Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Introducing the Concrete Kangaroo

          
This is very valuable if you need to place concrete floors in an existing barn, a foundation in a wooded area, concrete a kennel floor, or are building a cold cellar.



      I learned of something the other day which I think is a wonderful device.   Just like the other items I have profiled or mentioned on this blog,  (the Simple Pump, the Zodi portable hot shower, and various augers) I have no financial interest in this product, I just think it's a wonderful device I should discuss and bring to the attention of others.
                The Concrete Kangaroo is a device which permits a contractor, or for that matter, a homeowner or farmer who uses concrete to place the concrete in a place in which a concrete truck or wheelbarrows could not go. It is useful for concrete projects in cities where a concrete truck might not be able to fit, and it's useful in wooded areas where a concrete truck might not be able to go when building a foundation to a house, barn or kennel or rabbit hutch floors, for example.  The Concrete Kangaroo is a concrete delivery system or CDS and not only permits the delivery of concrete to places that might be more difficult, on average, to access, but it can help to get the price on some projects down to the possible range. (I am always interested in making everything affordable)  It also aids in keeping the site clean because very little wet concrete is spilled or remains hardening on the job site using this device.  It can also help the contractor to contain some of the manpower hours that using concrete without such a device could entail.   The Concrete Kangaroo can permit the shuttling of small or large amounts of concrete over difficult terrain. It also cleans up well after use.  It can be ordered as a manual device or with hydraulics.




    This is the story of the origins of the Concrete Kangaroo by its inventor from the website:


Pylinski Equipment LLC ♦  16031 Hopeful Church Rd Bumpass, VA 23024 ♦  Phone:804-690-2377  ♦
                                                            ~~~~~~~~

These are the videos which shows the Concrete Kangaroo in action.



The CDS .75 has become the mainstay of our fleet.
It handles 21 cu. Ft. of concrete very effectively, fits
all skid steers that have the universal quick – attach, is
easy to operate and is very portable fitting easily in the
back of a pick-up truck.

  • It comes in a hydraulic version making placement of

  • It weighs 535 lbs (aprox) – about the same as a 4-and 1

  • It handles 2,910 lbs of concrete.

  • It comes in a black gloss finish.

  • It makes placing concrete in awkward locations a breeze


The CDS 1.0 handles 27 cu. Ft. of concrete – 1.0 yards. It is
convenient when you need to empty a 9 yard truck in a hurry and
can’t get the truck close to the point of placement. The requirements
of the equipment used that it attaches to are larger than those of the
.75 and should be checked out carefully prior to attachment.
It too also comes in the manual and hydraulic versions.


  • It comes in a hydraulic version making placement of concrete

  • It weighs 550 lbs (approx.

  • It handles 3,880 lbs of concrete.

  • It comes in a black gloss finish.

  • It makes placing concrete in awkward locations a breeze.

 A final word from the manufacturer's website:
The concrete kangaroo can be built in sizes to accommodate large off-road projects requiring larger amounts of concrete moved rapidly to more remote sites such as high voltage towers up the side of a mountain, stabilizing fill for a road project, even overpass retaining walls where a concrete truck may have difficulty accessing the point of placement. In mountainous regions land is cleared with "dozers" & helicopters are used to lift the concrete to points of placement. This can get very expensive & is dangerous having concrete swinging around suspended by a cable not to mention that the whole project comes to a halt if it's a windy day. With a concrete kangaroo 3.0,or 4.5 or larger the pour goes on. Attached to the equipment that you already have on site the concrete kangaroo doesn't mind the wind. That keeps your project moving
completing sooner and making more money. Call us today & we will custom build a concrete kangaroo to fit your equipment and needs.
                                                                    ~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll have one here to add some additional concrete work to our kennel this next week, and I'll let you know what else I learn !



Saturday, September 21, 2013

A Quick Primer on Malignant Melanoma

This is only one type and one appearance of malignant melanoma.   (Photo: Mayo Clinic)




                        Malignant melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer.  There are other types of skin cancer.  Basal cell is the most common variety.  Squamous cell carcinoma is also another very curable variety.  The one that has the potential to kill rapidly is the one I am choosing to discuss today.
                        Malignant melanoma is caused by DNA changes which occur in response to the radiation to which we are exposed in the sun. Most of the time, our bodies repair these skin changes which occur as a result of DNA damage, but sometimes, our body misses one or some, and they grow into melanoma.  Although many cases of malignant melanoma occur in light skinned individuals, this is not always the case. African Americans and others with darker skin types may also develop it.   Asian people can also develop a particular type of melanoma.  Since darker skin types may not be as aware of melanoma, then it may get farther in them before they notice, and is is detected and treated. Also, the longer we have been on the Earth exposed to the radiation of the sun, then the greater our chances are that we may develop malignant melanoma. This is why older people rather than younger people seem to develop melanoma more frequently.  However, this does not mean that young people can't develop melanoma, because they do.
                      Many moons ago, in nursing school, we were taught that melanoma is a blue or black mole that is assymetric. (This means that if you draw an imaginary line through it that it should be the same on both sides. If it isn't then it is assymetric, and assymetric lesions have a greater incidence of being malignant melanoma.)  However, most of us took that to mean that if a skin lesion wasn't blue or black, that it wasn't melanoma, that it could be some other type of skin cancer or non-cancerous lesion, and so although we referred patients to doctors, or called the lesion to a physician's attention, we were perhaps less alert than we could have been.  I remember thinking that because I am so fair skinned and sun intolerant that this could be an issue for me when I am older.
                   I still remember the first patient I had in the general hospital who died of malignant melanoma. She was a lovely young red haired young woman who had her entire life ahead of her. Her original lesion had been red, and not black or blue. It was detected on her back during a routine physical and found to have spread through muscular regions and then, and through her body.  In 1981 the treatments we have now did not exist. I remember being very upset at the passing of this young woman who had been someone so close to my own age.
                 Many years later I was quite shocked to hear that my father had a basal cell carcinoma and a melanoma removed from his face.   I had not noticed anything that I thought demanded attention. Fortunately, he did.   At the same time, a friend of mine who worked with me as a nurse had a small lesion pop up on the side of her nose. It was scaly, and clear.  She showed it to me and I wondered if it might be eczema.  I told her that since I am not a dermatologist and it's on such a prominent location on her face, she should see a dermatologist.   They biopsied the small lesion and the pathology report came back malignant melanoma.  My friend is fine, but neither of us thought that this new lesion was melanoma.
                In the interest of getting these lesions noticed by you, seen by a dermatologist, detected, treated and cured, I am going to provide some factual data and references on melanoma.  First of all, some physicians are quite good at visually detecting melanoma. However some are not.  Your best chance at detecting a melanoma visually is probably at a dermatologists or plastic surgeon's office.   The same is true of nurse practitioners.  Some received special training and rotations in this and others did not specialize in this way, so again the best chance for detection is by having a dermatologist look carefully at any lesions you have.  Persons who have greater than 100 moles are at greater risk of melanoma and therefore should be seen annually for a quick check of these by a dermatologist.  120,000 new cases of melanoma are detected each year in the US and early cases are almost always fairly easily curable.  The longer it takes to notice and treat a melanoma, then the greater the chances are that it has invaded muscle, bone or organs and will not be able to be cured.
              Clinicians may use something called the "Ugly Duckling Sign" as a way of helping the public to detect malignant melanoma on themselves and on family members.  In people with multiple moles, which often occur as we age, melanomas are usually the ones which stand out and are different than the other moles. They might be "uglier" than the other local lesions. They might have grown on one side, or simply be different than the other moles in the region.  These are the lesions that must be seen by a dermatologist for furthur review.
           There are also the "ABCDE s of melanoma detection.

