Thanks – or No thanks – to the 24-hour News Channels, we are constantly bombarded with tragic events occurring around the world.  Natural disasters – tsunamis, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, floods – or man-made disasters – such as home invasions, accidents or terroristic activity – are front and center on the news everyday.  It is not a question of “if,” but more than likely, “when” an accident or emergency is going to strike you or your loved ones.  Will your family be prepared in the event of a worst-case scenario?  There are four things that you can do right now to begin the journey to emergency preparedness.

 

There is an old adage, “Hope for the best and prepare for the worst”- this is a wise motto to embrace.  If we can be ready for worst case scenario disasters, then a week long power outage due to an ice storm will be a piece of cake! But are we prepared? A recent survey showed that a majority of American homes do not even have a bandaid, much less a first aid kit in case of emergencies -  not only are they not ready for a natural disaster, they can’t even bandage a child’s scrapped knee! 

 

There are thousands of books on Disaster -proofing your family, but the odds that a family that doesn’t own a bandaid would read one of them, are slim!  Therefore, here are the top four things you can do to prepare your family for natural or man- made disasters:

 





1. Have a well stocked First Aid Kit:  When an injury occurs, the last thing you want to do is wish you had the proper equipment to give medical care to your loved ones.  We all need a first line of defense in our homes to be prepared for an emergency situation – a well stocked First Aid Kit is the answer.  At a minimum, it should include assorted bandages, gauze, rubbing alcohol, antibiotic ointment, pain relievers, thermometer, cotton balls and adhesive tape.  The size of your first aid kit and its contents will depend on the size of your family, their needs and their lifestyle.  Pre-packaged first aid kits are economical and will contain the essential items that you need – you can then customize it by adding things that are tailored to suit your family’s individual needs.(If Dad is a diabetic, include some hard candy in the event of diabetic shock, and don’t forget your prescription medications and an extra pair of eyeglasses).  Now that you have a well-stocked kit, you should familiarize yourself with all the items in it and know when and how to use them properly.  It would be a good idea to have a complete kit for your home and smaller kits for your cars, purses or your child’s locker at school – you should always have the proper first aid essential on hand.

 





2. Have batteries, flashlights and weather radios readily accessible:  Unfortunately, power outages usually go hand in hand with weather related emergencies, so be sure you have an adequate supply of fresh batteries at home.  Keep a working flashlight on every nightstand (you don’t want to be fumbling around in the dark- that’s an accident waiting to happen!) and have a weather radio nearby to keep your family informed of any watches or warnings in your area so you can take shelter accordingly.  Having a radio, flashlights or battery-powered lanterns ready ahead of time (we don’t recommend candles because of the obvious fire hazard) and your family can remain safe, informed and relatively calm during any storm.

 





3. Have a supply of ready to eat food and water on hand:  This is just good old common sense – our grandparent use to call it “putting away” for winter.  I’m afraid many families today only buy enough groceries to last until the next week’s shopping trip – there is no back up provisions in case of emergency.  Well, there are all kinds of emergencies – a trucker strike as well as weather emergencies could shut down grocery stores, halting the food supply.  As we saw with Hurricanes Katrina and Ike, because of the nature of the storms and their aftermath, help was impeded and people were without food and water for days.  Be prepared in advance.  We should all have enough rations on hand to get us comfortably by until help arrives – plan on at least 14 days worth (most will tell you 72 hours, but in most cases, it takes on average about 5 days to a week to get back to ‘normal’.  Do your part and be prepared so you don’t get in the way of first responders or those who were not prepared and must run to an under stocked grocery store) To accomplish this, just add a few more cans of soup, some familiar foods( not army dehydrated food) and some bottles of water every time you go shopping, and you will build up a nice emergency food supply.  Store your food and water in a cool dark place, rotating the food every six months – keep an eye on the expiration dates.

 





4 Have copies of important documents in one place:    Where are all of your important documents?  Could you recreate your life in the case of a fire?  You should have all original documents in a safe deposit box in an out of town bank or fire resistant safe.  Make copies of vital papers – all title deeds, insurance policies, warranties, driver’s license, Social Security cards, bank statements, investment papers, passport and any other papers that would be key in re- building your life after a disaster. It might also help if you send a second package of copy to an out of town family along with copies of your precious pictures to them as well.  Once you have made copies of all of these, keep them in a water and fireproof container that you can easily grab and go in a worst-case scenario (fire or flood).  These papers will be essential in establishing any insurance claim in the aftermath of any catastrophic event.

 

Keep in mind, the government is not your Mom; they do not keep all of your vital information stored in one place!

