Survival Preparedness Articles, Survival Tips, Survival Preparedness Kits

5 Places to Start with Survival Preparedness

With so many types of potential emergencies and so much emergency equipment needed it is hard to know where to start with survival preparedness. Natural disasters, civil unrest, medical emergencies and terrorist attacks could all happen at any time. So how do you start getting prepared?

Below is list of 5 easy steps you can take to start on survival preparedness-

1. Buy survival kits-You can’t predict which survival situation you will experience in the future and survival kits help you prepare for ALL of them. You can purchase complete survival kits online for affordable prices and they can be cheaper than assembling a survival kit yourself.

2. Make a survival preparedness plan-Knowing what to do, who to contact and where to go during a survival situation can save your life. Survival plans help you do this by containing emergency contacts, escape routes from your home, instructions for the most probable survival situations and rendezvous locations outside of the home.

3. Get survival food and water storage-Store at least enough survival food and water in your home to last you and your family for a few months. Also include in your food and water storage some survival tools such as a water purifier and extra cooking tools that do not require electricity.

4. Buy a large and complete first aid kit-If you become injured or sick your chances of surviving a survival situation are drastically reduced. Get a first aid kit to store in your home. Include any personal first aid items such as medication and inhalers. First aid guides are available online as well.

5. Know what types of disasters are more probable in your area-Survival preparedness is much more effective if you plan for specific survival situations that are more likely to occur in your area. If you live in the Mid-western United States there is no point in preparing for a hurricane. Know what disasters YOU may experience in your community and prepare for them properly.

Survival Preparedness on a Tight Budget

With today’s failing economy, survival preparedness is becoming more and more difficult as budgets become tighter and tighter. In this article we will discuss some cost-efficient ways to prepare yourself and your family for disaster survival.

First, you must acquire survival kits for your family. These can be homemade or purchased but you must have them! Building your own survival kits is often more expensive than buying one and the quality is usually higher with a store-bought kit. This is because survival kits offered in stores or online are assembled and sold in bulk so the suppliers have discount supply agreements with their suppliers, which in turn allows them to offer the kits to you at a very cheap price. Commercial survival kits today can go for as little as $20 each and you can add some person emergency supplies to customize them to your own needs.

Emergency plans are also important and are virtually free. Make sure that everyone in the family knows the plan and their roll during an emergency. Survival preparedness is not just about having the right survival supplies but also having the proper knowledge to make good decisions in survival situations.

Survival kits and emergency plans are a great start to survival preparedness for your family. These two cheap and reliable steps will help protect your family in disaster situations and give you peace of mind knowing you are prepared.

Stay Up-to-Date on Survival Preparedness News

Survival preparedness could be needed at any time at any place. Staying up-to-date on current events, especially in your area, will help you be more prepared for survival situations. Many resources are available through which you can stay current on emergency situations around the world.

We all get tired of watching the news everyday, and even though the daily news can be depressing, it informs us of what is going on in the outside world. Natural disaster advisories and other alerts are almost always communicated through your local news. Tune in often and add knowledge to your survival preparedness.

The radio is another excellent way to stay informed on emergency events. Listen to the radio as you drive to work or to the store, while cleaning your house, anytime you can. Emergency broadcasts will be sent out over the radio as well as through your local news station.

Newspapers also help to keep you current on recent happenings. Newspapers cover events after they happened but every once-in-awhile they have warnings of potential upcoming events. Skim your newspaper daily for any news that would affect your survival preparedness.

Know what is happening in the world around you so you can make the best decisions possible for survival preparedness. When disaster is around the corner, you will be glad you knew about it beforehand and you were able to prepare for it.

Family Survival Kits

Family survival preparedness is easier to achieve than many think. Getting a quality and complete family survival kit is an easy and cheap step to take to prepare you and your family for emergencies. Many survival kits are available today but in the article we will review what makes a good family survival kit.

All family survival kits should be portable and easy to carry. Avoid overloading survival bags with an excess of survival supplies just to have the entire family’s supplies in one bag. You must plan on having to grab the survival kits in a hurry and perhaps carry them for long distances. Make sure every member in the family has their own survival kit unless you find survival kits that are specifically made for more than one person.

The survival kits that are the easiest to organize, store and carry are those that come in a survival backpack you can wear on your shoulders. Be sure that the children’s survival kits can be carried by the children who will be using them. Consider the weight and size of each survival kit and how easy it will be for the user to carry it.

A complete survival kit will contain the following categories of survival gear-Lights and communication tools, survival food and water, hygiene and sanitation supplies, first aid, shelter and warmth items, survival tools and some entertainment items. All family survival kits should be specialized for the people who will be using them. Don’t forget to add extra personal items such as eyeglasses, medication, inhalers, etc.

Check your survival kit every few months to make sure all the survival supplies are not damaged or spoiled. Replenish any used survival equipment. Keep your family’s survival kits in an easy-access location near the exits of your home. It is a good idea to keep some survival kits in your vehicles as well.

How Many Survival Kits Do I Need?

Survival preparedness includes having the right survival supplies close-by in case of an emergency. Learning proper preparedness techniques and getting the right survival equipment will increase your odds of survival in an emergency. In this article we will discuss how many survival kits you need, how to specialize them, where to store them and more.

First, make sure you have enough survival kits for each person in your family. Every survival kit should be complete with sufficient survival supplies to sustain the number of people the kit was meant for. For example, do not assume a 1-person survival kit will be sufficient for more than one person. Understand the limits of each survival kit and get as many as you need to take care of all members of your family.

Each survival kit should be light enough to be carried by the person for whom it is intended, with the exception of very small children or those with disabilities. Do not plan on carrying others’ survival kits for them in a survival situation as this may slow you down and make you burn more valuable calories than necessary. Every survival kit should be packed into a survival backpack so it can be carried on the shoulders.

After you have acquired the necessary number of survival kits for you and your family, specialize them for the individual needs of each person. Personal survival items such as medication, eyeglasses, inhalers, etc can be added to ensure the survival kit will meet the needs of the user. Show each member of the family the contents of their own survival kit and have them add any personal items they would like to have with them in an emergency. Also be sure everyone understands how to use the survival supplies in their survival kit.

