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We have roughly 12 hours of natural light from the sun and the rest of the time we simply flip a switch and out pours a flood of artificial light. But what happens when the switch doesn’t work anymore?
Crisco Candle
Since the advent of electric lights, candles have become more of a decorative item than a tool. But anyone that has ever been caught in a blackout knows the real value of a candle.
You can purchase many “survival candles” that last 12-120 hours, but did you know that you can create a candle that will last for up to 45 days using something that you probably already have in your kitchen?
All you need is:
a 48oz tub of Crisco or smaller. The large tub will get you the 45 life span and anything smaller will burn significantly less
a spoon
an old candlestick or something else that can be used as a wick
There are a few options when it comes to creating a Noah candle. One of the first things you need to decide is if you want a candle that will burn brighter or one that will last longer.
For a longer lasting candle you will use only one wick and for a brighter candle you will use anywhere from 2-4 wicks depending on the size of the container.
Regardless of how many wicks you decide to use or the size of the Crisco tub that you choose, the directions are the same.
Take your spoon and remove a small portion of the Crisco directly in the center (for a single wick candle) if you are using an old candlestick. Then simply press the candlestick down into the shortening until it touches the bottom. Use the shortening that was removed previously to fill in any divots.
Smooth the top of the Crisco down until it is completely flat, then trim the excess candle and wick until you only have about 1/4” of wick sticking out above the top of the shortening.
Light and enjoy.
If you are using a standalone wick, you may need to dig down to the bottom of the can in order to get the base of the wick to lie flat against the bottom of the tub. Then simply melt the shortening and use it to fill in the hole that was left.
As a caution: the container of the Crisco is made of a paper material and as such may catch on fire if you place the wick too close to the outer edge of the tub.
This is not to replace competent medical care but to direct a medical emergency. The best way for you to learn basic first aid is to take a course. Another way is to learn by teaching yourself.
“Stitching” a wound means “suturing” a wound. A “suture” can mean either closing the wound or it can also refer to the material used to stitch up the wound.
The following is an excerpt from Howtosurvivstuff where you can learn in more detail, how to suture a wound.
How to suture a wound in an emergency
Sterilize
Sterilize any equipment you will be using for the procedure. A good suture kit will come with sterilization material like rubbing alcohol and/or hydrogen peroxide. Wash the equipment first with soap and water. Then soak it in either rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide for 20 seconds, then let it dry on a clean paper towel or cloth. If you do not have sterilization material, you can sterilize equipment by burning on an open flame. However, if you use this method, hold the equipment to the side of the flame so that soot doesn’t accumulate on the equipment. Make sure you wear surgical gloves if you have them. If not, thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water and then rub in rubbing alcohol.
Pain Relief
If it is possible, administer pain relief to the wounded individual. If you have a local anesthetic or pain relief medicine you should use it, depending on the person’s pain tolerance and the location and severity of the wound.
Clean and Irrigate the Wound
Before you close the wound, you will need to clean out any foreign matter, wash with disinfectant material, and prepare the edges of the wound to make a complete and proper suture. Use a syringe to irrigate the wound with saline or other antibacterial fluid. If there is stubborn debris that does not come out with the irrigation method, use the scalpel to remove debris.
Prepare the edges of the wound for a clean and complete suture. If you try and stitch together jagged flesh, not only will it be difficult, there is a much larger chance the wound could get infected. This is because stitching together jagged flesh does not completely seal the wound. Once you have removed debris and properly cleaned and irrigated the wound, use the scalpel and/or surgical scissors to cautiously cut away loose or jagged flesh. Do this as conservatively as possible and only as much as is necessary to prepare the edges of the wound for a a clean suture.
Stitch wound
For most flesh wounds, you will use non-absorbable suture material. “Non-absorbable” suture just means that it is made of materials that don’t absorb into your body. There is “absorbable” suture material that is used for stitching up arteries and organs. This is helpful because in those cases, you don’t want to have to open the wounded person up again to later remove the suture material. For flesh wounds, it is easy to later remove the suture material. That is why you use non-absorbable suture material for flesh wounds.
