The Meaning of the UV Index Scale

Surviving the sun's harmful rays is easier when following the UV Index scale

Photo by Charlene Marie

For many years, scientists have been studying the sun and its effects on our habitat. In order to measure the sun’s rays, a scale called the UV or ultraviolet Index scale was created. This handy little chart is used frequently by meteorologists and lets us know when exposure to the sun is dangerous. Today, Survivalists Outfitter will give you a breakdown of this colorful safeguard and  explain what you should know about protecting yourself from the sun.

In a nutshell, ultraviolet rays are a form of radiation emitted by the sun that can cause damage to human skill cells, if overexposure occurs. Although they are invisible to human eye, they can have a vast effect on our body.

Check out the illustration of the UV Index scale below and see what the colors and numbers mean.

Illistration courtesy of epa.gov

Green: 2 or less

When looking at the UV Index scale, think of it like a sideways traffic light. If you see green, you are good to go outside. You will still get some exposure to the sun, so it is always a good idea to wear sunglasses and a light sunscreen, if you are sensitive to the sun.

Yellow: 3 to 5

A yellow block on the UV Index means there is a moderate risk of harm due to sun exposure. In other words, if you plan on being outside for a long period of time, find shade during the brightest hours of the day and take advantage of sunscreen and protective eyewear.

Fun fact: Did you know that bees can see ultraviolet rays?

Orange: 6 to 7

If you see orange on the UV Index, take precautionary measures and limit your exposure. This means the sun’s rays are strong and can cause damage quickly if skin is exposed. Definitely use a heavier sunscreen, at least an SPF 20 or above and protect your eyes. Utilizing a brimmed hat is beneficial when the UV Index is high.

Red: 8 to 10

If you see red on the UV Index, stop and think before stepping out into the light. Red is an indicator that the UV rays are very harsh. Wear your sunglasses and lather your skin with an even thicker sunscreen. SPF 35 or above is typically better. Make sure sunscreen is reapplied if excess sweating occurs and try to stay out of the sun for long periods of time.

Sunglasses like these TAG Heuer 0231 402 Speedway series will help protect your eyes

Purple: 11 +

A purple color on the UV index means the sun’s rays are extremely dangerous to unprotected skin. Since burning can occur at a rapid rate, make sure you cover up, bring your UV-protective shades, hat and do not leave without sunscreen. On days when the UV index is so extreme, it might be best to enjoy an indoor activity.

Keep your eyes on the UV Index and help protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays. Your body will thank you in the long run!

Do you have any comments or suggestions about today’s blog? Let us know!

~Charlene Marie

How to Survive in the Desert

Staying smart while being stranded in an unfamiliar place

Being prepared for a vacation or road trip is always important. In different climates and parts of the globe, supplies may be limited; therefore, if you’re traveling an unfamiliar area, it is good to know what to bring and do in case of emergency. Today, Survivalists Outfitter is here with a few tips on how to survive when stranded in desert conditions.

Before you travel anywhere, the first step is always to get organized for your long trek. If you know you will be traveling through the desert, here are a few supplies you should consider bringing:

·         Extra water

·         Extra snacks (energy snacks such as mixed fruit and nuts are beneficial)

·         Lightweight, white or light-colored garments that fully cover arms and legs (to reflect sun)

·         Lightweight hat with visor

·         Sunglasses

·         Sunscreen with SPF 50 or higher

·         Blanket

·         Coat or jacket (It can get very chilly at night in the desert)

·         Small tent or sun shade

·         Emergency car kit with jumper cables

·         Spare tire

·         Extra gas can with gas

2 Gallon Enviro-Flo Plus Gas Can

·         Paper map or road atlas

·         GPS

·         Regular magnetic compass

·         Cell phone, charger

·         Backpack

·         Flashlight

·         Matches or lighter

·         Survival knife

 SOG Aegis Folding Knife 

Another thing that is recommended, get your vehicle checked by a trustworthy mechanic to make sure your engine is running well and all of your fluids are topped off before you leave. Also, it might come in handy to print off a cellular service coverage map to see if your provider has service where you’re traveling.

