Monday, June 20, 2005
COUNTRY LIVING: MORE KNIFE CARE TIPS
COUNTRY LIVING: MORE KNIFE CARE TIPS: "Knife tip: Spray knife hinges with WD-40, liquid wrench, or other lubricant, then open and close knife 10-15 times to work in oil. This will protect your knife parts from rust, corrosion, and damage resulting from parts scraping each other."
OUTDOORS, ETC: CHIGGERS
OUTDOORS, ETC: CHIGGERS: "Chiggers actually feed on skin cells. Severe itching usually occurs in less than 6 hours, followed by a small, raised bump approximately 2-3 mm. in diameter. However, an allergic reaction may ensue, and there may be a small wheal, which sometimes is worsened with itching. "
CHIGGERS
A chigger is a very tiny mite. They cause intense itching. Chiggers actually feed on skin cells. Severe itching usually occurs in less than 6 hours, followed by a small, raised bump approximately 2-3 mm. in diameter. However, an allergic reaction may ensue, and there may be a small wheal, which sometimes is worsened with itching. Chigger bites are commonly seen where the skin is in contact with grass or weeds. It is commonly seen underneath socks or along belt lines.
Treatment: Topical Cortisone creams can be very helpful to reduce the itching. Chigger mites frequently lay eggs underneath the skin, and Lindane (Kwell), which is also used for head lice, can be very effective, as well as asking your healthcare provider for Permethrin (Elimite). These medications usually take care of the chiggers fairly quickly.
Treatment: Topical Cortisone creams can be very helpful to reduce the itching. Chigger mites frequently lay eggs underneath the skin, and Lindane (Kwell), which is also used for head lice, can be very effective, as well as asking your healthcare provider for Permethrin (Elimite). These medications usually take care of the chiggers fairly quickly.
Friday, June 17, 2005
COUNTRY LIVING: CANNING MEAT
COUNTRY LIVING: CANNING MEAT: "CANNING MEAT
Here on the farm we have been canning meat for many years. We raise our own beef, pork and poultry and often have excess - that is one reason to can it. Another reason is that we find it convenient to have cooked meat in the jar that can quickly be used to make some of our favorite meals."
Here on the farm we have been canning meat for many years. We raise our own beef, pork and poultry and often have excess - that is one reason to can it. Another reason is that we find it convenient to have cooked meat in the jar that can quickly be used to make some of our favorite meals."
COUNTRY LIVING
COUNTRY LIVING: "Goat's Milk Soap
Step One ... Very Important!
Step one is to get your oils ready and set aside since this is a very quick way of making 100% goat milk soap, even easier than using half water, half goat milk ... Use your own favorite soap recipe. You can add goat milk for water straight across but I drop a few ounces from the goat milk compared to what the water would be. My water amount is 25 oz., I use 23 oz. of goat milk but I've successfully used 25 also. Since I'm fortunate to have access to Nubian goat milk with a high butterfat content, I usually drop my super-fatting to around 3-4%."
Step One ... Very Important!
Step one is to get your oils ready and set aside since this is a very quick way of making 100% goat milk soap, even easier than using half water, half goat milk ... Use your own favorite soap recipe. You can add goat milk for water straight across but I drop a few ounces from the goat milk compared to what the water would be. My water amount is 25 oz., I use 23 oz. of goat milk but I've successfully used 25 also. Since I'm fortunate to have access to Nubian goat milk with a high butterfat content, I usually drop my super-fatting to around 3-4%."
COUNTRY LIVING
COUNTRY LIVING: "1/8 cup any type oil {I like olive oil} 1 cup goats milk or cows milk
In a bowl, combine ings. and mix well, you can keep it in the fridge, or you can add 1/8 teaspoon vinegar or ascorbic acid or citric acid, to preserve it.
You can also make hand lotion with 1/4 cup mineral oil 1/4 olive oil 1/2 tsp. cod-liver oil 1 Tsp.lecitin powder 1 tsp. plain unflavored "
In a bowl, combine ings. and mix well, you can keep it in the fridge, or you can add 1/8 teaspoon vinegar or ascorbic acid or citric acid, to preserve it.
You can also make hand lotion with 1/4 cup mineral oil 1/4 olive oil 1/2 tsp. cod-liver oil 1 Tsp.lecitin powder 1 tsp. plain unflavored "
Friday, June 03, 2005
ASTHMA
For the purposes of Survive Outdoors, discussion of asthma will be limited to basic information.
Many of you of course are aware that asthma is a spasm of the bronchial tree, which causes wheezing and, in severe forms, causes individuals to be quite frightened, since they feel like they cannot catch their breath.
Asthma is broken down into two types:
1) Exertion or exercise induced.
2) Allergen induced.
