I have a portable indoor kero heater which I haven't used in years because of all the junk it puts into the air. Because of several recent power failures, I've been thinking about some emergency kero. I know that kero has a shelf life, so I would want to rotate it. I also know that it has a lower boiling temp and is lighter in weight than #2 heating fuel.

My question: Rather than burn off or dump old kero, could I add small quantities (15 - 20 gallons) to my home heating oil tank?

Are there safety or furnace performance issues?

I recently bought a solar/ handcrank flashlight called Secur and it seems pretty good. So far I have only used it during a power outage but it does seem to work well and feels pretty sturdy. Does anyone else have it or any suggestions on other good ones? Would such a flashlight work well in wilderness situations? Thanks.

Here is a large collection of PLB success stories at ACR's website. There are plenty of lessons to be learned or reinforced. Some of the stories reveal mistakes made, and some (IMO) didn't really justify PLB use. But then maybe not all the pertinent info is there, and not everyone is a meticulous narrator. A few include web links to news reports of their ordeals.

As with the AAC's "Accidents in North American Mountaineering" there is value in studying the misfortunes of others.

Disclosure: I have no affiliation with ACR, though I do carry their Res-Q-Link PLB. I happened across this page at their site while getting info on replacing my PLB's battery.

Wanted to share a few quick photos of a homemade SERE & survival kit, housed in a Topo Designs small accessory pouch. This is still a work in progress, with items that need to be added (Kevlar cordage, snare wire, fish hooks, etc.). The idea is that this kit will be layered with other items carried, so it's not really meant to be completely stand-alone. I haven't completely decided about including any sharps yet -- as there are already several as EDC.









Flickr album link @ https://www.flickr.com/photos/26438889@N08/sets/72157650992532671/

Monkey EMT grabs his electrocuted friend, dunks him in water, and revives him!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L08ar9ZwZw