The Esteveban Files

Lessons learned from misinformation (email hoaxes)

2011-08-14T10:00:00.001-05:00

I recently received an email from a someone close to me containing two warnings of gang activity. Being the Network Security guy that I am, I quickly hit Google and search for any related articles on snopes.com. Bingo!

This email warning message was a hoax; misinformation. It was a clever variation of two popular messages merged into one "helpful" email. I was forwarded the email with a message stating that this could be a possible topic for my blog. It wasn't until I received a follow-up email with questions such as why would anyone do this, and what if this or what if that, that I decided this would be a good blog post (seeing as how I'm not quite ready to write the next article following my Outline for Preparedness), and well personal safety tips is definitely one of the paths I want to us to take on this blog.

How to identify an email hoax

So our first lesson, is how do you identify an email as a hoax? Simple! Google is your friend. Chances are by typing the quoted subject of the email into a search engine, and examining the hits, you might find supporting information proving or disproving the validity of the email. Of course, by a generic search you are still relying on the internet, which just lied to you by allowing this hoax to get to your inbox. Be sure to closely examine the sources of the information you are reviewing. I almost always find a link to snopes.com.

If you do not have any luck with the subject, try a searching for a line or keywords from the email.

What we can learn from misinformation

Let's take a look at the two hoaxes I received:

National Gang Week
http://www.snopes.com/crime/gangs/carseat.asp

The Knockoff Pullover
http://www.snopes.com/crime/warnings/fakecop.asp

I've received variations of these emails before, but never two in one email message, so this was a unique message to me.

Here is the thing about misinformation, although the facts many not be completely or even partiality true, when it comes to safety alerts, there is always a lesson to learn.

In the National Gang Week hoax, a baby car seat is mentioned as a lure to attract victims to abandon the safety of their vehicle under the guise that there is a poor and helpless child in need. Snopes warns that this is false, but I did come across a real life similar incident. A few months ago while at a gas station late one evening, an individual with a baby carrier in arm was slowly walking towards me with a sympathetic and desperate look. I knew better, and before the individual entered my 'social zone', I was safely back in my vehicle with my doors locked, and the ignition started. As I pulled away, I looked into an empty baby carrier. What the intentions of this individual were, I is anyone's guess. Likely he wanted to solicit me for money, or another possibility is that he was using the baby carrier as a tool to coax me to drop my guard and allow him to enter my 'personal zone' for an attack.

The moral here is that this email, although fake, and my story have a related lesson:

First, be aware of your surroundings and the situation you are currently in or about to enter
Secondly, do not leave the safety of your vehicle (or shelter) unless you are 100% sure that it is safe to do so, and realize that you may still be wrong about it the safety of the situation you are entering.
Third, when suspicious circumstances arise contact the authorities immediately.

In The Knockoff Pullover hoax, there is excellent advise about acknowledging an unmarked police vehicle attempting to pull you over with the use of your hazard lights, and continuing to a well populated and well lit area while contacting the local authorities to appraise them of your situation and fears. Although snopes.com identified #77 as an invalid emergency number, I did test it from my mobile phone in Chicago, IL and it routed me to the Elgin, IL emergency response number. Likewise 112 (which is another popular emergency telephone number in many places of the world) routed me to the local 911 emergency dispatch center here in Chicago. Be warned however, that though Chicago and Elgin have adopted these numbers, it does not prove that they are actually official numbers. #77 and 112 might not work in every area, and you should stick with the officially posted emergency telephone numbers. Furthermore, calling Elgin for assistance when in Chicago will add a delay to a response.

About emergency numbers

It is imperative that everyone learns their local Emergency Telephone Number (911 in the US), but it is equally important to know the local emergency number for any area that you plan to visit (for instance 999 in the UK). I say that 'plan to visit' because you should have this information before you actually enter that area.

Additionally there are specific Highway Notification Numbers for each state in the US. These numbers were created to give callers direct access to Highway Patrol, rather than route through local dispatch of 911 call centers, as well as ease the call volume of 911.

Lesson about knowing your situation and the one you are about to enter

I recently heard a related story from one of our OC (Pepper Spray) students. While stopped at stop light, the student observed an individual in a wheelchair tip over and fall out of his chair onto the street. He was having difficultly getting back up, so the student and another individual left their vehicles to aid the man, our student even exited the vehicle leaving it running. Of course I'm thinking that this is an obvious hoax, and that either they would both be assaulted or mugged, or that their car would be burglarized or stolen. As the story unfolded, the individual suffered an aliment and really did need assistance. He also lived a few blocks down the street and was very grateful for the assistance.

