What If an EMP Rendered Your City Technologically Helpless?

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Illustrations by Cassandra Dale

Good Lord, no! I thought to myself. It must be something else, anything other than this. My head reeled with the information overloading my senses. My smartphone screen was black. The intersection stoplights were out. The lights in the street side businesses weren’t working. Cars were rolling to a stop or crashing into each other. Then I heard the plane. I looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of the underbelly of a small commuter jet as it roared overhead, hurtling toward the ground.

It disappeared behind the skyline of buildings and the distant “boom” of a great explosion followed. The stalled-out cars, my dead phone, no lights, and a crashing plane — this was no power outage, or even a cyberattack on the power grid. There was only one thing that could cause so much damage like this and affect so many different systems. In my mind, there were just three letters: EMP.

In this edition of What If? we pose the question: What if an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack occurs while you’re out of state and traveling through a city with a high crime rate? For three separate versions of this alarming scenario, RECOIL OFFGRID asked three subject-matter experts to craft a realistic tale explaining how they’d endure.

For this installment, we have Kevin Reeve, a fellow survival school owner who specializes in tracking and urban survival. Next, there’s Richard Duarte, a practicing attorney, published author, and disaster prep consultant. And for a third horseman in this apocalyptic setting, RECOIL OFFGRID asked me to write a story too. I’ve been a professional survival instructor for more than 20 years, and written multiple New York Times-bestselling survival manuals. And this type of What If? scenario is one that I truly dread.

Note: If you think an EMP or some other catastrophic power outage is impossible or extremely improbable in the United States, see our previous post on the December 2018 National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) report. This report by industry experts makes it crystal clear that such an event “could paralyze entire regions, with grave implications for the nation’s economic and social well-being.”

The Scenario

Situation type
EMP attack

Your Crew
Just you

Location
Birmingham, Alabama

Season
Spring

Weather
Cloudy (possible rain); high 70 degrees F (low 50 degrees F)

The Setup: You’ve been hired by the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service to teach a two-day survival seminar. Due to various other classes you’ll be teaching in the southeast region of the country that week, you’ve elected to drive your own car there.

The Complication: After another successful seminar, you decide to spend the rest of the late afternoon and evening seeing the sights, since you’ve never been to Birmingham before. First up, the 33,000-square-foot Alabama Sports Hall of Fame. You approach the intersection just a block away from the facility when you notice all the street lights shut off. Hmm, a blackout? you think as you slow down. Suddenly, a car barrels into the uncontrolled intersection, slamming into the car ahead of you.

You immediately shift into park so you can go help when your car’s dashboard gauges suddenly power down. Something’s clearly not right. You look around and notice that all the other cars on the street have rolled to a stop, too. And the pedestrians are either rubber-necking toward the accident or staring confusedly at their unresponsive mobile phones.

The New Plan: No street lights. No cars running. No cellphones working. This isn’t your usual blackout. You know something seriously wrong is happening — an EMP attack is your first hunch, but could it be something more sinister? With your car knocked out, your smartphone dead, and night falling quickly, you know you can’t stay still. You have to move. But where? And how can you get more info? And most importantly, how can you communicate with your family to find out if they’ve been affected in your home state, too?

Disaster Prep Consultant: Richard Duarte’s Approach

Seeing an accident up close and personal is always shocking, but this was too close for comfort. In a split second, I abandoned all thoughts of a nice, quiet afternoon of sightseeing in Birmingham, as my brain shifted into hyper-vigilance mode. From the severity of the impact, I was convinced that the occupants of the vehicle in front of me were injured. I tried to call 911, but my phone was dead.

I performed a 360-degree scan before jumping out of my car; I didn’t want to be the next person needing an ambulance. Walking up to the driver-side window, I could see that the driver and passenger both needed medical attention. I did my very best to sound confident as I reassured them that everything would be just fine. They appeared to be in shock, and the female passenger was frantically searching through a handbag, probably for her phone.

In a stroke of incredible luck, a police officer sitting in her cruiser just down the street saw the accident and ran over. She quickly assumed control of the scene and asked a bystander to call 911 with instructions to tell the dispatcher that an officer was already on the scene, but with no communications.

Wait, what? The officer’s radio wasn’t working either? That was too much to be coincidence — something was seriously wrong.

I walked back to my car and tried to start it — nothing. I grabbed my bag and began scouting out the immediate area. I always travel light, but I never leave home without essential gear — far less than my bug-out bag, but definitely more than my everyday carry (EDC). This gear goes with me everywhere I go.

I spotted a Mexican restaurant across the street, walked over, and asked if I could use their phone. The manager, John, said the phone wasn’t working. In fact, according to him everything in the restaurant had just gone dark. John kept talking, but his voice faded into the background as the grim realization finally hit me like a stiff kick to the groin. Was all this the result of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) event? Nothing else could explain what was happening. But how? Stupid question, since the “how” really didn’t matter.

I needed to get my bearings, and to formulate a plan. I always carry a map of my anticipated travel area, notated with important details, including locations of interest, (i.e., hospitals, fire stations, police headquarters, and potential dangers to avoid). I was clearly in an urban area surrounded by office buildings, restaurants, hotels, and other retail businesses, but with my marked-up map I quickly oriented myself. Good news, a Birmingham police station was only half a mile away.

At that moment, however, it might as well have been on the moon. Gray scattered clouds had given way to a dark ominous sky and heavy rainfall. Considering the circumstances, staying put seemed like the most prudent thing to do.

As the downpour began, about a dozen people rushed into the restaurant asking to use the phone. John quickly put up a hand-written sign that read “PHONE NOT WORKING.” The large crowd outside the restaurant was getting agitated, and many began running for cover from the rain.

Realizing that an ambulance wasn’t coming anytime soon, the police officer decided to move the accident victims. And yes, they also ended up in the restaurant; they were banged-up and bleeding, but thankfully they were conscious and walking.

By now, most of the surrounding buildings had emptied out, as offices and businesses closed early and dismissed their employees. Many of these folks, no doubt initially overjoyed to be going home early, must have gotten quite the shock when their cars didn’t start. Less than an hour into the ordeal, and things were already getting pretty ugly. Hundreds of people were huddling in every nook and cranny that offered any shelter from the weather, as they waited for someone to come and tell them what to do. When help didn’t arrive, the crowds grew more restless. I had no intention of waiting for the cavalry; I needed to get to work.

I wasn’t sure of too many things at that moment, but walking out into the unknown wasn’t an option. From the notes on my map I knew that Birmingham was the most populous city in Alabama — about 212,000 according to the 2010 U.S. Census. In 2011, however, U.S. News & World Report ranked Birmingham as the third most dangerous city in the nation. I didn’t want to be caught alone in the open, in an unfamiliar city, especially once night fell. My map and my notes proved to be very valuable.

The rain was coming down harder and more people ran for cover. Many wanted to come into the restaurant, but John decided that there were already too many people and he locked the doors. Immediately some people inside the restaurant began objecting. “That’s my friend,” an older woman said. “Let her in!” Others joined, demanding he open up.

“It’s for your safety,” John responded. The crowd started shouting. The police officer, Officer Carlton, jumped in — she explained that the restaurant was private property and that anyone who didn’t want to stay could leave. But, staying indoors was the best option for now. After a quiet moment of reflection, and several muffled conversations, about half of the people decided to leave and take their chances on the streets.

I took the opportunity to huddle with John and Officer Carlton. Turns out that the restaurant had received a large delivery of food, bottled water, and other drinks the day before. John also had a comprehensive first-aid/burn kit, as well as flashlights with extra batteries in his office. I looked around and found a few more goodies, including some restaurant uniforms (dry clothes), a basic toolkit, and yes, some kitchen knives to keep nearby, just in case. I was packing (Alabama honors Florida concealed carry permits), but it’s always good to have more than one iron in the fire. After making sure all the entry points were locked down, I returned to the group.

We had food, water, and first aid, but our security and self-defense situation was sketchy at best, and could take a turn for the worse at any moment.

We all settled down toward the rear of the restaurant, away from the expansive glass windows and doors, and we agreed to take turns standing watch. I finally had a chance to talk a bit more with John; turns out he was a U.S. Marine veteran who had served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan; this explained a lot. Our talk was interrupted by three rapid taps on the front glass door, followed by three more taps. Officer Carlton seemed to recognize the knock pattern, and immediately ran toward the door.

Two Birmingham police officers hurried in — both had AR-15s, body armor, and ballistic helmets. They had been at the station when the power went out. Headquarters had quickly dispatched teams to the last known locations to try and find the officers who had been out on patrol when it all went down. None of us had noticed, but Officer Carlton had previously made a mark on the door outside the restaurant, to signal her location to fellow officers who might be looking for her — pretty smart.

The officers wasted no time letting us know that we had to leave the building. There was a mob about a mile down on 11th Avenue North, and they were headed this way, burning, looting, and destroying everything in their path. To engage such a mob under these conditions was insanity; we decided it was best to get out of their way. They were coming down the street in parade formation, so we would use the back roads and alleys, and other less-direct routes to make a hasty exit.

The Birmingham police station was about a 10-minute walk from our location. The officers told us we would be safer there. We gathered up all the food, water, and supplies we could carry and set off into the night. Not far from the station, a group of young men armed with pipes and baseball bats started running toward us. That is until they found themselves staring down the barrels of three ARs — it’s amazing what a show of force can accomplish. The officers got us all safely inside and then took off again.

I never saw Officer Carlton again. I had no idea how all this would end, but I was certain the path ahead would be dark and very difficult for all of us.

Escape-and-Evasion Expert: Kevin Reeve’s Approach

As I got close to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, the stoplights went out. Then a car drifted through the intersection and was hit by a vehicle coming from the side street. Then my own car died and wouldn’t start again. I tried calling 911, but my phone was dead too. That caused a great sucking sound as the air exited my lungs. All the other automobiles in the area were coasting to a stop.
This could mean only one thing: An EMP that causes the immediate destruction of all electronic devices and the electrical grid. It is the absolute worst-case scenario. A return to the Dark Age.
As I looked out on the scene, most people were paralyzed. Some tried incessantly to revive their cars, some looked confused. I explained the situation to some in my immediate vicinity, but even when presented with the facts, most couldn’t accept it.

In the back of my Jeep I had a go-bag with about 65 pounds of gear. I shouldered the pack, grabbed a couple gallon jugs of water, and began walking. I was looking for a safe place to hole up and get myself organized. The ideal place would be an abandoned industrial space or an empty retail store. I walked south on 22nd Street and hit the train tracks. It started to rain, so I got into my poncho and turned southwest.

I walked until I found the perfect place, an abandoned steam plant. I walked around the perimeter, checking the exterior doors. I found a door with a chain and padlock. Using my lockpicks, I opened the lock, went inside, and relocked it with the lock on the inside. My older flashlight seemed unaffected by the EMP, so I could see my way inside.

Once through the door, I sat quietly for a good 10 minutes, listening for sounds of other humans or animals inside the structure. All was quiet.

After a bit of exploration, I found a long abandoned office with a chair and desk. I set my pack on the floor and began to empty the contents of the pack onto the desk. It gave me a chance to gather my thoughts, assess my gear, and make a plan. I learned from an old-school SERE instructor to lay out all your gear — it’ll help you remember what you have and trigger new ideas.

