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Camper’s Guide: Proper Food Safety

Posted on May 1, 2012 by admin

After a long day of adventures, it’s nice to settle into camp with a nice heaping bowl of spaghetti.

Those who hike, swim, fish, climb, canoe, etc. know the value of a stick-to-your-ribs meal as the night begins to fall and campfire draws your whole group together. It’s a time to recount the day’s events with one another, enjoy a few good stories and maybe even strum a bit on a guitar.

Until the bear comes stomping through your camp looking for your pic-a-nic basket. You’ve made a critical error—you didn’t follow basic food safety guidelines. Now the bear is strumming that guitar and slurping your noodles as your entire group hightails it back to the parking lot.

Don’t make the same mistakes next time. Follow this list of basic food safety tips:

  • Bring or utilize a bear box or bear canister. Many wilderness recreation areas have big metal lockboxes specifically for storing food and other scented items (including toiletries and chewing gum) when not in use. It is vital that you utilize these boxes if you didn’t bring your own. For hikers, bear canisters (looks like a Nalgene the size of a volleyball) can be carried with you. When in camp, store the canister about 100 yards away from your tent, just in case a woodland menace should stumble upon it.
  • Don’t wash pots in your campsite. The same rules apply here as above; the food residue that ends up on the ground will attract anything from bears to raccoons—neither one you want to mess with in the dark. If it’s your usual routine to wash dishes on-site, just be careful to dispose of food scraps properly. If using paper products like paper plates, you can always burn those in the fire.
  • The most common method of food storage in camp is a bear bag. It’s easy to do, provided you can throw a length of paracord over a tree. Hang a sturdy, cinched bag from a tree limb, far enough away from the trunk that a bear couldn’t reach. Bears can climb trees, so they could easily hang onto the trunk and reach out for your bag. Hang your bear bag far enough away from camp that you feel comfortable, preferably 50 to 100 yards, more if you have something especially potent in the bag. Don’t forget to put all scented items in the bag—even toothpaste. Bears and other forest dwellers have a great sense of smell, and it’s been awhile since they’ve had a chance to brush their teeth.

Some of these basic tips can also be used for those out there reeling in their dinner themselves. There’s nothing quite as exhilarating as nabbing a trout or bass, and even a little Sunny could give the kids a fun time. But don’t gut that fish in camp, unless you burn all the evidence.

  • Clean and filet the fish by the lake or stream, and let the entrails wash away. You’ll attract lots of unwanted attention if you leave fish parts around the ground you sleep on.
  • Do the same for ducks or other birds if that’s the game your into, though it’s much less possible that a mountain lion will wander into your camp just to steal a couple of feathers. After all, everybody knows that lions are the most ticklish animals in the wild.

If you’re really up for roughin’ it, take note of the natural flora. Every kind of environment has its delectables: the desert has yucca, the forest has berries, the tundra has… well, lots of water.

At any rate, many plants in the wild are poisonous, fewer are edible, and fewer still are quite tasty. A guidebook is mandatory if you plan to forage for yourself, as you can easily ingest the wrong kind of berry. Mushrooms are similar in danger, though most experts agree that they’re best not even tempted. There are simply too many kinds of mushrooms for the backyard mycologist to be able to separate the edible with the poisonous.

Whether you’re in the remote backcountry on a canoe trip or playing weekend warrior and grilling at the local state park, following these basic food safety tips is paramount to a positive experience. Use your head, make sure you’ve got the right equipment, and always go back for seconds.

Posted in Survival Techniques | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Many Uses of Paracord

Posted on April 16, 2012 by admin

You’re stuck in the middle of nowhere.

If you hadn’t taken that fall, you could have found a way back to the lodge. But with your leg in such agony, it’s tough to do much of anything.

You’ve lost the trail and your bearings, and your morale is starting to waiver. But wait! You remembered to bring a length of paracord.

Basking in the glow of your obvious genius, you pull it from your pack and hold it in front of the sun. It’s quite pretty.

It could also save your life.

Paracord is one of the most versatile pieces of equipment you can take on your next wilderness adventure. The best military paracord features several strands of braided yarn wrapped in Nylon thread.

And it packs quite a spring—paracord will expand about 30% of its total length when stretched against its maximum weight allowance. This can be good or bad, depending on your application. In climbing parties where a climber-to-climber tether is required, elastic cord helps negate the impact force of a falling body on the group. But that elasticity creates problems during the construction of a rope bridge over a ravine or swamp, when weight could stretch the cord so much that it lowers the traveler into the hazard he or she was trying to avoid.

