November 26, 2024

Poor man’s Gatorade: Stave off Dehydration

‘Poor man’s Gatorade’ could save kids from diarrhea death is an article that explains that the simple recipe for “Poor Man’s Gatorade”; “A pinch of salt, A fistful of sugar, A half liter of water” has saved many children from diarrhea, the second largest killer in children under five in Bangladesh. Worldwide, Diarrhea claims 1.5 million kids annually — more than AIDS.

For the most part we don’t have a problem with clean water in the United States. Even so, this simple recipe is worth memorizing. It could save lives in the future. Whether things take a turn for the worse here, or you go on a mission trip, remember:

“A pinch of salt. A fistful of sugar. A half liter of water.”

This recipe is using a child’s hand, so adults might want to use less sugar.

 

Preparing for Physical Limitations

Many of us are prepared for a variety of things; from pandemic to economic collapse and a host of other things.  However, the biggest threat to most of us is our poor health, in more ways than one.  We have a much higher risk of heart attack than we do seeing most of the things we prepare for and hope.  I’m not going to scold you and tell you that you should lose weight or exercise more, you know if you should or not.  Instead I’m just going to give my thoughts on health and preparedness; you pick what applies to you.

Another threat that being in poor health plays is how it will impact you in a true survival situation.  If you’re out of shape now and do very little in the form of physical activity, your body probably won’t rise to the occasion in a survival situation, at least not for long.  I’m in this group.  With Information Technology (IT) as a living, I’m at a desk all day, as well as 3-4 hours after work, doing various projects for the website.  By the time I’m done, I just want to relax, both mind and body.  Due to an injury I mention below, my physical activity is a bit limited.  Once healed I am going to make a lot of effort to get back into shape…other than round.  Lol (“I’m in shape!  Round is a shape!”) 

I think most of us probably should be in better shape.  Until then, we’re Prepper’s, we should prepare and mitigate our limitations until we are in better shape and there are no longer limitations.  If you have a permanent physical limitation, you probably have already done this.  If not, I think you should figure out how to mitigate those limitations as well.   A reader commented recently that she was using a suitcase with wheels, until she got stronger.  Fantastic!  She’s working to improve and has a plan for what to do until then. 

 

 

Functional fitness

The same reader asked my thoughts on functional fitness.  I’m not an expert, but here is what I think;  I don’t care about how much weight I can bench press or how many crunches or pushups I can do. I care about being strong enough to get through my day and being able to lift the TV when it’s needed or complete a similar task.  I read an article on functional fitness that said many people who spend hours at the gym aren’t functionally fit.  That they can leg press hundreds of pounds, but can throw out their back reaching for something at an awkward angle.

I did a bit of reading about functional fitness.  The goal in training functional fitness is exercising multiple parts of the body at the same time.  For example, while doing a squat, holding a medicine ball or something similar with your arms extended as you bend your legs.   When you stand, you bring your arms back to your body.  Another example I saw was doing a one legged squat.  You might only be using your leg, but the rest of your muscles are providing stability and balance.  Many articles mentioned the exercise balls and balance boards.  I think these ideas are great and for many people, are a much better idea than spending time at a traditional gym. 

I know of a few people who spent so much time at the gym and while they looked great in their youth, their joints are now shot.  One guy I know was in so much pain he was prescribed pain killers, which he then became addicted to. 

 

Find What Works For You

Many physical therapy clinics are using functional fitness to rehab their patient.  This might be a good option for some.  There are a lot of trainers using other approaches that might be good options.  There are many videos available and you can get balance boards and exercise balls at many retailers or order them on line.

I think walking is great as well.  If you can walk in an area with hills, that’s even better.  Going up a hill uses different muscles than going down a hill. It is something that you can start doing now at any level and can keep doing.

Yoga and Tai Chi both have their roots in some mysticism, but if you can find an Americanized version that has stripped that out, these both have huge benefits.  They both offer a full body workout and will aid in flexibility and strengthening.  I was able to find a digital version of a beginners Tai Chi video on Amazon for just a couple bucks.  There are also plenty of YouTube videos available.