My gear list included some shelter basics, a Katadyn Pocket water filter, several knives of various sizes and purposes, a Gransfors Bruk hand ax, an 8-inch file, a Leatherman Wave, a Glock 19, and five loaded mags plus an extra 100 loose rounds. I had a pair of nice Zeiss binos and an inexpensive gen 2 night-vision goggle (NVG) — which would have been totally useless in this situation had I not had the foresight to wrap it my own homemade Faraday bag. I checked to make sure; the NVG seemed to have been unaffected by the pulse.

I also had a small titanium cook/mug and a Solo Stove, which burns twigs. With the five-day supply of Mountain House food, I also had approximately 2,000 calories a day; I would need to supplement.

My first-aid supplies were limited to a trauma and medical kit I had put together for road trips. I had a folding solar panel for charging my now worthless cellphone, but I also had a Wouxun dual band Ham radio that I carried in a small metal gun case. I bought it expressly to protect the radio from an EMP. I needed to find out if it worked, but not just yet. I was pretty sure the solar panel would still work and could keep the radio charged. I carried a few other odds and ends, including my cherished hygiene bag with toilet paper in it. And a trap bag with 12 commercially made snares.

I sat back in the chair and contemplated my situation.

I was 1,500 miles from home. I had enough water for a couple of days, and enough food for a few more. There were no longer any transportation systems to bring food into the city. No emergency services to provide assistance and protection. Water and sewer systems were no longer functional.

It was inevitable the locals would soon become restless. I am nine meals away from anarchy in the streets. That meant I had a couple of days to figure it out.

The Jeep I left in the street was a ’91 YJ with an electronic engine control module (ECM) that must have been fried by the EMP. Several years prior, I read One Second After about an EMP attack, and it scared me enough to get me prepared. One of the things I did was buy a spare ECM and wrap it in alternating layers of bubble wrap, aluminum foil, and a final wrap of heavy paper. I kept it, along with several tools, in the metal truck box that replaced my backseat.

I located a roll-up door on the railroad track side of the building, unlocked it, and waited for dark. With no manmade lights working and minimal moonlight, it was hard to see more than 20 or 30 feet. The ambient light was enough for the NVG, and I put it on and looked out the window of my office. I could see fires burning across the city, but there was no one out on the tracks that I could make out. I left under cover of darkness to see if I could repair my Jeep. The night-vision gear proved worth the effort. I saw a few people standing around a burn barrel a few blocks down on 6th Avenue. And I diverted over to 19th Street to avoid the county jail.

When I got to my YJ I could see no one else was on the street. I retrieved the ECM from the box in the back and, as quietly as I could, replaced the old ECM with the spare. Now for the moment of truth. With my pistol and spare mags next to me, I turned the key. The engine roared to life. I didn’t use the headlights. I drove north a block and then down 19th again.

I got back to the train tracks and drove them for a bumpy couple hundred yards until I reached the plant, pulled in, and closed the door. Then I went to the window and watched with the night vision for about an hour. I hoped my movement was too fast to allow anyone to follow. Thankfully, it was.

Over the course of the next few nights, I went out gathering gasoline from abandoned cars. I carried three jerry cans on the back of the Jeep. I scrounged another three plastic 5-gallon cans, so that gave me 30 gallons spare.

Now with as much fuel as I could reasonably carry, I set about procuring food. I set out a trap line one night along the tracks, bagging two raccoons and a possum on the first night. During the day, I skinned and cut the raccoons and stripped them for jerky. In the basement of the building, during daylight hours, I built a small fire from pallets, and began to smoke/dry the meat into jerky. On the third night I caught a cat and another two raccoons. This would eventually yield a pretty good amount of protein that I started adding to the dehydrated meals. The meat was OK this way.

Across the tracks was another industrial building with a large water tower on the roof. In the dark of the night, I made my way over. I picked the backdoor lock and made my way to the roof where I found a spigot on the water line coming from the tank and replenished my water supplies. This gave me 9 gallons.

Later, I was awakened by the sounds of gunfire. Sporadic at first, then increasing and getting closer. Yep. On the third night, anarchy had begun.

I planned to make contact with family via the Ham radio, but not until at least two weeks had passed in case of a second blast. I did open the box a few times and scanned for traffic on the shortwave freqs, but until I got to Mississippi I wouldn’t transmit. I had established protocols as to time of day and frequency for contacting my family. But they knew I wouldn’t contact them until two weeks had passed.

On day 11, just at dusk, I heard someone outside. I peeked out and saw three men, one with bolt cutters. They made their way to the door I had been using and snapped the chain. I drew the Glock and waited. I shouted a warning as they entered the hall. They laughed and advanced, completely unafraid. I got a round into one, and they all lit out.

It was time to leave. I had cured about 30 pounds of meat, had 10 gallons of water, 30 spare gallons of gas, and 20 in the tank. That gave me a range of about 800 miles. I was as ready as I could be.

I had been studying my Alabama atlas, and figured I’d stick to traveling at night on the railway right-of-way until I got to McCalla. Then, I’d try to get to the Mississippi River on country roads. I wanted to cross the mighty Mississippi at Swiftwater.

And that was how it went. Driving slowly at night with the lights out. Pulling into trails to lay up during the day, gathering gas from abandoned cars, I finally made the river. Now, I still had a long way to go, but I was in a rhythm and at the rate I was going, I could be home by spring. And they knew I was coming.

Survival Expert: Tim MacWelch’s Approach

The lights, the plane, the cars — it had to be an EMP. I needed more information to figure out my next move and protect myself as night approached. But after seeing the car crash at the intersection, I knew it would be bad, and there were going to be injuries. Without thinking, I reached for my phone to call 911. Then I remembered that the screen had gone black. I held the button to turn the device on, but nothing happened. Paramedics aren’t coming, I thought, because no one can call them.

Of course, I was worried about my own hide in that situation. And my thoughts jumped to my family next. Did this event hit their area too? I pushed away that line of thinking, because it wasn’t helping me or anyone else right then and there.

I had to consider my survival priorities. Shelter, water, food, and communications would be needed; but I also knew there were two other things that were a higher priority in such situations: personal security and first aid. People would begin to unravel. And in a high-crime city, I didn’t want to be caught out in the open. I needed a defensible shelter and facts, so I decided that I would head back to the facility where I provided the training, the Birmingham Fire Prevention Center. It wasn’t that far.

Maybe I could take shelter there for the night, and EMS might have details about the event. But before that, I needed to do the right thing. I was trained to provide first aid in austere conditions, and it was likely that those crash victims needed medical help more than I needed shelter.

I hit the button to pop the trunk of my car. Nothing happened; the trunk didn’t open. I got out of the car carefully since I didn’t want to step into the path of another careening car. Using the key, I opened the trunk and pulled out my big red medical bag.

The young male driver who hit the stopped car was the first person I saw. He opened his car door and got out, holding his left shoulder. I asked if he needed help, but he simply turned and loped off — half running and half limping, without saying a word. The woman he hit wasn’t so lucky. Going to her broken-out driver-side window, I asked her if she was hurt. She moaned a bit as blood trickled from her nose. Her airbag had deployed, likely saving her life, but she wasn’t looking good or responding well. I knew I shouldn’t move her, in case of spinal injury, so I just kept talking to her as I bound her numerous cuts and scratches caused by the broken glass.

My moral dilemma was reaching a breaking point, when I finally received outside help. I heard him first, before I saw him. A man’s voice was yelling “Molly!” as he ran up the street. It was her husband. She had just dropped him off at work right before everything came unglued. Weeping, he thanked me for helping her, but it was time for me to leave.

Thank God I took the car! I thought. If I had to get caught in a technological apocalypse, this was the vehicle to bring. It was just a beat-up old four-door sedan, the kind of car that no one would want to steal. That’s why I drove it. And beneath that humble exterior, it was loaded to the gills with emergency supplies. Not only did I have all of my “show and tell” gear from my survival class, but I had the med kit, a full bug-out bag (BOB), and lots of random supplies.

With rain looming, I was tempted to just stay in the car with my hoard. However, so many people were milling about, as if they had just awoken from some trance, staying put made me too much of a target. I loaded all my gear into the backseat of the car and locked myself inside. I quickly dumped my travel suitcase, setting aside one set of nondescript clothing.

I placed my BOB in the wheeled suitcase. I put a trash bag in my pocket, and into another trash bag, I loaded all of my extra food, the med kit, and water bottles that I kept in the car, topped off with the spare set of clothes. It was a heavy load, but I feared it still wasn’t enough. After exiting the car, I slung the trash bag over my shoulder and began pulling my disguised bug-out bag suitcase down the sidewalk to the intersection.

I knew that I was north of the Fire Prevention Center, but I had been using my phone to navigate and that tool no longer worked. With no street map, and most of the area streets being numbered in every direction, it wasn’t that clear which way I should go. With the clouds in place, I couldn’t even use the sun to navigate. I realized that I should have pulled the compass from my BOB before packing it up, but I didn’t want to pull open that treasure trove on the crowded street. I knew that Highway 20 ran northeast/southwest, but it also made some odd twists and turns through the city.

I needed to get my bearings to head south to the center, and that’s when I noticed the first satellite TV dish. Those face south by southeast. And they were everywhere! I could navigate with those.

Crossing underneath 20, I treated the dishes like arrows pointing the way south. After many blocks, and after many people eyeballed me and my load, I was close to the Fire Center. That’s when two young men stepped out of a doorway, blocking my path. I wasn’t shocked, in fact, I’d been expecting it. And I prepared myself to spring one of my favorite psychological traps.

“Whatcha got in the trash bag, mister?” the taller fellow asked. “Yeah, looks heavy. Let’s have a look inside,” his accomplice replied.

I stood perfectly still, shifting my gaze from one man’s eyes to the other. When the taller man reached for the bag, I took a step back and let the bag roll off my shoulder. Before they could lay hands upon it or me, I opened the bag and spoke into it “He wants to see you. Both of you!” I locked eyes with my adversaries again, one then the other, making uncomfortable and awkward eye contact.

They stood still, rather surprised. One man peeked into the bag, seeing only the clothing on top. “You want to meet my cat or my dog first?” I said a little louder. The men looked at each other with a puzzled expression. “You ever eat a cat or a dog?” I queried them as I took a quick step forward with my open bag. They took half a step back, and glanced at each other again.

Then they got hit with the showstopper: “You ever try eating a baby?” I asked them while giving them the crazy eyes again.

As if on cue, the skies opened with heavy raindrops while I launched into my best impression of a Gary Busey laugh. Maniacal and completely off the rails. This was too much for the young duo of thugs. One shouted, “You’re crazy, man! I’m going to get the cops!” as they ran away in the rain. Taking the spare trash bag from my pocket, I ripped a hole in the bottom to create a rain poncho. Then I hoisted the other bag over my shoulder again and found my way to the Fire Prevention Center. One of the firefighters I had trained saw me through the locked glass door and let me in. She showed me a handwritten note from the mayor’s office, brought to the station by a bike messenger.

