haven't you?

To move forward to the period of time after 72 hours we need to have our ducks in a row. Plans. Risk assessments. Kit(s) prepared and in place. We need to be mentally prepared.

Our extended plan must have provisions for:

Water – purification or transporting enough clean water to see you through 14 days. 30 days would be better.
Shelter – you need a weatherproof environment to rest, cook, eat and sleep.
Communication – you need to monitor the news/events and you need to be able to call out from wherever you are to let others know you are safe.
Transportation – you need to have the ability to move from unsafe locations to safe locations.
Nutrition – you need to consume enough healthy calories a day to stay fit and able to care for yourself. Two weeks is good, a month is better.
Warmth – in Canada you need to be able to stay warm without a fire. You need the best sleeping bag system you can afford. Bivy bag. Overbag. Sleeping Bag. Inner bag. Liner. Sleeping Pad.
Insulation/Clothing – you need enough clothes to protect you from the environment, as well as, a set of clothes for work – in case you are evacuated for an extended period of time but still have to show up at work to get paid.
Medical & Dental – you need to be able to care for minor medical and dental situations that may arise. First aid kit, first aid training and dental kits.
Fire – you need a fire kit. With enough supplies to start a fire in ANY weather condition.
Illumination – you want to be able to see or be seen at night. Solar or battery powered LED flashlights or headlamps would be a good first choice. Candles are a good back-up.
Repair Kit – you need the tools and the “know how” to do basic repairs.
Sanitation – you will need supplies to keep clean and contend with human waste disposal.
Protection – you may need to provide your own protection to your family from wild animals or desperate people.

We will proceed to explore each topic in greater depth.

Water:

Everybody in Canada needs at least 2 litre of drinking water a day PLUS another 2 litres for cooking and cleaning. No matter what causes the disaster, you need to stockpile or have the ability to collect and purify 4 litres of water per person per day.

Water weighs 1 kg per litre. A month's supply of water takes up 120 litres of space and weighs 120 kg's, per person. For a family of four that is 480 litres of space and 480 kg's of mass. Big and heavy. Without water you die. No sugar-coating this fact of survival. After oxygen to breath, water is the next most important item to individual survival. This is universal to all citizens of planet Earth. What does vary is the volume needed to keep you alive.

If you cannot store enough water; you need another strategy to make water clean enough to drink. The three main methods of cleaning water are:

1.Filter it
2.Treat it with chemicals, or
3.Boil it

Once you have cleaned the water you need to store the clean water until it has been consumed.

Shelter:

Without shelter, you will be exposed to the elements. Even in the warmth of Summer, your survival time when totally exposed can be measured in hours, in the Winter only minutes.

So, shelter is also an important consideration for longer term survival after a disaster. If you do not take the time, effort and resources to prepare ahead of time you will severely limit your options after an event. Thankfully, after most disasters in Canada – either the government or the Red Cross will setup temporary housing for survivors. These shelters are not where you want to end up.

Longer term shelter options include:

Tents
Campers
RV Trailers
Cabins
Friends or Relatives Home's

Alternate shelters can be constructed from tarps and timbers, if you have the know-how and the tools. Knowledge, skills and experience are more important & valuable than shiny items in an expensive bug-out kit. Use your time now, to get the knowledge, skills and experience you need to survive after a disaster.

Communication:

Comms = Knowledge. This is a two way process. First you need information about what is happening around you and your family – before, during and after a disaster. Second, you need to tell loved ones that you are safe. Or, you are safe at the moment but need help to get to some place safer.

Also, communication is very helpful to get family members to a common location – a rally or rendezvous point, to facilitate linking up and bugging out together.

Your communications plan could have contingencies for linking up in the event of loss of comms. Your plan could include what channel to use on your CB or GMRS radio. Or whom to contact outside the effected disaster area to relay messages by cellphone or text messages.

If you had to evacuate, it may be necessary to leave messages or contact information at the Red Cross or Evacuation Centre, you may want to have a simple code for leaving plain language messages in public areas. These messages may indicate which direction or location you are headed for or how long you will wait for them to rendezvous at a given location.

To receive information, you want to own at least one portable AM/FM radio or AM/FM/SW radio. Grundig or Eton set the standard for good quality radios. Spare batteries or alternate power would be a wise idea – solar or wind-up. (Show examples to class.)

Transportation:

You need to be ready to move during any disaster. To this end, always keep you primary vehicle with not-less-than half a tank of fuel. If you have more than one vehicle, try to keep at least one vehicle full of fuel at all times.

Alternate transportation should be thought out – bicycles, motor bikes, ATV's, watercraft, over snow vehicles, aircraft, and always consider going out on foot.

Until, vehicle transportation is no longer a viable option, plan on moving by vehicle. Why?? Because you can carry more gear and supplies, not to mention you can cover greater distances and it is quick. If you have to evacuate, remember to bring an alternate method of transportation with you – bikes, ATV's or boats. As well as, good hiking shoes or boots in case you end up walking to safety. Carry a fuel resupply with you in jerry cans. This will double the time or distance you can travel without refueling at a gas station. Have cash on hand for fuel. Do not plan that ATM's or credit cards will be working nor accepted by merchants.

