Welcome back to another edition of TFB’s Silencer Saturday brought to you by Yankee Hill Machine, manufacturer’s of the YHM Nitro N20 modular titanium suppressor. Last weekend was the final exam for my horse grooming certification, so Adam was nice enough to step in and take the reigns. If you missed it, he reviewed the […]
Freezing Cold in our Photo Of The Day as paratroopers assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 377th Parachute Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, U.S. Army Alaska, fire an M2 machine gun. The location is the Grezelka range, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska and the pictures were taken in 2019. The […]
Photo Of The Day and we go to a snow-covered Russia to look for an operator of the 9K111 Fagot wire-guided anti-tank missile system as well as snipers. The 9K111 can be used either from ground or vehicle mounts. The units are from the special forces of the air defense in the Pskov region. Below […]
Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., on Sunday said federal authorities should investigate Amazon, Google, and Apple for racketeering charges after the tech giants said they blocked social media site Parler for not doing enough to moderate incendiary talk.
An investigator with Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) said the Sriwijaya Air jet that crashed into the Java Sea with 62 people on board over the weekend possibly broke apart when it hit waters based on debris found so far.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is now being taught in schools and offered readily in even the most rural areas. Most people don’t have an issue doing chest compressions; however, when it came to mouth-to-mouth breathing, that was always going to be “somebody else’s job.” Beyond the uncomfortable idea of putting your lips against a stranger’s, there’s always a risk of that stranger coughing up fluids or vomiting while you’re performing the task. Fortunately, two things have made that less of a hindrance for people. First, in 2008, the American Heart Association approved Hands Only CPR (cpr.heart.org/en/cpr-courses-and-kits/hands-only-cpr) to increase involvement of bystanders who might be unwilling to provide rescue breathing. The Second Option is to use a CPR mask when performing rescue breathing.
Most shields or CPR masks are lightweight, but can be difficult to keep track of on scene. Most people found the pocket masks to be cumbersome, and they weren’t carried often by those who were trained in CPR. This perhaps led to the Hands Only CPR as a viable option that didn’t seem to alter outcomes. Many purists of CPR believe rescue breathing is still an important aspect of CPR. We looked at several options for those who want to pursue rescue breathing with a barrier between themselves and the victim.
My Medic Face Shield
This product provides additional protection for the rescuer by adding both a one-way valve and a barrier filter. A mouthpiece makes it easy to use. Instructions are printed on the face shield. This shield is latex-free and is a one-time-use product. There’s no expiration date on the face shield.
Cons: May be difficult to use in inclement or windy weather
WNL Products Adult/Child CPR Mask in Hard Red Case
The latex-free Adult/Child CPR mask by WNL Products comes with a hard case, one pair of gloves, a one-way valve, and the mask. This can be used multiple times and comes with instructions on how to clean the product. The one-way valve, however, is disposable and only meant for one-time use. There’s no shelf life on the mask; however, the alcohol wipe typically dries out over time and may need to be replaced every few years.
Dimensions: 4.25 by 5.25 by 1.75 inches Weight: 0.3 Pound MSRP: $8 URL: www.wnlproducts.com
Pros: Better sight line of chest expansion More distance from patient Fits in cargo pants pocket
Cons: Placement on victim can take some getting used to Bulky to wear on belt No oxygen inlet
Persys Medical PBVM-C / PBVM-G
The Pocket Bag Valve Mask (PBVM) by Persys is offered in four iterations depending on needs or desires. This is a silicone-based, collapsible, and easily storable pocket bag valve mask. It has many advantages over a simple mask in that it not only includes an oxygen port, but can also deliver 500 to 600cc of air by squeezing the 1.6-liter bag. It’s also Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) compatible (PBVM-NM), for what that’s worth. The shelf life is reportedly five years, and this is a single-use product. The PBVM-G (olive) version includes 6½ feet of O2 tubing to be hooked up to a tank.
Pros: Better oxygen volume delivery Can fit in most cargo pants pockets
Cons: Size makes it harder to carry More expensive than basic masks May be difficult to use if untrained
Ambu Res-Cue Key
The mask is latex-free and contains a one-way valve, making it easier to blow through. The instructions are printed on a card, not on the mask. The loops that secure the mask around the ears make this good for a more secure fit and use in inclement weather conditions. It’s recommended for both children and adults. This is a one-time-use product.
Pros: Keychain makes it readily available Mask resembles surgical mask with ear loops Easiest of these facial shields to blow through
Cons: Mask is bound with tape and can be difficult to open quickly. Instructions on a card, not the mask
Laerdal Face Shield
This option is a low-cost, convenient, and effective barrier that reduces risk of droplet exposure. Instructions are clearly marked on the plastic shield. It has a 3M Filtrete hydrophobic filter that’s flush with the plastic barrier. It’s easy to blow through the filter. There’s nothing to secure the shield, so it needs to be held in place. This is a one-time-use product. There’s no expiration date; however, the shelf life is listed at a minimum of 10 years.
Price: $14.95 for a Pack of 20 on Amazon. Purchase Here.