Still, parachute commandos in World War II used it extensively in their own survival scenarios (paracord = parachute cord).

Check out all the things paracord can be used for if you’re injured, hungry, or simply need to pass the time before rescuers arrive:

  • Splints and tourniquets. A fractured arm or leg can be immobilized by tying straight, strong sticks to the limb. Don’t tie too tight, or you’ve inadvertently made a tourniquet.

A tourniquet is a wide band of material tied tightly around a bleeding wound to crush the tissue and prevent blood loss. Since paracord is relatively thin, fold it in half to spread the applied pressure. However, a tourniquet left on too long can irrevocably damage nerves and blood vessels, according to research by the University of Maine (a stone’s throw from the east’s perilous White Mountains).

  • Shelter. Once you’ve repaired your injury to the best of your ability, you will need shelter to get through the night. Using your paracord, you can lash together sticks, trees and brush to create a makeshift lean-to. Remember, use overlapping square and diagonal lashes for a strong tie, or else you the shelter you built to protect you could end up trapping you.
  • Trapping. After shelter comes food. If you’re lucky enough to have at least limited mobility, you can build a snare trap with your paracord. After finding a game trail or other thoroughfare used by small animals, construct a hanging loop in line with the trail. Use a strangle snare knot to assure the loop closes. Rope is more difficult to maneuver than wire, so your best bet with paracord is to tie a small loop, hang it from above and loosely tie both ends to adjacent brush to keep the loop open. When the animal dives through the loop—if you’ve disguised it enough—you’ll catch yourself some protein.
  • Making rope. Each of these applications uses precious feet from your length of paracord. But since paracord is made by braiding several smaller ropes together, it can be unwound to yield smaller rope than the original. This is quite helpful if you’ve got a very limited supply of cord and need to conserve how much you use. You can also create a longer (but thinner, and therefore weaker) rope by tying ends of the unwound strands together.
  • Simple machines. If you’ve got buddies at your side, they can use cord to construct a simple stretcher with strong sticks to carry you. Or, they can anchor you to a branch drag and pull you home. They can even create a pulley with the cord and a tree to lift you from a ravine or swamp. That rope bridge was a doozy, wasn’t it?
  • After you’ve hunkered down in your shelter, stay calm by keeping your mind and hands occupied. Use the small fibers from the paracord to stitch torn clothing together. Use extra pieces to fashion yourself a rock slingshot or flail, which can be used to ward off predators or catch a squawking meal. Then use the cord as floss to get the bits of your feast out of your teeth.

These are but a few of the possibilities one length of paracord offers a stranded adventurer.

The limit is your imagination.

Now, imagine yourself in a hammock. You’ve already got the paracord for it.

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10 Essential Items for Your Bug-Out Bag

Posted on March 24, 2012 by admin

Sometimes you just have to get the heck out of Dodge. There are a handful of reasons you’d need to evacuate your home in less than 10 minutes: a biological, violent, or other attack from a hostile foreign military or other aggressive force; weather-related phenomena, like hurricanes, tornados, or tsunamis; a failure in our digital infrastructure that causes widespread panic, riots, or looting; or any kind of uprising, be it financially or politically motivated.

If you’re ever in a situation where your best course of action is to leave your home for the sake of saving your life and the lives of your family members, be prepared to do so in only minutes. When the hurricane warning comes too late, you don’t want to be caught searching for the flashlight, especially when the water is already rising at your feet.

What you need is a bug-out bag—ideally a backpack or some other reasonably sized bag that you can easily carry on your back (and it should be waterproof). It’s something you can grab quickly if you need to evacuate your home. If prepared correctly, you’ll be able to survive for at least a few days with only its contents.