The entire southeast was down. It was an EMP and all of the electronics in five states were fried. There was my worst fear, hastily scribbled in black and white. And there I stood, 1,000 miles away from my family. I stayed for a few days with my new friends at the fire department, but they knew I had no intention of staying longer.

The fire department gave me all the provisions I could fit in my rolling suitcase, and then I began the long walk home.

Conclusion

Everything today is online, electronic, and interconnected. It’s a convenient system, but it’s also vulnerable. Should a massive solar flare or the high-altitude detonation of a nuclear weapon occur, it could shower the underlying area with electromagnetic energy — potentially destroying the electrical grid, communications, and even our personal electronics. If this were to happen over your area, you’d better be ready to join an 1800s frontier community because your day job (and life as you know it) would be gone. And changing from an IT career to shoeing horses is far from your only problem.

Just because old-fashioned technologies are the only ones still working, don’t expect old-fashioned values and civility to return. We can all imagine the self-centered and criminal behavior of a city full of modern people desperate for supplies and lacking the skills of self-sufficiency. It wouldn’t be pretty on the first day of an EMP attack, and when the masses figure out that their cushy life is over — all we can say is, “Welcome to the Wild Wild West, sucka!”

Meet Our Panel

Tim MacWelch

Tim MacWelch has been a survival instructor for more than 20 years, training people from all walks of life, including members from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, the State Department, DOD, and DOJ personnel. He’s a frequent public speaker for preparedness groups and events. He’s also the author of three New York Times-bestselling survival books, and the new Ultimate Bushcraft Survival Manual. When he’s not teaching survival or writing about it, MacWelch lives a self-reliant lifestyle with his family in Virginia. Check out his wide range of hands-on training courses that are open to the public at www.advancedsurvivaltraining.com.

Kevin Reeve

Kevin Reeve is the founder and Director of onPoint Tactical, the leading provider of training in Urban Survival and Escape and Evasion. onPoint has trained many members of elite military groups such as U.S. Army Special Forces, U.S. Navy SEALs, MARSOC, AF Pararescue, Navy, and Air Force SERE Instructors, as well as members of the DEA, U.S. Marshal Service, ICE, Secret Service, and OGA. In addition to urban skills, Kevin teaches wilderness survival, tracking, SERE, point man training, scout, and related skills. He also provides training to executives and businessmen on counter and antikidnapping. Kevin has also been involved in scouting for over 35 years, including 25 years as a Scoutmaster. www.onpointtactical.com

Richard Duarte

Richard Duarte is a practicing attorney, an urban survival consultant, writer, and firearms enthusiast. He’s the author of Surviving Doomsday: A Guide for Surviving an Urban Disaster, and The Quick Start Guide for Urban Preparedness. For the latest preparedness news and updates, connect with Richard on www.quickstartsurvival.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/survivingdoomsdaythebook.

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Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Video: Making and Reusing Plastic Bottle Cordage

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“Reuse and recycle” is one of the mantras of environmentally-conscious people, but it's also great advice for survival. If you can take a raw material, especially one that's overlooked or discarded, and convert it into a valuable resource, that's a win-win. Sometimes this requires outside-the-box thinking, both for materials to select and ways to reuse them. Unfortunately, empty plastic bottles can be found in almost every environment, whether they're washed up on beaches, left at camp sites, or thrown in trash cans. Russian YouTuber Advoko MAKES created a video that shows ten ways to reuse their PET plastic material as survival/bushcraft cordage.

You've probably seen plastic-bottle-cutting jigs in the past, since numerous viral videos have circulated with various designs for cutting thin strips off these bottles. We previously featured one that used nothing but a scrap of wood, a razor blade, and some bolts and washers. However, the Advoko MAKES video shows a more sophisticated folding design that fits in a pocket or pack, and features notches to cut plastic in varying widths. It's constructed from a piece of C-channel aluminum with an attached razor blade and telescoping antenna bottle holder. Blueprint plans for the tool are available for free on channel creator Max Egorov's Instagram account.

Max demonstrates the plastic bottle cordage tool in action in the following video, now available with an English voiceover. Some of his uses are pretty creative, such as binding bushcraft furniture, tying together an improvised kayak frame, and wrapping tool handles for extra grip:

For more from Advoko MAKES, check out some of our previous posts on his log cabin build and scrap metal bearded axe project.

RECOILweb: Don’t be a Cyberattack Victim

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The following article was originally published in Issue 16 of our sister magazine Concealment. It appears here in its entirety with permission. For more articles on guns, training, and gear, go to RECOILweb.com.

Illustration by Joe Oesterle

You’re busy. It’s a Friday, and you’ve set lunch as your deadline to get out of town for the weekend. A friend has just called, so you’re a bit distracted as you open your laptop, click on email, and start cleaning out junk. There’s one email in your inbox from a business associate who you’ve worked with previously. You open that one quickly and see he’d like you to take a look at a contract. You click on a link and nothing happens. Odd. Hmm. Well, take a sip of coffee and move on.

And, oh, by the way, you’ve just given nefarious Russian hackers a way into the electric grid of the entire western United States.

That’s essentially what happened in 2017 when, according to the Wall Street Journal, Russian hackers targeted the U.S. electric system by infiltrating the computers of hundreds of contractors and subcontractors who worked with utility companies. The Russians focused on small targets, like family owned construction companies, and worked their way into the electrical grid from there. The small-timers had no cause to believe their computers would be the focus of high-level, concerted hacking efforts by hostile nation states.

A version of that apocryphal anecdote is what James Goepel, CEO of Fathom Cyber, a cyber security company in southeastern Pennsylvania, often uses to help deliver a warning to potential clients. In this connected, online world nobody is really safe from security or privacy invasions. Nobody.

“Every day I hear stories about how even baby monitors are being hacked,” Goepel, who also teaches cybersecurity classes at Drexel University says. “The thing is,” he continued, “taking your own safety measures, practicing good cyber hygiene, isn’t really that hard.”

Privacy and Security, Joined at the Chip

Before diving too deeply into best practices for good cyber hygiene, it’s important to draw a distinction between the two similar, yet often unrelated, types of issues that us inhabitants of the connected world face daily.

First, there are security issues. Russian hackers using a mom-and-pop construction company’s computer as backdoor into the U.S. electric grid is a security issue. Then, there are privacy issues, where companies or political operatives gather as much demographic information about you as possible — even tracking where you are at any given time — and use that information to influence your decisions: from what you eat, what brand of shoes you buy, or who you vote for.

It’s possible, of course, for a privacy issue to become a security issue. Your online identity, for instance, could be copied and manipulated and then used as part of a security attack. But, experts say, there are easy steps that can combat both security and privacy issues.

“Cyber security can seem like one of these huge, complex issues that feels really hard to get your head around,” says Benjamin Dynkin, cofounder and CEO of the Long Island-based Atlas Cybersecurity company. “Cyber security is shaping conversations from national politics all the way to local chambers of commerce, but it doesn’t always get filtered down to the average person.”

But it’s the average person, as illustrated in the Russian electric grid story that Goepel often uses, who is often most at risk. Every day we do things we shouldn’t. We use public Wi-Fi. We leave our computers open and connected on the table at Starbucks when we walk to the counter to pick up our order. We buy cheap, internet-connected surveillance cameras to deter home invasions. We use the same passwords.

“It may seem insurmountable,” says Dynkin, “but if you have the basics in place, it’s actually pretty easy to practice good cyber hygiene.”

Do This, Don't Do That

For the average connected American, cyber security issues can manifest themselves through three types of devices: computers, phones, and connected devices. Let’s take care of the easiest, least vulnerable device first: your phone.

“A cell phone isn’t particularly easy to hack and extract secure data,” says Tyler Robinson, managing director of network operations for NISOS, a Virginia-based cyber security firm comprised mostly of former three-letter-agency employees. NISOS works almost exclusively for Fortune 100 companies, identifying security threats and accessing risks. “I’m not saying that phones are not a risk; they really are a device where a lot of the identity issues arise — apps that track your whereabouts for instance. But because they are made by companies like Apple or Samsung who have a vested in interest in security, they are fairly secure and complex.”

Still, cyber experts say, the easiest way to make sure you phone is safe and secure is to make sure the operating system updates and patches that you’re often reminded to install are updated.

Additionally, many apps use your location to track consumer behavior. Experts say simply shutting off location services on many seemingly benign apps will help combat some identity issues.

“Very few apps actually need to track you,” says Jeff Nathan, a cyber security expert in the Midwest. “If you download a product, an app, and you don’t pay for it, then you and your information are the ultimate product. You don’t know what happens to your location data when you give it away to a third party.”

Connected devices, things like Nest thermostats, Ring doorbells, solar power monitors, video baby monitors, lights you can control with your phone, all pose huge security risks. They give hackers easy, often unsecured, access to your internet connection.

“I’m really concerned about this growing internet of things,” Dynkin says. “Computers are the easiest target for criminals; we know the playbook for hacking them. But connected devices don’t have the same security awareness around them.” Cyber security experts note that the cheaper a connected device is, a $49, off-brand video camera you buy from Amazon for instance, the higher the chance there’s virtually no security features built into the device.

“I’m a big computer geek,” says Goepel, “but I don’t put any of that stuff in my home.”

The Computer

Hands down, the biggest threats to cyber security are computers. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates almost 90 percent of American homes own computers. That means 90 percent of American homes pose security risks to both the homeowners themselves and the largest institutions in our society to whom consumers are connected — banks, schools, hospitals, electric companies, and the like.

But cyber experts agree there are several easy steps to minimize the threat your computer poses.

First, be vigilant in updating your software. As Jeff Nathan says, “All the nagging stuff you put off in your life, don’t put off your computer nagging at you to update your software. Unless you’re traveling out of the country, of course. If that’s the case, wait until you get back home and then update it.”

Second, use a password manager. LastPass, for instance, is a free password manager that stores encrypted passwords online. “The guidelines used to be you had to change passwords every 60 to 90 days,” said Dynkin. “Now you only have to change them if there’s a chance they’ve been compromised.”

Third, don’t click on links in emails that even look slightly suspicious. “Phishing is generally one of the biggest threats to security there is,” says Goepel. “Be really, really careful on clicking on any links in emails or even Facebook messages. Confirm the person sending it to you is actually sending it to you for a real reason.”

And finally, and this is difficult for most of us, stay off public Wi-Fi. Every cyber security expert interviewed for this story implored computer users to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN extends your private connection to the internet, so every bit of data that travels between your devices and the internet is channeled through the VPN. A VPN encrypts your data, making it off limits to identity thieves, hackers, your ISP, the government, law enforcement, or hostile nation states. VPN apps and programs are ubiquitous and easy to install.

“I would treat the entire internet as hostile,” says Nathan. “If you keep that in the back of your mind every time you log in, you’ll be a lot better off.”

Drop These Bad Habits

Clay Miller is the chief technology officer for SyncDog, a company that develop mobile security systems. Miller says that the gravitation toward convenience usually leaves security considerations as a mere afterthought when looking for connectivity and access. Below are seemingly innocuous activities that can expose us to potential risks. Don’t do these.

Using public wi-fi
By now, most people know that using public Wi-Fi is risky, but sometimes it’s just easier to connect to the free Wi-Fi in the coffee shop than thinking about security. Public Wi-Fi networks are an abyss of possible risks. Public network hardware may be compromised or have out-of-date security protocols. Man-in-the-middle attacks are a definite possibility along with other dangers.

