Emergency Made Easy

Planning ahead for circumstances beyond your control, can lessen the challenges that accompany natural disasters.

2011-04-09T13:34:00.000-07:00

You are sitting in your living room with your family enjoying a good movie, popcorn and pizza, all of a sudden without warning the house begins to shake. You all know what to do because these earthquakes are pretty common, and so you all take your assigned positions: under the table or standing in the doorways till it stops.

Pretty routine as usual, all is well in a matter of minutes and you return to your movie and family time and this scene ends happily. But what if? What if the earthquake didn’t stop and it became very aggressive? Scene two: same family, movie and yummies, same assigned positions, but only this time things are falling down and the shaking is just not stopping. You begin to realize this one’s different and before you know it, you are in a major earthquake and there is a lot of damage to your community from it. This is where planning ahead for circumstances beyond your control, can lessen the challenges that accompany natural disasters.

Having emergency preparedness supplies on hand such as food, water and meds are a wonderful assurance in times like this because it frees you up to deal with other challenges that may be present under these circumstances. And the fact is that there will certainly be other issues to deal with in times like this such as broken water lines, gas leaks, and structural damage to name a few. So considering now, what may be helpful later is pretty important don’t you think?

Dehydrated Food Storage-Just Add Water

2011-02-26T15:21:00.000-08:00

We have found that the easiest and most effective way of storing food for emergency preparedness is dehydrated food packs. They come in all sizes with different meal selections to choose from. The greatest part about dehydrated food is that all you need to do to prepare it is just add water!

Dried food is lightweight and it easily carried or moved around. This is a huge benefit since carrying food storage in and out of your house, up and down the stairs, or in and out of a cellar can be very physically demanding. Heavy food storage takes up too many energy, and all energy should be conserved in an emergency situation.

Being able to just add water to your food to prepare it is an amazing feature as well since you may not have much time to cook and eat in a disaster. Children can learn how to prepare this food as well because it is so easy.

Dehydrated food storage is the best option available for complete, nutritional and tasty emergency meals. Make sure you make dehydrated food storage packs part of your emergency preparedness.

Looking for Good Survival Books?

2009-10-02T13:09:00.000-07:00

Getting a good survival guidebook can be difficult. The key is to look for a survival guidebook that is written by someone who has training AND experience. An author with these two traits will be able to explain survival skills better because it is from his or her OWN experience.

I would recommend the SAS Survival Handbook by John Wiseman for an inexpensive yet useful and diverse guidebook. The book only costs around $13, which isn't too expensive at all considering some survival books cost over $50. The author has 26 years of experience in the Special Air Service (SAS).

This book covers almost all survival skills from how to survive in different climates, locations and situations. The great thing about these survival skills is that government pays big bucks to train its soldiers in these survival techniques. It's pretty impressive that you can learn them too for only $13!

One reader gave a 5 star review on Amazon.com stating, "The moment I pulled this book out of the box, I couldn't put it down. Every page has valuable information- this book is all killer, no filler, with the foundation being one's will to live instead of a bunch of pricey survival items. I still can't believe all the information it has at the bargain amazon price! It shows you how to build an igloo and other forms of shelter, deliver a baby, skin your next meal- EVERYTHING. Needless to say, there's a reason why the previous editions of this book has sold over a million copies."

If you want a good survival book and are looking to learn survival skills from an expert, I would give this book a try. The value is well worth the price.

How Do I Purify Water for Emergency Survival?

2009-09-28T23:57:00.001-07:00

There are many ways to purify water for emergency survival. In the video below, you will learn about what to do and what not to do when purifying water for drinking.

Whatever method you choose for purifying water for drinking, be sure you are well-trained in that method and know how to properly and thoroughly purify water to avoid sicknesses such as giardia and diarrhea.

10 Functions of an Emergency Survival Knife

2009-09-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

Having the right emergency survival supplies will increase your chances of emergency survival. When planning for emergency survival, choose tools with multiple functions to conserve space and increase efficiency.

One such survival tool is an emergency survival knife, which come with multi-function blades and a hollow handle to store survival items. Below is a list of 10 contents and uses these knives can have-

1. Cutting and slicing

2. Saw

3. Bottle-opener

4. Signal mirror

5. Protection

6. Matches

7. Fish hooks and leads

8. Nylon line for fishing

9. Liquid-filled compass

10. Wire ring saw

Emergency survival knives are inexpensive and an invaluable tool to keep in an emergency survival kit. If you do not have an emergency survival kit, this survival knife is a great mini-survival kit that can be grabbed in a hurry if you find yourself in an emergency.

How Much Survival Food Do I Need for Emergencies?

2009-09-27T13:28:00.000-07:00

Although the human body can go for about a week without food, the odds of survival are much greater if you don’t have to go without food for even one day. Emergency survival planning should include acquiring enough survival food to sustain you in survival situations.

Food is essential to all bodily functions. Going without food causes problems such as muscle weakness, headaches, disorientation, irritability, inability to focus, lowered immune system, exhaustion and low morale. Having enough emergency survival food is an essential part of emergency survival because it allows you to stay focused, healthy and gives you the energy you need to survive.

A good rule of thumb for emergency food is that on average a person can last 1 week without food. Of course, this is a very general estimate and the actual time you can go without food will depend on many individual factors such as your initial state of health and your surroundings (exposure to elements, if you are injured, etc).

Calorie calculators can be found online that will properly calculate your daily calorie requirement. When calculating your daily calorie requirement, keep in mind that you will probably use more calories in a survival situation than usual. This is due to panic, adrenaline, and extra energy used to survive.

Keep enough survival food in your emergency survival kit to last for at least few days as you cannot predict how long you will need it. This is not difficult as emergency survival food today comes with high-calories but in small-sizes. Choose survival food that is light so as to not weigh down your survival pack and make you use more calories.

You should acquire survival food that will last for years without spoiling. This is important because you may go a few years without using the survival food, and it can easily be forgotten.

Review your survival food and your emergency survival kit often to make sure that no food has spoiled and replenish any food that has been spoiled or used. Keep your emergency survival food supply as complete and edible as possible so you are always ready for emergencies.

