Posts Tagged ‘survival’

Essentials Of A Longterm Food Storage Program

There will always be occurrences of certain disasters like floods, hurricanes, famine and in some cases, even wars. Longterm food storage is required in order to ensure adequate supply of foodstuff and water at such times. This is one of the ways life can be preserved. To ensure the success of preserving foodstuff for very long periods, money could be budgeted every month to make purchases. For some people however, the entire supply can be bought at a time.

Future emergency supply involves foodstuff as well as water. Water can be stored for as long as 12 months without going bad, using plastic gallons having tight covers. The appropriate amount of it that is required is dependent on the number of household members. However, it must be noted that on the average, a grown person will need about 14 gallons of water in a space of 2 weeks.

Buying lots of sachet and canned foods is necessary when shopping for long term foodstuffs. By nature of being canned and sealed in sachets, they are already preserved. This means they could be kept for long without going bad.

Grains such as corn, rice, barley and beans will also be needed. Containers are to be used to store them in order to keep pests away. To avoid keeping some grains for too long, all containers should be dated. This way, consumption will be on first stored first consumed basis.

Pastas like spaghetti and noodles are other supplies that need to be purchased. So also are sweeteners like sugar and honey as well as salt. Milk must not be bought in liquid form. Instead, milk powder will do.

Fruits, vegetables and meats are all perishable foods, though they are required as part of a longterm food storage plan. They should all be bought in iced form and stored in refrigerators. There are special low power consuming refrigerators that can be used for such long term preservation.

A disaster may strike at any time, so you want to be sure to be prepared to care for yourself and your loved ones if you find you’re isolated from food sources. For this reason you must consider obtaining some longterm food storage from Mayflower Trading Company. They sell a large variety of great food items that are affordable, delicious as well as simple to store and prepare.

Reasons Why You Should Take a Bushcraft Course

Bushcraft courses provide a fast, efficient and safe way to learn essential wilderness skills that would have been second nature to our ancestors…

Bushcraft consists of a very wide selection of abilities. At the center of this subject is an awareness of nature. This understanding of the natural world informs a sensibility and skill base that makes it possible to live – not just survive – in a natural environment.

Somebody capable in the skills of bushcraft doesn’t need loads of apparatus. In fact , the opposite is correct. Since these wilderness abilities are based on an awareness of which natural resources in a particular environment can offer for our basic human needs , the true exponent of bush skills wants nothing apart from nature.

Hence the ability these skills provide is carried in your mind and your muscles. It weighs nothing. The practice of wilderness bushcraft is one that encompasses the provision of shelter, fire, food, water and tools as well as wayfinding, or the practice of navigating by natures signs.

While the expert practitioner of wilderness skills in their most refined form wants nothing but nature, tools and clothing have been important to man for millennia. Today we’ve got the luxury of choosing whether we make our own implements or purchase them, and most of us take the selection of trading for them.

The flexible exponent of modern wilderness bushcraft selects tools that make the best of their skill-set. The most commonly useful tool is a modest fixed-blade knife that’s easily maintained and can be put to numerous uses. Other cutting tools that might be chosen, dependent on the environment are an axe, a saw or a machete or parang.

If these skills are a part of our natural heritage as homo sapiens living in wild lands, why do we need to be taught these abilities on a course? Well the answer’s pretty obvious – most humans live in urban or suburban environments, far removed from living close to nature, not to mention depending upon it for day to day survival.

Bushcraft courses supply a systematic training in a selection of talents that would’ve been handed on from generation to generation. These days such skills are often taught in a way that suits our modern understanding of the planet and dovetails with systematic information re such subjects as pathogenic organisms and water purification.

While it is possible to learn lots of the skills of woodcraft and camping from books, getting them to a high enough standard to depend on them would take a substantial period of trying, failing and trying again.

The safest way of learning things such as edible wild plants and fungi is from a professional instructor; the most highly effective technique of learning fire lighting abilities, particularly friction fire lighting techniques is from a reputable bushcraft training provider.

Taking a course expedites the educational process. You are reaping rewards from the experience of others and removing the frustration – and possible danger – of getting things wrong. Each generation of our ancestors didn’t learn each and every single skill or piece of knowledge from scratch by trial & error; they learned their skills and knowledge from knowledgeable practitioners. This remains to this day the right way to learn and the most efficient way for most folks to access such knowledgeable folk is to enrol in a course in relevant wilderness skills.