If you have checked off everything on the preparation list and your car still ends up turning into a stranded hot-mess on a deserted, desert highway, miles away from the nearest exit, here are a few things that you can do:

1.       Don’t panic. Fear can cause excess sweating and retaining water is crucial

2.       Call for help. If there is no cell phone signal, shut it off or keep it on standby to conserve your battery.

3.       Check your map or GPS to see how far you are from the nearest exit

 Bushnell BackTrack GPS Gray/Orange GPS w/Compass

4.       If the sun is beating down, change into white or light-colored clothing, apply sunscreen to exposed skin, find shade nearby or set up your sunshade or open tent near your vehicle. Try to limit walking or movement to avoid sweating. Do not stay in your car. Stay hydrated.

5.       If you still haven’t been rescued by dusk, pack water, snacks, blanket, coat, tent/sunshade, flashlight, matches, map, GPS, compass and coat in your backpack and get ready to head down the road to search for a cellular signal.

6.       Travel in the direction of the nearest exit.

7.       If you are many miles from the nearest exit or from a cellphone signal on your handy cellular printout, many experts would advise you to stay close to your vehicle and keep waiting for a passerby and signal for help. 

Worst case scenario

If you have been stranded for a few days and have run out of supplies, here are a few things you can do to survive:

·         Locate water by finding green vegetation such as a cactus (cut pieces off and squeeze it), digging by dry creek beds, noticing where birds fly and following animal trails.

·         Dig a hole about two feet deep by three feet across and put a cup in the middle of the hole. Cover the hole with a plastic bag and add rocks around the bag to hold it steady. Place a rock in the middle of the plastic and condensation will drip into the cup once the air and the ground heat up. 

·         Keep a fire going at night to frighten off animals and to signal vehicles that could pass by

·         Hungry? Eat insects. They are actually high in protein and are nutritious. If you are a little more daring, you can always cook up a snake

·         Beware of poisonous snakes, spiders and Gila Monsters

·         Experts say if you don’t have enough water to aid in digestion, avoid eating if you can. If you do eat, you can dehydrate faster. 

Hopefully getting stranded in the desert isn’t anything that happens to you; however, if it does, these tips may become useful.

Have any other comments or suggestions? Let us know!

Stay safe and happy traveling!

~Charlene Marie

Classic Holiday Movies

Survive boredom with these great holiday films

 

Are you looking for something to get you in the holiday spirit? Look no further than your trusty television! The big networks are playing plenty of great flicks that can turn a frown into a happy holiday smile. Check out what movies made this year’s top ten list courtesy of myfoxny.com! These movies are in no particular order:

                                                    1. Elf

                                                    2. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

                                                    3. A Christmas Story

Photo courtesy of stefannholm.com

                                                   4. Home Alone

                                                   5. The Holiday

                                                   6. White Christmas

                                                   7. It’s a Wonderful Life

                                                   8. Miracle on 34^th Street

Photo courtesy of setsailmotivation.com

                                                  9. White Christmas

                                                 10. Bad Santa

What’s your favorite?

If you don’t see what you’re looking for on your local TV guide, check out your provider’s On Demand list. Most cable and satellite will have a special category for holiday films for you to view for free. Some providers even offer holiday music and a channel with a burning yule log for your enjoyment!

Relax, have fun and enjoy a great classic film this holiday season!

~Charlene Marie

Pair This with That: Survivalist Tools

There are some gift ideas out there that can complement each other; let us show you how.

Ever wonder what to get for the person who has everything? You’re not the only one! Just when you feel that there is nothing more that you could possibly get, think about what you can do to enhance or make use of what that special someone already has. For instance, if your recipient has a swanky, new coffee maker, why not get them some gourmet coffee to brighten their morning?  Below are some great gift ideas to pair or add on to products that may get a lot of use:

Here are a few gifts that can be paired with survivalist tools:

Do you know a knife collector?  Pair a sturdy knife with an informative knife book or guide!

5.11 Tactical Scout Folding Knife

If you know an avid hunter, combine a new holster with a gun cleaning kit!

