DEALING WITH THE RISK OF PANDEMIC - When we hear the word “pandemic” we tend to think of things like the Black Plague. Pandemics can quickly make it around the world, carried by those who have been infected. They, in turn, become the disease’s instrument to infect others. The flu, which goes around and around the world, fulfills the definition of a pandemic. However, it’s not normally referred to as such, simply because of the low percentage of victims who die of it. Like influenza, coronavirus isn’t one single virus, but a family of seven. A couple of these strains, SARS and MERS are rather serious. Yet, even the more benign version that is spreading today is taking victims. So far, all of the victims of this epidemic are located in Wuhan, China. They have all been old men. So, it’s likely that they had some other underlying condition, which made them especially vulnerable to the disease. It is also likely that it was a combination of that condition and the virus which ended up killing them, not just the coronavirus alone.

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How To Deal With The Risk Of Pandemic

coronavirus isn’t one single virus, but a family of seven

By Bill White 

The recent report of the first victim of the Chinese coronavirus, here in the United States, has sparked concern about a potential pandemic affecting us here at home.

The deadly virus has already claimed the lives of 18 victims and there are over 600 confirmed cases worldwide.

While the vast majority of those cases are in the city of Wuhan, China, the virus has spread to other parts of China, as well as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and now the U.S.

The Chinese government is taking action to stop the spread of the virus, banning travel from the seven cities which have seen the worst outbreaks, including Wuhan, the birthplace of the pandemic.

Likewise, the US government is taking the pandemic seriously, limiting international flights from the potentially infected areas of China to five U.S. airports.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has sent 100 workers to these airports to set up screening centers for incoming passengers.

The one case that has shown up in the United States is a man who recently returned from China, where he obviously contracted the disease.

Experiencing flu-like symptoms on his return, he went to his family doctor, who had him admitted to the hospital.

At this point, we don’t know if he managed to infect anyone else, before being hospitalized.

Typically, a patient is contagious before the onset of frank symptoms. In the case of the flu, for example, people are typically contagious for two days, before there are any obvious symptoms.

With an incubation period of anywhere from two to ten days, it is hard to say how many potential victims he had contact with, before recognizing he was ill.

The real question for us is: how seriously should you and I be taking this?

Is this potentially as bad as the Ebola pandemic of 2014? How much risk do we face and what precautions should we make?

Let’s Get This Straight

When we hear the word “pandemic” we tend to think of things like the Black Plague, the worst in history, which killed off 60 percent of the European population in the 14th century.

But by definition, a pandemic is a “regional” epidemic. In other words, it’s an epidemic that hits several neighboring countries in the same region of the world.

Perhaps it’s time for that definition to change. With modern air travel being so prevalent, any epidemic can easily spread to other countries; and it’s not limited to spreading to neighboring countries either.

As we’ve seen in this case, pandemics can quickly make it around the world, carried by those who have been infected. They, in turn, become the disease’s instrument to infect others.

In a sense, we live with pandemics every year, although they are not commonly referred to as such.

The flu, which goes around and around the world, fulfills the definition of a pandemic. However, it’s not normally referred to as such, simply because of the low percentage of victims who die of it.

But what About the Coronavirus?

It’s not widely known, but according to the CDC website, the flu accounts for anywhere between 12,000 to 61,000 deaths per year.

Most of the time, those deaths are caused by a combination of the flu and some other disease; either a pre-existing respiratory problem or contracting pneumonia due to the flu.

If one has renal problems or is dehydrated and contracts the flu, the chance of dehydration is increased, with the potential of leading to death.

The elderly, who often have already weakened immune systems, and the very young seem to be the most susceptible to dying from the flu.

But the percentage of people who die from the flu is actually extremely low.

With a potential of 60.8 million cases of flu per year, even the highest death toll recorded by CDC is only one-tenth of one percent of total cases.

I’m not being cavalier about that; but one-tenth of one percent is much better than 2.8 percent, which is the current statistic for the coronavirus or 80 percent, which is typical for Ebola.

Like influenza, coronavirus isn’t one single virus, but a family of seven (there are four major strains of flu).

A couple of these strains, SARS and MERS are rather serious, much more serious than what’s being experienced in China. Yet, even the more benign version that is spreading today is taking victims.

