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#222923 - 05/04/11 09:31 PM Re: Pen and paper [Re: TeacherRO]
Art_in_FL Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 09/01/07
Posts: 2432
Stay awake for seventy-two hours and you will learn to write instructions down and work them step-by-step checking each action off AFTER you complete it.

Verbal instructions don't work well when everyone is exhausted because short-term memory evaporates and they forget the first step before you finish telling them the second. So you write instructions down and have them work the list.

Lack of food, water, stress, and pain make this problem worse.

A small notebook, typically a 3by5 flip-top, is your brain in the field. You have lists of standard SOPs, times, places, frequencies, call signs, mission priorities, notes on the route you took and shorthand reminders of alternatives. You don't rely on memory for anything of consequence.

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#222927 - 05/04/11 09:53 PM Re: Pen and paper [Re: Art_in_FL]
ireckon Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 04/01/10
Posts: 1629
Loc: Northern California
Originally Posted By: Art_in_FL
A small notebook, typically a 3by5 flip-top, is your brain in the field. You have lists of standard SOPs, times, places, frequencies, call signs, mission priorities, notes on the route you took and shorthand reminders of alternatives. You don't rely on memory for anything of consequence.


Heck, I have to write down notes like that in regular civilian life! I do it on my cell phone. If my cell phone breaks, I'd definitely have to use old school paper.

I get irritated when I ask someone to do something important and they don't write it down. They brag how their memory is so good. What happens, of course, is the task remains undone or is done incorrectly. Then, they get irritated with me claiming that I never told them or that I told them something else.
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#222929 - 05/04/11 10:04 PM Re: Pen and paper [Re: TeacherRO]
dweste Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 02/16/08
Posts: 2463
Loc: Central California
Reminder: Using a small manual pencil sharpener on a cedar pencil produces pretty good tinder. The same sharpener can also produce tinder-quality shavings from other dry wood, especially wood with a high resin content.


Edited by dweste (05/04/11 10:04 PM)

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#222934 - 05/04/11 11:45 PM Re: Pen and paper [Re: TeacherRO]
bacpacjac Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 05/05/07
Posts: 3601
Loc: Ontario, Canada
i started carring a little golf pencil years ago because it reminded me of a dear friend, only later did i realize the other benefits. Now i'm never caught without.

Good call on parchment paper, Sue. Very useful stuff!
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#222944 - 05/05/11 12:58 AM Re: Pen and paper [Re: ireckon]
Art_in_FL Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 09/01/07
Posts: 2432
Originally Posted By: ireckon
I get irritated when I ask someone to do something important and they don't write it down. They brag how their memory is so good. What happens, of course, is the task remains undone or is done incorrectly. Then, they get irritated with me claiming that I never told them or that I told them something else.


Way I learned it was to write instructions down, get head-to-head with them, read the paper to them as they read along, have them read it back to you to make sure they understand, then send them on their way with the paper in hand. Sounds silly to do this with adults but it works and people usually get used to it. Practice on the kids before you whip this out at work. People, once they get over the newness, like the personal touch. Do it that way and odds are better that the job gets done. Telling them when you will be checking on their progress, and following through, helps keep people focused.

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#223057 - 05/06/11 02:51 PM Re: Pen and paper [Re: Susan]
Pete Offline
Veteran

Registered: 02/20/09
Posts: 1372
Never heard of rite-in-the-rain paper. I'll check it out.

The SEALS got their idea of carrying a pencil from the British SAS. That was always the strategy of the lads in the UK - because a pencil was a better all-weather writing tool. And let's face it, you can always sharpen a pencil.

Nowadays I don't know if that's still true. There could be certain pens that work on damp paper just as well as a pencil.

Pete #2


Edited by Pete (05/07/11 05:08 PM)

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#223062 - 05/06/11 04:24 PM Re: Pen and paper [Re: Pete]
paramedicpete Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 04/09/02
Posts: 1920
Loc: Frederick, Maryland
I have used the rite-in-the-rain paper/notebooks for some time now and love them. I use one of the Fisher pens that utilizes a pressurized ink cartridge and find the ink generally does bled a little. I currently have the small (3 ¼” x 4 7/8”) notebook on me. The notepad has been through the wash 3 times this past month and although the cover did disintegrate after the first wash, the paper is in fine condition. Some of the writing bled a little, but everything is still very readable.

Pete

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#223071 - 05/06/11 06:39 PM Re: Pen and paper [Re: paramedicpete]
hikermor Offline
Geezer in Chief
Geezer

Registered: 08/26/06
Posts: 7705
Loc: southern Cal
If all else fails, you can write on your skin just fine with most ballpoints. I have often done this to record basic numbers quickly, later transferring the data to real paper. The ink usually endures through at least one shower.
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#223083 - 05/07/11 12:22 AM Re: Pen and paper [Re: TeacherRO]
Art_in_FL Offline
Pooh-Bah

Registered: 09/01/07
Posts: 2432
"Space pens" are good but keep a pencil as a backup. Pencils have advantages. One of which is line-length. Even a cheap pencil beats an expensive pen in line-length.

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#223347 - 05/10/11 07:21 PM Re: Pen and paper [Re: Pete]
Mark_F Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 06/24/09
Posts: 714
Loc: Kentucky
Originally Posted By: Pete
The SEALS got their idea of carrying a pencil from the British SAS. That was always the strategy of the lads in the UK - because a pencil was a better all-weather writing tool. And let's face it, you can always sharpen a pencil.

Nowadays I don't know if that's still true. There could be certain pens that work on damp paper just as well as a pencil.

Pete #2


NOTE: Bold emphasis mine.

When I was putting together the materials for the pocket survival kits for our scouts, I agonized a bit on the type of writing instrument to include. That is, I debated on whether to use an ink pen refill to conserve space, or a pencil that could be resharpened. I ended up going with the ink pen refills because space was at a premium and the price for similarly sized pencils, though reasonable, was just out of my budget. Now I am wondering if I made the right choice. frown

Rite in the rain paper would have been nice too but that also is some pretty pricey stuff. I might just check out the paper Sue mentioned.
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