Paul Kirtley teaches bushcraft skills. He’s impassioned about nature, the great outdoors and remote travel. This is something that comes across extremely clearly during the programs at his bushcraft school.

How To Manage A Longterm Food Storage Plan

Many people have turned to longterm food storage as a way of preparing for emergency situations. It involves buying and storing various foods that will be needed in times of unpleasant happenings like flooding, wars and earthquakes. To keep the supply from getting spoilt, they could be preserved in ways like canning, freeze drying, freezing, and dehydrating.

A special budget ought to be planned for a long term project as this. Money could be set aside regularly to carry out the plan. For some people, they would rather buy everything at once. Besides saving some money by buying in bulk, it takes the stress off them so they do not have to bother about it again. The downside to this is that it could eat up into the monthly finances. On the other hand, when purchase is made in bits, the monthly budget will not be strained, though this method could be more expensive.

Canned and dry foods are major items to buy. Containers will be needed to store grains. It will be wiser to consume the supplies in the order in which they were bought. This is possible if all containers are dated.

When storing water, it ought to be noted that an average adult will use up about 14 gallons in two weeks. Water can last between six to twelve months without going bad. It could be stored in large jars or gallons.

Cereals, powdered milk, salt, rice, beans, frozen meats, fish, fruits and vegetables are necessary foods to add to a long term foodstuff plan. Honey, sugar, maple syrup, cooking fats and oils should also be added. Pastas like spaghetti and noodles, and whole grains like barley, oats and corn are other vital items that must be packed along.

Preparation for unpredictable times of disaster necessitates longterm food storage. This minimizes expenses on foodstuff at such times as well as reducing wastage. Refrigerators that run on low power should be used for this purpose and a temperature of fifty five degrees is quite suitable.

An emergency can happen nearly anytime, so you need to to be prepared to care for yourself and your loved ones if you find you’re isolated from food sources. That is why you should consider investing in some one year food storage from Mayflower Trading Company. They sell a wide range of high quality food items that are affordable, easy to handle, simple to prepare and taste good.

Why It Is Easy And Wise To Put Together A Hurricane Kit

Nowadays the threat of a hurricane seems more prevalent than ever. One possible explanation for this is the phenomenon of global warming. Regardless of cause, the prospect of getting caught up in a category four or five hurricane unprepared is a grim one indeed. As such, for those living in vulnerable areas, it would be prudent to have a hurricane kit on hand. In fact it would be wise to be prepared no matter where one lives.

Especially in the wake of some recent disastrous storms like Katrina and Rita, people are starting to realize that being prepared in the case of such a deadly storm is worth the effort. Folks who live in hurricane zones should make any necessary repairs to their homes well before hurricane season comes. This means checking for leaks all over the house: roofs, ceilings, windows, basements and cellars. Cracks need to be repaired as does anything that might make a home more vulnerable to the heavy rain and fierce winds that come with hurricanes. A specific plan of action should be planned out so that everyone knows what to do should the time come. Make certain that provisions are made for the elderly, the disabled or any small children.

Being prepared includes having a hurricane kit that contains all the basic necessities. This would include a supply of non perishable food as well as several gallons of clean drinking water. Every six months, it would be a good idea to go and check the food for expiration dates and replace the water with a fresh supply. Outdated, stale food will be of no use when the time comes that you need it. Likely, there will be no electricity for at least a while. Kits should thus contain candles, waterproof matches, flashlights and a transistor radio. The hand cranked versions of radios and flashlights are the best choices since there will be no worry about having to have enough batteries.

The possibility exists that your home might not last the duration of the storm. For that reason, make sure that all of your important documents are part of the kit. They can be stored in waterproof, sealed bags. Tools like a shovel, machete or axe might come in handy. An axe may be used to collect wood to use in cooking. Tools may also be the only way you can get out of the house in the event that fallen trees or other debris have trapped you or a family member inside.

Do not forget any medicine. That is one thing that people often forget but sometimes literally cannot live without. In addition to medicine, you also want to include anything related to children, the elderly or pets. Other stuff to have ready are blankets, clothes, personal hygiene items and sanitary products.