Nutrition:

Food is important, but not critical for the first few days. However, if you can be well fed for a week or two to get through the tough parts of a disaster, you can survive on reduced rations or without food for a few weeks. So, use your limited supply of food wisely, eat well until you have water, shelter, firewood, and sanitation systems in place. Then, sit tight and shelter-in-place. Using as few calories as necessary.

Food should be stored in an easily removable container – Rubbermaid Tub. Remember to use two or more tubs, so that the weakest person can lift the food tub into a vehicle. One heavy tub is not helpful, if the tub is left behind.

Inside the food tub, use smaller plastic or metal containers to further protect your food supply. Chose foods that need only heat or heat and water to prepare. Yes, this makes for a pretty plain diet, but a diet you can prepare on the run with minimal supplies. Explore the food options available to you now. What will your family eat?? Can you take those foods with you?? What options can you create to make meals more interesting??

Remember to have some type of drinking crystals or flavourings to add to your treated or filtered water. Tea bags or coffee are also worth their weight in a crisis.

Start small. Assemble enough food for 72 hours, then 7 days, then 14 day and try to get to a point of having 30 days of food ready to go in a plastic tub or two. Store these tubs near the point of exit from your home, so they will not be forgotten in the event of being evacuated.

Ensure each person has a mess kit – plate, bowl, mug/cup, knife, fork, spoon. Either in their personal bugout bag or in the food tubs. (Show examples to class.)

Warmth:

Warmth without fire. This means the best sleeping bag you can afford. You also need a sleeping pad to insulate you from the ground, a bivy bag to protect you from the air, and a sleeping bag liner to keep your sleeping bag clean on the inside. You may also want an inner sleeping bag to add extra warmth and/or an overbag to add warmth.

You may expect that a time or situation arises that requires you to be able to survive in just your sleeping bag gear without extra shelter and without a fire. If it is Winter, this will be a life or death situation.

The cheapest part of this system may be the sleeping pad. You can get away with a 3/8” thick 18” wide X 72” long closed cell foam pad that costs about $14 or you can spend $200+ on a down-filled inflatable sleeping mat. I would suggest spending most of the money on a quality down sleeping bag. If your environment is too damp for down, get the best synthetic fill you can afford. A quality Gore-tex bivy bag can be found at some online surplus stores like The Sportsman's Guide for less than $50 plus shipping. These are used bivy bags but in good condition. I would also suggest using a two bag system so you can double up sleeping bags in cold weather or single bag in warmer weather. (Show examples to class.)

Insulation/Clothing:

Some situations require us to be able to move or be on the move. To this end, we need clothing that can protect us from the elements and provide the ease of movement. Starting from the outer shell and working our way in:

Outer Layer (tops and bottoms):
Needs to be waterproof, windproof and is nice if it is able to breath. Gore-Tex stands out as good choice. A tight canvas and wool jacket may also work.

Middle Layers (tops and bottoms):
This is the insulation layer(s). You need materials that can trap air to help insulate. This can be achieved with down, polar fleece, wool. If the activity level is expected to be low, the insulation level wants to be enough to stay warm without movement.

On the otherhand, if you will be moving a lot, you only need a light insulation.
Inner Layers (tops and bottoms):
These are layers next-to-skin. Underwear and under shirts can be made of cotton. However, the long johns and long sleeve shirt should be polypro, micro-fleece, or silk. Cotton long johns hold too much water when used for prolonged periods of time.

Head, Hands, Feet:
The head should be protected winter and summer. Brimmed hat for protection from the sun or rain. A toque and balaclava make good choices in the winter. Goggles help protect the eyes from wind, rain, snow and bright light.

Hands want to be protected, too. Leather work gloves when doing any type of construction. Glove liners to prevent skin contact with cold items. Fleece or wool gloves over the liners with a leather or Gore-Tex mitt shell on the outside. Gloves promote dexterity, mitts preserve warmth.

Feet. Polypro liner socks next-to-skin, wool work socks over top, then a sturdy boot or mukluk if winter. In extreme cold you may want to have a third sock layer for added insulation, so long as it does not reduce circulation. Always have extra socks so at least one set can be worn, one set can be drying and a third dry set is always ready to be used.

Work clothes:
If you have evacuated from your home, but are still expected to go to your place of employment. Remember to have a set of proper work clothes packed in your evacuation bag. Keep it simple, but useful. You may have to wear the same outfit for a couple of weeks.

Work Footwear:
If possible, keep a practical, sturdy set of work shoes in your evacuation bag. You want to focus on durable and quality over fashion. You may have to evacuate from work, too.

Final Note:
When preparing outer clothing for seasonal conditions, it is a very wise idea to pre-pack mitts, toques, balaclavas, scarves in the pockets of your jackets or parkas. And, while you are at it, it is also worth your time to pre-load a pocket with a length of paracord, Bic lighter and a whistle. These last items can be put in a ziploc bag. A compact LED flashlight or LED headlamp are also good additions. (Show examples to class.)

