Lessons That Could Save Your Life in a Terror Event

written by Joseph Alton, MD of https://www.doomandbloom.net/

I’ve written quite a bit lately about shooting and terror events, but recent events highlight the fact that gun violence isn’t the only way that a terrorist can fulfill their mission of making casualties out of decent citizens. Clearly, bombings, stabbings, or shootings can occur literally anytime and anywhere in the U.S.: at churches, clubs, holiday parties, schools, the mall, at 2 in the morning or in the middle of the day. They’re part of what I call the “New Normal” and we have to be prepared to act if we’re caught in one of these events.

Although I write mostly about disaster medical preparedness, a terror event is a different kind of disaster. It’s one where you can prevent becoming a casualty if you simply know what to do when danger presents itself.Indeed, if you don’t train yourself to anticipate these events, it could be hazardous to your health and that of your family.

I’ve mentioned the concept of “situational awareness” as a way to decrease your chances of becoming a victim in future terror attacks. In these days of Pokemon Go and other smartphone distractions, you’re seeing more and more people not paying attention to their surroundings. In the past, this might get you a bump on the head for walking into a lamp post. In today’s world, however, it could cost you your life.

Situational awareness involves understanding what’s going on in your immediate vicinity that might be represent a threat to your well-being. I don’t mean second-hand smoke here; I’m talking about knowing what immediate dangers may exist that you can avoid or abolish with your actions. Especially important for soldiers in a combat zone, it’s now become just as important for the average citizen in any public space.

In an area at risk (anyplace where multitudes of people gather), simple things might save your life. Things like not having your hoodie up, which can be like blinders on a horse. Things like making a mental note of the nearest exit at the mall. Things like looking around for people who are acting strangely or, perhaps, dressed too warmly for the weather. Someone who might be paying too much attention to an everyday object, such as a trash can (which might contain a bomb).

Behaviors normal in some settings might be an “anomaly” in others: Hopping up and down and screaming may be normal behavior at a rock concert, but not at the local mall. By looking for anomalies in what should be normal behavior in a situation, the situationally aware person will have the best chance to plan an escape when an attack occurs.

To do this effectively, you should always be in a state of what I call “Yellow Alert”. You’re calm and relaxed, but taking in your surroundings: Always observing how people behave, where the nearest exits are, and formulating a plan of action if you’re in a crowd or other at-risk scenario.

In the case of the terrorist who stabbed nine people in Minnesota, it’s likely that he was in a state of agitation, his hands constantly touching the pocket where he kept his weapon. These are anomalies; things you should watch for whenever you’re in a public place.

In a crowd, it would pay to be at the fringes and not in the middle. Having a wall to your back would eliminate a danger that might come at you from behind. Indoors, for example, in a movie theatre, you want a view of the exits as well as the screen. If someone is behaving strangely, move away from them. If someone is screaming at the employee at the local burger joint (I said NO CHEESE!), maybe you should leave and order a pizza instead.

Air Force Colonel John Boyd devised a situational awareness strategy, called the “OODA Loop”, originally meant for aerial combat. It has practical applications, however, for everyday life. The components of the OODA Loop as it pertains to terror events are:

Observe: Stay at Yellow Alert whenever you’re in a public place where groups of people gather.

Orient: Identify behaviors that are not appropriate for the situation. These anomalies will tell you who and what to keep an eye on.

Decide: Determine the best course of action that will allow your escape or might eliminate the danger altogether.

Act:Initiate the plan of action and commit to those actions.

It’s difficult to instill a culture of situational awareness in a population, but doing so would save lives. Teaching your kids the basics can help keep them safe, especially if you start early. When you’re out with the kids, tell them to pay attention to what’s going on where you are. Once the family has left the area, ask them how many people were there, what they were wearing, or other details. Ask them what they would have done if something happened. Do this often enough, and it will, hopefully, become common practice. They’ll learn to pay less attention to their smartphones and more to their surroundings.

It would also benefit society if the next generation is taught what to do to help those wounded in a terror attack. In this scenario, law enforcement must pass the wounded by until the terrorist is neutralized. It may surprise you to know this, but there’s someone out there making more casualties, and the police, first and foremost, must abolish the threat. Yet, it’s thought that 1 in 5 deaths from hemorrhage might be avoided with the quick action of bystanders.

It may be time to add a fourth “R” to education. In addition to Reading, (w)Riting, and (a)Rithmatic, Reducing hemorrhage might be a useful thing for kids to learn once they reach a certain age. Indeed, I predict that there will come a time when first aid kits will occupy a space on the walls next to the fire extinguishers and automated defibrillators in schools and other public places.

All this attention to detail may seem paranoid to you, but it’s time to realize that these are dangerous times. Incorporate situational awareness into a calm, observant mindset and you’ll gain those extra seconds that could mean the difference between life and death in troubled times.

Keep a first aid kit handy at all times. Have one in the home and one in each of your cars for routine trips. If you travel a longer distance, be sure to bring extra supplies. Know where the first aid kits are located in your work or school environment. Quick access to a first aid kit is vital.