So far, all of the victims of this epidemic are located in Wuhan, China. They have all been old men.

So, it’s likely that they had some other underlying condition, which made them especially vulnerable to the disease.

It is also likely that it was a combination of that condition and the virus which ended up killing them, not just the coronavirus alone.

Treating Coronavirus

We won’t know the full risk of the current coronavirus outbreak until CDC is able to quantify it and determine its parameters.

As of yet, we have very little information about it, let alone about how to kill the virus.

Although I have heard rumors of a vaccine, it is way too early to tell if it will work or if it will infect the very same people it is intended to protect.

One thing that most people don’t realize, is that unlike bacterial infections, which can be treated with antibiotics, there are no antiviral drugs that doctors can prescribe.

Medical science has had zero success in developing drugs that will combat viral infections.

Part of the reason for this is that there are so many different viruses out there. In addition to that, those are so simple that they mutate easily.

In fact, a large part of the reason that viral epidemics burn out is because the viruses mutate through successive generations, reducing their potency to the point where they no longer kill those they infect.

But that ability to mutate also makes it hard to develop antiviral drugs that work.

That’s why vaccines are so important. Vaccines are essentially a less virulent form of the virus.

As such, they don’t cause the full effects of the disease. Instead, they trigger the body’s immune system, causing it to develop antibodies that kill the virus.

Then, if the individual is exposed to the virus, their body’s immune system is already prepared to combat it, protecting them.

Surviving a Pandemic

It is unknown, as of yet, whether the one victim of the coronavirus here in the United States infected anyone else with the virus, before seeing his doctor.

It is quite possible that there were several days between the time he returned home and the time that symptoms began.

If that’s the case, he could have come into contact with a wide range of people, some of whom could have become infected as well.

I’m sure that the appropriate medical professionals in Washington state are working hard to identify everywhere that the victim went and everyone he came into contact with.

Those people will all be screened for the coronavirus, just like people returning to the US from China are. But all it would take is for them to miss one infected person, and the disease could begin spreading through the population.

How fast it might spread and how many people might become infected is anyone’s guess at this time.

Should this reach epidemic proportions here in the USA, we will need to take precautions to protect ourselves. If enough people do that, the disease will burn out. But just what sorts of precautions do we need to take?

All viral infections travel from animals to people or from people to people. Variants of the flu, like the swine flu and the bird flu, are named the way they are, because the virus first infected people by passing from those animals to people.

But then the virus started passing from one person to the next. This has been shown to be happening with the coronavirus.

But just how does it do that?

Viruses, and other disease-causing pathogens, normally travel from person to person through bodily fluids.

The most dangerous of these is called “aerosol” often mistaken for airborne. Truly airborne viruses can travel from one person to the next simply by breathing.

Recent studies of the flu virus indicate that it might travel in this manner. Previously, it was thought to only travel through aerosol. That’s bad enough.

Aerosol refers to tiny droplets of saliva and mucus which leave the body when one coughs or sneezes. These can travel several feet and be breathed in by other people.

They can also deposit on common surfaces, where others can get them on their hands. The virus then enters the body through the eyes or mouth, when the person rubs their eyes or eats with their hands.

As part of our natural defenses against sickness, our skin does an amazingly good job of keeping out viruses and other microscopic pathogens.

The only way they can get through the skin is through a natural opening, like those I just mentioned or through a cut or contusion in the skin.

Once inside, the viruses multiply, until they reach the point where they cause illness to appear in the person’s body.

Isolation

The easiest way to avoid infection is to avoid contact with other people.

In Tom Clancy’s book, “Executive Orders,” the President institutes a nationwide quarantine and closing of all public places of congregation, to stop a case of bio-warfare, where the Ebola virus had been released on the public.

The fear generated by that order reduced human interaction to the point where the epidemic died out.

While it might be impractical to cut off interaction with others altogether, a serious enough epidemic could make that necessary.

Had the people of Europe known about the spread of disease and instituted such a quarantine, the Black Death wouldn’t have claimed so many victims.

Even without a quarantine, it is possible to greatly reduce the risk of infection by the simple expedient of reducing contact with other people. If you are isolated from others, they can’t spread disease to you.

