Tampons & Condoms

In a prior post I listed two items I thought were important to keep in your 72 Hour Bag. A Tampon and a Condom. Both of which could get you in trouble with your spouse if you don't exactly know what they're used for in Survival situations.  There are many additional uses above and beyond these 10, but I thought I'd restrict the list at 10 items each because under interrogation it's easier to remember 10 than 30.

Tampon

1. Survival Straw - Use the tampon in the plastic applicator to suck water from a source through, This will only filter turbidity and not nasty viruses, but it's better to drink and risk a bug than die of dehydration.

image from artofmanliness.com

2. Water filter - use a plastic bottle and cut the bottom off, push the tampon down into the opening so the string hangs down. This way you can add water through the now open bottom and gravity will make the water be filtered through the tampon. This will only filter turbidity and not nasty viruses, but it's better to drink and risk a bug than die of dehydration. This image from artofmanliness.com shows the bottle with the cap on and a small hole punctured in the cap. It's an option but I think it restrict the flow too much. I take off the cap and use the string hanging out the bottom to guide the flow into a cup or bowl.

3. Tinder - Pull apart the cotton and add Lip Balm if you have it, one good spark will ignite the cotton.

4. Cotton to bandage a wound - Spread the cotton out and use it against the wound

5. Plug a nose bleed - You can cut a full size tampon down and use it in the nostril, if it's your buddy and he's kind of a dork tell him you have to leave the string hanging down so you can pull it out later.

6. Plug a bullet wound - only as a last resort because they expand as they accumulate fluids

7. Use the string as a wick for a candle - there are a variety of liquids/materials you can dip the end into to make it burn longer. Butter, oil, wax.

8. Use the string in an improvised snare or trap - Big topic. I'll try to do a post on snares and traps later.

9. Use the package to keep matches in so they don't get wet - The plastic applicator can be used as a housing for matches.

10. Use the cotton & packaging to create a fishing bobber - The plastic wrapper with a gob of the cotton inside can be tied to create an air pocket and attached to a fishing line. It'll work as a bobber.

Condom

1. Water Carrier - Put the condom inside your sock so it supports the rubber. It can carry up to 1 gallon of water this way

2. Fire - The rubber is made from oil and it's flammable so it works as a great fire starter to help you get other materials going.

3. To make a fire drill or bow - Twist the full length of the condom and attach it to a stick to make a fire bow or two sticks to use as a drill. Note to self: try this at home and after and hour of sweating and not being able to do it you'll appreciate that caveman who figured it out.

4. Sling shot - Nuff said?
5. Use as rubber glove when dealing with a person who is bleeding - Pretty simple huh? Think of it more as a mitten without thumbs more than a glove. Remember when dealing with a bleeding patient latex gloves are for your protection, not theirs.

6. Put over the muzzle of a gun in wet conditions - See the movie the Big Red One for demonstration, one of Mark Hamill's great performances.

7. Fishing bobber -  Easier to make a fishing bobber with the condom than the tampon... I'm sure most have had some experience with this issue during other activities.

8. Water tight container for matches or even a cel phone - This puppy can be stretched pretty big and will hold a wide variety of things you might need to keep dry.

9. Use the package as a chest seal for a sucking chest wound - If there's a small sucking chest wound tape three edges of the package down and cover the hole this will allow air to escape from the chest cavity but will press against the wound and not let air in.

10. fill with water and use to start a fire with it's magnifying properties - Really hard and probably won't work but it's in the column of "I should know this".

30 Uses of a Bandana

Ever since I can remember I have carried two bandanas in my pack when hiking. Today I carry a Shemaugh which is just a larger bandana. You can find these at a variety of on line sellers like lapolicegear.com

 I was told the colors signify the region the shemaugh came from with more contrasting colors being a region of conflict. Here you can see Yasir Arafat wearing white and black.

The shemaugh has been very useful through out its tenure in my EDC (every day carry) bag and does many things that the bandana can but has a little more surface area making it a better neck warmer and can be used in the traditional way over your head to cut the wind or keep the sun off your head. With so many military operations going on in the middle east many operators have adopted the benefits of using a shemaugh.

I can tell you that when it's cold on set, I pull my shemaugh out and wrap it around my neck, quickly getting warm and I make a fashion statement. The main point of this post is to talk about the 30 uses of a bandana. Below is a list from survivalcache.com they have a pretty good amount of items you might want to add to your 72 hour bag and he runs a good blog. I have found other lists that go up to 100 uses but I've found that 30 uses is about all I can remember and most of the other ones are pretty common sense. 