Though this situation was safely resolved, you must always exercise caution before entering into an unknown situation; especially when going to the aid of someone. Actually if you have a passenger, you might even consider sending the passenger to investigate while you prepare to notify authorities. Leaving your passengers in your vehicle might provide complications for them if they need to move the vehicle or are approached or assaulted. If you must exit your vehicle properly secure your vehicle, and proceed with caution. If the situation seems as if it is or could be serious, you should contact the authorities before exiting your vehicle.

Keep in mind that your vehicle is not only a portable shelter, but is is also a weapon. If you are unable to defend yourself from a possible attack, the best assistance you might be able to provide is to ensure your doors are locked and windows are closed, pull over away from the situation and contact the authorities. All the while remain observant of the situation around you.

Social zones / distances

Finally, let's talk about some of the terms I used.

Your social zone is the furthest space from your body that one would enter to engage you in a conversation without shouting. In this zone you should not feel threatened, and you have allowed yourself enough room to take flight if necessary.

Beyond your social zone is the public zone. At this zone you cannot effectively communicate with someone without shouting, and it is not apparent if someone is following you or approaching you, they are just walking along. If attacked you usually have a choice between fight or flight.

Your personal zone is the space that you normally allow friends and family to enter, or and individual when you are engaged in direct conversation. At this distance you are more susceptible to an attacker, and would likely have to fight rather than be able to take flight. You do not want to allow strangers into your personal space.

Your intimate zone is the distance at which someone can reach out and touch you at arms length.

These zones are essentially defined by safety, communication, affection and threat. Everyone has a different definition of their zones, as we all have different comfort levels, and situations may change the threshold of these zones.

I like to use the example of a "close talker" when I discuss zones. You may have at one point met someone who stands a little bit too close to you when they talk to you. That is when the are entering your personal or intimate zone. I've often found myself putting a table or chair between myself and a close talker to feel more comfortable, or I end the conversation all together.

When someone enters into a zone that they are not allowed, it is your right to react and defend yourself if you feel threatened. We will not talk about techniques or defenses, as that's best done in person and requires training and practice, but knowing that these zones exist, having a clear definition of these zones, and knowing that it is your right to defend yourself when you feel threatened is a good start; along with the other lessons today.

There is one more zone I would like to define, and that is the invisible zone. This is everything outside of your public zone which is out of your perception. For example a building you are about to enter, or a an event a block away. This zone is invisible to you as you have no way to perceive a threat in that area. Though there is not much you can do to make that zone visible until it is reclassified, you should still be aware of it's existence.

You can research "Social Zones" or "Social Distance" for more in-depth articles and explanations. My descriptions come from a combat perspective.

Be aware and be safe!

Outline for Preparedness

2011-07-24T12:20:00.004-05:00

I wanted to share with you my outline for personal preparedness. I will do my research and document my findings to this blog based on this outline. The 0. items are for you to do on your own, however I may contribute some wellness related articles to another blog we are talking about.

A: At the least, I recommend:

0. Body

Your body is the most important tool you own. It's a tool that will always be with you, and you should hone this tool and ensure it is in top working order. During an event your body and essentially your health will determine how far you can walk or how hard you can run, how long you can go without food or water, how much you can carry and move. It is imperative that we respect our bodies, strengthen our bodies and maintain our bodies; after all, in the end your life depends on the condition of your body.

The rule of threes states, you can live three minutes without breathing, three days without water, and three weeks without food. But that only applies if you are healthy to begin with, get healthy and stay healthy.

0.1 Visit Your Physician

Many of us tend to wait until our small issues have grown into larger ones before visiting our physicians. and even worse many healthcare institutions are designed to treat symptoms rather than prevention. Never put off your health until tomorrow, if an event occurs tomorrow, you might not have the opportunity to seek the treatment that you need.

0.1.1 Tend to Chronic Conditions

If you have a bad back, or toothache, a small rash or bleeding gums. Go and see your physician. I just outlined why above, but chronic conditions should be treated so that they do not escalate into something worse.

0.2 Get In Shape

In goes without saying that if you have trouble walking up a flight of stairs or around the block, fleeing your home one foot may be a difficult situation. Needless to say, if you are in a group fleeing for your life, you might just be left behind. We need to maintain good cardiovascular and muscular fitness levels so that we can move our body from point A to point B, and utilize out greatest tool to it's full potential.

1. Personal Preparedness

Having all of the supplies and know-how in the world does you no good if you can not secure your own personal safety during an event.