A good survival food option is high-calorie food bars. These bars are very high in calories for their size and are very lightweight. Also, they are very affordable, usually just a few dollars. High-calorie food bars are also a good choice for survival preparedness food because they do not need to be cooked or heated to eat. They are an easy, fast and affordable choice for emergency survival food.

Emergency Survival at School

2009-09-25T23:43:00.000-07:00

Children spend most of their day in school and are just as likely to experience an emergency at school as at home. Emergency survival planning is essential in the classroom to be sure that students are safe in case of an emergency.

A good place to start in school emergency survival is to get a school emergency plan. This plan should include how to recognize an emergency situation, how to contact emergency response personnel, all possible exits, orderly exiting process, meeting location outside and head-count procedure after exiting. The emergency plan should also include emergency contacts for each student.

When the emergency plan is completed, be sure that all students and staff understand the plan. They should understand the complete process contained in the school emergency plan. The plan should also be reviewed often with each class so that the information is fresh and any new students receive the training immediately.

Remember that students (children) become frightened easily and are not as capable of taking care of themselves as adults in a survival situation. Teachers and other education staff should know their role in the school emergency plan as they are the leaders in an emergency.

Another key part of emergency survival planning for the classroom is a classroom emergency survival kit. These kits can be purchased online and can support up to 30 to 50 people. Such school emergency survival kits include emergency food and water, survival tools, hygiene and sanitation supplies and first aid. Each classroom should have enough emergency kits to take care of the capacity of the room, not the current number of students in the class.

Review the school survival kits often to make sure nothing has spoiled or been broken. Replace any survival supplies that are no longer useable. Keep the survival kits in a safe location out of the reach or access of the students.

Communication Tools for Emergency Survival

2009-09-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

Communication in emergency situations is essential to proper emergency survival planning. Being able to communicate in survival situations may mean the difference between injury and safety, or even life and death.

Emergency survival communication is useful in a variety of emergency situations. If you have to evacuate your home or work, you will need to communicate with your family to let them know where you are and to learn their location as well. Also you will want to communicate to find out if anybody has been injured or if you have been injured yourself.

Emergency survival planning is getting the right emergency communication tools to contact emergency response personnel as well. Search teams may look for hours to find you but visibility may be limited due to obstructions such as mountains, buildings, weather, etc. Having the right survival communication tools will allow you to reach emergency response personnel before it’s too late.

Multiple survival communication tool options exist today ranging from inexpensive to expensive and easy to more advanced. Of course, in this article we will discuss only the useful communication tools.

The simplest ways to communicate with people have been used for ages and are still worth the training. Even a simple communication tool such as a fire is very useful in survival situations. The flames are easily noticeable from land or air, especially at night. The smoke can also be used to communicate with others. Keep in mind that green plant material will produce black smoke and will be more visible than white smoke.

Another simple technique for survival communication is to make a word on the ground that is visible from either the ground or by air. Find a clearing and dig in the dirt or organize objects to form HELP or SOS. Stay close to the symbol as help will be directed to that location if it is spotted.

Many communication tools are small, easy-to-use and will fit in your emergency survival kits. Flares are an excellent way of communicating with others in an emergency. Gunshots are another way of alerting others to your location, though use discretion as your ammunition is valuable for other uses.

Survival radios are also an excellent choice for a emergency survival communication tool. Today survival radios are small with multiple powering options. Batteries are reliable as long as the batteries aren’t too old and don’t get wet. Hand-crank radios and solar radios might be the best bet because they have renewable sources of power.

Familiarize yourself with multiple methods of survival communication and communication tools. Emergency survival planning includes the skills and tools to contact others and get the help you need to survive any emergency.

Emergency Survival in the Car

2009-09-24T10:19:00.000-07:00

Emergency survival planning should be achieved in all areas of life wherever we spend a significant amount of time. Since much of our day is spent in a car, it is important to work on emergency survival planning for the time we are in the car.

Multiple dangers are associated with cars, making your car a potential place for emergency survival. If there is an accident and nobody is on the scene to help, you must wait for emergency response personnel. When your car breaks down, leaving you stranded, you will be glad you were prepared for emergency survival. Blizzards, rainstorms and other bad weather will limit the visibility you need to drive safely, forcing you to pull over and wait out the storm.

Emergency survival kits should be customized to meet your specific needs while you are in the car. Be sure to include an emergency blanket, emergency survival food and water, warm clothing and a complete emergency survival first aid kit. Body warmers are an excellent addition to your car survival kit to provide warmth as you may not want to leave the car to start a fire, or are unable to do so. Be sure to have some basic tools in your car as well for car repairs or for miscellaneous tasks you may want to perform on your car to survive.

Keep enough emergency survival supplies in your car for at least two people, maybe more if there are frequently more people in your car than just yourself. Blankets, food and water are the most important emergency survival items you may need in an emergency so store enough of these items for yourself and a couple others.

Review the contents of your emergency survival kit often to replenish any used or spoiled emergency survival supplies. This is especially important as it is easy to forget that you have a survival kit in your car and it is easily damaged with extreme heat. Some survival equipment, especially food, will spoil in a hot car. Try wrapping your survival kit in a survival blanket and putting it somewhere in the car that is out of the sun and somewhat insulated.

Car emergency survival kits can be stored anywhere inside the car but it is important to use some discretion. Storing a survival kit in the trunk is convenient because it does not take up space inside where someone may be sitting, but consider that perhaps you will not be able to open your trunk if it is jammed shut or you are not able to exit your car in an emergency. Only store your survival kit in the trunk if you can access the trunk through the back seat.

Another place to store an emergency survival kit in the car is under the seats. This way the survival kit is not in your way and it is easily accessible, even if you cannot get out of your seat. Floor compartments work well too. Wherever you decide to store your emergency survival kit in your car, make sure it is easily accessible in all potential survival situations.

Emergency Survival Planning for Children

2009-09-23T09:56:00.000-07:00

Children are not able to take care of themselves in an emergency situation like adults. They need proper instruction and supervision to stay safe and healthy. Emergency survival planning for your family includes teaching your family, even the children, about what to do in case of an emergency.

