GG&G

In This Issue

Don't Die Just
Because Your Batteries Did!

Cyalume Sticks
Good Things To Know

GG&G Newsletter Subscribers receive monthly Tactical And Preparedness Tips offered by our knowledgeable staff and technical advisors. Some of these tips will be new to you, some of them you will know, some of them you may have forgotten, and some of them will be a new approach to an old lesson. We hope all of them will keep you thinking about your responsibility to always be mentally and physically prepared for your benefit, your families benefit and your communities benefit. Our staff and technical advisors believe it is the individuals responsibility to take the initiative to be well prepared with the proper equipment, training, and mental attitude to not only survive but be victorious.

Part of the following information appeared in our June 08 GG&G Newsletter, but we have expanded it to include more information on rechargable batteries.

DON'T DIE JUST BECAUSE
YOUR BATTERIES DID!

We depend on battery operated devices more today than ever before. Besides the battery operated non-essential devices we use, think about the ones that use replaceable batteries that would be important to you in a tactical or emergency situation; flashlights, most red dot optics, night vision equipment, GPS systems, watches, radios, and "Walk About" radios are just a few. Depending on the individual the list can be extremely long. Add devices that use rechargable proprietary systems like cell phones, SAT phones and computers and the list is longer still.

As to the devices that use replaceable batteries; If you can't remember the last time you replaced the batteries, DO IT NOW! Don't let the old saying" A flashlight is a storage container for dead batteries" pertain to you. Once you have replaced the batteries, keep a list as to the dates. Sounds like a big pain in the keester, but it will be a bigger pain and life threatening if you or your family need a device to work in an emergency and the batteries are dead.

Some of our staff suggest not storing batteries in a device like a flashlight or emergency radio until you need it because of the fear of leakage and damage. However, most believe if the batteries are replaced regularly, this should not be a problem. If you do subscribe to the first theory, all agree that you should keep at least one and probably two flashlights handy and ready to go with batteries installed. That way if things go dark on you without warning, you can use the operational flashlight to install the batteries in the other devices.

In addition to having fresh batteries in your battery powered devices, it is smart to have spare batteries in your home, vehicle, bug out bag, and survival kit. This sounds like a no brainer but we will say it anyway; make sure they are stored in a manner so that they cannot short circuit. The commercial packaging is pretty good, but may be susceptable to getting wet in certain situations. That's why it is a good practice to place the commercial packaging in a waterproof pouch, bag or other container when storing them.

BATTERIES, BATTERIES EVERY WHERE,
BUT WHICH ONES DO I PICK?
Alkaline or lithium batteries are the only batteries to consider for your tactical and emegency battery powered devices. Do not use zinc carbon batteries, even if they say "Heavy Duty" on the package. Batteries are now marked with expiration dates. If they are not, don't use them and don't buy them.

Alkaline batteries are a good choice. They are are relatively inexpensive, have a pretty good run time and a good shelf life. If you are particular about battery changes they will work fine for you. However, the best choice for a battery is the lithium battery. There is no question that they are more expensive, but they afford benefits worth careful consideration. They have a shelf life of up to 10 years, and retain over 90% of their capacity that far out. In most battery powered devices like flashlights and radios, they afford a longer run time over alkaline batteries. The lithium batteries reportedly give better performance in cold climates as well. If weight is an important factor, most lithium batteries are 1/3rd lighter in weight than alkalines. If you carry one of the LED keychain lights in your pack or on your person be aware that the "coin" type batteries for these lights are sometimes hard to find outside North America. It has been reported to us that in third world countries they are next to impossible to locate. All the more reason to carry that spare.

We do not recommend using rechargable batteries for tactical or emergency devices unless you have back ups for these devices. Rechargable batteries have their place and are getting much better in their design and method of manufacture but they still pose some problems where tactical or survival situations are concerned. How many charge cycles have the batteries been subjected to prior to you needing it in a life and death situation? Could there be a mismatched cell in the battery pack that causes the battery pack to not hold a full charge? A shorted cell, which is not uncommon in battery packs, could occur leaving you in a dangerous situation. Self discharge is another major concern and is often not discussed. Most technical papers we have reviewed suggest that a fully charged NiCd or NiMH will self discharge at a rate of 10%-20% per month with NiMH discharging at 20%-30% per month. This might be OK where your digital camera is concerned, but is a little scarry for a piece of survival gear.