1.1 Pocket Safety Kit

I've been doing extensive research on Pocket Safety Kits. In my opinion the purpose of the kits are to provide you with the tools necessary to get from an unexpected unsafe location to a safe location.

In my opinion pocket safety kits should include tools for rescue, navigation, light, fire, and survival (meaning tools for cutting, hunting/trapping, tethering, ...). I also believe that there is no perfect pocket survival kit; that is a kit contain the bare minimums to survive in the jungle will be different than a kit designed for arctic, desert or even a metro environment. Therefore, I have decided for my personal well-being, I will have a metro/urban kit on my person (or very near) at all times, and another more robust outdoors survival kit in my car which suits my climate.

1.2 Bug Out Bags

A Bug Out Bag is the term used for a bag (usually a bookbag) that contains everything you need in the case that you have time to only grab one item and go. It should contain enough food, water and supplies to last you at least 72 hours. During that time you might be held up waiting for assistance (such as power to be restored to your house), or you are actively moving towards safety. I want to emphasize this last point. During a major disaster or event, it may not be wise to sit tight and wait for assistance. I personally believe that the only person we can rely upon is our self. If may be wiser for you to leave your shelter and seek refuge.

1.2.1 Home Bug Out Bags

1.2.2 Auto Bug Out Bags

1.2.3 Alternate Locations Bug Out Bags

By Alternate Locations I mean your place of employment or other location you spend significant time at on a regular basis

2.0 Make a Escape Plans

Make an escape plan to/from every important location in your life. Your home, school, job, hospital, grocery store, Parent's house, Siblings houses, vacation home, out of state family. Anywhere you think you might be when an event might occur and anywhere you might want to go to escape an event. Include out-of-state contacts. Have alternate routes in case some are blocked by hazards, and test your routes regularly.

2.1 Make a Evacuation Plans

Same deal, for any location you might be or want to be, ensure that you have a way out of any building, property or compound you might be in. You never know when you'll have to exit the location for a fire, natural disaster or attack. Again have alternate routes and test your routes regularly.

3.0 Learn First Aid

3.0.1 Build a First Aid Kit

4.0 Food, Water and Supply Procurement

Learn to procure food, water and supplies; as well as how to build rudimentary tools for doing so.

5.0 Personal Safety

Times of crisis or even times of extreme elation can cause dangerous situations. A basketball team winning the Finals can cause riots. Natural disasters can cause panic. Economic failure of a country or government can insight violence. These are very real events that can and have occurred. It is your unalienable right to protect yourself and your family.

5.0.1 Arm Yourself

Whether you choose to purchase a firearm, Oleoresin Capsicum (pepper spray), and club/baton, bow and arrow, or any type of arms, do so. Be sure to also stockpile any ammunition you may need, or learn to make it yourself.

5.0.1.1 Seek Professional Training

Just because you have a weapon doesn't mean that you know how to properly use it. Seek professional training to learn how to safely and efficiently weld your weapons. Reading a manual, watching, online videos, and toying around in the backyard is not the same as seeking proper training.

I have taken many weapons courses and it amazes me how inefficiently I welded a weapon (such as Oleoresin Capsicum) before taking a course, and how much more efficiently and accurate I have become afterwards. Taking formal training also shows you potential weaknesses and fallacies of a weapon and a good course will even teach you weapon retention. A false sense of security is the last thing you need in a stressful moment.

5.0.1.2 Take a Self-Defense Course

Learning to protect yourself with your bare hands is an invaluable skill to have. You may not always have your arms with you while you are being attacked, or perhaps your arms have run out of ammunition or failed or even taken away from you. Remember, your body is the greatest tool you own. Learn to use it to protect yourself.

Knowing how to fight is one thing, but knowing how to end a fight is another. I would suggest learning a combat art, which will teach you effective disabling techniques, rather than a discipline that teaches you how to square up and exchange blows with someone. In a riot you do not want to fight everyone attacking you, you want to disable them as quickly as possible and move on. If you can do that with fast punches and kicks, more power to you... I know I can't.

As a plug, I have been a student of Ju-jutsu (Japanese, not Brazilian) for many years now, and I feel more secure and confident walking down a dark alley than I ever have before. It's a great feeling being empowered and I recommend that you seek out training. If you are in the Chicagoland area, feel free to email me directly if you are interested in learning Ju-jutsu or any of the weapons I know (Oleoresin Capsicum, Baton, Ju-jo, Tanjo).