 

Self-Analysis

I think it is very important we all take an honest look at ourselves to find physical limitations.  Sometimes, as we get a bit older, we think we can still do the things we did when we were younger.  The man that teaches my Haganah class told us that he kept having a problem with his neck, so he went to see the doctor and explained he had hurt it a few weeks ago, but it just kept nagging.  The doctor said “That’s because you’re getting older and it takes longer to heal”, to which he replied “I want a second opinion!”

I don’t mean this for a way to get down on yourself.  We just need to be real with ourselves so that we can take steps to mitigate any limitations.

Here is a personal example.  I hurt my good knee a while back and it hasn’t been quite right since.  If my leg is bent for any period the muscles around my knee cramp up, and the knee cap itself feels like it wants to pop off.  There are days when walking is a chore.  I’m in physical therapy and taking steps to get better, but until then, my leg is a possible liability.  If for some reason the car broke down and I had to walk for help, I could muscle up for a while, but for how long?  What if I, for some reason, had to head out on foot for a longer distance?  For these reasons, as I mentioned, I am in physical therapy, I have gotten a couple of braces and I even have a cane.  Will I need them?  I hope not, but one of the prepper motto’s is “I would rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it”.  I purchased the cane for other reasons, but it is available for this as well.

They say that necessity is the mother of ingenuity and this is often true.  If you found yourself in a survival situation, you might be able to get creative and find a means to get by.  But I’m not one to leave things to chance if I can help it and want to avoid making a bad situation much worse.

 

The Quest for Solitude and Rest

I live in that solitude which is painful in youth, but delicious in the years of maturity. Albert Einstein

This year I hit a milestone, the BIG 4-0.  I don’t really feel 40.  Some people don’t even think I look 40.  But one of the things that I have been longing for, seeking for lately is a feeling of rest and solitude.  Maybe it IS my age.  There are times I don’t feel like being around anyone.  I’d rather just sit and rest and not do much of anything, especially not being around crowds.  Sometimes I feel like I’m an old grumpy man!

Or maybe it isn’t necessarily my age.  Maybe it’s just a result of my crazy lifestyle.  During the week I’m an assistant principal in the public school system,  I pastor a home-church, run the Prepper Website, do 2-3 weddings a month (conservative number), garden and more importantly I’m a husband and father of three.  Maybe it’s my crazy lifestyle.

The desire for rest and solitude really hit home a few months back, when I accompanied the 3rd and 5th graders on their Science field trip.   The district has a facility where the students get to experience hands-on Science in a district owned, heavily wooded plot of land.  The 3rd graders stay on the outskirts of the woods, but the 5th graders get to go deep into the woods and walk trails, experience the pond ecosystem and the bird refuge.  It was when I was walking between groups that I realized the quietness of the woods and how much I really enjoyed it and missed it.  I felt at ease, calm and wished I had a chair so that I could just sit for a while.

I might get to realize this dream real soon.  Dad just bought a piece of land in East Texas.  This would be the second piece of land that the family has owned in East Texas.  Our first one was used often.  I have great childhood memories of going there on the weekends and extended periods in the summer.

This second property is totally off-grid.  So it is going to be a little different than before.  But after it gets some work, the only sounds that I will be able to hear will be the birds in the trees, the rustling of the trees and the running of the creek, if it has been raining decently.  There will be times that we will have to run the generator, but that will only run for a while.  I can’t wait to sit by the fire, look up at the sky and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Desiring rest and solitude isn’t a bad thing.  In fact, God put it in place at the beginning of time.  In Genesis, we read that on the 7th day of Creation, God rested.  God doesn’t need to rest, He’s God.  He did it as a model and example for us.  Six days work to your heart’s content, on the seventh, rest!

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:2-3 (NIV)

So whether you are doing it because you are an old fart, live a crazy life or doing it for religious reasons, rest is a good thing.

There are a few ideas I have about rest and solitude that I hope might be valuable to others who are in a similar situation, or who might consider taking advantage of a day of rest.