Car RF car keys too close to the car when inside buildings
Recently, Mercedes-Benz S-Class owners have fallen victim to a unique attack, where a thief snuck onto their driveway and used a signal booster to amplify the RFID key signal from inside the house and was able access and start the vehicle.

Public charging stations
Anytime a device is plugged into a USB port, there’s a potential of data transfer or even potentially device rooting.

Leaving your phone unattended
It seems simple, but leaving your phone unlocked and unattended can lead to someone compromising your information. Given enough time, they may root your device, install keyloggers or other malware, or simply copy your private information for later use.

Not setting passwords on devices
It may be faster to not use PINs or other security features to unlock a mobile device, but it’s significantly riskier. An unlocked phone is vulnerable to anyone with physical access to it, and especially vulnerable if stolen.

Not using complex passwords
Many apps and websites require complex passwords, but many do not. It may be hard to remember, but it’s always best to have passwords of at least 10 characters or more, mix uppercase and lowercase letters, and use special characters.

Emailing or texting passwords to each other
Email and SMS are insecure platforms and shouldn’t be used for sharing data such as passwords, social security numbers, etc.

Too many public details on social media
Be careful how many personal details are available from your social media profiles. Information like your high school, favorite movies, and mother’s maiden name are common password reset questions. That makes it easier for someone to hijack your accounts.

Passwords in notepad on the phone
Complex passwords are hard to remember. It may seem convenient to use a notepad application on your computer or mobile device to save them for easy copy/paste access, but that exposing passwords to an insecure platform allows others to access them as easily as you do. The best place for storing passwords is inside your head.

Cheap Knives: An Ode to the “Throwdown”

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Urban legend has it that some corrupt cops of old would carry an extra weapon on them — not to be used as a backup, rather for a more insidious use. It was there to plant on someone after a shooting if the deadly use of force wasn’t justifiable. It was referred to as a “throwdown” knife, as in literally throwing it down on a suspect. Fortunately, in almost two decades as a law enforcement officer I’ve never witnessed or heard of an actual instance where this has happened. In this day and age of round-the-clock video surveillance and DNA forensic analysis, it is highly unlikely that this illegal tactic would be used, if it was ever used at all.

That said, I do carry a throwdown knife when off-duty, albeit for very different reasons. When traveling, I like to make sure I am armed. As Americans, we are extremely fortunate that we can legally carry firearms in most places. Unfortunately, that’s not the case in most locations outside the states. A knife may be your next best option.

A firearm may be your first choice for defense, but it won't always be an option.

So, what is a throwdown knife? I’ll tell you what it isn’t: expensive. A throw down knife is one you are willing to part with. This rules out your favorite Microtech, Emerson, ZT, or any other six-figure pig sticker. A good throwdown usually ends in, “.99” as in $9.99, $14.99 and so on. You can find these in bins at gun shows and hardware stores, in the back of catalogs, or on late night TV infomercials. Cutlery Corner is my preferred place for cheap knives that can be bought by the dozen. Alternatively, you can head to Amazon, eBay, or even wade through Wish listings.

Some freebie promo knives I've obtained over the years.

I get a lot of my cheap knives as promos. Like water bottles, key chains, and other trinkets, cheap knives are often given away by companies. For instance, the NRA sends me these whenever I re-up my membership. Most of my throwdowns have come to me this way. There's no better example of this category than these “free ninety-nine” blades.

The Value of Cheap Knives

So, what do you need a throwdown for? Aside from the obvious utility purposes, they're a means of arming yourself when you land somewhere concealed handguns are verboten, which seems to be most places outside the good ol’ U.S. of A (and a few places within it, unfortunately). I throw one into my checked baggage when I travel. As soon as I land, I arm myself with it. Granted, it isn’t a SIG P365 or a Glock 43 but it’s better than nothing.

Like a gun, you have to know how to use it. You don’t have to be Doug Marcaida from Forged In Fire, but you should at least know some basics of knife defense. At a minimum, have at least enough proficiency to avoid having it taken from you — or stuck in you — during a scrum. Even if you’re a skilled user, it’s likely that any knife fight in the real world is going to get messy. As the saying goes, the winner goes to the hospital and the loser goes to the morgue.

Above: The author picked up this beauty for the princely sum of $5 while deployed to the Middle East.

Make sure your throwdown will cut, as Marcaida would say. A cheap knife often comes from cheap steel. Don’t assume it has a usable edge. Test it by slicing a piece of paper or see how deep it will cut into a 2×4. In a pinch, I’ll test a knife’s sharpness by scraping it against my thumbnail. A sharp knife will remove some fingernail — just don't chop your thumb off. You may have to hitchhike when you get to your chosen destination, which can be hard minus a thumb.

It may also be worthwhile to carry a pocket sharpener so you can put a decent edge on any throwdown knife, or touch up the edge when the cheap steel inevitably chips or rolls.

Above: A pocket sharpener is invaluable for keeping cheap knives sharp. A good one such as this Work Sharp can maintain higher-quality blades without damage, as well.

Fixed vs. Folding

A fixed blade such as a dollar store paring knife may be better in a fight, but it may also be harder to conceal. And, even in the U.S. it is illegal in some jurisdictions to carry a concealed fixed blade over a certain length. Pocketknives are seen as less threatening and more innocuous. A person can reasonably claim that a pocketknife is carried for purposes other than self-defense. Specifics like sharp piercing points, serrated edges, or double-edged blades may alter that perception, so they are up to the user.

Carry Methodology

A good pocketknife, even a dirt-cheap “must go” special, should have a clip on it. It makes for quicker, easier deployment and more secure retention. The downside, though, is that the exposed clip is the international sign for “this person is armed with a knife!” If it’s legal to carry a pocket knife in the part of the world you are traveling in, clearly signaling that you are armed might be a deterrent in certain cases. However, it might cause a criminal to target you with a surprise attack before moving on to victims who appear defenseless. Also, some jurisdictions have tighter regulations on fully-concealed knives, whereas a knife with a visible clip isn’t considered concealed in the eyes of the law. Carefully consider the appropriate degree of concealment for your blade.

The SOG Salute can be had for roughly $20; the MTech Ballistic folder is only $11.

As the name implies, a throwdown knife can be ditched if you need to get rid of it. If you unexpectedly need to enter an embassy or other non-permissible environment where any type of weapon is likely to be confiscated, you can simply drop it in a trash can. Probably not something you want to do, but substantially less painful than throwing away your favorite $300 folder.

Travel Considerations

I often carry a couple of throwdowns in my checked luggage, in case I have to dump one. It’s good to pick knives that don’t necessarily have a tactical appearance — while we all know that features such as a tanto blade, serrations, and black or earth-tone finishes don’t substantially alter a knife’s capabilities, the average onlooker may not.

A knife with a bright-colored handle and a seat belt cutter will appear to be less of a weapon and more of a tool. I’d avoid a Swiss Army knife or similar nail-nick-opening blade, as they take too long to draw (assuming you don’t pull out the cork screw by mistake). The blade is also too short, and most importantly, its slip joint mechanism means it doesn’t lock open. This is a self-inflicted injury waiting to happen.

As you travel, don’t get in the habit of storing the knife in your carry-on baggage. I’ve “donated” a knife to the fine folks at TSA after forgetting it was in my backpack. Not fun. Luckily, I had a second knife that I had intentionally placed in my checked backpack.

As a side note, always check your carry-on for other restricted items. One of my friends was detained in South Korea when airport security located an errant .223 round he had left in there. In some countries, possession of ammunition — especially so-called “military calibers” — is illegal. Jail sucks, but many foreign jails make American ones look like five-star hotels. I know a couple of guys (not me this time) who forgot they had left handguns in their carry-on or checked baggage. This is a very bad situation to be in, especially if you land in a foreign country. On the plus side, you’ll get to practice your diplomatic skills with foreign law enforcement, your fellow inmates, and embassy personnel.

Inevitable Compromises

So how do, bargain-basement knives compare to higher-priced models? It depends on what you are measuring them by. Cosmetic differences will be obvious, but functionality is the only thing that matters in this category. The biggest functional difference is going to be in durability. A high-end folder will be made from higher-quality steel designed to hold a sharp edge for longer and to put up with more abuse.

Cheaply-made knives may also be poorly-designed or -assembled, leading to issues with how smoothly the knife opens and its ability to stay open during use. A weak blade or slipped lock can lead to serious injury. Recently, Harbor Freight, the maker of Gordon knives, had to recall 1.1 million $5 folders due to consumers being injured when the blade failed to lock into place. The money you saved by buying a low-budget knife will disappear quickly if you keep buying replacements, and it certainly won't make up for the cost of stitches at the emergency room.

With all that being said, a cheap travel knife should never be considered a long-term investment. Rather, it’s a short-term solution to a problem. When traveling abroad, I’d rather have a cheap knife than none at all.

Beyond the Blade

Maybe your travel destination has extremely strict knife laws, or you want to be even more discreet. There are plenty of defensive options other than knives. What could be more harmless-looking than a pen? Metal pens that double as defensive implements are commonly referred to as tactical pens. They're also offered with glass breakers, hidden handcuff keys, and other goodies. And, of course, they can write.

The Uzi brand pen pictured above costs $30 or less. Despite the inexpensive price, it's reasonably well-made and can be used for defense. The pictured example was given to me at a trade show. The vendor told me that the sharp, crown-like device was a “DNA collector.” The user could theoretically rip out a chunk of their attacker’s flesh with it and turn it over for DNA analysis. That seems a little far-fetched, but it certainly looks like it wouldn't be pleasant to be hit with.

If you don't have a purpose-built tactical pen, a regular pen or flashlight could be an effective force-multiplier. Also, don't rule out tools like box cutters and screwdrivers. If carried in a vehicle, especially in a tool bag with other tools, these items wouldn’t necessarily be viewed as weapons. There's also the improvised route. Prisoners use handmade weapons like shivs as brutally-effective stabbing tools — thousands of convicts can’t be wrong about their lethality.

No matter where you travel, you should always take steps to stay prepared and be ready to defend yourself with the most effective tools available. But don't discount the usefulness of throwaway tools solely because of their discount prices.

About the Author

Nick Perna is a Sergeant with the Redwood City Police Department in Northern California. He has spent much of his career as a gang and narcotics investigator. He served as a member of a Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT Team for over fifteen years. He previously served as a paratrooper in the US Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has a Master’s Degree from the University Of San Francisco. He is a frequent contributor to multiple print and online publications on topics related to law enforcement, firearms, tactics, and issues related to veterans.

Video: How to Actually Survive Quicksand

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If you're studying survival skills, realism is key. It might be interesting to think about some hypothetical alien invasion or nuclear winter, but your life is far more likely to be threatened by more mundane events — a serious car crash, for example. Basing your approach to survival on fictional stories can get you in big trouble, because movies and TV shows often include misleading information or perpetuate myths. One such example is the classic trope of quicksand.