B: Get Involved

6.0 Join Your Local CERT

C: For the more extreme

7.0 Stockpile Supplies

8.0 Learn a Trade

Make yourself invaluable. If you have skills or a trade that is unique and/or highly desired you ensure your safety and worth.

Thank You for Supporting The Esteveban Files

2011-07-23T12:24:00.001-05:00

I'd like to start by thanking everyone for taking some time out of their day to read my posts. Your positive comments, article suggestions and engaging conversations about my blog posts has all the more motivated me to do my best to bring you worthwhile and accurate information. I actually feel a sense of responsibly and duty to maintain the blog and do my due diligence to provide you with new and accurate information on a timely basis.

Thank you!

It is with the utmost modesty that I am asking for more support. I ask that if you feel engaged by the material I'm posting please share it with your friends, family and loved ones. I truly believe in the content that I'm creating and hope that we become better prepared and educated together.

So please click the 'share', 'like', '+1', 'send in email', ... buttons on the main blog or on blog posts you enjoyed.

If you haven't noticed, I recently monetized the site with ads. My intention is not to make a living off of my blog or even supplement my income. I'm doing so because I have realized that good research involves more than just time and effort, it requires investment as well. I have purchased a number of training materials, registered for classes and seminars, as well as purchased products to review. It's starting to add up, and though I am doing this for myself and my friends and family, and now you, a little bit of help is never a bad thing.

So, I'm asking that if you use an adblock plugin on your browser, please allow ads for http://esteveban.blogspot.com/. If you see an ad that interests you, please click and review the content. I do not want you to click ads just for the sake of clicking, that's not right, so please don't do that.

I had intentions of joining the Amazon Affiliate program and linking only to items I reviewed and recommended, but due to recent Illinois State Law, Amazon has discounted the program in Illinois.

Finally, a friend suggested that I add a donation link, so I did. I suppose if you found some value in an article it would be nice to send a small donation my way. Again, that will help offset some of the costs of running this blog.

Preparedness / Survival Education

2011-07-13T19:30:00.004-05:00

Since I've started this blog, I've been doing a lot of reading and research on preparedness and survival, and it's lead me to the revelation that I should share some of the resources I've come across, rather than have you wait for my post.

Get Formal Training!

First and foremost, I recommend that you get formal training. It's one thing to read something on the internet or in a book, or watch a few videos, but getting hands on experience and actually being put through a test is a whole other thing.

The American Red Cross [www.redcross.org] offers training on from their website. From the "Take a Class" link, I would first suggest the "Emergency Preparedness" and "Disaster Response Training". Second I'd suggest "First Aid" and possibly "Pet First Aid". I also recommend you get CPR certified (or re-certified).

If you want to be really hardcore, I also suggest a "Wilderness First Responder" course. I'm looking into taking the Wilderness First Responder training offered by Wilderness Medical Associates International [www.wildmed.com] sometime in January 2012. If a major event does occur, a destroyed urban area is essentially a wilderness.

Finally, your local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) [www.citizencorps.gov/cert/], is another great resource to tap into. I just contacted my local CERT training center to arrange for training and certification. My local CERT states that training is funded by the Department of Homeland Security, and therefore free. You really can't beat getting free lifesaving training.

Even if you live your entire life without seeing a major disaster, you will be better off learning potentially lifesaving techniques, as well as become familiarized with the professional emergency response procedure for your community. Don't you want to know what the plan is to rescue you and your family?

Read, Research, Review, Practice

While you are waiting for your next training class, you should learn as much as you can on your own. The sites mentioned above are great starting points. They contain much information and reference for preparedness. Namely how to build survival / bug out kits, how to stock your home, car, workplace, ... with the supplies you need to last at least 72 hours.

Here are a some additional sites to help get you started with your information gathering:
Ready America [ready.gov]
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) [fema.gov]
SurvivalBlog.com [SurvivalBlog.com]
Equipped To Survive [equipped.com]
Survivalist Boards Forum [survivalistboards.com]

And don't just learn, let's say, how to start a fire with feather sticks, or how to collect water with a sheet of plastic and a rock, go out and do it! In a controlled environment of course... you don't want to 'learn' your survival skills during an emergency situation.

BUY a few Preparedness / Survival Books

I am currently reading a few books that I have purchased, and do not want to recommend them until I've read them. Eventually I will make a sticky page with links and references. You want to actually purchase and own paper books, because if an event does occur, you might not have access to the internet or electricity to power your computer, smartphone, tablet or e-reader. It does you no good if all of your references are out of reach.

