The dying art of being decent to each other

Something has been bothering me for years now. I've commented on it in the past, but in the recent months around the election, mass shootings, and financial hooplah, I've really been annoyed by the lack of common decency. I suspect the Internet hasn't helped, with the ability to make sweeping blanket statements about people and hide behind an anonymous username. The decline of personal responsibility hasn't aided things either.

Don't get me wrong, being a jerk to your fellow man verbally or in print is nothing new. I know too much history to ignore something like the election between Adams and Jefferson as an example. That said, our modern world allows everyone to take part in the denigration of folks just because of their personal and political beliefs. I've seen some extremes lately and realized that, according to many out there, I personally shouldn't have a right to some of my opinions. This is not something for which I think this country should stand.

First, let me point out some facts many of you may know, but not all. I am a white, middle-classed male of Protestant decent. Opinions of my "ethnic type" are what have shaped and ruled this country for centuries. But already, but making that leap, we're going down the slippery slope that leads to people making assumptions and broad statements about me based on those facts. The truth is, with the info I just provided, you know very little about my political, religious, and personal beliefs. I have found myself a minority on many issues, and while I definitely benefit from being the "norm" and avoid the abuse heaped on people for their physical characteristics, I do hear and read enough broad slanders against me I feel qualified to continue on this topic.

Most recently, I have been labeled a murderer. This is not a new slur to me. I've heard it before as I support a woman's right to choose what happens with her body, even when a fetus is involved. I, personally, would never want a child of mine aborted, but I concede that: A) I will never be pregnant, so I can't ever experience the thoughts, emotions, and physical anguish that might lead someone to make that call; B) have never experienced the brutal violation that is rape and sexual abuse, which could well lead to an unwelcome pregnancy; C) feel that overpopulation is the cause of a lot of harm on this planet, so have a hard time arguing against a procedure that might reduce that issue. For my support of this cause, I've been labelled a murderer by extremists on the opposite side, despite the fact that I would argue against an abortion and for adoption personally. No distinction is made on the side of the extremists.

Now, because I own guns and believe in the right to own them, I'm a murderer again. It does not matter that I have never plotted, considered, and get personally upset at the idea of taking another person's life. Because I do not believe that we should give up a particular right and that I have contributed money to organizations which fight for this right, I am a murderer. I know of people, personally, who have been confronted on this issue because of stickers on their cars. I read one case of a guy having to call the cops to deal with an irate gun control advocate.

Folks, this isn't healthy. It isn't helpful. And it certainly isn't decent! I will always calmly and rationally discuss any of my beliefs with you. If one of us finds ourselves getting too emotionally invested, I'll gladly table the discussion. Heck, my wife is VERY anti-gun. It is an issue we have learned to disagree on, but she would not call me a murderer for owning them. Why? She knows me. She has an understanding of where I come from on the issue and, while she disagrees, she respects my opinions as another human being. More importantly, she respects ME as a human being. That's the foundation of decency.

This, I think, is the core. Everyone who has an opinion, whether you agree or not, is a human being with experiences and thoughts different from your own. When we passionately believe something, we need to understand that others may be passionate on their side of the topic. Their experiences are different and have shaped where they are today. Can their opinions change? Certainly! I know mine have over the years on a variety of topics. But never once have I changed my thoughts because someone took an extreme opposite opinion and berated me for what I think and feel, in person or online. Each change has been a result of intelligent discussion, research, thought, and time. This is made much easier with decency.

I rail a lot on our government, but at the end of the day they are a reflection of the people they serve. They are a mirror. Don't like what you see in their behavior? Try being decent to others and, in time, the reflection may come to match. If nothing else, you're eliminating a lot of angst and hate from your life and making the world a little better place to live.

The everyday benefits of the Bug Out Bag

Over the recent holidays, we got to see a minor incident made better by the presence of a Bug Out Bag (BOB). We had given our 18 year-old her own kit for the holidays, as I mentioned here. We convinced her to take it with her for our trip over Christmas. Good thing we did, too!

