DON’T MISS: TAKEAWAYS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

MOST COMMON
WAYS TO DIE IN
A REAL CRISIS

IN THIS ISSUE: APRIL 2020

HOW LONG COULD BRINGING A

YOU LIVE IN A DOG INTO YOUR
CAMPER? SHTF PLANS

EFFECTIVENESS STRATEGIES
OF PEPPER SPRAY TO KEEP A
IN A FIGHT VIRUS AT BAY

DON’T PUT FOODS TO GIVE

YOUR DOORBELL YOUR IMMUNE
FOOTAGE AT RISK SYSTEM A BOOST

and more…
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020

Contents
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
FEATURED While it seems silly that people are fighting over the last rolls of toilet paper, or selling Lysol
wipes at 4-5x their value online, it highlights a particular danger that only rears its ugly head…

THE MOST COMMON WAYS TO DIE IN A REAL CRISIS

page 4 While it can be fun to imagine the world descending into chaos, and we eke out the remainder of
our days in a post-apocalyptic world living off the supplies we have stockpiled and are able to…

BRINGING A DOG INTO YOUR SHTF PLANS

page 5 When I was living in the city it was impossible to have a dog. So, when we left the city for our
homestead, one of the first things we did was get a few dogs for our property. It’s my opinion…

CLEANING STRATEGIES TO KEEP A VIRUS AT BAY

page 6 With the coronavirus now officially classified as a pandemic, I’ve been getting the question again
and again - what can I do to keep this virus at bay, and keep my family safe? Well the obvious…

NATURAL FOODS TO GIVE YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM A BOOST

page 8 I’m a big fan of healthy living, and while I’ll happily go see the doctor when me or my family is
sick, I’d much rather boost my immune system naturally so it never gets to a stage where we…

HOW LONG COULD YOU LIVE IN A CAMPER?

page 9 A simple enough answer but it all depends. I spent a little under two years living in a van, and in
today’s post I’d like to share a little of my perspective, to give you an understanding of life…

EFFECTIVENESS OF PEPPER SPRAY IN A FIGHT

page 10 For anyone wanting to gain the upper hand in a fight, pepper spray is an ideal solution. In one
tiny spray canister is enough power to knock a fully-grown man to his knees, which is…

DON’T PUT YOUR DOORBELL FOOTAGE AT RISK

page 11 I’m all for using technology to be better prepared, but the current situation that’s hitting
customers of the Amazon Ring is rather disturbing. There’s no question internet-enabled…

PRACTICAL TIPS YOUR FIRST TIME SHOOTING

page 13 I grew up around firearms, in fact I was about 8 years old the first time I was allowed to shoot a
gun, and it was a beat-up old .22 rifle that my grandfather taught me how to use. I’ll never…

1
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020

KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

While it seems silly that people are
fighting over the last rolls of toilet
paper, or selling Lysol wipes at 4-5x
their value online, it highlights a
particular danger that only rears its ugly
head during a crisis.
For the vast majority of people, we are
grossly underprepared.
If you’re a regular reader of my blogs,
you’re likely miles ahead of everyone
else when it comes to being prepared.
But that doesn’t mean you know it all
already, and even myself I like to take a
critical look at what’s going on in the
world so I’m better prepared for the
next big event. That’s not to say we’ve
yet to see the tail end of the
coronavirus, but there are a handful of
valuable lessons I’d like to share as
takeaways from the crisis so far.
WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH
SANITATION SUPPLIES
T here are shor tag es of masks
worldwide, to the point hospitals are
even running out.
You need to consider how you’ll stay
sanitary when the SHTF, and prepare
for a pandemic in your preps.
From keeping your home clean to
protecting yourself as you go about
your day, sanitation supplies need to be
included in your preparations.
WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH
FOOD AND WATER
Now the survivalists who have been
stockpiling for years will be fine, but
the general population is seeing
supermarket shelves stripped bare.
People who only ever keep a few days’
worth of food in their homes are at a
significant risk, because with supply
lines disrupted there will be shortages.
The last thing you want is to be
starving because you didn’t have
enough food and water.
WE CAN’T TRUST THE PEOPLE
IN CHARGE
Did you know that China have been
censoring the media, whistleblowers
and threatening their citizens to keep
the scale of this pandemic quiet?
People who share their experiences, on
the ground in cities like Wuhan are
punished for spreading r umors,
highlights a particularly scary fact.
“with supply
lines

When you’re prepping it’s far more fun

to stock up on ammunition, firearms
and even food, because it feels like
you’re making a real difference in your
stockpile, but you’re likely missing key
pieces of gear to stay hygienic.
Disinfectants, sanitizers, and a whole
range of cleaning products that most
people never thought to even buy in the
first place.
It’s likely to get worse before it gets
better, and while the politicians tell you
disrupted
not to panic buy, I’d make sure you’ve
got enough food and water to get your there will be
family through.
You can always eat canned food later if
shortages…”
it doesn’t get as bad as I think it will,
but it’s much better you’ve got the food
stocked away, just in case.

2
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020

cont.

The virus is far more aggressive than

we are being told, and despite the
media frenzy on this particular
pandemic, we likely don’t have all the
facts.

Imagine that, the situation is worse than

the fear-mongering we normally get in
the media.

To me, that’s a rather frightening turn

of events, and while I’m certain it’s not
as bad as many doomsday proponents
are prophesizing, we definitely aren’t
getting the full story.

WE WILL ALL BE EXPOSED AT

SOME POINT

Despite the quarantines, advanced

monitoring, and all of the precautions
being taken, it is highly likely we will all
be exposed at some point.

The virus can lay dormant for up to 24

days according to the latest findings,
with errors in reporting finding people
who are cured returning as re-infected
several days later.