Living in hurricane alley? Buy a hurricane kit now! Get more info in our guide to everything you need to know about how and where to find quality emergency kits

What You Need To Know About Longterm Food Storage

There are many that are concerned with survival when it comes to natural disasters. They wish to be prepared in case something happens but are often at a loss at how to start. This is especially true when it comes to longterm food storage. Questions arise about which containers to use and the type of edibles that keep for a long time.

One other item on the preparedness list that one must take not to overlook is where one’s supplies will be stored. Thus an individual should be aware of the fact that the temperature within the storage cabinet, facility, or close should not be too high as it acts as a factor in determining the rate of decay. Should the temperature be too high then the shelf life for what is being stored will be shortened considerably.

What one chooses to contain their foodstuffs should have a lid that is difficult to open with tiny and clever paws. They should also be airtight as well. This will stop any sort of contamination, vermin, or other types of pests from getting in and spoiling what has been placed inside.

Another factor that must be considered is moisture. One would be wise to keep these vulnerable items in areas that have been known to collect moisture such as the outer walls. This can be especially true when it comes to the walls that make up the outer dimensions of the basement.

A further thing that one should have knowledge about is that there are certain items that will need to be stored in special containers to keep them usable to those individual that will have need of them. Thus a person is obligated to learn what is available on the market and what these containers can best store.

Should a disaster strike one will have needed to prepare in advance. This includes such things as longterm food storage. Thus they will need to have the knowledge of the ways in which they can preserve the items that are edible, where to store them, and what to place them in.

A disaster may strike nearly anytime, so you need to to be ready to take care of yourself and your family should you suddenly be cut off from regular supplies. For this reason you must consider obtaining some longterm food storage from Mayflower Trading Company. They sell a large variety of great affordable food items that are easy to handle, simple to prepare and taste good.

What To Add To Your First Aid Trauma Kits

It is never a good idea to be caught in a bad situation without the stocked first aid trauma kits available. Take your time in assembling your kit so that it includes all the essentials you will need in a crisis. Keep the kit stored in a safe and dry area where you will have access to it when you need it. This could mean putting one in your vehicle, as well as in your home. Write out a list and make sure you have everything on it.

Band-aids of assorted sizes are always needed. Although a band-aid is generally used only for small cuts or wounds, they can be used to hold down gauze over larger wounds or to seal a small but deep puncture wound. Some band-aids are very large and can cover larger patches of skin.

Alcohol swabs should be part of your supply. They are good for cleaning an area that is about to be injected with medicine and also for sterilizing tools that might be needed in an emergency. Peroxide is a less painful cleanser that can be used. Alcohol tends to burn much more while Peroxide pushes out the excess dirt, debris and gravel that may have gotten stuck under the skin.

Syringes might be needed for a variety of situations. These usually come with the needle portion covered and sealed on its own. If the seal protecting the needle is broken, it is a good idea not to use that particular syringe. A good kit will have some of these for people who need medication in their bodies immediately.

People may not even think of a medical sewing kit but it is another essential element to any good kit. You may need to apply emergency stitches. The alcohol swabs are perfect for this case because needles must always be sterile before use.

These are only a few suggestions for items that should fill first aid trauma kits. There are many more items that can come in handy during a crisis. Look on the Internet for more tips and suggestions for filling your kit today.

In the unfortunate case of someone being injured, they should receive medical treatment ASAP, including immediate first aid. That is why you may want to consider purchasing a 500 person trauma kit so you will be equipped to act if a person suffers serious harm, like massive blood loss, stroke or broken bones. If paramedics or EMTs aren’t sufficiently nearby immediate care can be helpful until they arrive.

Emergency Shelter And Sleeping Supplies

Although natural disasters tend to be rare, they do happen. When they occur, they have the potential to be sudden and devastating. When it happens, many may find themselves unable to reside in the home. A bit of information on shelters and other emergency supplies will be very important in some situations.

One item that can be very important is solar blankets. Some may be forced to camp or sleep outdoors in some situations. Those who prepare in this regard can be in a much better position during an emergency than those who are not. Many other camping items will be useful, including air mattresses, flashlights, radios, pop up canopies, and other comforting items and necessities.

Not only can solar products keep you warm in a pinch, but if you are stranded in your car on a hot day you can use the solar blanket to deflect the sun and keep your car cooler by putting it in the windows that the sun is directly hitting. In cases of extreme cold, a solar blanket can keep you warm by storing your own body temperature. Just wrap yourself up in the silver blanket and let it’s nearly magical properties keep you warm and toasty.