Wheezing can be triggered by not only cold air, but by allergens from many sources including a variety of fauna, campfires, dust, and any airborne allergen that one could possibly encounter in the outdoors. If a predisposition to asthma is known to exist, precautions should always be taken, as one does not know when they are going to suffer an asthma attack. Individuals can still enjoy campfires, but should stay a distance away to avoid smoke inhalation. ALWAYS carry an MDI inhaler! We suggest carrying a Beta-agonist metered dose inhaler, a 2-week course of Prednisone, and a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Proper usage of an inhalerProper usage of an inhaler is extremely important. During the last 10-15 years of practicing medicine, I have seen numerous individuals who have actually been taught incorrectly or have not been taught at all by their healthcare providers, regarding the proper usage of a metered dose inhaler. Even though an aero-chamber is very bulky, it is of the utmost importance in terms of increasing the efficacy of the medication. If an aero-chamber is not available, the inhaler should be kept approximately 1” away from your mouth when using it. By putting the inhaler on your mouth, 60-70% of the medication gets caught on the roof of your mouth and tongue, and does not get into your lungs.
References:Wilderness Medicine, 4th edition, Paul S. Auerbach.
Many of you of course are aware that asthma is a spasm of the bronchial tree, which causes wheezing and, in severe forms, causes individuals to be quite frightened, since they feel like they cannot catch their breath.
Asthma is broken down into two types:
1) Exertion or exercise induced.
2) Allergen induced.
Wheezing can be triggered by not only cold air, but by allergens from many sources including a variety of fauna, campfires, dust, and any airborne allergen that one could possibly encounter in the outdoors. If a predisposition to asthma is known to exist, precautions should always be taken, as one does not know when they are going to suffer an asthma attack. Individuals can still enjoy campfires, but should stay a distance away to avoid smoke inhalation. ALWAYS carry an MDI inhaler! We suggest carrying a Beta-agonist metered dose inhaler, a 2-week course of Prednisone, and a broad-spectrum antibiotic.
Proper usage of an inhalerProper usage of an inhaler is extremely important. During the last 10-15 years of practicing medicine, I have seen numerous individuals who have actually been taught incorrectly or have not been taught at all by their healthcare providers, regarding the proper usage of a metered dose inhaler. Even though an aero-chamber is very bulky, it is of the utmost importance in terms of increasing the efficacy of the medication. If an aero-chamber is not available, the inhaler should be kept approximately 1” away from your mouth when using it. By putting the inhaler on your mouth, 60-70% of the medication gets caught on the roof of your mouth and tongue, and does not get into your lungs.
References:Wilderness Medicine, 4th edition, Paul S. Auerbach.
Bicycle Safety
Survive Outdoors visitors will not find bicycle safety as relating to rules of the road addressed here. For those interested in information regarding riding bikes in urban areas, please go to your nearest DMV, where you can pick up a free copy of Rules of the Road for Bicyclists.
Below are some basic, as we like to call them, “no-brainers” in bicycle safety:
Below are some basic, as we like to call them, “no-brainers” in bicycle safety:
Make sure there is air in the tires of your bicycle.
Make sure that all working parts are well oiled, and screws and bolts are tightened down.
Make sure all spokes are intact.
Make sure the seat is comfortable and the right height, and that the bicycle handlebars are not loose.
When biking in the back country, or riding trails at your local forest preserves, make sure you have a water bottle with you, especially in case you have an accident and find yourself injured and unable to walk. Please refer to the Survive Outdoor section on Getting Lost and Getting Found for more information on survival techniques.
Children and adults alike should wear elbow and knee pads, as when falling off a bike, these are the sites that are frequently injured. Since the skin does not provide much padding in those locations, fractures and dislocations are very common. Elbow and kneepads are definitely beneficial from a safety standpoint, saving in potential hospital bills down the road. Although somewhat uncomfortable, it is certainly worth the precaution.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
CAMPING SAFETY
Survive Outdoors will address a generic camping safety. This will apply to rustic backpacking into any high-country area as well as your local state parks and populated areas to camp.For all tent campers, please be advised of where you are placing your tent or shelter. This is crucial in terms of the following:
Weather and rain - do not place your tent in a low-lying area for flooding purposes. If you absolutely have to, then dig a trench out around the sides. It does not have to be very deep. Three to four inches is helpful to detour the water around your shelter. If this is a state park area and you cannot do that, please respect their rules. Fill in these areas after you are done camping.
Beware of trail areas and animals - Many animals, especially hoofed animals such as elk and deer will move at night. If you are in the middle of a heavily traveled path, you may be trampled in your tent or shelter in the middle of the night.
If you are in a territory where there are bears - Clearly you want to have all your pans clean. Hang food and perishables as well as pots and pans you cook in at least 200 yards away from your campsite. You do not want to hang them 20 or 30 yards away from your tent area.
