How prepared are we?

[chaim]

Hmm, one of the directions the "Why on Earth do you need a gun" thread went got me thinking.

How many of us are just gun people, and how many of us are preparedness people?

Do we prepare for other needs like we do self-defense? For that matter, how prepared are we for self-defense, do we prepare in other ways or do we only prepare with guns?

Public safety:
Do you have a fire estinguisher in your car? In your home? Are you CPR and first aid certified?

Car trouble:
Do you keep jumper cables in your car? A blanket? Tools? Car parts? Water?

Disaster:
Do you keep a stash of food and water that will keep you for a few days if a natural disaster knocks out the power in your area? Do you have enough for a week? A month? More? Do you have a battery or crank powered radio? Do you have a stash of candles and matches or a flashlight or battery operated lantern and extra batteries?

Self-Defense:
Do you own and practice with a knife? Pepper spray (or other less-lethal weapons)? Do you know any martial arts or other hand to hand combat techniques?

My suspicion is that gun people in general, and THRers specifically are probably a bit more prepared than most. I am curious how that suspicion stacks up (though of course, I won't really be able to compare it to the general population, but it still could be interesting).

 

[Mannlicher]

Sometimes, I get the feeling that on this BBS are the casual gunner, and the tactical freak. We seem to have everything in between too.
I carry something every where I go. I work hard on awarness, and I make it a point to stay away from places / areas that are bad news. I consider myself middle of the road though, 'cause I know a lot of folks that are much more into 'it' than I am.

 

[chaim]

To answer my own questions:

-I always have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and working smoke detectors. I don't have an extinguisher in the car. I know first aid and CPR, but I admit that I have let my certification lapse (most courses are offered on Saturday and that is the day Jews keep the sabbath, I do hope to find a Sunday or work week evening course that meets when I can be there so I can re-certify within the next 6 months).

-I used to be prepared for car trouble, but now that I have a new car (since June) I haven't transfered enough into my new car. I think I have a flashlight in the car, but I have not put the blanket, water and jumper cables in the trunk yet. I do make sure my spare tire is servicable and I make sure I know how to work the jack on my car (I check it out on a car when I buy it, long before I ever need it).

-I keep about a weeks worth of non-perishable food, water plus batteries for my flashlights and radio.

-I know no martial arts anymore (I stopped the classes as an adolescent) and only very limited hand to hand techniques. I live in MD where I can't carry so I have tried to learn knives (though my "training" would probably leave a lot to be desired since I haven't taken any classes or trained very rigorously) and I do have pepper spray (and I do practice with it- I want to know the spray pattern and see the actual range). At home, in addition to guns, I keep a knife handy, often pepper spray (at least when in my pocket, I don't have a canister near the bed), and usually some potential blunt force weapons.


-I guess my overall preparedness would be around "medium" preparedness.

I should keep my CPR and first aid more current, and I will as soon as I can (most classes pose religious obstacles to me). I really should learn some hand to hand defensive technique and I should become more proficient with knives. I also need to transfer some of my car stuff into my new car (though as a new car I'm less likely to need it, it is better to have and not need...).

On the positive end I have a few things I do right. I do have and learn knives (though I could do better) and pepper spray. I keep a stash of food, water, etc. for disasters. Even though my certification isn't current, I do know first aid and CPR and without someone with more recent training I could help in a first aid situation. I am partially prepared for car issues. I am well prepared for fires.



Edit-
Oh, I almost forgot, I do keep a first aid kit in the home and in my car.

 

[Series 70]

Fire extinguishers in kitchen, garage and basement. Smoke detectors in each bedroom, hallway, kitchen and basement. Good first-aid supplies in the house, though not well packed in a kit. Flashlights are spread around the house. There's pepper spray by each door.

I used to hold a brown belt in tae kwon do. I can't say I really train anymore, but I do practice techniques from time to time. I was CPR and first-aid trained for quite a few years, though all certifications lapsed almost a decade ago. I was the first on scene at a traffic accident outside my house last month and didn't do anything wrong with the injured people.

