An Honest Evaluation Of Your Health Is Critical To Your Prepping Plans

Make Emergency Plans Based on You Actual Heath

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My husband Salty and I were riding our bikes along a trail one fine day when we came across a worried huddle at the side of the trail.  At the center of the huddle was a middle-aged man,  sitting hunched  and breathing in short gasps.  He was sweating far more profusely than the day called for and was red in the face.  The bike he’d rented lay discarded in the weeds (or to be more precise, the poison ivy) beside the trail.  Someone was already on the phone to 911.

He figured it would be no big thing.  He used to ride a bike (now and then) when he was just a few years younger. Sure, he hadn’t gotten much exercise lately, but it was just riding a bike a few miles along a trail.

Let’s rewrite the story just a bit.  Once upon a time there was a prepper.  He had a very carefully chosen and packed Get Home Bag, because if Something Bad happened and he couldn’t drive home, his plan was to grab this bag and hoof it to his home just seventeen miles away.  Sure, he hadn’t gotten much exercise lately, but it was just walking some miles.  He could do it if he had to.

But when this prepper gets to breathing in short gasps, covered in sweat, nauseous, and red in the face … there isn’t any calling 911, and help is not just a phone call away.  Our prepper is in a very bad spot.

Be real in your planning:

An Honest Evaluation Of Your Health Is Critical To Your Prepping Plans

It does you no good to make plans for the shape you’d *like* to be in, or for doing things you’ll *need* to be able to do in an emergency unless your body can cash that check.  Needs are not mechanisms.  Needing to do a thing does not make us physically able to do the thing.  Ask anybody who’s ever needed to be able to breathe under water if you don’t believe me.  O wait, you can’t.

This is why you need an honest evaluation of your health.

The only plans worth breath to describe are the ones you can actually carry out.  Stop a moment and think very honestly and realistically about what you can physically do, Today.  Compare that to your plans for dealing with emergencies.  If you plan to bug out of your city by foot carrying your Bug Out Bag, how far have you hiked carrying that thing this year?  Did that hike include the hills that will be in your way, the obstacles you will be likely to have to scramble over?

Sure, you might be able to gut it out; but you might also get stuck with an injury (much more common when you’re pushing boundaries) or a simple inability to follow through and be worse off than when you started.

When plans aren’t realistic:

If anything in your plans is not something your body can handle right now, you’ve got three choices:

  1. Forget this conversation and move on.  <– Not a great choice.  That’s day-dreaming, not prepping.
  2. Change your plans.  For example, Salty (my man) has knees that are not interested in hiking with a pack.  Therefore, our plans for getting to The Place (our rural retreat) involve our touring bicycles and saddlebags.  We *know* we can bike that far in a day because we do so several times a summer.  A less-than-optimal plan you can actually carry out is worth infinitely more than a plan that’s perfect except for that tiny glitch of ‘you can’t do it reliably’.
  3. Change yourself.  There are several great reasons to get in better shape.  Not needing medical care you won’t be able to get in an emergency is right up there; and so is being able to plan to do things like cut wood for heat and carry water up the hill to the house without having a heart attack.
    What about medical needs?

The majority of adults in the U.S. are now on prescription medications; most of those people are on more than one.  The best answer is to improve your underlying health not to need the meds.  If  that’s not possible or you’re not willing to change your lifestyle that much, Plan B would be is to stock up if you can.  If that’s not feasible, Plan C is to have researched alternatives and be stocked up on them.

If you struggle with depression, have some St John’s Wort planted where you can get to it, for example.  It has nice flowers anyway.  If you have diabetes, make sure your food stores are choices that don’t tend to raise blood sugar much (very unlike many standard ‘prepper’ foods).  If you have hypertension, keep the salt in your prep foods low, etc.
The main point:  The plan’s only good if it is actually likely to work, and asking too much of your body in a high stress situation is a recipe for disaster.  This is no place for ego; be honest to yourself about your capabilities and keep your plans within them.