Do not place your tent under a tree - Sometimes this is impossible. If you are going to place your tent under a tree, please check and make sure that the tree is not dead, aging, or dead or loose limbs above. It has not been uncommon for limbs to fall from a tree onto campers’ tents, and injuring them in the middle of the night.
As far as concerns of getting lost or one of your childern or fellow campers getting lost, please refer to “Getting Lost and Getting Found” section on Survive Outdoors. You will see a varitety of tips and hints that we strongly advise you carry with you when camping.
Always carry a medical kit of some degree with you. Please see our medical kit area for a helpful guide. Band-Aids, topical antibiotics are helpful. Make sure everyone has their tetanus updates that are going camping. Depending on the length of time that you are spending camping, antibiotics may not be necessary. These are just a variety of medicines that you should have in your kit. We will be more specific in our medical kit section. Over the counter Imodium AD is always good to carry with you. It is very uncomfortable to get diarrhea on a camping trip. Flashlights are crucially important. We have a difficult time seeing in the dark. We are not nocturnal animals. Flashlights that work should be checked and double-checked. Extra batteries would be helpful to have on-hand. The LED flashlights have been a huge innovation in lights and they can burn anywhere from two weeks to a month on the batteries that are put in there and are extremely resilient.
Water is crucial, while water purification is even more crucial. Currently, there is no safe water to drink in North America or Canada. Water filtration as well as purification tablets and boiling are effective means to take out all organisms for drinking purposes. Make sure you bring enough water. Dehydration is not an enjoyable ailment and can lead to death in severe situations.
Last, please remember that you are not in your home but in nature’s home. If you take care of her, she will take care of you. Please pick up all litter. In certain areas now, specifically in the boundary waters, you have to carry out your excrement. This area is not usually addressed. If you are in areas where it is not necessary to do that, please dig a hole far enough away from any water sources. Pick up all your litter. After you have packed up, turn around and look where you have camped and cooked and see that it is clean. Look at it as if you are staying in someone’s house, and how you would like that bedroom or that area to be just as well picked up. Please treat nature the same way.
Weather and rain - do not place your tent in a low-lying area for flooding purposes. If you absolutely have to, then dig a trench out around the sides. It does not have to be very deep. Three to four inches is helpful to detour the water around your shelter. If this is a state park area and you cannot do that, please respect their rules. Fill in these areas after you are done camping.
Beware of trail areas and animals - Many animals, especially hoofed animals such as elk and deer will move at night. If you are in the middle of a heavily traveled path, you may be trampled in your tent or shelter in the middle of the night.
If you are in a territory where there are bears - Clearly you want to have all your pans clean. Hang food and perishables as well as pots and pans you cook in at least 200 yards away from your campsite. You do not want to hang them 20 or 30 yards away from your tent area.
Do not place your tent under a tree - Sometimes this is impossible. If you are going to place your tent under a tree, please check and make sure that the tree is not dead, aging, or dead or loose limbs above. It has not been uncommon for limbs to fall from a tree onto campers’ tents, and injuring them in the middle of the night.
As far as concerns of getting lost or one of your childern or fellow campers getting lost, please refer to “Getting Lost and Getting Found” section on Survive Outdoors. You will see a varitety of tips and hints that we strongly advise you carry with you when camping.
Always carry a medical kit of some degree with you. Please see our medical kit area for a helpful guide. Band-Aids, topical antibiotics are helpful. Make sure everyone has their tetanus updates that are going camping. Depending on the length of time that you are spending camping, antibiotics may not be necessary. These are just a variety of medicines that you should have in your kit. We will be more specific in our medical kit section. Over the counter Imodium AD is always good to carry with you. It is very uncomfortable to get diarrhea on a camping trip. Flashlights are crucially important. We have a difficult time seeing in the dark. We are not nocturnal animals. Flashlights that work should be checked and double-checked. Extra batteries would be helpful to have on-hand. The LED flashlights have been a huge innovation in lights and they can burn anywhere from two weeks to a month on the batteries that are put in there and are extremely resilient.
Water is crucial, while water purification is even more crucial. Currently, there is no safe water to drink in North America or Canada. Water filtration as well as purification tablets and boiling are effective means to take out all organisms for drinking purposes. Make sure you bring enough water. Dehydration is not an enjoyable ailment and can lead to death in severe situations.
Last, please remember that you are not in your home but in nature’s home. If you take care of her, she will take care of you. Please pick up all litter. In certain areas now, specifically in the boundary waters, you have to carry out your excrement. This area is not usually addressed. If you are in areas where it is not necessary to do that, please dig a hole far enough away from any water sources. Pick up all your litter. After you have packed up, turn around and look where you have camped and cooked and see that it is clean. Look at it as if you are staying in someone’s house, and how you would like that bedroom or that area to be just as well picked up. Please treat nature the same way.
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