A good place to start with emergency survival planning for children is making an emergency plan. A good emergency survival plan shows multiple escape routes from the house, instructions on how to handle specific types of emergencies, emergency contacts, and meeting places outside of the home in case you are separated. Go over the plan with your children and make sure they understand what to do in emergency situations. Review the emergency survival plan with them often so it is fresh and memorized, maximizing their chances for emergency survival.

Emergency survival planning for children is not complete without a children’s emergency survival kit. These kits can be found online or you can assemble one yourself. Be careful about assembling one yourself as the cost can be greater to assemble one yourself than buy one preassembled online. Emergency survival kits for children should be customized for the child’s specific needs. Emergency supplies such as medication and medical devices specific to the child’s needs should be included as well to make sure the child can be taken care of properly in an emergency. Most children’s emergency survival preparedness kits sold online today include simple entertainment items that will help your child stay occupied in emergency situations.

After acquiring the appropriate emergency survival gear for your child, another important step to take for emergency survival planning for children is to become educated and prepare yourself for care of children in an emergency survival situation. Children have different needs than adults and cannot be treated as adults in emergency situations. First aid and medical attention need to be administered differently to a child than to an adult, depending on the situation. Children eat different quantities of food than adults and may not want to eat stored survival food. Children may also become scared and frustrated easily in survival situations so know different ways to keep their minds off the problem and keep their morale high.

Understanding the unique needs of children is an important part of emergency survival planning. Properly preparing your children will help you feel more prepared and increase your odds of emergency survival, not just for you but for your entire family.

Emergency Survival Everywhere

2009-09-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

Emergency survival is a topic that applies to everyone no matter where you live. Many think that their location is immune to disaster or that there is a very low probably of a disaster situation. The fundamental idea of emergency survival planning is that you cannot predict with complete accuracy when or where an emergency will happen. Emergency survival planning provides you with peace of mind knowing that no matter what the emergency is or when or where it occurs, you are prepared for emergency survival.

All parts of the world are vulnerable to some form of emergency situation and therefore require emergency survival planning. Below is a list of potential emergency situations that you can analyze and decide if you are at risk in the area where you live-

• Drought
• Civil Unrest
• Chemical
• Dam Failure
• Earthquake
• Fire/Wildfire
• Gas Leaks
• War
• Flood
• Famine
• Hazardous Material
• Heat
• Hurricane
• Landslide/Mudslide
• Industrial/Work Accidents
• Economic Depression
• Nuclear Power Plant Emergency
• Terrorism
• Disease
• Thunderstorm
• Car Accidents/Lost or Stranded
• Tornado
• Tsunami
• Volcano
• Winter Storm

Once you have selected the potential emergencies that could occur in your area, plan for emergency survival accordingly. Many resources are available online that can provide you with disaster information for your particular area so you may customize emergency survival planning according to the potential emergencies that are more probable for your area.

Maps and specific disaster information are provided at websites such as fema.gov along with other useful information to achieve emergency survival. You cannot trust that your area is secure enough that you do not need survival preparedness.

10 Things to Include in an Emergency Survival Hygiene Kit

2009-09-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

Emergency survival planning is not complete without proper hygiene and sanitation supplies. You must keep yourself and your surroundings clean or you increase your risk of disease and getting infections and decrease the odds of survival.

Conditions in an emergency survival situation will probably be unsanitary. Pathogens can be found anywhere and one can assume that their numbers are greater in a disaster where your surroundings may have suddenly become unsanitary. In emergency survival situations, the small things that keep you from being sick are often overlooked. You cannot remember to clean surfaces when you when you are in a hurry or panicked, as this is not a big priority. But once you are out of harms way it is important to practice good personal hygiene. Be prepared for those conditions with a complete emergency survival hygiene kit.

Hygiene kits are inexpensive and easy to assemble or buy. Remember to customize your emergency survival hygiene kits for your own specific needs and the specific needs of your family. Each member of your family will require their own hygiene kit in an emergency survival situation, as sharing hygiene kits may spread disease. Hygiene kits can be assembled yourself or can be purchased and are very affordable, saving you time and perhaps money. Keep your hygiene kits with or in your survival preparedness kits.

Below is a list of items to include in your survival preparedness hygiene kit-

1. Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss
2. Soap, shampoo and conditioner
3. Hand and body lotion
4. Deodorant
5. Razor for shaving
6. Comb
7. Maxipads
8. Washcloth
9. Wetnaps
10. Hand sanitizer

10 Reasons You Need to Know About Emergency Survival

2009-09-20T10:48:00.000-07:00

It is virtually impossible to know when and where survival situations will occur. Natural disasters, civil unrest, fires, pandemics, war and many other factors all could happen at any time and increase the need for emergency survival planning.

It is a waste of time trying to predict when and where disaster will strike. Your efforts are better spent preparing for potential emergencies with survival preparedness. Once you are prepared and educated in emergency survival, you can take comfort in knowing that you have done everything possible to increase your chances of emergency survival and overcome emergency situations.

10 reasons you need to know about emergency survival-

1. No emergency response personnel-Depending on the type of disaster and where it occurs, emergency response personnel may not be available. Survival preparedness includes preparing yourself assuming emergency response help will not be available.

2. No clean water sources-Water sources can easily become contaminated or eliminated by drought. Emergency survival includes water storage and methods of water gathering and treatment.

3. Limited or no food supply-Disease, famine and economic conditions can all play a role in decreases food supply. Emergency survival includes food storage that will keep you healthy and can be stored for years.

4. No shelter-Shelter can be lost or destroyed due to many factors. Emergency survival includes having survival shelters such as tents and knowing a location that will provide shelter.

5. Evacuation-Evacuation can occur at any moment and for a number of reasons. Emergency survival includes having a survival preparedness kit that you can grab quickly and evacuate.

6. Injuries-Injuries can be life-threatening. Emergency survival includes first aid and training.

7. Sickness-Sicknesses should be taken very seriously. Emergency survival includes first aid and medications.

8. Natural disasters-Weather and nature are very unpredictable. Emergency survival includes having a complete survival preparedness kit that is quickly accessible to help you survive.

9. Defend against attack-You may need to defend yourself. Emergency survival includes knowing how to defend against diverse threats and having the proper equipment to do so.

10. Stranded and/or lost-You cannot predict when you will get stranded either by plane, car or other transportation. You may also lose your way and require rescue. Emergency survival includes knowing emergency survival skills and knowing how to keep morale high.