The risk associated with contact you must have can be mitigated by keeping enough distance between them and yourself, so that virus particles cannot travel from them to you via aerosol.

Low-Risk Protection

If you do have to have contact with others in the midst of an epidemic, it only makes sense to take some basic precautions.

Here we can learn from the medical community and what they do. The basic precautions they take are enough to protect them from almost any virus or bacteria.

What precautions am I talking about? Wearing medical masks to protect the nose and mouth from aerosol, rubber gloves on their hands and in some cases, going so far as to wear goggles, to protect the eyes from the aerosol as well.

They do this whenever they are with patients who are infected or who have a disease. Then when they leave those patients, they remove their gloves and wash their hands.

High-Risk Protection

For really severe diseases, like Ebola or Lass Fever, the medical community will step their precautions up a bit, wearing airtight suits that keep everything out.

The standard is the Racal suit, which comes with a helmet and an air handling system that cleans the air coming into the suit.

Unfortunately, the Racal suit is expensive, more than a thousand dollars. But we can make an effective substitute out of much lower cost items.

People doing hazard materials cleanup wear a Tyvek suit, which is a fibrous plastic, hoods, and booties to go over the shoes that exist as well.

One of these suits, with rubber gloves and a hood, will cover most of your body, especially if you tape the sleeve and pant cuffs to the gloves and booties.

It’s also a good idea to put on a second pair of gloves so that they can be removed if they become contaminated, without having to expose the hands to the air.

For the face, wear a gas mask, which will filter out the air, while protecting the openings in your skin.

When wearing a suit of this sort for protection, you have to assume that the suit will become contaminated. Therefore, you need a decontamination area outside your home, like on the back patio.

Before taking the suit off, the suit would need to be sprayed down with an antiseptic solution, then rinsed. Then it could be taken off and the individual could safely enter the house.

If you want to go one step further for extreme protection, build an airlock out of sheet plastic, just inside the door.

Place ultraviolet lights in this airlock, in such a way that the light will cover the entire body of someone standing in there.

Ultraviolet is uniformly fatal to viruses, so standing in there for a minute, ensuring that the light hits every part of the body, is a good second stage of decontamination.

The problem is, we’re dealing with things that are too small to see. You and your clothes or your Tyvek suit can look perfectly clean, but be covered with bacteria or viruses.

Since we have no safe way of telling if they are there, we must assume the worst and decontaminate thoroughly. That’s the only way to be sure and be safe

Written By Bill White

Bill White is the author of Conquering the Coming Collapse, and a former Army officer, manufacturing engineer and business manager. More recently, he left the business world to work as a cross-cultural missionary on the Mexico border. Bill has been a survivalist since the 1970s, when the nation was in the latter days of the Cold War. He had determined to head into the Colorado Rockies, should Washington ever decide to push the button. While those days have passed, the knowledge Bill gained during that time hasn’t. He now works to educate others on the risks that exist in our society and how to prepare to meet them. You can send Bill a message at editor [at] survivopedia.com.

https://www.survivopedia.com/how-to-deal-with-the-risk-of-pandemic/

NATURAL METHODS TO KEEP HOUSES COOL - Just imagine how miserable it would have been for folks in the scorching summer when their only option would be to vigorously wave a paper fan with their hands. People found plenty of natural methods to keep their houses cooler than the temperature outside. They identified ways to create a balance with the local environment. They employed methods of passive cooling to design houses in a way that is in accordance with the climate, enabling them to lower the temperature inside the house. Climate is most important in deciding how a building should be constructed. This must be done by taking into account the movement of the sun and wind on the site. The information that this provides determines the location of the rooms in the houses, so placing rooms in the opposite direction of the sun’s path would make the room naturally cooler than the others. Wind direction also plays an important role, as the flow of natural wind in a room would help keep it ventilated and cooler.

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Natural Methods To Keep Houses Cool

How Did Houses Cool Before ‘Air Conditioning’ Became A Thing?

Vishal Thakur  

Before the advent of artificial air conditioning, people used many different ways to cool their houses.

Some of these techniques included designing houses with respect to the surrounding environment, using evaporative cooling, wind-catchers, etc.