We keep two cases of MRE's in the house, which is enough calories for our family for 5-6 days.

Each car has jumper cables, a fire extinguisher and blankets. I'm currently putting together a first-aid kit for each. In each console is pepper spray and a surefire.

So - medium level of preparedness, I think.

 

[JohnKSa]

Public safety:
Do you have a fire estinguisher in your car? No--they don't last well in the heat we have here in the summer In your home? Yes--more than one Are you CPR and first aid certified? Yes

Car trouble:
Do you keep jumper cables in your car? NO A blanket? A coat year round Tools? yes-including a tire pump.Car parts?No Water?Antifreeze--usually some water as well.

Disaster:
Do you keep a stash of food and water that will keep you for a few days if a natural disaster knocks out the power in your area?yes Do you have enough for a week?yes A month?give me a for instance where I could be without power or water or food for a month with no way to resupply More?see previous Do you have a battery or crank powered radio?yes Do you have a stash of candles and matches or a flashlight or battery operated lantern and extra batteries?yes

Self-Defense:
Do you own and practice with a knife?yes Pepper sprayno (or other less-lethal weapons)?depends on your definition Do you know any martial arts or other hand to hand combat techniques?depends on your definition

First aid kits and simple medical manuals generally available around the place, in the car and at work.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Chaim --

I'm not a religious scholar, but I thing that G-d would look favorably upon the idea of learning CPR or first aid on Shabbat.

What I love about Jewish law is that it's very big on the principle of lesser harm: A Jew is obligated -- not permitted, mind you, but obligated -- to break lesser commandments in the name of greater good.

It's a grey area, but hair-splitting is part of our religious and cultural heritage.

Ask your rabbi.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I live in the Ozarks, 10 miles outside of town, 3.6 miles down a County Road, 0.6 miles down a common road (shared with another couple) and a quarter mile down a private road. Storms -- especially ice storms in winter -- occasionally knock out power for anywhere from a few hours to a week or more at a time. At times, I have had a couple dozen trees down across the access roads, and had to cut my way out.

My wife is a nurse, and has to be available no matter what the conditions.

Consequently, I keep the following:

Four-wheel drive vehicles (a Tahoe, a Blazer, and a Nissan truck)

In the vehicles:

Tire Chains
Air compressor (runs off the cigarette lighter)
Leak seal inflator
Flashlight
Highway safety markers
First aid kit

In the house:

Smoke detectors
Fire extinguishers
Extra flashlights
Spare batteries

In the basement

Coleman lantern (dual fuel)
Camp stove (dual fuel)
Oil lamps and oil
More extra batteries
More extra flashlights
Candles
Fire starters
1.5 KW generator (to run freezer and fridge when needed)
Emergency radio (battery, solar and hand crank)
Canned goods and non-perishable food (usually enough for a week)
Ice crampons

In the shed outside:

Chain saw
Ready mixed fuel for chainsaw (a gallon)
Spare oil mixers for chainsaw fuel
Spare chain
Oil for chain
Five gallons of gasoline
Fuel for camp stove and lantern

The house is designed with a full basement, and I have a Buck Stove down there. We also have a hidabed sofa, and the basement becomes our "survival area" when the power is out for a prolonged time. We have the great advantage that we actually have to LIVE that way from time-to-time -- so our inventory of emergency equipment and supplies is tested and improved.

My wife and I are both CPR certified. And we belong to an air-evac society, with a 6-acre pasture handy for the helicopter, should we need one.

 

[RevDisk]

Public safety:
Do you have a fire estinguisher in your car? - Yep.
In your home? - Yep.
Are you CPR and first aid certified? - Yep, trained. My civilian cert is expired. I'm also trained on NBC, gunshot wounds, etc that is generally not covered in civvie first aide courses.

Car trouble:
Do you keep jumper cables in your car? Yep.
A blanket? - mylar blanket, 99 cents.
Tools? - Some.
Car parts? - Some. I want some more.
Water? - Yep.