Medical & Dental:

Do not overlook your basic medical and dental needs. Have a first aid kit with plenty of supplies to treat minor wounds and day-to-day ailments. Over-the-counter medicines to treat upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, headaches, fever and allergies, are always a good and safe choice. If you have young children, ensure children's medicines are included. Ensure you have taken a recognized first aid course, so you have the skills to use the tools.

Teeth. Tooth paste, tooth brush and dental floss, at the very minimum. Emergency tooth repair kit takes this to the next level. A broken tooth with no dentist can be a very painful ordeal to endure. Clove oil can help reduce pain of broken teeth or exposed nerves.

Do not forget to bring at least a month's supply of prescription medications. Talk with your doctor, you may be able to get an extra prescription for your bugout bag.

Fire:

And fire made it good! Yes, yes it did. With fire humans can endure almost anything. So, you need to be able to start a fire in any conditions, any place at anytime. You need fire making supplies and you need fire making skills. Skills need to be practiced, often.

Can you make a fire without a match, lighter or gallon of gasoline?? If not, now is the time to start learning other methods. Those other methods need to be practiced.

A basic fire kit includes:
At least 3 different fire starting methods – matches, lighters, fire steel
Tinder – petroleum jelly on cotton balls, candle stubs, dryer lint, “Zip” firestarter
Magnesium bar
Waterproof case

Do not forget to consider a good knife, axe, saw & shovel for your vehicle. These tools will assist in making a fire. (Show examples to class.)

Illumination:

Humans do not like the dark, under normal conditions. Under extreme conditions like a disaster, being the dark brings all primal fears to foremost of our thoughts. To combat the fear, you need to illuminate the darkness.

I suggest at least 3 types of light:
1)Light without flame or battery – chemical light sticks
2)Battery powdered LED flashlight, headlight, or lantern
3)Flaming light – candles, lanterns, torches

For long term emergencies lights/lamps that have rechargeable batteries are a good idea. Recharge using solar power or built-in hand cranks prolong the units usefulness. Think long term when putting your kit together. Good quality items that will last, should be a primary consideration. (Show examples to class.)

Repair Kit:

If you have taken the time to get quality items for your evacuation kit, then protect you investment by ensuring you have the tools and supplies to make field repairs to your kit. Otherwise, items are just disposable, in that once it is broken or jammed you just throw it away because you cannot repair it.

This extends beyond just the items in your evacuation pack, it includes repair kits for your home, your vehicle(s) and even your tools for work.

If your portable shelter is a tent or tarp, ensure you can replace broken buckles, zippers or grommets. (Show examples to class.)

Sanitation:

If the power goes out, in all likelihood you will soon lose water delivery and septic removal. So, where are you going to go to the bathroom?? Large quantities of surface stored fecal matter will soon lead to the spread of disease. Will you just build a latrine in the flowerbed in front of your house?? Or maybe just empty your chamber pot off your 15 floor balcony??

To prevent getting or spreading disease you need to have a plan for dealing with urine and fecal matter. It will be a daily issue. The more people in one location the larger and more important this issue becomes.

Do you have a portable toilet unit?? Where do you empty it?? Can you make a composting toilet?? Do you have a supply of heavy-duty contractor garbage bags to contain the human waste?? Shovel to dig a latrine?? Lime powder to control bacterial growth in a latrine pit??

Solve this now, because you may be too busy later.

Protection:

As we have recently learned, during an emergency you need to protect your family, your home, your possessions from:
Fire
Water
Wind
Hail
Criminals
&
The Police/government

And the last group, is added with sadness. It is really too bad we can no longer trust our elected representatives or their agents to protect us or our possessions. But, the new fact-of-life is, we are on our own if we are forced from our homes. The best solution will be to work together with others from your family or community to make the best of a bad situation. Hopefully, in the near future this relationship between citizens and their government will improve for the better.

So, protect your home as best you can. But if you are forced to leave, pack heavy – take everything you can manage. Have the mindset that you may never return home again; and then pack accordingly. Secure your home as if professional burglars will be breaking-in in your absence.

Once on the road for the evacuation centre or other safe location have the means to protect your family and your vehicle full of “stuff” from bandits. Do not allow anything to block your route to safety. Travel in convoy fashion and maintain communication via CB radios, GMRS or even texting via cellphones – not the drivers, either the navigator or assign another family member to be the communications officer for you vehicle.

If you are a lawful firearms owner, take them with you. Have a secure, transportation case(s).

Be prepared to take care of yourself, your family and whatever items you were able to flee with. There will be times when others can help you, but don't count on it. Your survival is up to you.

Questions From Class (QFC):

Review:
In this lesson we have discussed planning for an emergency that has forced you to be evacuated from your home for more than 72 hours. We have considered thirteen areas of concern that should be planned for. (Water, shelter, communication, transportation, nutrition, warmth, insulation/clothing, medical & dental, fire, illumination, repair kit, sanitation and protection.) And we have explored, albeit briefly, the mind set of never returning home and packing heavy for evacuation.

Questions To Class (QTC):

Why prepare for more than 72 Hours?
What should you consider when planning for more than 72 hours? Name 3. Name 7. Name 13.
Will you return home after the evacuation? Why?

Summation:

You have been an attentive class and I think many of you have shown a genuine interest in this topic. (You asked excellent questions.)

