7 Affordable Gifts You Can Get Your Prepper for Christmas

christmasLooking for unique prepper stocking stuffers?

If you’re after regular gift options you can find everywhere else, this may not be the gift idea list for you.

You won’t find pocket knives, paracord bracelets, waterproof matches, or flashlights here.

About this time of year, there’s an innate desire within us to gift something unique.

Perhaps, something you haven’t thought of before.

Hopefully, we can help inspire you with some new gift ideas that your prepper can add to their arsenal.

Toilet Paper Tablets

When we first saw these, we couldn’t have been more excited to share them as a gift idea.  They’re cheap, small, chemical-free, and they’re simply brilliant.

  • Add water
  • It expands
  • Open it up
  • It dries

You instantly have emergency toilet paper, a make-shift diaper, or even a fire starter.

They’re perfect for disaster situations, hunting, camping, the bug-out bag, etc.  It might be a good time to upgrade your survival kits with these convenient, space-saving tablets and leave the toilet rolls for the bathroom.

Adventure Medical Advanced Clotting Sponges

The thing about preppers, they prep for everything as much as possible, and this includes medical supplies.  These newly, redesigned sponges have moved away from using exposed powder on wounds to using a hemostatic sponge that holds zeolite beads.

The idea is to soak up water molecules from blood and leave behind blood platelets and plasma that work to clot the wound up to three times faster than the body’s natural process alone.  Beef up your prepper’s medical supplies with the latest life-saving supplies while sticking to your budget.

Game Stockpile

Sometimes we get too distracted by the physical priorities of prepping that we may neglect supplies that help to ensure our mental and emotional survival.  If you have the space or just a bookshelf to spare, make room for some games.

Survival-themed games and cards are plenty.  But, I can tell you from experience, you can quickly fill this available space with cheap options from a thrift store with board and card games, coloring books for both kids and adults, and vintage classic toys like Legos and blocks.  $20 can go a long way when you’re stretching the dollar while building your stockpile.

Traction Cleats

This is another space-saving and convenient supply to add to your list of stocking stuffers.

The thing about emergency situations is you can never be quite sure where you’ll be when it will happen, or where you’ll find yourself.

Traction cleats will help give your prepper a sense of security of sure footedness.  Accidents, trips, and falls can quickly change a situation from bad to worse and then life-threatening.

Equipping your mobility with a sense of security may make all the difference in an emergency.

Gun Magnets

If your prepper has an arsenal of firearms, you may want to consider gun magnet mounts.  Hidden gun compartments and shelves can get expensive if you’re not particularly handy with tools, although we’re sure you can figure it out how to build one yourself.

For an instant fix to hiding your firearms in places that provide quick access, a gun magnet set is definitely a unique gift idea.  Here is a list of unique presents for a gun lover you might want to look over as well.

Binoculars

We all know optics play an important role in being prepared for your survival in many different scenarios.  So, I don’t think we need to get too much into its benefits here.

Also, it doesn’t mean you have to spend hundreds of dollars to land a quality bino for your prepper.

You can spend less than $100 and still see brand name manufacturers like Nikon, Vortex, and Celestron.

However, these gift ideas aren’t just for the prepper, these are some unique gift ideas for the hunter as well.

Bonus: Honorable Gift Mention

Berkey Water Filter

Okay, so this gift idea isn’t technically on the affordable end of the spectrum, but it’s so deserving of a mention.  A Berkey water filter is an excellent gift because it can be used for everyday use and not just for when the SHTF.

How would I know?  I have one.  It sits on the counter, and it provides peace of mind knowing that it’ll be there to provide some of the cleanest drinking water not only for prepper situations, but for everyday life.  Granted, filters may be considered high-maintenance parts as Dave mentions here.

Having the Big or Royal Berkey may not be affordable at this point.  If you prefer to equip your prepper with some bug-out bag upgrades, the Sport and Go Berkey may be the “right-now” solution.