30 Uses of a Bandana:

1. Signal

2. Neck Gaiter for cold weather

3. Tourniquet (But for Snake Bites use a Sawyer Extractor)

4. Pot Holder

5. Collecting Wild Edibles

6. Sun block for neck

7. Sling (first-aid – also see medical kits for you BOB)

8. Sling (as in David and Goliath)

9. Sling (for a staff )

10. Cordage (strips or as is)

11. Washcloth/Towel (Bathe out of a Collapsible Bucket)

12. Sweatband

13. Waist pack/pouch

14. Hobo Pack

15. Padding a hotspot

16. Cleaning Patches for Firearm

17. Bullet Patches for Muzzleloader

18. Gun Wipe Cloth (with oil)

19. Toilet Paper

20. Mark a Trail

21. Dish Rag

22. Napkin

23. Eye patch

24. Pre-water Filter (like Coffee Filters)

25. Clean Glasses and other lens

26. Ear Muffs

27. Bind a stone and toss a line over a limb

28. Dust Mask (in Urban Survival)

29. Wet and wear for Hot Weather

30. Sneezing

First Aid Kit

There are a billion types of first aid kits you can get for your 72 Hour Bag, they vary as much with size and weight as they do with the skill level you may have to put the gear into use. If you have the time it is of vital importance to take a CPR/First Aid class. It's important to be able to help someone when they become injured but you may have to be the one who fixes yourself and knowing what to do will help keep you calm and stave off possible shock. During the Falkland Island war they found the better trained a soldier was the better chance they had of surviving injuries and not going into shock. Ordinary soldiers were dying with only minor wounds because they slipped into shock while soldiers who were trained at higher levels were surviving head and chest wounds and not going into shock. Remember it's of vital importance to stay at 98.6, once this has been comprimised the clock begins to tick and it's hard to stop the clock after that.

Here's what I carry in my 72 Hour Bag:

I've done a lot of research into the different types of medical kits that are offered and I've found it's best to build your own, but this can be an incredibly daunting task especially if you aren't an EMT, Paramedic, Nurse or Physician. So what I've come up with is the Adventure Medical Kit .7 in the water tight container. It has a good amount of items to be the foundation of a good kit and still has the room to add other things important to you. Only you will know what you're going to need immediately if you're away from home for 72 hours. Pretend you're packing for a three day get away and look at any medications you need on a daily basis. They should be in there. Are you allergic to bee stings? Do you need an Epi Pen? If so, get one and put it in this kit. I have added several tubes of single use Super Glue and some sutures. I have learned how to suture but it is doubtful I would ever try to suture a wound in the field unless it were the most austere conditions. Having said that I would Super Glue a wound closed. Contained in the .7 are the following: 3-Bandage, Butterfly Closure. 2- Dressing, Non-Adherent, Sterile, 3" x 4". 1-Bandage, Conforming Gauze, 2". 5-Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, 1" x 3". 2-Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 2" x 2", Pkg./2. 3-Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, Knuckle. 2-Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 3" x 3", Pkg./2. 1-Gloves, Nitrile (Pair), Hand Wipe. 1-Moleskin, Pre-Cut & Shaped (11 pieces). 1-Duct Tape, 2" x 26". 1-Bandage, Elastic with Velcro, 2". 3-Safety Pins. 1-Splinter Picker/Tick Remover Forceps. 2-After Bite Wipe. 2-Antihistamine (Diphenhydramine 25 mg). 1-Aspirin (325 mg), Pkg./2. 3-Ibuprofen (200 mg), Pkg./2. 4-After Cuts & Scrapes Antiseptic Wipe. 3-Triple Antibiotic Ointment, Single Use. 3-Alcohol Swab. 1-Tape, 1" x 10 Yards. 1-Tincture of Benzoin Topical Adhesive.

In addition to the items listed above I have decked out my kit with additional items I have been trained to use and are only in the kit if the most austere conditions arise. I carry a tourniquet, and Asherton Chest Seal, decompression needle, H Bandage, Israeli Bandage, 4x4's, tape, gloves, celox and some other trinkets such as iodine tablets. 

Here's what I carry when I go running:

I carry in my running pack the Adventure Medical Kit .5 - I've added some things that are more geared towards trail running. I put steri-strips and butterfly bandages in the pouch as well as a tube of super glue. I beefed up the the band aids and I threw some Imodium tablets in there because the last thing you want is to be 20 miles away from home and have intestinal issues. The .5 comes with some good gear for the size of the pouch and its very light weight. It comes with the following: 2 - Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, Knuckle, 1 - Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, 2"x4". 10 - Bandage, Adhesive, Fabric, 1"x3". 2 - Dressing, Gauze, Sterile, 2"x2" (Pkg. 2). 2 - Butterfly Closure, 1- After Bite Medicated Wipe. 1 - Mini Howler Whistle. 6 - Antimicrobial Towelette.

Here's what I carry in my EDC:

My EDC (Every Day Carry) is the bag a I carry to work every day. Because of the nature of the Film Business we must take everything with us filling all our needs for that day of work. We often have layers of clothing and tools, but what most don't have is emergency equipment to bridge the gap between set and their cars at crew parking. Below is the Condor Tactical Gear Pocket, it's at LA Police Gear for $10.99. It's on closeout so act quickly. In this pouch I keep a ton of gear and the pouch fits neatly in the leg pocket of my cargo pants. I have a ton of gear stuffed into this pouch but here's a list of the medical items: celox, Leather Man Squirt P4, super glue, band aids, tampon, condom, steri strips, 4-0 & 2-0 nylon non absorbable sutures, back up meds. 

You may be wondering about the tampon and the condom, all I can tell you is there are many uses for them other than their obvious roles. I will do a post on these uses at a later date.