The above clip from Baywatch is a particularly absurd demonstration of the quicksand myth. The panicked frat boy sinks deeper and deeper into the sand until his head disappears beneath the surface. Thankfully, fast-acting protagonists give him an air tube to breathe through and fetch a truck to winch him out. You don't need to be a lifeguard to see that this portrayal is unrealistic, but the underlying myth has been ingrained in our collective consciousness through countless Hollywood scenes.

So, is quicksand really life-threatening, and if so, how can you escape it?

The following video from The Infographics Show takes a comprehensive look at quicksand, the misconceptions surrounding it, and how to actually survive an encounter with this non-Newtonian fluid. Yes, people have died as a result of quicksand, but it's typically exposure, wildlife, or rising water that actually kills them before they manage to escape. The bad news is that it's nearly impossible to get pulled straight up and out of quicksand, as a result of the immense amount of force that would require. The good news is that you won't get sucked entirely beneath the surface like the movies show, and it's easy to work your way out if you stay calm.

Even though you'll probably never face a Hollywood-style quicksand pit in real life, it's worth remembering the realistic survival skill that's associated with this substance.

The Hills Have Eyes: Tips for Camping Safely Near Dangerous Game

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You’ve just spent three days away from your basecamp gear cache and raft, and have been hiking and hunting a few miles into the mountains. When you return to camp, you’re tired, running low on rations, and looking forward to resupplying from your raft. As you step into your campsite, your mental celebration is cut short as you realize your camp was raided. Everything is scattered.

Food containers are clawed and chewed through, every bag is torn, and worst of all, your raft — your means of transportation — is damaged. The crisp tracks in the mud are a dead giveaway; a grizzly was just here, and there’s a good chance it’s still in the area.

Will you have enough food to finish your trip? Is your raft beyond repair? Is the bear now looking at you and your campsite as an easy meal?

If this story sounds far-fetched, it isn’t. It happened to us recently in Alaska. Fortunately, we were able to patch the raft, salvage some food, and make it off the river after spending almost three weeks camping in dangerous game country. Animal attacks aren’t uncommon, and every year brings headlines and internet videos of wild creatures getting too close for comfort around hikers, campers, fishermen, and photographers.

Most of the time these stories end well; other times they don’t. There’s a lot of information about avoiding dangerous game in the outdoors written from a nature-loving, overly optimistic perspective. But how can you, the RECOIL OFFGRID reader, apply a more proactive approach to ensuring your safety when avoidance isn’t possible?

In some circumstances, you have no choice but to share the land with animals that can hurt you. Here’s how to camp among them.

Understand the Threat

Animals are individuals. This means what’s generally true of a group may not apply to each and every beast you encounter. Fauna accustomed to human behavior may be less afraid than those that’ve never encountered Homo sapiens. It’s long been assumed animals fear the smell of fire, but some have learned to associate it with food.

When someone says they can predict animal behavior, be wary. If animal behavior were as predictable as those experts claim, they wouldn’t carry defensive gear on their belts. Ever see a lion tamer without a whip?

Of course, there are some general red flags to look out for and actions to avoid in the backcountry.

Above: When traveling the backcountry with kids, keep an eye on them. Predators might bypass adults, finding a smaller member of your group easier prey.

The dangerous game one should prepare for varies by season and location. Many hikers carry bear spray, assuming they’re the only wild creatures threatening their safety. But they’re not. A moose in rut can be extremely dangerous, and species roaming in packs like wolves can overpower an individual.

Animals not normally considered a threat to adults due to size discrepancies may not hesitate to attack a child in a group. The same goes for family pets. Therefore, each adult member of a backcountry party must be extra vigilant of any children in the group. In general, the savvy outdoorsman must understand the animal population in their area of operations and be prepared and willing to deal with it.

Identify Habitat

Animal tracks and signs are two very different ways of identifying their presence in a potential camping spot. Tracks are made by hooves, paws, and/or claws. Signs can be the remnants of what they last ate, their hair/fur, and scat (droppings). In general, feces will last longer on the trail than tracks.

When both tracks and scat are present — especially in a region where the weather decays tracks readily — you should seriously reconsider your camp’s location, as recent wildlife presence is likely. Since animals tend to reuse trails, camping far from their established routes is a good way to increase your safety.

Be forewarned, the same attractions that drew you to your campsite may attract critters and beasts as well. Wild edibles, water, and open areas free from mosquitos and flies are all reasons for wildlife to make new routes through your temporary home.

It helps to think like the animal you’re trying to avoid. Where would they not want to travel? Go there.

Above: : The author’s SIG SAUER P220 10mm as reference next to a recent grizzly bear track. Firearms can be used to discourage or put down dangerous game. Pistols aren’t ideal protection against bears, but are far better than high-pitched screams. 

Maximize Signature, Minimize Attractions

Ask any hunter about the importance of wind direction, and they’ll tell you not to let animals smell you. Even those that haven’t learned to fear humans from past encounters will still flee at the whiff of an unknown scent in the air. Whenever possible, be vigilant of being downwind of fauna, as they may get close to you before smelling your scent.

Facing the door of your shelter toward potential avenues of approach created by the wind eliminates a blind spot in your camp. By understanding the wind, you can prevent boxing in an animal that could stumble into your camp; set up your shelter in way that lets the critter easily leave once it realizes you’re there. Allow the wind to carry your human scent through the air to alert any wildlife of your presence.

Storing food in bags suspended in trees is a good idea — if executed correctly. Bags should be well out of reach, at least 15 feet in the air and away from any tree trunks. Alternately, submerging food in creeks, rivers, and ponds in watertight bags will keep the scent out of the air. Bear-proof canisters are bulky, but may be required by law (as is the case in the Adirondacks) and will stop some bears from accessing your food. All of these methods discourage animals by making calorie acquisition difficult. Animals want easy meals.

Above: Bear scat can appear fresh, but be weeks old. Bear scat next to bear tracks is indicative of recent visits. 

Bear bags, bear canisters, and submerging food are meant to stop bears once they’re already in your camp. However, you should strive to prevent them from entering in the first place.

Hybrid Threats

While the first reaction for most to the concept of a grizzly bear and polar bear hybrid is disbelief, this not-so-strange enough idea for the Syfy channel is reality. Polar bears have been breeding with grizzly bears for at least 10 years, according to some experts. The “pizzly” or “grolar” bear has traits of both bears. It can have the distinct light coloring of a polar bear with some of the shape of a grizzly bear. These bears have been interacting and mating, most likely due to climate change. With bears moving farther each year, these rare creatures might grow in numbers.

But the pizzly bear is not the first hybrid to be found in the wild. Coydogs, the combination of coyotes and domesticated dogs, are well-documented and found in the wild. Coywolves, the combination of the coyote and the wolf, are prevalent in the northeast. These canines have the behavioral characteristics of whichever species are combined and are growing threats to the purebred species that created them.

Run-ins with the above-mentioned animals are limited but as these rare hybrids continue to grow in number, the possibility for dangerous encounters rise, as well.

Camping

With a good understanding of wildlife to avoid and how to identify where they frequently travel, you can determine a good site to set up your camp. Consider your senses of hearing and sight when camping. Establish a camp far enough from a river, if possible, where the white noise won’t block out the sounds of an animal approaching. Avoid setting up in areas where you don’t have a clear line of sight to your perimeter.

Above: This juvenile bear was photographed by the author tearing through tree bark to access grubs. Juvenile bears may exercise less concern and demonstrate more curiosity than bears that have learned to fear humans. 

Once you set up your shelter, make sure to keep grab-and-go gear handy for that dreaded middle of the night response to a nearby animal. This includes boots, a capable firearm, extra ammunition, and plenty of illumination tools.

When you set up your camp, remember to search the entire immediate area. Don’t simply set up on one side of a hill without checking out the other side. There could be a carcass stashed by a dangerous predator that might return for it. Keep your gear within sight, monitoring it throughout the day and night. A beast can tear through a vital piece of equipment (sleeping bag, raft, tent, etc.), leaving you without essential gear for safe travel or stay.

Camping in dangerous game country isn’t just about protecting self, but property as well.

Above: It’s not a bad idea to keep grab-and-go gear within reach inside your tent. Pictured here: The author’s Remington 870 Marine Magnum, Blauer Clash Boots, SureFire Fury Flashlight, and Brenneke Hard-Cast Slugs carried in an HSGI Pogey Pouch on top of a Thermarest Ridgerest.

Cooking

If an extended stay in camp is expected, at some point you’ll need to cook. Cooking can easily attract dangerous game if you’re not careful. Grease pans from grills and trash are always popular attractions for animals looking for an easy meal. The camp kitchen and any food handling and consumption should be done far from sleeping quarters, in a single location. Even if you’re consuming freeze-dried meals, the meal packets should be either burned or, at the very minimum, washed out and cleaned.

If you manage to get the food you’re cooking on your clothes in the prep process, consider changing into different clothes or washing them thoroughly before retiring for the night.

Camps near rivers should utilize the current to send food waste downstream. Remember the expression, “Stop, chop, and throw.” Should you process game in your camp, take the time to chop the animal carcass into small pieces and throw it into the moving water to be carried downstream. Camps near coastal areas should have kitchen and food areas below the high tide mark to allow the sea to wash human traces away.

Above: The telltale sign your camp has been raided. Gear scattered and redistributed. Have a plan B in case your plan A is compromised. 

Early Warning System

One growl is all it takes to make most people realize they’re not alone in the woods. A growl isn’t a long-distance signal — if it can be heard, animals are well within close range. While it might seem like sound carries further at night than day, it doesn’t change the fact that predators are out and in your proximity.

Much like an alarm system for homeowners, there are ways the outdoorsman can create noise-making devices to alert him to wildlife activity in camp. Mess kits strung up with paracord and trip wires will clang if molested. Rocks placed on top of coolers will crackle as they fall off to the side. Electronic fences charged with solar energy may work on some game, but others won’t hesitate to barge right through. Overall, any methods to alert you to an animal’s presence in camp before it reaches your reactionary gap should be considered and/or carried out if practical.

Above: A makeshift “early alert system” is made by stacking rocks on top of coolers and food boxes. While not perfect, the noise of the falling rocks will alert you if something’s molesting your supplies.

Stand Your Ground

Assuming you’ve taken the correct actions to avoid confrontation and it still occurs, here’s what to do. Don’t panic and flee. Running triggers chase instincts, and predators will pick up on the general behavior characteristics of what they consider to be prey. Instead, move confidently upwind from it to let it smell you. If that isn’t possible, be seen as large as possible. For instance, stand in close proximity to other members of your party to look intimidating.

Expect any animal encountered to have eyesight equivalent to yours, if not better. Let it hear you, but don’t make growling noises that could result in it mistaking you for a competitor, mate, or prey. Sound like a human and yell, “Get out of here!” or “Go away!” If this doesn’t work and you’re armed, take the action you feel is necessary.

Just remember, simply having a firearm doesn’t ensure safety in the great outdoors. Firearms can be used to put down game, or they can also be used to scare it away.

Above: No matter what you've read on WikiHow, it's not a good idea to punch a mountain lion in the face.

DLP is an acronym for “defense of life or property.” This concept applies to the use of firearms against wildlife that poses a risk to human safety and property. It doesn’t give carte blanche use of firearms to shoot animals or those that aren’t an immediate threat. In fact, some states that allow using firearms against dangerous game will actually require harvesting and surrendering it to the authorities. If it’s proven you weren’t in a life-threatening encounter, you may face criminal charges.

