Tag: emergency

Roadside Emergency Kit Review
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Roadside Emergency Kits are a go to of mine to give as gifts for those in my life that question the need to be prepared. They don’t cost very much (this one from SurvivalHax is only $49.99) and if they are ever needed they can make life easier, safer, and open the door to a good conversation about why be prepared (just don’t get too preachy).

I like this one because it is well organized, has good items, and is of good quality.

One thing I particularly like about this kit is the flashlight. It is a hand dynamo powered light so it does not have batteries to corrode or die.

This is something that has been a problem in other kits I have bought over the years. Few things are worse then needing a light and when you open your kit you find the batteries have leaked and destroyed your emergency gear.

This is a great roadside emergency kit and you can find it and many other good gifts at survivalhax.com

BONUS $25.00 Discount Code*

The great guys at Survival Hax also are offering a $25.00 discount code for the readers of Dave’s Homestead
It’s a $25 OFF discount code, it is OFROAD50 and here’s how you can use it:
1. Click the link to Go to Amazon.com for the SurvivalHax Roadside Kit
2. Add the ‘Roadside Emergency Kit with Jumper Cables’ to your shopping cart and then checkout.
3. On the last screen where it says “enter a discount or promo code” use discount code OFROAD50
* The code is was just reissued March 11, 2018
November 19, 2017
8 Items for Your Boat Emergency Kit
Summer is right around the corner and many are in the midst of planning deep sea fishing trips or casual fishing excursions with their buddies.

Have you considered updating your boat emergency kit? You never know when an emergency situation can come calling!

Be Prepared for Anything

While the odds of a mishap are certainly small, the risk of your vessel going down always exists. A car offers the luxury of simply stepping out on to the road and walking to the nearest gas station. With a boat, the inconvenience of a malfunction is magnified. Stranded in open water, your chance of returning to dry land is often decided by what is in your onboard kit.

Here is a look at 8 essentials to consider for your boat emergency kit:

Empty Milk Jug

How can a milk jug act as a savior, you may ask? It can, provided you have a knife or other cutting instrument. Simply , slice the empty jug horizontally and it immediately becomes a lightweight bailing device. Although much smaller, empty plastic water bottles can also do the trick, This allows for multiple small hand bailers to scoop out unwanted water.

First-Aid Supplies

First-aid supplies are commonly included in all emergency kits. A mini safety kit certainly adds an extra layer of insurance when you are out on the water. Make sure you are carrying a variety of tape, gauze, wipes, anti-bacterial creams, and Band-Aids.

Also consider equipping your first-aid kit with motion sickness medicine, antibiotic ointment, sunscreen, and Neosporin. Last but not least, an epinephrine auto-injector can useful in case a member of the boating party encounters an unwanted reaction or sting.

Personal Locator Beacons

A Personal Locator Beacon is very handy to have on a boating trip. They are particularly helpful when your mobile network is spotty or non-existent. A PLB such as the ACR ResQLink is capable of broadcasting a 406MHz satellite distress signal to the Coast Guard. Additionally it sends a separate homing signal is sent out to local Search and Rescue units.

It’s small size allows several to fit easily into any emergency bag. Additionally, the design of the ResQLink means it can even be clipped onto lifejackets. Consider carrying one for each boat member. Because, this improves your chances of being rescued quickly. Especially if you become separated in the water.

Emergency Mylar Thermal Blanket

Mylar Thermal Blankets are excellent for all emergency marine situations. They can be packed easily and provide much-needed warmth if you find yourself stranded in cold weather. Air temperature on the water is significantly cooler than land temperatures. So having one of these around while you are out fishing in the middle of the sea can prove to be a lifesaver. These blankets are often called ‘space blankets’ for their futuristic appearance.

If you don’t need to stay warm, there are other ways you can put this thermal blanket to good use. As a waterproof object, it can serve as storage for electronic gadgets that can become damaged by saline water. It also possesses a shiny appearance which can be used as a signaling object during distress situations.

If you don’t like mylar blankets, I know of a small camping blanket that is almost as lightweight and much neater.

Duct Tape

There are few inventions in the world that can are handier than duct tape.

This little roll can quickly be added to your emergency bag, and is capable of fixing almost anything and everything under the sun.

While on a boat, you can use it to patch up leaking areas or mend broken or loose equipment on board.

Duct tape is one item whose usage need not be explained in great detail for it is universal knowledge.

Day and Night Distress Signals

Distress signal flares, or night distress signals, are a common choice for mariners to indicate an emergency situation. Bright lights used in these flares help to alert search personnel of an emergency situation. White, red and orange are acknowledged as the international colors of distress.

Day distress signals are of two types.
- Orange smoke handheld flares
- Orange distress flag. An orange flag is recognized as an international distress symbol and can be seen over many miles. Ideally you should place it somewhere high up on your vessel so that it is visible from both air and water.
Hand-held orange smoke flares draw attention by emitting a large cloud of orange smoke. Keep in mind that these flares do not last long. They burn for about a minute. Deploy them carefully when the possibility of being spotted by a rescue party is at its highest.

Red flares are the most common with regards to visual distress signals and can be used both during the day and at night. They can be seen from a great distance and even when visibility is not at its best.

Oars and Paddles

You may already be aware that the U.S. Coast Guard has a recommendation in place for all boats to be fitted with oars and paddles.

This is because engine failures can leave you stranded on the water with no way to return to shore.

Regardless of your vessel size, oars can create a current and provide just enough momentum to safely drift back to shore.

For faster flowing bodies of water, always keep a compass handy so that you know you are rowing in the right direction.

Drybag – Survival Equipment Bag

The Drybag from Watershed is a piece of engineering marvel that can keep items dry even underwater. When river guides voiced their concern over the quality of storage bags used during the 1980s, their problems were solved when the ZipDry technology came into existence.