Imagine that, people being told they’re

find and then only discovering later
they are still infected.

Now imagine ever yone they’ve

interacted with in the days between, not
to mention all of the people that you
may come into contact with in almost a
full month. We will all be exposed at
some point, the key is to use sanitation
to fight back, washing your hands and
self-isolating yourself to limit your
exposure. The less you need to be out
and about in a pandemic like this, the
better.
WE WILL LIKELY BE
QUARANTINED
The best solution to contain a
pandemic like this is quarantine,
because if there is no person-to-person
contact to spread the virus, the
infection rates will drop.
But that means quarantine.
Many countries are doing this already,
first-world destinations like Australia,
New Zealand, and even the United
States is putting restrictions on the
visitors who can enter. Make sure you
have a plan to deal with a mandatory
quarantine, and enough supplies to
ensure you can stay quarantined
effectively, just in case.
More than just food, is thinking about
your kids, how will they continue their
education, how will you stop them
from getting bored, after day after day
on the couch? Schools in China have
been closed for months.
Then think about contamination.
What if someone in your home
contracts the virus, yet aren’t able to get
medical care. How would you cater to
that, how would you separate them,
caring for a loved one while ensuring
the rest of your family is still safe?
There’s much to think about and work
into your preps, once you start looking
at it like this.
WE WILL SEE THE DEATH
TOLL ESCALATE
Probably the most frightening part of a
pandemic like coronavirus is the larger
impact it’ll have on the economy and
our world as a whole.
Because like we’ve seen in Italy most
recently, is there simply aren’t enough
hospital beds. In the United States
we’ve got 2.8 hospital beds per 1,000
people. But 10 to 20 percent of
infected people are going to require
hospitalization.
At these rates, it exceeds our ability to
care for the sick, and should a larger
portion of the population get infected,
it is highly likely the death toll shoots
through the roof as we simply lack the
ability to hospitalize that many people
at once.
For me, I like to think that I’m a
practical survivalist. And with that it’s
especially important to use events like
the coronavirus pandemic to evaluate
our own preparations, ensuring we
learn from the mistakes being made, so
we’re better prepared the next time a
crisis like this rolls around (and perhaps
even ramp up our own preparations
now).

