Keeping Important Documents Safe and Secure

We're just preparing for that wide-spread disaster that will cause us to pick up all of our preps and head for the hills.  It is just as important to be prepared for those disasters that can happen at any moment, such as a house fire, that can affect just us and the loved ones at our homes.  We hope and pray that nothing will happen to our home, but it’s a good idea to be prepared “just in case”. You likely have insurance on your home and many material things in your house can be easily replaced should disaster strike. Other things like photos and important documents can be hard or impossible to replace. Missing documents can make it harder to rebuild after disaster strikes. That’s why it is a good idea to keep them safe and secure.

Invest In A Fire Safe: A good fire safe will survive a lot of damage. Invest in a quality one for any documents you want to keep at home. You can get a fairly small box that can be stashed away in a closet or cabinet. Make sure both you and your spouse know where the safe is kept and has a key to open it. 

Get A Bank Safety Deposit Box: You may also want to rent a bank deposit box and store important documents, or notarized copies of them there. This will come in handy when you need the information on the documents (i.e. your insurance policy number), or you need to replace documents that didn’t survive a home emergency. 

Make Physical Copies: It’s amazing how much easier it is to get a replacement passport or birth certificate if you have a copy of the original. That’s why it’s helpful to make these paper copies and keep them in a secure offsite location (like a bank deposit box). You could also keep them at a family member’s home. Make sure the copies are stored safely to avoid issues like identity theft. 

Make Digital Copies And Store Them Online: Last but not least, go ahead and scan the documents or take pictures of them with your phone and store them on a secure online server. Places like Google Photo and Google Drive will store quite a bit of information for you free of charge.  If you have a Microsoft Office 365 subscription, that subscription gives you one terabyte of online cloud storage.  Since your documents and scans are living in the cloud, you can easily access them from anywhere with your phone or a borrowed computer. This also makes it easy to email them off to insurance agents, or government officials to get replacement documents made. 

Spend a little time this week to sort through your most important documents and get your paperwork in order. It won’t take you long to scan them, take pictures of them, and/or make photocopies. The little work you’re doing now to be prepared will potentially save you a lot of headaches down the road. 

Make it a point to revisit your documents every 6 months to make sure everything is up to date and in order. Once the original setup is done, it will be much easier to keep up with it. You’ll likely only need to change out one or two document copies a year. 

Refuse To Be A Victim - Awareness, Avoidance, Confidence

Knowing how to defend yourself is great, and it is something that everybody should learn how to do. Avoiding being attacked altogether, however, is even better, and of course, it is safer.  When it comes to potential crime there is one essential rule -- refuse to be a victim. The fact is that if you look like a victim, you are more likely to become one. So, how can you avoid looking like and becoming a victim?

Many of us spend our spare moments looking at our tablets and smartphones, talking on the phone, or even relaxing with our MP3 players and headphones. While all of these devices are wonderful, they can distract us from what is happening around us. When you are out and about, your surroundings need your attention more, and if you have headphones on, you won't hear any "out of the ordinary" noises. Put off using these devices until you are in an area where you really are safe and can relax.

Changing a few habits, and doing without distractions can save your life!  Awareness, avoidance, and confidence are a few of your best self-defense tools that you already have and won't cost you anything except time to adapt and let them become your second nature.  Here are some additional tips to help you to avoid becoming a victim:

First, avoid places where an attack may occur without notice by others. This includes dark streets and alleys, abandoned parking lots, and other under-populated areas. If you must venture into such areas, make sure that you do not go alone.

Be aware of your surroundings, and listen to your gut instincts. Safety is not always convenient.  Criminals don't like to be noticed, and if they realize that you are paying close attention to your surroundings, they are more likely to go away and look for another victim. If you must go out of your way to avoid putting yourself in danger -- do so! No appointment or destination is more important than your safety and your life.

Women: If there is a great deal of walking involved to reach your destination, wear shoes that you can run in, and carry those slingback heels in your bag. It's hard to get away from an attacker in high heels.

