The seventh survival rule.<\/p>\n
When a crisis hits, people say to stock up on gold, dollars, and precious metals. But the accounts of survivors who lived through the Bosnian War, Venezuela\u2019s sovereign default, and the crisis in Ukraine tell the exact opposite story.<\/p>\n
The moment the power grid and financial system shut down, paper money is nothing but kindling, and gold bars are the most dangerous metal of all, making you and your family the number-one target for looting.<\/p>\n
Once urban infrastructure has ground to a halt and supermarket shelves have been stripped bare for 72 hours, the world runs on barter alone. Here are five ironclad rules for trading in that underground economy while keeping yourself alive.<\/p>\n
1. The moment you walk out with a gold bar, you are a walking ATM. Can you walk out with a 100g gold bar and buy 1kg of rice or two cans of food? The other person will demand, \u201cI don\u2019t have change, so give me the whole bar,\u201d or pretend to trade and follow you back to loot your entire hiding place. For the first few months of a disaster, gold is nothing but a useless lump of metal that you cannot break into smaller pieces or eat right away. (Precious metals only become useful much later, once law and order and society have been at least partly restored.)<\/p>\n
2. The number-one underground currency is the lighter. A survivor who cannot start a fire cannot last more than a few days in subzero cold and with contaminated water. A single ordinary disposable lighter from a convenience store is \u201clife, compressed\u201d\u2014enough to start a fire about 1,000 to 1,500 times. It takes up almost no space, several fit in a pocket, and everyone immediately understands its value, making it perfect for making change or as a basic unit of currency.<\/p>\n
3. The number-two currency: salt, sugar, and the explosive power of \u201ccomfort items.\u201d Without salt, the human body collapses from electrolyte shock. Salt and sugar are essential assets for preserving and salting food. And for people crushed by extreme fear and stress, instant coffee (coffee mix), cigarettes, and small bottles of liquor (small bottles of vodka\/whiskey) become more powerful bargaining chips than bullets. A few cigarettes or a few packets of coffee can buy you critical survival information or get you through a checkpoint.<\/p>\n
4. The number-three currency: antibiotic ointment, anti-inflammatory painkillers, and standard-size batteries. The most common cause of death in conflict and disaster zones is not gunshot wounds, but sepsis from a small cut caused by a rusty nail or broken glass. A single tube of antibiotic ointment such as Fucidin or Madecassol, or a bottle of Tylenol or ibuprofen, is treated as more precious than a don of gold. On top of that, standard AA and AAA batteries that can power radios and lanterns circulate like cash the moment supermarkets close.<\/p>\n
5. The three cardinal OPSEC (security) rules for staying alive during barter. These are rules you must follow when heading out to trade, or you will get caught out: –<\/p>\n
Never trade near your hiding place: The trading location must be a neutral area with a clear line of sight, at least 1km from your home. –<\/p>\n
Never show your entire stash: Saying \u201cI have more at home\u201d is suicide. Put only the 1\u20132 items you plan to trade today in your pocket, and keep up the attitude of \u201cThis is all I have\u201d until the very end. –<\/p>\n
Always move in pairs: While one person trades, the other must watch for blind spots and guard the escape route from behind cover 20\u201330m away. A trade you go on alone ends in looting 90% of the time.<\/p>\n
Conclusion: When a crisis hits, do not trust the gold bars or checks in your safe. Ten lighters in your pocket, 1kg of salt, a few bottles of Tylenol, and 20 AA batteries will keep you and your family breathing longer than any precious metal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The seventh survival rule. When a crisis hits, people say to stock up on gold, dollars, and precious metals. But the accounts of survivors who lived through the Bosnian War, Venezuela\u2019s sovereign default, and the crisis in Ukraine tell the … Continue reading