Arggggghh!

OK - so once again I've bit off more then I can chew. This is nothing new for me. I've found that I've just got too much going on these days, combined with the fact that I have to cope with my knee. Yes, I did find out that my ACL is completely gone again and this is not making me happy. I have to get another surgery which will put me out of commission for a while, however I wont be doing the surgery until the end of the summer. Let's hope I don't make it worse.

I won't be posting very often here, and as you can see I haven't even had time to create that knot video I was talking about below. If you're willing to help out and be a contributing author, please email me and I'll set you up. I still think this is a great idea and maybe after I get back on my feet I'll start posting more regularly.

Yours in Scouting....Cubmaster V.

Basic Knots - Part 2

I'm working a few original videos for knot tying. I'll be posting these in the next few days. Your comments are welcome and feel free to comment on any additional modifications to knots that you may know. I love learning new ways to do old tricks! Stay tuned.....

JAMBO 2008 = Lots of Fun & Skills

Please view this nice video put together by the Minsi Trails Council to advertise Jambo 2008 at Kutztown Unversity, May 16-18. There will be many opportunities to learn various Scout skills. I will be running a knot skills station for the Cubs. Hope to see you there!

Basic Compass Skills - Part 1

This will be my first attempt at creating an original video instruction, so please be kind. This is a VERY basic intro to understanding the Compass. I will post more advanced topics in the future that cover degrees, declination, orienting compass to map and more. This is also a good way to teach compass basics to a young Scout or adult who has never seen one before. Teaching this will also satisfy a few of the Map and Compass Belt Loop/Pin requirements.

Survival, Shelters and Getting Lost - Part 1

When I was in Desert Storm, it was the rainiest time of year (not to mention the sandstorms). It was me and 2 other guys. We did not have any specific shelter other then the gear we were given to carry on our backs. As a result, we were forced to improvise and more often then not, we found ourselves digging holes in the ground and using our ponchos to cover. Fortunately, military ponchos snap together, so we were even able to build a makeshift tent that fit 2 fully grown men. Creating shelters in a survival situation is a bit more serious, but can save your life if done properly. The premise is simple: Get yourself out of the elements, especially if it's cold and damp, which can cause hypothermia to set in very quickly.

OK - first of all, every situation is going to be different and you need to be prepared for that. Sometimes you will only have the clothes on your back, other times you may get separated from your group but you have some gear with you. Still other times you might find yourself in an emergency situation like those people that try to cross snow covered mountain passes in their rear wheel drive sedan and then get stuck in the snow, run out of gas, and have no way to keep themselves warm. Whatever the situation, the first key to surviving is DON'T PANIC. Keeping a calm head will allow you to think properly and will also conserve energy. Since you don't know how long you'll be out there for, conserving energy is very important. For Scouts, we always tell them that it's important not to move very far from where you find yourself lost. This will help rescuers find you much quicker. Most times, when Scouts are "lost" in the wilderness, it's because they get separated from their troop during a hike. For Scouts, especially when participating in extended, multi-day hikes, you need to make sure you bring a few essential items with you:

1. Rescue whistle with compass and dry well with some strike anywhere matches. I own a couple of these and the whistle will obviously attract the rescuers to your location, the compass helps if you absolutely think you can navigate back to your camp or your next checkpoint (only for Scouts and adults who have extensive training in Orienteering), and lastly, the matches will come in handy for starting a survival fire to keep you warm. If you find yourself lost, blow the whistle twice very loudly every 10-15 minutes to get yourself noticed.
   
2. Lightweight poncho. This is probably the best piece of gear you can bring with you. Not only does it come in handy to wear when it's raining outside, it can also serve as a makeshift shelter. Pick a military grade poncho at the army/navy store (like the one pictured here. If you have room in your pack, also purchase a poncho liner. You can tie the poncho liner to the poncho and wrap yourself up in it to keep yourself warm.
3. Small amount of hemp or nylon cord. Will come in handy when trying to construct that makeshift shelter and is useful for creating tools.
4. Small reflective mirror. Good for reflecting the sun light to signal rescuers, and sometimes can even be used to start a fire
   
5. High Energy Food. A couple bars of high calorie, high in protein energy bars should always be with you while on a hike. They're small, easy to carry and pack lots of calories into a small package. Most grocery stores have a whole section dedicated to this.
6. Water purifier and water bottle. This can be a handheld purifier like the uber-expensive Lifesaver or a small bottle of purifying tablets. You can also boil water until you kill the bacteria (good rule of thumb is about 10 minutes of rapid boil.
7. Small Knife
8. Map of the area that also shows elevation

Here is a brief but very good youtube video that outlines most of these basic items. Keep it handy or bookmark for future referral.

Basic First Aid - Part I

The first part in this series will center around First Aid 101. Some of the instruction may seem a bit tedious, but it's important that every person begin from a good baseline. Later in the series I will get a bit more involved and I will try to concentrate on First Aid in the outdoors.

Basic Skill # 1: Treating a simple cut or abrasion
It may seem to be common sense, but many times young adults will have no idea how to properly treat a simple cut. Firstly, if the cut is all the way through the skin and is larger then about a 1/4 inch, then you should seek medical attention. If medical attention (ie - a hospital) is not available, then follow this instruction until the proper medical attention can be obtained. Also, PLEASE make it a point to have at least a basic first aid kit with you whenever you're away from home (whether in the car, or doing something outdoors).

1. Right after the injury, and when bleeding is rapid, apply direct pressure to the injured area using a clean cloth of some kind (either a gauze from a first aid kid or a clean piece of cloth). Do not release the pressure for a good few minutes to ensure clotting of the blood occurs.
   
2. Clean the injured area. If you're near a sink with soap, great. If not, use whatever you can to clean the cut, especially if there is any dirt or debris. If you only have a cloth, try to wipe gently away from the injured area, and not towards (to prevent pushing any debris back into the cut).
3. Apply anti-bacterial ointment (if available).
   
4. After bleeding has mostly subsided, continue to apply gentle pressure while applying an appropriate bandage.
5. Monitor the injured area for the next several days to ensure infection has not set in (the injury will become sore to the touch, and nasty things like pus will appear in and around the cut. If this happens, you should seek medical attention promptly.)
6. Change the bandage often (at least once a day) or as needed to ensure the bandage stays secure and snug around the injured area.

In the next First Aid post I will talk about short and long distance evacuation of someone who can no longer walk or is in shock.

Lazy Weekend

OK - I just found out that I may have torn my Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) again...not good. The same thing Donovan did (but injured in a different sport). In case anyone was wondering what that means..look at the video below. Kind of gross but it shows how the ACL can just get "tattered". This will be the second time this has happened to me within 1 year. I guess my future as a TKD black belt is in question... I 'll have more to post on Monday or Tuesday regarding First Aid (how timely, right?).