Avoid flashing things that may be of great interest to a thief. This includes electronic devices, purses, wallets, and jewelry. This doesn't mean that you can't carry these items; it just means that you should be discreet with them. You don't want these items to attract unwanted attention.

Look people in the eye and acknowledge them. Again, criminals don't want to be noticed. If you've looked them in the eye, they know that you can identify them, and they are most likely not going to attack. Furthermore, when you look someone in the eye, you have a better perception of what they are looking at themselves.

Always have a destination and a purpose in mind -- or at the very least, look like you do. Those who display self-confidence and purpose, instead of walking obliviously along and looking down at their shoes,  are less likely to be attacked. Walk with your head held up -- not looking at the ground.

Always know your options. While you don't want to look like a victim, you can't ever really let your guard down. When you are walking along, always have an escape plan in mind.

Trust your instincts. If your instincts tell you that danger is near, it most likely is. Never ignore your gut instincts or assume that you are just being paranoid.

By changing a few habits and being more aware of your surroundings, you can avoid being a victim.  Overall, use your common sense. If you feel like you are venturing into dangerous territory, turn around and go back. If you feel like you are being followed, get to a safe place as fast as you can. If you are being watched, call for help or change locations. Don't feel like you are being paranoid or foolish. You are simply trying to avoid being attacked!

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14 Hygiene Supplies That All Preppers Should Store

During a crisis, several problems could arise as far as personal hygiene goes. Should there be a natural disaster such as a flood or earthquake, there is a very real possibility that the roads may be impassable.  Getting to the store can be difficult, and even if you did get there, the store may be closed, or in a worst-case scenario, totally destroyed by the impact of the disaster.

If all you have at home is an almost empty tube of toothpaste and half a roll of toilet paper, the next few days are going to be uncomfortable, to say the least. Having enough supplies for your personal hygiene needs is more than just about your health and wellbeing.

It’s also a form of stress relief. If you’re stuck at home because the roads are flooded or the shelves in the store are empty due to people grabbing whatever they could in a panic, knowing that you have the basic creature comforts such as toilet paper, wet wipes, mouthwash, etc. will help to ease your mind.

Below you’ll find a list of products that you should store in case of a crisis. Most of these items last a long time. So, it shouldn’t be much of a hassle as far as rotating your supplies go. Let’s look at the list.

1. Toothbrushes – one for each family member. You may wish to keep a few extras, in case you have guests.
2. Mouthwash.
3. Toothpaste – one big tube for adults and one for the kids.
4. 1 box of dental floss.
5. Toilet paper – enough to last you 8 weeks.
6. 2 bars of soap – make it an antibacterial soap that can also be used to properly clean out cuts and scrapes.
7. Wet wipes – antibacterial, if possible - enough to last you for 3 to 4 weeks.  These are especially good for cleaning off not only your skin but other areas that you are handling to keep from spreading germs.
8. One large bottle of baby shampoo – this should last you for at least a month.  And I specify baby shampoo because that is also a recommended remedy for washing out around your eyes if you get a stye or some other infection close to the eyes.  It is very mild and doesn't sting.
9. Hand moisturizer and hand sanitizer.
10. Sanitary pads – this is one of those items that is very handy. If someone is wounded, sanitary pads can be used as an improvised dressing to stop the bleeding. That said, women may want enough supplies to last them anywhere from 3 to 4 months.
11. Towels – during a crisis, there may be a water shortage and you may only be able to use wet towels to wipe yourself down. So, have sufficient small towels for all the members of your family.
12. Portable toilet – in the event you run out of water to flush your toilet, you can use a portable toilet that uses disposable waste bags. That will make clean up easier.  Be sure to also stock plenty of waste bags as well.
13. Q-tips and nail clippers.
14. Shaving cream and razors (if you use them).  Believe it or not, maintaining a sense of "normalcy" in a crisis situation is very comforting.

Besides these 14 products, you may have a skincare routine or other hygiene products that you use daily or frequently. Take note of what these are and have extra supplies of them.

Store as much of them as space will allow. During a crisis, you can always barter the extra supplies for items that you may need. Personal hygiene products will ALWAYS be in demand when there’s a shortage of them. As a savvy prepper, you’ll understand the value of storing these items.