 

This article is not intended to scare anyone – but with a little advance preparation, our families can have a greater sense of security and peace of mind. Make sure to follow the government and the first responder’s directions so you do not become part of the problem.  Again, “hope for the best, and be prepared for the worst” –   Be smart.  Be prepared.

 

 

If you’re an outdoors kind of person, and a dog owner, you may have considered bringing your dog along with you on a hike this summer. Humans have been hiking and trailing the various landscapes of the Earth with dogs as companions and guides for thousands and thousands of years. This symbiotic relationship between man and canine can be observed in a very popular children’s movie that came out a few years ago known as Ice Age. In the movie, the early humans carried supplies with them to keep their dogs well-fed and occupied on the long journeys.

The first of the dog supplies that you need to have in your hiking inventory are the essentials to preserving the life of your dog. You need to pack plenty of food and water for him or her, and make sure that you pack enough in case of an emergency (such as getting lost in the woods and not being able to find your way back to civilization for several days or weeks). I wouldn’t buy the dog food that comes in bags that you find at the grocery store. Instead, I would get the canned dog food that almost looks like liquid beef when you pour it out of the can. This will save you a lot of time and energy, as you won’t need to lug around several bags of dog food. It’s also a lot less expensive to get a couple boxes of Alpo instead of seven or eight bags of Kibbles & Bits.

Next, you need to make sure your dog has a powerful leash that you can easily get your hand around and hold onto tightly. I’ve heard countless stories of people hiking in the woods with their dogs (without a leash mind you), and the dog will see a rabbit or a squirrel and run off to chase it. A lot of people have lost their dogs this way, so make sure you get a sturdy leash from a store that specializes in pet-related merchandise such as PetSmart. While you’re there, don’t forget to grab a chew toy or two for your dog in case he or she gets bored while on the hike. I would also recommend picking up some treats.

Lastly, you need to have some type of first-aid kit specifically designed for your dog. Dogs may believe they’re invincible, but you and I know that they can get hurt just like us while experiencing the great outdoors. Snake bites, bug bites, broken limbs, and overheating are all very real and dangerous things that could happen to your dog. Your dog’s first-aid kit should be made to handle any situation, whether it’s a scrape or an entire limb being severed.

Going on hikes with your dog can be a very rewarding and beneficial experience for not only you, but for your dog as well. If you’re mindful of where you’re going, and you take every precaution necessary to ensure your dog’s safety and overall well-being, your hikes should be very wonderful memories that you and your dog will never forget. Hiking with your dog is truly an amazing bonding experience that no dog owner should pass up.

How to Survive in the Woods

Ever been on a hike admiring the wild flowers, gazing up at the tips of the trees, and suddenly found yourself completely alone and lost? What would happen to you if you couldn’t find your way back to safety? While being lost in the woods can be a frightening experience, surviving alone in the wild is generally a matter of common sense, patience, and wisely using the gifts that nature provides. All you need to survive for a few days is shelter, warmth, water, and food.

Steps

Preparing

1. Plan ahead. Don’t just trek off into the wilderness, do some research first. There are a lot of resources regarding and in libraries, but warning: many of the techniques used in these manuals are sometimes wrong or incomplete. One of the most accurate books about this subject is “Bushcraft – Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival” by Mors Kochanski. Educate yourself about the flora and fauna of the area you are exploring. Knowledge of the local plants and animals can save your life! Also, see if you need any medication or injections.

2. Make sure someone knows where you are going every time you go into the wilderness, and how long you intend to be gone. That way someone will realize that you are missing, quickly help your friends alert rescuers, and be able to tell them where to start looking for you. Note: this is like a ‘flight plan’ which pilots file before leaving. Similarly, don’t forget to call the person(s) you notified to tell them when you are back. Like “the boy who cried wolf” a false alarm wastes rescue resources and may be costly (some communities have begun to bill the parties responsible).

3. Be prepared. Basic survival tools such as a knife, a magnesium stone, some matches, some cord, a whistle, a “space blanket”, signaling mirror, etc. can mean the difference between life and death. Even if you are only out on a day hike, be sure to bring the essentials. Having all this equipment is nothing if you cannot use it properly. Make sure to practice many times in a safe environment before venturing into the wilderness. Also, know how to catch and cook fish and game if the need arises.

4. Cell phone with spare battery or a portable CB radio can be your best, quickest means of rescue if you are truly lost or injured. A cell signal may only be obtainable from a hill or tree – but be safe if contemplating a climb. Serious hikers may even consider investing in a personal locator beacon for extended, precarious, or very remote, treks.

During the situation

1. Don’t panic. Panic is more dangerous than almost anything else, because it interferes with the operation of your single best, most useful and versatile survival tool: your mind. The moment you realize that you are lost, before you do anything else, stop. Take a deep breath and stay calm. Even if you’re hanging from a rope halfway down a mountainside with a broken leg, remind yourself that people have survived exactly this situation.