Disaster:
Do you keep a stash of food and water that will keep you for a few days if a natural disaster knocks out the power in your area? Do you have enough for a week? A month? More? Do you have a battery or crank powered radio? Do you have a stash of candles and matches or a flashlight or battery operated lantern and extra batteries?

In order : Yep. Yep. No. No. Yep. Yep. (Well, you could hypothetically survive for a month on my food supply, but not in a healthy manner.)


Self-Defense:
Do you own and practice with a knife? Yep. Swords too.
Pepper spray (or other less-lethal weapons)? Yep. I prefer an asp.
Do you know any martial arts or other hand to hand combat techniques? Yep


Ironically, it doesn't take as much time as people think. Nor as expensive as some thing. I skimp here and there due to financial constraints. Still, it's enough to survive any short term problems.

 

[Little Loudmouth]

Public Safety: Fire extinguishers: My family has one in the house and none in the car. CPR/first aid certified: Not certified, but two of us know how to do CPR and artificial respiration

Car trouble:
Jumper cables: Yes
Blankets: Coats and a sleeping bag
Tools: Socket wrench set
Water: Antifreeze and usually some water

Disaster:
Food: Yes
Enough for a week: maybe
Month: No
More: No

Self-Defense:
Knives: We all have knives, I practice draw and open, don't know about the others
Pepper Spray: My Mom has pepper spray
Hand-to-Hand: We all know the SING technique and Dad and I know a bit of stickfighting

 

[ShackleMeNot]

The problem I see is that a lot of us equate owning stuff with being prepared. In reality it's training and MINDSET that makes you prepared for adversity.

Some examples:

Owning guns is good. Learning how to fight with them is better.

Storing lots of ammo is good. Shooting lots of ammo in training is better.

Having a first aid kit is good. Knowing first aid is better.

Having a plan for when the power goes out is good. Cutting power to the house and practicing that plan preemptively is better.

And on and on....

MINDSET and training are what will carry you through any emergency. Having the right equipment only makes the job easier.

 

[Dbl0Kevin]

I like to think I'm pretty prepared....sometimes I can go overboard too lol.

Full toolkit in the car, blanket, and several ponchos. Fire extinguisher in the house though not the car. CPR, First Responder and HAZ-Mat certfied. Have a little knife training and usually carry a good folder. Various martial arts and defensive tactics training. Have a decent supply of bottled water and canned food in the basement. Always have multiple flashlights and batteries plus candles.

For when I go into the woods my pack includes: 1911 w/ 5 mags, GPS, compass to back up GPS, 4 packs waterproof matches, snake bite kit, gerber multi-tool, gerber combat folder, 100' of rope, extra batteries for GPS, rain poncho, flashlight and gloves.

So yeah...you could say I like being prepared for things.

 

[Barbara]

Public safety:
Do you have a fire estinguisher in your car? - Yes
In your home? - Yes
Are you CPR and first aid certified? - Trained but no longer certified.
Car trouble:
Do you keep jumper cables in your car? Yes.
A blanket? - Yes
Tools? - Yes
Car parts? - No
Water? - Yes. and a few packets of instant oatmeal and some cheese and crackers.

Disaster:
Do you keep a stash of food and water that will keep you for a few days if a natural disaster knocks out the power in your area? Do you have enough for a week? A month? More? Do you have a battery or crank powered radio? Do you have a stash of candles and matches or a flashlight or battery operated lantern and extra batteries?

Food? At any given time probably 3 months worth although. I buy when things are on sale, so I always have an odd assortment but plenty of it.

Good crank radio. I don't depend on batteries because the kids always swipe them for something or other.

Candles and lamps. I keep a few gallons of kerosene on hand in case the power goes out. Wish I had a woodstove, but I don't. I also have a Mr. Heater propane heater to use for short periods of time during the day if needed.


Self-Defense:
Do you own and practice with a knife? No.
Pepper spray (or other less-lethal weapons)? Not a lot. I've got a Maglite in my car to whack someone with, but that's about it.
Do you know any martial arts or other hand to hand combat techniques? Not really. I've taken an unarmed self-defense class but no offense type of training.