Finally, another resource I am using is a podcast called "The Survival Podcast" [thesurvivalpodcast.com]. Past episodes are available from the website or iTunes for free. I found that the older episodes are no longer hosted on the website, so I'm using the Internet Archive Wayback Machine [archive.org] to access older versions of the website where I can download mp3 files of past podcasts. I have decided that listening to the podcast is more beneficial then music, so I listen while I work. It's an unintrusive way of learning and doing research.

I hope you are able to find some time to take a few steps towards preparedness. You might not believe TEOTWAWKI is upon us (I sure don't), but you cannot discount that an event may never reach you. In the past few weeks, I've had more then a few friends without electrical power in their homes for over 24 hours, some even 72 hours. The roads weren't blocked and they could still go work, and purchase fresh food, but what if they were trapped in their homes? Did they have enough food and water to survive?

You have to realize that if an event does occur in your neighborhood, you can not rely on being "rescued". Disasters can render roads useless, and though their may be plenty of supplies and manpower ready to assist you, they might not be able to physically reach you in time, and depending on the size of the disaster area, it might take some time before help can reach you. Having a small stash of food, water and other supplies can mean life or death, or at the very least, just make you that much more comfortable while you patiently wait for assistance, or give injured or less prepared and less fortunate individuals priority assistance.

I'll close with a concept from my Ju-jutsu sensei, "Learn to be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem."

Flat Tire Preparedness Part 2

2011-07-06T18:45:00.007-05:00

I had a pleasant conversation with one of my friends about my previous blog post My Flat Tire Is Your Next Lesson, and she mentioned that the rim of her "space-saver" spare tire bent under the weight of her SUV. Apparently this is not a defect, but a known design flaw that the spare tire manufacture does not freely repair or replace.

I was never aware of this issue, and was bothered that a known defective device was provided as an emergency replacement.

Given that concern let's take a look at alternatives to "space-saver" spare tires.

1- Canned Tire Inflator
Products such as "Fix-a-Flat" [fixaflat.com]* and other canned tire inflators contain a mixture of solvents, sealants, and propellants that can be used to temporarily seal a small tire puncture from the inside of the tire

There are some things to note about canned tire inflators:
a) canned tire inflator will inflate your tire just enough so that you may drive to the nearest service station and properly fill your tire.
b) canned tire inflator products are temperature sensitive, that is they produce can freeze (see individual product for freezing point temperatures). This means two things; first your canned tire inflator might be frozen when you need it, and second if you have the product in your tire, it will freeze. This might actually cause a previously plugged puncture to reopen.
c) this leads to the next point, you should properly service a tired that was temporarily fixed with canned tire inflater. Inform the repair technician that the tire was repaired with canned tire inflator so they may properly clean the tire.
d) also note that any aerosol container contains a risk of exploding in extreme heat.

e) there is usually a maximum speed warning indicated on the product which should be heeded.

f) the use of canned tire inflators can void some tire warranties.

2- Full Tire Spares
Back when cars where still being made with metal and had much larger trucks, full tire spares were the standard. Some vehicles still do carry full tire spares. Depending on your vehicle, you might be able to fit one in your trunk or spare tire storage area. In most trunks a full tire may cause a "hump" in your trunk space due to extra space taken. Comparatively speaking, this might have to be an acceptable solution depending upon your needs.

3- Run-flat Tires
Run-flat tires contain a support ring that sits within the rim. The diameter of the support ring is greater than the rim but less than the tire itself. Additionally run-flat tires are composed of reinforced sidewalls. Though you can drive further and at faster speeds than a "space-saver" spare tire, doing so does risk permanent damage to the tire. Furthermore, run-flat tires are not completely invulnerable, as they are ineffective in the case of flats due to sidewall damage, or more traumatic damage. Run-flat tires are also heavier and can effect the handling of your vehicle as well as it's fuel efficiency.

[ADDENDUM]

4- Polymer Sealants
I forgot about polymer sealants such as "Slime" [slime.com] or "Stan's Tire Sealant" [stanstiresealant.com]. These sealants can be used proactively before you actually get a flat or as a result of getting a flat. The sealants are available in different formulas for different needs.