We were driving back home on Christmas day. I was ill, so my wife was forced to do the bulk of the driving. There were 5 of us in the truck, 3 human and 2 dogs. We had just pulled into a gas station to change up drivers and get something to keep us going when there was an "Oh crap" from the back seat. Our niece had just spilled something on the seat. Not just something, but about 1/4 of her Strawberry coolata from Dunkin Donuts. You know the kind, basically artificial flavor, corn syrup, and Red Dye #5. Yeah, all over my truck seat. Needless to say, I was not happy! I informed her she had better find a way to clean it up as best she could before we moved on.

When we came back out of the gas station, having looked for something stain removing, I asked if she had anything in her BOB that would help. She went digging and pulled out SHOUT! wipes, which turned out to do a quick and fabulous job of getting all the staining deep red out of the seat. So, with very little to be angry about anymore, I took the opportunity to point out how preparedness had saved the day, we loaded into the truck, and went the rest of the way home.

In short, not every emergency is a major one, but a little prep can help each time!

Lessons from Sandy and NYC

For those of us who live on the East Coast, last week was an exciting time. This far north in New England, it turned out to be a non-event, despite the "French Toast Syndrome" that prevailed. That's the thing about natural disasters, you never know how bad they will be. And even if they aren't bad for you, they might be for someone else.

Like the mid-Atlantic coast. They got hammered hard and will be digging themselves out for weeks and months to come. Many were prepared, or evacuated, especially those who have lived through hurricanes before. But New York City was right in the middle of the worst of Sandy, and they really took it on the chin. By now, we've all seen images of flooding tunnels or FDNY rafts on 14th Street, but, even with the water subsiding, thousands are without power, food, and gas. Here in New Hampshire, a week without power is called winter, but in a densely populated city, it can be a disaster!

According to recent reports, there are still over 100K people without power. While parts of my state were without power for 3 weeks a few years ago (heck, even during last year's Halloween Nor'easter), folks in those areas are generally more prepared and expectant of harsh weather problems. Our homes are built with this in mind (though maybe not as well as they used to be) and even the least prepper minded has seen enough storms to have a few precautions laid in at all times. Not so much the City that never sleeps. With over 8 million people, less than 2% are without power right now. During the worst of it, about 1/8th of the city lost power. We certainly aren't talking Katrina level devastation here, but in an urban environment, these things amplify.

One block without power can be thousands of people. More modern buildings, designed to make use of cheap energy, do not hold onto or allow generation of heat with outages of this nature. Fire threat plays into this design, as a single home with a shoddy fireplace that catches fire seldom threatens more than a few other residences, in a city hundreds of buildings could be in danger. Therefore, more homes rely on safer heating sources, many of which need electricity, if not for the source then for moving it around. Heck, even our wood insert needs a fan to move the heat around. Combine that with the ability to literally walk a few blocks and meet all your needs, then cut out the transportation to get out of your immediate area, and things will get messy, quick. What have we learned?

Come together:
Things haven't really gotten THAT messy. Remember, most of the city has power and emergency services is hard at work keeping things calm. We certainly aren't seeing a city-wide meltdown like some have predicted as it is so localized. There are food and gas shortages happening with some squabbling but nothing major. Folks have come together to deal with adversity. I think that's one of the biggest things to take away. When disaster happens far away, we can ignore it, but when your neighbors hurt most folks will lift others up. Yay, humanity!

Food is critical:
Many of us have seen stories of New Yorkers eating from dumpsters. While I personally suspect that much of this is over-hyped, it has happened. Actually, it happens even when there isn't a catastrophe, but that's beside the point. Putting up a week's worth of food really isn't that hard to do. I've mentioned it in the past, but grabbing a few boxes of pasta, mac and cheese, cans of tuna and corn, and instant oatmeal will set you up pretty well and pretty cheaply. Seriously folks, especially if you have kids in the house, please get some extra food!

Keep warm:
With temperatures dropping below freezing at night, this is a real serious threat. In an apartment building where you have no control over the construction of your home, you're a little at the mercy of your surroundings. That doesn't mean you can't do something. Putting up some extra blankets (especially space blankets), closing off rooms you don't need, covering the windows, and having a backup heat source are all useful things to do. The most dangerous thing to do is to start a fire to keep warm when there isn't proper ventilation. We're lucky there haven't been more deaths from smoke inhalation and the like! Some ingenious New Yorkers are boiling water non-stop to heat their apartments, though this has limits, especially if you need to go out. It also depletes a major resource...

