Version User Scope of changes
Nov 10 2011, 2:05 PM EST (current) LJ126 1 word added, 3 words deleted
Nov 20 2010, 8:56 AM EST LJ126 3 words added, 1 word deleted

Changes

Key:  Additions   Deletions
LJ126 Practical Skills Primer #3 - Practical Uses for Alcohol - Zombie Survival & Defense WikiIn a recent thread discussion, the topic of liquor came up for its use as a trade item or possibly even as currency. While I personally disagree with its use as currency - it's not really portable, like coins or jewelery - it's trade value is undeniable. But why? In this article, I plan to address the many uses for common drinking liquors, such as whiskey, bourbon, vodka, rum, brandy, gin, scotch, tequila... or even homemade moonshine.

ALCOHOL USE #1: Consumption!
PROS:
  • Socialization benefits and ceremonial/celebratory use
  • Cooking
  • Mild sedative effects
  • Anti-inflammatory properties
  • Oral antiseptic properties
  • Reduced risk of heart attack/stroke (when mild/moderate amounts are consumed regularly)
CONS:
  • Drunkenness (slurred speech, reduced attention and reaction speeds, poor coordination, impaired judgment)
  • Dehydration factor
  • Increased risk of heart disease/stroke when consumed in large amounts over long periods of time
  • Not conducive to working and hard physical strain
  • Hard on stomach and digestive system
  • Addictive
Okay guys, I probably didn't even need to list this use as it is already very obvious, but I feel that it is worth reiterating that drinking is not entirely beneficial to you. As we're all aware, drinking frequently or excessively isn't wise or particularly healthy. You are likely all aware that you should not consume if you're going to be exerting long-duration physical stain on your body, in either hot or cold extreme temperatures, or if you do not have access to ample amounts of drinking water, as this can be very dangerous.

Drinking large amounts reduces attention and reaction speeds, causes slurred speech as well as seriously affects physical coordination. Handling a firearm or operating a vehicle while intoxicated is very dangerous as well (it's also illegal.) Drinking to stupidity, in certain circles, may result in banishment from your party if you can't pull your weight.

That being said, there are many beneficial bodily uses to an occasional drink in moderation. Alcohol has a mild sedative and anti-inflammatory effect, which can be very beneficial for the recovery of muscles and as a sleep aide. Mild to moderate drinkers are much less likely to suffer from heart attack or stroke, though heavy drinkers are at much higher risk than a non-drinker. Alcohol can be very beneficial for the treatment of toothaches, when swished for 30 seconds or so, and if field-expedient medical treatment is required, a couple of swigs of stiff might a patient with coping with the pain response from an injury.

LJ126 Practical Skills Primer #3 - Practical Uses for Liquor - Zombie Survival & Defense WikiALCOHOL USE #2: Surface Disinfectant and Anti-septic!
PROS:
  • Non-corrosive
  • Leaves little residue
  • Evaporates quickly
  • Kills many viruses - including HIV, Hepatitis B & C
  • Can be used as a component for water treatment
CONS:
  • Only high concentrations (>60%/120 proof) works effectively
  • Flammable
  • Initially painful when used to treat wounds
  • Does not kill all viruses (Hepatitis A)
  • Ineffective against bacterial and fungal spores
Strong alcohol and liquor kills bacteria and prevents it from growing, and can kill many common viruses when used as a surface cleaner - though like anything other surface cleaner, it is not 100% effective. This is very important for cleaning wounds, as bacterial infections that have made their way into the blood stream (sepsis) is a serious and life threatening condition that can result from uncleaned and untreated wounds becoming infected. Without medical attention, this is often fatal.

Do not pour liquor on an open wound - it is very wasteful. The correct way to clean a wound with alcohol is to saturate a sterile cloth or bandaging with it and use this to scrub the wound thoroughly, making sure to clean out any foreign debris. This can be agonizingly painful, but it will work effectively to clean the wound. Afterward, make sure to place a topical anti-bacterial first aid ointment (Neosporin or similar) on the wound and securely place an appropriately-sized bandage over the wound. If the wound is significant, it may require multiple cleaning sessions to prevent infection.

Alcohol can also be used to clean medical tools and supplies, though it would be more productive to boil water and allowing your medical tools to clean for a few minutes first, then use the alcohol afterward. This will ensure that your tools are sterilized and prevent infection via cross contamination.

LJ126 Practical Skills Primer #3 - Practical Uses for Liquor - Zombie Survival & Defense WikiALCOHOL USE #3: Water Treatment Aide
PROS:
  • Prevents bacterial proliferation in pretreated water
  • 95% H2O/5% alcohol = Store forever (if kept uncontaminated)
  • Can act as anti-freeze agent in higher concentrations
CONS:
  • Alcohol is insufficient alone to treat water
  • 5% alcohol per volume can cause inebriation when consumed in very large quantities
As indicated above, alcohol is quite useful for the preservation of water. Ordinary water can be kept in containers for short periods of time (if bottled and kept uncontaminated in a cool place) but this time period can be extended considerably if a small amount of alcohol is added to the bottle prior to filling. That being said, adding alcohol to unsafe water is better than no treatment at all, but it is not guaranteed to make it safe for consumption - in my opinion, short of boiling and filtering, no water obtained from a stream or spring is truly safe for consumption. When it is combined with other means of water purification, alcohol adds another defensive layer against bacterial and viral contamination.

In subfreezing temperatures, alcohol can be used to help prevent the freezing of your water supplies - though the benefit of hydration will suffer as the content of alcohol in it increases.

Conventional wisdom suggests that we need ample amounts of water in hot temperatures, but this practice is actually surprisingly modern; one of the reasons that our ancestors consumed so much ale and rarely water was because water treatment was unheard of, and most local sources of water are unsafe for drinking without boiling.

LJ126 Practical Skills Primer #3 - Practical Uses for Liquor - Zombie Survival & Defense WikiALCOHOL USE #4: Carbon Solvent/Degreaser
PROS:
  • Components easily obtained or created
  • Breaks down carbon and helps clean efficiently
  • Evaporates quickly
CONS:
  • Must use high concentrations (>40%) to be effective
  • Most "flavored" liquor leaves sticky residue.
Strong alcohol is an excellent degreaser and leaves no residue, and works fairly well as a carbon solvent. This is very handy for the maintenance of firearms, as it is beneficial to occasionally remove as much lubricant as possible and start with a fresh coat of oil.

To construct your own bore cleaner, you can use a 25/25/5050/50 mix of strong alcohol, gasoline and motor oil. This will work pretty well in a pinch, and can work as a makeshift substitute for a better homemade solution, like "Ed's Red homemade bore cleaner," or a commercially-available cleaner. In a real pinch, you can use alcohol alone to clean a firearm bore but this is not ideal, as it does completely strip out any protective lubrication.

Creative Commons License
LJ26's Weapons and Practical Skills Corner by (LJ126) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com.