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020
THE MOST COMMON
WAYS TO DIE IN
A REAL CRISIS
While it can be fun to imagine the
world descending into chaos, and we
eke out the remainder of our days in a
post-apocalyptic world living off the
supplies we have stockpiled and are
able to scavenge once society collapses,
I’ve got some harsh news for you. In a
real crisis, the vast majority of people
will not survive.
It’s simply a numbers game, and the
experts have run the simulations and
done the math. Removing just one
element, like electricity, and within 30
days of no power, an estimated 50
percent of Americans will die. Extend
this to a year, that’s one year without
power, and it’s expected 90 percent
people will be dead. If you want to
ensure you and your family are part of
the population who do survive, then
read on, and ensure you’ve got a plan to
overcome the most common ways you
will die in a real crisis.
THE WATER WILL KILL YOU
Without clean water you will die within
a matter of days, as dehydration sets in
and your body starts to shut down. But
what many people fail to consider is the
risk in drinking contaminated water,
especially in the aftermath of a crisis.
The taps will not work, and even if they
do, there’s no guarantee the water
coming out is safe. You need a plan to
properly store, purify and collect fresh
sources of water otherwise it will kill
you.
THE HUNGER WILL KILL YOU
Most people only have enough food to
last their family a few days, at most,
which is a real problem. Panic buying is
hitting the stores now with coronavirus,
and it’s not a situation you want to be
in, so ensure you’ve thought about how
much food you need to stockpile so
your family doesn’t g o hung r y.
Starvation will kill you, and you don’t
want to be putting your neck on the
line trying to source food in a crisis
either.
THE COLD WILL KILL YOU
Once the grid goes down and there is
no longer any power or gas running,
most people will freeze to death.
Or if not, they’ll be putting themselves
at risk from carbon monoxide
poisoning from the fire they’ve lit in
their living room, using fireplaces that
haven’t been lit or maintained for
decades. If you live in an area with a
cold winter, you need a plan for heating
and staying warm, otherwise the cold
will kill you.
THE HUNGRY WILL KILL YOU
I go on and on about OPSEC because
it’s just so critical to staying safe.
People have long memories, and you
can bet that cashier who always see’s
you buying bulk, or the friends you joke
around with over a few beers will
remember that you’ve got a basement
full of canned food when they are
going hungry. And you can bet that
they will do whatever’s necessary to
keep themselves and their families alive
in a crisis, so keep your preps quiet.
THE FITNESS REQUIRED WILL
KILL YOU
Getting in shape is imperative if you
want to survive.
We all lead rather sedentary lives (and
it’s only becoming more so), and now is
the time to build up your stamina.
Otherwise how can you hope to be fit
enough to cut the wood you need, to
hike to your bug out location, to stomp
around all day trying to hunt your
meals. You need to get in shape now, or
you’re going to have a bad time when
you really need to be active.
THE ACCIDENTS WILL KILL
YOU
During a crisis you cannot expect to get
the same level of medical care, and a
simple injury or accident can be a death
sentence. A slip of the axe as you’re
cutting wood.
Losing control of your vehicle because
you’re on a race against the clock. Take
care with everything that you do,
because any major injury will cause you
significant problems in a crisis, and it’s
the accidents that will ultimately kill you
if you can’t get proper medical care.
THE PRESCRIPTIONS WILL
KILL YOU
Or should I say, if you’re on any
prescription medication, there will
come a time when your stockpile runs
out.
4
Not only can the withdrawals be
painful, if these are life-sustaining
medications you will be in big trouble if
you’ve no alternative. Stockpiling is a
good start, but I’d also recommend
taking steps to naturally improve your
health, like losing weight and eating
better to reduce the severity of Type 2
d i a b e t e s, t o e n s u r e a l a ck o f
prescription medication isn’t the reason
for your ultimate demise.
I get this isn’t always possible, but the
better you can prepare yourself, the
higher your chances of survival.
THE REALITY WILL KILL YOU
With the rise of popular television
s u r v iva l s h ow s we ’r e s e e i n g a
remarkable increase of “armchair
survivalists” who have some knowledge
yet little practical experience.
Living off the land, or hunting for your
dinner is tough, even more so if it’s
been years since you’ve left the comfort
of your home to go camping. You need
to get real-world experience enacting all
aspects of your sur vival plans,
otherwise reality will kill you once the
SHTF. Having personally spent 5+
hours trying to get fire from a bow drill,
I can tell you this with my whole heart,
the reality of survival is far harder than
you think.
Today is the day you need to start
practicing, learning and gaining the
knowledge you really need to survive.
Now for some good news, with the
right preparations you can reduce the
chances of all of these situations
affecting you and your family. It just
takes you, right now, making a
commitment to change, deciding that
you will prepare and be ready, so that if
we ever do face a large-scale crisis,
you’re in the best possible situation to
survive.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020
BRINGING A DOG INTO YOUR SHTF PLANS
When I was living in the city it was
impossible to have a dog. So, when we
left the city for our homestead, one of
the first things we did was get a few
dogs for our property. It’s my opinion
that every survivalist should have a dog
as part of their planning, and my kids
absolutely adore them.
DOGS CAN ACTIVELY DETER
INTRUDERS
Adding a dog creates another obstacle a
potential thief will need to overcome,
often to the point they skip your home
for an easier target. Especially if your
dogs are somewhat aggressive, barking
and growling at intruders, they can act
to deter people from even considering
to break into your home.
DOGS ARE NATURES BEST
ALARM
Armed with senses and hearing that go
far beyond our own, dogs make one of
the best alarms for your property. As
soon as someone swings open our front
gate, my dogs bolt to see who is coming
before I even notice the car coming up
the drive. It’s a perfect natural alarm
system that gives me an additional layer
of security when I’m relaxing at home.
Because I’m not alone, my dogs will
help to alert me if anyone or anything
else snooping around my home.
DOGS CAN BE TRAINED TO
ATTACK
Depending on the breed, your dog can
actually become a weapon in a crisis.
Of course, nearly all dogs will attack if
you are in danger, but I would hazard a
guess you’d want a big one by your side
in a fight. We’ve put all three of our
dogs through schooling to ensure they
are an asset in a confrontation, and they
will immediately respond to commands
from myself and my wife, as well as my
kids. They are incredibly well behaved,
but will likely cause a great deal of
damage if the kids are ever in harm’s
way or the situation ever calls for it.
DOGS CAN CARRY THEIR OWN
With the right saddle bags, medium and
large dogs can actually carry some of
their own gear should you ever need to
bug out. The trick is to ensure your dog
is fit enough, like for us, we take them
every time we can on a hike or
overnight camp. It took time to get
them used to carrying weight, but now
they hardly notice it, and are running
ahead with energy on every hike.
DOGS ARE A WONDERFUL
COMPANION
In addition to love and friendship, your
dogs can be a remarkable source of
entertainment for your kids.
5
Mine will spend hours throwing balls
around for the dogs to chase, and more
nights than not I will find them all
curled up together in front of the fire
after dinner. Our kids love our dogs as
much as we do, and I’m glad that we’ve
extended our family just a little bit by
bringing them in. If the SHTF and
we’re ever stuck at home, it’s nice to
have pets to keep us company as well
and to help stave off the boredom.
DOGS CAN HELP YOU HUNT
AND TRACK
Only one of our dogs is any good at
this, but that’s probably my fault for
screwing up the training. But when I
head out for a hunt, I always bring
Baxter with me because he’s quiet, and
smart enough to alert me when there’s
game nearby. The other two will spook
the prey, but he’s figured out a quiet
growl is enough to alert my attention,
and I bring home more game on the
hunts I take him, than those I don’t.
DOGS NEED PLANNING TOO
Just like you prepare food for your
family, think about the diet needs of
your dog’s when you’re doing your
survival planning. We’ve got plenty of
canned dog food as well as kibble to
keep our dogs going for months
(canned pet food has remarkably long
expir y dates), and I’ve been
experimenting with some home-cooked
options should we ever need to make
our own. Surprisingly, my dogs love our
home-cooked rice and rabbit stew,
slow-cooked on the fire, so long as
you’ve not put any chili or spices into it.
Plain works best for your pets.
DON’T FORGET THEIR
MEDICATIONS
You need to consider the health of
your pets. They will get diseases,
infections and health conditions that
need treatment (I highly doubt you’ll be
able to take them to the vet during a
SHTF event), so make sure you’ve got
plenty of medications as you need.
We’ve got plenty of flea and tick meds,
including preventative shampoos, heart
worm pills as well as a box of first aid
supplies geared specifically for our pets.
Just in case, it doesn’t hurt to have what
we need on site to get them better.
For a survivalist it’s a smart idea to get
dogs. They’ve quickly integrated
themselves as key parts of our SHTF
planning, which is reassuring knowing
our group is just a little safer with our
pets watching over us too.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020
CLEANING STRATEGIES TO KEEP A VIRUS AT BAY
With the coronavirus now officially
classified as a pandemic, I’ve been
getting the question again and again -
what can I do to keep this virus at bay,
and keep my family safe?
Well the obvious question is to lock
yourself indoors, limit all interactions
with people, and essentially just
“hunker down” and ride it out.
But the harsh reality is, life isn’t always
that simple. You’ve still got work (until
it’s called off and you’re allowed to
work remotely), your kids have school
(at least for the moment), and until the
SHTF big time, one of the best ways
you can fight the virus in your home is
to clean like a maniac. Yep, I said it.
Sanitation is the best defense against a
viral strain like the coronavirus, and it’s
critical you’re taking steps to keep
yourself clean.
I T S TA R T S W I T H C L E A N
HANDS
By now I’m sure you’ve heard it, but it
needs to be said again. One of the best
ways to prevent yourself catching a
viral infection like coronavirus is to
wash your hands more often. Because
every time you touch a surface, like the
button on an elevator, the pole in the
subway, the cash as you buy yet another
box of take out, germs are being
transferred to your hands.
An antibacterial soap is a good start, And because you spend the vast
and if you’ve got none because you’re majority of your free time in your
out and about, hand sanitizer is another home, I’d recommend giving it a very
option. Because the virus does transmit good clean. Most people tend to forget
through touch, and if you happen to the importance of hand washing when
touch a surface that’s infected, then they’re at home (even if they’ve been
touch, say your mouth, you’re very strict about it while at the office, or a
much at risk for contracting the virus public place).
yourself.
Using disinfectant wipes, go through
GET THE RIGHT and clean all surfaces that you touch
DISINFECTANT r e g u l a r l y i n yo u r h o m e. Fr o m
doorknobs to drawer handles, all
When it comes to disinfecting your surfaces and even things like your
home, especially with the stores television remote.
stripped bare, it can be tempting to opt
for natural cleaners instead of
something industrial. Unfortunately,
while cleaners like vinegar are an
alternative, there’s no confirmation they
are effective in killing viral strains of
bacteria, like the coronavirus. My
advice, would be to use something
“Sanitation
proven, that has a hydrogen peroxide
base, or a brand like Clorox or Lysol as is the best
the right disinfectant for your home. It’s
much better to be safe than sorry when defense
it comes to the health of your family.
And in a pinch, bleach and water will
kill pretty much anything it comes in
against a
contact with.
viral
CLEAN ALL HARD SURFACES
strain…”
Start cleaning with all the hard surfaces,
anything you touch will have germs
transferred onto it (and vice versa).
6
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020