Store the survival kits in a place near the exits of your home and within reach of the children so they can access them in case of an emergency and you are not home. Make sure everyone knows the location of the survival kits and when they are to be used.

How to Prepare for Natural Disasters

Natural disasters can occur anywhere at anytime. Hurricanes, floods, monsoons, tornados, thunder storms, earthquakes, typhoons, tsunamis and snow storms are a constant danger to many parts of the world. Survival preparedness will help you survive if any of these natural disasters ever happen in your area.

The first step to take to prepare yourself and your family for emergencies caused by nature is to find out about the community emergency plan in your area. Knowing what services and supplies your local government can offer in an emergency will help you know how to you should prepare. Remember that you may not be able to depend on government relief during or after a natural disaster so it is important to take some preparedness measures to protect yourself.

Make a natural disaster plan for you and your family. Find out which natural disasters are more likely to occur in your area and make the plan according to those disasters. Make sure the entire family understands the plan and each of their rolls in the plan.

After your natural disaster plan is complete, be sure to acquire some survival preparedness kits and store them in different places in the house near the exits. Your survival kits should be easily accessible in case of a natural disaster. Make sure you have enough natural disaster emergency supplies for the entire family.

Preparing for natural disasters is a key element of survival preparedness. Increase your odds of survival during a natural disaster by following the steps above. Review the steps above often so the information is fresh on your mind and you will remember what to do when disaster strikes and quick action is needed.

Make Your Own Survival Preparedness Food

Making your own survival food is not recommended since it is usually more costly and home-made survival food often has less valuable calories than store-bought survival food. In this article we will go over some options for homemade survival preparedness food. Keep in mind that the calorie content might be less and the cost greater than commercial survival foods.

Below is a list of 5 survival foods you can make at home-

1. Dehydrating fruit is a tasty and easy type of survival food. It is lightweight and can be stored for long periods of time.

2. Trail mix is another lightweight and healthy survival food. Some common ingredients in survival food are a variety of nuts, raisins, m&m’s and Chex cereal.

3. Homemade fruit rollups are similar to dehydrated fruit in that they last a long time and are lightweight.

4. Pasta is lightweight and can be stored for a long time. The downside to pasta is that it requires water and cooking.

5. Beans are another long-lasting survival food. Beans have the same downside as pasta in that they need water and cooking. Beans can be heavy in large quantities.

Be sure to use discretion in which survival food you choose. Survival foods that are lightweight, have a long shelf-life, have a high calorie content and are readily edible are the best choice for your survival kit. Whatever survival preparedness food you choose, make sure it has these qualities.

Top 5 Excuses for Not Achieving Survival Preparedness

Survival preparedness appears to many as expensive, time-consuming and never-ending. Many do not achieve survival preparedness because they think they cannot do it or just put it off. Survival preparedness is actually easy, affordable and quick.

Below are 10 excuses that are commonly used for not achieving survival preparedness-

1. Too expensive-The idea that survival preparedness is too expensive is a very common belief and is not true. Survival supplies are sold today in bulk with wholesale rates and there is so much competition in the survival supply market that prices have been driven way down. Survival kits today cost as little as $25.00.

2. Too time-consuming-Survival preparedness can take as little as 20 minutes if you know what to look for. In the time it takes to watch a half-hour television program, you could order a survival kit online and achieve a level of survival preparedness.

3. It is never-ending-Many ask themselves, “If I start working on survival preparedness, where will it end?” It is true that there are numerous tasks that can be done for survival preparedness, even going so far as to build an emergency bunker that will keep you alive for 30 years! However, most people simply order survival kits and customize them for their own needs, then leave it at that.

4. Don’t know where to start-Getting started in survival preparedness is easy. Always start with a survival kit. These can be assembled yourself or purchased online. It is more cost effective to purchase them online because commercial survival kits get bulk rates on the survival supplies included the kits. It would be more expensive for you to buy the same items individually and include them in your survival bag.

5. Don’t think it’s necessary-The belief that survival preparedness is not necessary for the future is the same as believing that a job, health insurance, a car and a house are not necessary for the future. Nobody can predict the future. By preparing yourself and your family, you can have the peace of mind that comes from survival preparedness and will not have to worry about what the future will bring.

5 Features of a Good Survival Water Filtration Bottle

Clean water is a rare and valuable survival resource in survival situations. A crucial part of survival preparedness is having the right survival tools on-hand to purify water. Water filtration bottles are an excellent choice for a water purification device. Make sure you get a quality water filtration bottle.

Water filtration bottles available online today are inexpensive and easy to use. You do not have to spend a lot of money to get an effective and long-lasting water filtration bottle. In this article we will review some unique features of the water filtration bottle offered on this website.

Listed below are the 5 features of our water filtration bottle-

1. Removes up to 99.99% of pollutants and contaminants-This is possible because this water filtration bottle uses a proprietary Ionic Absorption Micron Filtration System.

2. Produces up to 100 gallons of filtered water-Water bottles should have the capability of being used over and over again.

3. Soft plastic removable cover for drinking-This feature keeps the top of the water bottle clean to avoid re-contaminating your water.

4. Size is compact, light and easy-to-use-This bottle has a 22 oz carrying capacity. It is small and light, perfect for your survival kit.

5. Field-tested-Our water filtration bottle has been tested by independent laboratories using EPA and NSF protocols.

Perhaps the greatest feature of our water filtration bottle is that it is very affordable we do not charge for the shipping. Make our water filtration bottle a part of your survival preparedness experience today.

7 Tips for Survival Preparedness While Backpacking

Outdoor activities can turn into survival situations very quickly, especially when you are out in the wilderness. Know the potential dangers of any activity. Survival preparedness precautions should be taken no matter where you are or what you are doing, especially if you are engaging in outdoor activities.

Backpacking is a favorite pastime for many people. Nature has many aspects that can be enjoyed all day long. Survival preparedness includes knowing that nature has many dangers as well. You can prepare for these dangers easily with the proper survival supplies, ensuring that you will be safe while enjoying the outdoors.

Below is a list of 7 tips for survival preparedness while backpacking.

1. Take enough water-If you become stranded or lost while backpacking, having enough water will keep you focused and your morale high. Always pack a little more water into your hiking backpack than you think you will need. You may be glad you did.