Alternative Gift Ideas

Sometimes, gifts for a prepper or a prepper family can go beyond a physical present.  Here are some ideas that can mean the world to that special person:

  • Offer to help your prepper on a special project. A lot of the time, prepping is time-consuming, and a lot of it is done alone.  Get the kids involved and build bug-out bags together, practice using your prepper gear, or spend a night without electricity and running water and improvise on what you can do in a real-time emergency.
  • Babysit for free for your prepper spouse, family, or friends. They may need some productive time to shop for or pick up supplies, work on a project, do some canning, or gardening.
  • Use your food storage. Baking goodies or cookies to give as a gift has been done for as long as humans have thought of others.  It gives you a chance to put your first-in-first-out method to use.  You can then refresh your stockpile once everything goes on sale after Christmas.

A Gift from the Heart

One of the most appreciated aspects of a prepper’s attitude is you can never have too much of anything.  Whether you’re gifting them another pack of MRE meals or another book on canning recipes, it’s always appreciated because extra knowledge and supplies never get old.

But, beyond that, a thoughtful gift has a lot more meaning than how much it costs.  Looking for a unique way to stretch the budget while giving something meaningful is a win-win.

8 Basic Rules Of Safety During Reloading Your Own Ammo

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Are you scared of reloading your own ammo? Well, there are reasons why you should be. By dint of internet, you may already be aware of the massacre a wrong step while reloading the ammo can create. There are pictures and videos of handgun explosions or peeled barrels waving on the internet.

To say the very truth, the modern reloading process of ammo is much more dangerous than it was back in the 1800s.  Reloading ammo was simple and almost a danger-free endeavor then. It was as easy as it could be done in the camp at night or even on the battlefield between the shots.

However, today, even a small mistake while operating the metallic cartridges can lead to very dangerous situations.

It’s a good thing that now you are aware of the dangers associated with reloading ammo. But don’t allow these make you too scared that you kill your potentials to be a would-be hand loader. Where there are risks, there are also ways to avoid them. Today we’re going to discuss the basic safety rules during reloading the ammo.

Follow the Manual

Though reloading ammunition isn’t difficult, you must sequentially follow certain steps. So it’s always wise to go through a manual first and memorize the instructions. You shouldn’t work even with a slight confusion. So the first thing to do is to collect a reliable reloading manual and go through it thoroughly.

Verify the Sources of Loading Data

Nowadays almost every powder and bullet company put their load data online. The talk forums also provide loading data. Too many to count. But the question is how much reliable they are.

Of course, you can trust the recipes found in a renowned company’s website. But you shouldn’t trust all the information that waves on the social media without verifying. So the data found from other than a reliable source, shouldn’t be considered in the first place.

Contact directly with a manufacturer or leave a question in the comment box. You can also compare with a good loading manual. You can do even neither. Don’t take the data into account.

Work With One Type at a Time

While you’re at the reloading bench, work with one set of the bullet, cartridge, primer, and powder. It’s because if you, by any chance, mismatch a component or overload, it may give rise to dangerous situations. For example, if you charge a 150-grain bullet in the place of a 120, you’ve already put yourself in danger.

Similarly loading a case with a powder different from the data will produce a loud noise as you trigger the gun. Working with more than one item at a time increases the chances of shuffling the quantities. So when you’re done with one powder, take it away from the bench. Then start working with a new one.

Wear Safety Glasses To Protect Your Eyes

The risk of eye damage is higher while working with primers. An unintentional blast can occur anytime while handling or seating bullets and primers. Though it may not risk your limb or life, damaging your vision is possible from a primer blast. So before anything happens to your eyesight, it’ll be wise to wear a glass when working on the reloading bench.

But it’s also important that you can see clearly with the glass while reloading. Prescription safety glass will give you the feel as if you’re wearing normal glasses. By ensuring your eye’s safety, they will also help you to see clearly.

Keep the Ammunition Separated

It’ll help you to test the loads on the range. The best way avoid mixing is to write the load specifies on them with a permanent black marker. Similarly, while working with different seating depths, write them on the case. The same goes for primers and powder charge. Keep records for loads. It’s better if you can make a list for different charge weight, primers.