2. Stand still and look around carefully! Wherever you are will become your “point zero.” Find a way to mark it using a spare piece of clothing, a pile of rocks, a sheet of paper, or anything else easily visible from a distance.

3. Stay in one place, and you not only increase your chances of being found, you also increase your ability to survive by reducing the energy your body expends and the amount of water and food you will need. Hunker down and stay put. Chances are that someone will be looking for you, especially if you let someone know your plans, (see above).

4. Signal your location to maximize the odds that someone finds you. Make noise by whistling, shouting, singing, or banging rocks together. If you can, mark your location in such a way that it’s visible from the air. If you’re in a mountain meadow, make three piles of dark leaves or branches in a triangle. In sandy areas, make a large triangle in the sand. In a forest, you might want to prepare three small fires ready to ignite at a moment’s notice, with heaps of wet leaves nearby in order to make smoke. Three of anything in the wilderness is a standard distress signal.

5. Start scouting your area, carefully keeping track of your location. Be sure you can always find your way back to your “point zero” as you search for water, shelter, or your way home.

6. Find or create shelter. Without adequate shelter, you will be fully exposed to the elements and will risk hypothermia or heatstroke, depending on the weather. If you are not properly dressed for the conditions, finding shelter is all the more important. Luckily, the woods are filled with tools and resources to make both shelters and fires (for warmth, safety, and signaling purposes). Here are some things you can use:

* Look for a fallen or leaning tree. You can build a lean-to by stacking branches alongside a fallen tree, then over the branches with brush, palm fronds, or other plants.

* Use brush or green branches (boughs) from trees to repel water, block wind, keep out snow, or create shade. Close in your shelter on as many sides as possible.

* Caves can be great, but be sure the cave is not already occupied by bears, large cats, snakes or other unfriendly animals; they know caves are good too, and they’ve been looking for good shelter for longer than you have. Also make sure it’s not going to collapse on you- this reduces your chances of survival considerably.

7. Find a good source of water. In a survival situation, you can last up to three days without water, but by the end of the second day you’re not going to be in very good shape; find water before then.

* The best source of water is a spring, but the chances of finding one are slim. A running stream is your next best bet; the movement of the water reduces sediment. Be advised that drinking water from streams can lead to some sicknesses, but when you’re in a life-or-death situation, the risk of illness is a secondary consideration.

* Or use jacket sleeves to tie around your ankles when it’s morning, and walk in the grass to get dew on the sleeves, then suck the moisture out of the fabric.

8. Purify your water. A crude method of water purification is to take your handy pot and heat the water. For this to effectively kill bacteria, it must be at a rolling boil for at least three minutes[1].

9. Build a fire. Build a good sized fire, one with sufficient coals to stay hot for many hours, and make sure that you have plenty of extra dry wood.

* A good rule of thumb is to gather wood until you have enough to last the night, then gather three more piles of the same size, and you might have enough to get through the night.

* In the wilderness you should have access to dry wood in the understory of the forest. You can also use bark or dried dung. If you build a fire that is hot enough, you can also burn green wood, brush, or tree boughs to make a signaling fire (one that makes a lot of smoke).

* The best wood for maintaining a fire is dead wood that you pull off a standing tree. Regardless of what type of woods you are in, there will certainly be some dry wood available. Remember that a small fire is easier to keep burning than a big fire, though, because it requires less fuel. Once you have sufficient embers, keep the fire to a manageable size so you don’t spend too much time looking for fuel.

* Find tinder (small material, such as dry grass, feathers or bark shavings, that burns easily). When burned, Tinder creates alot of smoke, that alerts people to your location.

* Start the fire. You can usually use the energy from the sun to start a fire with a magnifying glass, a lens from your glasses, a piece of broken glass, a cover to a watch or compass, or other clear, light-intensifying objects. It is very difficult to start a fire by friction; your best bet is to carry a variety of fire-starting implements.

10. Find safe food. Know that most healthy adults can survive up to three weeks without food unless it’s cold.[2] It’s better to be hungry and healthy than ill. Make sure that you know food is safe before eating it. If there is anything that will lessen your ability to survive, it is being both lost and deathly ill. Starvation won’t be a big problem.

* Don’t be afraid to eat insects and other bugs. While it may be disgusting to eat a few grasshoppers, they do provide useful nutrition. All insects should be cooked as they can harbor parasites that can kill you. Do not eat any caterpillars or brightly colored insects, as these can poison you. Do not eat any insect that can bite or sting you, such as bees and scorpions. Remember if it has six legs or less, it’s most likely ok to eat. Remove the legs, head and wings of any insect before eating.