Instead of shooting to kill at first sight, consider firing a round over the creature’s head or at its feet. Rounds that impact the ground can kick up dirt and debris and scare it off. While many species enjoy social contact, they don’t like forceful contact of foreign objects. Should an animal need to be put down, hard-cast rounds like those from Buffalo Bore Ammunition are preferable to hollow-points that won’t penetrate deep enough through fur, hide, and bone.

Rest Easy

Animal attacks happen, but they’re rare if you use common sense. Thousands of people travel and camp, unaffected, in dangerous game country. Attacks don’t simply happen without reason. Be smart and don’t let a predator determine how your trip will end. While you can’t predict animal behavior, you can mitigate risk by staying ahead of the dangerous game.

About the Author

Kevin Estela is the owner/head instructor of Estela Wilderness Education and the former lead survival instructor of the Wilderness Learning Center on the U.S./Canada border in northern New York. He has honed his survival skills traveling around the country and internationally to learn from local experts. He has spent many days and nights camping in dangerous game country where wolves, grizzlies, and mountain lions call home. www.kevinestela.com

More From Issue 18

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Read articles from the next issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 19

Read articles from the previous issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 17

Check out our other publications on the web: Recoil | Gun Digest | Blade | RecoilTV | RECOILtv (YouTube)

Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

RECOILtv: 2018 Tundra Supercharged Overland Truck

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Overland vehicle builds share a lot in common with bug-out vehicle builds — they're both designed to help the driver travel long distances over difficult terrain and cope with any challenges along the way. However, while a true bug-out vehicle is intended for rare emergency scenarios, overlanders build their rigs to be used in these conditions on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis. Each year, many of these vehicle enthusiasts gather in Flagstaff, AZ, at the Overland Expo. Earlier this year, Mike Glover of Fieldcraft Survival stopped by the event to check out some of the purpose-built trucks and SUVs in attendance.

In the following RECOILtv episode, Mike chats with Travis Hess, the owner of a heavily-modified 2018 Toyota Tundra overland rig. Travis built the truck for long-distance work trips, and wanted it to be comfortable and reliable on-road as well as off-road. The V8 motor has been fitted with a Magnuson supercharger, and a C4 Fabrication hybrid tube/plate front bumper has been installed along with a bevy of Rigid Industries LED lights. It also rides on race-spec Fox shocks with a Camburg cage in the bed. Check out the walk-around video below:

For more bug-out and overland vehicle builds from across the country, check out the RECOILtv Transport channel.

Improv Skills: Using 5 Common EDC Tools as Improvised Weapons

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Warning! The content in this story is provided for illustrative purposes only and not meant to be construed as advice or instruction. Seek a reputable self-defense school first. Any use of the information contained in this article shall be solely at the reader’s risk. This publication and its contributors are not responsible for any potential injuries.

Photos by Chris Vastardis

The nature and history of combat is the utilization of weaponry, and victory most often goes to those who train with their weaponry. For an experienced prepper, this same philosophy can and should be applied to self-defense survival situations, so long as the weapon used is a legally appropriate response to the perceived threat.

Unfortunately, gone are the days when we can walk with a sword strapped to our side, and today’s equivalent can’t be carried legally in most parts of the world. Even in places where a firearm can be legally carried concealed or otherwise, many self-defense situations will not require the use of deadly force.

So, what are some of the best options for realistic everyday-carry (EDC) weaponry for when SHTF? There is a high likelihood that when you do need a self-defense tool, you’ll be away from your at-home or in-car arsenal and be left with what you have on your person — or what’s immediately in your surroundings. In an ideal world, you should always be carrying a variety of compact self-defense weapons on your person. Concealed-carry handgun, folding knife, and the like — the more options you have, the more prepared you’ll be to deal with what may come. Unfortunately, many places in the United States and abroad don’t allow for the carrying of guns, knives, or even common fist-loaded weapons like brass knuckles.

How can you convert everyday objects into improvised fist-loaded weapons that can be carried universally in even the most nonpermissive environments in the world? Following is a list of five common items that can be realistically carried in an EDC capacity, and some ideas on how they can be used as self-defense weapons.

Tactical Flashlight

Above: Jared Wihongi, right, parries the punch, then “checks” the attacking arm so he can flank and gain control. From there he can counterstrike.

This item tops my list as one of the most useful and practical items that can be carried as a self-defense weapon. I’ve carried one on my person while traveling throughout many parts of the world. I’ve even kept one in my carry-on luggage for flights in multiple countries on five continents. As a common multi-function tool, I am yet to hear of a place where it’s illegal. The only time mine was even scrutinized was at an airport in China, and they allowed it through because it didn’t have the aggressive strike bezels found on many tactical lights. If you want a flashlight that does have strike bezels, look for one where they are removable. Take them off when going through a security check point, and put them back on afterward.

A tactical light can double as a temporary distraction device in low-light conditions when shone directly in the eyes. Something that cycles straight into a high-strobe mode is ideal, but even a constant beam can momentarily blind or distract an assailant. The window of opportunity gained should be utilized to make an escape, or to counterattack with “hammer fist” strikes.

Above: A handheld flashlight has practical functions in addition to being an ideal improvised self-defense weapon. The Strobeforce D-TAC 1000 (from www.theultimate knife.com) is one example of a tactical flashlight that doesn’t look extra overly tactical.

Tactical Pen

Above: The author shields with his left arm while thrusting with the tactical pen in his right hand. He then hooks his opponent’s arm, applying a lock, while striking the bad guy’s free hand and face.

Another item that I always have on my person is a tactical pen. Like the tactical light, it’s a tool that has common everyday function. Defensively it can be used much like the tactical light, e.g. hammer-fist strikes to limbs, the torso, or the head/neck as necessary. It has a more focused point and as such can do more damage than a tactical light. Because I train often in double-wielded weapon combinations, in sticky situations I’ll often carry my tactical light in my support hand as my distraction and secondary impact weapon, and my pen in my dominant hand as my primary impact weapon. To avoid unnecessary attention, find a tactical pen that is strong enough to take a pounding, but discreet and “non-aggressive” in appearance.

Above: A tactical pen is a useful writing implement that can double as a striking tool if SHTF.

Rolled-Up Magazine

Above: Using a magazine as an improvised baton, Jared Wihongi stops the haymaker with a strike to the inside of the arm. He quickly traps the offending arm and follows up with several counters to the face. 

Another item I’ll always have on my person while traveling: the most recent editions of RECOIL OFFGRID and RECOIL magazines. If you’re into e-readers, this won’t help much, but for those who like a good-old hardcopy of their favorite publication, a solid magazine rolled up tight can be become a short blunt weapon capable of delivering effective defensive and counteroffensive strikes.

It offers more reach than a short fist-loaded weapon, and affords more protection of the hands by virtue of the strike surface being further away from the fingers. This might seem like a shameless plug, but the added length and weight of a RECOIL OFFGRID issue make it perfect for this application.

Don’t believe me? Roll up the bad boy in your hands and imagine jabbing one end of this magazine into your throat or eye.

Carabiner

A common tool that can be attached to a backpack, day bag, or keychain, a carabiner of the right size and material can be used much like brass knuckles. Throwing common boxing punches can be harmful to your unprotected hand, especially hook and uppercut angles that sometimes make contact with the sides or corners of your fist.

A carabiner can not only protect the hand from injury when performing such strikes, but also makes them more effective by concentrating the impact into a smaller contact surface. Look for something with a locking collar to prevent opening and causing injury to the hand while striking.

Above: A well-made carabiner can work wonders as an impromptu knuckleduster, as it both protects the user’s fist will delivering power to a concentrated area. 

Improvised Fist-Load Weapons

There are companies that specialize in producing discreet (and sometimes not-so-discreet) fist-load weapons that are keychains, paperweights, and bottle openers. Regardless of how obvious their true nature is, these weapons will follow three general methods of application.

The first works on the same principle as brass knuckles, designed to protect the front of the fists while delivering standard punching techniques. The second kind is designed to protrude from the top and bottom of the closed fist, where it can be used much like a knife in forward or reverse grip. Others will combine the first two, having protrusions from the top and/or bottom of the fist and something protecting one or more of the knuckles, generally with a ring feature that one or more fingers will go into.

For those prepared to pay a little more for tools of this nature, there’s my favorite company, RAIDOPS of South Korea. It has a huge variety of tools and use titanium in almost all of them. You can expect to find several other companies with great products for considerably lower costs, depending on the materials they use.

Above: This fist-load weapon called the JW.Vulcan is a collaboration between the author and RAIDOPS (www.raidops.com), a South Korean company that specializes in tactical and survival gear. 

Training to use these items for self-defense can be easier than one might think.

Focusing on the common principles utilized by each item rather than the differences between them will streamline the training process. In other words, use the principles of Kali, an umbrella term for the weapons-based combat systems of the Philippines. One of these principles is referred to as “transferrable methodology.” This means using the same core set of movements, regardless of what weapon is in your hand.

Don’t focus so much on the weapon, but rather the angles used to wield the weapon and the targets that should be addressed. All strikes will utilize either thrust or slashing motions. Think along the lines of a knife. When held in the hand with a forward (sabre) grip, you can use it to stab (thrust) or cut (slash). Using slashing angles, you can also strike with the pommel in a “hammer fist”-type attack. These same principles of angles and movement can be applied to any fist-load weapon.

The only difference to calculate for is the length of the weapon and whether it will cause puncturing wounds, lacerations, blunt trauma, or a combination.

An item like a carabiner used to protect the front of the knuckles will utilize the principles of a thrust, with the difference being the angle of the fist for a punch. Slashing angles can still be effective with a carabiner if it adequately protects the sides of the fist.

One of the things that often gets people hurt or killed in self-defense situations is hesitation. This often comes from not being able to make a decision based on a lack of understanding of self-defense laws. This lack of understanding can also result in using unlawful force against another person. So choose your weapons wisely, train with them often, and be sure to have a good understanding of local laws in the areas you plan to carry them.

About the Author

Jared Wihongi is founder and president of Survival Edge Tactical Systems Inc., a tactical training and consulting company. He is known to many as the face of Browning’s Black Label tactical equipment line. Wihongi is one of a handful of tuhon (master-level) instructors in the Filipino combat art of Pekiti-Tirsia Kali and has 15 years of experience in law enforcement. Most of that was spent as a SWAT officer and instructor of firearms and defensive tactics. Plus, he’s spent more than a decade teaching combatives and survival skills to police, military, and covert-operations units in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. www.facebook.com/jared.wihongi / www.jaredwihongi.com

More From Issue 18

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Read articles from the next issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 19

Read articles from the previous issue of Recoil Offgrid: Issue 17

Check out our other publications on the web: Recoil | Gun Digest | Blade | RecoilTV | RECOILtv (YouTube)

Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Review: Holosun HE503R Gold Dot Sight & Magnifier

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Unless you're currently living in a log cabin with your great-grandpappy's antique flintlock collection, you probably own at least one gun with a red dot sight. These illuminated sights are ubiquitous on rifles, carbines, PDWs, and shotguns, and they're becoming steadily more common on pistols as well. The minimally-obstructed field of view, easy-to-acquire point of aim, and long battery life an RDS provides make it an appealing choice for any close-quarters-oriented weapon platform.