  A.  First, we are looking for assymetry, which I mentioned before.

 B.   Next, look at the borders.  Melanoma has uneven borders.






C stands for colors.   Melanoma often has more than one color in the lesion.  There may be shades of brown in different parts of the lesion.  A melanoma may be black or blue, but it can also be red or different shades of brown or even pearlescent.

D. Stands for diameter.   Melanomas are usually larger than the pencil tip on your eraser, although they aren't when they first occur.

E    Stands for evolve.    Melanomas evolve.  They either bleed, crust, or itch, but they are in a state of change.


           There are also different types of melanoma.  Seventy percent of these are the superficial spreading type which can occur in young people. There are other types, and the potential variety of these lesions are what can make this difficult for us to recognize as melanoma.   If four people with melanoma, their lesions may look and behave quite differently.  Melanoma can be on hands and arms, but it can also be on backs where the patient himself cannot see it.  It can also be on the back of the scalp, particularly in men whose hair might be a little thinner there than it was when they were younger.  Wearing a hat outside has great value.

More information on the types of melanoma



        There are excellent treatments for early melanoma that can result in a complete cure.  However, the longer we wait for treatment the less likely a complete cure is.

         Just this week, several of my friends were diagnosed as having malignant melanoma.  If you have any skin lesions you have questions about, this might be a great time to have them checked.









In 1996, Eva Cassidy, a young fair skinned woman died of malignant melanoma. Her passing deprived the world of so many more songs. Her rendition of "Danny Boy" is my favorite.



References and more reading on this:

http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma/melanoma-warning-signs-and-images/the-ugly-duckling-sign


Pictures obtained from:

http://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/melanoma/melanoma-warning-signs-and-images/do-you-know-your-abcdes 



Update:       September, 2014

This post is now dedicated to:  (Flora) Marie McKinney Stone who passed on September 10, 2014.
Marie's fight with malignant melanoma was the original impetus for this post.   We send condolences and best wishes to her children.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Homeschooling Family Taken By SWAT Team Returned for Now

( Graphic from: www.thepacket.ca  )




                Three hours ago the four German children snatched from their parents by a SWAT team for the heinous offense of homeschooling in Germany, were returned to their parents on the condition that they attend school.

               The entire update on this matter including links can be found on my original post at:

http://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2013/09/homeschooling-family-snatched-by-german.html


    The Obama administration did not condemn this action, even though it is a clear violation of human rights under the United Nations.  Hmmmm.




More information updated at:

 http://app.response.hslda.org/e/es.aspx?s=775692352&e=105127&elq=342167b0e8a44306baab5e4d61063a7b

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Sanitizing Water in Emergencies

            
 


   As most of you know, the best way to sanitize water in an emergency is by using continuous boiling .   There are times though where other methods may need to be used to sanitize water.  Today, I am going to list some of the other ways to disinfect water in emergencies.  It may be that you stock enough drinkable water for the human beings in your home for a particular emergency, but that you must sanitize water  for your dogs, cats, or livestock.   This could be important because especially in emergencies you do not need your animals becoming ill, particularly with a diarrheal illness with dehydration.
               Most of us don't go through huge amounts of chlorine bleach liquid, and there are good reasons we shouldn't.  It's not desirable or healthy to use too much of it, or use too frequently, and it can contribute to septic tank difficulties.  Using it exactly as directed has great value.  However, liquid bleach has a shelf life of twelve to eighteen months. It ages quickly and then becomes less effective for things like water sanitation.  For this reason, there is a great deal written on a number of sites concerning using the more shelf stable pool shocks for water sanitation in emergencies, if you no longer have fresh clorox or similar liquid bleach.




To make a stock of chlorine solution (do not drink this!) dissolve 1 heaping teaspoon (about one-quarter of an ounce) of high-test (78%) granular calcium hypochlorite for each two gallons (eight liters) of water.
* To disinfect water add one part of the chlorine solution to 100 parts water to be treated.
 This should sit for one half hour before you drink it.
Do not buy calcium hypochlorite solution with other additives. It should simply be as listed above.
Dry granular bleach stores indefinitely


Keep in mind that you need to prepare sanitized water in emergencies for things like handwashing and dishwashing  also.




Another reference states:


You can use granular calcium hypochlorite to disinfect water.
Add and dissolve one heaping teaspoon of high-test granular calcium hypochlorite (approximately ¼ ounce) for each two gallons of water, or 5 milliliters (approximately 7 grams) per 7.5 liters of water. The mixture will produce a stock chlorine solution of approximately 500 milligrams per liter, since the calcium hypochlorite has available chlorine equal to 70 percent of its weight. To disinfect water, add the chlorine solution in the ratio of one part of chlorine solution to each 100 parts of water to be treated. This is roughly equal to adding 1 pint (16 ounces) of stock chlorine to each 12.5 gallons of water or (approximately ½ liter to 50 liters of water) to be disinfected. To remove any objectionable chlorine odor, aerate the disinfected water by pouring it back and forth from one clean container to another. "


This is an EPA reference and general link;   Please print out a hard copy before an emergency.

http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/ogwdw/upload/2006_09_14_faq_fs_emergency-disinfection-drinkingwater-2006.pdf




        In the US and Canada Wal-Mart has begun to sell a bleach capsule called Evolve.   You can use the plain tablets without fragrance added,  for laundry sanitation, to prep water for handwashing, or even to soak and sanitize dishes before rinsing, if you have no hot water during emergencies for dishwashing.  The manufacturer does not recommend their shelf stable product be used for water disinfection for drinking.


Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Are You Sure There's No Inflation ?

       
Consequently, in inflation our dollars buy less.  (Graphic: money.msn.com  )


   I don't think the present government machine understands money very well.  They geared up for Quantitative Easing thinking that printing more money would be beneficial in some way, not really understanding that more paper money chasing the same or less in terms of available goods and services doesn't buy more goods and services, but makes the paper money worth less.  As one of my favorite songs says, it's "turning our currency into fried rice". (I placed the song below in case your wondering about the song, to which I am referring.)   But today, I wanted to address their assertion that "Inflation is flat".  Perhaps the way the government assesses inflation, without gasoline or food calculated, inflation less than my perception, but this is not the government's blog, or at least they haven't seized it just yet. This is my blog, and we're going to speak anecdotally as to how my family and I are looking at inflation.  My thinking is that my family is probably not that different from your own, at least in terms of observing some trends.