* If you are near water, fish are a good choice. The only problem is they are hard to catch. Minnows can be eaten whole. Bigger fish will have to be cooked.

* Berries are good to eat. There is a color test to berries that can help you find what is edible. White and yellow berries are poisonous 90% of the time. Blue and black berries are okay to eat 90% of the time. Red berries are a 50-50 shot. Aggregate berries (Bumpy ones like blackberries and raspberries ) are okay to eat 100% of the time, with the only exception being a white berry that grows in Alaska.

Tips

* Tie bright clothing (jackets, bandannas, and even underwear) to the top of a tree to attract attention.

* If you’re stuck without a compass, you can orient yourself by taking your watch, aligning the hour hand with the sun, then placing a blade of grass in between the hour hand and the 12 on your watch. The direction the blade of grass is pointing is South. This works in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, reverse the role of the the hour-hand and 12, and the blade of grass will be pointing North. Near the equator, take note where the sun rises and sets, the sun rises from the east and sets on the west.

* You can survive several weeks without food, but only few days without water, and perhaps only hours without shelter. Keep your priorities straight.

* If you’re not absolutely sure where you are and how to get back to familiar territory, don’t proclaim, “I think it’s this way.” The more you move once you realize you’re lost, the worse your chances are of finding your way back.

* Consider taking a staff or walking stick with you. If you don’t have one, any staff-sized stick will do. The little mark it makes in the dirt will help you retrace your steps better than Hansel and Gretel.

* It is safer not to go into the wilderness alone.

* One of the most important survival tools is something that most people never consider: a tin cup. Without a tin cup it is difficult to cook many foods.

* A firearm has always been an essential tool of the woods. A .22 rifle or pistol can serve as a means of obtaining food, self-protection from humans or animals and a signaling device. The cartridges can also be used for fire-starting.

* Another under rated but important item for a survival pack is a large lightweight trash bag. They pack down small, but can be used to carry water from a stream, can be wrapped around a leafy branch end to trap the water vapor given off from the leaves, and can be used as an emergency poncho in wet or cold weather after cutting a hole for head and arms. Stuffing your makeshift poncho with extra leaves or grass can also give additional insulation when cold.

* Don’t rely upon modern technology like cell phones, GPS units, or radios to save you if you are lost. Take one with you if it’s available. But remember that these items are not foolproof; have a backup plan.

* An important acronym to remember is “STOP” which stands for stop, think, observe, and plan.

* Whenever you go out in the wilderness, (for example, going on a hike), bring a whistle. 1 blow means “I’m lost”, 2 blows means “I’m coming” (if you hear someone else blow a whistle), and 3 blows means “This is an emergency” (if you are hurt).

* At night, there is a greater risk of freezing to death. Stay dry. Bundle up. Get yourself off the ground. Make a “bed” of layers of branches, leaves, twigs, whatever is there, and cover yourself with the same stuff. To stay warm at night, heat rocks in the fire and then bury them. Sleep on top of the buried rocks. Make sure you bury them deep enough or you will burn yourself.

* If you happen to have a reflective object on you (a mirror, a belt buckle, whatever), use it as a signal by facing it towards the sun.

* If planning an extended trip into difficult or unfamiliar terrain, it is always a good idea to have a backup plan. Detailed maps/trail guides, extra food and water, and signaling devices such as a mirror, flare, or even (depending on the length and location of the trip) a satellite beacon (PLB) could save your life.

* Rain, snow, or dew can be a good source of clean water. You can use anything from a cup to a piece of waterproof cloth to a large leaf to collect precipitation.

* If you cannot stay where you are until someone finds you, do not just pick a direction and start walking, even if you have a means of ensuring that you continue to go that direction. Instead, try to go either uphill or downhill. Going uphill offers a good chance that you will find a vantage point, which can help you get your bearings. If you go downhill, you will probably find water which you can follow downstream; in many cases, this will lead you to civilization. But don’t follow water downstream at night or in fog as it may go off a cliff.

* Never, ever go into the woods without a compass. Note which direction you enter the woods from, say, a straight road or trail and if you get disoriented just head back in the opposite direction from which you entered. If you don’t have one, use or learn your cardinal directions from the stars and the positions of the sun and moon.

* Shoe/Boot laces make good rope in an emergency situation, but remember once they’re removed, walking will become more difficult.

* Shirt sleeves can be cut off and used as bandages if necessary. Remember to only tie them around a wound so that they are still loose enough to stick one or two fingers between the bandage and the appendage/body.

* A belt can also be used to hold a bandage in place (not too tightly!), as an equipment strap, or as a snare.

* The sleeves of a waterproof jacket can be used to hold water by tying one end of them.