Here’s a list of 10 essential items you should stow in your bug-out bag:

  1. First aid kit. Instead of buying a pre-made one from the store, put together your own. That way you’re not stuck with miles of gauze after you run through the band-aids. Include things like antibiotic ointment, blow-up splints, sterile pads, gauze, tape, ibuprofen, Advil, smelling salts and alka-seltzer tablets. And, of course, band-aids.
  2. Water purification. Once the dust settles in your apocalypse scenario, your top goal will be to collect water and stay hydrated. However, finding clean water could be a challenge, so bring along two essential things to keep your water safe to drink: a pump-action filter and purification tablets (basically, iodine). Don’t forget the 100% stainless steel water bottle. It’s safe to put in a campfire or stovetop if you need to boil water.
  3. Multi-tool. There is no substitute for a good multi-tool. You can get one with screwdrivers, scissors, smooth and serrated blades, a compass, ice machine, four-wheel drive, and theatre seating. Okay, just kidding about those last three. But seriously, multi-tools come in so many different combinations it’s worth looking for one that suits your needs and budget. And it could definitely save your life… especially if you’re ever trapped under a boulder for about 127 hours.
  4. Communications devices. In the event of a major weather event, you’ll need to get constant updates to stay ahead of danger and communicate with family members or emergency personnel. In this case, a cell phone with a GPS (any smartphone) will do. That is, until communications towers are damaged and you can’t get a signal. You can’t go wrong storing an emergency satellite phone in your bug-out bag. Unless we’re in for an alien invasion that knocks our thousands of satellites from the sky, you’ll virtually always have a signal.
  5. Food. Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) were developed by the military and are used all the time by soldiers and those in survival situations. They make some fabulous meals that rival anything you could make in your kitchen, and pack tons of calories you need to survive. In addition to MREs, bring snacky foods like granola bars or goldfish or Doritos. Surviving for a few days is much easier when you’ve got your comfort food to keep you company.
  6. Emergency Blanket. It gets cold at night; bring an emergency blanket. The advantage of these is the space and weight you’ll save, and they can double as a signaling device should you need rescue.
  7. Rope. Rope and paracord have a million uses. Obviously, tying things is the main use. But you can deconstruct rope to the individual fibers as well, and those thin strings can be used to repair clothing, make a fishing line, or they can even be re-braided to make several smaller ropes.
  8. Clothes. We’re not talking an entire wardrobe here. But you should have an extra pair of socks or two (always take care of your feet!), a synthetic or wool long-sleeve, an extra beanie and gloves if it’s cold, and some handkerchiefs. You’ll find a hundred uses for a hanky.
  9. Flashlight. You’ll need light in dark places. Don’t forget the extra batteries.
  10. Paperwork. In the event that any horror/zombie/survival/post-apocalyptic movie comes true, you may just need to prove who you are. You could also use that EMT card to cross roadblocks or bypass police blockades. You might need that passport to flee the country.

Remember, the bug-out bag can be a lifesaver—if you do it right. Once you’ve packed it full, simulate an emergency and see how long it takes to get out of the house and onto your local evacuation route. If you can’t lift your bag with a reasonable amount of effort, let go of some weight. You really don’t need a hundred pounds of rope or the massive industrial flashlight that takes six DD batteries. You need just enough to get by for a few days.

If you’ve got kids, think about packing an individual bag for each one. You can free space and weight in your bag to make it more manageable to carry. Also, if each child has his or her own small bag with food, clothes, and a game or two, they’ll have an easier time should you and your spouse get separated for any reason. It’s an awful thought, but the entire situation will go much better if you prepare for it ahead of time.

It’s a crazy world—but there’s nothing crazy about being prepared for it.

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Tactical First Aid Kits

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin

Tactical First Aid Kits must be well packed, have useful items and fresh goods (current date goods). Barre Army Navy Store got this nice review and also wanted to share our full line of Tactical First Aid Kits. Questions email info@vtarmynavy.com or call 802-479-2289.

 

No Date Title Rating Product Posted
  3315 2/27/2012  Excellent 5 Stars M39 Medic Bag Kit

 

 Review Details
Reviewer: Anonymous Location: Springfield, Missouri
Review: Excellent service and product. All with very current expiration dates and of good quality.