5.11 Tactical Thumbdrive Hip Holster



 

           Pelican LED Tactical Flashlight                                                                                Springfield flashlight holder

Delve into your recipient’s interests and see what he or she enjoys.  A practical, yet personalized gift can go a long way!

Have any questions or comments on today’s blog? Let us know!

Happy shopping!

~Charlene Marie



How to Make Aspirin in the Wilderness

A nifty little guide to the wild-side of aspirin

Have ever gotten stuck in the woods with a pounding headache or had a nasty sprain, but did not have anything to relieve the pain? Believe it or not, there is a way you can take care of these issues without ending your jaunt in the wilderness early and running to your local pharmacy. The key is in part of a tree and Survivalists Outfitter has the answer.

Bark up the right tree

The solution to making your own aspirin is getting the right type of bark. Trees with the right elements are listed below:

·         Quaking, trembling or American aspen (also known as poplar trees)

·         Bigtooth aspen

·         White willow/European willow

·         Black willow/pussy willow

·         Crack willow

·         Weeping willow

·         Purple willow

Weeping Willow

All of these trees contain salicin. This is the main ingredient that is used to treat aches and pains, just like in the store-bought, synthetic version, acetylsalicylic acid or ‘aspirin.’

How to harvest salicin

To turn salicin into what we know as aspirin, here are the quick and easy steps:

1.       Break a small branch off of a willow or aspen tree.

2.       Using a knife, peel off the woody, outer layer of bark.

3.       Scrape or peel fragments of the inner bark that are small enough to chew

4.       Chew the fresh inner bark and swallow the liquid. If you would rather dilute the bitter taste, simmer 2 teaspoons of inner bark in a cup of water and let cool. Strain the inner bark and enjoy.

Bark shavings photo courtesy of survivaltopics.com

Whether it is in tea form or straight inner bark, salicin can be consumed up to four times daily.

Have any questions about today’s blog? If so, let us know!

Keep informed and stay healthy!

~Charlene Marie

Holiday Fire: A True Story

A fire and the heroic deeds of a concerned neighbor

Since the weekend is hours away, I was planning on writing a more upbeat blog; however, due to the fact this can happen to anyone, I figured I’d share a true story that could save a home or possibly even a life.

Since the weather has been becoming quite chilly, the homeowners felt that there’s nothing better than warm, relaxing fire to wrap up the evening. After the logs were in place and the fire was set, the couple went about their business.

About an hour later, a loud, hard banging noise at the door alarmed the homeowners. Bam, bam bam! “What in the world?” the lady of the house thought to herself, as she sprung up from her computer. As she scurried down the stairs, she saw that her husband was nowhere in sight. Bewildered by the situation, she decided to investigate and went outside to find her significant other. What she saw next, was a shocking sight.

Flames were shooting out of the side of her house, while her husband and neighbor were dousing the flames with a garden hose and fire extinguisher! “Holy cow,” she exclaimed as she ran back in the house to check on the fireplace. On the inside, the fire was still burning as it normally would. The only thing she noticed was that one of the logs seemed to be touching the back wall of the fireplace.

Seconds later, the flames were out, due to the handy work of the neighbor and a trusty fire extinguisher. Armed with a few pot holders and a shovel, he quickly loaded the burnt logs and fireplace grate into a wheelbarrow and dumped them out into the driveway to cool. After dousing the inside of the hot mantel with water, the fire department arrived and tore what was left to the wooden siding off the damaged area of the house.

Actual photo of the damage

Apparently, the fire in the fireplace heated up the blocks so much, that it cracked the cement sealant and started a fire on the outside of the house. At least that is what is understood. After the house is inspected, the couple will know for sure.

As for the lady of the house, that was me.

I wanted to share this story to make my readers more aware what can happen when you least expect it. I’ve also compiled a few fire safety tips to help keep you and your own family safe. One can never be too careful when it comes to fire.