             In 2008, we were doing fairly well.  My husband had been an engineer at the same company for twenty plus years.  I worked part time as a college instructor, and occasionally a semester full time if this was needed by my employer.   Because we are careful with money and have a lot of kids, and sent money toward the principle of our mortgage, a significant portion of our mortgage was paid down. It was structured as a 30 year fixed rate with a reasonable rate, but not the 2 or 3% that was written sometimes in those years. We had a good credit rating, for the most part, impeded a little by our not using credit very readily. With four children at the time, big expenses were coming for which we had a limited amount saved. Two of our kids were already in universities, and two were a few years from the launch sequence which would allow them to go.  The two in college went using a combination of our savings, a little help from my father, working themselves, and student loans.  Our electricity with six people in our fairly large home ran about $160.00 monthly.   Taxes were paid with our mortgage, and our monthly insurance wasn't very high.    Our car insurance, even though we paid for our kids insurance so long as they were still in college.   We ate a healthy diet. We didn't eat a lot of prepared foods, but we bought things like frozen chicken breasts, roasts, and low fat hamburger at Sam's Club and then would split the large packages and freeze them. We bought large amounts of fruit and vegetables and would freeze things we could.  We would make our own "convenience foods" by making pizza, chicken and rice, lasagnas of different types, Shepherd's Pie made with ground beef or occasionally turkey,  stuffed peppers, our own MSG-free hamburger helper, and we would freeze these for quick meals.  My husband would do this, as would I, and occasionally the kids would make six quiches of different types and freeze these.  We used a fair amount of gasoline because our kids commuted to college (sometimes together depending upon the semester) and my husband and I worked in two fairly distant cities as we live on a farm.   Animal feed for alpacas, ducks, chickens and dogs wasn't expensive.  The chicken and duck feed was purchased from a local feed store, along with the best alpaca food from the zoo line.  The dog food came from Sam's Club.  We had a landline phone with extras that permitted us to call coast to coast and moderate speed internet with the landline, and this was not expensive.  My husband had a Verizon cellular phone he needed for work and travel but the rest of us had Tracfones and we bought minutes month to month. We called only to communicate something specific, and the kids paid for their own, and so this wasn't a large expense.  We also don't pay the fortune it is to have a trash pickup.   Once a week, someone here gathers up the trash from the containers, places it on a short trailer attached to one of our farm trucks and drives it to the transfer station, where it's sorted, recycled, or sent to a final dump. Being in-county we pay nothing for this other than our transportation.  We had no payments on cars or trucks.  We did have to pay for a few professional licenses annually, dog licenses, car registrations, and personal property tax for cars, trailers, etc.   All in all, we were not saving a great deal, but we were alright, could eat well and educate our kids. The plan was that our kids would be launched while we were both fairly young, and we would then save an entire one salary for retirement.
            The one area in which we experienced some money stress was health care.  Our kids and myself over the years had some health challenges.  One child developed Type I juvenile autoimmune diabetes and was on an insulin pump.  There were 3-6 month endocrinology visits and expensive labwork.   Although my husband's insurance covered most things, the copays on physicians visits, labs, and insulin pump supplies were expensive.  Then fees for our child with Crohn's disease and the others with allergies added to the expenses.  Prescription drugs also cost money.   We have never had dental insurance.  Rather than taking our family to the dentist every six months, we have had to settle for a trip annually. We have been lucky that in our cases, this has been adequate. Even with the employer paying all our health care premiums, our copays and the remaining health care costs after insurance are our largest single household expense. (Including any essential medications via prescription.)

           Basically, we had enough money to do everything we needed to do, with health care costs straining us sometimes.  We took a couple of brief vacations away for a few days at a time, and my husband and I did take a month long missions trip.  Other than that, we have never ever had a family vacation.  Special food needs for our diabetic, Crohn's, and allergic kids made travel without food from our own kitchen very difficult if not unsafe.  Besides, they really loved the farm and their friends, and weren't stuck on going away very much.
            It was 2008 in which things began to change financially.  My husband continued to make the same salary, and just like many companies, raises were suspended.  There was no talk of layoffs, and for this we were grateful.   Our youngest son Daniel died suddenly, and other than the initial expense of a funeral, this left us doing fewer things away than we had before.  I took a sabbatical from my job and found that the expenses for clothing, commuting and gasoline were a wash. My job cost me as much as it brought our family after taxes.  Afterward, gasoline spiked up and our family stopped shopping.  If we really needed something, we would search the internet and buy it.  When we did go out, we saw fewer and fewer people on the roads, and all of the restaurants within 25 miles closed.

        In 2009, our family chose to adopt a teen boy as Daniel had always felt that each family should adopt an older child in need of a home.  We added a new mouth to feed, but he liked to cook !  He adapted to our family, and although we miss our son Daniel very much, we are reminded of the great joy of having him here by having James, a year older here with some similar likes and dislikes.

       As the years passed from 2008 to 2013, more and more of our friends and acquaintances developed financial problems. Some of them lost homes. Many of them sold cars, recreational vehicles, boats, and possessions.  Some of their kids came home from college due to financial challenges.  Two of our kids graduated from universities with honors. One took more than a year to find a job, because nothing is available,and the other has never found one.  He works on his own business, simply because there is nothing else.  Their friends all have exactly the same jobs they had while in college as pizza makers, pizza delivery people, fast food managers, etc. One of our sons is now in university, and the son we adopted would ordinarily be ready to go to college next year.

       In essence, we have two fewer family members to pay for than we did in 2008.  The property taxes here have not changed, yet the homeowner's insurance has increased over 40%.  When I shopped with seven other competing companies I found that most of them would not take us despite the fact that in 25 years of having a home we have never once claimed for anything.  Several of them say they have paid such large claims due to varietal disasters that they may be getting out of the homeowner's business entirely.  One insurer who would take a farm on acreage wanted even more than we currently pay, for less coverage than we presently have. Personal property tax, vehicle registrations, dog licenses, professional licenses have all risen sharply since then.  In addition, there is no mail delivery in our region. Customers must go the the post office some distance away to pick up mail.  (And over the years they keep closing these post offices.) We not only have to drive a distance, but we are charged an ever increasing box fee, even though the post office has been saved the costs of delivering to us.  Diesel fuel and gasoline remain higher than they were in 2008.  Cellular phone costs and internet have risen. We abandoned Tracfone about a year ago when we began to have technical difficulties and their customer service knew nothing about anything.  Now we pay for a higher costs but have a more reliable carrier.

        We don't buy a lot of clothing or shoes. We tend to buy something of good quality, protect it, use it wisely and get our money's worth.  When we need something, it is either purchased through the internet or from an upper end consignment shop.  We purchase gifts, often books, from half.com or other inexpensive sources. We have been very lucky using Craigslist.  We do most of our own car maintenance and repair using parts from the internet.  On the rare occasion that we use a dealer or auto repair, costs have risen dramatically.

        We have not been able to save or add to a retirement account in some time. We also notice that the banks we use have all increased their fees substantially.

        We were audited by the federal government last year and this grew our annual accountants fees. I have not included this in the regular budget, because we hope the higher fee is a one time expense.
         In reworking our basic budget which we do annually to spot trends and make adjustments, we find our basic expenses to be up greater than 40% while we are doing about the same things.   This does not include rises in prescription medication, and medical care. Including dental and medical, our expenses from 2008 would be up 70% with fewer family members included because two of them grew up.

        If our experience is representative of other families, then no wonder people are abandoning animals in droves, abandoning homes, and not adopting available children very often.  No wonder family stress appears at an all time high and domestic calls for police are up a high percentage.

       The US Middle Class has been under attack for some time, but it is not possible to have all these rises in costs without some very undesirable effects over all.  Jobs are not easier to get than they were. Many homes sit for sale for years.  Some bank owned homes sell for a fraction of their county assessed value.  People are stalled. They don't find jobs, they move in with family, and lives stop.  New marriages don't start, babies aren't born, savings don't begin, people die without ever retiring. All of these things also contribute to a sluggish economy.   People simply aren't doing anything but trying to survive.