Summers can become an unbearable mess sometimes.

Rising temperatures in the afternoon, sun beating down on top of your head, roads filled with traffic and pollution… it all feels like a bad and very sweaty drag.

Fortunately, we now have the option of cushioning ourselves in an enclosed room with the temperature turned way down on the AC unit, effectively detaching ourselves from the heatwave going on outside.

This, of course, wasn’t always an option. The first air conditioning systems were powered back in 1902, meaning that artificial cooling is a relatively new phenomenon.

Just imagine how miserable it would have been for folks in the scorching summer when their only option would be to vigorously wave a paper fan with their hands.

Fortunately, they had more options then handheld fans, as people found plenty of natural methods to keep their houses cooler than the temperature outside.

They employed methods of passive cooling to design houses in a way that is in accordance with the climate, enabling them to lower the temperature inside the house.

Let’s look at some of the ways people naturally cooled their homes.

Ways in which houses were cooled naturally

Without modern technology, people relied heavily on the way houses were built in accordance with the local climate to maximize heat dissipation and thermal insulation.

Many buildings constructed today completely disregard this, as it is easy to simply build a box and slap electric air conditioning on the side.

In the past, people did not have this option, so they had to learn techniques to make houses as site-friendly and aligned with the climate as possible, making it completely natural.

These tricks were used to make their houses cooler:

House layout based on the climate of the site

As stated before, the climate of a site is one of the most important aspects of deciding how a building should be constructed.

This must be done by taking into account the movement of the sun and wind on the site.

The information that this provides determines the location of the rooms in the houses, so placing rooms in the opposite direction of the sun’s path would make the room naturally cooler than the others.

Wind direction also plays an important role, as the flow of natural wind in a room would help keep it ventilated and cooler.

Some very interesting examples include Indian step wells, which were dug underground in the shape of stairs.

The level underneath has water and as is away from sunlight, making it much cooler than the rooms above.

Shading of the house

Well-designed exterior shading of the house cuts off the harsh sunlight coming in during the afternoon.

This reduces the heat gain on the exterior surfaces of the house (windows and blank walls) and also ensures ambient temperatures in semi-open and outdoor areas of the house.

Initially, this shading was done with trees, but as techniques evolved, the shading could be achieved by an opaque slab running through the house (seen above modern windows), extended balconies, and perforated wooden shades called pergolas.

Examples of this are seen in Mughal architecture with jharokhas, which provide a separation of space, reducing the temperature of the room inside.

Thermal insulation

The thickness of the walls and the roof of the house plays an important role in transferring heat from the exterior to the interior.

Many materials are used to insulate this transfer, making the interior rooms much cooler.

These materials are stacked between the walls; some of the common ones are wool, cellulose fiber and glass fiber.

Thermal insulation boards are drilled on the back of the roof to avoid heat transfer.

Earth walls help a lot in insulating the houses, as it is a cooler material; adding splashes to the walls makes the incoming air cool and pleasant.

Natural Ventilation

Keeping windows facing the direction of the wind helps cool down rooms with the breeze.

Having two windows on two opposite walls or having a courtyard on one side helps this even further, as there is a constant flow of wind in the room, giving no time for the hot air to linger.

Innovative window-making techniques also help get rid of warm air. As warm air moves higher than cooler air, small vents were placed on the windows for its elimination, thus making the room cooler.

Black openings are also placed on the roof for the suctioning of warm air, with a wind tunnel on the ground to cool the incoming air.

Windcatcher

In use for thousands of years, a windcatcher is a small tower with an opening on the top.

The tower ‘catches’ the wind flowing above and forces it to enter the houses, thus cooling the interior. This is the simplest type of windcatcher.

Another type is used with a qanat, which is the opposite of the one described above. A qanat is an underground tunnel with a water body for the warm air to cool down.

The air then flows into the room and goes out of the opening on top of the tower, thus completing the ventilation cycle.

Evaporative Cooling

Our bodies cool through evaporation. As we exert energy and perspire (sweat), the evaporation cools our body down.

This same principle is used in making a room cooler through evaporation. Wet khas-mats hung on a window on a windy day will make the room cooler inside.