  1. Schedule your time – The fact is if you don’t schedule your time, something will schedule it for you.  There is always something that “needs” to be done.  There is always someone who “needs”  “just a minute.”  Some people work themselves to the bone and as a result stay tired and run-down…mentally and physically.  So schedule your time!  If you do this, then you won’t have to lie when someone or something comes needing your attention.  You can say, “I’m sorry, I have an important meeting.”
  2. Examine your family’s patterns – You might not be able to take a whole day of rest.  You might have to find a few hours.  I like it when there is peace and quiet in the house, even if it’s for a short while.  I wake up at 5:15 a.m. to pray and have some alone time.  At 5:15 a.m., the dogs aren’t even up!  I couldn’t do this in the evening, the TV is on, the kids are playing games, on their phones, doing their homework, coming in and out, need a ride to this…that…this again…you might know exactly what I’m talking about.  If you don’t have kids, you would want to find a time when your spouse isn’t stirring in the house…unless you two choose to pray together.
  3.  Find a retreat – In my city, there is a Catholic retreat that is open to all faiths.  For less than $20 a day you can get a room with a bed (to take a restful nap), pray in their chapel, walk and meditate in the gardens, walk the prayer circle and even talk with a counselor.  It is a beautiful place that allows you time to be in quiet and be alone.  If you don’t have a retreat available, you could visit a park or even a restaurant/coffee shop at a slow time of the day.  Although there might be noise there, it is easier to disregard that as background noise – I did most of my graduate work in a local coffee shop.
  4. Find an empty church – If you need some quiet time and can’t find it anywhere, your local church, during the weekday, might be the spot for you.  Some churches leave their doors open during weekday hours.  Asking the church secretary for permission to go in and “sit and be still” would most likely be welcome.

There are so many benefits from taking time to rest in peace and quiet.  How much of our health related issues are due to our fast paced lifestyle and go-go attitude?  We weren’t made to go non-stop!  So find some time to relax, get still, enjoy peace and quiet and solitude and notice how you feel, how you are thinking and your mood on the other side of that time.

Today’s article was written by:

Todd Sepulveda is the owner/editor of www.prepperwebsite.com.  He is also an assistant principal in the public school system and a bi-vocational pastor.

 

Books on Wild Edibles

One summer when I was a kid, my family went to a state park to go camping. While there I was able to go on a wild edible nature hike with a guide. For me, that is by far the best way to learn and I may look into doing something like that again. Until then, the websites I linked in Three Wild Edibles That Are Good to Know are a great resource. That’s not handy when you’re actually out foraging. For that reason, books are a great resource to have on hand, of which I have a few.

Some of the books I’ll mention are for my geographical region but if you follow the link you should be able to find your region in the related subject area, or in the “What others who bought this book are buying”. A lot of the plants will overlap regions, but not all.



A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and central North America (Peterson Field Guides)

This book is crammed full of information in a textbook-like manor. It lists the name of the plant, the states it can be found in as well as the type of habitat it can be found in. The time of year that it flowers or ripens is listed and common uses such as salads, cooked greens, pickled, etc., are also given. There are many poisonous plants listed. In some cases it is pointed out “use caution as the poisonous plant looks similar to another plant”, listing the resembled plants.

The pictures of the plants are drawn in black and white; they’re very well done, but still drawn. There are around 15 pages of color photos, one sided and 4-5 images per page. The lack of color photos is the only downside this book really has, but it’s a big one to me. However, there is enough great information on a huge number of plants to still make this worth buying. I give this book three stars.



A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs: Of Eastern and Central North America (Peterson Field Guides)

This is also crammed full of a huge amount of information in a textbook-like manor. It lists the same type of information on plant name, location in the region and the habitat it can be found in.

In many cases the minerals and other nutrients are listed. The traditional method used to prepare by various cultures, such as a tea and poultice is often listed. Also listed is the ailment it is used as treatment for. Poisonous plants are listed as well, sometimes a vague warning and others a specific warning of what to avoid.
This book is loaded with pictures; most pages have at least 2-3. This book is a good one if you’re looking to add some of the medicinal properties of these plants to your diet, but don’t look to them to replace your medicine and be sure to consult your doctor.

This book’s approach is to identify medicinal plants, so there isn’t information on how to prepare the plants as food. For foraging I don’t think this is a standalone book. I do, however, highly recommend it and give it four stars.


 
Wild Berries & Fruits Field Guide of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan

This book has the typical information you would expect; the geography is already listed to three states (there are more books available for other states). It covers the habitat it can be found in and the time of year the fruits and berries will be ripe.