Many of the supplies needed for a good emergency shelter and sleeping plan can be folded up, deflated or otherwise stored to be space efficient. A good idea would be to keep at the very least a solar blanket or two and some flashlights in the trunk of your car or truck. You never know when you may need them and they take up very little room. An air mattress and a pump to inflate it can make the difference between a good night’s sleep or tossing and turning on a hard surface such as the ground or an emergency shelter’s floor.

It is very important to consider these situations beforehand. Disasters are unpredictable, so no one can anticipate what will happen or where they will be forced to sleep. Solar blankets, flashlights, and rain gear are important for seeking shelter outdoors. Although some may be lucky enough to find comfort at an emergency shelter, pillows, blankets, cots, or air mattresses can still be useful. During times of distress, getting a decent nights sleep can be important.

During a natural disaster you should be prepared to relocate to an emergency shelter. Keeping a stock of emergency supplies available will help you avoid stressful shortages.

The Most Effective Means for Making a Survival Campfire

Fire is an indispensable factor in wilderness survival. Indeed, in a wilderness survival predicament, only shelter is to be viewed as equal insofar as urgency. The reason for this is that fire ensures warmth and also serves to provide rescue crews with signal in the form of smoke. On top of that, it gives you an effective way to disinfect water and cook food. There is no getting around it, you’re going to need fire.

So then, imagine for a moment, that you’re confronted with a scenario where you will have to survive in the wilderness. Let’s say that you’ve wandered off a hiking trail by accident. Or maybe you followed your car’s turn by turn GPS directions, which guided you miles and miles down some dusty unimproved and virtually impassable mountain road where you promptly got stuck. Maybe society finally broke down and the ensuing societal anarchy has made it necessary for you to hike on foot, away from roads and highways, to your crazy Uncle Larry’s 500 acre compound in Wyoming (funny how crazy Uncle Larry turned out the be the sane one). Whatever the situation, there’s no avoiding the need to have the right tools to make fire tucked away in your survival pack. So, what are the most efficient instruments of fire that you should think about having in your ongoing survival list? Consider a few possibilities.

Waterproof matches – The old-school, no-frills, tried and true box of matches. They’re affordable, simple to use, and ultra lightweight. Make sure you have multiple boxes, tuck them in your pack and then forget about them until you need to make a fire.

Waterproof lighter – Like the aforementioned matches, a lighter’s biggest benefit is that you already know how to use it. Not only that, it is relatively effective, and quite easy to lug around. There’s no reason not to have a handful of them packed. If you don’t want to pay for a fancy waterproof model, just get a few ziplock baggies, throw some plain old Bic lighters in, and stow it away.

Now let’s move on to some more complex, but far more intriguing methods for producing fire…

Fire piston – A fire piston functions by placing a small chunk of flammable tinder whether pre-packaged or found in nature, into a tube-like cylinder. You then rapidly plunge the cylinder into an airtight chamber. The rapid compression of the air creates enough heat to ignite the tinder, which you can then use to ignite your fire. A quality fire piston will be both waterproof and essentially indestructible.

Flint and steel – This reliable means for starting a fire consists of obtaining flammable powder from a small block of flint, then igniting the powder with a spark (also generated from the flint). The burning powder will generate a lot of heat, and as long as it’s surrounded by the proper amount of dry tinder, you’ll have a fire in no time.

Finally, unless you have a great deal of experience igniting fires, your survival list should contain starter materials, like a small package of prefabricated tinder, or basic fire starter sticks available in practically any retailer that sells outdoor goods. These materials are cheap as can be and all but guarantee a fire.

Moreover, it should be noted that carrying multiple, redundant ways of starting a fire is highly advisable. It’s all too easy to lose a lighter or burn through all of your waterproof matches. Be sure to take at least two tools for starting a fire. Three or four is even better.

Chuck Armstrong is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys building and maintaining his custom survival list. You can find out more by reading his articles and learn how to build your own survival list.. This article, The Most Effective Means for Making a Survival Campfire has free reprint rights.