Some tings to note about polymer sealants:
a) though they have a longer life than traditional Canned Tire Inflator, their is still a life expectancy for the product. For example, one product listed a 2 year life. This means that if you utilize the product proactively before getting a flat, you will have to empty, breakdown and clean your tire if your tire life has out-lived that of the sealant.
b) as with any liquid, polymer sealants can move and settle at the bottom of the tire when unmoved for a period of time, or during warmer temperatures. With this in mind you should gradually and smoothly increase your speed to ensure that the tire is evenly coated. Though using polymer sealants can assist with balancing your tires, it can also work to unbalance your tires if it is not evenly coated. During colder temperatures it may require additional time before the tire is evenly coated and safe to drive at higher speeds. Additionally the product will be more difficult to apply if it has been left in colder temperatures.
c) driving with polymer sealants in your front tires, or more than one tire can also unbalance your tires.
d) polymer sealants cannot seal sidewall punctures or bead leaks. Furthermore, It should not be used with faulty valves or damaged rims.
e) there is usually a maximum speed warning indicated on the product which should be heeded.

f) the use of polymer sealants can void some tire warranties.

5- Tire repair kit
Last but not least, you can always purchase your own tire repair kit. A traditional tire repair kit usually includes a rasp and plug tool, rubber cement and tire repair strings. You will may need to add a variety of pliers to your kit so that you may be able to grip and remove whatever object has punctured your tire. Additionally a spray bottle of soapy water will assist you to identify and clean the puncture area before you apply a patch. Finally, you will need an air source to refill your tire. Depending on the amount of pressure loss, you may be able to drive to the nearest service station. However, you may opt for either a can or two of compressed air, an air reservoir tank, a portable tire inflator, or lastly a tire pump.

Remember that compressed air containers may become unstable during extreme temperatures and explode. And as for a tire pump, be sure to purchase one that is able to meet the pressure requirements of your tire.

* I'm sorry I can not link to the "Fix-a-Flat" website without the explicit permission of ITW Global Brands.

My Flat Tire Is Your Next Lesson

2011-06-29T22:34:00.001-05:00

As I was pulling away from my parking spot, I heard a loud pop followed by the sound cracking glass. I knew it wasn't good. I pulled out my handy flashlight to confirm I did drive over a glass bottle. Turning off my radio I slowly continued to drive on and exited the gravel lot to reach solid pavement - no way had I wanted to set up a jack in a gravel lot. As I exited the lot, I noticed the sound wasn’t quite the same. Pulling over and inspecting the tire I then saw it appeared to be slowly loosing air. Better to change a flat sooner than later.

If I risked driving home on it the damage could have easily and quickly worsened. Losing a tire while in motion is also extremely dangerous as you can lose control of your vehicle. And of course there is a higher risk of injury replacing a tire on the expressway or an unfamiliar area. Also letting a tire go completely flat can damage it to a point beyond repair. You can cause a pinch or slash, also tires contain fabric and steel wire as reinforcing materials which can also be distorted beyond repair.

I've changed many tires in my day. In the rain, the dark, the middle of a snow storm, in the street, a parking lot, garage, the expressway. I have it down to a science. Fortunately for me though I had some great friends that quickly jumped into action.

I had my jack and tire iron, lock nut key, two flashlights, a pair of mechanics gloves, and of course a fully inflated spare.

Rather than recreate the wheel (pun intended), I’m going to point you to the two sites I found that had the best instructions:

GEICO: How To Change A Flat Tire
http://www.geico.com/information/publications/newsletter/2009/how-to-change-flat-tire/

eHow: How to Fix a Flat Tire
http://www.ehow.com/how_112618_fix-flat-tire.html

Just to emphasize some points, after you find a safe area to service your vehicle, be sure that all four tires are on a stable level surface and properly secure your vehicle as indicated in the instructions. Modern vehicles have jack points under the vehicle. These are secure points attached to the frame of the vehicle. You may refer to your owner’s manual to identify these points. Some vehicles however do not have jack points; in that case you will have to carefully choose a secure location to align your jack. Beware of weak points on your under carriage, or any area that you may crimp a pipe or cause other damage. Jacking your vehicle at a weak point can also cause the jack to slip as the vehicle adjusts to the stress. Also note that you do not want to place your jack too deep underneath the vehicle as it will be less stable, as well the likelihood of causing damage to your vehicle is greater.

Once you have located you jack point. Place your jack securely on a flat stable surface and slide it into place. Be mindful of any debris that might allow the jack to shift under stress. You also want to align the base of the jack parallel to the frame of the vehicle. The last thing you want is for the jack to tip on a corner of its base as it comes under load.

It’s extremely important that you loosen the lug nuts before you jack up your vehicle. Attempting to do so after you jack up your vehicle can cause the jack to slip and cause injury and/or further damage to your vehicle. If you are having difficulties loosening the lug nuts, and do not have a break pipe, you can use your tire blocks or wedges to strike carefully downward perpendicularly at the end of the tire iron. You might want to wrap the end of the tire iron with some cloth to avoid damaging it. If blocks or wedges are not available you may also try to carefully heel stomp the end of the tire iron. Do so by holding onto the vehicle or a companion with two hands and carefully stomp downward at the end of the tire iron. This is not preferred but if it’s the only way you can loosen your lug nuts you might be forced to try.

