I have written about the “essential skills” for the prepared, armed citizen a number of times, and I believe it is worthy of re-visiting periodically. Many dangers remain, but some things change. Per my continuing training, and based on my ongoing evaluation of the changing nature of the threats that exist within the Continental United... Continue Reading →
For those who remain willfully ignorant and think that everything is fine because NPR says so, good night. For those capable of reason and pragmatism, you realize that nobody is coming to help you when you need it. This has much to do with the defund the police movement, the Ferguson effect, or whatever we... Continue Reading →
There are four primary tools in trauma medicine that the average civilian, with some medical training, should prioritize for stopping life-threatening bleeding (these four tools omit protective gloves and shears); the tourniquet, packing gauze, the pressure bandage, and chest seals. Of the four, I have submitted the opinion that the tourniquet is the single most... Continue Reading →
It is rather difficult to carry medical gear. In particular, within the self-defense and preparedness community, carrying medical gear refers to carrying tools for treating trauma, specifically, life-threatening bleeding. There are four dedicated hemorrhage control devices that we are interested in here: the tourniquet, packing gauze, pressure dressings, and chest seals. Carrying all four items... Continue Reading →
I have written a few articles on using “ankle carry for SHTF” as a way to add tools to your body during times of heightened threat. While I still add a backup gun to my ankle when I want, I am rather done with ankle IFAKs. I have used the ankle IFAK as a way... Continue Reading →
I hate ankle carry. I can’t stand it. I used ankle carry quite extensively in years past for deep concealment needs when dressed formally, but the advent of such deep concealment solutions as the Phlster Enigma have eliminated my need for it to accommodate such dress. For medical, I daily pocket carry a minimalist kit... Continue Reading →
A lot of gear in the self-defense and preparedness community come loaded with features. Often, however, those features are cool only in pictures of the product, not so much in functionality. Case in point, the glow stick on the Snakestaff Systems Tourniquet. So far I like this tourniquet, and I hope it gets COTCCC... Continue Reading →
So, there is a new outfit on the trauma medical scene named Snakestaff Systems and they are producing a couple of tourniquets that are claimed to be specifically designed for on-body carry. Being a nerd for anything preparedness related, I bought one. These things, literally, sell out within five minutes. The website lists the next... Continue Reading →
Several weeks back I ran an article on carrying medical gear. In that article I showed my methods for actually carrying this gear on-body. I always have a Soft-T Wide tourniquet in my pocket, but when doing activities that are more dangerous than usual I have an ankle kit that carries a tourniquet, packing gauze,... Continue Reading →
Thanks to the GWOT (Global War on Terror) the civilian sector is now awash with vetted hemorrhage control devices. Prepared citizens are more aware of the need for such gear, and the training on its use, than in times past, though still only a small fraction of the public carries or knows how to utilize... Continue Reading →
Reflex Handgun 