There is a notes section that details interesting facts about the plants. Some of this will include medicinal uses and some list the type of animals that eat it.
There are many color pictures and a very nice in season and out of season pictures section. This is huge, as many plants look very different in the various seasons.
If you want to forage for wild fruits and berries, I highly recommend a book like this based on your geography. I give this book 4 stars.



Stalking The Wild Asparagus

This is one of the first, if not the first book on wild edibles. Where the other books offer a lot of information in a technical type manual, this book gives a lot of information but has more of a feel of coming from a grandfather on a nature hike. The author does a wonderful job explaining the plants’ history. He also spends a fair amount of time explaining different ways to prepare the plant. While there are a few drawn pictures, the books aim isn’t to teach you to identify the plant, but to know the history of it and even have an appreciation for it. Where the other books of this type might give a paragraph or two on a plant, most plants are given multiple pages in this one. The dandelion, for example, was given six pages.

There are fewer plants covered, still numbering around 45. He also covers how to cook carp, crawfish and a few other similar topics. If foraging is a passion, I highly recommend this book. I give it four stars.

Here are two books that I do not own, but are on my want list.

 


The Forager’s Harvest: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants
This book is 368 pages with over 200 color images.

Nature’s Garden: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants

This book is 512 pages and covers 41 plants in depth with multiple color photos.

 

If you have another book on the subject, please list it in the comment section.

 

 

What Would You Do: Lost In The Woods

Its late spring and you’ve decided to try your hand at foraging.  You have a couple of trusted reference manuals and have found a place off the beaten path, so things shouldn’t be too terribly picked over.  You’ve seen a few different plants that you’ve been able to identify and pick. 

Then it dawns on you that you have been walking for a while and you decide to take a break and have some water.  While you are looking at everything you’ve found, it occurs to you that you’ve been out for well over an hour.  You realize that you’ve been looking so hard for plants to identify and going back and forth to your reference book, that you’re not sure where exactly you are. 

You’re sure you can find your way but after fifteen minutes, nothing looks familiar…  You’re lost and there is no cell service.

So, what would you do?

(Check the comments section to see the answers from everyone as well as to add your own.)

Oh and the “I never get lost in the woods” doesn’t count, there is always the possibility of something happening to disorient you long enough to lose track of where you are.  Have a plan just in case.

 

How to Perform the Universal Edibility Test

In Three Wild Edibles That Are Good to Know I listed three wild edibles that I think everyone should know, and I gave a bunch of resources for you to learn more about wild edibles.  In this article I am going to explain the universal edibility test.

First let me say that you should only eat wild edibles if you know for certain what they are.  But should you find yourself in a true survival situation and you must forage to survive, here are some guidelines to remember for trying wild edibles that are not known to you.

 

Taken from the FM 21-76 US ARMY SURVIVAL MANUAL (page 117-213)

EDIBILITY OF PLANTS

Plants are valuable sources of food because they are widely available, easily procured, and, in the proper combinations, can meet all your nutritional needs.

 

Absolutely identify plants before using them as food. Poison hemlock has killed people who mistook it for its relatives, wild carrots and wild parsnips.
At times you may find yourself in a situation for which you could not plan. In this instance you may not have had the chance to learn the plant life of the region in which you must survive. In this case you can use the Universal Edibility Test to determine which plants you can eat and those to avoid.
It is important to be able to recognize both cultivated and wild edible plants in a survival situation. Most of the information in this chapter is directed towards identifying wild plants because information relating to cultivated plants is more readily available.

Remember the following when collecting wild plants for food:

  • Plants growing near homes and occupied buildings or along roadsides may have been sprayed with pesticides. Wash them thoroughly. In more highly developed countries with many automobiles, avoid roadside plants, if possible, due to contamination from exhaust emissions.
  •  Plants growing in contaminated water or in water containing Giardia lamblia and other parasites are contaminated themselves. Boil or disinfect them.
  • Some plants develop extremely dangerous fungal toxins. To lessen the chance of accidental poisoning, do not eat any fruit that is starting to spoil or showing signs of mildew or fungus.
  • Plants of the same species may differ in their toxic or subtoxic compounds content because of genetic or environmental factors. One example of this is the foliage of the common chokecherry. Some chokecherry plants have high concentrations of deadly cyanide compounds while others have low concentrations or none. Horses have died from eating wilted wild cherry leaves. Avoid any weed, leaves, or seeds with an almondlike scent, a characteristic of the cyanide compounds.
  • Some people are more susceptible to gastric distress (from plants) than others. If you are sensitive in this way, avoid unknown wild plants. If you are extremely sensitive to poison ivy, avoid products from this family, including any parts from sumacs, mangoes, and cashews.
  • Some edible wild plants, such as acorns and water lily rhizomes, are bitter. These bitter substances, usually tannin compounds, make them unpalatable. Boiling them in several changes of water will usually remove these bitter properties.
  • Many valuable wild plants have high concentrations of oxalate compounds, also known as oxalic acid. Oxalates produce a sharp burning sensation in your mouth and throat and damage the kidneys. Baking, roasting, or drying usually destroys these oxalate crystals. The corm (bulb) of the jack-in-the-pulpit is known as the “Indian turnip,” but you can eat it only after removing these crystals by slow baking or by drying.

 

Plant Identification

You identify plants, other than by memorizing particular varieties through familiarity, by using such factors as leaf shape and margin, leaf arrangements, and root structure.

The basic leaf margins (Figure 9-1) are toothed, lobed, and toothless or smooth.

These leaves may be lance-shaped, elliptical, egg-shaped, oblong, wedge-shaped,
triangular, long-pointed, or top-shaped (Figure 9-2).

The basic types of leaf arrangements (Figure 9-3) are opposite, alternate, compound,
simple, and basal rosette.

The basic types of root structures (Figure 9-4) are the bulb, clove, taproot, tuber, rhizome, corm, and crown. Bulbs are familiar to us as onions and, when sliced in half, will show concentric rings. Cloves are those bulblike structures that remind us of garlic and will separate into small pieces when broken apart. This characteristic separates wild onions from wild garlic. Taproots resemble carrots and may be single-rooted or branched, but usually only one plant stalk arises from each root. Tubers are like potatoes and dayliliesand you will find these structures either on strings or in clusters underneath the parent plants. Rhizomes are large creeping rootstock or underground stems and many plants arise from the “eyes” of these roots. Corms are similar to bulbs but are solid when cut rather than possessing rings. A crown is the type of root structure found on plants such as asparagus and looks much like a mophead under the soil’s surface.

Learn as much as possible about plants you intend to use for food and their unique
characteristics. Some plants have both edible and poisonous parts. Many are edible only at certain times of the year. Others may have poisonous relatives that look very similar to the ones you can eat or use for medicine.

Universal Edibility Test

There are many plants throughout the world. Tasting or swallowing even a small portion of some can cause severe discomfort, extreme internal disorders, and even death. Therefore, if you have the slightest doubt about a plant’s edibility, apply the Universal Edibility Test (Figure 9-5) before eating any portion of it.

Before testing a plant for edibility, make sure there are enough plants to make the testing worth your time and effort. Each part of a plant (roots, leaves, flowers, and so on) requires more than 24 hours to test. Do not waste time testing a plant that is not relatively abundant in the area.

Remember, eating large portions of plant food on an empty stomach may cause diarrhea,
nausea, or cramps. Two good examples of this are such familiar foods as green apples and wild onions. Even after testing plant food and finding it safe, eat it in moderation.

You can see from the steps and time involved in testing for edibility just how important it is to be able to identify edible plants.

To avoid potentially poisonous plants, stay away from any wild or unknown plants that
have—

  • Milky or discolored sap.
  •  Beans, bulbs, or seeds inside pods.
  • Bitter or soapy taste.
  • Spines, fine hairs, or thorns.
  • Dill, carrot, parsnip, or parsleylike foliage.
  • “Almond” scent in woody parts and leaves.
  • Grain heads with pink, purplish, or black spurs.
  • Three-leaved growth pattern.

Using the above criteria as eliminators when choosing plants for the Universal Edibility Test will cause you to avoid some edible plants. More important, these criteria will often help you avoid plants that are potentially toxic to eat or touch.

 

Three Wild Edibles That Are Good to Know

I was a bit spoiled as a kid, we had many different types of wild edible plants nearby and I learned to recognize many of them. It’s a skill that I have long forgotten, but still have an interest in, I just wish I had more time to devote to it. Whether hard times come and you need to depend on foraging or you just want to nibble while you hike, I think having some understanding of wild edibles and edible weeds is a good idea.