Choose Top Quality Reloading Tools

Building high-quality ammunition requires high-quality equipment. Nowadays digital devices like scales, calipers, brass trimmers, dispensers are taking place of manual measurements. The results they give are quite satisfactory. But while buying them, make sure the brand is reliable.

Consider Using a Powder Check System

You have two options in this regard- visual and mechanical. The mechanical system is indeed a die system.

The visual system is adaptable only when the powder fills more than half of the case. If you forget to check the powder case whether it’s empty or not working, it’ll fail to avoid squib loads. Otherwise, a visual powder check system is the best reloading gear to spend money on. That’s why I recommend it for all practical reloading, especially progressive presses. Also, read the instruction before using it so that you can properly operate it.

Don’t Use Old Primers or Unknown Brands

The same goes for the powders. If you find any unmarked powder or old lose primers in the drawer don’t use them for building the ammunition. Just remember, the cartridges are the miniature of pipe bombs as you load them. Don’t endanger yourself and your surrounding by assembling unknown powders or primers.

Tips

  • Do reloading the ammo with full isolation and concentration. Set up the reloading bench so that nothing can distract you.
  • Don’t reload or test the load when a kid is around you or near the place.
  • Just because the manual listed a load as the maximum will be safe for your gun. The maximum load for one gun can be over pressure for other. So choose that suits your gun.
  • Keeping records of your previous good loading detail will help you to recreate it again. Keep hand notes or save notes in your laptop of the loads that goes well with your rifle. Also, record the development process.

Final Verdict

If you’re playing with bullets till today and your fingers and eyes are still protected, then you’re lucky. But luck may not favor you all the time.

So it’s time you followed all the safety rules to keep you and your dear ones safe.

From Fire Outbreaks To Earthquakes: Know How To Protect Yourself When Trapped Inside A Building

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Emergency situations can arise anytime, anywhere! The worst place to get stuck in an emergency situation, like a fire outbreak or earthquake, is inside a building because unlike an open ground, the exit points are limited.

Yes, all buildings are required to have adequate safety codes to protect all the people inside the premises, like fire alarms, warning systems, and security systems, etc. There were over 1 million fires in the US in 2016, and over 12000 earthquakes occur every year around the globe; specifying the significance of foolproof evacuation plans and safety procedures.

During an emergency, the primary concern is panic. It is nearly impossible to control the crowd, which can enhance the damage further.

The safety procedure depends on the type of emergency, i.e., the evacuation procedure of a fire outbreak will be different from the safety procedure of an earthquake or in an active shooter situation. One should recognize the right path to ensure safety in an emergency situation.

Read ahead to learn about ways which will protect you and the people around you in severe emergency situations:

Keep Calm

As already mentioned above, panic is the worst enemy in an emergency. It is advisable to keep calm when you feel that you are in danger because it is difficult to think straight if you panic. Although it is easier said than done, you have to understand how important it is to act in the right way to protect yourself and the ones around you.

You have to assess all the options that are in front of you in case of a fire outbreak, earthquake or hijack situation, etcetera because running to the nearest exit is not always the correct step; sometimes, there are other options too. Think straight to know what you can do to minimize the expected damage.

Familiarize Yourself with the Safety Procedures and Routes

You must familiarize yourself with all the safety procedures and routes of your office building to make sure that in the event of an emergency, you can help yourself and others to exit the building unharmed. Every building has an evacuation plan and directions to take control of an emergency, like fire buttons for fire outbreaks, an evacuation route for earthquakes and other measures for similar situations. If you are visiting a building for the first time and you come across such a situation, you must follow the steps that the incident control officers are telling everyone to ensure safety. Don’t panic and run towards the exits because it might cause unnecessary chaos in the building and increase the damage.