2. Take water filter-Being able to provide drinkable water in survival situations is very valuable. Water filters are affordable and effective at purifying water for drinking. Be sure you do no run out of water by carrying a small water filter in your backpack.

3. Matches-Pack some fire-starting tools. Matches, flint and steel or a cigarette lighter make great fire-starting tools that are small and light, perfect for carrying in your backpack while hiking.

4. Emergency blanket-An emergency blanket will come in very handy if you ever have to spend the night in the wilderness unexpectedly. Emergency blankets are very light and compact.

5. Let people know where you are going-Always tell others where you are going hiking and what time you think you will be done. This way others will know if there is a problem and where to look for you.

6. Use a map-Always use a map. Never start hiking without a good trail map. Look over the map and plan your day before you go hiking.

7. First aid kit-Keep a first aid kit in your backpack as hiking often produces injuries. Know proper first aid procedures so you can help yourself or others in case of injuries.

8. Signal mirror-Pack a small signal mirror so you can signal search parties when you are in trouble. Signal mirrors are light and take up virtually no space in your hiking backpack.

Use of Nature for Survival Preparedness

Survival preparedness can be easy if you know how to use nature to your advantage. The wilderness can be a potential grocery store, pharmacy and shelter if it is used properly. Precaution must be used at the same time as nature can be dangerous as well. Knowledge of nature is an important part of survival preparedness.

Nature is an excellent source of survival food. Many plants and animals are edible and very nutritious. Learn which plants are edible and which are not. Some can be a great meal and others will make you sick or even kill you. Learn about plants in your area. An edible plant guide is an excellent addition to any survival kit.

Various animals and insects, yes insects, are excellent sources of survival food as well and provide much-needed protein in survival situations. Learn how to catch and prepare animals for eating so you can provide emergency food for you and your family when it is needed.

Animal-hunting survival guidebooks are available that can be added to your emergency kit. Plants and animals also have medicinal uses as well. They can be used to treat wounds and sicknesses. Become your own survival pharmacist and physician by learning what options are available in nature to be used for medical purposes.

Nature can also provide shelter. Valleys, caves, trees and rocks all can provide life-saving shelter. Learn how to make shelters using these resources. Go on a camping trip and practice making some different kinds of shelters so you know what tools, time and energy are needed to build them.

5 Easy Steps for Flood Survival Preparedness

Floods can be somewhat predicable judging by the amount of precipitation an area gets, the likelihood of your area to experience a flood, current water levels, etc. The chances of experiencing a flood are increased if you live in a valley below mountains, at low elevation or next to a large body of water or river.

Many easy and affordable steps can be taken to be sure that you are prepared for floods. In this article we suggest 5 simple and cheap steps to take to prepare you and your family for floods. These steps are listed below-

1. Waterproof bag-Make sure your survival bag or backpack is waterproof. If it is not, spray the bag with waterproofing solution to increase your likelihood of keeping your survival supplies dry.

2. Keep supplies inside of zip lock bags-Keep the contents on your survival kit inside of a zip lock bag, even if they are stored in a waterproof survival bag.

3. Flotation device-Many options exist for a flotation device. Store a flotation device that you can inflate yourself as it will be compact and fit inside of your survival kit a lot easier.

4. Warmth-Chances are that you will get wet during a flood. Make sure you have plenty of body warmers, a survival blanket and a change of clothes inside your survival kit so you can get warm and dry. Fire-starting tools are important too as long as they are not damaged when they get wet.

5. Whistle-Search teams may be looking for you during a flood. If you are not able to call out to them then use a survival whistle to help them locate you.

Adjust Your Survival Kit for Winter Preparedness

Winter brings unique hazards and therefore requires unique survival preparedness measures. Do not assume that your current survival kit is sufficient to withstand the dangers of winter. The biggest danger you will face during the winter months is the cold. Winter survival preparedness is easy and affordable.

Many things can be done to customize your survival kit for the winter months. Remember to focus on cold weather when adding or taking survival items out of your survival kit. In this article we will discuss a few smart and affordable options for customizing your survival kit for the cold.

A good place to start is by adding extra body warmers to your survival kit. Plan on having to keep yourself warm for a couple of days. Calculate how long your body warmers will last and buy enough of them to be prepared.

Another item you can add to a survival kit to keep you warm is an extra blanket. Choose a thermal or wool blanket. These blankets are a little more bulky but they are worth the space as they will keep you very warm.

Survival tools will also be important during the winter months. Add a survival shovel to your survival kit. Survival shovels are small, compact and inexpensive. Shovels are a useful survival preparedness tool as they are very useful to dig in the snow.

Finally, add some extra gloves and socks to your survival kit. Frostbite can quickly attack your fingers and toes. Be prepared to keep them warm so you can walk and function normally in survival situations.

Survival Preparedness for Your Pet

Survival preparedness means preparing everyone and everything for unexpected survival situations, including pets. Each one of your pets has different needs and unique preparation steps are required for each.

The best and simplest way to accomplish survival preparedness for your pet is to build a pet survival kit. These can be purchased online or built yourself, though building one yourself can sometimes be more costly than buying one online.

What do you put in a pet survival kit? Start with survival food. This is easy with pets as their daily food intake should be simple anyway. Dog food, cat food, bird food, etc can all be purchased in bulk and are relatively inexpensive. If you do buy pet food in bulk, put some food in a smaller container that will fit inside of your pets survival kit.

Include any toys that may help your pet feel more comfortable and relaxed during survival situations. Pets may panic and get stressed easily in unfamiliar surroundings and dangerous conditions. Pet them and talk to them as much as you can to keep them calm.

First aid items are important for your pet just as they are important for humans. First aid kits for pets are available online. Many first aid techniques for pets are similar to first aid techniques for humans. Study how to properly administer first aid to your pet.

You can also include any medication or special-need items that your pet will need in emergencies as well. Remember that the purpose of survival preparedness is to make survival as easy and comfortable as possible.

Items to Include in a Survival Supplies List

Survival means not leaving anything to chance. Preparation is key to overcoming the difficulties in survival situations. The more you prepare, the better your chances of survival. Do not underestimate the importance of making a list of survival supplies to prepare you and your family.