Fire safety tips:

· Have your chimney swept and cleaned once a year

· Have heating equipment inspected once per year

· Clean all ducts including clothes dryer ducts every year

· Test some detectors once a month

· Change batteries in a smoke detector once a year

· Avoid overloading electrical outlets

· Discard holiday light strings with frayed wires, cracked sockets or loose connections

· Keep decor, curtains and furniture at least three feet from any sources of heat

· Do not leave candles burning without being watched

· Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach

· Use clothes dryers ONLY while someone is home or awake

· Never leave the room while cooking

· Keep fire extinguishers around the house in case of emergency

· Do not purchase a dry or brittle Christmas tree

· Turn off space heaters and extinguish fireplaces while sleeping or when leaving home

· Make sure halogen lights are away from anything flammable

· Have a fire escape route and meeting place mapped out

· Do not smoke in bed or while sleepy

· Stop, drop and roll, if clothing catches fire

· Always stay low to the ground, if escaping a fire

Hopefully this situation doesn’t happen to you.

Thanks for taking the time to read my story as well as these fire safety tips. I also would like to thank my company for allowing me to share my story and most of all, a huge thank you to my neighbor for his kindness, concern, quick thinking and action. If it wasn’t for him and his son, I might not be writing this article today! I don’t think I can say thanks enough!

Please feel free to pass my story along and keep these fire safety tips in mind.

Stay safe!

~Charlene Marie

Welcome Survivalists, Hunters, Campers and Outdoor Enthusiasts!

Since we got so busy writing about the holidays, we never properly introduced ourselves.

Photo by Charlene Marie

Hello and welcome to the Survivalists Outfitter blog site! We are your source for survival tools, equipment and supplies! We love the great outdoors and we offer fantastic tools to help you enjoy it!

If you are searching for just the right holster, flashlight or scope mounts, we’ve got you covered. These items are only just a fraction of our inventory! Check out our categories below and you might just be surprised at what you find!

• Barrels and Choke Tubes
• Cleaning Equipment
• Flashlights and Batteries
• Grips, Pads and Stocks
• Holsters
• Magazines
• Misc. Accessories
• Scope Mounts
• Sights and Lasers

For even more great items, visit us at www.survivalistsoutfitter.com.

If there are too many items to choose from, just type what you need into our site’s handy search box!

We will also be having some great sales coming up for the holidays. Starting December 1, we will be launching “The 12 days of Christmas” campaign, featuring a different product daily!

Keep an eye open for more interesting blogs, fun tweets and become our friend on Facebook, to stay in the know!

Speaking of knowing, we love to know what you think too! Feel free to leave any comments, suggestions or questions for us any time!

We want to welcome you once again and thank you for taking the time to find out more about us!

Until next time, keep enjoying the great outdoors!

~Charlene Marie

Poisonous Plants

There are a lot of things to know when it comes to survival and staying away from poisonous plants and berries are one of them. For instance, did you know that consuming the leaf blade of rhubarb can be fatal? The twigs and foliage of wild cherries can also be deadly. The components of the tree contain a compound that releases cyanide when eaten! These are only a few examples, there are plenty more!

Elephant’s Ear (Dieffenbachia):
This sizeable plant may be appealing to look at but if eaten, death can be a factor. All parts of this plant are poisonous and can cause an intense burning sensation to the lips, lounge and mouth. Death can occur if one’s tongue swells up and blocks the air passageway.

Foxglove:
These pretty plants can be extremely toxic. All parts of this plant can be fatal. A poisoned individual may experience convulsions, irregular heartbeats, confusion and digestive upset.

Foxglove photo courtesy of livescience.com

Mistletoe:
Mistletoe berries can be the kiss of death if eaten. These berries are toxic and even cattle have been killed due to grazing on them.

Poison Hemlock:
This is the plant that caused the philosopher, Socrates death. The roots, berries and foliage are deadly on this plant and consuming poison hemlock will cause gradual weakening of the muscles and eventually death due to paralysis of the lungs.

Poison hemlock photo courtesy of forestmanagementcenter.com

Potato:
A spud may not be your bud if you end up eating it’s vines, sprouts or spoiled portions. Death has occurred from consuming large amounts of the potato’s green parts.  

There are still plenty of other plants on this planet that can cause harm. If you are curious, I highly suggest purchasing or checking out a book such as All About Poisonous Plants by Sonia Davidson.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know!
~Charlene Marie