First aid kits can be tailored to your family size and the ages of the members. A two year old will likely have different injuries than a 70 year old. Include some extra prescription medications for the members who need them. Having a list of contact and emergency phone numbers inside the kit will allow the user to quickly notify others of the injury.

Check the kit and supplies regularly for damage and expiration dates. Liquid medications will expire around the stamped date, but solid pills and capsules may last longer if stored in a cool, dry and dark environment. Don’t keep your supplies or kits in a bathroom or a very hot car for long periods of time. Use the supplies as needed and replace them as soon as possible.

Batteries inside of items like flashlights may go bad, and need a spot check monthly. Corrosion inside will damage your supplies if left for a long period of time. Always have extra batteries with your kits, just in case. Lighting is very important in a nighttime event and will help you see the injury and care for the victim. Consider a good headlamp a vital medical tool.

Here is a list of basic first aid kit supplies. Increase your supplies depending on the number of members and the time you anticipate for the ambulance to arrive:

Gauze

Bandaids

Ace Bandage

Antiseptics

Gloves

Hand sanitizer

Analgesics

Instant cold pack

Burn Jel Packets

Mylar or space blanket

Tourniquet (SWAT is a great all-purpose brand)

Celox or other hemostatic gauze or powder

Israeli Emergency bandage 6” size

Hydrocortisone cream

Bandage scissors

Tweezers

Triangular bandage

Moleskin

Steri Strips

Super Glue

Tape

Cayenne Pepper Powder

For a Family First Aid Kit, get more supplies in greater amounts.

Thanks,

Amy Alton, ARNP

After the danger is cleared, there may be all sorts of injuries around. Having the best bleeding control kit readily available can save a life. The right equipment in your hands will be your best bet to help the bleeding victim. But do you know what to do?

Emergencies involving blood loss occur anytime and anywhere, and you should be ready to deal with them. From industrial accidents to natural disasters to terrorist attacks, lives are lost by the lack of medical supplies that control hemorrhage.

The First Aid Bleeding Control Kit by Doom and Bloom(tm) is compact, lightweight, and has the equipment necessary to save a life in any circumstance. The Doom and Bloom Bleeding Control Kit is designed by medical professionals, Amy Alton, ARNP and Joe Alton, MD.

Contained in an highly visible, easy-to-open Mylar bag, this kit contains materials that are highly effective in the control of bleeding, including the durable and versatile SWAT tourniquet, compression dressings, gauze bandages, bandage scissors, and even special hemostatic (blood-clotting) pads.

Included on completely waterproof paper (see image under water) 8.5 x 11 two-sided, are simple step-by-step numbered instructions that correspond to the numbered items (see image of numbered items). Images of the item to be used and demonstrations of your action are along side the written instructions and create easy to follow steps, with little chance of error.

The kit and instructions are presented in a way that is intuitive to the non-medically trained personnel, such as teachers, law enforcement officers, students, homeowners, parents, and employees.

This kit weighs just 14 ounces and is approximately 6 x 9 inches in an easy to open heat-sealed red Mylar bag. Several can be packed into an average medical bag or pack.

If you are thinking about any serious bleeding emergency, this is the kit for you and your family. Don't be caught unprepared! This is the right kit for anyone under stressful situations with easy to read and understand life-saving items. You and your family deserve the best!

Thanks,

Amy Alton, ARNP

DoomandBloom.Net

First Aid Kit

Being ready to handle even small cuts and lacerations can be useful. Your first aid medical kit should be appropriate for the activity and length of duration. Hunters have different needs than recreational bikers. A hurricane can last a lot longer than a two-day camping trip. Knowing what you are preparing for is the first step.

Think about how many people you may be caring for. Are you alone or will your whole community rely on you as their “medic”? Having more than enough medical supplies will assure that no matter what injuries or illnesses that could happen will be covered. Extra supplies could mean the difference between life and death. In a long-term event they could be great barter items for things you forgot or ran out of during the crisis.

There are many studies that give expected medical issues for each scenario and we have tried to cover them in our book “The Survival Medicine Handbook.” Having knowledge and skills to handle emergencies are the first steps, but acquiring supplies is almost as important.

Do you a have a first aid medical kit if you REALLY needed one? I hope you do, but if not, please check out our supply lists in the descriptions of each of our whole line of medical kits to help you get started. Our lists are detailed and available to print for a good place to begin.

Our kits are designed by us, real medical professionals, not some non-medical business owners. We are Amy Alton, an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner and Joe Alton, a Medical Doctor of DoomandBloom.Net

Our goal is to put a medically trained person in every family. We want you and your family to be healthy in any disaster.

Thank you,

Amy Alton, ARNP

SWAT tourniquet

Doom and Bloom has talked about tourniquets in the past, but what might be an ideal tourniquet for the average citizen? The Sof-T and CAT tourniquets are both excellent for adults with a good arm or leg circumference. But what if your injured victim is a small child or elderly person with thin arms? What if you have an infant or even a pet you need to save?

SWAT-T should be your answer to these issues.SWAT-T stands for Stretch, Wrap, and Tuck Tourniquet, and the instructions are, essentially, all in the name.