Light Up Emergency Situations

2009-09-19T10:43:00.000-07:00

Preparation is the key for emergency survival. Emergency survival kits, emergency plans and training all help to prepare you for the worst, and being able to taking advantage of these preparations in an emergency situation depends on one thing-LIGHT.

Light has many, many uses in emergency situations and by no means should be overlooked when working on emergency survival planning. Emergency situations can happen at any time and are just as likely to occur during the night as during the day.

Listed below are some reasons why having reliable light sources is a good idea for emergency survival-

1. Morale-Being able to light up an emergency situation can help fight feelings of hopelessness and despair, boosting morale and determination to survive.

2. Less injuries-Not having good visibility can lead to injuries if you are on the move. Light up your path and stay safe with a reliable light source.

3. Treat injuries-First aid and medical attention are difficult to administer properly without good visibility. Ensure you are able to treat your injuries and those of others by being able to see the problem to treat it properly.

4. Communication/get help-If you are stranded and need to communicate for help. Lights are a great tool for letting help find your location.

5. Look for food/shelter-Use light to look for food and shelter when visibility is low. Food and shelter may be just a short distance away and having light will help you find them quickly and safely.

6. Tools-Enable yourself to use survival tools efficiently and properly by having enough light to get the job done. Having light while using tools will reduce injuries and damage tools as well.

7. Cooking-Be sure your food is cooked properly and thoroughly by having enough light on the scene.

When making lights a part of your emergency survival planning, be sure to include more than one source of light in case one light isn’t working or you need light for an extended period of time.

When choosing light sources for emergency survival planning, keep in mind that electricity may not be available in emergency situations. Various commercial lights are available today that are powered by batteries, shaking and solar energy. Lights with renewable energy sources are the best option. All light sources should be waterproof as well.

How to Keep Morale High in an Emergency Situation

2009-09-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

Emergency situations are emotionally draining as well as physically draining. Emergency survival planning includes planning for the emotion toll emergencies will take on you and your loved ones. Fear, panic and depression can worsen your situation in emergency situations and possibly lead to death.

The most important thing you can do to prepare emotionally for emergencies is to prepare yourselves beforehand by having the appropriate emergency survival supplies and emergency plans. When a disaster strikes, the peace of mind you will have by having a plan to follow and supplies to use will keep you focused. Emotional stress sets in without the proper provisions. You cannot think clearly after you have gone without food and water for a time, or are cold or injured. The effects of these hazards can be minimized by have a survival preparedness kit, complete with food, water, first aid supplies, shelter and warm items, lights and communication devices and survival tools.

An important and often over-looked part of an emergency survival kit is entertainment items. Items such as cards, notepads and pencil, small books and small games are very useful supplies to keep in your survival preparedness kit. Having simple items to keep you entertained while waiting for help can keep you from panicking and using bad judgment in how you handle emergency situations.

When you find yourself in an emergency survival situation, it is important to stay positive as well. Do not let the situation get the better of you and give you feelings of hopelessness. Be persistent in your efforts to analyze the situation and find a way out or get help. Help others be positive as well. Talk with them about life outside of the situation to take their minds off of the intensity. Lighten the mood by talking about future plans and fun memories you have. Give encouragement to other by telling others around you how well they are doing and how you are glad they are with you. Even singing your favorite song helps to relax you and helps alleviate the hopeless feelings. Also recognize how well you are doing yourself to boost your own morale.

Much can be done to relieve stress and boost morale in emergency survival situations. Be sure you plan beforehand and talk about things to do to boost morale in emergency survival situations with your family. Knowing how to handle emergencies before they happen will help you and could mean the difference between life and death.

Ways to Get Drinkable Water in Emergency Situations

2009-09-18T02:02:00.000-07:00

Drinking untreated water has many hazards. Many forms of bacteria, viruses and impurities are found in untreated water. These hazards include cholera, amoebas, bacteria and other parasites, dysentery, coli poisoning, giardia, schitzomonasis, diphtheria, hepatitis, typhus, and the list goes on. Because of the seriousness of the aforementioned hazards, water treatment is an important part of emergency survival.

So what can you do to obtain drinkable water and protect yourself from these hazards? A few options exist for minimizing your risk of getting sick from dirty water. According to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), you should always use bottled water that has not been exposed to outside elements when possible. Do no attempt to disinfect and drink untreated water unless you absolutely need it for emergency survival.

Useable water can found in a variety of places around the house such as in the hot water heater and by melting the ice in your freezer. Avoid getting water out of places where the water is still and stagnant. As a rule of thumb, flowing water is usually cleaner than stagnant water. Before attempting to treat any water, making sure it looks clear to the naked eye is the first step. If the water is dirty, filter it through some fabric or a water filter if you have one. If you don’t have anything on hand to filter the water, let it sit so the sediments and impurities can settle, then skim the clean water without stirring up the sediments.

Once you have clear water, you have different options from which to choose to disinfect it-

1. Boiling-Bring water to a rolling boil and let it boil vigorously for 1 minute for altitudes lower than 1 mile, 3 minutes for altitudes higher than 1 mile. Warning-this only kills MOST pathogens. Some argue that you must boil water at 160 °F for 30 minutes to kill all parasites. Keep in mind that the longer you boil water the more it will evaporate and the more fuel you use, using up two valuable resources. Use discretion when deciding if boiling is the correct water-disinfecting option for you. Water will be warm after boiling so pour water back and into two containers to cool it down and to help get rid of the boiling taste. Also you may let is stand for a couple of hours or add a pinch of salt to every liter.

2. Chemicals-As with boiling, filter water as best you can and let it settle before treating it with chemicals. Two chemicals commonly used to treat water that are readily available are chlorine and iodine. Both of these chemical are more effective when used in warm water, but again heating water takes fuel and water evaporates, so use discretion. As with boiling, chemicals remove MOST disease-causing organisms, not all.

3. Bleach-Household chlorine bleach is also useful to help disinfect water. Many chlorine bleach containers have instructions on their labels for treating water. The bleach-to-water ratio will vary according to the percentage chlorine content in the bleach. For detailed instructions on proportions of bleach-to-water, go to the EPA’s website.