Water, water, everywhere:
Then, there's water. When there's enough to float a raft down a major street, one would think water wasn't a major concern, but not the kind you can drink. Filling up your tub and sinks can be handy for flushing, cleaning, cooking and the like, but better yet you could put up some bottles of water before everything hits. No need to go out and buy water, just fill up a few bottles from the tap. Rotate through stored water every few months or so. It doesn't "go bad", per se, but if the bottles have any bacteria that might grow, you could get some green around the edges. Ever once in while, pull out a bottle, use it up, and refill. Remember, too, that you can always boil questionable water (like that in your tub) to make it safe. You only have to bring it to boiling for a few seconds for it to be safe.

Know when to fold 'em And sometimes, you've got to get the hell out of Dodge. Or, wherever. In the past I've talked about everyday carry, or EDC. Expect an upcoming post on a Bug Out Bag, or BOB. Feel free to Google it or read this thread over on the Survival Podcast Forum. Short version is, have the things you must grab ready to grab, then be able to make the call. Knowing you have some basic items ready can speed up your exit considerably, and provide some peace of mind if you end up in a shelter or at a loved one's place while things chill out. Personally, I hate the idea of having to leave my home, but I will ALWAYS put my and my family's welfare over holding on to some stuff.

The short of it is that prepping isn't just a rural thing to do. In fact, I would argue those in an urban area have some greater risks for which to plan. Take this as an opportunity to start!

The value of carrying a knife

More coming soon on the chest, but recent events have made me consider that I should throw this out there now.

What is it?

It wasn't that long ago, probably under 30 years, that most men carried at least a penknife wherever they went. We've progressively gotten away from that as a society, even while technology has improved our options for what we might carry. I'm not sure on why we've moved this way, but it is a good habit to be in and comes with its own set of skills.

Why do it?

Almost every day, I have need of a knife. Most of the time I'm in a kitchen and cooking, so I have a variety of knives at my fingertips. But quite often I'm at work, out with friends, working in the yard, or a number of other places where there isn't a wooden block with a variety of blades at my beck and call. That is when carrying a knife comes in very handy. Whether it is opening up the plastic on the latest gizmo you bought, cutting a piece of twine in the garden, opening a box at work, or trimming the end off a plug you just placed in a flat tire, having a knife when you need it is a level of security well worth the effort of carrying it each day. Those times you don't have it and need it will just drive the point further home.

How did I learn it?

As I've mentioned in prior posts, I'm an Eagle Scout, so pocket knives go hand in hand with Scouting (well, except in England). In Cub Scouts we started learning about them and being allowed to use them on specific projects. I'll admit, I was given one a bit too young (IE, I wasn't yet mature enough) and cut up my mother's easy chair, for which I didn't see one of my own until I was a few years older. Losing it made me seriously appreciate it when I got one again, and I stopped doing such stupid things. As I grew older, I always carried one on camping trips, and eventually I carried one every day. What I carry varies, as I'll mention below, but I have at least one knife on me whenever I leave the house, and often I have 2 or 3 nearby.

How do you learn it?

This is easy. if you have cut vegetables, you know the basics of using a knife. There are a few other things worth noting when you carry a knife:
#1 - Sharp is safe, dull is dangerous - I had this drilled into my head when young, and it makes sense when you consider that a dull blade will cause you to apply more force, yet be less likely to cut when and where you want. This can lead to slipping of the blade, often into something you DIDN'T intend to cut, like your skin!
#2 - Observe what you are cutting and what is nearby - should you slip, what will the knife hit? What if you drop it? Whittling a piece of wood on your leg is a bad call!
#3 - The knife is a tool, not a toy - I've seen a lot of injuries come from people flipping blades around in their hand, playing mumbley-peg, or generally doing something dumb with a knife.
#4 - Cut in a safe direction - which generally means away from you and everyone else. There are times and certain types of knives that require cutting towards you (drawknives, for instance), but those require a lot more attention and are the exception, not the norm.