This method is so effective, in fact, that modern coolers use the same principles to operate.

The earliest example of this is the Egyptians using wet reeds on their windows to cool down their rooms.

Aqueducts

Romans gave us many engineering marvels and aqueducts are one of them.

Aqueducts are an underground network linked to a water supply and used to connect clear sources of water to community spaces and individual houses.

They were also used to take heat away from houses by pumping into the walls.

However, this was just for the elite, as it was an expensive system to develop and use.

These aqueducts were also used to fill Roman fountains, which were used to cool down the common public.

Conclusion

We’ve come a long way, from sprinkling water on our walls to installing electric air conditioners without a second thought.

People have always found ingenious ways to get some relief in the heat and identified ways to create a balance with the local environment.

As artificial air conditioning is not very environmentally friendly, we can still use some of these clever approaches when designing new buildings to reduce the need for artificial cooling!

Vishal is an Architect and a design aficionado. He likes making trippy patterns in his computer. Fascinated by technology’s role in humanity’s evolution, he is constantly thinking about how the future of our species would turn out – sometimes at the peril of what’s currently going on around him.

https://www.scienceabc.com/innovation/how-did-houses-cool-before-air-conditioning.html

Stepwells make the room on the lower floors cooler. 

Jarokha’s help shade rooms from the penetrating sunlight. 

Thermal insulation on roofs to reduce heat gain. 

Earth walls with openings for airflow

Windcatcher

Windcatcher with qanat 

Egyptians used wet reeds for evaporative cooling 

Three-tier aqueduct 

ROMAN CONCRETE - How Volcanic Material Created An Empire - Roman concrete derives from a type of volcanic ash called Pozzolana. Unlike other types of volcanic material, Pozzolana contains siliceous (silicon dioxide) and aluminous elements. This unique composition makes the ash react with other materials. Under the right conditions, this ash will bond with specific elements to create a type of cement. It is this cement that became the backbone of Roman civilization. Pozzolana is mainly from the area of Pozzuoli in the region of Naples, Italy. Hence, the name of the material derives from its place of origin. It was the Greeks who actually founded the areas of Pozzuoli and Naples. These areas are highly volcanic with the well-known Mt. Vesuvius just across the Bay of Naples and the super volcano, Campi Flegrei, around the region of Pozzuoli. Many eruptions in the area have produced copious amounts of volcanic tuff (ash that has hardened into stone) or tufo in Italian, which decomposes into Pozzolana.

The outer structure of the Flavian Amphitheater in Pozzuoli. Parts of the original Pozzolana are still visible.

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Roman
Concrete

How Volcanic Material Created An Empire

written by Jim H

Roman concrete is a remarkable innovation that served as the building blocks for the world’s most impressive megastructures.

In Italy, the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Flavian amphitheaters of Pozzuoli and Capua are just a few unparalleled examples of what this special concrete has built.

It derives from a certain type of volcanic ash and was made with ancient knowledge that has since been lost.

Utilizing this incredible natural material, the Romans constructed the strongest, most beautiful, and longest-lasting architecture of all time.

Why was Roman concrete so special, and how did it impact the Roman Empire?

What is Roman Concrete?

Roman concrete derives from a type of volcanic ash called Pozzolana.

Unlike other types of volcanic material, Pozzolana contains siliceous (silicon dioxide) and aluminous elements. This unique composition makes the ash react with other materials.

Under the right conditions, this ash will bond with specific elements to create a type of cement. It is this cement that became the backbone of Roman civilization.

While volcanic materials are prevalent in many areas, Pozzolana is mainly from the area of Pozzuoli in the region of Naples, Italy. Hence, the name of the material derives from its place of origin.

Ancient Greeks were probably the first to use volcanic material to generate concrete. And interestingly, it was the Greeks who actually founded the areas of Pozzuoli and Naples.

These areas are highly volcanic with the well-known Mt. Vesuvius just across the Bay of Naples and the super volcano, Campi Flegrei, around the region of Pozzuoli.

Many eruptions in the area have produced copious amounts of volcanic tuff (ash that has hardened into stone) or tufo in Italian, which decomposes into Pozzolana.