        All the while, television, economic forecasters, and most especially The White House tells us that inflation is contained, and not occurring.  It sounds like an Emperor's new clothes moment to me.
         
        





The Voters:         Cris Zalles, Lee Levin, Derek Cintron,  Alex Garcia





Sunday, September 15, 2013

What Can We Learn from the Death of a Cattleman ?

Just because you have used one 10,000 times does not mean that syringes with medication are without inherent risk. (Photo:    qdsyringe.wordpress.com  )

 

  The following article discusses the accidental death of a 38 year old Nebraska cattleman following the accidental injection of an animal antibiotic he planned to administer to a purebred Angus cow  which was being held in a squeeze chute.
      This accident occurred with a 38 year old highly experienced professional cattle rancher who was born and bred on a farm himself. He was in excellent health prior to this incident.
       The cause of death was not stated to be anaphylaxis, although it makes me wonder.  The rancher received a high dose of injected Micotil 300, a veterinary antibiotic which is also known as Tilmicosin phosphate.
This is a terrible tragedy, but as a person who fairly frequently gives immunizations and worming medication to horses, alpacas, dogs, rabbits, and rarely chickens and cats, I wanted to call this to everyone's attention and discuss some cautions.
         An animal charged this cattleman resulting in the inadvertent and likely complete injection of an antibiotic designed to treat bovine respiratory diseases and pneumonia in a dose designed for an 800 pound animal.  He immediately called an ambulance but died of cardiac arrest in a hospital within one hour of the incident.  There is no known antidote for this particular medication if accidentally injected. This particular antibiotic is available via prescription from licensed veterinarians.  (Many other veterinary antibiotics are available OTC)


         This terrible tragedy brings some take away knowledge for the rest of us.   Some important points especially for the survival community are:

1.  Animal antibiotics are prepared and buffered for animal use, using preservatives and buffers which are approved for animal use and not necessarily human use.  When someone tells you that injectable penicillin is "the same for humans" they may be entirely incorrect.  Many times the buffering and inert agents including in injections for animals are cheaper products which are not approved for use in human beings because they are known to cause allergies in them.  Using an animal antibiotic in a human could cause an anaphylactic, or life threatening allergic reaction, and a rapid death.

2. Drug combinations approved for animal use may not be used in human beings at all.  For example, horses rarely develop anaphylactic reactions after immunizations and humans are much more likely to.

3. In an absolute, end of the world as we know it circumstance, an untrained person should consult a veterinarian, a physician, a dentist, or nurse practitioner before using a drug intended for animals in humans.  This most especially applies to antibiotics which can strengthen and become a potent poison with age. This is particularly true of the tetracycline family of antibiotics, but if you aren't trained, how would you know which ones these are ?  They aren't all called tetracycline !

4. If you are a person who is trained and experienced in giving injections to human beings, professionally, then do not assume that you are prepared to administer injectable drugs to a horse, a pig, a goat, an alpaca, or a cow.
Although directions and videos exist on the internet, there is no substitute for a veterinarian showing you the landmarks for subcutaneous, intramuscular, and other types of injections, and supervising your initial attempts. Ideally a veterinarian should clear you as safe to administer different types of injections ON EACH SPECIES. I don't think watching a Youtube video qualifies you to administer injections in animals, although I think it can be an excellent review if you haven't given a subcutaneous injection, for example, in an alpaca for awhile.   An improperly administered injection attempt could result in injuries to you, including the possibility of being injured by the animal, stuck with a contaminated syringe or even the rare occurrence of an injection being administered to you in a scuffle.

5. Anyone administering injections to animals in a farm setting should have VETERINARY epinephrine and should know the correct dose.  This used to be available OTC for animals, but too many human beings used it for themselves to save money, and they died doing so. As a result, you need to get veterinary epinephrine from your vet as it is now a  prescription drug

6. I cannot overemphasize the importance of having enough assistance available when you are giving injections to animals.  Having a second person with you can make injections for livestock a safer proposition, despite the fact that many times we believe our animals trust us and that we can do such procedures alone. The fact is, if you are rushed by an animal and injured, no one knows and no one can help you.  As lovely as horses are, it is their nature to spook sometimes, and this is simply not always predictable.

7. Always use needle covers while transporting syringes from one place to another. This practice did not save this cattleman, but it does prevent a number of other possible injuries.

8. Try to administer animal injections when you are awake, calm, patient and not rushed.  Hypoglycemia can cause hand shaking which can make an injection which would normally be easy for an RN, a more hazardous undertaking. Make sure you are not overdue for a meal when administering animal injections.

9.  Just be careful out there.  We don't need anyone else dying in the course of accidental injury while taking care on the ongoing medical needs of our livestock and beloved animals.

10. Keep an eye out for your parents or grandparents on farms. Their giving injections to livestock or horses might have been safe originally, but as they have aged, is it still ?  It might make sense for them to take someone with them, or have a new family member trained.

11. Consider cross training the adults on your farm to give animal injections. The vet could as easily train two people at a time, almost as easily as one. It gives your family the option of using another person rather than the person who was initially trained, but who might be injured, tired or ill on the very day when some type of animal injection must be given.

Animals can be our livelihood, our friends, even part of the family and we owe it to them to be there for their lifespans if at all possible.  Most of the time trained owners do an excellent job of administering injections of all types to their animals.  For the animals sake, our family's and our own we need to make sure that we have been properly trained and are practicing the techniques that keep us and our animals as safe as possible.


                                                                                                 Jane of Virginia


 The following can be found at:

 http://nasdonline.org/document/177/d001784/cattleman-dies-due-to-accidental-injection-nebraska-face.html




Nebraska FACE (Fatality Assessment Control Evaluation)

SUMMARY
A 38-year-old cattleman died as a result of an accidental injection of an animal antibiotic known as Micotil which has no known antidote. On March 8, 2003, the victim was preparing to vaccinate a heifer inside a barn. He was carrying a 12cc plastic disposable syringe in his right hand when a cow that was in an adjacent pen charged him, striking the fence between the two. The victim was knocked to the ground. Either when struck or from the fall, he was injected with an unknown amount of the antibiotic. He immediately began to feel dizzy and nauseous. He was able to return to the “vet room” inside the barn and call his wife who was nearby in the house. An ambulance was called and the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where he died less than an hour later.

The Nebraska Workforce Development, Department of Labor’s Investigator concluded that to help prevent future similar occurrences:
  • Veterinarians and animal health distributors, prior to releasing Micotil, should require the purchaser to sign a product information fact sheet that indicates Micotil can be fatal in humans, and that there is no antidote for this medication every time they purchase the product.
  • Users of syringe-loaded medications should practice safe handling procedures during all phases of animal treatment.
  • Veterinarians/Cattlemen, when practical, should consider using another less-hazardous antibiotic.
  • All companies/agencies responsible for the manufacture and/or approval of veterinary medicines and supplies should continue to devise new products that will reduce unintentional human exposure to accidental needlesticks/injections.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
The goal of the Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) workplace investigation is to prevent future work-related deaths or injuries, by a study of the working environment, the worker, the task the worker was performing, the tools the worker was using, and the role of management in controlling how these factors interact.
This report is generated and distributed solely for the purpose of providing current, relevant education to employers, their employees and the community on methods to prevent occupational fatalities and injuries.