Something we discovered regarding rechargables that we think is worthy to pass on is about the battery charger. The method in which a rechargable battery is charged appears to be one of the leading influences in the longevity and it's ability to maintain a high level of capacity. It is a pretty well known fact that a lower charging current is easier on the battery and maximizes battery life and takes more time. A high current will recharge the battery much quicker but can cause the battery chemistry to be compromised thereby causing the battery to wear out quicker. What is not well known, is that recharging requires careful monitoring of the battery requirements during charging to maximize the batteries life and capacity. Most chargers included in battery/charger packages do a terrible job. Most do not even reveal if a battery cell is dead. Which means you take what you believe is a recharged battery, and place it with one or two others in your device and then wonder why the device isn't working to it's full capacity or it only functions for about a third of the time expected. Some chargers continue to charge even if the battery is at full capacity, thereby ruining your battery over time. The bottom line: Try at all costs to not use rechargable batteries in survival gear.

As a side note, do not mix and match battery manufacturers in your devices. We have received notices over the years from companies like Streamlight that when this is done overheating and battery failure and leakage could occur thereby destroying your device.

Cyalume Sticks
Good Things To Know

Often called chemsticks, chem-lights, Cyalume Sticks or Cyalume Lights these poly chemiluminescent light sticks provide reliable low level illumination for a great many uses including tactical and emergency situations.

A look at the technical side first will help you decide how the chemstick might fill your requirements.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
A chemical reaction between hydrogen peroxide and phenyl oxalates (that's what's in the vial you break to activate the chemstick) causes the luminescence. Add a flourophor dye and viola, you have chemiluminecence in color. I think you will agree, most of us really don't care exactly how they work, just that they work when we need them--especially in an emergency. That brings us to some serious technical issues you need to consider when using chemsticks.

When purchasing the chemsticks for survival kits etc. do not purchase chemsticks under the commercial names "Glow Stick" and "Magic Light". Although these products are manufactured by Omniglow Corp., one of the premier manufacturers of chemsticks, they are manufactured for rave parties, Halloween and birthday parties and are not manufacturerd for extreme or critical use. Also stay away from chemsticks manufactured in the "Peoples Republic Of Profit" (China). They are unreliable.

When looking at the packaging to make sure you are buying "The Right Stuff", it is important to note that the military and safety divisions of Omniglow Corp. separated in 2006 and became Cyalume Light Technologies Inc. They were purchased in February of this year by Vector Intersect. So far as we have seen, the packaging still reflects the "Cylalume" name. Cyalume Light Technologies is still the number one supplier of chemsticks to the US Military. You will not go wrong if you purchase chemsticks with their name on the package.

Only purchase chemsticks with the NSN (National Stock Number) printed on the label. These will also have an expiration date printed on the label. If purchasing over the internet, make sure you are aware of that date prior to purchasing. Most chemsticks have a shelf life of 4 years (one year for the high intensity models), but that number can be influenced by the environmental conditions in which the chemsticks were stored. Keep in mind that when stored in very hot conditions the shelf life can be reduced. Only purchase those that are fresh and provide you with the longest shelf life ---the expiration date. It would be wise to check the dates of any that you presently have, and if within six months of expiration, replace them, especially if they have been stored in your vehicle, boat or ATV. As with keeping track of the shelf life of your batteries, it is a good idea to do the same when it comes to chemsticks.

Chemsticks are packaged in an airtight pressurized foil pouch. If the package is punctured or torn the chemstick will become inactive in short order. We do not have specific times because it appears that the amount of humidity present also affects the life of the chemstick once the pouch is punctured. If you have any stored that have compromised pouches, it is best not to take any chances. We suggest you replace them as soon as possible.

Although the light-producing chemical reaction is not caused by heat and does not produce a measurable amount of heat, the rate at which the reaction occurs is affected by temperature. This is something to keep in mind especially when using chemsticks in very cold environments. For example, if you place a chemstick in a cold environment (like a freezer) for a period of time, you will notice that the chemical reaction slows down. The chemical reaction produces less light while the chemstick is cold, but the available light, even if not as bright, will last much longer. Likewise, if you warm the chemstick in your hands, under your arm pit, or stick it in hot water, the speed of the chemical reaction will increase. The chemstick will glow more brightly, but the luminescence time will be reduced. We have also discovered that temperatures above 90 degrees affect the duration of the light. That is to say that the light will dim considerably towards the end of the rated life in hot environmental conditions. Something to consider if operating in very cold conditions is to have some high intensity chemsticks in your kit. These are designed to last 30 minutes at normal operating temperatures, but because the cold slows down the chemical reaction, they will provide you longer periods of light at a higher intensity than the standard chemsticks.