Run Towards the Nearest Exit

The first thought that comes to mind in an emergency is to run towards the nearest exit, right? Even though it is mentioned several times above to avoid it, you must assess the situation and do it. Don’t just run towards the nearest door; take an informed decision to know how to exit the building in the fastest manner and run towards the gate that will ensure it. Sometimes the front entrance isn’t the quickest exit, so it is advisable to know your ground before you start running.

Don’t Be a Hero

Yes, you must protect the children and old people near you if you are stuck in an emergency situation; however, it is not always the correct step. You may slow down the evacuation by coming in between them and the incident control officers. It will help if you protect yourself before you start helping anyone else to make sure that you don’t put anyone else’s life in danger. Although you should act like a hero, i.e., be alert, be quick, be smart and be responsible, you should recognize a foolproof path before you help anyone else.

Don’t Be a Coward

An emergency situation is enough to showcase how noble you or anyone else is. If you are one of the incident control officers or a regular in that building, you must take responsibility of everyone trapped in it with you, i.e., help them exit the building unharmed. Not everyone will be familiar with the evacuation procedures, so you should keep your calm and guide them towards safety to minimize severe outcomes. Don’t be a coward, who runs away from his ethical duties!

It is not a Joke

No matter how brilliant your sense of humor is, you must never consider an emergency as a joke because it can put someone’s life in danger and you will be solely responsible for it. Don’t joke about fire outbreaks or any other emergency situation because it can cause panic, which can have adverse consequences. Similarly, in an emergency, you must not joke about anything at the assembly area, not even to calm down other because it may reduce the severity of the situation in their minds; making them careless towards the safety procedure. Keeping calm is essential, but being too laid back will have severe consequences.

Some Quick Tips On How To Protect Yourself When Trapped Inside A Building:

Fire Outbreaks

  1. Press the fire button
  2. Grab a fire extinguisher (near you), and try to minimize the intensity of the fire
  3. Run towards the nearest exit
  4. Close the doors behind you (if no one is behind you) to reduce the damage
  5. Call the authorities once you are outside the building

Earthquakes

  1. Press the warning system to alert everyone else
  2. Run towards the nearest exit
  3. If it is not possible to exit the building, take cover under a hard table to protect yourself from falling debris
  4. Call the authorities immediately if possible

Active Shooter

  1. Press the warning system to alert everyone else and call the security guards
  2. Run towards the nearest exit
  3. Hide, if you are unable to exit the building
  4. Fight if you have no other choice

Some safety steps are common in most emergencies because the approach is same, i.e., put yourself as far away from the situation as possible and make sure you don’t put anyone else’s life in danger.

Now that you are aware of the right safety steps don’t be afraid of an emergency. If you come across any, follow the correct procedure to ensure utmost safety and minimize the expected damage.

Zvelta LED Road Flares 6 Pack Review

 

This has not been my month, In the past 30 day’s I have used roadside assistance 4 times.  Breaking down on the side of the road isn’t so bad when it is just me in the car.  However, once it was my wife and son alone.  That worries me.

So, car preparedness was on my mind with Zvelta offered to let me do a review on their 6 pack of LED road flares.

This led kit is good quality.  I like how it came in a nice orange package that both held the flares and makes them easy to find while digging though your trunk.  The magnetic screwdriver is also a nice touch.

They say that the flashers send an ultrabright warning signal that is visible up to 1 mile away.  I did not walk a mile away from my car to test it.  But I did stick the flares to my car and was able to use the light to see.  At least enough to do emergency repairs like changing a tire.

Another thing I like about the Zvelta Emergency Flares is that each flashing safety puck has a Magnetic Base and also a Mounting Hook

PACKAGE CONTENTS

  • 6 x LED Road Flares
  • 1 x Storage Bag
  • 1 x Handy Screwdriver
  • 1 x Instructions Sheet

The only thing I did not like about this kit is that each flare needs 3 AAA batteries (total of 18) and they did not come with any.  That added a significant cost to the kit.  They do say that on the Amazon page, so it wasn’t a surprise.  Additionally, I believe that even with the cost of the batteries, the feeling of security I get knowing my wife has emergency flashers is worth it.