But what kind of knife should you get and carry? That's a tough thing to answer as it is very personal. I personally have different knives for different situations. I almost always have a Benchmade Griptillian in my pocket. It's small, locks very well, and has a clip that keeps it from sliding too deep into my pockets. I often carry, or have very near by, some form of multi-tool, like my Leatherman Charge TTI. A multi-tool has some big advantages over a pocket knife, offering screwdrivers, saws, pliers, and any number of other useful bits. They are, however, heavier and bulky, thus normally requiring carry on a belt. Because I wear armoured pants over my pants and belt when I ride my motorcycle, carrying the Leatherman has gone from an everyday item to a nearby one. Additionally, I have a few fixed blade knives, like my SOG SEAL Pup, that reside in bags for really big jobs, but for most people that would be too much knife for everyday work.
Let's see if we can't break out a few questions to make it easier to select one for yourself.

1)How will you carry it?: Is this going into a bag or purse, a pocket, on a belt, or residing in a vehicle? The smaller the place it will reside, the smaller you want the knife to be. Something in a purse can be larger, like a multi-tool, where a pocket may call for a more traditional pocket knife.

2)How big do you need?: I tend to err on the slightly larger side, but honestly, a 3-4 inch blade will meet almost all of your cutting needs, yet can fold down quite small. Too small can leave you with not enough blade surface or not enough grip

3)Folding or fixed?: Nowadays, you get strange looks if you have a straight, fixed blade (those that need a sheath and can't fold in half) hanging off your belt. Our society sees knife and thinks "weapon", not "tool". However, a fixed blade is far stronger than any folder can hope to be as the blade actually extends up into the handle as the "tang". Thus, when you cut, you are exerting force on one solid piece of steel, not a joint like with a folder. Of course, you can't keep it easily in a pocket, it takes up more space, and is hard to conceal. For an everyday knife, you will almost always answer "folding"

4)Carbon or stainless steel?: Carbon steel has long been the favorite of "serious" knife fans. There was a time when stainless steel was new and would not hold an edge well, becoming dull very quickly. However, stainless is less likely to rust, which can become a serious problem on a folding knife where the pivot point could rust making it hard to open or close. Well, modern carbon stainless has dealt with this issue. Yes, maybe a truly skilled sharpener can get a better edge on a strictly carbon blade, but for most of us this will never be enough of a difference to warrant the drawbacks of wear and tear. In fact, it's tough to find a pocket knife made with anything BESIDES carbon stainless, so accept it and enjoy.

5)Straight or serrated: For general use, a straight blade will do good service. It is easier to keep sharp and less likely to get caught up. A serrated blade is nice for those items on which a straight blade might slide, such as webbing or tomatoes, or those that are very tough to cut through. My preference is for a straight blade as it is far easier to sharpen, but I do have a few that are straight at the front and serrated in the back half of the blade.

6)Locking: For almost all pocket knives and multi-tools, you can get a locking version. This keeps the blade open and prevents it from closing on your fingers when in use, a very useful addition! Some will also lock the blade closed. It is well worth it to have. Some may work better than others, but most work well enough.

7)Thumb assist, spring assist, and other fanciness: When most of us think of pocketknives, we think of little indents in the blade to slip a thumbnail in and pry the blade open. Things have changed, and for the better, making it simply a matter of using a thumb while comfortably holding the handle. Personally, I think this makes for a safer opening.
There are also additional assist options which speed the opening, all the way up to the switchblade. Please check on the legality in your area before getting one. Be aware, too, that some switchblades, especially cheap ones, that can open in your pocket!

8)Handle materials: This is really a matter of personal preference. I personally like something with a bit of grip to it, which means I often opt for either a checkered grip or something with rubberizing. If you see "glass" in the options, don't worry about brittleness. These tend to be made with a very high impact form of synthetic glass. Think "fiberglass" and you'll feel a lot more comfortable! You also want a handle that's long enough to fit in your hand comfortably.