cont.

Be thorough, and you may want to give

an area multiple wipes for the
disinfectant to have its full effect.

CLEAN ALL THE OTHER

SURFACES

Next comes the areas of your home

that are impossible to clean with a wipe.

This is where you need a disinfectant

spray, like Lysol, to get in and disinfect
areas like your sofa, carpets, even your
dining chairs and mattresses on your
bed. The bacteria can live in the fabrics,
so give these areas a thorough spraying
and let them dry completely before use.

We’ve got an area in our home that gets

a lot of afternoon sunlight, and is the
perfect spot to position the sofa and
other mattresses when these need help
drying out after I’ve emptied a can of
Lysol at them.

If not, aim a fan at them and let the

breeze help dry out the cushions and
padding, you don’t want these to stay
damp as they will get musty and this
can be a breeding ground for mold and
mildew as well.

CLEAN THE FLOORS WELL

We remove our boots at the door, but

that doesn’t stop the kids and our pets
from walking in god knows what from
outside. Our floors get a quick mop
down every day, but if you’re wearing
your shoes inside it might be an idea to
do this more regularly.

Especially if you’ve got young children
who will crawl around on the
floorboards in the dirt, mud and
anything else you’ve walked in.
We have tiles so use bleach on the
floors, following the CDC guidelines of
1 cup of bleach to 5 gallons of water.
Just be careful if you’ve porous tiles or
a hardwood floor, this concentration of
bleach can strip the stain so you may
need another antibacterial floor cleaner
that’s suitable for you.
CLEAN YOUR CLOTHES AND
SHEETS
I learned recently that bacteria like the
coronavirus will die in temperatures in
excess of 60 degrees, and if you’ve got
a hot wash on your machine it may be a
good idea to start using higher
temperatures when washing your
bedsheets, towels or any other clothes.
Clothes that won’t get damaged from
the heat (don’t hot wash anything wool
if you don’t want it to shrink).
You don’t need to use extra powder to
kill the virus (like some articles tell you
to use), you simply need hotter
temperatures, and if you’re particularly
worried, a small cap of Dettol will help
to sterilize any clothes that need it.
STERILIZE ANYTHING YOU
EAT WITH
We used to do this all the time with our
newborn, but as they get older you stop
sterilizing all of your cutlery and
cooking utensils.
But in a pandemic like this, I’d highly
recommend using a little boiling water
to sterilize all of your cooking items,
like cutting boards, knives, pots and
pans, before you use them, just in case.
You don’t want to be spreading germs
and bacteria into your fresh salads or
other meals because you skipped this
step.
CLEAN AND DISINFECT YOUR
CAR
Finally, remember to sterilize your car
too. Everything you touch, from the
door handles to the steering wheel
should be wiped down, and if you’ve
got cloth seats give them a good spray
with some Lysol as well to ensure it’s
clean and germ-free.
One of the best ways to fight off a
microscopic pandemic like the
coronavirus is to keep everything clean,
from your hands, to your home, to your
car. Take steps to sanitize whatever you
touch, and your chances of catching a
virus like this drop dramatically.

