Foiled: Be Found Alive....

Prior preparation is your key to overcoming an unexpected emergency, having an adequate kit and resources on hand (the ability to make a fire effortlessly and crawl into a shelter within a matter of minutes) is crucial to you making it home alive.

The following is a technique that will aid Search and Rescue's tracking personnel in identifying your shoe tread pattern, track size and shape. The more information you can provide the better.

1. Place sheet of medium weight aluminum foil on a carpeted surface, if carpets not available lay a piece of clothing down and use it. Make sure foil is large enough for your entire track.
2. With the footwear you will be wearing on your excursion, step onto foil making a clear imprint of your shoe’s tread and size.
3. Finish the process by signing each imprints owners name to the bottom of the foil.
4. Leave your foil imprint and the above trip information with two responsible individuals, with instructions to notify local Search And Rescue if you do not return at appointed time.

Stay healthy, mind-body-spirit! -Z

Tips for Regulating Your Body Temperature in the Outdoors

If you find yourself overheating you can safely regulate your body temperature by:

Too Hot…
• Removing your hat
• Loosening clothing, pull up sleeves to expose forearms, opening pit-zips and unzipping your outer layer to allow in cool air.
• Removing articles of clothing.
• Reduce the intensity of your workout or pursuit.
• Stop and take a break.
• Drink cold water.

Too Cool…
• Add a hat.
• Close Jacket, “zip up” all pit-zips and pockets, closing all areas where air can easily circulate out of your clothing – usually at the neck, wrists, waist, and ankles.
• Add additional clothing to your insulative layer.
• Wear all three VIP layers for maximum protection against the elements.
• Drink hot liquids and eat high calorie foods

Stay healthy, mind-body-spirit! -Z

Field expedient methods of killing Intestinal Parasites

In the United States the two primary types of intestinal parasites are helminths and protozoa. Tapeworms, pinworms, and roundworms are among the most common helminths found in our population. In their adult form, helminths cannot multiply in the human body. Protozoa are single cell organisms which have the ability to rapidly multiply inside the human body, which can allow the development of serious infections. These parasites are usually transmitted through contact with infected feces (for example, through contaminated food, or water) often the result of unwashed hands. In the U.S., the most common protozoa are giardia and cryptosporidium.

Signs and Symptoms of infection:

Parasites can live within the intestines for years without showing any symptoms. Symptoms include the following....

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Nausea or vomiting
• Gas or bloating
• Dysentery (loose stools containing blood and mucus)
• Stomach pain or tenderness
• Lethargy
• Rapid weight loss

Without some form of treatment, ALL of these symptoms have the potential to be life threatening in any type of emergency situation, whether in the wilderness or urban jungle.

Field expedient treatments:

Intestinal parasites are commonly treated using modern medications available from any health facility or medical provider. However, without access to these medications, the following field techniques can be employed to rid the body of the parasites…

• Eat the tobacco of 1 or 1 ½ cigarettes. The nicotine in the tobacco will kill any intestinal parasite allowing it to pass from the body. This can be repeated every 48 hours till effective.
• Drink 4 tbsp of salt mixed with 1 quart of water. Do not repeat this treatment.
• Drink 2 tablespoons of kerosene. This can be repeated in 24 to 48 hours. Care should be taken NOT to inhale the Kerosene fumes, this can cause lung irritation.
• Hot Peppers are effective only if a regular part of your diet. They can be eaten raw, taken in capsule form (cayenne) or cooked in soups or rice and meat dishes.
• Stay hydrated. Replace lost fluids and replenish electrolytes by drinking sports drinks or other rehydration solutions.

These field expedient techniques to treat intestinal parasites are effective due to their ability to promote a gastrointestinal environment which is prohibitive to parasitic attachment, multiplication and growth. Due to this reaction, we caution that these methods are not without their dangers, Please use only if medical help is un-available!!

*None of the foregoing is a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or medications. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on BeFoundAlive.com. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

Stay healthy, mind-body-spirit! -Z

5 Essential First Aid Items

Walk into any pharmacy or grocer and you will find shelf upon shelf, filled with hundreds of “over-the-counter” medications, used to treat everything from hair loss to hemorrhoids. This can make creating first aid kits and stockpiling medications a maze of confusion. “Expert” and healthcare professionals have their personal recommendations. The following are five over-the-counter items we suggest that should be bought in bulk and included in all of your first aid and emergency kits.

1) Aspirin: used to relieve pain & inflammation, thin the blood and reduce fever (should not be taken on an empty stomach).
2) Benadryl (diphenhydramine): used to treat itching, rash, allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), and is commonly found in sleep aids (drowsiness may occur with use).
3) Pepto-Bismol: used to treat indigestion, nausea, heartburn and diarrhea. This is essential in the treatment and prevention of Dehydration.
4) Neosporin: Antibiotic ointment for cuts scrapes and burns.
5) BFI Antiseptic First Aid Powder: Powder used for cuts, scrapes, rashes and burns. Keeps wounds from oozing and dry preventing infection and chaffing. Has a long shelf life and is lightweight.

No first aid or emergency kit is complete without these five ingredients, they are inexpensive, easy to find and all treat a variety of health issues. These items will provide a solid foundation on which to build your families first aid program.

*When stored properly, most drugs are “good” (meaning within a reasonable range of their original potency – usually 90%) for years beyond the labeled expiration date when stored properly. Most tablets and capsules require a cool, dark, and dry storage environment (low oxygen is also good).

**None of the foregoing is a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or medications. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on BeFoundAlive.com. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

Stay healthy, mind-body-spirit! -Z

WATER: The Staff of Life

A few Interesting facts about water…..

• Water is the only substance on earth that naturally exists in three states (solid, liquid, gas).

• March 22 is World Water Day, as declared by the United Nations.

• 97.5% of the water on Earth is salty. 1% of that is brackish.

• 2.5% of the Earths water is fresh.

• Water expands by 9% when it freezes.

• By the time you feel thirsty, your body has already lost more than one percent of its total water.

• A person can live for over a month without food, but only about three days without water.

• 66% of the human body is water.

• 75% of the human brain is water.

• A living tree is 75% water.

• Americans use about 100 gallons of water each day.

• In the US, the average person pays 25 cents for their water each day.

• Many women in 3rd world countries walk an average of 3.7 miles each day to get potable water.

• In many developing countries, private vendors are the only way to get safe drinking water, which charge up to ten times more than piped water would cost. In many African cities, up to 80% of the population gets their water this way. In Namibia, up to 20 percent of the family income is spent on water (plus, they have to pay to use the toilet).

• Globally, 69% of withdrawn water is for agriculture, 23% is for industrial purposes and 8% is for domestic purposes.

• 80% of diseases in developing countries are water-related.

• 60% of infant mortality is linked to infectious and parasitic diseases, most of which are waterborne.

Stay healthy, mind-body-spirit! -Z