I think you have taken an important step in ensuring you & your family will be well taken care of in the event you ever have to survive a disaster. And I am confident that having been here today you will take the necessary steps to prepare for the future and be ready if and when the time comes.

To prepare for your next class I have two pieces of homework. The first is a self-evaluation form and the second is a skills assessment. These are tools to help you discover you. These will also help identify your strengths and areas that may require more development. Thus, you can focus energy on areas for your growth as a well rounded, aware person.

Thank you.

Your next lesson is with: ____________________________________________

Who will be discussing: ____________________________________________

At: ________ hrs, in the main lecture room. (or __________________________.)

Part three will follow in the next day or two. Thank you for reading. V.A.M.

Situational Awareness For Everyone - Lesson Plan: SAFE Lvl One (Part 1 of 5)

https://steemit.com/education/@satasco2017/situational-awareness-for-everyone

I am reposting my article originally posted on STEEMIT. Link above.

I am going to post a five part series of lesson plans for the Situational Awareness For Everyone (S.A.F.E.) level one course I developed at SATAS Co. I believe those in the emergency preparedness community will find this very helpful. This course is designed to be meaningful to all citizens. You are free to review this material, you may even share this material - so long as links to the original material and credit are given to this author, me, V. Andrew McMillan of SATAS Co. www.SATAS4.me

Lesson Plan

Topic/Title: Introduction to SAFE/Adapt. Improvise. Overcome. A Survival Mindset.

Presenter/Instructor: V. Andrew McMILLAN

Lesson Length: 20 Minutes

Required Resources:
Supplies/Reference Materials
Demo Items
Handouts
Projector/Blackboard/Whiteboard
Pens, Pencils & Stationery (PP&S)

Introduction:

Welcome to SAFE. Situational Awareness For Everyone. The SAFE program is divided into three levels: SAFE One is for developing personal level situational awareness, SAFE Two is directed at developing family level situational awareness and SAFE Three is focused on developing community level situational awareness.

This is the first lesson for the SAFE One program. In the next twenty minutes or so, you will be introduced to situational awareness and critical thinking. The best way to do this will be to explore my paper: Adapt. Improvise. Overcome. A Survival Mindset. Which is published on my Mountainman's Mantra Blog. http://mtnmanblog.blogspot.ca/2014/01/adapt-improvise-overcome-survival.html

This is the first step in an exciting journey of self-awareness, that I hope leads to a safe and fulfilling life. Shall we begin...........

Main Topic:

Adapt. Improvise. Overcome.

A Survival Mindset

Survival, what is it?? What is survival training?? What do we need to know?? How do we avoid survival gimmicks??

Survival is the art of information management, more specifically the management of knowledge. Survival is a state-of-mind, more than a set of skills. Yes, having skills is important to surviving, but not the most important. The most important tool in your survival kit is your mind!!

It is the training/programming of our mind that is the key to survival in any situation, in any climate, in any season, on any part of planet Earth. Your mind must be trained/programmed to be constantly observing the world around you, taking in the changing conditions (weather, politics, economics, etc) and constantly assessing what level of risk these changes present to you and your family. Your mind needs to be interpreting the risks and devising strategies to avoid or mitigate each risk. This happens hundreds to thousands a time each day, every day.

Should you take a wilderness survival course?? Yes. In fact, you should take every survival course you can afford to take. You should also take courses on first aid, to the highest possible level. Navigation. Languages. Threat analysts & Risk assessments. Communication. Shelters & Construction. Water & Purification. Energy & Generation. History. Politics. Economics. And How Things Work/Made. And, if you are not able to attend courses on these subjects, then visit a library & read as many books on these subjects that you can.

As I stated at the beginning, Survival is the art of information/knowledge management. The more you know, the more situations you can survive. Here are two examples:

#1. Lighting a fire. There are hundreds of techniques to light a fire. Fire is important because it can keep you warm in cool/cold climates, it can cook your food, signal for help and it can be used to boil water to purify it so it is safe to drink. If you only know how to start a fire with a gallon of gasoline and a strike anywhere match, when you do not have a match or gasoline you will not survive. If, on the other hand, you have mastered a fire bow, flint & steel or a 9V battery with steel wool, you options for lighting a fire are 300% greater. (Never trust the use of percentages in written material.) So, the more methods of lighting a fire, the better chance you have for success and survival. Thus, the skill of fire lighting is important, but having your mind programmed with as many methods of starting a fire and being able to access that knowledge that is most important. Remember, you may need to adapt multiple methods to achieve success in severe conditions.