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Dealing With Long Power Outages

One of the big problems in this day and age during a natural disaster is prolonged power outages. No matter where you live, or what kinds of emergencies you should expect to deal with, it’s a good idea to think about and plan for long periods of time when you have to function without power.  Just ask the people in California right now.  They are dealing with intended power outages that are somehow supposed to prevent wildfires.  Some of these outages are lasting from several hours to several days. 

Alternative Sources Of Power - If you can prepare for the power outage, start by making sure your phone and all mobile devices are fully charged. Now is also a good time to stock up on batteries, invest in a small battery-operated power bank, and consider buying a generator. 

Candles and wood-burning stoves or fireplaces are another great alternative power source that will provide light, warmth, and in the case of a fireplace or stove a way to warm up and even cook food. 

Having several flashlights and spare batteries is always a good idea. You should also keep a small, battery-powered radio on hand to keep up with news and weather forecasts throughout the power outage. 

If you have a generator make sure you know how to use it, have plenty of fuel for the generator and always – ALWAYS – run it outside.  Be sure to test your generator periodically, and perform preventative maintenance such as changing the oil and other fluids.  Use gas stabilizer to keep the gasoline fresh. 

Keeping And Preparing Food Without Electricity - If you are dealing with a power outage of only a few hours, simply keep your fridge closed and you should be fine. If it lasts longer than that, start eating perishable foods in the fridge first. Cook what you can on a grill or camping stove and toss the rest. 

Keep your freezer completely closed and if possible insulate it further by throwing large blankets or comforters over the freezer. Start thawing, cooking, and consuming food from the freezer once you’re running out of fresh food options. Open the freezer as little as possible to keep cold air trapped inside and the food fresh for longer. 

You can cook and grill outside with your charcoal or gas grill. If you have camping gear, get out the propane stove and cook on it. If neither one of those is an option, cooking over a small fire is always an option. Do all of your cooking outside to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning or causing an indoor fire. 

Staying Warm or Cool Without Power - Keeping warm or cool without power can be a major concern in long power outages. Insulating your home ahead of time can make a big difference. Close shutters and curtains to trap in heat or cool air for as long as possible. Take advantage of the sunshine and outside temperatures during the day or night to regulate the temperature inside. Dress appropriately by either snuggling up under several warm layers and a big blanket or wearing as little as possible. Keeping a breeze going can help during hot weather.

Water in a Power Outage - In  a mass power outage, such as a regional power outage, unless the city water supplies are on backup generators, there may not be running water for cooking needs, or even for flushing toilets.  Make sure you have a good backup water supply so that you can get plenty of fluids for health needs, water for hygiene, and water for flushing toilets, or have an emergency toilet.

Power outages in a disaster situation are pretty much a given.  But even in normal times, such as what is happening in California, people can end up without power suddenly and for undetermined amounts of time.  Be prepared for these types of emergencies, and have plenty of options for alternative power sources.

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10 Essential Home Remedy Supplies for Preppers

During times of emergency and through the aftermath of a natural disaster or a terrorist attack, most people will start to panic. They’ll rush to the malls and stores and buy up whatever essential items that they think they’ll need.  If you’re a savvy prepper, you’d have prepared all your stores and supplies beforehand. However, one item that’s usually used up quickly is medication. It’ll be extremely difficult to procure medication during a crisis.  Many medications won't be available, and some medications will not keep without refrigeration.

Even aspirin will be sold out. In survival situations and times of stress, illnesses will rise. More people will find themselves having headaches, upset stomachs, diarrhea, etc. This is very common and even if you have medical supplies stored, you’d be amazed at how fast they’re used up.  4 adults taking 4 aspirin tablets a day over 3 days is 48 tablets… and that’s only 3 days! So, you can imagine just how fast your medicine stocks can be depleted if the entire family is unwell, and that usually happens during a crisis.

There may be more headaches, flu, body aches, insect bites, indigestion, etc. Which brings us to an important question…  What do you do if you run out of medication? Will you panic and rush to the store only to find empty shelves?  What if it’s closed or there are no more supplies?