Whether you are just getting started in survival preparedness or have been working on it for years, a list of necessary survival supplies will help to plan thoroughly for potential survival situations.

So what survival items should be included in a list of survival supplies? Start with the basics. List all of the necessary items that any person would need to get by in an emergency. Once you have done that, add personal items to the list to customize it for your own needs. Below is a list of items to help you get started-

Food and Water:
6 Boxes of Aqua Blox Water Boxes - twice the amount of water as leading suppliers
6 - 400 Calorie Food Bars (2400 Calories) - 3 day supply of food with a 5-year shelf life
10 Water Purification Tablets - each tablet purifies 1 liter of water
Light and Communication:
Mini Scan Radio with Headphones and Batteries
Rechargeable Squeeze Flashlight - 3 LED flashlight which generates and stores power by squeezing the handle (NO BATTERIES NEEDED)
36 Hour Emergency Candle - can also be used as a mini stove
5-in-1 Survival Whistle - loud shrill whistle (travels over 1 mile) containing a flint starter, signal mirror, compass, and lanyard
Box of 50 Waterproof Matches
Bic Style Lighter
Shelter and Warmth:
Emergency Survival Sleeping Bag - recommended over outdated "space blankets"
Emergency Poncho with Hood
Tools:
16 Function Knife
N95 Respirator Dust Mask - NIOSH approved
Hygiene and Sanitation:
24 Piece Deluxe Hygiene Kit - toothbrush, toothpaste, 9 wetnaps, bar of soap, .34 oz shampoo and conditioner, dental floss pick, .25 oz hand and body lotion, deodorant gel, twin blade razor, 5" black comb, 4 maxipads, shaving cream packet, and washcloth. 3 Tempo Pocket Tissue Packs
First Aid:
42 Piece Portable First Aid Kit - contains 42 pieces - 10 spot bandages, 10 sheer junior,5 sheer medium, 5 sheer strips, 2 antibacterial, 3 clear strips, 2 fabric strips, 1 extra large, 2 alcohol pads, and 2 gauze pads
Other:
Notepad
Pencil
Deck of playing cards for entertainment
Infectious Waste Bag

This list of survival supplies are all included in online survival kits and is a good place to start in creating your own survival list.

5 Features of a Good Survival Kit

A reliable survival kit is essential for survival preparedness because it can greatly increase your odds of survival and give you peace of mind knowing you are prepared for the worst. Prepare yourself and your family with a survival kit today.

So what makes a good survival kit? Below is a list of 5 basic features every survival kit should have. If your survival kit does not meet all of these criteria, you can easily adjust your survival kit.

1. Complete-Survival kits should have a complete supply of all necessary survival items. This complete list includes survival tools, food and water, first aid, lights, communication devices, shelter and warmth items, hygiene and sanitation kit and entertainment items. Don’t get caught in a survival situation wishing you had packed your survival kit more thoroughly.

2. Backpack-Make sure your survival kit is packed into a durable and waterproof backpack. The backpack should have shoulder straps so you can wear it easily on your back and keep your hands free to do other things. The backpack should also be a bright color like yellow, red or orange. Some survival backpacks even have a reflector stripe on the back.

3. Lightweight-A heavy backpack could mean the difference between life and death in survival situations. Make sure your survival kit is light enough that you can carry it a significant distance. Make sure the survival kits for your children are light enough for them to carry as well. Keep in mind that in survival situations you need to conserve your energy as much as possible.

4. Customizable-Extra space in your survival kit is necessary for customizing it to your specific needs and the specific needs of your family. Add items such as an extra pair of eyeglasses, medication and other medical aids, your favorite book, your favorite treat, clothing etc. Though every survival kit will contain a list of similar items such as survival food and water, first aid and warmth supplies, also remember that a survival kit needs to take care of people according to their individual needs.

5. Long-lasting-Stock your survival kit with survival supplies that can last for years in storage. This is especially important for any survival food and water. Check your survival supplies often to make sure nothing has spoiled or been broken. Check your flashlights to make sure they are still working.

6 Features of a Good Survival Lantern

Survival supplies have become more affordable and reliable with advances in technology. Many survival items today come with multiple features to increase their efficiency and versatility. Multiple function survival supplies also save space and money, allowing you to have the same options in an emergency with just one survival tool. One such survival tool is the survival lantern.

Lanterns used to be fueled by some type of liquid fuel such as kerosene or oil. These lanterns also had just one function-light. Today lanterns that are classed as survival lanterns, have multiple functions, some of which may surprise you.

Below is a list of 6 features of an emergency lantern.

1. LED light-This type of light source requires less energy than traditional lights, has a longer lifetime, smaller size, faster switching and better robustness. All of these features make the LED light the right choice for a survival preparedness light source.

2. No batteries-Survival lanterns can be powered by a crank mechanism. The lantern can also be charged using a 6V external electrical adapter. This feature saves you from worrying about having a continuous supply of fresh batteries on-hand to use the lantern for an indefinite amount of time.

3. Charge other items- On the Dynamo Survival Lantern, three minutes of cranking will produce enough power for 2-8 minutes of mobile phone talk time, 10-20 minutes of MP3 use, and 4-10 minutes of MP4 use.

4. FM radio-The FM radio feature allows you to stay up to date in what is going on around you. Stay current on the latest news with this built-in FM radio.

5. Siren-Emergency help may be looking for you in an emergency and you may not be able to respond. Survival lantern’s siren mechanism will help you alert emergency personnel of your location.

6. Compass-It is easy to become disoriented in a survival situation because of the stress and adrenaline rush you will have. Use the compass in an emergency lantern to find your way to safety.

5 Places to Store Your Survival Kit

The storage location of survival supplies can play an important part in survival preparedness. Survival gear needs to be placed in areas that can be easily accessed in case of an emergency. Properly placed survival supplies may be the difference between life and death in a survival situation.

This leads to the question, where should I store my survival kit? Believe it or not where you store your survival kit can increase or decrease your chances of survival an emergency. Do not just toss your survival preparedness kit in a closet in the hallway. Use some discretion when deciding where to store your survival gear.