#2. Driving Routes. What does driving and survival have in common, you may ask. First, it is the process of programming your mind correctly and second, transportation during a crisis or natural disaster may determine who gets to safety and who becomes a statistic. For the purpose of this exercise you live in suburbia or a bedroom community to a major urban centre. On a good day, the commute is 43 minutes from your driveway to the parking lot at work. If you only know one route to work/home and you do not listen to the road reports on the trip to or fro; eventually, there will be a traffic snarl-up that causes your route to become clogged with vehicles. The 43 minutes becomes 2 hours and your boss is choked because you missed the meeting with the most important client your firm has ever had. And since you had the presentation on why the partnership would benefit both companies, your absence lost your company the opportunity to grow. Or worse, because you were late getting home your 9 year old daughter, who after waiting for more than an hour sitting on the front porch, accepted an invitation to enter the home of a friendly chap. Seemed like a nice guy, but now pictures of your naked daughter are floating around cyber-space. Cause and effect. (Critical thinking moment – why use such a fear based example?? Stress induced lessons allow the student to learn faster and retain the information longer.) It all comes down to managing information and knowledge. If you knew 36 different routes home and listened to the traffic report you could adapt your route to streets with less traffic and you would be home in an hour and a quarter, instead of 2+ hours. Transportation, whether hiking a long trail system or driving a regular route; the more information you have at the time, the better your decisions are for adjusting your route to the current conditions. This is survival thinking, having a survival mindset.

The mind is your survival toolbox, the more tools you put in, the greater your chance of survival/success in any given situation. Physical tools can be improvised from the environment around us. Again, the more knowledge you have the better your chances. If you need an axe, one could be fashioned from a chunk of scrap metal and a willow branch, the axe head would be tied in place with a shoe lace. But if you have no idea how tools are made/constructed, then even having all the components laying around will not help if do not recognize them. (Critical thinking moment – what other situations in life are presented like this?? Do we always recognize the tools around us??)

So, what do you need to know?? You need to know what can and will kill you – any day, everyday. We have the rules of three's:

3 minutes without oxygen you die
3 hours without shelter you die
3 days without water you die
3 weeks without food you die
3 months without companionship you die

Base your quest for knowledge on the rule of three's. Learn first aid, to the highest level. If you or someone you care about cannot breathe they die. There is no sugar coating this. Shelter includes the clothes you wear everyday, as well as, any structure you work, play or live-in that provides a controlled environment – constant temperature, protection from the wind, rain or snow. Know how to make water safe to drink. If the water stops coming out of the taps at the kitchen sink you know how-to get water for your family and make it safe for them to drink. Food. This is one of the least important items during a short-term survival situation. The fact is most people in North America and Europe could survival at least 2 weeks without any food at all. Our culture has become fat and lazy, going hungry once in a while would do most folks a whole world of good. Know what it feels like to be hungry. It won't kill you to miss a few meals every now and then. Most folks put more food in the trash each week than the hungry of the world eat each week. Ponder that if you will. Last on our list, companionship, humans are social animals, they thrive with a certain amount of social interaction. Isolation can be made bearable if some form of communication can be established with someone else. Some people require less interaction than others. If you want to test yourself, see how long you can resist watching TV, listening to the radio, checking your Facebook or e-mail, calling on the phone, going out for coffee or any similar activities. Could you stay in your own home for a whole weekend without social contact with anyone else?? Only you can answer this question. If the answer is no. You may want to add to your survival preparations – start/join a community of like-minded folks. So, you can survive with others and then you will not be alone.

You are taking courses, reading, learning, doing. Your mind is a hive of activity. You have plans, back-up plans and plans to back them up, too. You can light a fire on an ice cube in a gale. You can convert a scrapyard into a convention centre. You can even teach others how-to start training their survival mind-set. But what about all that cool gear. Everyone sells it. You can find survival gear on Amazon.com, at the hardware store, the fishing & hunting store, camping shops, heck, even some grocery stores have a survival section now-a-days. How do I separate the gimmicks from the really useful survival tools?? And what tools do I need?? Let's start by separating the chaff from the wheat, so to speak. No, you do not have to throw your gear into the wind. First, look at the quality of the materials and the quality of the construction. Just because it costs more does not mean it is made better or made from superior materials. You need the knowledge of how things are made and what constitutes quality materials. Fancy packaging and big claims by marketing firms does not equate to a quality piece of gear. That is just hype. If a product requires hype to sell it, the item is probably a piece-of-crap. Don't buy hype or into the hype.

Quality gear, built/made by quality manufactures will cost more than cheap, assembly-line products from China. But, you have to know what to look for on any given piece of gear. Sometimes, the no name made in China product is the exact same piece of gear sold by XYZ Corp from Little Town, USA. If you know your stuff, deals can be had and pitfalls avoided; but that success or failure rests on your shoulders. How you spend your money will determine what gear is available. If it doesn't sell, they stop making it – this is a double-edged sword. If you do not buy quality gear from quality gear makers they will go out of business. If you continue to buy the cheapest gear; that crud will never go away. Use your purchasing power wisely. The peak of quality gear is learning how-to make it yourself. Once you can build a knife from scratch, or a backpack/gear vest or even a log cabin, you can fend for yourself without Wal-Mart, Costco or the internet.

Adapt. Improvise. Overcome. The three words you hear all the time when you are soldier learning to survive on a battlefield. Failure is not an option. Failure = death, your death. You learn to adapt to your surroundings. Improvise whatever you have in your hands, rucksack or on the ground around you. Overcome any and all obstacles that stand between you and your objective.

Questions From Class (QFC):

Review:

In this lesson we have explored situational awareness and critical thinking using my paper: Adapt. Improvise. Overcome. A Survival Mindset. This was an indirect approach to this topic but I hope it has illustrated, in a real world way, the need to know what is happening around us. Not just in times of crisis, but everyday.