Do not panic. There are several natural remedies that are highly effective and have worked for ages. Most people are unaware of these remedies because we live in a society where there’s a pill for everything.

Well, during a crisis, society tends to break down. So, it’s time to forget the pills and go natural. Below you’ll find a list of items that all preppers would do well to store.

These natural remedies are easy to obtain. You can get the items below from most stores and they last for a long time.  Let’s take a look at what they are:

Alcohol - Rub alcohol on insect bites and add a diluted mixture of alcohol and water to fungal infections to speed up healing. It’s an intermediate-level disinfectant.

Baking Soda - To treat stomach acidity and heartburn, mix some baking soda in water and drink. You can also use it to freshen your breath, relieve diaper rash, remove oil and grease, clean your kitchen countertops and much more.

Apple Cider Vinegar -  Use a mixture of water and apple cider vinegar to treat sinuses, diarrhea, and indigestion.

Coconut Oil - This is a miracle product with tons of uses. Acne and skin issues can be treated by rubbing coconut oil on the affected areas. Have a sore throat? Coconut oil works as a natural lozenge. Feeling lethargic? A tablespoon of coconut oil will give you an energy boost.  Besides that, you can moisturize your skin, like a sunburn remedy, anti-fungal cream, massage oil and even as an insect repellant.

Hydrogen Peroxide - Can be used to treat cuts, burns and small wounds. If you have a toothache, dilute some in water and swirl it around in your mouth for a minute or two and spit it out.

Raw Honey - Take 2 tablespoons to relieve nausea. It can be applied to wounds to accelerate healing. Raw honey never spoils. It lasts for ages.

Peppermint Oil - This is one of the best products to have. Excellent for treating headaches, nausea, muscle pain, joint pain and much more.

Tea Tree Oil - Ideal for treating skin problems, earaches, cold sores, insect bites, head lice, etc.

Aloe Vera Gel - Soothes sunburn, speeds up wound healing, prevents dandruff and much more.

Epsom Salt - Used to treat toenail fungus and relieve pain and muscle cramps.

These points are just the tip of the iceberg. Each item on this list has many more uses than is listed here. You should do your own research to see what else they can be used for.

You’ll be amazed at the efficacy and versatility of these 10 items. Be sure to store enough of them for your needs. Also, do some further research into the items above and see what types of ailments they can be used for as well as the common mixture ratios that are used for each.  You’ll thank yourself for it later.

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Evacuation Planning For Families

Emergencies can be highly unpredictable. You could be well-prepared for a crisis, but if there is an earthquake and the house comes crumbling down, whatever food and water supplies you’ve stored will be destroyed. The structural integrity of the house will be compromised, and you’ll not be able to stay there.  You have no choice but to evacuate. Based on this scenario, every prepper needs to have an evacuation plan. This article will give you a few points to bear in mind when formulating your plan.

Proximity: During a catastrophe, roads may be impassable. The area could be flooded. Your car may be damaged, etc. How close will your shelter be?  Do you have family, friends or even neighbors who are nearby and could take you in? Is it within walking distance or will you need a vehicle to get there?

Keep Your Family Aware:  A plan is only good when everyone is on board and knows what’s going on. What if your spouse is at work? If the kids are at a friend’s house, do they know what to do? Will everyone meets at home and evacuate, or will they meet you at the secondary location?  During a crisis, there’s often little time to think. Contacting your family members may not be possible if they don’t have access to a phone. Any of these scenarios could happen, and they usually do. So, stay prepared and rehearse well.

Be Detailed: Ensure that all family members from the children to the adults have a laminated card with a list of all the family members and their contact information. If anyone is alone and injured, first responders will know how to reach the next of kin.  If there’s panic and everyone is scrambling for their lives, as would happen in a tsunami, you may lose sight of a family member or two when the situation is chaotic. With these details, there’s a much higher chance of finding them sooner and getting to a safe place as a family as soon as possible.

