Monthly Archives: May 2014

May 3rd, 2014

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10 Essential OTC Medications for Your Emergency Kit

Modern medicine has made life easier and longer lasting in so many ways. Most people do not even realize that all of these wonderful things, like aspirin for example, have been around in their current form for only a little over 100 years. Our easy access to so many different medicines over the counter (OTC) is something that will be sorely missed should the S ever hit the fan.

Here are 10 OTC medicines that everyone should have in their emergency supplies, everyday carry and bug out bags.

1. Aspirin/Acetaminophen

First and foremost, there should be both adult and children’s (think chewable!) aspirin in your bag. The pain relief aside, this is excellent for fever reduction, thinning the blood, and helping someone recover from a heart attack or prevent future ones! Acetaminophen is inexpensive and is considered the most successful non-prescription medication in history.

2. Ibuprofen

Also good for pain relief and reducing inflammation and swelling due to menstrual cycles, arthritis or other pain caused by inflammation. It is a fever reducer much like acetaminophen but some can tolerate ibuprofen better.

3. Antacids

In a SHTF situation, people will still get gassy tummies or a lot of acid build-up due to stress and lack of food. Antacids will help with the discomfort and slow damage done to the stomach and esophagus. Ulcers are sure to form and for those who already have them, they will quickly run out of their prescriptions. Examples for stocking up are Tums, Alka-Seltzer, and Rolaids.

4. Antihistamines and Anti-allergens

Allergies will be even worse after SHTF. People will have to be outside more, if for no other reason than to gather, hunt, and grow food. Without electricity, staying inside may become unbearable in hot weather. For those in rural areas, once the prescriptions run out, all that will be left are things like Benadryl, Claritin, and Zyrtec. Antihistamines help with the reduction of swelling in the sinuses and assist with overall allergens by blocking the histamines that cause the symptoms.

5. Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol)

Also known as pink bismuth, this time-tested medicine covers many digestive system issues. Indigestion, nausea, and diarrhea are just some of the symptoms this medicine helps relieve. Diarrhea can kill if not taken care of, and one of the most important reasons for having something on hand is to keep yourself hydrated to make up for what you lose. Thankfully, this now comes in a convenient chewable pill form and is easy to carry with you.

6. Cough/Mucus Control

Sinus infections, influenza, allergies, damp conditions, and exposure can lead to being stuffed up, unable to breath or get the gunk out. Coming in both pill and liquid forms, this medicine has saved many people from a doctor visit (and bill). Other than providing relief for the ones who are ill, it can also help protect those who are not. If those who are sick are coughing a lot, the sickness has a better chance to spread.

7. Laxatives

No one wants to think about this but when their body forces them to, they will be eternally grateful for the little pill or chew that will relieve their discomfort. When in a SHTF situation occurs, what kinds of foods and how much or how often can result in constipation. If left untreated, constipation can kill.

8. Sleep Aides

In any major upset in your life, sleepless nights are often a side effect of the stress. Many people have troubles with, “turning their brain off,” so they can sleep. I would imagine that cases of insomnia will rise exponentially and in a post-disaster scenario, sleep will be more important than ever before. Your ability to make decisions and good judgments will be hindered from a prolonged lack of sleep. There are so many options for sleeping aides out there; I will leave it to you to decide which is best. Also consider natural remedies, such as lavender essential oil or dried lavender.

9. Saline Spray/Solution

Saline solution is another wonderful thing to have with you. Even a small bottle could save someone from infections or aid in another way. I am all for having versatile resources that have more than one use. Saline solution can help with wound irrigation, eye and sinus flushing, and of course cleaning your contact lenses.

10. Vitamins

SO MANY people overlook simple vitamins when talking about medicinal items to store and carry for emergencies. In my opinion, vitamins are more important than any of the other things listed here. In a post-disaster scenario, everyone who did not prepare will be suffering from a ‘lack.’ A lack of food, perhaps clean water, sanitation, and assuredly a vitamin deficiency will be all too common.

Your body needs vitamins and minerals to function normally. Your immune system will be fighting off bacteria and viruses at a higher rate, particularly in urban settings, and will need extra nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to help with the process. When it finds none, it will attack the muscles or other organs to get what it needs.

All of the above are easily bought over the counter without a prescription. Before you go out on a buying spree, though, take a look at your medicine cabinet and pull out all of the stuff stashed in there. Check expiration dates and keep them rotated.

Also, consider those who may be coming to you for help and if you are able to, buy a little extra for trade or barter. A bottle of 500 ibuprofen pills is small and easy to pack, not to mention worth a small fortune in a post-disaster situation. NOW is the time to get this checked off your preparedness list, when you can consider things in a calm and logical manner.

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

Via: thesurvivalmom

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May 2nd, 2014

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Include these homemade energy bar recipes in your survival kit: Earthquake or tornado survival

Will you have enough energy to survive in a bad situation? Here’s two energy bar recipes that might help.

Post by Leon Pantenburg

Food is the fuel your body burns to keep you warm and provide energy. It’s like putting gas in your car: Without fuel, you won’t be able to go far. When your energy “tank” runs dry during an emergency, you will feel weak, cold and not have enough energy to save yourself. Food, like your survival knife, is one of the Ten Essentials, and should be included, in some form, in your survival kit.