7
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020
I’m a big fan of healthy living, and
while I’ll happily go see the doctor
when me or my family is sick, I’d much
rather boost my immune system
naturally so it never gets to a stage
where we need to be hospitalized to
recover. And with the coronavirus the
hot new topic, I thought it’d be a timely
article to cover some of my favorite
foods that can give your immune
system a fighting chance.
EAT MORE MUSHROOMS
Not only are mushrooms high in
selenium, their high levels of B
vitamins (riboflavin and niacin) are
natural boosters for your immune
system. But not all mushrooms are
equal, you want to focus on those with
the most powerful immune-boosting
effects, like reishi, shiitake or chaga.
EAT MORE CITRUS
I’m sure your parents had you
munching orange slices when you
caught a cold, because of the high
levels of vitamin C. In your body, this
particular vitamin helps increase the
production of white blood cells, the
ones that fight infections and diseases,
yet we don’t produce this ourselves, we
need to eat it. But it’s not just oranges,
lemon, lime, grapefruit and clementine’s
are all good sources to enjoy.
EAT MORE GINGER
We’ve been adding ginger to our stir-
fried vegetables for as long as I can
remember as it’s one of the best natural
remedies for the common cold. It’s
p a cke d w i t h a n t i - i n f l a m m a t o r y
properties, and plays a key role in
boosting your immune levels. You can
also drink it powdered as a tea to get
the same benefits of this antioxidant,
and I’ve also felt personally that it can
help reduce the severity of cold and flu
symptoms, so that’s a win too.
NATURAL FOODS TO GIVE YOUR
IMMUNE SYSTEM A BOOST
EAT MORE BROCCOLI
One of the most nutrient-dense
vegetables you will find, broccoli helps
boost your immune system making you
less likely to catch a cold or the flu.
Researchers also found a compound in
broccoli actually activates antioxidant
enzymes in your immune system, giving
it a boost as it fights against viruses and
other free radicals that have entered
your body, lowering the chances you
even get sick in the first place.
EAT MORE GARLIC
Increasing your intake of garlic has
been found in a recent study to reduce
the likelihood you catch the common
cold quite significantly. It also helps to
lower blood pressure and the high-
concentration of sulfur containing
compounds, like allicin, also boosts the
immune system.
EAT MORE SPINACH
There’s good reason Popeye was so
keen for spinach, and not just because
it’s so high in vitamin C. It’s packed
with antioxidants and a particular
compound called beta carotene which
your immune system needs to
effectively fight off infections.
EAT MORE YOGHURT
Having a healthy balance of gut
bacteria does wonders for your overall
healthy, and yoghurts containing live
and active cultures will help stimulate
your immune system. Just make sure
you choose Greek or plain yoghurt, and
not the sweet ones loaded with sugars.
EAT MORE ALMONDS
When you’re talking about the immune
system not many people bring up the
power of vitamin E, it’s vitamin C
everyone goes on about.
8
This particular nutrient is fundamental
to a healthy immune system, because it
absorbs fats. Fats that stop your
immune system from operating at peak
levels, you want to eat foods that are
high in vitamin E. And a half a cup of
almonds will give you almost 100% of
your RDI of vitamin E.
EAT MORE SWEET POTATO
If you’re looking at the nutritional
breakdown of this vegetable, hiding in
just one medium potato is 120 percent
of your RDI of vitamin A, and 30
percent of your RDI of vitamin C,
while being just 100 calories. Both
critical nutrients for a healthy
functioning immune system, while
remaining both cholesterol free, and fat
free. Plus, they’re packed with fiber
which is great for your digestive system.
EAT MORE MISO SOUP
I’m a big fan of fermented foods, and
Miso soup is no exception. A staple of
the Japanese diet, it’s a paste made from
fermented soybeans that is so densely
packed with probiotics it works
wonders for not only the health of your
gut, but also provides a foundation for
a very healthy immune system. Almost
70 percent of your immune system is
found in your gut, so it is important
you take care of it.
DRINK MORE GREEN TEA
Green tea is considered a superfood
and for good reason, it’s packed with a
particular type of antioxidant known as
flavonoids that are wonderful for your
body. But hiding within green tea is
another powerful immune-system
booster, commonly called EGCG,
alongside the amino acid L-theanine,
which helps your body to create germ-
fighting compounds in your body to
better stave off viral infections and
immune system attacks.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020
HOW LONG COULD YOU LIVE IN A CAMPER?
A simple enough answer but it all
depends. I spent a little under two years
living in a van, and in today’s post I’d
like to share a little of my perspective,
to give you an understanding of life
from the back of a camper.
THINK ABOUT YOUR SPACE
The key to staying sane in your
campervan is to ensure everything has
its place, and is put back there once
you’re done. It is cramped, tight, and if
you’re stuck inside because the rain isn’t
lightening up, it can get claustrophobic
fast if you’re dealing with a mess too.
Adding things like a hammock or a tent
can create additional space outside in
nicer weather.
THINK ABOUT YOUR FOOD
One of the biggest shifts we made was
a choice to forego a refrigerator in our
camper. It was a large power drain we
didn’t want to manage, and that meant a
rather large shift in our eating habits.
We started following a more simple
diet, with food that could be stored
without needing to be chilled or frozen.
THINK ABOUT COOKING
For us, more than storing the food,
cooking was a major pain point. In such
a confined space it wasn’t enjoyable,
and if we did catch something,
like a fish or if I shot a rabbit, we’d eat
what we cooked over the course of the
day instead of cooking multiple times
in the camper. Often, we’d only eat one
large meal a day, in the late afternoon,
because it was such a hassle getting a
fire going for a proper cook out.
THINK ABOUT YOUR POWER
You are going to need the ability to
generate power, unless of course you
like sitting in the dark once the sun sets.
Solar panels and a second battery are a
good solution that most people will opt
for in their campers, so you can flick
the lights on at night, or run a small
heater during those cold winter nights.
THINK ABOUT YOUR HEAT
Insulation is a smart addition if you’re
building your van out yourself, because
the better it is, the cooler you will stay
in summer, and the warmer you will
stay in winter. We suffered greatly in the
uninsulated van at first, and that’s one
of the reasons we upgraded to a
camper, to get an insulated home, even
if it was tiny. It made a big difference.
THINK ABOUT YOUR WATER
You may not yet give a second thought
to leaving the tap running, but when
you’ve only got so much in the tank,
you’re hyper-sensitive about everything.
9
Especially carting bucket after bucket
from the creek into your tanks. We try
to do as much of our cleaning under
running water as possible, saving our
tank supply for when we need it most.