 

[DesertEagle613]

Matt Payne— actually breaking the Sabbath to learn CPR would not be allowed. Breaking the Sabbath to perform CPR, or any other lifesaving action, would be.

BTW, Chaim, if you get in touch with the Jewish Council on Scouting in Maryland, they should be able to hook you up with a Sunday course. I'm just guessing on this, as I haven't had a lot to do with them.

My parents probably rank in the low-to-medium range (no self-defense to speak of, decent diaster preparedness). Right now I rank very low, being in college and all.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Either:

a) Chaim just hasn't tried hard enough to find a Sunday class, or
b) Sunday classes ain't out there.

If it's (a), then Chaim just needs to look harder. If it's (b), I still say consult your rabbi.

If the only way you can learn a life-saving skill is to go to a class on a Saturday, I think that G-d will understand -- and so will the rabbi.

 

[SteelyDan]

No fire extinguisher in the car and no formal first aid training.

Other than that, yes, yes, yes, YES, Heck yes, yes, YES, etc.

 

[det.pat]

being a pi and spending a lot of time in the back ass of nowhere watching other people, i am well armed, and equipped.

i've had a lot of martial arts experience [mostly adjusting the attitudes of half assed martial artists when still in public service]

my home and family is well prepared and stocked.

i would have to say that we are ready for most problems. our area was out of water during the recent storm fracas, we were still ok, and lent a hand to neighbors as was required.
pat

 

[chaim]

Matt Payne— actually breaking the Sabbath to learn CPR would not be allowed. Breaking the Sabbath to perform CPR, or any other lifesaving action, would be.

He's got it. Taking a class would not be allowed on shabbos. Doing first aid or CPR if needed would be required, not just allowed. In fact, driving is a huge no no on shabbos, but one is required to drive someone to the hospital emergency room on shabbos if they need to go.

a) Chaim just hasn't tried hard enough to find a Sunday class, or
b) Sunday classes ain't out there.

Well, for the past year or two I've been watching the local community college offerings for 3 different counties. CPR and first aid training is always on Sat. The JCC doesn't generally offer it. So I have been looking.

I just this week found out that weekday evening and Sun courses are out there. I don't get a magazine that is put out locally for the Orthodox community but the friend I stayed with this past shabbos does. I saw an ad for each class but it was held last week.

So, that is why I will be finding a class within the year. I now know where to look, I just have to wait for them to offer the classes again.

 

[psyopspec]

I fall into the mid-medium category of preparedness:
-A mobile (fits in a ruck) supply of food and water (3-5 days worth).
-Always have a flashlight and knife on me, at the least.
-First Aid and CPR certified.
-Minimal unarmed SD training, I wouldn't claim complete proficiency by any means though.
-Winter survival kit in the car, with everything outlined in the start of the thread + a tow rope, flares, triangles, and candles.
-Crank radio stored with the food, food stays in the car during the winter.
-Less lethal, ASP, pepper spray are generally handy. Test the pepper spray twice a year, learned how to use the ASP before I acquired ccw, but no training since.

I don't keep fire extinguishers in my apartment, but I know where they're located within the building.

 

[Otherguy Overby]

On my list

I already have a couple of blue flame wall furnaces. They require no electricity and run off LP or natural gas. One is in the shop and one in the lower level of the house. I don't have to worry about anything freezing up, even when I'm away for a long time.

At or near the top of my survival list is a transfer switch. I could then plug the house directly into a 50A/250 volt outlet on my motorhome. It has a 20kw generator and could run the whole house (almost all electric) without a problem.

Like Vern H, I'm in the Ozarks and weather can shut things down here for a while.

I've a half mile of my own driveway and when it snows, I smile cuz I get to stay home for a while.

I should add that Aladdin oil lamps are about as good as it gets for oil lamps. I've a couple and even an old B&H.

 

[Andrew Rothman]

He's got it. Taking a class would not be allowed on shabbos. Doing first aid or CPR if needed would be required, not just allowed. In fact, driving is a huge no no on shabbos, but one is required to drive someone to the hospital emergency room on shabbos if they need to go.