Communication: During a crisis, there must be a plan of communication. If everyone is calling the same person for information, calls may not go through or be delayed. One way to do it if you have children will be for one or two children to call the mother while another child calls the father. If calls don’t work, ask them to try texting. It will be good to have codes that everyone remembers so that you do not have to send long texts to get your message across.

Kits:  It goes without saying that every family member needs a bug out bag or a grab bag that they can grab and go in an emergency. The grab bag will contain supplies such as food, water, and other items that will help you get through the next 72-hours without much hassle.

Pets:  If you have pets, you will need to evacuate them too. While you can’t move an aquarium, you can save your cat, dog, hamster or rabbit away from danger. You’ll need food supplies for them in your grab bag, and a portable carrier to transport the pet.  It’s good to bring a tent or small shelter for them to stay warm and dry in. Evacuation shelters may not allow pets. If you must leave them outside, they’ll be sheltered, and you can still check on them at regular intervals.

Everyday Carry (EDC):  You should always have a few small, yet effective self-defense items with you, or readily available, at all times, and especially if you have to evacuate.  Anything that can distract a potential attacker and buy you even a half-second advantage can give you enough time to get away or find something else with which to fight and disable your attacker.  I am licensed to carry a concealed firearm in my state, but your EDC doesn't have to include firearms or lethal self-defense tools.  Some people just aren't comfortable or are not legally allowed to carrying firearms, and that's ok.  And be aware that if you go to an evacuation shelter run by a state or federal entity, firearms may not be allowed.  There are plenty of effective non-lethal and less-lethal self-defense items to have with you.  I will be publishing a more in-depth article on EDC in the near future.

Observe these tips when creating your evacuation plan. It’s imperative that you have a good plan and a good support network. Get to know the people around your neighborhood well. These are the people who will most likely be able to help you in an emergency, and vice-versa. No person is an island.

Six Fundamentals of Self-Defense for Preppers

Any survivalist worth his or her salt would view self-defense as a very important prepper skill that they need to have in their toolbox. You could be an expert at storing water and food and your bug out bag could be all ready to go, but if two hoodlums break into your home and injure or kill you just to take whatever you’ve got – all your efforts would be for nothing.  This is a real-life scenario that occurs over and over whenever there’s a crisis. When people get desperate for food and supplies, they’ll do whatever it takes to look out for themselves. That includes stealing or even killing to get what they want.

Crime will be rampant during a crisis situation. We’ve all seen crises such as riots where looting is widespread or places like the inner-cities where the crime rate is at an all-time high. This is the reality that most people fail to grasp. Things can get very ugly and you absolutely must be prepared.  In this article, we’ll look at six principles of unarmed self-defense that you can use to protect yourself and your loved ones. While it’s recommended that you always have a firearm for your safety, in the event you do not have one, or are not comfortable with firearms, these six tips will come in handy.

Everyday Carry (EDC):  First and foremost, you should always have a few small, yet effective self-defense items with you, or readily available, at all times.  Anything that can distract an attacker and buy you even a half-second advantage can give you enough time to get away or find something else with which to fight and disable your attacker.  I am licensed to carry a concealed firearm in my state, but your EDC doesn't have to include firearms or lethal self-defense tools.  Some people just aren't comfortable or are not legally allowed to carrying firearms, and that's ok.  There are plenty of effective non-lethal and less-lethal self-defense items to have with you.  The videos below have a few ideas, but I will be posting a more in-depth article on EDC strategies in the future.

Every Blow Must Count:  Unlike mixed martial arts tournaments or boxing matches with 3-minute rounds, real-life altercations last only seconds to a minute or two. Within this time, you could be mortally wounded, unconscious or even dead in seconds.  In a real fight, every blow you throw must have intent and purpose. Aim for the soft tissues and vulnerable points in the body. The eyes, throat, nose, etc. are all soft targets that you must aim for.  Avoid striking the torso unless you know where to hit. While kidney shots and blows to the solar plexus are devastating, most people are not trained well enough to strike these areas effectively. It’s more difficult when you’re stressed out in a combat situation.  Take a good self-defense class like Krav Maga to learn the proper techniques for self-defense fighting.