About the author: Spice is one of the founders/owners of the website Beans, Bullets, Bandages and You, and one of the blog’s main contributors. She’s not a doctor, but has worked in the field physiology and medicine and has been published in numerous peer-reviewed medical journals. You can read more of her work at https://beansbulletsbandagesandyou.com. The photo shows the author on one of her training hikes.

11 Secret Questions Food Storage Companies Don’t Want You To Ask

11 Secret Questions Food Storage Companies Don’t Want You To Ask
11 Secret Questions Food Storage Companies Don’t Want You To Ask

Regardless of what your preparedness plan looks like, it undoubtedly includes some form of food storage. Whether you’re planning for a week-long power outage or the worst case scenario, food and water will be at the top of your list of items to store.

When it comes time to buying storage food, do you know what you’re getting? Will the food on your shelf see you through to the end of the disaster? The time to make sure you have the right storage food is before you buy it, not when the horde is pounding on your door. But, what questions should you be asking? How do you know what to look for?

On the surface, it seems as though all food storage companies are alike. They sell the same kind of foods, so they must all be the same, right? That’s a mistake many people make; they assume food companies are looking out for them and have their best interests in mind. Like most things, you need to do your own research to ensure you’re getting the highest quality product and package for your money.

If you have been to any of the food storage company websites, you know it’s not easy to figure out how they differ. However, there are very clear differences between each company. From how they package their food to the ingredients they use, it’s important to know what the differences are and which will be best for you and your family. All family units are different, and what works for one, might not be the best choice for the other.

Here are 11 important questions to ask food storage companies. The answers to which can’t always be found on their website. All companies should be able to answer these, which will make the differences more apparent. If they cannot answer them, be wary, some companies will substitute lower-quality foods while charging you a premium price.

Read more at Legacy Food Storage:

 Blog: 11 Secret Questions Food Storage Companies Don’t Want You To Ask

A Prepper’s Guide to Choosing the Best Work Boots

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A Prepper’s Guide to Choosing the Best Work Boots

When hard times hit, your old sneakers, chunky high heels, and furry slippers will not be useful to you. Hiking, long distance traveling and making your way through rough terrain will be difficult if you have the wrong footwear. Top quality tactical work shoes help in keeping your feet issues at bay. Whether you are struggling with blisters, fasciitis or sore spots, a good pair of work boots will help you get through any situation; harsh elements, rough terrains and toxic spills.

They need to feel like a second skin whether you are marching through forests or urban areas. Therefore you need to be sure of your choice, and whatever you opt for, your boots need to be manufactured from heavy duty materials, as well as being comfortable and secure.

Practical Tips on How to Choose Your Best Footwear for Survival

As a self-sufficient prepper, you need multi-functional boots that are not only a good fit for the tactical environment but also complement your natural lifestyle. Check out these extensive boot features that will make your prepping efforts effortless:

Safety Toes

Safety features can either break or make your work shoes. A perfect work boot consists of a robust safety toe feature that makes for an excellent addition to your work shoe especially when you regularly deal with heavy falling objects.

They include a steel toe, aluminum toe, and composite toe. Steel toes are extremely important since they handle more of a crushing force than composites and they also act as conductors in cold and hot climates. Composite toes, on the other hand, consist of plastic, carbon fiber or Kevlar and they offer you protection without exposing your feet to the harshest of elements. According to MyBestWorkBoots, steel toe work boots allow you to face any situation with confidence.

Metatarsal Guards

It is another layer of heavy-objects-falling protection for your toes and higher foot. It preferred by by companies operating in the most extreme conditions. They are incredible for welding and surroundings wherever hot objects can be a headache.

Traction

Traction is a vital factor that keeps you on your feet once the going gets tough. One-third of all construction-related accidents were a result of a fall or slip. Therefore traction is the key to avoiding some significant hazards.

The best methodology for avoiding stupid accidents is for you to be aware and mindful. That is why prepping is all about; being tuned in to the inevitable misfortune and preparing for it preemptively.

To cut the story short, you will need Vibram rubber soles with superior index.