Thus, early builders of Rome would travel long distances to Pozzuoli to acquire the special Pozzolana.

Evidence exists from Kameiros, Rhodes, which indicates ancient Greeks were already using volcanic ash for cement in 500-400 BC.

However, the Romans refined the process of using Pozzolana by creating lime-based pastes to bind structures together.

With this process, Pozzolana could be used to create sturdy buildings in addition to advanced underwater footings, due to its ability to harden underwater.

How Romans Made Their Cement

Because of its widespread usage throughout the empire, it is no surprise that they thoroughly documented the production of Roman concrete.

One of the most reliable sources regarding the use of Pozzolana is from Vitruvius, who wrote about four distinct variations.

He distinguished the variations by color and areas in which the Romans could find the ash throughout Italy.

The concrete mixing process became fairly standardized throughout the Roman world. According to historic records, their blend consisted of three ingredients.

In addition to the Pozzolana, the Romans also added a lime paste and small rocks. This is similar to the way builders make cement today.

However, the unique chemical composition of Pozzolana made Roman concrete unusually strong, even in comparison to modern blends.

Impacts of Roman Concrete

This strength, combined with the fact that it could harden under water contributed to the rise of the Roman empire.

Because Pozzolana expanded construction to include seaports and other waterways, the Romans were able to anchor themselves along the coastlines of their empire.

This not only allowed them to have a strong naval presence, but it also opened the channels for maritime trade, which brought in vast amounts of wealth.

One of the best examples of coastal construction using Roman concrete is at Caesarea Maritima. Today, Caesarea Maritima is an Israeli national park.

Initially, these ruins were part of a port that the Romans constructed under the rule of Herod the Great.

Although it is no longer a center of commerce as it once was, many of the structures are still visible. This includes an aqueduct and a theater.

Most impressively, parts of the construction are visible underwater in the shallow zone with minimal erosion or damage.

Another good example of the longevity of Roman concrete exists at Cosa.

In this area of southwestern Tuscany, Romans laid the piers underwater by using long tubes. This allowed the concrete to set without seawater getting into the mix.

Although the area has degraded through time, the three piers still stand. Amazingly, the underwater portions are in remarkably good condition.

A Lasting Roman Legacy

Many factors helped the Romans achieve great societal success.

However, one of the most important was arguably their ability to build magnificent architecture and lasting infrastructure.

Numerous structures still stand in testimony to the building materials and skills of the Romans.

In fact, at one time, it was said that “all roads lead to Rome,” and one of those roads that still exist today, Via Appia, led directly to Naples.

This is the breathtaking place where the elite would vacation lavishly at their seaside villas and where Roman builders acquired their Pozzolana – the same material that built their society.

Unfortunately, much of the ancient knowledge and skill of using Roman concrete died along with the Roman Empire.

However, modern builders still find uses for Pozzolana as our society seeks to build its own lasting legacy for the centuries to come.

JIM H

Jim has always had a strong passion for travel, archaeology, and history. He feels fortunate to have been able to visit many of the ancient wonders that he read about in history books. As the founder of Historic Mysteries, his goal is to share with you the secrets of our past.

https://www.historicmysteries.com/roman-concrete/

Caesarea is the earliest known large scale example of underwater Roman concrete. 

SURVIVAL WITH THE RIGHT BODY ARMOR - You can’t know if you suddenly find yourself in an emergency situation that calls for the use of safety equipment. So, it’s best to always be prepared. This is where body armor comes in. Body armor can significantly increase your chances of survival in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, but you need to learn to rely mostly on your skills, speed and ability to plan ahead. Use body armor as a supplement to your survival strategy and it will fulfil its intended use. More commonly, body armor that provides ballistic protection does not provide stab or spike protection. Body armor is generally classified as soft and hard. Soft body armor is more concealable and lighter, making it particularly suitable in urban situations and scenarios. It can provide protection from bullet and/or stab wounds. Covert soft body armor is designed to be worn under clothing or a light jacket and protects the wearer from other threats that the average person could face.

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How To Survive With The Right Body Armor

Use body armor as a supplement to your survival strategy

Melissa Muller

Survivalists are well aware that in a life or death situation, it all comes down to your ability to plan and prepare in advance.