The Best Defense is a Good Offense:  Some martial arts like aikido focus on wrist locks and other complicated techniques, where you need to block followed by a strike. You’re better off learning an art like Kali or Krav Maga where a defense is just as damaging as an offense. For example, if you learned Kali, your response to someone throwing a fist will be to smash it with your elbow in defense. So, not only are you protecting your face, but the hard point of your elbow may break your opponent’s fist. This is efficiency at its finest. Pick a self-defense course that is based on real-world scenarios and learn how to defend yourself.

Continuous Striking:  In self-defense, you will aim to strike three to four times in quick succession to bring your opponent down. You’ll always be moving forward and delivering blow after blow in a rapid, continuous and determined fashion till they are down, or they run away.  Don't stop fighting until the attack has been stopped.  But once your opponent is down, you’ll flee the scene. The goal of self-defense is to escape with your life intact. You’re not in a deathmatch. Escape, and if able, call for help the first chance you get.

Decisiveness:  Never allow yourself to be in a situation where the attacker hits you first. If you find that the situation you’re facing is getting increasingly hostile, you can execute a pre-emptive strike and run away.  For example, a palm heel strike to your opponent’s nose will send them reeling, or a swift kick to their groin will drop them to their knees. This is your opportunity to escape.

Practice, Practice and More Practice:  The key to reacting instinctively is repeated practice. You want the moves to be seared into your mind and muscle memory. During an actual altercation, you’ll not have time to think. However, your instincts and training will kick in and you’ll be able to protect yourself.  Adhere to the 5 points in this article and you’ll be much more likely to survive a dangerous situation with minimal injury to yourself.

The goal of self-defense is to win, not merely survive.  Whether armed or unarmed, you must stop the attack and be able to escape.  There are no substitutes for training and practice.  These are perishable skills, requiring muscle memory and the requirement to have "war-gamed" these scenarios over and over so that you know how you will handle the situation.  

Be prepared, get trained, and have a plan!

Snow Storm Emergency Preparedness Tips

Here in Colorado, we're getting ready for winter.  In fact, our weather here is so unpredictable this time of year that it can be eighty degrees one day, and snowing the next.  We've already had our first measurable snow of the year, with a little more expected, and it's only the middle of October.  If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow during the winter months, you know how important it is to prepare for big snowstorms ahead of time. You may find yourself stuck at home, or worse in your car for long periods of time during a snow storm. The heavy snow can cause trees or large branches to fall and cut power lines. Here’s what you should do to make sure you’re not caught unaware by a blizzard.

Winterize Your Home And Car - At the beginning of the cold season make sure both your home and your car are ready for winter. Put on winter tires, check all the fluids, fill up the antifreeze, and make sure you have de-icing windshield washing fluid.  Stock your car with a shovel, sand, snow tires, signal flares, a warm blanket and a bit of water and food. Make sure your home is well insulated, your heating is in good working order, and you have an ample supply of heating fuel.  Now is a good time to get your annual furnace check-up, and a regular car inspection the next time you get your oil changed.  And since we're talking about indoor heating sources, make sure that your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors have been tested and are in good working order.

Emergency Food and Water - Keeping some emergency water and food rations along with a battery operated weather radio and plenty of ways to stay warm is also a good idea. If you have a fireplace or wood-burning stove, check for proper operation and stock up on firewood as well.

Pay Attention To Weather Forecasts - The good thing about winter storms these days is that meteorologists have gotten pretty good at predicting them well in advance. This gives you plenty of time to stock up on some supplies, get home safely and hunker down to wait out the storm. Watch weather forecasts regularly throughout the colder months and set up storm alerts on your phone to give you plenty of time to prepare.

Minimize Travel - If you know a storm is coming, avoid traveling, particularly in the open and sparsely populated roads and highways. Waiting out a blizzard in your car is not a lot of fun and you may be stuck and trapped for hours if not days. Cancel travel plans and do what you can to get home before conditions get too bad.  If you have a long commute to the office, consider asking your employer about telework opportunities.