Questions To Class (QTC):

Summation:

You have been an attentive class and I think many of you have shown a genuine interest in this topic. (You have asked excellent questions.)

I think you have taken an important first SAFE step in becoming a more aware person. And I believe as you continue on your path of becoming situationally aware, you will find this knowledge will assist you in many other aspects of your life.

Thank you.

Your next lesson is with: ____________________________________________

Who will be discussing: ____________________________________________

At: ________ hrs, in the main lecture room. (or __________________________.)

Part two will follow in the next day or two. Thank you for reading. V.A.M.

SIP GOOD INCH - Three Parts of a Family Emergency Plan

S.I.P. G.O.O.D. I.N.C.H. - Three Parts of a Family Emergency Plan

Disasters and emergency situations are becoming a more frequent occurrence these days. You are hard pressed to go more than three months without some kind of natural disaster or man-made crisis to strike somewhere on planet Earth. And, the rest period between these events seems to be getting shorter & shorter, while the level of destruction is ever increasing. Nowhere is truly safe from man or nature. Every man, woman & child on this planet needs to have some sort of plan to help them get through what life may throw at them.

The Family Emergency Plan is an all encompassing set of plans to get a family through all hazards, all risks and recover to a pre-event level with the least amount of distress, worry or harm. A Family Emergency Plan can be divided into three parts:

• Shelter-In-Place – The S.I.P. Plan. Any event where staying where you are is the safest choice.
• Get Out Of Dodge – The G.O.O.D. Plan. An event where moving/evacuating to a safer location is the best choice.
• I'm Never Coming Home – The I.N.C.H. Plan. An event that occurs when you are away from home and you have no home to return to.

All of these plans are different and all of these plans are the same. You need all of these plans to be completed to the fullest detail to be of the most value to you and your family's survival during a crisis or natural disaster. SIP GOOD INCH is the path to success.

First, let's look at how all of these plans are similar. What are our priorities in any situation?? What is generally the order we want to solve any problems or challenges that may get in our way to safety or survival??

Following the Rules of 3's:  [https://thegoodplanblog.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-rule-of-3s.html]

• 3 Seconds without hope
• 3 Minutes without air
• 3 Hours without shelter
• 3 Days without water
• 3 Weeks without food
• 3 Months without meaningful contact/communication/companionship

By creating a plan or plans, you have created hope. So, long as your will to survive does not get impeded, the mere act of making a plan provides you and your family a foundation for hope to be built on.

Your medical situation is the next priority. Are you hurt?? Are you breathing?? And everyone else in your family group?? Hurt?? Breathing?? Unless the area you are in is unsafe – burning building, burning vehicle or collapsing structure, provide immediate life saving first aid/medical aid. Stabilize serious medical conditions. If safe, stay put. If the conditions change move to a safer location.

Establish shelter from the elements – proper clothing for the season, climate, altitude or weather; portable shelter – tents, RV's or tarp-shelter; or get inside – mall, evacuation centre or hard-shelter. Without adequate shelter, being wet, cold and exposed to the wind you could be lifeless in as little as three hours!! Get out of the wind. Get protection from precipitation – rain, mist, snow, sleet, etc. Get warm in cold climates or get cool in hot climates. If you are dry & cold, you can survive a lot longer than you can when wet & cold. Remember, insulation works to protect you from the cold or the heat. If a structure is waterproof, windproof and insulated you will require very little heat to survive in cold conditions.

Hydration is next on your list. Do you have bottled water?? Pots or buckets to collect rain water?? A method or two for purifying the water?? Water filter?? If you have no means to make the water clean you will have to decide which is worse – dying of thirst or getting sick from a waterborne pathogen?? Both can kill you, one is just a bit quicker. You need a safe source of fluids. 4 litres per day per person is a safe number for surviving in Canada. Other regions of the world may need double that. Can you get by on less.....yes, for a while. But as you create a chronic dehydration state in your body you will start to loss key survival tools – higher thinking and decision making processes, kidney function and loss of digestion functions. Water helps to regulate body temperature, move nutrients to the blood stream, enable digestion of food into energy, keeps the brain operating and helps excrete toxins from the cells of the body.

To power your body & mind you will need food. Your body can survive a long time without food. No, you will not like to go without food. The feeling of hunger is a quiet nudge to put more fuel in your bio-chemical engine. The good news is most North Americans have enough calories saved up that three days without any calories coming in would do them very little harm. In a survival or emergency situation you will have no choice but to endure it but in preparation for such an event it would be okay to practice a fluids only weekend. Of course, have your family doctor give you the thumbs up before if you are concerned this may be unsafe for you. Remember, different types of food provide different types of energy to your body. Sugary food/carbohydrates provide fast energy but it does not last long. Too much carbohydrates in your diet will cause you to “crash” when the energy is used. Also, unused energy from carbohydrates gets converted to body fat. Fibre is a part of veggies and whole grains that help scrub toxins out of the intestines. Protein which comes from the eating of meat, dairy and some plant products (TVP) provides energy for a longer period than carbohydrates but it also takes more time to digest. Protein is also the only type of calories consumed that can be converted into muscle. The most calorie dense food type is the family of fats. They are very slow to digest but provide the most calories per cubic centimetre than any other type. In a survival situation you want to have fats as part of your calorie intake. Because of the uncertain conditions you are likely burning more calories than you would in your normal life. To keep from “crashing” or “burning out” you want fat in you diet to give you the energy to keep going. One caveat on food.....if you do not have fluids/water DO NOT EAT!! Eating without drinking will kill you faster as fluids are drawn out of all your cells to digest that food. You can go weeks without food but only days without water.

