Would’ve loved to check out the coast more but alas I only had a short stint on eileson/Wainwright providing medical coverage for arctic survival. I’ll say I’ve never felt more alone than out in the middle of Wainwright, until a f15 would see us and do a low flyover to mess with us.

I understand what you mean, I’ve been everywhere from Antarctica to Afghanistan, I’ve seen it too. Then again a revolver in your face doesn’t exactly scream “victim” regardless of circumstances.

Or planning to not be a victim.

Honestly....no, and I’m speaking from experience. I’ve been a medic at the USAF’s survival school for some years. I carry a fire starter, but also a bic lighter. I’ve gotten WAY more use & longevity from the lighter. Furthermore I’ve found old lighters numerous times on the ground, in the woods, in parking lots, in…

I just hand built my desk and used one of these on it (took the lower bracket off and mounted it directly to the desk). Before I did that I took each of the nuts out where the arm actually articulates and put a few drops of waste motor oil in there to lube it up. It's now smoother than the really expensive mounts I've…

I just hand built my desk and used one of these on it (took the lower bracket off and mounted it directly to the…

Israeli bandages are awesome! I have a little trauma module I keep in my car and all it consists of is 2 CATs, quick clot (z-fold), and 2 Israeli bandages.

Whenever I gotta teach SABC (self aid and buddy care) I usually tell them to grab a roll of tape and just wrap the whole thing a couple of times for the same reason. If you're applying a tourniquet you are likely in a situation requiring some kind of extrication, a scenario ripe for loosening tourniquets.

I actually just read this comic the other day! Made me laugh....though, you don't want to apply a tourniquet to snake bites actually.....or "suck" out the poison.

Honestly that is some old school thinking and has cost a LOT of lives. Tourniquets have routinely been applied and removed (in a higher echelon of care) 6, 8, 12+ hrs with ZERO ill effects to the patient. Cellular ischemia in the limb doesn't take place as quickly as was previously believed, furthermore most…

All good points, and it's funny you mention that it was contrary to how you where taught in the Navy - as that change in the standard of care came about BECAUSE of combat medics in the last decade or so of war (we have a greater understanding of how to manage trauma effectively more now than ever). Last time I was…

Solid information, but I wouldn't select this specific tourniquet. There's a reason the military uses CAT tourniquets - they're simple, cheap, and have a proven track record. If you guys at lifehacker are interested in tactical medicine, trauma, wilderness medicine, or anything like that I wouldn't mind contributing.…

Unless you've got some crazy pain tolerance your doc is going to know from your demeanor alone where you're sitting, the pain scale is to fine tune it and see where you're at psychologically. Granted "pain is what the patient says it is" but VERY often people inflate it in the belief it's going to get them…

I've been a Dune fanatic for as long as I can remember. I've logged more hours on all of the Dune games than might be considered sane. If someone where to make a real GOOD sequel to Emperor: Battle for Dune, I'd probably loose my god damned mind.

Of course, of course, I agree. I just figured most everyone already understood that. I shouldn't assume though, should I?

The department of Fabrique Nationale is much more reliable in these situations.

Stop applying logic to how the politicians govern us military folk. That apparently doesn't work. My "stop giving General Officers personal drivers & cars" argument to help not cut everyone's base pay didn't hold up for the same reason.

I knew I wasn't the only one who immediately thought of that.

"I live by morals, I don't live by laws,"

Excellent....

I watched "Independence Day" when I was like 5 and ever since have had an irrational fear of aliens. Not really abduction, but the commonly portrayed big eyes, big head, skinny limbs kind just freak me the hell out. Anyway, where I'm going with this is that picture is going to keep me up all god damned night. And I…