Dimensions: 3.5 H by 2.75 W by 0.25 D inches Weight: 0.2 Ounces MSRP: $3 each / $15 for 20 URL: www.narescue.com
Pros: Portability Low cost
Cons: Difficult to use in wet or windy environments
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Gear Up: New Survival Gear for December 2020Walls Outdoor Goods | Angus Worn-In Stretch Light Work Jacket
SIZING: Medium through XXL
MSRP: $90
URL: www.walls.com
With the temperature dropping in most of the Northern […]
In my job as a firefighter and rescue technician, there are times when I need to venture off the beaten path to suppress forest fires or rescue injured hikers. While my crew and I can certainly hike, carrying loads of 50 pounds, it’s faster, safer, and more efficient if we can drive ourselves and our equipment up the mountains and through the hiking trails. But rough unpaved terrain has its challenges, and flat tires happen far more often than we’d like. When the inevitable flat tire happens, having the right tools available can not only make life easier, it can literally save the day. One great device I’ve added to my arsenal of professional tools is a Pro Eagle Jack, specifically the Big Wheel Off Road model. At first glance, this jack looks like an ordinary mechanic’s tool with a simple pump mechanism that slides easily under a car. I’m happy to say it’s far from ordinary.
Above: The 3 Ton Big Wheel Off Road Jack “KRATOS” by Pro Eagle offers extremely useful enhancements to this basic tool. The partially assembled jack arrives without the wheels, pump handle, and extension mounting bracket attached.
The first visual indicator that this is no ordinary jack are the large wheels, positioned prominently on each side. With the front wheels measuring 6 inches and the rear wheels measuring 8 inches, they do what an ordinary jack cannot — roll over obstacles. Sticks, gravel, and extension cords are no longer an impediment to proper placement of this jack. Another fairly unique upgrade on the Pro Eagle jack is a skid plate mounted underneath. Not only does the skid plate assist the jack sliding over rough obstacles that would hamper an ordinary jack, it also assists in supporting the load when the ground is soft enough for the wheels to sink in. As a load is jacked up and the dirt, sand, or gravel begin to give way underneath the wheels of the jack, the load is picked up by the skid plate, effectively making the entire underside a contact point with the ground. Anytime you’re off pavement, this built-in feature is a time and trouble saver.
The second visual indicator that there’s something different about this jack are the large carrying handles welded onto the sides. These make lifting the jack in and out of your vehicle a lot easier. When you have to heft a 50-plus-pound hunk of metal anywhere, handles are extremely useful!
Above: The jack ships securely in Styrofoam, requiring some minor assembly.
The third visual indicator that draws your eye to the Pro Eagle jack is the lifting pad extension that’s mounted sideways near the pump handle. When you’re dealing with high-clearance vehicles featuring oversized tires, it’s not unusual for an ordinary jack to run out of lift height before the wheels of the vehicle are off the ground. The available extensions, which come in 8- and 15-inch versions, utilize a twist lock connection to the lifting point to ensure they remain safely in place during operation. While I haven’t been able to confirm it myself, I did read several user comments online that indicated that the Pro Eagle Off Road Jack Extensions also perfectly fit some other “standard” mechanic jacks, increasing their versatility and usefulness.
The jack comes partially disassembled in a large box surrounded by Styrofoam. The wheels need to be installed, with snap rings, along with the lifting pad extension mount and the jack handle. When I first read the assembly instructions, I was a little surprised that they required a special tool to properly affix the wheels, namely a snap ring plier. Then, I was happily surprised that Pro Eagle actually included a tiny version of the tool with the jack.
Installation of the wheels was very straightforward until I came across one wheel that wouldn’t sit deeply enough on the axle shaft to seat the snap ring. Initially, I thought the nut holding the axle shaft in place simply wasn’t tight enough and was preventing the wheel hub from sliding far enough on, but after some internet sleuthing and closer inspection, it turns out that the wheel bearing on one of the wheels wasn’t pressed into place quite enough during manufacturing. With the assistance of a 1 1/16-inch socket and a soft-faced hammer, I was able to properly seat the wheel bearing, which in turn allowed me to easily seat the provided snap ring. After this issue was rectified, the remainder of the assembly went smoothly and easily.
Above: The big wheel Pro Eagle Jack easily rolled over gravel and lifted the entire rear end of a UTV.
Deploying the Pro Eagle Jack
In testing, I made a point to roll this jack over a variety of terrain, from grass to silty dirt to gravel. The Pro Eagle jack tackled all of it with ease.
A wall/vehicle mount is available, as is a 2-inch hitch ball lifting plate for securely lifting a trailer, and several graphic kits (wraps) if you prefer your jack to be red, blue, white, or green. In the unlikely event you need to replace part of the jack, most of the parts are available individually, including a replacement pump, axles, and wheels. There are also two smaller and lighter 1.5-ton and 2-ton versions of the jack.
With a mighty 3-ton capacity, 28 inches of lift, and oversized wheels, the Pro Eagle 3-ton Big Wheel Off Road Jack offers all the features any off-roader could want.
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in OFFGRID #41.
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CAPACITY: 32 Liters (1,963 Cubic Inches)
MSRP: $169
URL: www.arcteryx.com
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Gear Up: New Survival Gear for December 2020Walls Outdoor Goods | Angus Worn-In Stretch Light Work Jacket
SIZING: Medium through XXL
MSRP: $90
URL: www.walls.com
With the temperature dropping in most of the Northern […]
Keeping Your Finances Afloat Above CovidAmericans face challenging financial times as the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the economy. The definition of how society and the economy works is changing as companies […]
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