The SWAT tourniquet is a wide elastic band that can serve as a compact, lightweight, and inexpensive tourniquet or pressure dressing. It’s very simple to use, especially with two hands: Stretch it, wrap (at least 2 inches) above the area of bleeding on the extremity, and tuck the end into itself. Not only is it that easy, but also the instructions are printed in big bold letters all over the tourniquet.

The SWAT-T is often carried as a backup to other tourniquets due to its versatility: It can be used as a pressure dressing as well as a tourniquet, or even just as a covering for other dressings without any significant pressure at all. Other non-tourniquet uses include stabilizing a splint or ice pack for orthopedic injuries, holding an abdominal dressing in place, and even as a sling for an injured arm or shoulder.

For the medic, having a supply of tourniquets is important to save lives that would otherwise be lost due to bleeding. Even if you have other tourniquets, consider adding the versatile and lightweight SWAT-T to your medical storage.

Wash your hands often.

Don’t touch your face, eyes or mouth.

Cough or sneeze into your elbow or shoulder instead of your shoulder.

Don’t overuse antibiotics. Your body can develop a tolerance to them, rendering those strains ineffective when needed.

Disinfect your home often, especially your kitchen and bathroom. Surfaces that get touched often are also important, like door handles and TV remotes.

Don’t share personal items. Toothbrushes should be unique to each person. Also, cosmetic make up should be different for each person as eyes and mouths are susceptible for spreading disease.

Prepare food well, in a clean environment.

Travel wisely. Don’t travel while sick to avoid spreading germs. Also, take precautions before traveling to stay healthy while traveling. Don’t unnecessarily travel to locations that have high disease rates.

Understand how the disease is spread and what the life of it is outside the body.

To learn more about pandemic preparation, Doom and Bloom™ offers a complete emergency preparedness kits and information available to you for any possible scenario. Shop for your Combo Pandemic Kit with DVD. The kit contains everything you would need in case of an outbreak to care for someone who’s infected. The DVD offers important information about infectious diseases, including how to avoid them, how to treat them safely and what you would need to create your own sick room in case of emergency. Shop today with your Top Rated Local® survival medicine specialists.

Experiencing an illness, or a serious wound, in an already stressed and intense situation can be too much for a lot of people to deal with. Our medium trauma bag is fully equipped to help you handle the unfortunate problem of physical trauma and unexpected illness. Offering both first aid materials and natural remedies that have proven benefits, your family will be prepared in the event that one of you becomes injured or becomes sick. All of our emergency medical kits are comprehensive in their supplies and equipment so that you have what you need, when you need it, making true self-sufficiency a real possibility. 

The Deluxe Ebola Pandemic Kit has everything that you need to stay safe from Ebola. It comes with coveralls, chemical-splash goggles, surgical masks, biohazard liner bags, duct tape, gloves, surgical-grade earloop masks, alcohol wipes, BSK wipes, and hand sanitizer. While the chance of Ebola coming to the United States is slim, it is still smart to be prepared, because you really never know what could happen. Ebola has already spread a lot farther, and the CDC's predictions for the future aren't positive.

There is nothing set in stone about the future, and you never know what could happen. If you are looking for a great way to prevent you and your family from getting Ebola, then it is time for you to order your own Deluxe Ebola Pandemic Kit from Doom and Bloom. We always keep your health and safety in mind with everything we do. We offer great deals, high quality products, and fast shipping. Shop with us today. 

We have many one-of-a-kind emergency medical kits for you to choose from, but there is one in particular that is absolutely perfect anytime you hit the trail --the Personal Carry Trauma Kit. This wonderful kit has everything that you need to deal with a wide variety of injuries, even traumatic ones, and it will fit easily into your backpack. Unlike most kits, nothing in any of our kits is pointless. Everything in this amazing kit was handpicked by an experienced doctor and nurse. With this kit on your side, you can rest assured that you will be prepared for anything!

Hiking is a great way to enjoy the world around you, but you never know what could happen on your hike. That is why it is so important that you bring along an emergency medical kit from Doom and Bloom every single time that you strap on your boots. We offer great deals and fast US shipping on our completely original products. Take the first step to prepare yourself for anything and everything by ordering yours today!

We have wide variety of emergency medical kits for you to choose from. Whether you choose one of our more basic kits or you choose a deluxe kit you can be sure they will have the same immutable quality that our customers have come to expect. We do not just put a couple of band aids and some ibuprofen tablets in your pack, we put a great deal of time putting together the tools we think you will need in case of emergency. We combine natural remedies with first aid and trauma supplies. Our kits are completely unique from anything else on the market today.

Having the supplies is a great start to being prepared, but nothing can replace knowledge. We provide our customers with multiple ways to gain the knowledge that they need. You can watch our Youtube videos, read the free articles that we provide, purchase our DVD’s, or come to one of our free lectures. Having supplies without proper knowledge is like having a boat without a paddle, you just won’t get the same kind of results.

If you want the best emergency medical supplies then shop with us today. A great deal of care and attention to detail goes into every pack that we put together.  We are preppers too, and only provide our customers with the supplies that we want would to have ourselves.