It can not be reiterated enough... spare tires are a temporary tool to get you from the location of the incident to your nearest repair facility. You should exercise caution while driving on a spare. Your breaking distance will need to increase, as well your turning radius will also widen, and you should drive at or below speed limit in a lane that you can quickly pull off of if something were to occur to your spare. If you truly must drive for an extended time period on your spare, you should move it to your rear axle. I suggest the rear driver's side as it it easier to gauge the road conditions right in front of you rather than off to your passengers side. This may mandate that you rotate your tires during the process so that you have tires of equal tread depth in the front to avoid your car pulling to one side or another.

The only thing I’d add to the equipment list is a towel or rug that you can place on the ground to provide cushion and protect your clothing as you kneel down to locate the jack points. An inexpensive bathroom rug will work just fine, and can be easily folded onto itself and stored with your spare.

Hand wipes are also easily acquired from some gas stations or restaurants. I used to always keep a few in my glove box, but failed to continue the habit. Now that I am improving my preparedness, I will restock.

This leads me to the reiterate the points that you should regularly check your spare tire pressure, and ensure that all of your tools are fully functioning and that you are able to use them. Remember that you never want to have to learn how to use your gear or tools during an emergency. You should always test any new tool or gear item under controlled conditions rather than on the field or during an emergency situation. Being prepared isn’t just about having the tools, it’s also about knowing how to properly use them.

Finally, had I done vehicle safety check and walked around my vehicle before entering it, I might have completely avoided this situation as I know the bottle wasn’t there when I pulled into the lot. In drivers education class this was one of the fundamental safety instructions. I usually do take the longer walk around the rear of my vehicle before entering; inspecting the tires, the distance I have from the curb and any vehicles to my front or rear. I admit at times I do get lazy or distracted, or there isn’t adequate lighting and I don’t reach for my flash light. But after this event, I realize how important a 40 second check could have saved us some time and effort. Preventative measures are always better than reactive solutions.

As a personal aside, I'd like to also comment that an organized and well cleaned trunk greatly improves your reaction time. Although I had all of the proper tools necessary, and some extra survival gear in my trunk, I also had a lot of extra clutter in my trunk. It became a storage closet, that had to be dumped onto the street before I could access the spare. Not only embarrassing, but if there was precipitation or high winds my belongs would have suffered, also if I was trying to quickly change a flat during a crisis the time wasted clearing out my trunk could have cost me dearly.

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UPDATE: I wrote a follow up blog article - Flat Tire Preparedness Part 2 - based on user comments.

Follow @EstevebanFiles on Twitter

2011-06-28T14:07:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note that I have established a twitter account to share my thoughts on blog posts. I will post short updates to twitter about ideas and research I have for blog posts. You may also provide your input on content before it is posted on the blog. I will also respond DMs and @messages as well.

Thank you for your support and motivation!

Follow @EstevebanFiles

Preparedness - When Disaster First Strikes

2011-06-25T17:51:00.000-05:00

When most people think about a survival plan, they tend to think food and medical caches, personal bunkers, energy sources, communication equipment, and methods of self-protection as some of the core basic necessities. In truth your cache of supplies is useless if you can't get to them.

Most of us spend the majority of our time away from our homes, as such we likely will not be home when an event occurs. Do you know how you'll get home? Do you have the supplies readily available to support your travel to your home? Would you be able to find safe shelter if you can't get home? These are questions that you should be prepared to answer without much though. Yes some of these questions have simple answers, but how clearly will you be able provide solutions to these problems under duress?

During the 2011 Snowpocalypse in Chicago, I learned first hand how hard it can be get home during a crisis. Traffic was backed up worse than I have ever seen in my entire life. It took me half an hour to drive half a mile. I had water and extra clothing in my car, including a waterproof shell, and some trekking poles, but that's all. Since I've quickly added a flashlight and extra wiper fluid. But that is not enough to survive a trip home during real crisis. What if I had to ditch the car and walk home? I would have been in trouble. Though I am an experienced Adventure Racer and know how to navigate in extreme weather under extreme duress, I did not have had the proper supplies to support my 15 mile trek home, which normally would be 5 hours on a good day.