INTRODUCTION
On March 8, 2003 at approximately 7 p.m. a 38-year-old cattleman died within an hour as a result of an accidental injection of the bovine antibiotic Micotil 300®. The Nebraska Department of Labor was notified of the incident on March 9, 2003 through the local news media. The Nebraska FACE investigator met with the victim’s family on June 10th & 12th. Site visits were conducted both days. The local emergency response personnel that responded to the incident site were interviewed on June 12th. A telephone conference was held with the drugs’ manufacturer, ELANCO on June 16th . and with the Federal Drug Administrations’ (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine on June 19th.
The victim was a self-employed cattleman/farmer. He was born and raised on a farm and had been raising cattle virtually his entire life. At the time of the incident the farm did not employ any other personnel. The victim was in good physical shape.

INVESTIGATION
On the day of the incident the victim was working alone inside the barn. He had brought a young heifer (young cow that has not previously calved) into the barn and placed her in a squeeze chute (see photo #2). His intent was to inject her with the antibiotic Micotil 300®. He went to the “vet room”, located inside the barn where supplies and medicine were kept (see photo #1). He probably withdrew between 10-12 ccs of the antibiotic (normal dosage requirement for this sized animal) from a 100 ml bottle, into a plastic disposable syringe and left the room with the syringe believed to be carried in his right hand. As he walked down an alleyway towards the squeeze chute (see photo #3), he had to pass by a metal swing gate that was post-attached via hinges, enclosing a fenced-in pen that ran parallel along the east side (right side of victim) of the barn. This pen contained a “horned cow” that was ready to calve at any time. As the victim started to open the gate and walk through to the squeeze chute, the horned cow charged, striking the fence panel and/or the victim with enough force to knock him to the ground (see photo #4). As he tried to regain his balance, he began feeling dizzy. He was able to make it approximately 25 feet back down the alleyway to the “vet room” and use a phone located inside the door to call his wife in the nearby house. She found him extremely dizzy and becoming nauseous. 911 was called along with a neighbor. The local emergency rescue squad (EMTs) responded from a nearby town within a few minutes and immediately transported the victim to a nearby hospital. En route they were met by an ambulance containing paramedics that could provide more care if needed.
Photo #1.  Looking south towards vet room door indicated by arrow.
Photo #1. Looking south down walkway towards vet room door on right side. Phone was located directly inside door on right side mounted to the wall.
Photo #2.  Squeeze chute where heifer was being held.
Photo #2. Squeeze chute where heifer was being held.
Photo #3.  Looking north along walkway towards gate/panel intersection.
Photo #3. This is the walkway between the “vet room” on the left and cattle holding pens on the right. The squeeze chute that held the heifer is to the left through the opening just beyond the metal gate.
Photo #4.  Gate/panel intersection where victim was struck.
Photo #4. Metal gate on the left is hinged on the left side and swung against the pen to allow the heifer, once inoculated, to leave the squeeze chute and exit the barn going through the opening on the left, down the walkway and out a door on the side. The victim was passing between it and the metal pipe panel on the right side when the horned cow charged, knocking him to the ground. The pipe is 1¼ inch diameter and there is 8 inches in between pipes.
Information concerning medications and procedures administered at the incident site and during ambulance transport were not revealed to the investigator due to doctor/patient confidentiality guidelines of both agencies involved.
The syringe and needle that the victim had been carrying was located at the incident site and was slightly bent, indicating that the victim had probably been injected with some of the antibiotic. This information was relayed to the emergency responders and hospital personnel and they contacted a poison control center. When the ambulance arrived at the hospital, the victim was told by the treating physician that there was no known antidote that could help him. The victim knew his family had arrived at the hospital and wanted to talk with them, but collapsed and died while getting off the emergency room table.
Later that evening the victim’s father returned to the barn to check on the status of the heifer in the squeeze chute. As he passed between the swing gate and pen fence where the incident occurred, the horned cow again charged the fence panel. After releasing the heifer from the squeeze chute he again passed in the opposite direction between the swing gate and pen, causing the cow to charge him a second time. It can be concluded with reasonable certainty that this charging cow was responsible for knocking the victim down.
A request was made by the immediate family to donate organs and/or body tissue. That request was denied due to the possibility that Micotil was present in the victim.

ANALYSIS/SYNOPSIS
Cattle: The heifer in the squeeze chute was a purebred red angus, weighing approximately 800 to 840 lbs. The horned cow in the adjoining pen was a longhorn crossbreed weighing between 800-1000 lbs. The horns were approximately 12 inches in length and stuck straight out, unlike the side-to-side horns of most longhorn cattle. It could not be determined if only the force of impact knocked the victim down, or if a portion of the cow’s head and/or horns struck him and/or the syringe. Family members stated that there appeared to be impact marks of some type on the victim’s coveralls near the possible injection site.
Syringe/needle: The syringe in use that day was a 6 inch long, 12 cc Monoject 200™ with an 18 gauge, 1 ½” long needle (identical to that seen in photo #5). It could not be determined whether the protective cap was on when the victim left the “vet room” and/or when he was struck. Although intended for single use, it is common practice amongst cattlemen to use this type of needle for several injections. The investigator was not able to determine if the incident syringe/needle was new or had been used before. The victim was right handed and was believed to be carrying the syringe/needle in that hand, which was the side of his body that was impacted. It is believed, based on the weight of the heifer and the Micotil 300® dosing instructions that the syringe would have contained between 10-12 ccs. After the incident the syringe contained approximately 1.5 cc’s. It was not medically determined how much was injected into the victim. The needle, either during the impact from the cow or when the victim fell to the ground, stuck the victim in the right side groin area. Examination of the insulated coveralls by hospital personnel showed an area where it is believed the needle penetrated through the outside layer, which would indicate it was being carried in his hand. Family members stated that examination of the incident needle and the luer-tip of the syringe showed that both bad been drastically bent, presumably from the impact and accidental injection.

Photo #5.  Copy of identical syringe used during incident.
Photo #5. The syringe in use that day was a 6 inch long (with protective cap installed) 12cc Monoject 200™ with an 18 gauge 1½ inch long needle. With the cap on the needle tip is approximately ¼ inch from the end.
Note: The investigator did not have access to either the incident clothing or syringe.
Antibiotic: ²Micotil, which contains Tilmicosin phosphate, is used to control respiratory disease in cattle (bovine respiratory disease), more commonly called Dairy Calf Pneumonia (DCP), a very expensive and difficult-to-treat problem. It was designed to provide a single-injection therapy intended to reduce stress on the animal, thus requiring less labor since it is a low-volume dose used at a single injection site. It reaches effective concentration levels in lung tissue in two hours and maintains effective concentration levels throughout the respiratory tract for three to four days. It works with the animal’s own immune system to destroy pathogenic bacteria.
Micotil is an antibiotic that originally offered a lower cost per treatment than many other antibiotics for this indication available at the time. It was first introduced in Canada in 1990, then in the United States in 1992 and immediately gained wide acceptance. It is currently being marketed in several countries throughout the world.
A dosage of 1.5 mL per 100 lbs. of animal weight is recommended. It is to be injected subcutaneously (beneath the skin) in cattle. It can not be administered intravenously in cattle, as that proves fatal. The manufacturer states on all product literature that it is not to be used with automatically powered syringes, presumably due to its hazards to humans or possibly inefficiency to administer subcutaneous injections via this method. Most cattlemen use some form of disposable plastic syringe for injection.
Elanco is the only producer of Micotil. It is sold, through a distributor, only to licensed veterinarians. The victim had used Micotil® for several years. It could not be determined where or when he purchased the antibiotic in use during the incident.