Lack of meaningful contact/communication/companionship can be endured by most for about 3 months. Humans are social animals after all. Loss of social contact can be crippling to many. On the otherhand some folks can avoid human contact for years and be the better for it.

So, the rules of three identify these items to be the ones that need to be addressed and in the correct order to ensure survival. Thus, no matter whether you are making your SIP Plan, GOOD Plan or your INCH Plan they will all need to have the rules of three satisfied.

Now, that we have an understanding on how the SIP GOOD INCH plans are similar let's take a look at how they differ.....

The SIP Plan:

• Medical supplies can be stockpiled enmasse and their location can be well known to all members of the family. Being at home during a natural disaster or crisis can be calming due to the familiarity of the location.
• Shelter is your home and your clothes. You know it, because you live it...everyday. You have all your clothes here – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. You may even have all your specialty clothing here, too. Like your camping, hiking and/or hunting gear.
• In your home you can store as much water as you can fit. You can also fill all the bath tubs, water bottles, jerry cans or water bags at the outset of the emergency. You are not limited to what you can carry. Having methods of purifying and/or filtering would be wise if the event drags on beyond your supply of clean water. Remember 4 litre per person per day. Showers and washing clothes will require more water. Maybe setup a rain barrel or two to collect rain water for other tasks like watering veggie gardens, herb gardens and the washing of bodies and clothes. Remember, your hot water tank will hold water, too. Learn how to drain that supply in the event that you need it.
• Your kitchen, pantry, freezer and fridge will hold a supply of food you are use to eating. In an emergency eat the fresh food first, you do not know how long electrical power will last to keep that food fresh. IF, you lose electrical power and do not have a backup generator, cook the fresh food and have a feast. Share with your neighbours. Eat it before it spoils. Try to achieve the following food holdings for sheltering in place, first 72 hours worth of food, then one month, three months, and one year being a reasonable goal for long term planning. Remember, this food is not just there for when a meteor hits your neighbourhood. A year's supply of food can also help you weather a loss of employment or an injury that prevents you from going to work. This is a personal safety net. Remember to have the means necessary to prepare and cook this food in the event of the loss of public utilities – no electricity or no natural gas.
• Staying in contact can start at the neighbourhood level. Build a neighbourhood watch. Share ideas, concerns and solutions with each other. Get a battery powered AM/FM radio to listen to local news and alerts. Or better yet, get a shortwave (SW) radio so you can listen to the world radio stations. Best of all is to become a HAM Radio Operator and get your radio license so you can listen & talk to the world via your HAM Radio. These radios can be base units located in your home or portable units mounted in your vehicle or even hand-held units! Plan ahead, so you can be ready when the time comes.

The GOOD Plan:

• During an evacuation you will be limited in your medical resources that you can carry in your method of transportation. You will have to manage your resources carefully unless you have an unlimited resupply nearby. Avoid injury is the best advice for when you are on the move.
• While on the move, your method of transportation will be your shelter, but as soon as you stop you will need a fast shelter – tent, rooftop tent, RV, cabin, tarp, etc. to protect you until you reach your end goal or have had time to build a new home. The carrying capacity of your vehicle will limit what you can take and thus limit your options. Try to chose something that can be used for multiple purposes.
• Fluids on the go, will be severely limited. Water is heavy – 1 kg per litre. Be sure to have containers to hold water AND a portable water filter to make water safe to drink. Refill as and where you can. Do not become dehydrated.
• Food will also be limited to what will fit in your vehicle. Try at the very least to transport your 72 hour kit. Three days worth of food will hopefully get you to your end goal. Select foods that transport well and require minimal preparation or cooking. At least one hot meal a day will help keep morale high. Cooking over an open fire may not always be an option.
• Thankfully, most vehicles come equipped with an AM/FM radio so you can keep informed of local condition while enroute to your safe zone. Consider, upgrading to at least one method of two-way communications in your vehicle: CB radio, GMRS/FRS handheld units or better yet, a vehicle mounted HAM Radio. As stated earlier you need a license to operate a HAM Radio but it is worth it. HAM Radios give you the world. CB's & GMRS/FRS allow for inter-vehicle communications while traveling.

The INCH Plan:

• There are too many variables to interfere with a black & white set of answers for an INCH plan. Depending on where you are and what caused the loss of your home and how wide spread the damage is would all influence the basic answers to the Rules of Threes.
• The INCH Plan is a psychological plan. Getting a mindset to accept what is and move on. This is where mental toughness comes into play. You may find that you only have your family and the clothes on your backs. And that is enough to start over.

In the future, I will write another couple books to cover in detail both a SIP Plan and an INCH Plan. Until then, I hope this short article gives you some valuable ideas of where to start your Family Emergency Plan.