Every home should have at least one survival kit. Store survival kits near the exits in your home so you can grab them easily as you walk out the door. Do not store all of your survival supplies together in one location as you may not be able to access that part of your house in an emergency.

Keep a survival kit in each of your vehicles as well. Much of the day for the average person is spent inside of a car. Keep the survival kit covered and out of the sun so the contents of the kit do not spoil. Do not store the survival kit in the trunk unless you can access the trunk from inside the car as you may not be able to go outside to open the trunk.

1. Home-Every home should have at least one survival kit. Store survival kits near the exits in the home so you can grab them easily as you walk out the door. Do not store all of your survival supplies together in one location as you may not be able to access that part of your house in an emergency.

2. Car-Keep a survival kit in each of your vehicles as well. Much of the day for the average adult is spent inside of a car. Keep the car survival kit covered and out of the sun so the contents of the kit do not spoil. Do not store the survival kit in the trunk unless you can access the trunk from inside the car as you may not be able to go outside to open the trunk.

3. Work-The workplace should have enough office survival kits for each employee plus a few extra kits for any visitors. Again, do not keep all of the office survival kits in the same place in the workplace as you may not be able to get to all parts of the workplace in an emergency.

4. Bomb shelter-If you have a bomb shelter, store the survival kits off of the ground and seal them in a plastic container if you can. This will keep insects, spiders and rodents out of the survival kit.

5. Outside shed-An outside shed is a good place to keep a survival kit because it is less likely to have an emergency. If you keep a survival kit in a shed or outside location, make sure the survival kit is inaccessible to rodents, insects and the weather.

13 Features of a Good Survival Shovel

Survival preparedness includes acquiring the right tools to help us survive in emergency situations. Survival tools with multiple functions save us time, space and money. Efficiency is the name of the game in survival preparedness.

We have all seen and perhaps own a survival knife with a hollow handle in which we can hide matches, fishing gear, a compass, etc. One tool that is overlooked but can have the same efficiency and versatility as a survival knife is a multi-function survival shovel.

Small and lightweight, survival shovels are very useful in survival situations. Many survival shovels have a hollow handle, just like a survival knife, in which you can hide other survival supplies.

Another benefit so a survival shovel is that it fits conveniently into any survival kit or in the car. Its small size and light weight make it easy to hide anywhere. Also, survival shovels are very affordable so multiple shovels can be purchased for every car and every survival preparedness kit.

Below is a list of 13 uses and features a compact multi-function shovel contains-

1. Nail puller
2. Hatchet egdge
3. Saw edge
4. Hammer
5. Wrench w/ 3 sizes
6. Bottle opener
7. Compass
8. Waterproof container
9. Matches
10. Nails
11. Razor blade
12. Fishing gear (hook, line and bobbers)
13. Shovel

View Survival Shovels>>

Survival Preparedness for Bad Weather

A major part of survival preparedness is preparing for bad weather. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, typhoons, snow storms, thunder storms, sand storms, floods and drought can cause serious survival situations.

The first step you should take to achieve survival preparedness for bad weather is to identify the weather threats that are most common or most probable to occur in your area. Make a list of these bad weather situations and get information on the hazards of each type of situation. Always stay up-to-date on current weather conditions.

Second, make an emergency plan with your family and that includes what to do in case of extreme bad weather. The family emergency plan should include exits from the house, rendezvous point outside the home and emergency contacts. Be sure everyone in the family understands the emergency plan thoroughly.

Next, acquire enough survival supplies for everyone in your family. A good way to do this is to purchase a survival preparedness kit. Get a survival kit for each person in the family. Do no assume that you will be able to share survival kits. Have each member of the family customize their own survival kit by adding personal items to it.

Finally, update your emergency plan and continue to review it with your family. Also, review all survival kits a few times a year to be sure that they are complete and that no survival supplies have spoiled. Being prepared for survival situations caused by the weather will give your peace of mind knowing you have achieved survival preparedness for yourself and your family.

What Makes a Good Emergency Flashlight

A reliable, multi-function flashlight is a smart choice for survival preparedness. With so many options to choose from, make sure your survival preparedness flashlight has all the features you need and is trustworthy to help you in survival situations.

Today, survival preparedness flashlights come with many features and functions. In this article, we will discuss a few features and functions of a good survival preparedness flashlight and what you should look for when choosing which flashlight to buy.

1. AM/FM radio-Having a radio on-hand in survival situations is essential to survival preparedness. It is important to stay up to date on what is going on around in the world during a crisis.

2. Emergency Siren-Make sure you survival preparedness flashlight has siren capabilities so you can alert others of your location and let them know you need help.

3. Cell phone charging capabilities-Many flashlights have cell-phone charging capabilities giving you an emergency source of power for your cell-phone.

4. Renewable source of energy-Survival preparedness flashlights should have a renewable source of energy such as cranking, squeezing or shaking. Do not rely on batteries to power your flashlight. Once the battery is gone you are in the dark.

5. Durable-Be sure to acquire a survival preparedness flashlight that is durable and can withstand abuse as you do not know how severe a survival situation will be.

6. Multiple bulbs-Having multiple bulbs in the flashlight will ensure that if a bulb goes out you will still have light in survival situations.

7. Waterproof-Many emergencies happen in water or in wet weather. Emergency flashlights must be waterproof.

8. Brightness-Be sure your emergency flashlight gives off enough light to see into the distance, not just a few feet in front of you.

9. Misc features-Emergency flashlights come with many miscellaneous features today such as an internal magnet for easy attachment to objects, cutters, etc.

Ensure complete survival preparedness with a reliable multi-function survival flashlight. Do not trust cheap or simple flashlights to meet your needs in survival situations. Survival preparedness is doing everything possible to be the most prepared you can be.

10 Ways to Keep Warm Using Survival Preparedness

Survival preparedness is not complete without the proper survival equipment to keep you warm in survival situations. Plan on experiencing any weather condition when working on survival preparedness. Knowing how to keep yourself warm and having the right survival gear will increase your chances of survival and keep your morale high.

1. Layers of clothing-Put on as many layers of clothing as you need to keep warm. Remember that putting too many layers on will cause you to sweat so use discretion. Sweat cools down and will make you colder than you would have been without putting on the layers.