4. Filter-Various water filters are available on the market today. Use discretion when choosing a filter. Check ratings and customer reviews before purchasing a filter. As with other water treatment methods, filters may not remove or kill all disease-causing agents, so do not attempt to treat water when treated water is already available to you.

Emergency survival information in this article was obtained from the author of SurvivalPreparedness911.com, EPA.gov and SurvivalTopics.com.

How to Prevent and Treat Hypothermia

2009-09-16T11:56:00.000-07:00

Keeping warm and dry in a survival situation is crucial to survival preparedness. Warmth and shelter is often overlooked as many survival preparedness enthusiasts focus on food, water, and first aid. Hypothermia has the same importance as other survival preparedness topics, if not more so.

A person has hypothermia when their core body temperature has fallen below 35.0 °C (95 °F), the temperature required for normal body functions and metabolism. Normally, the human body maintains almost a constant body temperature of 36.5-37.5 °C through biologic processes. However, the body cannot hold its temperature at a constant when it is exposed to cold surroundings. Once body temperature falls and hypothermia sets in, the nervous system, heart, and organs cannot function properly.

Hypothermia occurs in three stages. For purposes of this article, only the collective symptoms of hypothermia will be discussed. The symptoms range from mild to strong and can increase in severity very rapidly, thus earning its importance in survival preparedness. Below is a list of hypothermia symptoms to be aware of-

• Mild to strong shivering
• Clumsiness due to cold/numb hands and feet
• Breathing is quick and shallow
• Goosebumps
• Sick to the stomach
• Tiredness
• Warm sensation but nothing was done to warm person and external conditions are the same
• Muscle shutdown (try touching thumb to little finger to test muscle status)
• Trouble seeing
• Slow and labored movements
• Confusion though person may appear more alert
• Person is pale
• Lips, ears, fingers and toes become blue
• Difficulty speaking and thinking
• Amnesia

The severity of the symptoms listed above is a sign of the severity of the hypothermia a person has. If left untreated, hypothermia results in frostbite, frostnip, chilblains, respiratory system and heart failure and death.

Hypothermia can be treated and reversed if it is noticed early enough and you know how to treat it. First and foremost, dial 911 if possible to alert emergency response personnel of the situation and location and to receive proper instruction. If you are not able to contact emergency response personnel, below is a list of steps you can take to reverse the hypothermia-

• Do NOT rub the person to warm them up. Handle the person gently.
• Move person out of cold. Insulate person from cold ground and cover the head.
• Remove wet clothing. Replace with dry clothing if possible or dry blanket.
• Build a fire. Do not put person too close to fire as numb body parts can be burned
• Use your own body heat to warm the person.
• Do NOT give the person alcohol. Do give them warm nonalcoholic drinks.
• Use HELP (heat escape lessening position). Hold knees together and into chest using arms.
• Use your own body heat to warm the person.
• Do not attempt to warm the arms and legs. Focus on warming the body.

The first and easiest step to preventing hypothermia for survival preparedness is to wear appropriate clothing. Research weather conditions and other related factors for any activity and plan to wear clothing appropriate for that activity. For survival preparedness, keep a change of clothes, hats, gloves, a coat, and a blanket in your car for emergencies.

Wool (fleece) and synthetic fabrics provide the best insulation even when wet and dry quickly as well. Keep a survival blanket and survival sleeping bag in your survival kit. Body warmers are also a good addition to a survival preparedness kit as they can provide quick and easy heat.

Shelter is also essential in survival preparedness as it provides protection from the elements and can keep you warm and dry. Keep a survival tent in your survival preparedness kit. Be sure it is water proof and durable. Put up the tent a couple of times so you are familiar with how to set it up and the space and protection it will provide.

Water-The Key to Survival Prepardness

2009-09-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

Survival preparedness includes numerous precautionary steps to protect yourself and your family. These steps should be prioritized and accomplished in order according to their importance. One of the most crucial steps in survival preparedness is storing and preparing a way to provide drinkable water in survival situations.

Water is the life-fluid for the human body. It aids and facilitates a variety of bodily functions such as carrying nutrients and oxygen to cells, allows proper digestion, flushing waste and toxins from the body, regulates body temperature and cushioning the joints. In a way, water can compared to oil in a vehicle. With the proper amount and quality of oil, a vehicle runs smoothly and efficiently. With low oil level and quality, a vehicle will run roughly and the different parts will begin to fail. With no oil a vehicle will burn out and eventually die. Water has the same effect on the body.

The standard amount of water a person should drink is eight 8 ounce glasses per day. This amount is difficult to drink for most people. The correct amount of water a person should drink per day depends on each individual. A good rule of thumb is the more the better! Men should drink more water than women and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should drink more water than women who are not. Also, a person that exercises should drink more water than someone who does not. Climate and altitude also play a role in how much water a person should drink. High altitude and a dry or hot climate cause the required daily amount of water to go up. Clothing also plays a part in necessary water consumption. Since different parts of the body lose different quantities of water through evaporation, breathing and sweating, the necessary daily intake of water for each person also depends on the clothing a person is wearing.

Not drinking enough water often occurs in survival situations and leads to dehydration. Even if you are simply thirsty, you are experiencing a mild state of dehydration. Some signs that you are dehydrated include dry skin, constipation, frequent urinary tract infections, reoccurring headaches, muscle weakness, sleepiness and dizziness.

Dehydration is a key concern for survival preparedness. Once you are dehydrated, your body begins to shut down and continues to shut down until the required supply of water is replenished. Without water, the average person can last a few days to a just over a week at the most. This short timeline that one can last without water is partly due to evaporation factors. In an extremely hot climate, a person may not last even 24 hours without water. In cooler climates, a person may last a week.

Without water, the kidneys shut down within a couple of days which eventually leads to death. In addition, without adequate water the body experiences other side-effects such as ketosis and uremia (build up of toxins in the blood), organ failure, electrolyte imbalance that causes cardiac arrhythmia, seizures, low blood pressure leading to blood clots, brain damage and eventually death.

Water is also a key factor of survival preparedness because it affects morale. Staying positive and focused in a survival situation is difficult if you do not have enough water to keep you from becoming dehydrated.