That said, red dot sights aren't the only option anymore. Many optic manufacturers offer different reticle colors, such as green or gold/amber. We recently picked up the new Holosun HE503R-GD gold dot sight to see how it fares in comparison to a traditional RDS or a green dot sight like the HE510C-GR we previously reviewed. We also took this opportunity to evaluate the Holosun HM3X magnifier, which adds versatility to this sight.

Read on as we review the gold dot sight, the magnifier, and how the two worked together.

Holosun Gold Dot Sight

The company has expanded its Elite optic line with two new gold reticle models: the HE403R-GD and HE503R-GD. Both are variants of existing red dot sights from the company's Classic line, namely the HS403R and HS503R. All four of these models feature a compact 20mm housing with a manual brightness dial, and each includes a low mount and a lower-1/3 co-witness mount.

The 403 models feature a 2-MOA dot, while 503 models feature Holosun's Multiple Reticle System (MRS) which offers a 2-MOA dot with a user-selectable 65-MOA ring option. There's an $85 to $100 difference between the two, so if you aren't committed to the 65-MOA ring, you can save a considerable amount by going with the dot-only 403 model. Current MSRPs are $199 for the HS403R (red dot only) or $218 for the HE403R-GD (gold dot only), and $285 for the HS503R (red dot/ring) or $320 for the HE503R-GD (gold dot/ring). The latter model is the subject of this review.

As mentioned in our HE510C review, Elite models also offer a better warranty than the Classic series. Specifically, you get a limited lifetime warranty against defects on the housing or lens, and a 10-year warranty on the illumination system. Classic optics have a 5-year lens warranty and 3-year illumination warranty.

Why Gold?

Now for the elephant in the room — what's the point of a gold reticle? Is it really superior to red or green? As you may expect, that answer is mostly subjective. However, there are some potential pros and cons to consider before choosing a gold dot.

Holosun says the gold reticle was developed partially because it's not affected by the most common form of color-blindness. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, red-green color vision deficiency affects 1 in 12 males and 1 in 200 females in population groups with Northern European ancestry. In comparison, blue-yellow color vision defects are far rarer, only affecting about 1 in 10,000 people worldwide. If you were born with red-green color-blindess, a yellow reticle should be much easier to spot than either of those colors.

The other claimed advantage of the gold dot reticle is its effectiveness in a wider variety of environments. While a red dot might get washed-out against burnt sienna rock formations and a green dot might blend into a grassy field, this bright yellow-orange hue stands out in both settings.

There is one glaring issue (no pun intended) with the gold reticle: battery life. If you directly compare the specifications box between red dot and gold dot models, you'll see that the former lists “up to 100,000 hours” of battery life at medium brightness while the latter lists “up to 50,000 hours” (the same as green dot models). Although 50,000 hours is still a very long time — roughly 5.7 years — it's still half as long as the standard red dot. Also, this sight doesn't have Holosun's battery-saving features such as Shake-Awake or a solar panel, so it's likely that you'll be eating into that battery life 24/7/365 if it's used on anything other than a safe queen.

Holosun 3X Magnifier

The HM3X magnifier is new for 2019, and Holosun boldly proclaims that it's “the best magnifier value on the market today” as a result of its $235 MSRP. It features a lever-locking QD rail mount with a removable spacer for use with absolute co-witness or lower-1/3 co-witness sights (1.4 or 1.63 inches from top of rail to center of lens, respectively). The aluminum housing flips directly to the side and is retained in either position by a sturdy detent.

A ±3 diopter allows you to focus the magnifier to match your eye, and the windage/elevation controls can be adjusted to center the dot using a flat screwdriver or the slotted caps from a Holosun sight. Eye relief is 2.75  inches; exit pupil is 0.29 inches.

Range Time

We installed the HE503R-GD sight and HM3X magnifier onto a S&W AR-15 alongside the standard Magpul MBUS rear sight. The lower-1/3 mount comes pre-installed on the gold dot sight, but the matching lower-1/3 spacer had to be installed on the magnifier to get it to line up. With that step complete, the HE503R was installed onto the upper receiver with the included Torx wrench, and the magnifier's QD mount was locked in place after adjusting its clamping force with the same wrench. It's nice that this QD mount comes standard with the sight, since some competitors (e.g. Primary Arms) sell them separately.

With the sight and magnifier installed, we immediately noticed that the finishes on these items are different. Holosun's web site lists “MAO black” as the surface finish for both products, but the sight we received appears glossier and darker than the magnifier. We compared a few other Holosun sights, and they all seem to match the magnifier's matte charcoal finish, but the HE503R-GD doesn't. Holosun's product photos also show a lower-gloss finish than what we received. This may be a minor nitpick, but it makes us wonder about how much variation there is on this production line.

Cosmetics aside, the gold dot sight can be adjusted between brightness settings of 0 through 12 — two settings for use with night vision, and ten for use in daylight. The final position of the brightness dial (pictured above) toggles the reticle between dot and dot+ring; it remembers this setting even if the light is turned off and on again. We prefer the dot+ring configuration since it makes it easier to acquire the dot as the weapon is shouldered.

Parallax is minimal, but not entirely absent as Holosun advertises — no dot sight on the market is truly parallax-free.

Choosing a Color

This “gold” dot color is an acquired taste, although we don't mean that in a negative way. It can be described as bright yellow with a hint of orange, much like a yellow traffic light. It's similar to Trijicon's amber reticle color, which has been available for quite a few years now. We thought it might wash out more against a desert background, but were pleased to see that it wasn't very hard to spot as long as the brightness was set appropriately.

So, you may be wondering, should I go with a red, green, or gold dot? We can't answer that question for you, but based on our experiences, we like green the best. It seems to stand out more than the other colors in most environments we've tested, despite Holosun's implication that gold is more versatile. This makes sense because the human eye is most sensitive to colors in the green portion of the spectrum, causing them to appear brighter (unless you're color-blind).

A photo of the HE510C-GR green reticle from our previous review.

Deciding between red and gold is a much closer call. We'd still give a slight edge to red, but that may be mostly because we're already had many years to get used to it. However, bright red backgrounds aren't common in nature, whereas bright yellows — such as sunlit sand dunes — are more plentiful. For this reason, gold would be our third choice, but we'd still gladly take it over iron sights.

Magnification

The HM3X magnifier is simple to use, and pairs nicely with this sight. The detent holds the magnifier firmly in line, but isn't hard to overcome as you push the housing to the side. Clarity is good, although the magnifier cuts down on light transmission, causing the sight picture to appear dimmer with a faint bluish cast. There's a lot of glass between your eye and the target with two separately-housed optics, so this is to be expected.

The HM3X is on par with entry-level magnifiers, but it's clearly not on the level of an Aimpoint or EOTech. Of course, it's priced accordingly.

Through the magnifier, the dot and circle still look crisp, although the circle becomes distracting at 3X magnification. We set the sight to dot-only mode while using the magnifier.

After using a friend's AR with a Primary Arms Gen IV 3X magnifier with QD mount ($165 MSRP), the PA magnifier's sight picture seemed a little brighter, but it featured a smaller eyebox and some slight edge distortion. We strongly preferred the Holosun's smooth housing design and flip action, but it also has a $70 higher pricetag. The HM3X is a solid choice, but we wouldn't say it's far and away “the best value on the market” as Holosun's product page states.

Final Thoughts

Both the HE503R gold dot sight and HM3X magnifier have performed well, and work together as intended. The magnifier makes it easier to reach a little further out, and can be quickly pushed out of the way for short-range engagement.

At a combined MSRP of $555, the HE503R and HM3X are in the same price range as entry-level low-power variable optics (LPVOs). Frankly, we're still partial to a 1-4X or 1-6X LPVO for most multipurpose carbines. Those scopes offer infinite magnification adjustability, and their higher maximum magnification and more detailed reticles are better-suited to longer ranges. They're also contained in a single unit with one set of adjustments.

That said, the “1X” offered by LPVOs in the sub-$1000 price range can't touch the clarity of an unmagnified dot sight for close-range use. The magnifier is also removable to cut weight, whereas an LPVO is a package deal. If you already own a dot sight and you're looking to expand its capabilities, or you rarely use your weapon at longer ranges, a magnifier like the HM3X might be worth considering.

As for the gold dot sight on its own, we still prefer Holosun's red and green dot sights, especially those with Shake Awake and solar features. But the HE503R-GD comes with the improved Elite warranty and gold reticle for $35 more than the HS503R red dot, so if you think you'll prefer the gold color, it's worth a shot. As a consumer, more choices are never a bad thing — even though this sight configuration and reticle color wouldn't be our first choice from Holosun's lineup, we're glad there are plenty of models to choose from.

For more info on Holosun's dot sights and magnifier, go to Holosun.com.

The SALT Method: Triage and Treatment for Mass-Casualty Incidents

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You’re at a football game when shots ring out. A lot of shots. Then screams. You know instantly this is a mass-shooting scenario, and you want to help after the smoke clears. Though developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Sort Assess Life-saving Triage (SALT) method can be used by anyone to help save lives before first-responders arrive.

As a prepper, you might think, I’m no paramedic. How can I use SALT after the shooting stops?

Although many people think “mass shooting” when they envision a mass-casualty incident, by definition it simply means that there are more casualties than can be effectively managed by the available resources. There doesn’t need to be dozens or hundreds of victims. Two paramedics pulling up to the scene of a school bus crash just walked into a mass-casualty incident. Six victims of a gas leak explosion at a mountain cabin, treated by one lone hiker with an individual first-aid kit (IFAK), would be classified similarly.

Why Triage?

Triage is a decision scheme designed to help medical responders use their limited resources in a way that benefits the most people. In a situation where scores of people have been hurt, devoting time and supplies to a victim who will soon die or to someone else who’s barely scratched are equally bad decisions at opposite ends of the spectrum. The goal is to devote resources where they are most needed and most effective.

So how do you figure out who gets helped first? Start by sorting them. Those who are able to do so need to walk, stumble, or crawl to a nearby location of your choosing. You could say, “If you can hear me, I need you to move to the other side of this area. Do it now.”

This one simple statement may be the most important factor in deciding who gets helped first. It can instantly separate those who can more or less help themselves from everyone else. Anyone who just moved is able to hear and understand, and their body is still (mostly) functioning. This means they can be put out of your mind, at least for now.

Assessments

Those who are still on the ground need to be looked at more closely. They can be subdivided further by calling out a second command: “If you can hear me, I need you to wave your hands. Do it now.” If you can see purposeful movement on their part, they’re probably not the ones who need treatment first. The ones who need to be looked at immediately are those who were still unable to respond.

At this point you’ll have discerned up to three categories of victims: the “walking wounded” have been triaged as minimal and would be coded green. Those who can obey your commands and don’t look too messed up can be coded as yellow, denoting delayed care. The remainder, who need urgent life-saving intervention, are coded red because they need immediate care.