 

 

GI SPEC Surgical Set1 Tactical First Aid Kits GI Spec Surgical Set — $21.95 — GI Spec Surgical Set Contents Include: 2-Straight & 1-Curved Hemostats, 1-Pair Scissors, 1-Pair Tweezers, 1-#3 Scalpel Handle, 2-Scalpel Blades, 2-Suture Sets, 1-Holder, 1-Needle Probe, 2-Alcohol Wipes, 2-BZK/Iodine Wipes & 1-Pen Light Olive Drab Pouch. Instruments Are Stainless Steel.
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Individual First Aid Kit1 Tactical First Aid Kits Individual First Aid Kit — $24.95 — Individual First Aid Kit Mil-Spec Individual First Aid Kit with easy to open front pull snaps. Olive Drab or ACU pouch with 4 1/2″ box. Includes 2 alice clips and all military stencils. Kit includes: 1 2″ x 4.1yrds bandage gauze 2 4″ x 4″ sterile sponges 1 Eye Pad 5 1″ x 3″ bandage strip 1 Field dressing 1 Pill bottle 3 knuckle bandages 2 ammonia inhalant ampoules 2 butterfly strips 1 first aid instructions 6 aspirin 1 first aid cream 1 triple antibiotic 1 1″ tape 4 alcohol wipes 3 iodine wipes 3 antiseptic wipes 3 clean wipes 3 after bite wipes
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Large M17 Medic Bag Kit1 Tactical First Aid Kits Large M17 Medic Bag Kit — $129.95 — Large M17 Medic Bag Kit GI Style Issue kit. Over 320 items. *CONTENTS MAY VARY. Size 16″ X 10″ X 13.5″ NYLON BAG WITH ALICE PACK STRAPS Typical Kit includes: Contains 320 items, including: 5 Skin and Eye Wash 1 Skin Probe 1 Hand Sanitizer 1 Scalpel handle #3 1 Hand Soap 2 Scalpel Blades 1 Calamine Lotion, 6oz. 1 Pen Light 1 Burn Spray 2 Suture Sets 1 SAM / Universal Splint 1 EFA – First Aid Book 4 Multitrauma dressing 6 Safety Pins 2 BleedStop Bandages 2 Pill Bottles 4 Bandage Gauzes, 2”x5yds. 6 Pairs Latex Examination Gloves 2 Elastic Bandages, 6” 14 Pain Relievers 12 Elastic Bandages, 2” 1 Tourniquet 4 Sterile Pads, 4”x4” 2 Irrigation Syringes 10 Sterile Pads, 2”x2” 4 First Aid Cream Packages 10 Abdominal Pads, 5”x9” 4 Triple Antibiotic Packages 2 Eye Pads 2 Burn Aid Packages 2 Triangular Bandage 5 Tape, Rolls, Adhesive, 1” 100 Bandage Strips, 1”x3” 15 Alcohol Wipes 5 Butterfly Strips 15 Iodine Wipes 10 Bandage Strips, 2”x3” 15 Antiseptic BZK Wipes 10 Knuckle Bandages 15 Clean Wipes 3 Instant Ice Packs 6 After Bite Wipes 1 Stethoscope 2 Ammonia Inhalants 1 Lip Treatment 1 CPR Mask 1 EMT Shears, 7.25” 2 Airways 2 Stainless Steel Hemostats 2 Tongue Depressors 1 Pair of Tweezers 1 Box of 100 Cotton Tips 1 Petroleum Jelly
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M3 Medic Bag Kit1 Tactical First Aid Kits M3 Medic Bag Kit — $59.95 — M3 Medic Bag Kit GI Style Issue kit. Over 135 items. *CONTENTS MAY VARY SLIGHTLY. Size 8″ X 7″ X 9″ NYLON BAG WITH SHOULDER STRAP Typical Kit includes: 1 sterile flushing solution 2 tongue depressor 1 hand soap 2 bandage gauze 4″ x 4.5yrds 1 6″ elastic bandage 1 6oz Calamine lotion 1 petroleum jelly 1 burn spray 1 sam splint 3 field dressing 4 multi-trauma dressing 12″ x 30″ 4 2″ x 6yrd bandage gauze 4 4″ x 4″ sterile sponges 4 5″ x 9″ abdominal pads 1 eye pad 1 triangular bandage 40″ x 40″ x 56″ 16 3″ bandage strips 2 Instant ice pack 1 EMT shears 1 5″ SS Hemostat 1 tweezers 1 Sutures 1 three compartment bag 1 tourniquet 1 field dressing 1 sam splint 1 lip treatment 1 first aid instructions 6 safety pins 2 pair latex gloves 10 Aspirin 1 pill bottle 1 irrigation sponge 2 first aid cream 2 triple antibiotic 1 burn aid package 2 1″ tape 16 alcohol wipes 15 Iodine wipes 15 antiseptic wipes 15 clean wipes 1 airway