Though the effects of having no water are serious, the precautions one can take to have sufficient water for survival preparedness are affordable and simple. Many options exist to ensure you are prepared for survival situations such as water purification devices and tablets, water filtrations devices and various storage options. No matter the method you choose to ensure you will have water to drink in survival situations, do not underestimate water’s role in survival preparedness.

Why Do I Need Survival Preparedness?

2009-09-09T09:31:00.001-07:00

Survival preparedness is a topic that is often overlooked. Emergencies will happen. Nobody can predict when or where these emergencies may occur. Natural disasters, accidents, disease and civil unrest all contribute to the probability of experiencing a survival situation, and these threats increase every year. The only way to maximize the chance of survival in survival situations is to achieve survival preparedness. Preparation is the key to overcoming fear.

How is survival preparedness achieved? The first step in survival preparedness is to identify potential survival situations you and your loved ones could experience. Review threats that could cause emergencies such as weather, diseases, transit conditions, etc. Understand when and where each individual disaster could present itself. Only by understanding potential survival situations can you adequately prepare for them.

Second, create emergency plans for each emergency scenario. This plan should include exit plans, meeting locations, emergency contacts, locations of survival preparedness kits, first aid and emergency response training. Review emergency plans often with family members so the information is fresh and retainable. To maximize survival preparedness, post the plans in easy-to-read places in the home, work and in the car.

The next step is to acquire a survival preparedness kit. These kits are sold online or can be assembled yourself, though the cost to build a survival preparedness kit yourself can be more costly than purchasing one online. Be sure your survival preparedness kit has a complete list of survival preparedness supplies. Customize each survival preparedness kit adding items to accommodate your unique personal needs and those of your family.

Finally, review all survival preparedness supplies and emergency plans often, updating them and customizing them for your particular needs. Once your survival preparedness is complete, share your knowledge with friends, family members and coworkers. Working together and sharing information we can ensure everyone’s survival. Do not put off survival preparedness. Predicting survival situations is virtually impossible but preparing for them is easy. Being prepared for emergencies will give you peace of mind knowing that your survival preparedness will take care of you when you need it the most.

Survival Preparedness for the Office

2009-09-04T13:43:00.001-07:00

Survival preparedness is essential in all aspects of a person’s life. Whether at school, home or at work, you must be prepared for emergencies, especially the places where the most time is spent. The majority of the average person’s day is spent at work. The workplace has the same need for survival preparedness as the home.

Though places of work may appear safe and immune from emergencies, they are just as vulnerable as your home. Employers have the responsibility of providing a safe workplace and one that is prepared for emergencies. Walk through your workplace and identify potential hazards. Then plan and prepare for those hazards. Be sure your employees understand the hazards of the office and the precautions that can be taken to avoid them. Also explain to them the proper actions to take if an emergency arises. Such discussions should include emergency exits, fire extinguishers, alarm systems and communication systems with local authorities, and where the survival preparedness kits are located.

Survival preparedness kits for offices can be purchased online and are very economical. One survival preparedness kit can support a group of employees in an emergency situation. Many kits on the market today can support 5 or even 10 employees. Having enough survival preparedness kits to sustain all workers is crucial to providing safety for employees. Today, survival preparedness kits are sold with a complete list of survival preparedness supplies such as food and water, blankets, lights and communication devices, first aid, emergency tools, hygiene and entertainment items. Do not simply buy a survival preparedness kit because it is inexpensive. Make sure a kit contains a complete supply of survival preparedness items before purchasing it. Building a survival preparedness kit yourself is more time consuming and can be much more costly than purchasing a preassembled kit online.

Assign a worker to be in charge of survival preparedness for the office. This person will acquire the appropriate survival preparedness supplies and decide where to store them. Be sure the supplies are not all stored in the same place as some parts of the office may not be accessible during an emergency. Check the survival preparedness kits often to make sure they are complete and up to date. Also, the person left in charge of survival preparedness for the office should routinely review and make updates to the office survival preparedness plan, making adjustments often to keep it current.

Another option an office can easily accomplish to achieve survival preparedness is to get a supply of water and store it in the office. Many offices use water dispensers (water coolers). The water for these devices is delivered in large containers. These containers are a great way to store water in the office. Always have enough water stored in your office to sustain all employees for at least couple of days.

By following the instructions above, every office can be prepared for emergencies. Do no wait until an emergency presents itself to get prepared. Prepare the office and give employees peace of mind in survival preparedness.

What Makes a Good First Aid Kit?

2009-08-27T15:14:00.000-07:00

Many inexpensive first aid kits are so simple that they provide little assistance in cases of emergency. Be sure that any first aid kit you purchase is complete. If you do purchase a first aid kit that only contains band aids, tape and some gauze, add some items of your own to complete the kit.

So what makes a good first aid kit? A good first aid kit contains a diverse and complete supply of first aid items needed for emergencies such as sanitizing products, bandages and tape, a first aid guide, splints, medicine, and lotions such as sunscreen and lip ointment. Many complete first aid kits are sold online or may be assembled yourself, though the cost of building your own first aid kit may be greater than purchasing a preassembled kit. If you decide to build a first aid kit yourself, keep in mind where the first aid kit will be stored and build the kit according to potential emergencies that may present themselves in the immediate area where the kit will be stored.

Sanitizing items such as alcohol pads and antibiotic ointment are the first priority when treating a wound or injury. Wounds must be cleaned with effective sterilization equipment before they are bandaged to avoid infection. Infection can be a silent attacker in injuries that can add to the severity of the injury. Be sure to keep enough sterilization supplies in your first aid kit.

Once the injury is cleaned properly, sterile bandages are applied to keep the injury clean, support it and protect it from further injury. Include bandages of various sizes in your first aid kit. You may have to add bandages of different sizes to a simple commercial first aid kit. Only having band aids in the kit does not adequately prepare you for injuries.

Splints, first aid tape and gauze are important for injuries that require support until help can arrive. Popsicle sticks work well for finger splints.

Medicines are another essential part of any first aid kit. Ibuprofen, aspirin and antacid tablets are common items in a complete first aid kit. Be sure you are prepared for physical ailments that could keep you from functioning properly in an emergency situation.