And nothing offers better preparation and protection than body armor.

In a world where it’s too easy to acquire semi-automatic and higher-caliber weapons, urban crime statistics are too high and political turmoil is normal – more and more civilians are turning to body armor to stay safe.

You can’t know if you won’t suddenly find yourself in danger or an emergency situation that calls for the use of safety equipment. So, it’s best to always be prepared.

If a hurricane rolls through your neighborhood and wipes out the power down your entire block, it could be days before it gets turned back on.

Or, if you get lost out in the woods during a hike, you will need supplies to build an overnight shelter and wait for a rescue party.

As unlikely as these situations may seem to you now – when you’re safe and sound in your own home – they can happen to anyone at any given moment.

If you don’t want to learn this the hard way, start planning early.

Simple Hack That Lets You Hit Any Target From 100 Yards

Being prepared is part of the strategy to say alive and safe. This is where body armor comes in.

Body armor can significantly increase your chances of survival in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, but you need to learn to rely mostly on your skills, speed and ability to plan ahead.

Use body armor as a supplement to your survival strategy and it will fulfil its intended use.

What is the Purpose of Body Armor?

For a survivalist, body armor can be a broad concept.

You can use anything from store-bought carriers made from cutting-edge Kevlar material that offer ballistic, stab and spike resistance to self-made pads from extra thick clothes.

Fortunately, with the level of advancement of modern technology and advanced protective materials, you now have plenty of choices of affordable, comfortable and lightweight body armor with different levels of protection.

Body armor can have different protective qualities, which are ballistic (against bullets), stab (against knives, pieces of glass, etc.) and spike (needles, ice picks, etc.) resistance.

Each of these types of protections are characterized in the U.S. by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ). A vest can have both ballistic and spike and/or stab resistant qualities.

However, more commonly, body armor that provides ballistic protection does not provide stab or spike protection.

Body armor is generally classified as soft and hard.

Soft body armor is more concealable and lighter, making it particularly suitable in urban situations and scenarios. It can provide protection from bullet and/or stab wounds, but the application isn’t as hard core.

Covert soft body armor is designed to be worn under clothing or a light jacket and protects the wearer from other threats that the average person could face.

What Type of Body Armor Do I Need?

Body armor is rated at different levels based on the NIJ standards.

Because the protection of the armor increases with the level, so does its weight and the cost.

Ballistic body armor is rated by the Department of Justice against different round calibers.

Basic soft body armor does not stop penetration from sharp objects and weapons, but it will stop thick-bladed stabs and offers protection against slashing attacks.

These makes them suitable to wear in places, where there are large gatherings of people (protests, marches, during riots, etc.) as in close quarters – people often use concealable but deadly weapons, such as knives, broken bottles, screw drivers or other piercing objects to cause harm.

Basic levels, such as Level IIA. (Level I is not in use anymore) through IIIA are considered soft body armor types and don’t always offer sufficient protection in high-tension situations, while Level IV provides the fullest protection against pistol and melee weapons but is bulkier and heavier on the wearer.

Based on the National Institute of Justice’s rating system for body armor and its requirements, the levels are categorized as follows:

Level I: Generally not recommended, the lowest level protects only against fragmentation and very low velocity pistol ammunition, such as a. 38 Special and .22 calibers.

Level IIA: Suitable against vast majority of threats encountered on the street by law enforcement officials, although it does not protect against blunt trauma injuries. It is tested against 9mm and .40 calibers.

Level II: Considered the best balanced option between blunt trauma protection, cost, and thickness/ comfort/ concealability. It performs well 9mm and .357 Magnum calibers at higher velocity.

Level IIIA: Well suited for high-risk situations as it covers more of the uncommon or unusual threats, such as 9mm and 44 Magnum calibers at sub-machine gun velocity.

Level III: With more comprehensive safety coverage, Level III extends to cover even 7.62mm NATO rounds, which makes it suitable for military personnel and security operatives in high-risk areas.

Level IV: The highest rating for Body Armor offers protection against armor-piercing .30-06 caliber rounds and all lower level threats.

Given that knife attacks and attacks with other sharp-edged and spiked weapons, you might want to consider body armor with combined protection.