CAUSE OF DEATH
According to the death certificate, the cause of death was: Respiratory failure as a consequence of cardiac arrest as a consequence of lethal injection.
RECOMMENDATIONS/DISCUSSION
Recommendation #1: Veterinarians and animal health distributors, prior to releasing Micotil, should require the purchaser to sign an information fact sheet that indicates Micotil can be fatal in humans and that there is no antidote for this medication, every time they purchase the product.
Discussion: Informal telephone and on-site verbal surveys with veterinarians were conducted throughout this investigation. They have shown that some veterinarians always warn their customers, either verbally or through manufacturer’s supplied literature, every time they purchase Micotil. Others have stated that if there has been a long-term relationship between them and the user, they do not always warn them of the possible dangers, assuming they remember.
Verbal surveys conducted with the customers indicated that most had originally been told of the dangers of Micotil, but had become complacent until this incident. Several admitted that although they purchased the medication, they were not the actual person that injected it, leaving that task to a hired employee. Most said that they had not discussed specific Micotil dangers with their employees, but had trained them on proper injection techniques.
Elanco does provide “prescription pads” specific to Micotil to all its customers (see photos 6 & 7). This sheet is intended for use by the issuing veterinarian or animal health distributor each and every time they distribute Micotil to a user. The front side contains general information about the user, injection dosage, suggested injection sites, comments by the issuing veterinarian and a line for the veterinarian’s signature. There is no signature line for the purchaser. A completed copy should be placed in the purchaser’s file, and a copy sent with the purchaser.
Suggestion: Add a signature line for the “purchaser”. Their signature will ensure that the information was presented to them and that they had opportunity to ask questions from the issuing veterinarian or animal health distributor.

Photo #6.  Front side of Micotil prescription pad.
Photo #6. Front of prescription pad. The shaded areas are light blue on original form. The actual paper size is 5 ½ inches wide by 8 ½ inches long.
Photo #7.  Rear side of Micotil prescription pad.
Photo #7. Back side of prescription pad. Note the Human Warnings are also in Spanish.

Recommendation #2: Users of syringe-loaded medications should practice safe handling procedures during all phases of animal treatment.
Discussion: The victim had used this product many times before. Even though his cattle had the reputation of being extremely gentle and easy to work with, he still placed the heifer in the squeeze chute to medicate her, for both his and the animal’s safety.
Syringes should always be transported, whether full or empty, with the protective needle cap on. The investigator could not determine if the syringe was capped or not. The hard plastic needle cap, although extremely rigid and generally tight fitting, may not have been able to withstand the force of a direct blow from the horned cow if it were to contact the needle directly, or from an individual falling directly on the needle tip. The tip of the needle, when fully capped on this model, is approximately ¼ inch from the protective cap end.
Recommendation #3: Veterinarians/Cattlemen, when practical, should consider using another less-hazardous antibiotic.
Discussion: According to the Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine and their Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation (ONADE), Micotil is not the only FDA approved veterinary drug without an antidote, but there is no published list of those medications.
The FDA does not require an antidote for any new animal drug that is approved. In order to be approved, veterinary drugs must be safe for the animal, for humans who consume products from the animal, and for the environment. In addition, they must be effective for the animal. Also FDA regulations require that adequate directions can be prescribed for the safe administration of the product, i.e. the establishment of a veterinarian/client/patient relationship.
The end-user can purchase Micotil from either a state licensed/registered veterinarian or an animal health distributor. In either situation, the end-user must have a valid prescription from a veterinarian before obtaining the product.
While an antidote is one possible solution to an accidental poisoning, it is not necessary to make the administration of the product safe. The FDA ensures that products are labeled properly so accidental injection and the need for an antidote do not happen if the user reads and understands the label and adheres to its recommendations. Micotil does carry warning labeling on the source bottle and also a warning sheet inside the container’s box that states in part “Not for human use. Injection of this drug in humans may be fatal…”. However, the warning sheet does not warn that there is no antidote to this medication.
For most drug development companies, during the discovery and testing phases, drugs are selected that ideally have therapeutic/toxicity safety margins built into the molecule, so that when they’re developed the toxicology is at non-lethal therapeutic doses or concentrations that hopefully human or animals will never experience. Although there have been other fatal cases in the United States associated with Micotil, all but two have all been ruled as “suicides” by law enforcement personnel. The remaining two do not have an absolute explanation.
The minimum amount of this medication needed to cause a fatality when injected into a human is not known. Interviews conducted with both veterinarians and users indicated they believed any amount greater than 6 ccs could prove fatal, depending upon the route of exposure or injection, e.g. subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, oral, etc. ¹This may be based on a case of unintentional human exposure that occurred several years ago in Nebraska . The subject, a 28-year-old male, using a 12-cc syringe with Micotil, was attempting to inject a steer but inadvertently injected less than half of the contents into his left forearm. He felt no ill effects until approximately five hours later when he developed severe chest pain and was transported to a nearby hospital where he was intubated. He was extubated approximately 10 hours after arrival and remained free of chest pains for the 3 days of hospitalization and was discharged.
Several veterinarians queried during the investigation indicated they personally did not want to use this product due to the possible fatal human consequences. They all indicated that needle sticks in their business is unfortunately all too common, and to use a substance that may have no treatment depending on the amount and route injected or ingested was not their choice. They felt that there were other drugs on the market that would produce the same results and were safer to work with. Many indicated that since this incident they have received numerous calls from not only their customers about Micotil, but also from concerned family members that were looking for alternative medications.
Cattlemen like the drug because of its lower per dose volume, cost per treatment and reaction time. The majority of the current Micotil users that the investigator spoke with stated they would probably continue to use it, but be a little more cautious. Those that had employees had already discussed proper injection procedures with them after becoming aware of this incident.
Recommendation #4: All companies/agencies responsible for the manufacture and/or approval of veterinary medicines and supplies should continue to devise new products that will reduce unintentional human exposure to accidental needle sticks/injections.
Discussion: Interviews conducted during the investigation showed that users of disposable plastic syringes received needle sticks from a variety of situations. The preferred combination of having both medication and receiving animal next to each other, thereby reducing user exposure time, very seldom happens in the rural environment.
Elanco has developed a plastic shield for the 250-ml Micotil bottle that provides more protection to the user’s hand holding the bottle when inserting the needle. At this time it is only available for 250-ml bottles.
They also developed an Injection Administration Kit for hand operated syringes that allows multiple dosing, thereby reducing the number of needle/skin exposures. A center spike attached to tubing is inserted into the bottle, which is hung above the user.
The victim in this incident had only a few feet to travel from his vet room to the squeeze chute, but other users tell of traveling many miles with the loaded syringes to treat cattle. Unfortunately the majority of the time they place these syringes in bib overall pockets, toss them on the dash of the pickup, lay them on the vehicle’s seat next to them or place them in horse and ATV saddle bags.
An attempt was made to locate/identify some form of carrying case for these needles that would encapsulate the entire syringe/needle during transport, but none were identified by the investigator at the time of this report.
Suggestion: A device as simple as, and similar to, a hard plastic eyeglass case that would hold these plastic syringes with capped needles would further separate the user from possible accidental injection or exposure.