A final necessary item to include in your first aid kit is a first aid guide. First aid guides are inexpensive and can be purchased online. Don’t rely on your memory or your education to use your first aid kit properly. Emergency situations can be stressful and emotionally intense causing you to panic. You may not be able to think clearly and remember first aid procedures you have learned in the past. First aid guides will give easy instructions to whoever is using the first aid kit.

Three important places to store a first aid kit are in your home, in your car and at work. Since most of your time is spent at these places, make sure you have enough first aid kits to help the potential number of people who may need one in any of these locations.

Finally, after you have obtained your first aid kits and have placed them in the key areas listed above, be sure to review the contents of the first aid kits every few months to see if any items need to be restocked. Always keep your first aid kits complete and up to date.

Below is a list of basic items to include in your first aid kit.

· Trauma dressing

· Sunscreen lotion packets

· Sting relief prep pads

· Burn cream packs

· Aspirin tablets

· Antacid tablets

· Ibuprofen tablets

· Lip ointment packets

· Antibiotic packets

· Pair of vinyl gloves

· Finger splints

· Cotton tip applicators

· Roll of first aid tape

· Roll of gauze dressing

· First aid instruction guide

Do You Have an Emergency Plan?

2009-08-18T18:41:00.000-07:00

Nobody can predict emergencies, but everyone can be prepared for them. Having an emergency plan is an inexpensive way to be prepared.

Review survival preparedness and how to recognize different emergencies with your family, especially with older children who are capable of helping younger children. Once family members understand how to recognize emergency situations, the next step is to instruct them on what to do in such situations.

Every emergency plan should include details of how to exit your house in case of an emergency. Not all exits may be usable in an emergency, so include different escape routes from your house. Be sure to recognize all windows and doors as potential exits, with proper instructions on how to exit through a window safely.

Emergency contacts are the next essential part of an emergency plan. Two types of contacts need to be included, in-town and out-of-town. In-town contacts are useful for small emergencies that only affect your own household. Out-of-town contacts are useful in emergencies which affect not only your household but the households of everyone in the surrounding area. Post this list of contacts next to each phone in the house and store the numbers in your cell phones.

Establish meeting locations, one in town and one out of town. Not all family members may be at home when disaster strikes, so make sure your meeting locations are well known. Also be sure that all family members know how to get to the meeting locations, even children.

A final part of an effective emergency plan is to acquire emergency preparedness supplies such as emergency preparedness kits (72-hour kits) that may be grabbed in a hurry and carried out the door. A commercial emergency preparedness kit includes all necessary personal and emergency first aid items one would need for temporary use in emergencies. Emergency preparedness kits are inexpensive and may be purchased online. Be sure to have enough emergency preparedness kits to sustain your entire family in emergencies.

Review your emergency plan with your family regularly and update your plan details as needed. Following these steps will minimize the dangers you and your family may encounter in emergency situations.

Prepare Your College Student for Emergencies

2009-08-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

How do we prepare our children for survival preparedness while they are living away from home and attending college?

Cell phones, credit cards, cash stash, pepper spray are all common items that are given to our children when they leave home for college. The peace of mind we get from knowing our college students have these items to use in case of emergencies can be comforting.

These items, cell phones, credit cards and cash, can provide security as long as the systems support these items are still in tact. However, natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, tornados and hurricanes can render these services useless. The only securities you can count on in such situations are items which provide self-sufficiency and can be kept close at hand.

An emergency preparedness kit is an easy, inexpensive and thoughtful item to give your college students. Kits can be kept in easily accessible places, closets, cars or under beds. Car kits can come in handy when your child has long distances to drive between home and school, ensuring their safety if they were to become stranded. Students can rely on emergency preparedness kits when their cell phones, cars or credit cards cannot function usefully.

Emergency survival kits come in various sizes and varying contents, allowing you to pick the kit that will best serve your student’s needs. The contents of a survival kit can include provisions for food and water, lights, communication, shelter, warmth, tools, hygiene, sanitation, first aid, entertainment and other miscellaneous items.

One fully-equipped emergency preparedness kit is built into a student-size backpack with space to add your own personal items and weighs on average 14 pounds. More simple kits can weigh around 5 pounds, less than what a student’s backpack can weigh.

Emergency preparedness kits can be purchased online or self-assembled. The cost of building an emergency preparedness kit can be inexpensive, but it will not contain the same quantity, variety or quality of items as those provided in preassembled kits sold online for a similar price.

Learn more about survival preparedness.

Emergency Preparedness Kits Q&A

2009-07-30T23:26:00.000-07:00

Q: What is the cost difference between buying an emergency preparedness kit and building one on my own?
A: Surprisingly, preassembled kits are less expensive than piecing one together on your own. Each item in a kit may only cost a dollar or two at a box store, but preassembled survival kits contain many items that cost-wise can add up quickly. Due to wholesale discounts that are available to many online retailers, preassembled kits give you more for your money.

Q: Is there a difference in quality between online and store-bought products?
A: Yes. Online retailers have access to high quality specialty products through wholesale that are not available at local box stores.

Q: How many items come in a preassembled kit and are they all necessary?
A: Most preassembled survival kits sold online are assembled to contain only the essential items that will be needed during an emergency. Even though emergency situations are unpredictable, items in a survival kit can be utilized in any type of emergency. Experts who have determined what items and how much of an item will be necessary in an emergency put preassembled survival kits together. Each kit is built for a specified amount of time, usually 24 or 72 hours.

Q: How much time would it take me to build my own kit?
A: Assembling your own survival kit will take a variable amount of time, but you can plan on it taking a significant amount of your attention. Before purchasing supplies, you would want to research how to build a kit, finding out what items are necessary and how much of an item is best for your needs. Once your research is completed, you would be required to spend time in various stores picking out the best items and for the best prices. And some items, which can be found in a preassembled kit, cannot be found at your local big box store. Locating items in a store takes time. On the other hand, preassembled kits include everything you need for an emergency and can be purchased in just a few minutes through an online retailer.

Q: Will I be able to find all the same items in a local store that are included in a preassembled kit?
A: Some items found in preassembled kits cannot be found elsewhere as they are specifically designed for the survival kit and are not sold separately. Also, preassembled survival kits contain items that are sized to easily fit into a survival pack. Items in a preassembled emergency preparedness kit are also quantized for a specific time period.