Make healthy, high nutrition snacks a part of

your urban or wilderness survival gear.

There are essentially two extremes of wilderness cooking. My hard-core foodie friends in the Central Oregon Dutch Oven Society take their Dutch oven related gear, find a beautiful spot outdoors and cook gourmet meals.

At the other extreme is the hunter or backpacker. When I’m doing either of those activities, I want fuel. Taste is secondary to calories.

When it comes to backpacking or survival food, most of us want to be somewhere in the middle. We want high-calorie, good-tasting food that doesn’t weight much. Cost and long shelf life is also a consideration. There are many excellent commercial energy bars, but you can make your own much cheaper. An added benefit is that the recipes can be tweaked to your tastes, and there are no mystery ingredients.

Earthquakes cause widespread damage, and survivors will need energy.

This 1906 photo of the San Francisco earthquake shows some of the devastation. (Library of Congress)

Here are some homemade energy bar recipes that are full of good ingredients. I’ve tweaked and substituted some of the ingredients, because I can’t leave recipes alone.

Wrap the bars individually and make extras for tucking into school backpacks, survival kits and daypacks.

Basic Energy Bars
1 egg

1/2 cup brown sugar (I use organic cane sugar)

l tsp. vanilla extract

l cup granola

1/2 cup raisins (or any chopped dried fruit)

1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts (or your favorite nut)

1 1.69-oz. pkg. M&M’s chocolate candies (or you can substitute carob chips)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter or oil an 8- x 8-inch square pan (preferably nonstick). Crack the egg into a medium-sized bowl. Add the sugar and vanilla extract and mix thoroughly. Stir in the granola, raisins, hazelnuts and M&M’s and mix until combined. Replace the M&M’s with carob chips, to cut down on sugar content.
Transfer to the pan and distribute evenly over the bottom, pressing firmly with your hands. Bake for 25 minutes. Cool and cut into bars or squares. Serves 8 to 12.

Emergency Ration Recipe

By: various survival sites

2- 1/2 cups nonfat milk powder
3 cups rolled oats, barley, or wheat
1/2 package Jell-O powder, citrus
1 cup sugar (Substitute organic cane sugar)
2 tablespoon honey
3 tablespoon water

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Heat together water and honey, stir in Jell-O powder. Stir dry ingredients together, stir in Jell-O water, mix well. Then add additional water 1 tablespoon at a time, just until mixture can be formed into two bars. Dry in oven, wrap in foil to store. Each bar is 1000 calories. May be eaten as is, or cooked in a pint of water.

Start now to make sure you are staying prepared.

Via: survivalcommonsense

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Bug out Bags, Disaster, Prepper, Recipes 72 Hour Kits , BOB , disaster planning , emergency planning , food , meal preparation , Preparedness , Prepper , survival kit , survival planning

May 1st, 2014

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This Is What Happens When the Good Guy Has a Gun

As anti-gun lawmakers the country over work towards achieving a Utopic society without the Second Amendment, the fact is that those who would do harm to innocent people will not go away. Not only will they never give up their guns should they become illegal, but they’ll happily commit their crimes with knives, blunt weapons or even cars if that’s what it takes to get what they want.

The great equalizer since its invention in the 14th century has been the gun and as shown in the video report below, it still is.

A Houston, Texas woman was recently leaving a retail store with her children when she was jumped by two individuals who intended to snatch her purse. They dragged her with their vehicle and were just about to get away.

But before they had a chance to flee the Concealed/Carry version of a Good Samaritan stepped in to save the day.

This is what happens when the good guy has a gun and takes a stand against crime.

A man in another car nearby heard the screams, pulled out his pistol and rushed to the victim’s aid. He stopped the would-be robbers, holding them at gunpoint until the police arrived.

Police identified the suspects as Shamarion Daina Brooks, 34, and 48-year-old Jesse Leroy Grace. They were both taken into custody and charged with robbery by threat, police said. Police said Brooks also was charged with possession of a controlled substance while Grace was also charged with driving a stolen vehicle. (Chron)

Video provided by Black & Right via Steve Quayle:

The six bystanders shot at a FedEx facility in Georgia on Tuesday weren’t lucky enough to have an equalizer on hand.

In Kennesaw, where the shooting occurred, the town has an ordinance stipulating the mandatory ownership of guns for every household in the city. This prompted New York Times writer Timothy Noah to suggest that the debate over gun ownership should be renewed.

There’s a sad twist to the shooting Tuesday morning at a FedEx facility in Kennesaw, Ga., where an employee injured six co-workers before turning the gun on himself. Kennesaw is one of several U.S. cities and towns that have an ordinance requiring every household to own a gun.

What’s most amusing about Noah’s attempt to highlight the fact that every household in Kennesaw has a gun, yet the FedEx shooter still managed to wound six people, is the picture included in the article.

Can you spot the problem?

Here is a zoom on the relevant portion, in case you missed it:

There is not one, but two signs warning potential FedEx customers that firearms were prohibited on the premises.

And where did the teenage shooter go when he decided to open fire on a bunch of people? The question is rhetorical, but follows the same sequence of events as the Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook and Aurora, Colorado shootings.

How would the events at these locations have played out had the signs looked more like one of these?