Posts Tagged ‘survival’

Disaster Bags Offer High Residual Value

Thursday, March 11th, 2010

Have you considered buying or constructing your own survival bag? The easiest way to get started is to purchase a complete bag, but this might seem too expensive. The second option is to construct your own, using existing household items.

The cost to create a kit or bag can seem much like insurance. You spend money periodically to maintain a level of protection. If you never have an accident, or in this case a disaster, you get nothing for the money you spent. This is not true for survival supplies since they do retain value, even after an extended period.

Consider the cost of a single person survival bag. It contains food bars, packaged water, heat sources, personal shelter, fire starters, basic communication items, multiple light sources, basic first aid & hygiene with a few additional tools. This is all packaged into a storage bag or bckpack. The average cost is sixty dollars per bag.

Of the items that are in your survival bag, only a few need to be periodically replaced after a few years to retain their future usefulness. The food and water, fire starters, batteries and some of the first aid items will need to be replaced at a cost of approximately twenty dollars. This cost is pretty low to “refresh” your kit. Remember, before you trash these items, most of these can now be used in daily life. This reuse helps recover some of the initial or replacement cost.

Now this is just an example of a very basic survival bag and the related cost, but the same would hold true on larger, more detailed survival bags. The key to reducing and recovering some of the initial cost is to replace the items before they become unusable. Many of the items that require rotation will have a date printed on them to help you keep up with this task.

No matter if you purchase a survival bag or create your own, you should start collecting your preparedness supplies today.

Get more free tips for your disaster bag by visiting Bill Montgomery’s site. You can also find the required basics of emergency preparedness in the related articles.

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72 Hour Kits for Family Preparedness

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Why do you need a home survival bag? You need it for the unexpected events in life. You might not think that you live in an area that has the potential to put you in a survival situation, but you might be wrong. We live near Dallas, Texas and as I write this, my yard is full of snow. Not just a little, but the most snow ever recorded. Currently there is over nine inches and it is still falling.

If I was to have a power loss, I would quickly find that the house was quickly getting cold. Since my stove is electric and the stack of firewood outside only has a few pieces left, things are going to get cold. Even if you have gas heating, you wouldn\’t have the electric fan to circulate the warm air. This inconvenience is now becoming a real problem.

It\’s cold outside and my house provides the shelter I need. Having the items I need to survive the next few days could make the difference between an inconvenience and a real disaster. Having a survival kit for emergencies like this allows me to concentrate on the basics without having to search for the tools and supplies I need. Some of the basic items I keep in my kit are listed below.

Water – Two liters per person per day is the recommended minimum amount to have available. Assuming that the running water has stopped because of the power outage, your choices could become limited. Having bottled water is a good option if you remember to rotate it occasionally and have enough stored. There are also other types of packaged water that are designed for years of storage with an expiration date printed on them. You might consider melting the snow, but contamination could be a problem.

Food – This is needed to keep our energy up, help us stay warm and remain emotional sound. Canned food is great as long as you don\’t have to rely on an electric can opener. Do you have foods that don\’t require cooking? I have two teen age boys and it seems like we are always out of food. Consider some foods that are packaged with a long shelf life. I keep some MRE and freeze-dried foods in my survival kit. With the optional heater kits, these can be ready to provide a warm meal in just a few minutes.

Shelter – If you are staying in your house like I am, make sure you have enough blankets or sleeping bags available. You need to consider the fact that there might not be any heat and family members might need more than one. Considering placing these items in a easily accessible area or alongside your bag

Tools – You might have a garage full of tools, but do they work if the power is out? I suggest keeping the following in your bag. A multi-tool can be a great asset for opening food and other tasks. Include a couple flashlights that use batteries or a crank for power. Candles or glowsticks are also helpful at night, especially if you have children who are afraid of the dark. A portable radio or walkie-talkies with a built-in weather channel are great for news and weather alerts. Matches, lighters or other firestarters can be used for cooking, lighting and building a fire. Lastly, keep some paper and a pencil available for taking notes or leaving a message.