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M39 Medic Bag Kit1 Tactical First Aid Kits M39 Medic Bag Kit — $154.95 — M39 Medic Bag Kit Designed and used by professionals in military combat units. Size 19″ X 14″ X 8″ Has handles and a shoulder strap. Kit includes: 1 blood pressure cuff kit 1 cervical collar 1 stethoscope 1 pen light 2 sutures 1 first aid book 8 pair exam gloves 10 abdominal pad 5″ x 9″ 20 aspirin 6 safety pins 2 casualty blanket (silver/OD) 1 hand sanitizer 2oz. 1 Calamine lotion 6oz. 1 hand soap 6 after bite wipes 1 sam splint 1 6″ elastic bandage 10 4″ 4″ sterile sponges 2 1″ tape 2 blood stopper kit 5 eye pad 2 triangular bandage 40″ x 40″ x 56″ 16 1″ x 3″ bandage strip 5 butterfly strips 5 2″ x 4″ bandage strip 10 knuckle bandages 2 ice pack 1 EMT shears 2 SS Hemostats 1 tweezers 1 scalpel handle #3 2 scalpel blades 5 tongue depressor 1 CPR mask 45 Antiseptic wipes 5 ammonia inhalants 2 airways 3 multi trauma dressing 12″ x 30″ 1 eye wash 4oz. 10 triple antibiotic 5 burn aid package 1 tourniquet
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Military IFAK1 Tactical First Aid Kits Military IFAK — $47.95 — Military IFAK The IFAK or individual first aid kit, is the very same as what is issued to the USAF in Iraq but in a black zippered pouch. This is a very popular and useful kit, currently being used by several state and federal government agencies. The bag is durable cordura NYLON with three MOLLE straps. Included is the new ACS 1st Response Quik-Clot and all the items necessary for wound management. The IFAK measures: 9.5”x7.5”x3” and weighs 1.8 lbs. Contains the following items: 1 Israeli Bandage 4″ 1 Lip Balm 1 Set of Blue Nitrile Gloves 1 Quik-Clot 2 H&H Compress Gauze 4.5″x4.1yds. 1 Tan Self Adhesive Bandage 3″ 1 Tourniquet non pneumatic 1 Tape 1″x10yds. 1 Set of EMT Shears 7.5″ 1 Triangular Bandage 46″x46″x52″
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Individual First Aid Kit3 Tactical First Aid Kits Military Issue First Aid Kit — $29.95 — Military Issue First Aid Kit Mil-Spec Olive Drab pouch with 5 1/2″ tall box. Includes 2 alice clips and all military stencils. Kit includes: 1 2″ x 4.1yrds bandage gauze 2 4″ x 4″ sterile sponges 1 Eye Pad 5 1″ x 3″ bandage strip 1 Field dressing 1 Pill bottle 3 knuckle bandages 2 ammonia inhalant ampoules 2 butterfly strips 1 first aid instructions 6 aspirin 1 first aid cream 1 triple antibiotic 1 1″ tape 4 alcohol wipes 3 iodine wipes 3 antiseptic wipes 3 clean wipes 3 after bite wipes
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Platoon first aid kit1 Tactical First Aid Kits Platoon First Aid Kit — $19.95 — Platoon First Aid Kit The Platoon First Aid Kit gets a new style pouch with MOLLE system straps! Size 9 1/2″ x 7″ x 3″ Kit includes: 2 bandage gauze 4″ x 4.1yrds 3 antiseptic wipes 3 alcohol wipes 3 iodine wipes 3 nice clean wipes 2 4″ x 4″ gauze pads 1 6″ elastic bandage 1 3″ elastic bandage 1 Pill bottle 16 1″ x 3″ bandage strips 2 pair examination gloves 2 rolls of tape 10 aspirin 1 instant ice pack 3 absorbent pads 5″ x 9″ 2 Bulkee II super sponge 1 triple antibiotic 1 first aid cream 1 pair of scissors 1 pair of tweezers 1 lip treatment 1 instruction sheet
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Rapid Response Kit Bag1 Tactical First Aid Kits Rapid Response Kit Bag — $44.95 — Rapid Response Kit Bag MOLLE system straps with snaps at one end to attach to a belt up to 5″ wide (also compatible with any other MOLLE vests and backpacks). Can be worn on any other location with additional alice clips (not included). Light weight quality designed bag with multiple compartments. This kit was custom designed by request of Elite military units desiring a more compact & light weight kit for their daily field operations. Size 11″ X 6″ X 6.5″ 2.5lbs Kit includes: 2 bloodstopper kit 1 3″ elastic bandage 4 4″ x 4″ sterile sponge 2 Bandage gauze 4″ x 4.1yrds 16 3″ bandage strip 12 Benzalkonium chloride wipes 1 triangular bandage 5 butterfly closure strips 2 ammonia inhalants 1 burn cream 1 sutures package 1 multi-trauma dressing 12″ x 30″ 1 Hemostat 12 providone-iodine, USP wipe 1 SS tweezers 1 EMT shears 3 5″ x 9″ abdominal pad 1 first aid instructions 1 airway 1 pair latex gloves 10 aspirin 1 Tape 1 tourniquet