If you are however operating with some harsh chemicals, TPU (Thermo Poly Urethane) they can provide you with high resistance to grease, abrasion and other chemicals. TPU is lighter and possesses more wear-resistance than a rubber sole.

Support

Every a part of your operating boots influences its support system. Midsoles, insoles, puncture plates, shanks, and outsoles all provide their overall contribution to the general feel. If there is no universal formula here, you will only try them on and see how supported your feet and ankles feel. If you experience frequent blistering, you need to consider upgrading the insoles and opt for EVA midsoles for ultimate flexibility and cushioning. You have all the protection you need in the world in your work boots. Therefore you do not have to deal with stiffer polymer midsoles.

Construction

Your work boot construction is essential. The primary feature of any work shoe is the Cement Construction. It refers to the “cementing” of the out-sole and upper. They are very flexible and lightweight and you can re-sole them. There is also the Goodyear Welt that is the most durable option for your boots’ construction and is very simple. Last but not least, there is the Blake Stitch where uppers, sock liner, and soles are all connected via single stitch. It is a very secure attaching method, forming a robust bond between all the integral parts of the work boot.

In conclusion, A Prepper’s Guide to Choosing the Best Work Boots will hell you keep your feet prepped and ready for action with these robust features because they are paramount in any survival situation.

Should a Prepper Carry a Neck Knife?

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Should a Prepper Carry a Neck Knife?  That is a good question.  In the guest post below the author will discuss some pros and cons.  For myself, as the owner of this site I wanted to add my thoughts as I carried a neck knife everyday for 15 years – even in places that did not allow concealed weapons (its a tool right)… For utility and easy carry a neck knife is hard to beat.  If you have a good design.  I have tried bad designs of heavier knives and friction fit sheaths and ended up loosing my knife.  For self defense there are better options.  It can be hard to draw (without practice) and if you are on the ground being pounded the knife is in a perfect spot to be used against you.  You can also be choked with the lanyard.  The featured image shows a young lady wearing a neck knife on a breakaway lanyard made by Knives and Lanyards.com.  You should check them out

If you know what you want and work around the cons, then a neck knife is a great tool – now on to the article:

Preppers and survivalists are always discussing survival knives and that they might actually be the most important gear you carry. Not many discuss the importance of where you wear your survival knife though. Throughout history man has worn a knife from a chain around their necks.

This includes Native Americans and Vikings. In modern times Mors Kochanski who is recognized as the granddaddy of bushcraft and who actually wrote the book on bushcraft uses a neck knife and even more recently Cody Lundin from Dual Survival fame also wears a neck knife as their primary knife.

In this article I’ll go over what are the pros and cons of a neck knife.

Pros of neck knives

  • Because it’s so small and light, it can easily be used as a back up blade if your primary blade breaks or gets lost. Your blade might be your most important piece of equipment you carry so always having a decent back up blade is handy
  • Sitting on the ground or on a log with a knife on your belt can be annoying
  • If it’s worn on the inside of your shirt, you’ve got a hidden knife that others won’t know about unless they give you a hug. Even though there are better weapons when shtf the neck knife could be used as a weapon of last resort
  • If needed, most neck knives can be switched to be carried on your belt
  • It allows you to not have to wear a belt which means you have more flexibility in the pants or shorts you choose to wear
  • If you’re walking through a creek or small stream and it goes to about waist height, if you’re wearing a neck knife it won’t get wet
  • They’re inexpensive so preppers with a tight budget can afford them as a good backup knife

Cons of neck knives

  • If it’s worn on the outside of your shirt, it can get in the road every time you bend over which is annoying
  • It it’s worn on the inside of your shirt, it’s hard to get to quickly
  • If the chain is made out of beads it can pull at your chest hairs and I’m not a fan of having my chest hair pulled out
  • It’s not practical to have a big knife dangling around your neck because it will just get in the way. So if the knife is small it doesn’t lend itself to heavy duty tasks like chopping or batoning but if you’re primary chopping tool is an axe or machete you can get away with carrying a small bladed knife as your blade to do the finer tasks like processing game or whittling wood
  • When you re-sheath, you’ll need both hands
  • If the chain is not a break away type of chain it can be a choking hazard if worn on the outside of your shirt
  • If it is a break away chain, the chain could snap at an inconvenient time meaning you’d end up carrying the neck knife on your belt or in your pocket.