Remember to assemble these items in a box, bag or other type of container that can be stored in an accessible area and resist the urge to borrow from it. Although this is a very basic list, I hope it helps you think about those items you might need based on your specific needs. You probably have most, if not all the items you need. A little preparedness planning now could really make life easier during an unexpected event.

Discover more about the items you need in case of a disaster now! There are several provisions required for a preparedness kit to be effective. Having a disaster kit can protect you and your family in case of a disaster!

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Can You Be Sure You Have The Right Smoke Alarms Installed To Protect Your Family

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

If you\’ve been thinking about installing smoke alarms in your family home and are finding it hard to work out which device is suitable, you\’re one of the many people who feel a little lost. Given there are such a wide variety of smoke detectors on the market today, let\’s break all of them down into two categories to simplify the decision. The first is known as an ionization smoke alarm and the other is a photoelectric smoke alarm.

If this is still sounding a little confusing, allow me to explain the differences of each device to you and how they work. If you\’re to make an informed decision when purchasing such items, you\’ll want to know it\’s the right device for you to purchase for your family home.

A great analogy for the way in which an ionization smoke alarm works is the same way in which your sense of smell functions. The device tests and detects the presence of smoke particles in the air. Ideally, these kinds of smoke detectors are suitable for industrial areas where fires ignite due to chemicals or explosive materials. Many people have made the mistake of installing these kinds of alarms within their home, either not knowing or flat out ignoring the advice to do otherwise. Because fires within the home ignite in a different manner to industrial ones, this has left many people at risk of injury or death due to insufficient detection.

Let\’s now look at the way photoelectric smoke alarms work. Using a similar analogy as the previous paragraph, a photoelectric smoke alarm is similar to your eyes. As an optical device, it scans the room looking for the presence of fire and smoke.

Inside each and every photoelectric smoke alarm lies a light emitting diode which it uses to look for the presence of smoke. Because it does this 24/7, it will alarm you to the fact a fire danger is present within your home if smoke is present. They\’re the most effective smoke alarm for the home or small office. Given the large majority of fires that occur within small offices or the home produce a lot of smoke, it makes perfect sense to install a photoelectric smoke alarm instead of an ionization model.

Knowledge is power and now that you have the knowledge of which smoke alarm is best for your home, it\’s time to act and install the right device. I\’d like to mention one last thing. Many people have often lamented about not being able to install both types of devices in the home. Well, now there are dual ionization-photoelectric smoke alarms on the market.

These devices utilize both methods of detection and because of that, they are a little more costly than a singular device. Having said that, if the cost is a non-issue for you, they\’re a great item to purchase. If value for money is a larger consideration, opt for the photoelectric smoke alarm over the ionization type. Photoelectric smoke alarms are far better in the detection of fire in your home, ionization smoke alarms are known to have a much higher failure rate which could put you at risk.

Starting now, you can take action to better protect your family against fire. The first action is to visit the photoelectric smoke alarm website to get started.

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Why Do We Need Survival Packs

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Survival packs can be bought pre-made or you can make your own. It will not matter which one you have as long as there is one for you to use. Survival packs often mean the difference between survival and death. When buying a pre-made survival pack there are many to choose from. You can purchase a survival pack for one, two, or four people. You can buy a fanny pack or a back pack depending on how large or small you want it to be.

If there is an emergency it is important that you have all the contents you will need to keep you and your family alive. First of all, space for your survival pack will be limited so do not over do it, but you want to be sure you have all the essential survival gear you will need. It may be a good idea to make a check list before starting on making your survival packs.

Your survival pack should be easy to carry so that you are not easily tempted to live not take it with you. A disaster can strike at any time and you will need to be prepared. Being mentally prepared when a disaster strikes is the most important thing you can do. You do not put this in a survival pack but it will keep you alive just as much as food will. Everyone needs first aid and survival knowledge. Research these things and learn everything you can.

If anyone in the family takes prescription medicine or wears glasses you may want to consider having extra in the survival pack. Most doctors will agree to give you an extra prescription or sample packets if the medicine is something you can not be without.