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Stomp Medical Kit1 Tactical First Aid Kits Stomp Medical Kit — $369.95 — Stomp Medical Kit Only Olive Drab is available until April 2012. The Stomp Medical Kit has a variety of contents and is used by professionals including medics and army personnel. The backpack is available in three colors, black, coyote tan, and red. The bag contains many velcro and zippered compartments for easy access to over three hundred items inside. The Stomp Medical Kit measures: 19”x 14”x 10”, and weights 18 lbs. Contains over 300 items, including (contents may vary): 2 Irrigation Syringes 2 EMT Shears 1 Calamine Lotion, 6oz. 4 Stainless Steel Hemostats 2 Lip Treatments 2 Israeli Dressing 4″ 9 After Bite Wipes 2 Israeli Dressing 6″ 1 Burn Spray 1 Scalpel handle, #3 1 Instant Glucose 6 Scalpel Blades 40 Pain Relievers 1 Pen Light 20 Ammonia Inhalants 5 Suture Sets 1 Blood Clotting Spray 1 EFA – First Aid Book 2 SAM / Universal Splint 6 Safety Pins 3 Triangular Bandages 5 Pairs Latex Examination Gloves 1 Cervical Collar 10 Skin and Eye Wash 3 Elastic Bandage, 6” 20 Triple Antibiotic Packages 6 Elastic Bandage, 2” 5 Burn Aid Packages 5 Sterile Sponges, 4”x4” 20 Alcohol Wipes 10 Gauze Sponges 2″x2″ 100 Iodine Wipes 10 Abdominal Pads, 5”x9” 25 Antiseptic BZK Wipes 4 BleedStop Bandages 2 Elastic Bandage Gauze 4.5″x4yds. 5 Eye Pads 2 CPR Mask 4 Airways 100 Assorted Sizes Bandage Strips 10 Butterfly Strips 5 Tongue Depressors 20 Bandage Strips, 2”x3” 2 Emergency Blankets, 52”x84” 20 Knuckle Bandages 2 Multi Trauma Dessings, 20”x30” 3 Instant Ice Packs 3 Quick Clot 3 Tape, Rolls, Adhesive 1 Pair of Tweezers 1 Stethoscope 1 Needle Probe 1 Blood Pressure Cuff Kit 1 Hand Sanitizer, 2oz. * the Emergency Blanket is silver and OD green
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Tactical Trauma Backpack1 Tactical First Aid Kits Tactical Trauma Backpack — $159.95 — Tactical Trauma Backpack Designed and used by professionals. Very comfortable backpack! Lots of interior compartments. Size 18″ X 10″ X 11″ Kit includes: 1 blood pressure cuff kit 1 cervical collar 1 stethoscope 1 pen light 2 sutures 1 first aid book 8 pair exam gloves 10 abdominal pad 5″ x 9″ 20 aspirin 6 safety pins 2 casualty blanket (silver/OD) 1 hand sanitizer 2oz. 1 Calamine lotion 6oz. 1 hand soap 6 after bite wipes 1 sam splint 1 6″ elastic bandage 10 4″ 4″ sterile sponges 2 1″ tape 2 blood stopper kit 5 eye pad 2 triangular bandage 40″ x 40″ x 56″ 16 1″ x 3″ bandage strip 5 butterfly strips 5 2″ x 4″ bandage strip 10 knuckle bandages 2 ice pack 1 EMT shears 2 SS Hemostats 1 tweezers 1 scalpel handle #3 2 scalpel blades 5 tongue depressor 1 CPR mask 45 Antiseptic wipes 5 ammonia inhalants 2 airways 3 multi trauma dressing 12″ x 30″ 1 eye wash 4oz. 10 triple antibiotic 5 burn aid package 1 tourniquet
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Tactical Trauma Kit1 Tactical First Aid Kits Tactical Trauma Kit — $34.95 — Tactical Trauma Kit Designed by a former para-rescuemen to be used by those who may find themselves in the line of fire; police, military, tactical groups and hunters. Easy access to all essential items in an emergency. Size 8″ x 6″ x 3.5″ Two large MOLLE straps with snaps at one end to attach to a belt up to 5″ wide (also compatable with MOLLE vests and backpacks). Can be worn in other locations by using additional alice clips (not included). Kit includes: 1 blood stopper kit 1 4″ elastic bandage 6 4″ x 4″ sterile sponge 16 3″ bandage strip 1 SS tweezers 1 EMT shears 1 5″ x 9″ abdominal pad 1 first aid instructions 6 safety pins 1 Pair latex gloves 4 Aspirin 1 Tape 6 Benzalkonium chloride wipes 1 Triangular bandage 5 Butterfly closure strips 2 ammonia inhalents 1 Burn Gel package
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Wool Blankets