THINK ABOUT YOUR
BATHROOM
For the most part we used our gym
memberships to get a daily shower, and
keep ourselves clean. But you will need
a bathroom and shower plan to cater
for the days you aren’t able to make it
to the gym. A small chemical toilet and
a camping shower goes a long way.
THINK ABOUT LOCATION
Safety being the primary rule here, you
need to find a location where it’s not
immediately evident you’re living in
your van. We rotated through a series
of different campsites, but ultimately
chose to park out camper on our own
land for the ease of it while we built
our homestead. You need to consider
how you’ll plan your parking as well.
THINK ABOUT YOUR MAIL
For us, my parents became our mailing
address and they received our mail for
us. You will need a solution for your
mail too, as you will need to be able to
get your mail when you’re living out of
your camper.
There are services for this, but a trusted
friend or family member is going to
work out far cheaper.
THINK ABOUT BREAKDOWNS
Much like a car, you need to have a plan
in mind for your breakdowns. Because
you will breakdown eventually, and it’s
most likely going to be in the most
awkward of locations. We were lucky in
ours, in that we also had a pair of bikes
we were using for commuting into and
out of town, and that meant we could
get help without hiking for hours. But it
was still a mission, doubly so if you’re
in an area without cell reception.
Living in a van is a choice many people
are making, and with the right attitude
and preparations you can do it
successfully for years at a time.
We didn’t go full nomadic in our travels,
but we still have the van and get out for
extended road trips whenever we can,
and it’s always refreshing to meet
people who have been doing this
lifestyle for years.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020
EFFECTIVENESS
OF PEPPER SPRAY
IN A FIGHT
For anyone wanting to gain the upper
hand in a fight, pepper spray is an ideal
solution. In one tiny spray canister is
enough power to knock a fully-grown
man to his knees, which is definitely
reassuring if you’re ever in a situation
where you’re outmatched. Concealed in
the canister you can carry in a pocket,
on a keychain or in your bag, one good
spray and most attackers will be unable
to go through with their attack, and
you’ll be able to escape.
HOW DOES PEPPER SPRAY
WORK?
It should come as no surprise that the
active chemical in pepper spray is
derived from peppers, chilis in fact.
Ever slice a chili and then rub your
eyes? Now imagine that effect,
multiplied by about 10,000, and that’s
the results of pepper spray. It’s an oily
liquid sealed in a pressurized canister,
that is sprayed into an attacker’s face.
On contact with the eyes, nose or
mouth it causes inflammation and
immediate pain, resulting in difficulty
breathing, temporary blindness, and a
pain that’s almost impossible to
describe unless you’ve experienced it
yourself. Side note – I have been
sprayed before as part of a self-defense
course, and in my opinion, it is
incredibly effective. In almost all cases,
a good spray on your attacker will
create a window of opportunity that
allows you to escape to a safe location.
“Pepper
spray
should only
be used for
genuine
self-
defense…”
AM I ALLOWED TO USE
PEPPER SPRAY?
I want to make it clear that this article
should not be considered legal advice.
Generally, this means that you need to
use pepper spray it in self-defense, but
not only that, it needs to be a
reasonable use of force. If you pepper
spray someone because you don’t like
them, they made a rude comment to
you, or you simply don’t like where
they’re standing or how they’re looking
at you, these are not justifiable. And
you’ll probably find yourself facing
assault charges for pepper spraying
them. You need to be in a situation that
requires active self-defense.
WHERE TO KEEP YOUR
PEPPER SPRAY?
I’m all for self-defense and being
prepared, but for any preps you’ve
made to be effective you need to have
them ready when you need it. A bug
out bag hanging in your garage will not
help you if you’re stuck miles away at
your office in a crisis. Same logic
applies to pepper spray. If you’re
attacked, but your canister is locked in
your glove box, or loose in the bottom
of your bag, you are not going to be
able to find it in time to use it.
My advice is simple. If you’re walking
through a potentially dangerous
location, like a dimly lit carpark late at
night, you want the pepper spray to be
in your hand. Surprise assaults happen
very suddenly, and the only way you can
react in time is if you’ve got your
pepper spray ready to go. I like to hold
mine in my hand, but tucked into my
jacked pocket. That way it's not
immediately visible to anyone watching,
but I am ready to spray it at a moment’s
notice, just in case.
WHEN TO USE PEPPER SPRAY?
We touched on this earlier but I want to
make it clear. Pepper spray should only
be used for genuine self-defense, in
order to fight off an attacker. One
quick spray can give you a moment’s
respite from their attack, especially if
you take them by surprise, giving you
an opportunity to escape. But be wary.
Just because they’re in pain and are
temporarily blinded, sometimes rage (or
drugs) can mitigate the effects, and they
still may be able to grab you once
they’ve been sprayed. So stay light on
your feet and step back after spraying,
before getting as far away from your
attacker as quickly as you can.
10
HOW TO USE PEPPER SPRAY?
Depending on the range of your
canister, most pepper sprays will work
at distances between 3 to 15 feet,
shooting either a cone or a liquid jet of
the spray at your opponent. You want
to target their eyes and face, as most
attackers who are sprayed will instantly
drop to their knees and start rubbing
their eyes out of instinct, which only
serves to make the effect worse. It will
cause temporary blindness so be aware,
especially if there are any dangerous
areas nearby which could cause a fall, or
a road they may stumble onto.
BE CAREFUL OF CROSS-
CONTAMINATION
Pepper spray works best when it hits
the eyes and nose of your attacker. But
because it’s a spray, it can have a cross-
contaminating effect, especially if
you’re in a crowded area, or if it’s a
windy day. Think about this before you
spray it, because the last thing you want
is to cop a face full of spray yourself
because the wind has blown it right
back at you.
GETTING IT OFF OF
YOURSELF
If you happen to contaminate yourself
you need to wash it clean. Find a tap
with fast running water and rinse the
contaminated areas is your best bet. I’ve
found tearless baby shampoo to be a
good cleaner to help cut the oils from
your skin, and if you’re washing your
clothes I’d recommend running them
through two or three washes, separately
to all of your other clothes until you are
sure they’re completely clean.
In a fight pepper spray is an equalizer
that lets you gain an upper hand on a
larger or more aggressive opponent.
The trick to using it correctly is to first
ensure your use of pepper spray is
justified, before accurately targeting
their eyes, nose and mouth with your
attack. Use the opportunity you create
to escape, and get to a safe location as
soon as you can.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020