Dead and Dying

Confirmed dead would be coded as black, and should be moved to a separate area as time allows. This will help reduce the likelihood of late-arriving responders wasting time assessing those who are beyond help. For example, at the Virginia Tech mass shooting in 2007, some deceased victims were inadvertently rechecked three or four times, diluting vital resources.

There’s also a fifth category called expectant, which is coded gray or black-and-white. If a victim is coded as expectant, it means their injuries are so severe that they’re probably going to die because there aren’t enough available resources to meet the demand. For this reason, no care should be provided to them until more urgent cases are addressed. If and when resources become available, an expectant patient could be upgraded to the priority red category.

The expectant category hasn’t been widely adopted within the EMS community throughout the United States. The term is familiar to those working in the U.S. Department of Defense, but has only recently become part of the civilian EMS vocabulary with its use in the SALT triage system.

Check and Check Again

Keep in mind that triage isn’t a one-and-done event. It’s a dynamic process that changes based on the condition of your patients, your available resources, and scene safety. For example, once priority (red coded) patients have been treated, they may be upgraded to delayed (yellow). If a delayed patient has a cardiac arrest while you’re working on someone else, they may be downgraded to expectant. Their treatment priority will also change as the most urgent (and transportable) victims are evacuated, freeing up resources for the remaining patients.

Methodically Engage Chaos

Knowing the theory is great. So is having a plan. But as former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson put it, “Everybody has a plan until they get hit. Then, like a rat, they stop in fear and freeze.” What matters most is being able to methodically engage chaos, rapidly make difficult decisions, and improvise using only the resources at hand. With this in mind, we spoke to Sean McKay, the director of Disruptive Rescue/Austere Medicine at Element Rescue and program manager of Mobile Training and Rescue Development at Rescue Craft by Tactical Medical Solutions.

Although a firefighter and SWAT paramedic in his past life, McKay now spends his time developing dynamic rescue training and specialized products for elements of the U.S. Special Operations Command and federal assets, among other organizations. We asked him how civilians could effectively use triage theory in their own lives based on what has worked (or failed) in the past.
“First of all,” McKay says, “understand that many organizations within special operations usually don’t use a rigid algorithmic response like the SALT system. Those were designed for first responders, EMS units, and hospitals with layers of known resources to call on.

“When the excrement makes physical contact with the rotating blades, civilians would never remember all the little details in the heat of the moment. Instead, they need to use common sense and trust their gut. “Usually your gut assessment is correct,” McKay says. “There are three categories of patients you may encounter. First, those who will die no matter what you do. Second, those who will live no matter how bad you suck. And last, those who have a potentially preventable cause of death that you can impact. Focus on them.”

The SALT Method

Sort Assess Life-saving Triage
(Note: Users of any triage system should only apply lifesaving interventions up to the level of their training and expertise.)

Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services REMM – www.remm.nlm.gov

Readers would also do well to heed these five additional tips from McKay:

1. Beware of the Box

If someone can talk to you, that means they can breathe. Move on. But if someone has a penetrating wound in “the box” (from their belly button up to their collarbone) they should become a priority for transport when available.

Injuries to this area are often complex for the caregiver for a few reasons:

  1. The patient can decompensate (start dying) quickly because all the vital organs are located in that region.
  2. There isn’t much a responder can really do besides cover a sucking chest wound or (for the advanced care provider) decompress with a needle.
  3. “For the non-medical person, it’s hard to appreciate relevant versus irrelevant breathing pathology,” McKay says. In other words, their breathing may sound like they’re dying, but they’re actually just scared. The patient could be breathing fast due to exertion, pain, stress (flight or fight), or could have a life-threatening issue with blood or air filling up their chest. “Keep your breathing assessment simple,” McKay says. “Copy their breathing pattern and speed. If it’s uncomfortable for you, it’s even worse for your patient.”

2. Denote the Dead

Move the dead away from the living (if tactically feasible) and provide a visual cue to other bystanders or first responders that you have triaged the casualty. Professionals may use colored electrical tape or casualty cards to mark the victims. Or better yet, copy what some British elements do — roll the victims face down and cross their arms and legs. This will prevent re-triaging and is faster than taping or marking.

3. Remember Your ABCs

“Blood goes ’round and ’round and air goes in and out,” McKay says. “If there’s an interruption, it needs to be addressed.”

Airway, breathing, and circulation used to be what first responders checked on a victim, and in that order. Then somewhere along the way we figured out that victims can get oxygen back once they start breathing again, but they can’t get back blood. And they can bleed out a lot faster than they’ll die from lack of air. This means that the new method is to check the patient’s circulation, breathing, and airways, in that order. Blood spraying into your eyes is a good indication that you found the right place to get to work.

Since irreversible shock and death can occur within three minutes from a femoral artery injury, bleeding control (B-con) should be the life-saving intervention that you focus on. Any uncontrolled bleeding, especially from an extremity, needs to be managed immediately.

4. Plan on Changing Your Plan

You will run out of supplies, so you must know how to improvise materials. Need a soft litter to carry or drag someone out? Lay the victim down on a carpeted floor and cut with your knife around the outline of the patient, staying about 8 inches off their shoulders. Then cut a few slots down each side about 4 inches in from the edges for handles.

Or if you need a tourniquet and you understand how a tourniquet works, you can make one out of anything. “If I walk into a room and see three picture frames on a wall and each one has four corners, that means I have 12 windlasses for tourniquets,” McKay says.

5. Tourniquets: High and Tight

Don’t worry about cutting off their clothes until you have time to check for secondary injuries. “If you look and see blood spraying from their legs or arms, or blood-soaked clothing, just get the tourniquet up on their limb as high as possible,” Sean says. “It will still be effective over the clothing as long as it’s properly applied.”

And how does one know if it’s properly applied? “The tourniquet should feel like it’s f*cking killing them,” he says. “It should go beyond the point to where it’s tight enough that they know it’s there, to the point where the pain of the tourniquet is all that they’re thinking about … and it’s not bleeding anymore.”

Keep in mind that the tourniquet can easily remain in place for up to two hours without risk of permanent damage. So don’t get any funny ideas about loosening it a little bit once in a while to make the patient more comfortable. That’s a good way to kill a patient.

Pro Med Kit

A former firefighter and SWAT paramedic, Sean McKay is the director of Disruptive Rescue/Austere Medicine at Element Rescue and program manager of Mobile Training and Rescue Development at Rescue Craft by Tactical Medical Solutions. Here’s what he carries in his med kit and why:

Multiple SOFTT-W Tourniquets: “These are one of the most widely used tourniquets within U.S. Special Operations Command and large city first-responders,” McKay says. “They’re known as the AK-47 of tourniquets because they’re so durable. You can treat that thing like a prison bitch, and it’ll keep working regardless of environmental factors.”

Chest Seals: These are needed to treat sucking, penetrating chest wounds. McKay also carries a sturdy decompression needle to vent the chest and prevent a buildup of air within the chest cavity. Lesser-trained civilians should focus on simply being able to “burp” the wound by lifting the seal, instead.

QuikClot Combat Gauze: “I choose Combat Gauze specifically,” he says, “because it has been tested and evaluated to produce the most robust clot, and maintains 0-percent re-bleeding within all the patient movement studies. Other similar products have been shown to open up and cause re-bleeding when the patient is being moved — in some products it’s over 30 percent.”

“Like many, I have a med/rescue response bag in my vehicle, but when going around town or traveling out of town or on a plane, I always have a SOFTT-W, a Combat Gauze, an elastic Esmark bandage, and a plan to improvise the rest.”

Triage and Treatment Gear Review

Bag: Specialized products for mass-casualty incidents (MCI) are now making their way to the mainstream. The TacMed Warm Zone sling bag from Tactical Medical Solutions is among the best, having been designed from the ground up for medical personnel who need to stay mobile while treating and triaging victims. Its pull-and-place modular interior system allows medics to customize the layout that suits them best. It comes stocked with an MCI loadout, including tourniquets, casualty marking tape, bandages, and marking pens, among other items. www.tacmedsolutions.com

Light: We were always taught to store our flashlights with the batteries reversed, to avoid long-term corrosion of the terminals and accidental turn-ons. That theory is sound, until you need a light source in a hurry and your fine motor skills aren’t what they were 2 minutes ago before the bomb went off. For this reason, we love the new FL75R headlamp from Coast Products. The dual-power system can run on standard alkaline batteries or its included micro-USB powered rechargeable pack. This lets you keep it plugged in so it’s always charged, while keeping loose AAA batteries on-hand for when extended use is required. www.coastportland.com

Everywhere-Everytime Med Kit: The TacMed Pocket Medical Kit is similar to the full-time med loadout described by Sean McKay of Element Rescue in the sidebar found elsewhere in this story — the one he carries on him even if he can’t carry a bag. Stripped down to the bare essentials for bleeding control, the kit is small enough to fit into the back pocket of your jeans and includes a tourniquet, Esmark Bandage, Combat Gauze, chest seal, and gloves. www.tacmedsolutions.com

Bag or Trunk Med Kit: The Tramedic Individual Response Pack by Griffin Logistics is a larger, upgraded kit that can be stored in a medium-sized purse, backpack, or trunk of your vehicle. It includes a bleeding control loadout similar to the pocket kit noted above, but also packs in some extras that could make a long day much easier for you. This includes material to maintain an airway for an unconscious person, as well as a clever (and much more likely to be used) Minor Injury Kit with adhesive bandages, tape, forceps, and antibiotic ointment among other items. Griffin’s gear is the real deal, and it shows in the look and feel of their products. Look for their trauma kits to start showing up in stadiums and concert venues, in wall-mounted cabinets next to the defibrillating AED devices. www.griflog.com

Suggested Training

For in-person classes that civilians can attend, check out the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians’ website at www.naemt.org/education.aspx. You can search for upcoming sanctioned classes near you. This may include Tactical Emergency Medical Care (TEMC) as well as Bleeding Control for the Injured (B-Con), which is a simplified course designed specifically for non-medical personnel.

Also look for Tactical Combat Casualty Care for All Combatants (TCCC-AC), which is designed to introduce basic battlefield medical treatment to non-medical responders.
Online training can be obtained by watching videos at the following websites:

Element Rescue
www.elementrescue.com

North American Rescue
www.narescue.com/training/videos

Tactical Medical Solutions
www.tacmedsolutions.com/training-resources

Conclusion

Whether the event is a plane crash on a remote mountainside, a Boston Marathon-type bombing inside a city, or the mass shooting that seems to be on everyone’s minds, the triage process will work the same way. “Principles stay the same regardless of environment,” McKay says. “It all comes down to the laws of medicine and physics, and how you manage them.”

Sources

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Radiation Emergency Medical Management
www.remm.nlm.gov

“Mass Casualty Triage: An Evaluation of the Science and Refinement of a National Guideline”
Journal of Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/disaster-medicine-and-public-health-preparedness

About the Author

Andy Schrader is a licensed professional engineer and certified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a structural specialist responder. He is assigned to Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Force 8, based in Marion County, Florida. His company, Recon Response Engineering, teaches the public, technical rescue teams, and other first-responders about structural collapse. Most recently he was deployed to Steinhatchee, Florida, in support of SAR operations following Hurricane Hermine. www.reconresponse.com / www.facebook.com/ReconResponse

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Editor's Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.