Posted on February 28, 2012 by admin

It may seem like it is getting late in the year for Wool Blankets but we sell them year round. Most of the blankets we used to sell were military wool blankets but now most of the blankets we sell are copies of or reproductions of military blankets http://www.vtarmynavy.com/military_wool_blankets.htm. 

Commercial Blankets are available in either Loom woven or needle punch wool blankets with a military theme are also available http://www.vtarmynavy.com/wool_blankets.htm

What are the warmest and which will last longest? Those are the two usual questions that we get.

One tip for reviewing blankets is to size up the weight of the blanket.

The heavier the blanket if sizes are comparable is the thicker and usually warmer wool blanket.

The next factor is the percentage of wool; most new reproduction wool blankets available are 50-80% wool.

Lastly what type of weave is the blanket. Many wool blankets are needle punch blankets but our experience in is that loom woven wool blankets are better than needle punch wool blankets for durability and warmth.

Questions email info@vtarmynavy.com or call 802-479-2289

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Atwood Paracord Updated

Posted on February 25, 2012 by admin

Barre Army Navy Store got more parachute cord from Atwood Rope yesterday. We are not 100% yet but with our latest shipment are headed in that direction.

For those not familiar with this line of paracord Atwood Rope Parachute Cord is all 550 pound test and made in the USA.


ACU Camo1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood ACU Camo Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood ACU Camo Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Aquatica3 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Aquatica Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Aquatica Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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B Spec Camo1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood B Spec Camo Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood B Spec Camo Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Blue Snake1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Blue Snake Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Blue Snake Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Candy Snake1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Candy Snake Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood ACandy Snake Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Confederate1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Confederate Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Confederate Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Dark Stripes1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Dark Stripes Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Dark Stripes Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Digital ACU1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Digital ACU Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Digital ACU Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Explode1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Explode Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Explode Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Fireball5 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Fireball Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Fireball Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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G Spec Cam1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood G Spec Cam Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood G Spec Cam Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Galaxy3 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Galaxy Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Galaxy Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Gecko1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Gecko Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Gecko Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Liberty1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Liberty Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Liberty Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Light Stripes1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Light Stripes Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Light Stripes Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Pink Camo1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Pink Camo Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Pink Camo Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Urban Camo1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Urban Camo Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Urban Camo Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Woodland Camo1 Atwood Paracord Updated Atwood Woodland Camo Paracord – 100 Foot — $6.95 — Atwood Woodland Camo Paracord – 100 Foot MADE IN THE USA 550 LB. TEST 7 STRAND CORE 100% NYLON
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Demystifying Camouflage: What’s it All About?

Posted on February 20, 2012 by admin
We’ve always had the choice of standing out or being part of the crowd. We could make ourselves known by all and everything around us; we could blend in quietly and become the fly on the wall, watching but not making an impression.

Camouflage allows us to blend in with our surroundings. While you might think of camouflage as a comparatively new invention, camouflage has been around since life on Earth took root. 

What is camouflage?

Camouflage is the way animals, people or things blend in with their environment, rendering them nearly invisible.

Animals big and small use camouflage to hide from predators or lure prey into complacency. In nature, patterns can become extremely complex or simply mystifying. Take the scorpionfish. It can hide among intricate coral reefs absolutely unnoticed by passing prey due to its body color and shape. Once a smaller fish swims too close, the scorpionfish will lunge forth and swallow its meal.