I picked these three because they’re pretty easy to find, I am sure you have all seen them but may never have looked at them as being food. You can add them to your diet now, or just make a mental note of where they are near your home. If hard times come, you can add these to make your stores stretch further.

 

Dandelion

The entire dandelion is edible; just make sure you’re picking dandelions that have not been sprayed with herbicides. The young leaves will taste better as they get bitter with age. You can still eat older leaves; just boil them first to remove the bitterness, this could take more than one session. The roots could be sautéed or roasted. The flowers can be used to make dandelion wine, used in a salad or added to a fritter.

 

Acorns

Acorns, like other nuts, are nutritious; having calories, fat and carbohydrates as well. Once harvested and boiled to remove the tannin to get the bitter taste out, they can be ground and turned into four. Acorns will fall to the ground when they are ripe, in early fall. Pick them up and discard any with holes as there is a good chance they have had worms. You can either crack them or let them sit out to dry or let them sit out to dry and then crack them. To crack them you can use a nutcracker, hammer, or even cut them in half with a knife. Boil to remove the tannin, taste test them and if they are still bitter, boil them again. If they are not bitter, separate the acorn meal from the water. You can use the acorn meal as flour.

 

Cattail

Cattails seem to grow where ever there is any standing water. Did you know that they are often called “nature’s supermarket”? Almost every part of the cattail can be eaten at different parts of the year.

In the spring the shoots can be eaten raw or added in stir-fry. Cattail hearts mature in mid spring and can be used similarly to the shoots. Cattail pollen can be used instead of cornstarch as a thickener or can be added to breads for taste. The Rhizome or root can be harvested between late fall and early spring. Cattails store starch in the roots in the colder months and can be turned into flour, similar to acorns.

As I mentioned I just don’t have the time to devote to knowing wild edibles as much as I would like. But have gathered a decent list of resources on the subject, for when I do have more time. Here are the resources I have that you can use if you would like to learn more on the subject.

I’ll review some of the books I have on this subject on Thursday.  Here are some of the other resources that I have collected:

 
 

Websites:
Eat The Weeds
Hunt Gather, Grow, Eat; forage section
Northern Bushcraft: Wild Edible Plants of the Pacific Northwest
ForagingPictures.com
Outdoor Edibles
Wildman Steve Brill
Wild Crafting: Forage for Free Food

If you have any other websites please add them in the comments, save the books for Thursday please.

 

Preparedness for the College Student or Young Active Duty Military

My oldest stepson is graduating from high school this year and it got me thinking about sending kids off to college and what we, as their parents, could do to help them be as prepared as they can be in a dorm. I thought posting this now was a good idea. That way any of you who are sending your kids off to school or to join the service, have time to put some of this together.

I originally started writing this article for the college student, then realized that it would work for active duty military that are stationed stateside. I didn’t go to college but I did live in a barracks and I’m guessing they’re similar.

 

Limited Space

First off, there is limited space and even less privacy. If they’re willing to take any preps with them, they’ll need to be fairly innocuous so as to not draw a lot of attention. Rubbermaid has a series of rugged, lockable storage boxes called Rubbermaid ActionPacker. This could be used to store their preps and valuables.

I think setting the goal to get them stocked with a solid 3 day kit should be the goal. For many, that will give them enough to get home, or at least to safety. If they have to hunker down, it should still give them what they need until the campus can bring in aid.

They likely won’t be able to store multiple gallons of water but getting them a water purifier might suffice. A sport type water filter doesn’t have a large capacity but is relatively inexpensive. They would need to find a source of water but that shouldn’t be terribly difficult. It could be done for them and marked on a map they keep with their kit.

Food should be easier than water to store unless it is raided. Since most colleges don’t allow cooking in rooms, things that can be eaten without needing to cook would be ideal. MRE’s last longer and have a built in heating unit. Power bars might not be filling but they have plenty of calories. Hormel has a line of products that just need to be microwaved and can be stored on a shelf or in the Rubbermaid ActionPacker.