If you puncture a chemstick by accident or for the fun of it, be careful. Although the chemicals involved are non-toxic they can permanently stain your clothing. Wash your hands as quickly as you can so that you do not stain everything you touch. Some individuals have reported that the chemical did cause some minor skin irritation after coming in contact with the chemicals. Also keep in mind that the vial that is broken to activate the chemicals is glass, and the tiny shards of glass that are in the chemicals after actuation could cause some problems if they get on your hands. To protect the chemsticks from damage while in your kit or vehicle, consider using the large tooth brush travel containers, larger cigar tubes, or feminine hygiene travel containers for storing the 4" and 6" chemsticks.

Keep in mind that chemsticks provide 360 degrees of light which may or may not be a good thing for you depending on the situation. There is a small OD colored tube available that the 4" and 6" chemsticks can fit into. It has an outer housing that rotates, and can go from completely closed to 180 degrees open allowing you to control the luminescence

Cyalume Light Technologies manufactures chemsticks in sizes from 1.5" to 15". The 15" sticks come in an IMPACT configuration that allows you to activate them by throwing them hard against a surface. Several of the sizes are availabale in an infrared configuration which can come in handy in certain situations. These are great to practice night shooting if you have an NVG set up. They also manufacture 3.5" discs with adhesive backing that can come in handy in certain situations.

FIELD USE:
Now that you know more than you ever wanted to about the technical side of chemsticks, let's take a look at some ideas for using them in the field.

Some of our advisors carry a 30 minute 6" hi-intensity red or green chemstick in an easy to get to location in their survival kit, bug out bag or vehicle. The reason being is that they can use the light to locate their flashlight or replace batteries or bulbs in their flashlight if Ol' Mr Murphy came a calling at the same time a flashlight is most needed. A hi-intensity white chemstick is alright too if you do not feel there is a need to protect your natural night adaptation. (As a side note, there is an excellent article on night adaptation on our website. Click Here to go directly to it.) The other thought is that it less expensive to have several hi intensity chemsticks placed throughout your residence for emergencies than it is to have flashlights. The thought again being that you could use the 30 minutes of hi-intensity light to locate your flashlight, emergency candles, hurricane lamps etc. without tripping over you dog.

In a survival situation where you need to get someones attention in a search aircraft or at some distance, even if you are using a flashlight to travel with at night, tie a 4' or 5' piece of 550 para cord or other cordage through the eyelet of an activated 8 hour 6" chemstick. This alllows you to whirl the chemstick in a 8' to 10' diameter above your head to be noticed by aircraft or appoaching rescuers. A static light may not be seen, but the 8' to 10' whirling light of a chemstick is an attention getter.

Taping or tying a 12 hour chemstick to your car antenna is also a great way to assist rescuers in a search and rescue scenario. This is especially helpful if you are in need of rest and are asleep when a helicopter or fixed wing aircraft flies by your location.

A good way to conserve the flashlight batteries in an emergency situation is to use a 6"- 12 hour white or yellow chemstick for traversing at night. The going may be a little slower because of the low level of illumination, but if you have decided moving at night is the best way to survive, it could be a life saver.

Don't forget about the huge psychological comfort and gain that comes by having some illumination at night in a survival situation. For many individuals that have not had to deal with being in the dark without a light source, it can make a great difference in the mental stamina required to endure a 72 hour survival situation. If you decide to go "to ground" at night, and do not have a source for starting a fire, or can't start one due to environmental conditions, conserving the batteries in your flashlight and using a chemstick can be a great advantage.

If traversing at night with a group, each individual can have a 4" or 6" 8 or 12 hour chemstick attached to the back of their pack or clothing. Doing this will make it much easier to keep track of the individuals in your group.

When in the outdoors, train your children on how the chemsticks work and advise them on how use them if they wander away from camp and become lost. Give them one or two 8 or 12 hour chemsticks to carry with them as a precaution.

If you are into boating, having several 10" and 15" units on board can be extremely helpful if you loose power out on the water. The 15" chemsticks can be seen for about a mile in open areas.

Our personal tests have shown that the yellow chemsticks work better than white if you need to work at repairing something. In addition the human eye is about 100 times more sensitive to the color green than any other color except maybe blue-green, so using green chemsticks for signaling at night is a good idea.

There are literally hundreds of uses for a chemstick from lighting landing zones to taping a 1.5" chem stick to your finger for map reading in the dark. The chemstick is not a replacement for a flashlight, but it can be as indispensable as one.