DON’T PUT YOUR DOORBELL FOOTAGE AT RISK

I’m all for using technology to be better
prepared, but the current situation
that’s hitting customers of the Amazon
Ring is rather disturbing. There’s no
question internet-enabled doorbells are
a fantastic upgrade, giving homeowners
live-streaming visibility of anyone who
ventures into their yards or approaches
the door. Motion-triggered sensors
make this a completely hands-off
solution, and as such the Ring doorbell
has become a mainstay.
Without a warrant, or any grounds,
police can send requests through the
app asking that you share your
doorbells recorded footage with them.
Of course, you have to confirm that
yes, you do want to share your privately
recorded footage with the authorities
before they can use it, but to me, it
raises a number of different concerns.
POLICE CAN KEEP THE
FOOTAGE FOREVER
I don’t know about you, but that seems
like a rather large invasion of my
family’s privacy, especially as the vast
majority of the footage is high-
definition shots of myself, my wife, and
my children they will also have access
to. And I am most certainly not okay
with that, not by a mile.

But here’s the kicker. During the last
two years the company has partnered
up with over 900 police departments
across the United States, giving
authorities ready access to millions of
devices and their live-streamed feeds.
WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO
DO WITH ME?
It matters, because of who has access
to your footage. Ring have created a
special app for police departments,
greatly simplifying the process of
requesting your footage.
Right now, there are no restrictions on
the use, transfer or duration the police “they are
are able to use the footage you share
with them. I’ll say that again. allowed to
Should you allow the police (through
the app) to download the recorded keep the
Ring footage, they are allowed to keep
the recordings forever, share this recordings
footage with whoever they like, and
basically “do with it what they will,”
under the guise that the obtained
forever…”
footage will help them to identify
crimes. That’s a rather frightening thing
when you really thing about it.

11
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020

OPTING OUT OF ALL THE NOTIFICATIONS

There is some good news with all this, you can turn off the requests to stop the police asking you for
the footage your doorbell has recorded, here’s how you can stop the notifications from bugging you.
Just follow these steps.
• Click and open the Ring app on your phone.
• Click and open the “Settings” menu in the top left-hand corner of the Ring app.
• Click and open the “Control Center”
• Click and slide the toggle on “Video Requests” to off.
You will notice that the default settings have “Video Requests” turned “ON,” so it is important you
turn this off the first time you use your Ring doorbell, and I would periodically check that this setting
remains “OFF” as you complete any updates to the app (or these are rolled out automatically).
Some companies like to reset these when the apps are upgraded, and I would definitely recommend
keeping an eye on this one.

cont.
POLICE CAN HASSLE YOU FOR
FOOTAGE
Inside the police’s version of the app
there is information on how many Ring
cameras are available in a certain area,
and it is quick and easy to submit a
request for footage from a particular
timeframe. But while this does allow a
c e r t a i n l e ve l o f a n o n y m i t y i n
population-dense areas, it raises a
concern for anyone living a little more
remote, when the police may be able to
quickly ascertain which user has flagged
“no” to their request for video footage,
so then can approach you directly.
Personally, I don’t want to do anything
that gives the police a reason to come
knocking on my door.
RING CAN USE YOUR
F O OTA G E WITHOUT
PERMISSION
In a recent promotional compilation of
footage, Ring shared footage of
children both with (and without) their
parents present following Halloween, in
addition to sharing “harmless” data of
the peak trick-or-treating times on both
the East and West Coasts. Mashable
asked for clarification if this footage
was consensual, and Ring failed to
respond. Because, according to their
terms of service…
“You hereby grant Ring and its
licensees an unlimited, irrevocable, fully
paid and royalty-free, perpetual,
worldwide right to re-use, distribute,
store, delete, translate, copy, modify,
display, sell, create derivative works
from and otherwise exploit such Shared
Content for any purpose and in any
media formats in any media channels
without compensation to you.”
HOW DO I KEEP MY
DOORBELL FOOTAGE SAFE?
Well, this comes with a few distinct
recommendations.
First, I’d ensure you use another device
from a company that isn’t into
cooperating so closely with police. Yes,
they are doing the right thing now, but
what they’re unintentionally creating is
almost a big-brother network of
interconnected cameras that can be
centrally accessed. In a crisis event,
whether it is done by choice or a hack,
this network of cameras represents a
major breach of privacy.
Second, I’d ensure your device is
properly secured.
Change the passwords and access
details to unique and hard-to-guess
phrases that make it almost impossible
to crack.
Only share access with the people and
devices that truly need to access the
software, and if a particular device is
lost or compromised, ensure you
update the passwords to stop anyone
else having access to your doorbell
footage.
Finally, and this should be obvious, but
don’t post snippets from your doorbell
footage on any social media or sharing
sites.
This isn’t made clear in the Neighbors
App that Ring has developed, but by
posting footage in there, you’re still
giving the police the same level of
access as you would have by approving
them to have the footage in their first
place.
Of course, this doesn’t stop the police
from turning up on your doorstep with
a warrant for the footage anyway, but it
does place some significant obstacles in
their path.
Keeping your doorbell footage out of
the hands of the police is a great idea,
so take the steps now to ensure you’re
not hassled for this, no matter what.