A Wonderful Adhesive

       



   I can't tell you how helpful it's been for two of our kids to have gone to university to art school.  One of them has a degree in sculpture and extended media, and the other one has a degree in illustration, with minors in graphic design and photography.   During their university experience they chose courses in chemistry, welding and took physics from a Nobel prize winner. They also met people who were top in their fields and had a chance to take those people to lunch.
             One of the great things about having art majors around the house is that they know things about how things are constructed, and so, when something breaks, they have some ideas as to how to properly fix something. This way something you might send to Goodwill or something that looks like it's aging, can be repaired and given new life. In this way, the strategy of repair can also be very economical.
              Quite a while ago I had an almost new pair of expensive ladies shoes that had the sole peel off. When I looked at the shoe, very very little glue had been applied in manufacture. I was annoyed because they weren't cheap, and I'd only worn them twice and I couldn't put my hands on the receipt for them.  The last time I repaired some expensive leather shoes for my husband at a cobbler, he charged a fortune ! I figured I should toss my shoes out and resolve to be more careful in the future.  Then my son said, "I can fix those. It will be easy."     He took out a tube, traced it along the sole, and then also glued the rubber ridge, and then clamped them.  After the glue dried, they were better than new !  He also indicated that a thin coat can be applied as a protective coat to leather boots or shoes.
                The stuff he used is sold in any hardware store and in Wal-Mart for four to six dollars a tube depending upon where you are.  It IS available in Canada, the United Kingdom, and also in Asia. In some countries you may also find a black shoegoo product and one specifically designed for sport shoes like sneakers.
I  was just amazed.  My son told me that this is one of the products he uses in repairing projects and occasionally in the construction of others.  He said it's also useful in repairing leather purses, briefcases, computer bags, backpacks shoes, sneakers,  belts, canvas bags, tents, camera bags.  Some upholstery can receive spot repairs this way. He even repaired a friend's small area of car upholstery.  It can also be helpful in putting trim or fringe back on furniture or on a rug.

                 One of the most amazing uses of clear shoegoo was discovered by my son recently.  Many times, my collection of large houseflags develops a slight tear or unravelling in the wind. The flag is not easily repaired by sewing.  The flag is damaged enough that additional exposure in wind will tear it furthur. However, it's not damaged enough to stop using or to throw away.  My son showed me that even small tears in the large open fields of the flag could be repaired using the clear shoegoo.  He used a popsicle stick to apply a fairly thick coat of shoegoo and then to thin in out. He repairs one side at a time, and when the first side is dry, repairs the other side. The repair dries clear and never frays or unravels again.  I have some flags I have had for many years which still look great and I can still use them.  The same can be done with the smaller mailbox style flags.



 The repair of this houseflag can't be seen unless someone calls your attention to it, and now it's still safe to hand in the wind.


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 These are the directions provided by the company itself:

Shoe GOO Adhesive —

HOW TO USE

Follow these step-by-step directions when using Shoe GOO®:
  1. Please read all directions before using. TEST SMALL AREA BEFORE USE.
  2. Surface should be clean, dry and free of dirt. For best results, roughen surface before use. Best when used between 70�F (21°C) and 85�F (29°C).
  3. Puncture seal at the top of the tube using the pointer cap.
  4. Always test a small area to ensure proper application technique and dry time. Prolonged exposure to warm water may cause discoloration and possible loss of adhesion when exposed to chemicals used in hot tubs and pools especially in outdoor locations. May be weakened by contact with certain highly plasticized materials.
  5. Apply SHOE GOO directly to each surface to be bonded or repaired. Allow SHOE GOO to partially cure, 2-10 minutes, before bringing surfaces together. SHOE GOO hardens by solvent evaporation and forms an immediate bond that is difficult to reposition after both adhesive-coated surfaces are placed in contact with each other and sufficient pressure is exerted to establish full contact.
  6. Allow the repair to dry for 24 hours. Various materials will require different drying times. Cure time increases with lower temperatures and decreases with higher temperatures. Depending on the materials and the temperature, maximum strength may not be reached for 48 to 72 hours.
  7. Keep threads at the neck of the tube free of SHOE GOO residue. To ensure easy cap removal, apply a thin coat of petroleum jelly to the threads of the tube before replacing the cap.
  8. Clean uncured adhesive with small amounts of acetone and paint thinner. The adhesive will ball up and brush off. Cured material may be removed by cutting or scraping.
  9. Store unused SHOE GOO at room temperature with cap tightened.
NOTE: SHOE GOO may damage finished surfaces. Avoid such contact until SHOE GOO is completely dry.
For technical support, contact our Technical Service Department by mail, email, or phone. Our office hours are 7:30 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. (CST) Monday through Friday. Please contact us for more information.


This is more detailed information and warnings from the manufacturer:


Shoe GOO Adhesive —

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

Is there a special application technique for shoe repair?
Shoe GOO is an adhesive specially formulated with extra abrasion resistance and thickness to extend the life of all kinds of shoes. If a worn shoe has a hole that goes all the way through the sole, tape over the hole inside the shoe before applying Shoe GOO to the outer sole; this will help avoid creating a bump. The tape should be removed from the inside and all bumps smoothed out within 2 hours, before the glue is completely hard.
Can Shoe GOO be used as a waterproof sealant?
Yes, Shoe GOO is water resistant immediately upon application. Apply Shoe GOO directly to the surface to be sealed. Use thin coats of Shoe GOO to build a thick coating on the surface to be sealed, allowing each layer to set 3 to 4 hours. This is especially ideal for smooth surfaces, such as plastic, glass or ceramic. Shoe GOO hardens by solvent evaporation, so allow time for thorough hardening to ensure proper bonding and wear resistance.
How long does Shoe GOO take to dry?
A full cure takes 24 to 72 hours, depending on the surrounding environment. Withlower temperatures and higher humidity, cure time increases; with higher temperatures, cure time decreases. To speed drying time, apply heat using a handheld dryer set on low. Hold dryer at least 6 inches from the surface.
What temperature range does Shoe GOO withstand?
Shoe GOO can be applied in temperatures ranging from 50 °F to 90 °F /
10 °C to 32 °C. When cured, Shoe GOO can withstand temperatures between
-40 °F and 150 °F / -40 °C and 66 °C.
Can Shoe GOO stick to fishing waders and foul weather gear?
Some fisherman's waders and foul weather gear have a water-repellent coating that must be removed before Shoe GOO will adhere. Scrub the area with detergent and allow to dry. Roughen surface before applying Shoe GOO. If the bond still pulls apart, the repair must be done on the inside surface of the item, which is usually reinforced with fabric.
What are Shoe GOO's warranty specifications?
LIMITED WARRANTY: The product is warranted against any defect in materials or workmanship, providing a claim is made in writing within 180 days after the sale of the product. THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDY FOR ANY DEFECTS IN MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP SHALL BE OBLIGATION OF THE SELLER TO REPAIR OR REPLACE ANY PRODUCT WHICH SHALL BE DETERMINED, TO THE SATISFACTION OF SELLER UPON SELLER'S EXAMINATION, TO HAVE BEEN THUS DEFECTIVE.
SELLER MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND OF FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OTHER THAN STATED HEREIN. THE REMEDIES PROVIDED HEREIN ARE THE EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES TO BUYER, AND SELLER SHALL NOT BE LIBEL FOR ANY LOSS, INJURY, OR DAMAGES TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY RESULTING FROM FAILURE OF THE PRODUCT OR ANY DEFECT IN THE PRODUCT SOLD HEREUNDER, OR ANY DELAY IN PERFORMANCE BY SELLER, NOR WILL SELLER BE LIABLE FOR DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL OR ECONOMIC DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, OR FOR CONTRIBUTION OR INDEMNITY CLAIMS, HOWEVER CAUSED, WHETHER FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE.