* If you want to fish, you can make a fishing rod out of a stick about 2 meters (6 feet) long and 1-3 inches thick (just bring your own fishing hooks). Peel the bark off the stick and, with a knife or axe, cut a notch about 2-3 inches from the top of the rod. Tie one end of any string or cord placed in the notch, then tie the hook on the other end of the string or cord. Also, you can try to bait the hook with a small piece of meat, an insect, or any other thing you want to try to use as bait.

* Your primary survival knife should be a fixed blade with a solid, sturdy handle; a folding knife should only be used as a back-up, although it is better than nothing.

Warnings

* Keep your fire contained! Ensure that there is no combustible material underneath your fireplace and enclose it completely with rocks or a berm made of sand. Put your fire out with copious amounts of water: saturate it, so that there is no possibility of even the tiniest spark remaining. You should be able to touch the extinguished coals with your bare hand. It’s one thing to be lost in the woods, but quite another to be lost and surrounded by a forest fire caused by your own negligence.

* If you encounter snakes, leave them alone. Snakes bite because they are hungry or because they are threatened. We are too big to be seen as prey to most snakes; they do not regard humans as food. Stand still and the snake will go away. Attack it and it will retaliate. If one curls up in your kit, use a long stick to gently prod it away. If it comes in your direction, stand still. It doesn’t know that you are causing its discomfort and if you do not jump around, it will probably not even notice you. There are several ways to identify venomous snakes, but it is best to treat every snake cautiously unless you can make a positive identification. In a survival situation, it is possible to eat snake. If you don’t know whether a snake is venomous or not, but would like to eat it, a good rule of thumb is to cut off the head, and then cut the same distance back from that point down the body. This will remove the venom glands, if there are any. Remember, though, that it is against federal law to kill certain endangered species of snakes, and it is against some state laws to kill any snake (snakes help control vermin and insect levels).

* Make sure that, if you heat rocks for warmth, that they are not wet. When heating them in the fire, they will explode as the water inside the cracks turn to vapor. Keep in mind that this might also be a concern when in a cave–too much heat on overhanging or adjacent rocks can cause explosions or shifting of your shelter.

* Never travel directly in a river because water absorbs your heat much more than air, which can lead to hypothermia.

* Drinking your own urine as a source of water is not recommended.[3]

Things You’ll Need

These are things that are very hard to make or that you won’t find in the woods.

* Whistle with a compass in it (these are sold on a necklace of cord sometimes, and you can use the cord, too, if you need it)

* Water container

* Fire starters – Matches, Lighter, Flint/Magnesiumn & Steel, Magnifying glass or lens(sometimes on the cord of a compass)

* Lint or fluff (it’s weightless and good tinder)

* Pot to boil water/cook food

* Universal tool/Swiss Army Knife

* Map of area

* Fishing hooks and a good quantity of fishing line. Coil it up and stow in a pocket. The hooks are good if you want to fish, but can come in handy for other purposes, too, and they weigh almost nothing. Stick them and the wire into your wallet and put it in your back pocket.

* Three or four protein bars, or small portions of trail mix

* Space blanket or bivvy bag (both high visibility of reflective)

* Basic first aid kit

* Small water bottles(unopened until you get lost)

* At least a 5 inch pocket knife

Optional Items

* water purifying tablets

* spare clothes

* magnifying glass (for fire)

* compass

* cotton balls in a bag with Vaseline on them (This is not only for chapped lips, but as an ointment for cuts and sunburn relief. Most importantly, when you tear the cotton balls, and mix them with the Vaseline, the result is very flammable, which will burn smoothly and for a long duration. This is great for making torches and starting fires. Do not use on burns!)

* Rope/string

* Sewing kit/floss(useful for repairs and fishing line)

When planning a trip into the wilderness, whether it be for camping, fishing or hunting there are some survival essentials that you must take with you.

Shelter

We will start with your shelter. This is one of the obvious survival essentials. Although some people do not mind sleeping under the stars, having shelter from the elements can make or break your trip.

There are many different types and sizes of tents on the market. Determine how many people will be sharing your tent before your trip and whether or not you will need a second tent to store your gear. If you do not want to bring another tent, bring a tarp (if you have room) to cover your supplies to keep them dry.

Secondly, a sleeping bag that is designed for the climate is another of the survival essentials. All sleeping bags should have a label that indicates the temperature rating of the bag. However, they are not always accurate. This is one item that you should not go cheap on; you usually get what you pay for in a sleeping bag.

Food and Water

You should always bring enough food; this may seem like an obvious survival essential and it is. When planning your trip, it is very important to plan your meals. This way you should be sure of taking enough food and not taking too much with you, especially if you are hiking or portaging.