Carrying a gun (being prepared) is not allowed on shabbos, except when it is ))-- when there is a risk, and the gun is protecting life. ("Protect life" being a commandment which supercedes "don't work on the sabbath.") That's a standing Rabbinic ruling, is it not?

Similarly, if the only way to protect life from heart attacks is to learn CPR on shabbos, I think that's a pretty good parallel.

Of course, now that you've found Sunday classes, it's also moot.

What can I say? I'm Jewish: Moot points are often the best ones to debate!

 

[Topgun]

As I expected, NONE of you are prepared for what is REALLY gonna getcha.

Take a look at this:

http://stockcharts.com/def/servlet/SC.web?c=$USD,uu[h,a]dalayyay[de][pb50!c13][vc60][iLi14,7!La12,26,9]&pref=G

All it says is that for the past two years, every dollar you have is worth 15% less than it started out as.

If you ain't got gold, you are gonna get screwed big time. Guns or not.

The present WAR is economic.

Betta bleeve it!

 

[Mr Jody Hudson]

Public safety:
Do you have a fire estinguisher in your car? Yes, Three different kinds.
In your home? Yes, several and one large one outside the entrance door.
Are you CPR and first aid certified? Trained several times not currently certified.

Car trouble:
Do you keep jumper cables in your car? Yes, large heavy duty pair and one light short pair and an extra fully charged battery.
A blanket? Yes, three; one heavy fleece, one heavy wool and one light fleece - Plus two very large space blankets.
Tools? Extensive set.
Car parts? Fuses, tire patch kit, spools of wire, emergency belt.
Water? Two cases of Sam's Favorite bottled water. As it gets colder that will change to two cases of carbonated water in cans which does not freeze solid at our lowest temperatures.

Disaster
Do you keep a stash of food and water that will keep you for a few days if a natural disaster knocks out the power in your area? I keep a few dozen food bars, some tuna, sardines, matzoh, Polanar jams, and baked beans in the car. Enough for about two weeks for one person.
Do you have enough for a week? A month? More? About one year in home for one person. I live alone.

Do you have a battery or crank powered radio? I have several cases of batteries in the refrigerator, where they keep for years.
Do you have a stash of candles and matches or a flashlight or battery operated lantern and extra batteries? I have numerous electric candles, safer than flames and last longer and are brighter.

Self-Defense:
Do you own and practice with a knife? Pepper spray (or other less-lethal weapons)? Do you know any martial arts or other hand to hand combat techniques? I no longer train due to spinal deterioration and severe arthritus and rhumatism.

It's just the way I am and have been all my life: I earned Eagle Scout at 13, then got active in Civil Defense League, then Civil Air Patrol and then Red Cross Lifesaving Instructor and then Coast Guard. Since then, I've trained and practiced a lot of other stuff... I enjoy the preparedness lifestyle. Some of my friends and family say that I'm good to go for a week with what is in my pockets and bag, three weeks and more with what's in my car and years with what's in my home. I could go much longer on all counts, as my training will allow me to improvise and get what I need or make it. The things I have on hand are just extra!!!

 

[psyopspec]

The present WAR is economic.

If the economy truly crashed and burned, and civil unrest were to result, I believe stock in guns would go up considerably. And despite the ups and downs of the economy, those fortunate enough to possess class III weapons own stock in something that will only appreciate, despite what any other financial interest is doing.

 

[Selfdfenz]

Good thread.

For the ones that know what is a good crank up radio and how much should one expect to pay?

I see ads for a Baygen (sp?) that cranks, has solar, short wave and possibly a light.

For about $100 I wonder if it's worth it or if it's durable enough to be crank powered every day for a year. I'll have to admit I think it's the nerd factor that just makes me want one big time.

As always your opinions are much appreacited in advance.

S-

 

[SteelyDan]

Selfdefnz, I've got a BayGen Freeplay, and it works great. From what I've read, not too many people regret having bought one. But having said that, I gather that the "latest and greatest" crank radios may be the Grundig models, which are a lot smaller and also quite a bit less expensive. Might be worth checking out.