Keep A Full Gas Tank - If you do have to travel during a storm, make sure your gas tank is full and your car is well stocked with winter emergency supplies. Check on road conditions before you head out and pull over if things get too bad. You should also have a charged phone with you to call for help if you get stuck in a storm drift.

Stock Up On Food, Water And Heating Fuel - When there’s a lot of snow or an ice storm in the forecast, stock up on food, drinking water, and heating fuel. Have a plan for heating and preparing food if the power goes out. Having plenty of flashlights and candles is also a good idea. Wait out the storm and don’t be tempted to head out to clear off the roof. Should you fall and get hurt, emergency services may have no way of reaching you.

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Additional Supplies - Some additional and inexpensive supplies that you might want to consider keeping in your home, vehicles, and even in your office:  Space blankets are extremely light and don't take up space.  Carry several of these - in your car, backpack, and in your home.  Extra flashlights are priceless, especially when the power suddenly goes out.  Have a few space heaters available.  One thing I learned, especially when my furnace aged, is that it will go out on the coldest day of the year.  Having space heaters to get by until the furnace repair company could make it out has proven to be a real lifesaver.  I can't say enough about having extra first-aid kits.  And finally, extra batteries - have extras of every kind of battery needed for flashlights and all other vital appliances and tools that wou will use in an emergency.

Preparedness during the winter months doesn't have to be complicated but is extremely important as we approach the coming cold months.  A good, heavy snowstorm can make us all temporary shut-ins, and prevent access to grocery stores, gas stations, and medical services.  Even here in the Front Range of Colorado, we have had storms which made our city roads impassable, and we have gone several days without normal access to these things we take for granted.

Keep you and your loved ones safe - have a plan, and do proper winter preparedness that may save your life!

Survival 101: Preparing a Children's First-Aid Kit

This article will be extremely helpful for preppers who have children.  Even if you don’t have any children, it really doesn’t hurt to have a first aid kit for kids ready. You’d be shocked to discover how ill-prepared most people are.  During an emergency, you may have neighbors or relatives with kids. They may be desperate for certain items that their children may need. If you have a children’s first aid kit, you could be a lifesaver.

It’s important to note that children and adults have different needs. While some needs may overlap, it’s best to have a separate first aid kit for the young ones. This will help keep things more organized and you’ll have easier access to whatever you may immediately need if there’s an emergency.

Below you will find a list of items that you can add to your children’s first aid kit. The rules are not set in stone. Decide which items are appropriate and store them.

Band-Aids and Bandages - Children tend to get hurt easily. Have enough band-aids and bandages in your first aid kit to treat any possible wounds.

Anti-Inflammatories - These will help to reduce your child’s fever. Get the correct medication for your child and store them.

Baby Needs - Of course, this only applies if you have a baby. Have some baby wipes, baby lotion, diaper pins, bulb syringe (to clear mucus), diaper rash cream and baby powder. While you should have stocks of these with your main stores, there should also be some in your first aid kit.  One reason for this is, if you discover late in the night that your baby has a diaper rash late, you can immediately use the baby wipes and the rash cream to treat the problem. You don’t want to go into the basement or wherever you keep your supplies and start rummaging there in the middle of the night. The first aid kit is also for your convenience.

Children’s Thermometer - Get a digital thermometer or two and keep them in your first aid kit. If you think your child has a fever, you’ll easily be able to confirm your doubts.

Lip Balm - Children who are sick may have dry lips. The lip balm will help soothe their lips. At the same time, do ensure that your child drinks enough water so that they’re not dehydrated.

Hand Sanitizer and Nitrile Gloves - This is for your use. When treating wounds or infections, it’s best to sanitize your hands and wear gloves before treating the child. This will minimize any risk of infection. Use non-latex gloves to prevent allergic reactions.

Masks - Keep a few N-95 masks in the first aid kit. If your child has sinuses or breathing problems due to a dusty environment, the masks will help.

Calamine Lotion, Antiseptic Cream, etc. - Having these items will make it easy to treat scrapes and cuts. The antibiotic nature of the cream will accelerate healing and prevent infection.

Tweezers and Nail Clippers - Tweezers will be useful for removing foreign matter in wounds and of course, smaller nail clippers will be easier for clipping children’s nails.