My first Google search of survival information lead me to SurvivalBlog.com which is a wonderful site put together by James Weley, Rawles. He wrote an article on just this topic, and I suggest you read it. In fact, read it now and come back and read some additional information I have. Go ahead, I'll be waiting right here for you.

The Art of Getting Home
http://www.survivalblog.com/2011/06/the_art_of_getting_home_by_sha.html

Wasn't that a great article? Or did you just pretend to read it?

My comments.

1- Build a personal survival kit now. Start small and add to it as items become available. I like JWR's kit, but I will do a bit more research before completing kit and posting the contents here, for all I know I just might mimic JWR's. I suggest that you build a few kits. Keep one each of your cars, keep one in your office, and keep one in your shoulder bag and/or on your person. One advantage of having multiple kits available is that you have that much extra supplies. This is useful if you need to replace items in your kit due to use or failure, or perhaps you can donate or barter your extra kit. By the way, survival kits make neat gifts and stocking stuffer's... what a nice way to show someone you care.

2- Print your alternative route maps. maps.google.com allows you to easily customize maps with routes and points of interest. I suggest first to add locations of places you might be able to seek shelter on the map first, and then try to plan some of your driving and walking routes with those locations in mind. If you become injured or fatigued, or run out of supplies, or if conditions worsen you might be able to seek aid and shelter at one of those locations. Be sure to include any public spaces that may offer assistance, but be cautious. You don't want to find yourself in the middle of a riot or other unfortunate situation. Also, you should not rely on the availability of aid or shelter at those locations. Right now you can only rely on yourself and what you have. For instance the location may be damaged or inaccessible, looted or abandoned.

If you don't have much time, I suggest at the minimum your print out the default (or edited) Google Maps directions for driving, walking, and bicycling. In most cases you should be able to drive or walk each route. If the event is extreme enough I'm sure you will not receive trouble for driving down a bike path if all of the roads are blocked.

I also suggest you label your maps, and make copies for to share with people involved in your survival plan. Doing so will narrow the search grid, in the case you become lost or injured and never reach your destination.

3- Expanding on instructions of sending a quick text message before you embark on your travels. I suggest adding at the least the following information. Where you are, Where you are going, your physical condition, when you plan on arriving, what labelled route you plan on taking (see section 2 above) and finally the current date and time. Do not rely on your phone to timestamp your message. Your message may be stuck in limbo for some time and delayed. I would also suggest that you consider powering off your phone. Your phone might be your only life-line, and there is no point allowing the battery in your pocket as you travel home. Likewise, in a crisis you should not be distracted by your phone. Keep your mind focused on the current task of safely getting home and also stay aware of your surroundings. Keep your phone and any supplies you have put away and out of sight. You do not want to advertise to others that you valuable supplies that they might want to liberate from you.

If possible you should maintain a charged phone through the day. This means you might have to invest in an extra phone charger, but it's best to have a full battery than a nearly depleted battery in a crisis situation.

4- I will discus vehicle preparedness in more detail later, but I wanted to mention that at the least you should ensure that you always have at least half a tank of fuel in your vehicle. The last thing you want to do is run out of fuel because of poor planning. If traffic is slow moving or at a standstill, or you find yourself having to drive as far away as possible, you will require more fuel than your normal commute home, and you may not be able to exit traffic to refuel or even find an operating fuel station.
These are very simple steps you can follow right now. Do something today. Don't wait. If you only take one step towards preparedness today, that is one additional advantage
you have tomorrow if an event were to occur.

Survival 101 - Intro

2011-06-23T20:00:00.000-05:00

Last weekend my sister started talking about TEOTWAWKI. Though I don't particularly live in fear of doomsday and or heed doomsday predictions, it dawned on me that although I have some basic survival skills and knowledge, I would not be able to survive in a post-apocalypse or major crisis without receiving significant aid.

Thus the birth of "The Esteveban Files". In the beginning this blog will mostly be covering the 'Survival' and 'Preparedness' labels since that's a bit more important than rants and ravings and posts about food (unless we're talking freeze dried and preserving). Don't worry, I do have many of other non-gloomy topics to write about; just let me feel a bit more safe before actually getting there.

In the end, I think we can agree that it's best to be somewhat prepared, than not at all.

Welcome!

2011-06-23T15:13:00.000-05:00

Welcome to my blog. This is my attempt of organizing information and advice on different topics and subject matter, and sharing it with my family and friends.

All content is my educated opinion based of off my life experiences, deep thought, and research. Take it at face value, I am not an expert or authority on any topic I might comment on, nor do I pretend to be.