Neck knife wrap up

I’ve always loved redundancy so I always carry a back up blade when I’m in the woods. Neck knives are an inexpensive way to have a decent back up blade on your person at all times. To find out more about neck knives for survivalists check out the ultimate neck knife guide by Top Survival Weapons.

2 Emergency Procedures Your Child Should Know

Most kids are smarter than they look even at a tender age. They can take simple instructions, detect and respond positively to emergency situations.

You need to teach them the right emergency steps to take.

They should know when and how to respond if someone is in danger or when they find themselves in trouble.

Here are some emergency procedures your child should know.

Calling 911

Kids learn faster and have a good memory. If you teach them to make 911 calls during an emergency with practical demonstrations, they might save someone’s life or yours when the need arises.

Tips:

Don’t just talk without demonstration. Teach your kids of 4 years everything to need to know about making 911 calls such as;

What nine-one-one (911) means.

Make your child understand that 911 is the most important number to call in an emergency situation especially when an adult isn’t around. Also, explain to him or her that calling 911 without any cogent reason is punishable by the law.

Why should you call 911?

Explain to your child that calling 911 can save their life or that of the person in danger. Use different illustrations to show an example. You could pretend as if you are in danger and ask them to initiate such calls with a toy phone. Then, an adult can come in and pretend to rescue you after the child has provided all necessary information.

When is the right time to call 911?

Make your child understand that he or she can only call 911 when an adult isn’t around to help or when the neighbours are not around. An adult can also ask him or her to do so.

What happens when you call 911?

Explain to your child that when he or she calls the number, an emergency operator will send help to the scene to rescue the person in danger.

What to be their response when someone picks the call?

Teach your child how to respond by providing the location of the incident (house address) name, the condition of the person, and other vital information. Tell them never to end the call unless the operator asks them to.

Under what situation should they call 911?

Tell your child to use 911 under any of the following conditions; if daddy or mommy requests them to; if they discover that someone passes out. They should first attempt to wake the person up before making the call.

You need practical demonstrations to help your kids to understand better. Use a toy phone, not a real one. And explain to them that the real phone is only meant for real-life situations. Create a scene of someone in danger, and ask them to respond if as they are the only one around. Repeat this from time to time.

Additional tips for parents

  • Don’t make the mistake of referring to the number as nine-eleven. Your child may not be able to dial the number correctly in an emergency situation. Refer to it as nine-one-one.
  • Be sure that your child knows the house number and floor you are living. If there is a popular place around that can help the police to locate your house, always remind the child of it.
  • Your house number bold and clear, so that the police can easily locate it.
  • If you have elderly parents or people living with conditions like heart disease, diabetes or epilepsy, remind the child of what to do in an emergency situation and how to spot one.

Water safety skills

Teaching your child water skills is important, especially if you have a pool in your backyard. A child that is already of school age can learn how to save someone that is drowning without putting his or herself in danger.

Tips:

To demonstrate this practically, make sure you are a good swimmer. If you have a pool in your backyard, you can act like you are drowning and instruct your child on what to do.

The child’s response should be one among the following;

  • Get a flotation device and toss it into the pool close to the person.
  • Reach out to the person with a towel or kickboard
  • Know how to open a person’s airway

Warning tips:

  • Remind them of the dangers of jumping into the pool or river in such condition when they can’t swim.
  • Tell them to call for help immediately. Adults who are around can help.

Conclusion

Two things happen when you teach your child the right emergency steps. They can save someone’s life or theirs. Ensure you always use practical tips to help your child to understand better. Demonstrate the situation and watch them respond. Children are fast learners. And they learn better when they are taught verbally and practically. So, follow the tips above to train your child on how to respond to emergency situations, and you will be glad you did.