Find a bag you can carry comfortably. Your bag should be large enough to carry your kit but not too large. You will also need to decide if you want this bag to be waterproof. I will list several essential survival pack contents. You will need to determine which ones you want in your pack.

A first aid kit is an essential part of survival. If your first aid kit is not water proof you may want to put it in a Ziploc bag to keep it safe. You may even choose to put most of your gear in Ziploc bags to protect it from the weather. Adhesive bandages of various sizes, roll of gauze, tape, antibiotic ointment, suture set, and a bottle of aspirin are a very good start to your survival pack. Your first aid kit may have some of these things, so be sure to check it. You do not need duplicate things; it will just take up room.

A Swiss army knife, flint rod, compass, and handheld can opener are also good to add to your pack. These things could come in handy in several situations. A snake bite kit and tablets to purify your water are also very good ideas. You can boil your water for ten minutes and it will be safe for drinking if you do not want to add the water purification tablets.

Having a disposable lighter in your survival packs is a smart thing to do. Some people even feel the need to add fishing equipment such as fishing line, hooks, and lures. You will also want to add bottled water, food, and a flashlight. These are all very important. You need to be aware of any expiration dates. You will also need to make survival packs for different situations. If you are going camping make one for that. You should also have a survival pack at home in case of natural disaster. Keeping a survival pack in your car is a good idea too.

When emergency strikes, it’s too late to locate the things you want in one place. Make sure you’re prepared for the unexpected with a survival pack. Don’t be left unprepared again!

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The Best Survival Supplies For An Outdoor Expedition

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

If you are planning to spend any amount of time in the wilderness then you are going to need a comprehensive list of survival supplies to take with you. These should enable you to cope with any situation or eventuality that may arise. The actual items will vary depending upon the environment you will be in, the time of year and season, as well as your skill level and experience.

Before you set off you should also arm yourself with a degree of knowledge relating to how to start a fire, build a shelter, as well as understanding about wilderness foods and how to trap game and fish. This information cannot be bought and stored in your rucksack!

The essential supplies that you should carry are as follows -

1. Knife: A strong sturdy knife is one of the most important survival items. You could use a penknife or a non-folding type. They can be used in food preparation, to gather and fix shelter materials, and also to help make fire.

2. Water Purification: It can take a long time to boil water so that it is safe to drink. It is far more convenient to have water purification tablets. You should always think that any water you come across is not clean to drink in its natural form; there may be bacteria that are invisible to the naked eye.

3. Blanket: Even if you build a great shelter then there is every chance it is going to get cold during the night, so it is important to have a good blanket with you. If you get very cold your body may become hypothermic. You should carry either an emergency metallic blanket or a woollen variety.

4. Lighter: Being able to light a fire is one of the main keys to surviving in the wild. To be able to do this you should have a couple of lighters safely tucked away in your rucksack. Fire will enable you to dry out any wet items, stay warm, cook food, and will prevent any animals from getting to close to your camp.

5. Matches: It makes good sense to carry more than one fire lighting tool. A lighter may break or run out of gas. You should always have a box of matches with you as a reserve.

6. Compass and Map: Even if you think that you have great navigation skills the weather may become foggy and overcast which will make the task very difficult.

7. First Aid Kit: Any outdoor enthusiast knows that a first aid kit is fundamental. This should include important medications that you take as well as items that can help you if you get sick or have an accident.

8. Flashlight: It may occur that dusk arrives before you have made a shelter or built a fire. Therefore having a flashlight or head torch can be a godsend. You also need to have spare batteries and bulbs. A flashlight can also be used to signal to others in an emergency.

9. Sealable Bottle/Container: To be able to collect water you will need to carry a metal or plastic bottle. This is also handy for storing smaller items when not being used.

10. Cord: A good length of cord can be put to may uses. It will help to strengthen a shelter or bundle firewood together.

Purchasing your survival supplies should be very important. After all it could be your life that you are putting at risk. Get the best quality supplies by heading to http://www.1800prepare.com now!

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