Humans have done their best to learn from nature, too, and that’s evident in our many feats of engineering. We build trains with metal birds’ beaks (for the aerodynamics) and bridges that mimic spiders’ webs (for strength). Though we’re pretty great at creating camouflage, we’re not yet at the point where we can imitate the chameleon’s color changing characteristics—at least not in common use. But wouldn’t that be something?

How do we use it?

Our military uses camouflage to disguise tanks, trucks, buildings, equipment, humans—anything that they want obscured, which is everything. Eyesight is a fickle thing, and those seemingly random camouflage patterns are all it takes to trick the human eye, forcing any person or animal to believe they’re looking at a solid background. It could give the soldiers a few much-needed seconds to get to safety or strike first.

Obviously, the soldiers use camouflage to blend in to the environment. Woodsmen and law enforcement officials do the same thing. However, average Joes also find camo useful.

Weekend warriors don the dark green and brown on excursions into the forest in search of that elusive 12-point buck. But they might not stop there; camouflage is useful to put on tree stands, duck blinds, backpacks, and even the body of the gun or bow itself. 
And sometimes it’s beneficial to be hidden, even if your life isn’t in danger and you’re just enjoying a walk in the woods. It’s how nature photographers get the shots you see inside National Geographic. Be assured they aren’t sauntering up to a mountain lion asking permission to snap a picture. They’re hidden in camouflaged blinds that the lion can’t see (and using a special lens, of course).

What kinds of camouflage are there?

Camo patterns are easily recognizable—as long as they’re not set in front of the background they imitate. Basic camouflage is simply a seemingly random pattern of like colors printed on a shirt, jacket, hat, gloves, anything at all.

You might think of camouflage as a one-design-works-for-everything material. But camouflage is a constantly improved by designers who strive to create the most indiscernible patterns for a variety of environments. The military constantly renews camouflage garments that must be worn by soldiers.

• To camouflage in the forest, we take a pattern with dark browns and greens
• Desert camouflage uses lighter, sandy colors
• Snow camouflage is white

There are literally hundreds of different camouflage patterns used my armed forces around the world, as well as outdoorsman. Each has different colors, shapes, and patterns.

For hunters, how camouflaged you become is also dependent on the kind of game you’re going after. Squirrels and rabbits aren’t extremely intelligent, so you don’t need to put on your ghillie suit to nab some rab’. 

However, mightier animals are more wary of your presence—elk, bears, that elusive 12-point buck (he’s old for a reason). So you’ll need to take extra precautions when stalking them. 

For example, camouflage isn’t just about blending colors. Humans and other animals can still recognize shapes despite matching patterns and colors—the profile of a man kneeling through the bushes in dim light, for example. That outline is recognizable to a wary animal.

To really camouflage yourself, use a ghillie suit. You’ll look like Swamp Thing walking around your living room, but aside from invisibility, it’s the best way to hide yourself among the bush. A ghillie suit matches the color of the environment, but adds actual pieces (or look-alikes) of that environment as well: sticks, leaves, vines, flowers, mud or grass. This breaks up the linear nature of your outline. And now you’re simply part of the forest floor.

Wait, where’d you go?
 
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Welcome to the Barre Army Navy Store Blog

Posted on January 2, 2012 by admin

This is your ticket to all things army and navy surplus. This blog is also where you can leave feedback by commenting on posts, so feel free to speak your mind.

Barre Army Navy Store is your one-stop shop for all military surplus goods. We have a full range of army and navy merchandise, all at competitively low prices. From ghillie suits to army boots to dog tags, you can find all the military supplies and clothing you could possibly need here.

We feature a wide range of merchandise for all shoppers. Campers, fishermen, hikers, mountaineers, and outdoorsmen from all walks of life should be satisfied with our camping and survival sections. We have everything you could possibly need to survive and enjoy the great outdoors, including tents, outdoor cooking supplies, and bags and backpacks.

At Barre Army Navy Store, we pride ourselves in our customer service. As such, we devote a great deal of time and energy to ensuring the customer’s satisfaction.

Through our blog, we hope to open the lines of communication. We’ll keep you in the know about any upcoming deals, sales, or giveaways and make sure you know everything that’s going on around the store. Feel free to leave comments and feedback. Keep this blog bookmarked.

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