12
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020
PRACTICAL TIPS YOUR FIRST TIME SHOOTING
I grew up around firearms, in fact I was
about 8 years old the first time I was
allowed to shoot a gun, and it was a
b e a t - u p o l d . 2 2 r i f l e t h a t my
grandfather taught me how to use.
I’ll never forget the feeling, not only the
danger of the weapon in my hands, but
the potential. Armed with a rifle I could
put food on the table, protect our
property from the rabbits that were
almost a plague on our crops, and I was
finally one of the “men” in our family.
But I get that not everyone has had this
same experience. Especially if you
weren’t brought up in a rural setting like
I was, then you may have had a much
different experience with firearms.
Some of my friends when I moved to
the city had a very negative opinion of
the weapons, because they’d seen on
the news (or been personally exposed
to) the violence that a minority of gun
owners use to intimidate, rob and steal
from people like you and me.
So, in today’s post I want to share a few
tips. To help you understand why a love
of firearms is actually a good thing, and
give you some pointers that I believe
will come in handy the first time you
shoot a gun. It’s not a scary experience,
it’s a practical one.
As I believe we all should have the
means to defend ourselves if the SHTF.
START AT A SHOOTING RANGE There’s a lot more nuance to it than
that, and you need to take the time to
The best place for your first-time learn how to properly aim, hold and
shooting is at a shooting range, with a lock onto a target.
professional instructor who can show
you around the weapon. In my experience this is best learned in
a class, with an experienced instructor
Make no mistake, firearms are a deadly who can quickly, safely and accurately
thing, and it’s vital you know the basics explain the right way to do this for the
of good gun safety so you’re not particular firearm you’re learning how
putting yourself (or those around you) to shoot. I picked up a lot of bad habits
at any unnecessary risk. Like where to from my grandfather when it came to
point the gun, how to disengage the shooting long range.
safety. The correct way to hold the
weapon, and how to discharge it safely.
From the friends I’ve introduced to
shooting, there’s two things that really
stand out. They’re not always prepared
for the noise that comes, so have them
wear earplugs and hearing protection “A little
and safety glasses. And make sure to
spend the time explaining how each
part of the gun works, and build their
knowledge
confidence handling it. A little
knowledge goes a long way, and so does goes a long
best practices, like never resting your
finger on the trigger, or never pointing
a gun in another person’s direction.
way, and so
LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS
does best
OF AIM
practices…”
Unfortunately, Hollywood doesn’t do
gun owners justice, as they make it
seem like all you need to do is pick it up
and begin shooting.
13
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - APRIL 2020
cont.
As I mostly just picked things up as I
went along. Sadly, it took me years to
“undo” this training (and thousands of
dollars in shooting classes) that I could
have saved if I had the right instruction
from day one.
CONSIDER WHY YOU NEED A
GUN
For me, we used our rifles primarily for
hunting. We’d supplement our supplies
with deer, rabbit and anything else we
could shoot on our property, and this
was a staple part of my childhood. But
you’re likely going to be in a very
different position if you’re looking to
learn how to shoot for self-defense, or
are planning to carry a concealed
weapon.
Consider why you need a gun, so you
can take the time your first time
shooting to learn the ins and outs of
that particular style of weapon. There is
much variety when it comes to
firearms, from different calibers to laws
on gun ownership that are imperative
to understand, so you can make the
best possible decision on the particular
gun you need.
DON’T FORGET A SECURE
STORAGE SPACE
I believe everyone should own a gun,
but it’s also important you’ve got a
secure place it can be stored. Especially
if you have children at home. Guns
should be locked away when not in use,
and stored without being loaded, just in
case your kids ever get their hands on
them.
I’ll say it again because this is critical.
Your kids will find a way to get at your
guns, it is your job as a parent to ensure
they have not only the respect for the
weapons, you’ve also taken reasonable
steps to lock and secure your firearms
out of their reach.
THINK ABOUT TAKING A LIFE
Finally, and this is important. You need
to take a little time to think about the
situations you may need to use your
firear m in, and the subsequent
decisions this results in.
If there’s someone coming into your
home, are you ready, willing and able to
pull the trigger? What if they are
threatening your family? What if they’re
also armed?
14
These are heavy questions I know,
especially for a first-time shooter, but
they go hand-in-hand with responsible
gun ownership and you need to know
where your own line in the sand is
drawn.
I personally wouldn’t hesitate if
someone was threatening my life, but
perhaps you would look at this situation
differently than I would.
It’s important you think about it now,
so you’re not stuck like a deer in the
headlights if you ever face it yourself.
You will need to take swift and
immediate action if you’re staring down
the barrel of a gun, it is most certainly
not the time to be contemplating your
decision, you wil need to act fast.
Shooting a gun for the first time is an
exhilarating experience, and it is my
humble opinion that every patriot arms
themselves to the full extent of the law.
Because when the SHTF and the bad
guys turn up at your door, if you’re not
prepared to fight back, things will go
sideways fast.