Similar to a freezer bag, it offers excellent closure once sealed shut. The bag material is comprised of polyurethane-coated fabrics that are extremely durable, flexible, and resistant towards abrasion. Consider packing all of your emergency and safety equipment in this bag.

Conclusion

Any boating trip can turn dangerous and the right emergency kit could be the difference between life and death.

As goes the old adage “better safe than sorry”. It is important to be prepared and safeguard yourself against all eventualities rather than waiting for the moment when trouble finally befalls you.

If you are going boating in someplace else other than your home state, also keep in mind some of the rules and regulations that they may have in place.

Finally, know that adding these eight safety items to your emergency kit will help you remain safe under all circumstances. Giving you the peace of mind so that you can enjoy a relaxing, comfortable, and memorable trip.
April 14, 2017
How to Make an Emergency Food Bar
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Emergency food needs to be shelf stable and contain needed nutrients. It is a plus if the food tastes good, is light weight, and not very expensive.

This was not the easiest project to achieve, and I had to test many different recipes until I settled on this particular one.

This particular food bar recipe makes a hard biscuit that is reminiscent of both hardtack and the commercial Datrex bar. It is not a gourmet meal, but it is light and if stored properly can last for well over one year.

This is a very simple recipe, and the base recipe I used can be found on many websites. I found that by modifying the recipe and making small “cakes” instead of the more common loaf makes the food bar much easier to eat and handle.

Ingredients:
- 2 cups oats (quick or flaked oats work equally well)
- 2 1/2 cups powdered milk
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 TB honey
- 1 3 oz package jello (orange or lemon)
- 3 TB water
Equipment:
- Bowl
- Measuring cup
- Spoon
- Saucepan
- Parchment paper
- Cookie Sheet
- Aluminum foil or plastic bag
Procedure:
1. Mix the oats, powdered milk, and sugar together in a bowl
2. In a medium pan mix 3 tablespoons of water, one package of jello and 3 tablespoons of honey. Bring to a rolling boil. Due to the small amount of water and the high amount of sugar, this recipe is very sweet. If you use flavors other than lemon or orange you may find this bar to be TOO sweet.
3. Add jello mixture to dry ingredients. Mix well. If the dough is too dry, add a small amount of water a teaspoon at a time.
4. Do not use too much water because this bar only works if it is bone dry.
5. The mixing process involves work, mixers aren’t strong enough and you will have to use your hands and arms.
6. Preheat oven to 350⁰F
7. Most food bar recipes have you shape the well mixed dough into loaves at this point. I found that rolling the dough into ping pong sized balls that are then smashed into flat disks the end product is much handier and easier to eat.
8. Bake your bars at 350⁰F degrees for 10-15 minutes. (If your making al oaf time is more like 20 minutes). You are not trying to cook the recipe, but rather dry it. I find that by propping the oven door open slightly you get a dryer bar (the dryer the bar the safer you are from food borne illnesses like botulism – and the bar will store longer).
Alternatively, you may want to cook for 10 minutes and then place in a dehydrator until completely dry.

Let cool completely.

Wrap in aluminum foil to store. Another benefits of the disk shape is they can be rolled like coins.

If you want to store these in your car or bug-out bag it would be a good idea to seal these in a vacuum bag after you put them in aluminum foil

Yield:

This recipe equals approximately 2000 calories which is the caloric needs for an average adult
January 19, 2017
How to Keep Your Child Safe With a Car Seat Emergency Sticker

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I just discovered this idea on pinterest late last week and I hat to share this tip on how you can use this car seat emergency sticker to keep your child safe.

I bumped my schedule around to post this because I think it is exactly what risk management is. Getting the most safety from the least effort.

If something happens to my wife and I and we would not be able to speak, this Car Seat Emergency Sticker will give responders the information they need.

This allows faster emergency care for W.T.

This was especially useful when he was a baby. As back then his verbal communication skills were limited to saying “mow mow” when asked what the kitty says…

So what we are going to do is put emergency contact information on a car seat. We are printing out important information to stick on the car seat just in case.

I just made a page that contained vital information that someone might need to know in the event that we ever had a wreck and I was unable to communicate with responders.

I then printed them on regular paper, covered them with clear packing tape and taped one to the side of every car seat we have.

September 24, 2013
Emergency Mangement.com Prepper Article

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You might remember Emergency Management.com from the “Preppers are Socially Selfish” article a few months ago.* It wasn’t just their premise that upset me, but that the “Academic” Author that proudly professed her lack of real world response experience put forth several “apologies” that were more “I’m sorry you are angry” or “I am sorry there is so many angry responses” – she never actually realized why people were angry, and soon retired without seeing the benefit preppers bring to their communities.

I also wondered about the tone of that article, since only a few weeks earlier, the editor wrote a column wondering why the preparedness message sent out by FEMA and non-governmental organizations like the Red Cross was not well received by the average citizen.

I responded to him that when you cry that the average person won’t listen to your advice, you should not follow up on the moaning by alienating those that take do your advice…

Anyway, I was quite pleased to see Emergency Management.com has posted a pro-prepper article entitled “Why Emergency Managers Shouldn’t Alienate Preppers“. Of course this opinion was written by someone with field experience- maybe that’s the reason for the change of tone?

Just like I believed that the first article deserved comment by preppers explaining why Preppers are anything but selfish, and should be respected by the Emergency Management community, I think this new article deserves comment rewarding the more enlightened viewpoint.

In my opinion, if preppers are tired of being marginalized, then we need to build bridges with the Emergency Management community where appropriate.

*Update:

Emergencymanagement.com has changed to Govtec and has removed the article.

July 19, 2013