I would suggest creating an emergency preparedness binder to hold your Family Emergency Plan – SIP Plan, GOOD Plan, INCH Plan; as well as, copies of legal papers & documents, banking info, utility accounts, insurance papers, birth certificates, passports and credit cards. This binder would like to be stored near your 72 hour kit and/or bugout bags, so you can grab-n-go in the event of an emergency requires you to leave home. Remember to have an old fashion address book with names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of your family & friends. In some emergency events your cell phone will not work.

Plan, Prepare and Be Ready!

Yours in Preparedness,

V. Andrew McMILLAN

Alberta Emergency Management Agency Online Courses - ICS100 & ICS200

It has been a bit since I have posted here. Life sometimes gets busy. Since, we last crossed paths I have had the pleasure of take a couple more courses from the online course selection offered by the Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA). You can  visit their website here: http://www.aema.alberta.ca/online-courses . 

My most recent courses have been the Incident Command System (ICS) levels 100 & 200. Earlier, this year I completed the Basic Emergency Management (BEM) course. You will need to register and create a student profile if you would like to take any of these courses. No more difficult than setting up an email account.

Incident Command System is a standardized management system for keeping control of multiple resources during a planned event or an unscheduled natural disaster or man-made crisis. The standardized approach allows personnel from different agencies to work together in a common framework, no matter what the individual agency management style is when they work alone. 

I found the ICS100 course to be a good introduction to ICS and how it would benefit interagency co-operation. I have received ICS100 training a number of times with different search & rescue units I have been a member of. However, at the time getting a piece of paper stating I had completed the training was not important. I am now motivated to achieve ICS400. ICS100 training will benefit anyone who is any type of first responder, who may find themselves working with others during the course of duty. This includes security workers and Scouting Leaders.

Well, ICS100 is the overview, ICS200 is the first leadership module. In ICS200, you learn to be in command of an incident - planned or not. I enjoyed ICS200 and found I have been using many of the techniques for years, even if I did not know it. Like all skills based courses, to get maximum return you do need to have the opportunity to practice what you are learning. If, all goes well, I will secure an employment opportunity in the very near future that will provide me with every opportunity to practice what I have recently learned. 

With so many operating systems and web browsers out there, delivering online courses can be a challenge for host and student alike. I had a technical challenge while working through ICS200 and I can say without a shadow of doubt, that the Learning Design Section of AEMA, will help you achieve success on completing your course(s).

To get started on taking your first online course with AEMA, first build a student profile and then reach out to Learning Design Team: aema.training@gov.ab.ca. Ask to be registered in the course you would like to take.

Until next time,

Go learn something new!

VAM

Only 16 Copies Left - The GOOD Plan Going Fast

 Well. 36 copies of The GOOD Plan - Get Out Of Dodge, arrived the other day. If you want a copy from this batch you will need to make contact sooner than later.

Either of these email addresses will work:

contact@SATAS4.me

or 

thegoodplan@hotmail.ca

I will fill orders in the order (date/time) the emails are received. 

I hope you get your copy. Once these ones are sold out I will place another order with my printer.

Have a great Summer planning and training with your family......you don't have to tell them camping is training!!

Thank you for your support,

V.A.M.

New Batch of The GOOD Plan - Get Out Of Dodge, Have Just Arrived!!!

The GOOD Plan - New Batch Has Arrived!!!

Howdy All,

I hope your summer is going well. This is great time of the year to get in some training with you and your loved ones.

Need a copy of The GOOD Plan - Get Out Of Dodge?? This is your lucky day!! Another batch has just arrived.

Fire me an email at:

thegoodplan@hotmail.ca

or

contact@satas4.me

We will get you, your copy!!

V.A.M.

Rooftop Tents by Treeline Outdoors, A GOOD Idea

Treeline Outdoors

On The Inside Looking Out!! 

Rooftop Tents may be the best idea for folks in the emergency preparedness community, who do not own an RV, a cabin, BOL or other shelter to rely on during a crisis or natural disaster. Heck, even if you do own one or all of the above a rooftop tent is a great backup.

Very recently, I met Luke from Treeline Outdoors based in Turner Valley, Alberta. That makes this a local company, at least for me.

I was very happy to discover a local provider of a type of shelter I really like. The rooftop tents from Treeline Outdoors are first class. No shortcuts, not cut corners and no compromise in materials. The honeycomb aluminium base plates used on many of the Treeline's unit is super light and super strong. That is a great combo, when you have to bolt it to the roof rack on your vehicle. As these are designed to be used right here in the Great White North, it is awesome to see that the fabrics chosen are designed to function here. No lightweight oxford nylons on these tents. These tents use a durable, rip-stop poly-cotton, PU coated canvas for the tent body and a polyester PU & UV coated fly material. I am impressed.

So, support local business if you are in the market for a rooftop tent unit. Shop at Treeline Outdoors. Learn more at their website: treelineoutdoors.com

Or follow on their Faceboook page: facebook.com/treelineoutdoor

VAM

For further info checkout Mountainman's Mantra:  https://mtnmanblog.blogspot.com/2017/06/rooftop-tents-shop-local.html