Since water is heavy to carry, take a water filter and pump or iodine tablets if there will be water where you are going. If water is going to be scarce on your trip then one of your survival essentials will be taking enough water with you for everyone in the group. I hope that you will have a pack mule or something to carry it all!

Make sure you have a variety of healthy food with you so that you are not deficient in some vital nutrients. You can expend a lot of energy while outdoors and you need to replenish your strength each day.

Tools

A sharp hunting knife is another of the survival essentials. No camper should venture into the wilderness without one. It is used as a tool and a weapon of protection if needed.

An implement for cutting wood is also an important tool. Check out the local camping supply stores for some very handy folding saws. A small hatchet can be very helpful as well.

I usually carry a good multi tool as well. This can be clipped on your belt along with the knife. With the advances in technology, you have other resources readily available these days, including a GPS and satellite telephone.

Backpack

A good waterproof pack would be an important piece of equipment, but would it be a survival essential? Not necessarily, a pack will not save your life, but it will keep your gear from getting wet and it is much easier to carry everything as well.

Fire

At one time, waterproof matches were considered one of the survival essentials. However, not so much anymore. With the advent of fire paste and other fire starters, matches are becoming obsolete. I have had waterproof matches get wet and become useless. Even carrying a small lighter is a good idea. There are ways to start a fire without some fire starter of some kind, but it can be difficult without experience.

First Aid Kit

Having a stocked first aid kit is another of the important survival essentials. Before leaving on your trip, check your kit to make sure it is not out of anything. Some important components of the kit should be band-aids, antiseptic, gauze, tweezers, bug bite cream or spray and other items that may be needed for the area you are traveling in such as snakebite kits etc. Also, included should be painkillers such as Tylenol for example. If anyone in your group requires specific medication then they are responsible for bringing it with them.

Planning

Planning the trip is one of the most important aspects of the survival essentials. Your route should be mapped clearly. You should have more than one map with you. In addition, you must provide your trip plans to friends or family who are not going with you. People need to know when to expect you back and where to look for you if you are not back on time. Alert the local authorities or park Warden to your trip plan as well. In addition, stick to your plan; do not decide to change it when you have already begun the trip. Search and Rescue can be quite expensive!

Wilderness trips can be a lot of fun if planned properly. Never take a trip without the survival essentials.

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Whether a natural disaster like El Nino, global warming or a foreign terrorist threat, keep a HelpWare™ Emergency Supply kit, on hand, and don’t forget the special items like a Poncho, a port a potty for hygiene and disease control, potassium iodide, and other essential preparedness supplies. An ounce of prevention, like storage of purified water, water purifying filter for an earthquake or natural disaster, radios to communicate and learn what Emergency Services are available, basic rations for you ready pack, and overall readiness, can prepare you and your loved ones or coworkers to ride out the 72 hour period recommended while awaiting rescue.

For your vehicle, always have an emergency roadside kit on hand with Road Flares, rope, rucksack, and generals safety supplies, maybe a safety vest, wool blanket, solar Blanket, Army Knife, solar radio flashlight, spot light, waterproof poncho, & whistle.

Make sure your kids are safe with school emergency kits and school emergency first aid supplies. School kits should include the basic food, water, first aid, communication, sanitary, and heating/shelter supplies, and the school (like your workplace) should be prepared with adequate search and rescue kits, security, and supplies with adequate shelf life. Check back at our online survival store regularly for our specials like solar powered flashlights and radios, and see our seasonal specials on survival kits, and survival supplies.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our survival tips, and look for new items each Month such as our U.S. Coast Guard Approved Survival Food and US Coast Guard Approved First Aid Kits. Also Visit the USGS for earthquake information, and learn about volcanic threats, volcanoes are as likely a threat in the US now as war, so think of the essential needs like Water in a sealed water barrel, portable plastic water container, water preserver or water purifier, waterproof containers for clothing and shelter items, and other common, yet hard to find wilderness survival, winter storm, Flash flood safety kits, products and supplies – We’ll be here when you are ready to prepare! many of our products are sold at better than wholesale price to the Public with a huge selection of Manufacturer Direct Safety Product Sales since 1994. Our network of online companies have better purchasing power and are able to pass the savings on the to customer.

Most mothers live in a constant state of worry about the right nutrition for kids and how to go about achieving it. The problem does not lie with their lack of information but with the un-cooperative attitude of their children. Almost all kids seem to have problems with consuming the kind of nutritious food that aids mental and physical development. Struggles relating to food issues are ubiquitous and mothers are commonly found discussing strategies to overcome this barrier. How do you ensure that your child has a healthy eating habit and does not fall ill or suffer otherwise due to inadequate nutrition in his diet?