9)Price: This is the most defining/restricting choice of all. You can spend $5 on a cheap knife, or you can spend $500 on a custom model with Damascus steel. Keep in mind that this is a tool, an every day item, and keep your spending in reason. If you're the kind that loses things a lot, consider owning a few cheaper ones you won't cry over when they're gone. I generally opt for the $30-75 range as knives are one thing I seem to be able to keep from disappearing. Within that range you'll get good quality without feel you've been raked over the coals.

When it comes time to buy one, I really recommend going out and handling them before just buying off the internet. Go to a sporting goods store, especially one with a knife counter (Cabelas, Bass Pro, EMS, REI, even most Wal-Marts will have one) and physically pick them up. Open the knife, see if the blade wobbles within the handle, figure out how the lock works, feel the handle in your hand. Does it feel like it is worth the money? Is it solid enough to do work? Will it fit in your pocket or chosen bag? If so, why not take it home? I guarantee, after a week of carrying one you'll wonder why it took you so long to do so!

What else can you tell me that may not be common knowledge?

You may eventually want to add more knives to your collection. it's worth looking at multi-tools as an option. I'll talk about them in the future.
Knives with clips often allow the clip to be removed if you prefer not to use it.
You want to keep your knife sharp, which we'll talk about in a later post. For now, know that you want to avoid electric sharpeners!

CPR

What is it? 
CardioPulmonary Resuscitation, that's CPR to most of us. You can learn all about it across the web. The American Heart Association is a great resource and sets the standards. They also create many of the training courses you might attend. The reason this is the first skills post in this blog is that it is, in my opinion, the #1 thing everyone in the world should know how to do!

Why do it? 
First, let's be clear; CPR is unlikely to restore someone's heart beat to normal. It is really designed to keep the blood moving to the rest of the body, especially the vital organs, like the heart, lungs, and brain. As an EMT in a 911 contract area I performed CPR...I don't even recall, certainly over 20 times. I only once recovered a normal heartbeat through compressions. However, the technique allowed the successful application of other techniques, such as defibrillation, that has a much better chance of restoring a standard heartbeat. The earlier you receive CPR in a cardiac event, the better chance you have of survival. That means you could very easily be the difference between someone living and dying. In a way, it makes you a bit of a superhero!

How did I learn it? 
In Scouts, we had to learn CPR as part of the First Aid Merit Badge. I kept it up every few years after that point until my involvement in our company Trauma Team while employed at a textile mill. That experience led me to become an EMT, which is where I actually put that learning into practice.

How do you learn it?  
Take a class! Often times you can find cheap classes near you either sponsored by community groups, fire departments, or even your employer. If you haven't taken one in a while, consider doing so. Things have changed considerably over the past decade, including a change of compressions to breaths and, in many classes, instruction in the use of the AED, or Automatic External Defibrillator. As more and more AEDs pop up in public places, their very simple yet effective use makes it even more likely someone will survive a cardiac event.

What else can you tell me that may not be common knowledge?
When in class for the Trauma Team, our instructor stated, "If you ever have to do this in the real world, you may feel and hear a cracking." This cracking is the breaking of ribs. Yes, it happens. A lot. In fact, if you do compressions on an adult, it is pretty much a guarantee. In the times I performed CPR, I recall exactly three in which ribs did not break. The first as a 2 month old baby. Next was an 11 year old boy. The only adult I performed CPR on where I didn't break ribs was when the person in question had already broken most of them in an auto accident (this also was the one time I recovered a standard rhythm with compressions.) Certainly you need to worry about using too much force in compressions, especially when your blood is pumping with excitement, but it is always good to be prepared for the cracking of ribs to happen.

If you can handle it, volunteer for your local fire department or ambulance to gain experience. If not, make sure you renew often, as during an emergency you will fall to the level of your training, not rise to the level of your knowledge. In other words, if you aren't used to doing it, if it isn't ingrained, you might freeze.

Always call 911 first, or have someone do it. CPR is exhausting, you don't want to do it by yourself for long. Getting emergency personnel on scene ASAP is always your top priority.

Next time we'll focus on something less gruesome, I promise. In the meantime, go take a class!