Their dorm/barracks will do for shelter, except for the fact it’s a dorm or barracks. As far as providing their energy needs, a decent flashlight and extra batteries should suffice. Security is going to be limited since they’re on campus. You can help them get their mindset right by getting them a copy of The Gift of Fear and Other Survival Signals that Protect Us From Violence. I really think all young women should read this book. If they’re allowed to carry pepper spray, I recommend Cold Steel Inferno Pepper Spray. A Kubaton might be another possibility, again, if it is allowed on campus.

 

KITS

Consider the Rubbermaid ActionPacker their 3 day kit, but there are other kits they can supplement it with. A First Aid Kit is a good idea. If they’re bringing a vehicle, I recommend a car kit. They can also use the trunk for extra storage of things that aren’t subject to the elements. Keeping a documentation package in the trunk, with a map and alternative routes home is a good idea as well.

 

Money

If you would rather not send cash but want to make sure their needs are met if they get in a bind, you could always send a prepaid cell, calling cards and/or gas card. You could also get them AAA to cover any breakdowns and make sure they can get a tow, jump start or the like.

You might not be there to help them out of a jam, but with some of these things, you can help them help themselves out of one.

 

Review of Reecom and Midland Weather Radios



Reecom R-1630 Weather
 

Shortly after we started prepping, one of our local grocery stores had a special on the Reecom R-1630 Weather Alert All Hazard Alert Radio. We had talked about getting one and my wife went ahead and got this one. Neither one of us had researched weather radios and didn’t know much about this one, but I am pleasantly surprised.

Technical details from Amazon:

  • 7 Channels with Digital PLL Tuning, S.A.M.E. (Specific Area Message Encoder) Technology, 90 dB siren, voice alert, and flashing LED
  • Easy Programming, Effective Time Display and Accurate Auto-Count Down (from 15 mins to 6 hours expiration time issued by NOAA) for Up To 25 Active Alerts Simultaneously
  • Defeat Siren Function, selectable up to 48 individual alert messages
  • E.O.M (End Of Message) Detection – Automatically go back to the state immediately before alert receiving (radio previous state)
  • 200 Hours Battery Back-up Time (with 4 ‘AA’ fresh Alkaline batteries in standard size, Energizer brand recommended) During Power Outage in Emergency Period
  • High Alert Reception Sensitivity
  • Responds to Amber Alert, All Hazards Alert and E.A.S Alert
  • Voice Alert / Siren Alert Selectable
  • 26 county memories available
  • Low battery detection and indication

We originally set it up for the county my parents live in as well as our county. I like this feature, and think it’s a plus for anyone with a BOL. We have since changed it to just our county as both counties are large and it was picking up alerts from a good distance away.
We later bought another one that I kept it in my car. Now that I am working from home, it’s in our basement.
I also like that it picks up Amber Alerts, All Hazards Alerts and the E.A.S. Alerts. If there is ever an event that isn’t weather related and they need to get word out, they can send an alert this way.

Our dogs hate it, but that’s a little humorous to me, so I’m not sure it’s a negative.

I give this weather radio 4 stars.



MIDLAND HH50 Pocket Weather Radio
 

We also have a couple of the MIDLAND HH50 Pocket Weather Radio
Product features from Amazon:

  • Broadcasts all hazards alert weather brought to you by NOAA for around-the-clock severe weather information
  • Automatic alert system turns on in event of dangerous weather or civil emergencies
  • Test button confirms alert function is working properly at all times
  • Constructed to be water resistant, with a 6-inch telescoping antenna for crystal-clear reception
  • Runs on 3 AAA batteries, and is backed by a manufacturer’s 3-year warranty

I really like this weather radio, you can stick it in your pocket and set it to turn on if there is an alert. It will also alert on civil emergencies. This little guy would be a great addition to a BOB, glove box or wherever.

I give this one 4 stars as well

What Would You Do if There Was a Small House Fire?

Dinner is cooking and you leave the kitchen briefly. A minute later the fire alarm starts screeching.

So, what would you do?

(Check the comments section to see the answers from everyone as well as to add your own.)

A quick note

I wrote an article last year about fire safety called Fire Safety, Before and After the Fan. If you haven’t read it, I recommend it, especially if you have small children. If your family doesn’t have an evacuation plan, this article can give you some pointers.