The frank answer is that you have to begin planning right from your child’s infancy so that she is naturally attracted to healthy food. Nutrition for kids is not something that you can change overnight after the realization dawns in that you have a problem on your hands with your kids’ eating pattern. However, with some perseverance, you will achieve your goal and your child will turn into an adventurous and keen eater. The best way to start, though, is from the initial stages when you breastfeed your child.

Breastfeeding ensures that your child has only the necessary amount of milk and does not drink even when she is satiated. This is one of the drawbacks of bottle-feeding wherein the parent encourages the child to drink the entire bottle and the child does so despite feeling full. If this habit of over-eating persists into adult life, your child may face problems of obesity and other weight related issues. So, stop the bottle and start breast-feeding your child whenever possible.

A great way to guarantee nutrition for kids is to have your kids share their mealtime with you. A small toddler feels grown-up and important by being included in this ritual. This will make her more receptive to new food items on the table. Observing the talk and the laughter that accompanies food will also heighten her sense of well-being and this feeling is extended to the food that goes with it.

Many a time, parents do not let children eat by themselves even if that is what the child wants. Mothers especially fear the resultant mess when the child feeds herself. This hurts the tender ego of your child who perceives it as a complete lack of control over her activities. Many kids refuse food thereafter as they want to express their sense of dissatisfaction in some way or the other. Losing your rigidity as a parent is very important here. You need to let your child experiment with her capabilities and eating food by herself is high on the priority list of to-dos for your child. By allowing your child to so, you are not only providing nutrition for kids but also helping them to become independent.

A reliable method of tempting your child to try new items on his platter is by presenting her with a wide array of interesting choices. Of course, lack of time may not always permit you to do so, but at least try this twice a week so that your child looks forward to the menu and forms a good impression of the whole eating experience.

Since most kids are averse to trying out vegetables and fruits in their diet, nutrition for kids means devising creative ways of getting them involved in the cooking process. You could even take them to the supermarket with you and let them select a vegetable or fruit of their choice. Planting your own garden is another way of provoking the curiosity of your child. You can encourage your child to tend certain vegetable plants as a pet project. Your child will naturally be interested in sampling out vegetables or fruits that come from his/her particular plant. Letting your child help with the cooking will also prompt him to take an active part in the proceedings and feel a direct interest in the food menu.

As kids have a tendency to get bored with repetitive food choices, exert your ingenuity and culinary skills by coming up with something totally novel once in a while. Your child will definitely appreciate your efforts and reciprocate with fervor by avidly trying out your menu. Combining vegetables with food items like pizza, soups, macaroni and cheese etc. is a good way of meeting up with the nutrition for kids’ requirement. Again, whipping up a healthy fruit salad frequently and storing fresh fruits can serve as a healthy replacement for your child’s desert needs.

Despite your diverse tactics, your child may disappoint you once in a while and refuse healthy food. Do not react with anger and frustration at these times and above all, never coerce your child into eating as this will infuse a negative feeling into the entire eating experience. The mature thing to do during such occasions is to just let go and present the same item at some future juncture when your child is more amenable to trying out new food items. This will help your nutrition for kids plan in the long run.

One of the best ways to create a healthy eating pattern for your child is to focus on family mealtimes. Make this time of the day as leisurely as possible and make the dining place a venue for discussing things that you enjoy or the good things that happened to each family member that day. You should always try and avoid arguments or other negative emotions from creeping into the family mealtime as this will directly impact the quality of your eating experience. Thus, if family mealtimes can be converted into ‘happy times’ for your family, your kids will pick up healthy eating patterns and your nutrition for kids plan will be a success.

However, when following or including these tips into your family plan, do remember that every child will have specific nutrition needs and a generalized nutrition for kids plan will not work. Also, kids’ appetites and tastes keep on changing every day, so you need to develop a flexible approach to your child’s eating habits and never impose a harsh diet regime for your child. Apart from this, you also need to focus on your own dietary intake. If you follow a healthy lifestyle and opt for healthy and nutritious food, your children will automatically follow your example. This will make it very easy for you to adopt a well-rounded diet plan for your child. So, before your start advising your child on correct eating habits, implement these into your own dietary schedule. By doing so, you will be blessed with kids who are healthy, well-developed and lead a relatively disease-free life. Isn’t that a parent’s dream come true?

If you look inside my medicine cabinet, you will see why Big Pharma might broke with too many guys like me around. The big pharmaceutical companies have to hate guys like me. Let me explain.

I had to check my medicine cabinet after my older sister recently sent me one of those emails about baby boomers getting older, and the stuff they supposedly are all taking as they age, or need to take. While I enjoyed the humor, I said to myself, I do not take any of these things. None. Was that true, I asked myself.

To see, I checked my medicine cabinet and the drawers in my bathroom. I was right. There was not one prescription medicine or anything like that, nothing.