2. Insulated clothing-Wool and thermal clothing are the best insulators. Keep some insulated clothing in your survival preparedness kit.

3. Fire-If you are able to light a fire it can save your life. It is also useful for cooking, signaling for help, and keeping wild animals away.

4. Another person-Share body heat with someone else by huddling close together. This conserves body heat and increases your chances of survival.

5. Body warmers-Body warmers are a great source of quick and easy heat. They do not last long so have multiple body warmers in your survival preparedness kit.

6. Emergency Blanket-Many emergency blankets are available today that are lightweight and durable. Find a dependable emergency blanket for your survival preparedness kit.

7. Sleeping bag-Lightweight sleeping bags are available that will keep you warm in very low temperatures. Check the temperature range of any sleeping bag before you buy it.

8. Shelter out of the elements-Find shelter that protects you from the elements. Remember that staying in a shelter may decrease the chances of help being able to find you.

9. Exercise-Moving your arms and legs helps the blood flow and keeps you warm. Keep in mind that when you use this method to stay warm, you are using precious energy.

10. Heating device-Heating devices available today use a variety of energy sources. Select the heating device with the energy source that works best for you.

How Much Survival Food Do I Need?

Even though the human body can go about a week without food, you’re odds of survival are much greater if you don’t have to go without food for even one day. Survival preparedness includes having enough survival food to last you through 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 survival food is an essential part of survival preparedness because it allows you to stay focused, healthy and gives you the energy you need to survive.

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

Another tip for choosing survival food is you should acquire survival food that will last for years without spoiling. This is important because you may go a few years without needing the survival food, and it can easily be forgotten. Review your survival food and your survival preparedness kit often to make sure that no food has spoiled and replenish any food that has been spoiled or used. Keep your survival preparedness food supply as full and edible as you possibly can so you are always ready for emergencies.

A good option for survival food is high-calorie food bars. These bars are very high in calories for their size and are very lightweight. Also, they are very affordable, just a few dollars for a pack of six bars that can be stored up to 5 years. 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 survival food.

Survival Preparedness for the Classroom

Children spend most of their day in school. Children are just as likely to experience an emergency at school as at home. Survival preparedness is a necessity in the classroom to be sure that students are safe and will be taken care of in emergencies.

The first step in achieving survival preparedness in the classroom is having a school emergency plan. This plan should include how to recognize an emergency situationThis 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. Every school emergency plan should also include emergency contacts for each student.

Once the emergency plan is completed, students need to be educated on that 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 same training as the other students.

It is important to remember that students (children) become frightened easily and cannot take care of themselves in a survival situation in the same way adults can. Teachers and other education staff must understand their role in the school emergency plan to ensure the safety of all the students and themselves.

Another key part of survival preparedness for the classroom is a classroom survival kit. These kits can be purchased online and can support up to 30 to 50 people. Such school survival kits include survival food and water, survival tools, hygiene and sanitation supplies and first aid. Each classroom should have enough survival 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 of the students so they do not tamper with the kits. Survival preparedness for the class is possible with the proper time, training and survival gear. Students deserve a safe place to study and parents deserve to know that their children are in good hands at school.

Survival Preparedness Communication Tools and Tips

Communication in survival situations is essential to proper survival preparedness. Being able to communicate in survival situations may mean the difference between injury and safety, or even life and death. Survival communication is useful in a variety of survival 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.Survival preparedness communication is especially useful in survival situations where the urgency is high, such as situations where someone has been injured.

Survival preparedness is having the right survival 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.

So what communicate tool options are there and how do they work? Multiple survival communication tool options exist ranging from inexpensive to expensive and effective and ineffective. To make this article the most useful to you, we will discuss only the useful communication tools. The easiest 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 is also useful.

Remember that green plant material will produce black smoke and will be more visible than white smoke. The downside to making a fire is that it uses precious fuel, which is a problem if you have limited survival supplies.

Another simple technique for survival communication is to make a symbol 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 survival preparedness 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 survival preparedness 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. Survival preparedness is not complete with have the skills and tools to contact others and get the help you need to survive.

Survival Preparedness for the Car

Survival preparedness should be achieved in all areas of life wherever we spend a significant amount of time each day. Since much of our day each day is spent in a car, it makes sense to work on survival preparedness for the time we are in the car as well as at home.

Multiple hazards are associated with automobiles, making your car a target for survival preparedness. You may have an accident and there is nobody on the scene and you must wait for emergency response personnel. Your car may break down, leaving you stranded if you cannot communicate with anybody. In a blizzard bad rainstorm, you may not have the visibility you need to drive safely, forcing you to pull over and wait out the storm.

Survival preparedness kits should be customized to suit your needs while you are in the car. Be sure to include an emergency blanket, survival food and water, warm clothing and a complete survival first aid kit. Body warmers are an excellent addition to your car survival kit to provide warmth as you will not want to light a fire inside of your car. 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 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 survival preparedness items you may need in an emergency so store enough of these items for yourself and a couple others.

Review the contents of your survival preparedness kit often to replenish any used or spoiled 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.

Survival preparedness kits come in many different sizes and can fit almost anywhere. Keep in mind that the more the put in your survival kit, the more prepared you will be. If you get a small survival kit that will fit into the glove compartment for convenience, then you will not be very prepared.

Car survival preparedness 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 a 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 survival preparedness kit in your car, make sure it is easily accessible in all potential survival situations.

Teach Children About Survival Preparedness

Children cannot fend for themselves in a survival situation as well as adults. They need instruction to keep themselves safe and healthy. Survival preparedness for your family includes training your family, even the children, about what to do in case of an emergency.

A good place to start with survival preparedness for children is making an emergency plan for your family. A good survival preparedness emergency plan will have multiple escape roots 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. Explain the plan with your children and make sure they understand what to do in survival situations. Go over the emergency plan with them often so the information is fresh and well-learned, maximizing their survival preparedness.

Survival preparedness for children can be easy with a children’s survival kit. These kits can be purchased 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. Survival preparedness kits for children should be customized for their specific needs. Items such as medication and medical devices should be included as well to make sure the child will be taken care of properly in an emergency. Most survival preparedness kits sold online today include simple entertainment items that will help your child stay occupied in survival situations.