Prepare for Emergency With Your First Aid Kit

It seems that in the last year or so there has been a big increase in the number of natural disasters and our awareness to the tragic events that thousands of people have suffered is much more prevalent with immediate high media exposure. Sad scenes are instantly broadcast for us all to see and we have all witnessed the devastation first hand in some respects. The anniversary of 9/11 is also a timely event to remind ourselves of not only the tragic events that happened, but maybe it is the perfect time to learn lessons of ways we can be more prepared. Emergencies and life threatening events will continue to take place. This is simply nature doing it’s thing in most scenarios.

Wretchedly with our busy busy life we’ve got a disposition to become reactionary rather than having the foresight to put wonderful well thought out safety action plans into place so we are better prepared. Behaviour patterns and after thought is now clear to see, as in several of the latest disasters like Japan or tsunamis it is clear through search site results that all of a sudden folk get even more privy to the requirement to take a look at mandatory items like an Emergency Kit. The increase in on the hunt for survival kits and Emergency Medical Kits is sort of amazing. Hopefully we are going to be in a position to take responsibility for our families and chums and put a good activity plan into place.

While we may never be well placed to at last make preparations for all events there are some basic core steps we will take to minimize our risk and that of our family. The essential goal and want is to save life or at the very least be in the position that we will be able to treat wounds till the emergency services arrive. This naturally might be a matter of a few days and so having to hand necessary items will noticeably raise your capability to make the situation less harsh.

Usually a tragedy or emergency can and will occur immediately and so it is in those really first few moments and the action we take , that might lay out our destiny. Thus the necessity for an Emergency First Aid Kit which you can immediately grab and take with you regardless of where you are. Forget the family stills, your lap top or your cell-phone .. The one item that’ll be of aid to you is a kit you can take swiftly. Such Medical Kits should be light, compact and transportable and with a little luck you’ll have guaranteed that all of the contents are appropriate to your own individual wants if you’ve any special medicines or allergies. An Emergency Kit as we all know should have a wide range of a decent range of a reasonable range of core items but spend a bit of time to add one or two individual items which may be of help to you. Even some little change for the general public phone, some water pills and one or two packs of dried food to help out in the first day or so if things got out of hand.

Owning a kit which is clearly labeled and easy to manage will pay great dividends the moment you need to use it. Knowing exactly where all the items are or what is missing could make all the difference. Generally it is likely that you will be in a small group, perhaps your immediate family, work colleagues, or travel buddy’s. Your kit should ideally be able to cope with a small number of people without too much trouble and with the right planning you’ll be assured that this is the case.

So try to learn lessons from past events as once you have invested in the right kit it will always be there ready and waiting and will not require a great deal of management, only after you have used it. An Emergency First Aid Kit may be down your list of priorities or wish list but it is on that really could be the greatest gift of all, that of saving a life.

Planning for any emergency you need the right First Aid Kit. This review on Survival First Aid Kits explains it all.

Important Things To Note About Longterm Food Storage

Your family might face food shortages during unexpected lean times as a result of financial turmoil, supply chain collapses and even declined local crop production. If you have adequate storeroom, you will weather the storm much better than those who are less prepared. That is why longterm food storage should be considered as a very intelligent decision.

You might need a large amount of space to carry out this process effectively. A small house may not have adequate space to store enough items for longer periods specially if there are 3-4 members in your family. However, if you purchase space saving containers you will be able to get the maximum use of the available space in a small house.

It is very important to choose your storeroom location inside the house. If you have a basement, you can use it as a large storage space. However, you need to first make sure that the section is properly waterproofed. Moisture and humidity significantly reduce the shelf life of the items you stock up.

You can also use any other well-insulated sections of your home such as the pantry for this purpose. If you utilize spaces close to kitchen, you must keep heat sources away from the stored items. You need to select containers that allow you to utilize every corner of the closet. For example, there are space saving containers designed to facilitate even under-the-bed stores.

There are many online suppliers offering space saving containers. You can also choose an emergency supplier if you do not have sufficient space for the process. These providers use the best natural methods to preserve the taste and quality of groceries.

The current inflation especially the increase in prices of grocery signifies an incoming supplies shortage. For this reason, one should now consider longterm food storage as the best option. Remember you should not concentrate so much on food and ignore water because it is equally of great importance to be able to sail over the difficult times.

An emergency can happen nearly anytime, so you need to to be prepared to care for yourself and your loved ones if you find you’re cut off from regular supplies. That is why you should consider investing in some one year food storage from Mayflower Trading Company. They sell a wide range of high quality affordable food items that are easy to handle, simple to prepare and taste good.