I am not bragging; that is simply the truth. I take no prescription drugs. No blood pressure or cholesterol medicine. My medicine cabinet contains no drugs of any kind, prescription, over the counter, off the Net, anything.

No laxatives. No Joint Juice or other such creaky bone medicines, and I am of the age where supposedly people need these. Speaking of which, no Viagra or other erection pills. Again, I am not bragging but I have never had the slightest need for these products. I am old, yet I am lusty, as Shakespeare says in Richard III.

I do not even have aspirin. What do I have? Really boring stuff. Band-aids. Contact lens solution. A skin moisturizer. Dental floss. Toothpaste. Anti-bacterial ointment for cuts. Deodorant.

Like I say, boring stuff, but no medicines, prescription drugs or any other kind of drug or medicinal potions, not even headache remedies of any kind. I do not get headaches, and rarely have aches or pains.

As I write this in April, I sailed healthfully through the past flu season, which I read was a nasty one, without the flu and without a flu shot. I did not catch a cold this past cold season and I rarely do any time. I cannot remember the last time I was sick. But I know it was not for long.

I do remember the last time I went to the doctor. It was an emergency trip to the hospital for an appendectomy, more than 22 years ago.

If you ask to what do I attribute my spectacular health, the answer is easy: my balanced, plant-based diet of whole, fresh, natural foods and lots of great, fun outdoor exercise. My main beverage is pure, filtered water. I eat no junk food, fast food or any kind of refined food. Just whole, natural foods, nothing taken away, nothing added. Foods as grown.

I adhere to a strict code of conduct in the area of eating. Only premium fuels go into my body. And I love real food, nutrient-dense, delicious, colorful, natural foods.

Not only is my diet and exercise program great for fat loss and fitness, but for overall spectacular health. I honestly believe that the most important thing we do every day is what we eat and drink. And great outdoor exercise is just as important.

What I do not eat, drink or take is just as important to my program. I do not eat meat, fish, poultry, dairy products of any kind, or eggs. I do not eat fast food or processed, refined, packaged foods. I eat whole, natural foods, nothing added, nothing taken away.

I do not drink protein shakes or energy drinks. No coffee, caffeine drinks or alcohol. Those caffeine drinks, by the way, include all the phony energy drinks that are laced with caffeine. And on my list of beverages I never drink are sodas, including diet sodas, ice tea drinks, ice coffee drinks, and booster beverages like Ensure and Boost.

I do not take fat blaster pills of any kind, or vitamins or supplements. I believe it is important for those who do not eat animals or animal products to make sure they get adequate amounts of vitamin B-12. I get mine from eating nutritional yeast, which is different from brewers yeast. I have developed a fondness for nutritional yeast and enjoy it in a number of different dishes. Vitamin B-12 is also available in foods fortified with it and in supplement form.

I recently took a fitness test given by the American College of Sports Medicine and scored the highest possible score for 20 to 29-year-olds.

If you want what I have, whatever age you are, and I am 60, try following my example. I firmly believe you will like the results, for many spectacularly healthy reasons.

Pet first aid kits are an essential part of the survival of pets during emergencies. The importance of preparing for calamities, not only for yourself and family, but also for your pets has been underscored after a lot of dead pets were found in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which hit several areas in the southern parts of the United States. A lot of dogs, cats and even other exotic animals were left in the streets on their own as humans evacuated because of the said hurricane. It was a sad story but truly, you and your animal will have a better chance of surviving big disasters and emergencies only if you plan ahead.

Assembling your pet first aid kit is one of the first things you should do to help ensure the survival and happiness of your pet during emergency situations. Remember that pets are more sensitive than humans when it comes to feeling catastrophes or natural disasters, so there is a big possibility that they will react violently or restlessly before, during and even after the calamity. Because of this, you need to include pet safety products such as lighted collars, possible motion activated dog tags, and even pet carriers. Of course, you also need to provide emergency survival pet food and water for your precious pooches, cats, or birds. It is important that you check the food and water supply of your pets regularly to ensure that they are good when disaster strikes. We would recommend that you keep at least a three day supply of emergency food and water for your pet, just like is recommended for your emergency kit.

Apart from food and water, your pet first aid kits should also contain blankets, chew sticks, and even playthings to help them cope during emergency situations. If you will be staying in evacuation centers, it is a good idea to bring along poop bags and/or WAG bags to maintain the sanitation of the place. In case your evacuation place does not allow animals inside for sanitary reasons, you need to make a back-up plan about where your animal can stay. An alternative shelter and/or pet carrier for your pet is essential for its survival, so do not forget about it.

A good pet first aid kit and a three day supply of food and water are really important if you treat your pet as a member of your family. You will be glad you prepared in advance.