Another important step to take for survival preparedness for children is to become educated and prepare yourself for care of children in an 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 survival preparedness. Properly preparing your children will help you feel more prepared and achieve survival preparedness, not just for you but for your entire family as well.

Survival Preparedness Everywhere

Survival preparedness 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 survival preparedness is that you cannot predict with accuracy when or where an emergency will happen. Survival preparedness provides you with peace of mind knowing that no matter what the emergency is or when or where it occurs you are prepared and can survive.

All areas of the world are vulnerable to some form of disaster and therefore require survival preparedness. Below is a list of potential disasters 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

Many resources are available online that can provide you with disaster information and survival preparedness tips for your particular area so you may customize survival preparedness according to the potential emergencies that are more probable for your area. Maps and specific disaster information are provided at www.fema.gov along with other useful information to achieve survival preparedness. You cannot trust that your area is secure enough that you do not need survival preparedness.

10 Things to Put in a Survival Preparedness Hygiene Kit

Hygiene and sanitation are important components of survival preparedness. By not keeping yourself and your surroundings clean, you increase your risk of getting sick and getting infections, decreasing your odds of survival.

Conditions in a survival situation will probably be unsanitary. Pathogens can be found on any surface, and more so in a disaster where your surroundings may have become more dirty than usual. It is easy to forget to clean surfaces when you when you are in a hurry or panicked. In survival situations, the small things that keep you from being sick are often overlooked. Be prepared for those conditions with a survival preparedness hygiene kit.

Survival preparedness hygiene kits are inexpensive and easy to acquire. Customize your survival preparedness hygiene kit for your own needs and the needs of your family. Be sure to acquire a separate survival preparedness hygiene kit for each member of your family, as sharing hygiene kits may spread sicknesses. Hygiene kits can be assembled yourself or can be purchased and are very affordable. Keep your hygiene kits with or in your survival preparedness kits. Keeping clean can also help morale in survival situations.

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 Survival Preparedness

Nobody knows when and where you will need survival preparedness. Natural disasters, civil unrest, fires, pandemics, war and many other factors all contribute to the probability of you experiencing a survival situation.

Trying to predict exactly when and where you will need survival preparedness is impossible. Your efforts are best spent preparing yourself with survival preparedness. Once you are prepared for disasters, you can take comfort in knowing that you have done everything possible through survival preparedness to increase your chances of survival and overcome survival situations.

10 reasons you need survival preparedness-

1. Emergency personnel may not be available-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 good water sources-Water sources can easily become contaminated or there could be a drought. Survival preparedness includes water storage. It also includes methods of water gathering and water treatment.

3. Limited food supply-Food can become scarce due to disease, famine or economic conditions. Survival preparedness 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. Survival preparedness includes having survival shelters such as tents and knowing a location that will provide shelter.

5. Evacuation-Evacuation can occur at any moment. Survival preparedness includes having a survival preparedness kit that you can grab quickly and evacuate.

6. Injuries-Injuries can be life-threatening. Survival preparedness includes first aid and training.

7. Sickness-Sicknesses can be scary. Survival preparedness includes first aid and medications.

8. Natural disasters-Weather and nature can be dangerous. Survival preparedness 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. Survival preparedness includes knowing how to defend yourself 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. Survival preparedness includes knowing survival skills and knowing how to keep morale high.

Change How You See Survival Preparedness With Light

Thinking ahead is the first step in survival preparedness . Survival preparedness kits, emergency plans and survival preparedness training all help to prepare you for the worst, and being able to taking advantage of these preparations in an survival situation depends on one thing-LIGHT.

Light has many, many uses in survival situations and by no means should be overlooked when working on survival preparedness. Survival preparedness can be needed at any time and you are just as likely to use survival preparedness during the night as during the day.

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

1. Morale-Being able to light up an emergency situation can help you overcome feelings of depression and hopelessness, increasing morale and will to survive.

2. Avoid injuries-Not having good visibility can cause injuries if you need to move around. Light up your surroundings and avoid injuries with a dependable light source.

3. Treat injuries-Low visibility makes administering first aid and medical attention properly difficult. Ensure you are able to treat your injuries and those of others by having light on-hand to able to see the problem to treat it properly.

4. Communication/get help-Light is an excellent way to communicate for help. Light alerts others and shows them your location.

5. Look for food/shelter-Food and shelter can be impossible to find when visibility is low, even though they may be just a few yards away. Light will help you find them quickly and safely.

6. Tools-Survival tools are difficult to use efficiently and properly with enough light. Be prepared with reliable light sources to get the job done. Good visibility while using tools will reduce injuries and damage tools as well.

7. Cooking-Light can help you cook your food thoroughly and properly. Also light helps you cook and eat fast, which can be helpful if you are in a hurry.

When making lights a part of your survival preparedness, 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.

Also, when choosing light sources for survival preparedness, keep in mind that electricity may not be available in survival 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 survival preparedness light sources should be waterproof as well.

Keep Morale High in Survival Situations

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

The most important thing you can do for survival preparedness and to prepare emotionally for emergencies is to prepare yourselves beforehand by having the appropriate survival preparedness supplies and emergency plans. When a disaster strikes, the peace of mind you will have by having a plan to follow and survival preparedness 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 a survival preparedness 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 survival situations.

When you find yourself in a 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. A positive attitude and determination are crucial to survival preparedness. 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 learn how relieve stress and boost morale for survival preparedness. Be sure you plan beforehand and talk about things to do to boost morale in survival situations with your family. Knowing how to handle emergencies before they happen will help you achieve survival preparedness and could mean the difference between life and death.

Ways to Treat Water for Survival Preparedness

Untreated water carries many hazards making water purification a key point for survival preparedness. Wide varieties of disease-causing agents such as bacteria, viruses and impurities are found in untreated water. These dangers include cholera, amoebas, bacteria and other parasites, dysentery, coli poisoning, giardia, schitzomonasis, diphtheria, hepatitis, typhus, and the list goes on. Proper water treatment techniques are important to know for survival preparedness to keep you healthy in an emergency when you need to be at your best.

Knowing these dangers exist in untreated water, what can you do to disinfect water and achieve survival preparedness? 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 water to drink unless it is absolutely necessary for survival preparedness.