MSDS Information

MSDS Information in French Canadian

MSDS in US Spanish


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 Final note from me:

      Be careful that you use excellent ventilation while using this glue product.   It also should not be used by children.  It should not be used to repair toys that a child might place in his mouth.

 This company also makes adhesives for automotive use, and these:


AMAZING GOOP Household 3.7 fl oz Carded Tube
AMAZING GOOP Lawn & Garden 3.7 fl oz Carded Tube
AMAZING GOOP Marine 3.7 fl oz Carded Tube
AMAZING GOOP Marine 10.2 fl oz Cartridge
AMAZING GOOP Plumbing 3.7 fl oz Carded Tube
AMAZING GOOP RV 3.7 fl oz Carded Tube
AMAZING GOOP Sport & Outdoor 3.7 fl oz Carded Tube
AMAZING GOOP Wood & Furniture 3.7 fl oz Carded Tube




          

Friday, September 13, 2013

Proper Stocking of Your Home Emergency Medical Kit Used in Disasters

     
This is clean, non-sterile gauze.   Use sterile gauze directly on the wound, and clean non-sterile added on top.




    Most families don't need a first responder quality kit with a surgical kit and sterile sutures.  If you are in the business, and you're a registered nurse, an EMT, a physician's assistant who works in surgery or a nurse practitioner with direct surgical experience then you can make a case for having one.  There is, I suppose, always the possibility that people in the profession would know someone who is qualified and experienced who in an absolute emergency could do something for you.   In general, an over-the-top kit is a waste of your money.  Most really sharp trauma surgeons can improvise in the field better than you can imagine anyway even without such a kit.
               The most important things to have in your first aid kit is 4x4 gauze and lots of it.  Because this is an expense, I buy both sterile gauze to place directly on wounds, and clean, non-sterile gauze (which is generally intended to go through an autoclave), but is sufficiently clean to go on top of a sterile gauze pad on a wound. If you have a real injury, the type that needs lots of gauze to contain bleeding or one that requires dressing changes a couple of times a day for a week or two, then you are going to go through the amount of gauze most families stock in the course of a day or two.  I recommend at least five packages of 4x4 sized gauze for each family member.   Now, on to 2x2 gauze. These are helpful not only for smaller wounds, ear dressings, but I use these instead of stocking the more expensive eye pads. I also recommend five packages of these for each family member. Store them in a clean freezer bag in a plastic container in order to keep them clean, dry and the outer packaging dust free.
             Most people have a variety of tapes to secure dressings, and I don't care what type you like, as long as you have some that works for you. (There is paper tape, micropore which is somewhat hypoallergenic, and a number of varieties. You want some that won't tear up skin if you must tape to skin, and you should have some which allows you to tape a roller gauze bandage to itself for added security. )     I do want you to consider investing in gauze roller bandages in addition to tape, to secure wounds though.

gauze roller bandage is useful in securing gauze.  It comes in sterile and clean varieties. Many times the clean variety is just fine because it's not touching the wound directly.

             I think you should have four packages of six gauze roller bandages for each family member.  Fortunately, this is cheap.

               In your kit at home, you should have several bottles of hydrogen peroxide and some bottles of isopropyl alcohol.  I don't much care about the percentage of the alcohol. Isopropyl  alcohol of any percentage poured on a sewing needle intended for splinter removal, for example, will kill the pathogens, and this is what you are shooting for.

        Gauze, tape, roller gauze and the appropriate medical fluids are the essential starting points, yet almost no one stocks enough of these things at home.

         If you want information on my recommendations for the full kit (which should be assembled only after the items listed here)  I listed these on a prior post:


http://survivalweekly.com/downloadable-files/basic-survival-first-aid-kit/


http://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2011/12/assembling-your-own-excellent-first-aid.html

  http://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2011_09_01_archive.html


     http://rationalpreparedness.blogspot.com/2011/09/creating-your-own-emergency-medical-kit.html



            The largest deficiency I see in home medical kits is an insufficient amount of gauze.   EMTs are able to restock virtually every time they deliver a patient to a hospital.  In a genuine state or national emergency, restocking will not be immediately possible.  I will provide some internet sources for large packages of these items, at the bottom of this post.


                 Now that I have mentioned this, I would like to mention a medical device which is nice to have.   They are not essential when amassing a kit for the first time, but they are refinements that could be helpful depending upon what you encounter.  Its most obvious use is on limbs but it can be used on the head or trunk also.

                  The Israeli Battle Dressing, is often just called an Israeli Dressing. 

Product Features:
•       Internationally patented, FDA approved modular bandage
•       Quick, easy and convenient for one-handed or self-application
•       Sterile, non-adherent pad effectively applies direct pressure to any site
•       Additional tourniquet application to further constrict blood-flow
•       Vacuum-sealed packaging; X-Ray compatible

- See more at: http://www.officersurvival.org/collections/bleeding/products/israeli-dressing?utm_campaign=7930&utm_term=israeli%20battle%20dressing&utm_medium=google&utm_source=trada&utm_content=31793668639#sthash.Pjokjvlt.dpuf
  The main features of this dressing is that it is an FDA approved device which is designed to be either a pressure dressing or to be used as a modified tourniquet designed for pre-hospital use of traumatic injuries.  It IS possible to self apply with one hand, with advance practice.  (I keep an open one just for teaching purposes.)  The limb can be x-rayed with the dressing remaining intact.

        Here's where you can get some:

http://www.officersurvival.org/collections/bleeding/products/israeli-dressing?utm_campaign=7930&utm_term=israeli%20battle%20dressing&utm_medium=google&utm_source=trada&utm_content=31793668639



This is additional information on the Israeli Dressing should you wish more detail or to see a more comprehensive set of directions:


For those who prefer pictures:
( These directions came from: greatnorthernprepper.wordpress.com )






Online Sources of Gauze, Gauze Roller Bandages, and First Aid Supplies:

http://www.officersurvival.org/collections/personal-aid-kits

 http://www.amazon.com/First-Aid-Only-Conforming-12-Count/dp/B000YME9V0

http://www.amazon.com/Dynarex-Non-Sterile-Gauze-Sponge-Count/dp/B0006GDACS/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1379075938&sr=1-1&keywords=gauze+pads

http://www.amazon.com/All-purpose-Sterile-Sponge-Ply-Pack/dp/B0006GDADM/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1379075993&sr=1-2&keywords=gauze+pads

http://www.amazon.com/EverReady-Sterile-Gauze-Pads-White/dp/B00AVBCS58/ref=sr_1_11?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1379075993&sr=1-11&keywords=gauze+pads

http://www.amazon.com/DKL1212-Sterile-Gauze-Pads-White/dp/B000EFQG4A/ref=sr_1_2?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1379076084&sr=1-2&keywords=2x2+gauze+pads

http://www.ebay.com/itm/lot-10-Israeli-Army-Field-Bandage-Dressing-Emergency-IFAK-Israel-2015-/380716171097?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58a473bf59