This will keep you safe against slashing attacks that will otherwise pierce the carrier.

With the growing number of terrorist attacks, crime and random assaults in urban zones – investing in some quality protective equipment is essential to staying safe.

You can choose between different styles, systems and levels to find the one that fits you best.

If you want to ensure you receive maximum protection, you should go for a combination of ballistic and stab proof systems that are available for purchase online but they are more expensive.

In terms of bullets – pistol bullets are easier to stop than rifle bullets, because they are slower.

This type of combined protection gives the best chances of surviving in risky situations, such as riots or a scenario, where you might need to travel from point A to point B while facing attacks and poor weather conditions.

How Can Body Armor Keep You Safe?

It’s hard to put into words just how important body armor is, but let’s just say – it can be the difference between life and death in a number of scenarios. 

Still, many survivalists are quick to buy different type of guns and ammo, but overlook protective vests.

However, it’s really this simple – if you own a gun or plan on owning a gun, you should also have a bulletproof vest in your house.

Planning ahead and being prepared for a number of scenarios give you time to equip yourself with the right type of body armor and stay safe in all circumstance.

Equipping yourself with adequate protection helps you stay safe in specific circumstances.

You need to understand how body armor works, what it can and cannot do for you against different threats, and how to select the best one for you to make an informed decision when buying one.

Regardless of the type of protection you choose – bullet, stab or combined – you should keep in mind that no vest is 100% effective against the threats you can face.

Attacks can always result in serious injury and even death, so you should not treat your body armor as a guaranteed solution in all situations.

Staying safe by wearing an adequate bullet or stab proof vest is only part of the equation.

Knowing how and when to react gives you the upper hand in situations, increasing your chances of survival.

Selecting the Right Body Armor

Now, we know most people think that ‘more equals better’, but when it comes to surviving in the midst of a zombie outbreak – this is not necessarily true.

Higher levels of armor do provide more protection, but they are heavier and bulkier, essentially turning you into one large, slow-walking tin can.

Given that your survival depends on how fast you can move and react to potential threats, you can see how this becomes a problem.

Compromising your safety by over-doing protection sounds stupid, but is a real possibility. Don’t make the mistake of buying the highest level of protection at the expense of comfort.

Moving and operating a weapon (or any other type of equipment) with a vest takes some getting used to.

If it gets too hot, too stiff or too uncomfortable, you are likely to obstruct your ability to move and compromise your safety as a result.

Accurately measure your torso to select the most comfortable fit. Too large vests hang loosely around the body and fail to provide adequate protection.

Similarly, too tight vests will not only be uncomfortable, but the fibers will be under constant strain, failing to properly fulfil their function.

It is worth considering shoulder and groin protection as if you’re purchasing hard armor for higher threat environments.

Make sure you try moving and running in it before you buy groin protection, though. This will help you determine whether it’s right for you.

Survivalists are known for their ability to plan and prepare in advance, so it makes sense to be familiar with when body armor is the right choice.

As it’s getting easier to acquire semi-automatic and higher-calibre weapons, more and more police departments and civilians are opting for higher levels of protection.

For general patrol duty and survival purposes, a concealable, soft body armor vest in Level III will do the job.

It provides the highest blunt trauma protection rating in soft body armor. This is the best for very high-risk situations to cover more of the uncommon or unusual threats.

It can keep you safe from .44 Magnum Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point, 9 mm FMJ and lower level calibers .40 S&W Full Metal Jacket and .357 JSP.

Defense remains one of (if not the biggest) element of survival. And with body armor being now lighter, more comfortable and more protective than ever, it has become an invaluable asset for any survivalist.

It is a useful piece of equipment to have in general, but in hostile situations it is absolutely necessary to ensure your survival.

Written By Melissa Muller

Melissa is one of SafeGuard Clothing's newest and most promising interns. Her interest in public safety and the role of innovative technology on the development of enhanced body armour stems from her background in customer service and search for a brand with strong commitment to setting new industry standards of quality and best practices. In her role with SafeGuard Clothing Melissa is in charge of content creation and quality control, using her communication skills to established business relationships with top tier media outlets and raise awareness of the importance of safety equipment innovation, research and developmen

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