Treatable water for survival preparedness can found around the house in a variety of locations 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 general rule, running water is usually cleaner than still water. Before attempting to treat any water, making sure it looks clear to the eye is the first step. If the water is cloudy, 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 treat and make it drinkable-

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-boiling 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 good judgment when deciding if boiling water is the right water-treating action for you. Water will be warm after boiling so pour water back and forth into two containers to cool it down and to 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-Like 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 in stores 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. Like 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 bleach-to-water proportions, 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.

Survival preparedness information used in this article was obtained from the author of SurvivalPreparedness911.com, EPA.gov and SurvivalTopics.com.

How to Prevent and Treat Hypothermia

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 a list of hypothermia symptoms to be aware of-

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

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

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?

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

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?

Many inexpensive first aid kits are so simple that they are only a small addition to survival preparedness. 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 survival preparedness as sanitizing products, bandages and tape, a first aid guide, splints, medicine, and lotions such as sunscreen and lip ointment. Many complete survival preparedness 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. Be sure to at least meet survival preparedness standards when adding items to the kit.
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 survival preparedness. 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 survival 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. Survival preparedness should be considered in all aspects of your daily life.
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. Be sure to keep up on survival preparedness tasks.
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

After including the above items in your first aid kit, remember to customize your first aid kit for your own needs.

Do You Have an Emergency Plan?

Nobody can predict emergencies, but everyone can be prepared for them. Having an emergency plan is an inexpensive part of survival preparedness.
Review how to recognize 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. Education is crucial to survival preparedness.
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 survival preparedness supplies such as survival preparedness kits (72-hour kits) that may be grabbed in a hurry and carried out the door. Commercial survival preparedness kits include all necessary personal and first aid items one would need for temporary use in emergencies. Survival preparedness kits are inexpensive and may be purchased online. Be sure to have enough survival 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 help you achieve survival preparedness.

Help Your College Student Achieve Survival Preparedness

How do we prepare our children for emergencies and help them achieve 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 and are educated in survival preparedness 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 survival preparedness and can be kept close at hand.
An survival 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 survival preparedness kits when their cell phones, cars or credit cards cannot function usefully.
A complete survival preparedness kit includes food and water, lights, communication, shelter, tools, hygiene, sanitation, first aid, entertainment and other miscellaneous items.
One fully-equipped survival 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.
Survival preparedness kits can be purchased online or self-assembled. The cost of building a survival preparedness kit can be inexpensive, but it will not contain the same quantity, variety or quality of items as those provided in preassembled survival preparedness kits sold online for a similar price.

Survival Preparedness Kit Q&A

Q: What is the cost difference between buying an survival 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 preparedness kits contain many items that cost-wise can add up quickly. Due to wholesale discounts that are available to many online retailers, preassembled survival preparedness 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 preparedness kit can be utilized in any type of emergency. Experts have determined what items and how much of an item will be necessary in an survival preparedness kits. 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 preparedness 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 survival preparedness 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 preparedness kit and are not sold separately. Also, preassembled survival preparedness kits contain items that are sized to easily fit into a survival preparedness backpack. Items in a preassembled kit are also quantized for a specific time period.

Districts get grants for preparedness
07/14/2009 08:13:11 AM MDT

Four Utah school districts and one charter school will get nearly $1 million to help them prepare for emergencies such as outbreaks of H1N1 swine flu virus.
The Provo, Tooele, Washington and Uintah school districts and Providence Hall charter school in Herriman will get the money -- anywhere from $99,387 to $249,822 each -- from the U.S. Department of Education. They will use the grants to improve emergency management plans, which all school districts are required to have.
The plans detail how schools can prepare for and handle emergencies ranging from fires to natural disasters to widespread illnesses. "It's not a matter of if, but when," said Jon Hagen, Providence Hall grant administrator.
Greg Hudnall, Provo director of student services, said Provo will use the money to further train principals and school teams how to handle emergencies as well as work with the county health department to develop a more detailed plan for the H1N1 virus.
He said the district already has policies in place for handling outbreaks of illness, but the district wants to add more details about procedures. For example, if a teacher is out with H1N1 flu, how long should that teacher stay out? Should the teacher have to present a doctor's note to return? What should happen if children contract the virus on extended school trips?
"The swine flu is so unique and different and new," Hudnall said. "Every time we turn around, there's a new question being asked."
Providence Hall's Hagen said his school will likely use the money to better prepare for emergencies and to train other charter schools how to beef up their emergency plans. "With the funding, we can help other charter schools write plans for things such as swine flu or other diseases they may not have robust plans for currently," Hagen said.
The Washington School District probably will use the money to pay teachers and other staff to take on more training for handling emergencies, including H1N1 flu. It will also likely go toward buying materials, such as emergency preparedness kits for schools and classrooms, said Richard Holmes, Washington district executive director for curriculum and instruction.
He said now PTAs and PTOs help provide such kits for classrooms, but not all classrooms have them. "This grant helps with things like that because those are things we don't have a budget for," Holmes said.
Nationwide, 108 school districts will receive grant money. The grants are intended to be used for plans that address prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
-Lisa Schencker
The Salt Lake Tribune

Getting Started in Survival Preparedness

Survival 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 achieve survival preparedness, 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 a survival preparedness kit. Survival 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 preparedness kit is that they are portable. Easily fitting into a backpack, survival kits can be stored anywhere and can be grabbed on-the-go in case of an urgent emergency. Keeping a survival 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 some survival preparedness kits and get started today because tomorrow may bring some surprises and you will be glad you are prepared!

How Much Water do I Need?

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

Finding Peace of Mind in Survival Preparedness

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 achieve survival preparedness. For example, having a survival preparedness kit in your home or car is an easy and affordable precaution to take. Survival preparedness kits can be found with a complete supply of survival gear. The US Department of Homeland Security (www.ready.gov) has outlined a list of items that should be included in survival preparedness 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

After including the above items in your survival preparedness kit, be sure to customize the kit to your own needs.

"Swine Flu"

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 survival 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. Attached is a video that talks about the symptoms of swine flu and what to watch for to keep you and your family safe.

Be Informed About Survival Preparedness

Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an survival preparedness 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. Survival 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, survival 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.

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