Learn more about survival preparedness.

Getting Started with Emergency Preparedness

2009-05-29T13:37:00.000-07:00

Emergency preparedness is a topic that is often overlooked and not taken seriously. Many of us live in a world where we feel assured that we will be able to buy food, water and other supplies anywhere we want anytime we want. To assume that there will not be emergencies or disasters in the near future goes against the very nature of emergencies and disasters, which is that they are unpredictable!

Many do not think they have the means to get emergency prepared, either they cannot afford it or would not even know where to start. What do I have in storage? How much? How long will it last before I have to replace it? How much will it cost? These are common questions of those are just getting started.

A good place to start is to simply buy an emergency preparedness kit. Emergency preparedness kits today come fully equipped and are inexpensive. Many survival kits have a shelf life of over a year and are sufficient to ensure survival for days. A huge advantage of a survival kit is that they are portable. Being easily fitted into a backpack, survival kits can be stored anywhere and can be grabbed on-the-go in case of an urgent emergency. Keeping an emergency preparedness kit in your car is a great idea if you prefer to have the option to just drive away in case of an emergency.

For starters buy an emergency preparedness kit and get started today because tomorrow may bring some surprises and you will be glad you are prepared!

Learn more about survival preparedness.

How Much Water Do I Need?

2009-05-20T12:03:00.000-07:00

You should have at least a three-day supply of water and you should store at least one gallon of water per person per day. A normally active person needs at least one-half gallon of water daily just for drinking. Additionally, in determining adequate quantities, take the following into account:
* Individual needs vary, depending on age, physical condition, activity, diet, and climate.
* Children, nursing mothers, and ill people need more water.
* Very hot temperatures can double the amount of water needed.
* A medical emergency might require additional water.

To prepare safest and most reliable emergency supply of water, it is recommended you purchase commercially bottled water. Keep bottled water in its original container and do not open it until you need to use it. Observe the expiration or “use by” date. If you are preparing your own containers of water it is recommended you purchase food-grade water storage containers from surplus or camping supplies stores to use for water storage. Before filling with water, thoroughly clean the containers with dishwashing soap and water, and rinse completely so there is no residual soap. Follow directions below on filling the container with water. If you choose to use your own storage containers, choose two-liter plastic soft drink bottles – not plastic jugs or cardboard containers that have had milk or fruit juice in them. Milk protein and fruit sugars cannot be adequately removed from these containers and provide an environment for bacterial growth when water is stored in them. Cardboard containers also leak easily and are not designed for long-term storage of liquids. Also, do not use glass containers, because they can break and are heavy.

If storing water in plastic soda bottles, follow these steps
1-Thoroughly clean the bottles with dishwashing soap and water, and rinse completely so there is no residual soap.
2-Sanitize the bottles by adding a solution of 1 teaspoon of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water.
3-Swish the sanitizing solution in the bottle so that it touches all surfaces.
4-After sanitizing the bottle, thoroughly rinse out the sanitizing solution with clean water.

Fill the bottle to the top with regular tap water. If the tap water has been commercially treated from a water utility with chlorine, you do not need to add anything else to the water to keep it clean. If the water you are using comes from a well or water source that is not treated with chlorine, add two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to the water. Tightly close the container using the original cap. Be careful not to contaminate the cap by touching the inside of it with your finger. Place a date on the outside of the container so that you know when you filled it. Store in a cool, dark place.Replace the water every six months if not using commercially bottled water.

Article from http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/water

Be Informed

2009-05-16T09:17:00.001-07:00

Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kit and developing a family communications plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency.

However, there are important differences among potential emergencies that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. Learn more about the potential emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate way to respond to them.

In addition, learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government.

Emergency preparedness is no longer the sole concern of earthquake prone Californians and those who live in the part of the country known as "Tornado Alley." For Americans, preparedness must now account for man-made disasters as well as natural ones. Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.

On June 12, 2009 all full-power broadcast television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Digital broadcasting will allow stations to offer improved picture and sound quality and additional channels. An important benefit of the switch to all-digital broadcasting is that it will free up parts of the valuable broadcast spectrum for public safety communications (such as police, fire departments, and rescue squads).

View full story at www.ready.gov.

"Swine Flu"

2009-05-08T11:04:00.000-07:00

Recently the “swine flu” has caused some real alarm. Through the media we hear about how the disease is spreading and the death toll it claims. The best thing to do for this situation is to take some simple precautions, be prepared and simply continue on with life. Washing your hands often, getting plenty of sleep, eating healthy, and stocking up on the proper emergency preparedness supplies are easy and affordable precautions to take. Some have chosen to purchase dust masks and first aid kits to keep on-hand and prevent the spread of the sickness in case they or someone they know gets sick.

The cases of this flu in the United States and have been relatively mild for the most part. Experts say that if you are experiencing flu like symptoms, do not panic. Just take care of yourself. If your symptoms continually get worse and last for longer than a normal would last, it might be time to see your doctor.

An important key to a healthy life is learn to recognize symptoms of sicknesses early on so they may be treated right away and sick person’s condition does not get worse. The symptoms of swine flu seem to be similar to any other flu. See this video that talks about the symptoms of swine flu and what to watch for to keep you and your family safe.

Learn more about survival preparedness.

Finding Peace of Mind

2009-05-04T15:21:00.000-07:00

An important key to living a happy life is being stress free. Often it seems like we don’t have any serious issues that need attention, but we are simply unprepared for unforeseen events. For some having a nice car and a nice house is part of being security. True security and peace of mind is being prepared. One thing is for sure, we all follow major crises as they happen, but are we prepared if we were to experience one ourselves? Some simple things may be done to get emergency prepared. For example, having an emergen cy preparedness kit in your home or car is an easy and affordable precaution to take. Survival kits can be found with a complete supply of emergency preparedness gear. The US Department of Homeland Security (www.ready.gov) has outlined a list of items that should be included in survival kits-

* Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
* Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
* Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
* Flashlight and extra batteries
* First Aid Kit
* Whistle to signal for help
* Dust Mask, to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
* Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
* Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
* Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
* Local maps

Link

2009-05-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

Survival Preparedness

2009-05-02T07:21:00.000-07:00

Survival Preparedness