Besides these items, you may wish to add other items that you think your child may need in an emergency. You’re the best person to decide on what goes into the first aid box. So, prepare it well and place it in a safe place that you can easily access.  Carry multiple first-aid kits, and keep them at home, office, and in your vehicles.

Hardcore Self-Defense: Training to Survive

Here’s the bad news – the criminals always have it easier. That’s just the way it is. During a disaster or crisis, law enforcement will be busy dealing with many other issues such as rescue efforts, etc. They’ll be short-staffed and since there will be fewer patrols, law enforcement will be less available.

Most criminal acts are products of opportunity and a crisis situation is as good an opportunity as any for criminals. As human beings, we are generally a peaceful species. Most people abhor violence and shy away from confrontation. This immediately makes most people possible victims. There are people in our society who enjoy the thrill of killing and/or do it because they are mentally unsound. There are criminals who have zero qualms about beating you up and taking your property. Then there are sick individuals who will rape and even kill the woman just so that they aren’t identified.

They have no value for life and no fear of consequences. Since they’re the ones committing the crimes, they often pick the time, place and victim that represents the best opportunity.

Since they’re at an advantage from the get-go, the only way to level that advantage and give yourself a fighting chance is to train like your life depended on it… because it actually does.

In this article, you’ll discover a few self-defense tips that you’d be wise to follow. These tips will give you an edge during a physical confrontation and if push comes to shove and you need to fight for your life, the points below will serve you well.

Know the Difference Between Self-Defense and Traditional Martial Arts:  The problem with traditional martial arts like Karate, Judo, etc. is that they are rigid and take a long time to learn. While the expert practitioners are more than capable of handling themselves, most people who do learn these arts still struggle in a physical confrontation.  And in martial arts, people train to fight within a set of rules.  There are no rules in self-defense, and there are no time-outs.  Doing horse stances and other fancy poses are unhelpful and people who think that these moves will help them will probably find themselves getting beaten up by criminals with no martial arts training whatsoever.

What you need to do is join classes conducted by self-defense experts. Alternatively, you could join Krav Maga classes or any type of close combat training that favors the use of groin strikes, eye gouges and other techniques that are fast and brutally effective.

In self-defense, the goal is survival and escape. You’re not interested in scoring points on the difficulty of execution or flashy moves. If a man is about to rape a woman, she’ll have a better chance of escaping by stabbing him in the throat with a pen rather than going into a karate stance as she waits to defend herself.

Train in Different Types of Clothes:  It’s easy to throw kicks and punches when you’re in a karate studio and you’re wearing comfortable or no footwear. Women: what happens if you’re wearing a tight dress that restricts your kicks? What if you’re in heels?  Men: Do your business clothes allow you to move properly in order to perform effective hand-to-hand combat self-defense?

When practicing at home, you want to train in different clothes so that you know what your limitations are. You may need to kick off your shoes or hike your skirt up to have more freedom to move.  If a woman is about to get raped, there is no time for modesty, decency, and propriety. If your clothing is restricting you and preventing you from kneeing your attacker in the groin, you may have to adjust your clothing, or even the types of clothing you normally wear to execute the move.

It’s either that or you end up being overpowered and raped. You’ll only know how restrictive your clothes can be if you train in them.

The same applies to men – the business suit or the tight-fitting jeans that you wear could restrict you too.

Change up Your Training:  Train with different partners so that you can adapt to different people’s moves and techniques. You should also practice in different locations – try sparring while wearing ankle weights. Try being pinned down by two people in your self-defense class and see how you react.

What about in a dark room that simulates an isolated parking lot? How about if your opponent is shouting vulgarities at you? Many people are intimidated when they’re being shouted at. How you train is how you fight – and how you fight will be limited to how you trained - so train for every imaginable scenario.

Try self-defense in a small space with your practice partner and see how that works for you. That’s what could happen if you get cornered in an elevator. What if someone approaches you with a knife? Or a gun? You have to be ready for anything. The more varied and practical your training is, the better able you’ll be should you ever be in a situation where you need to defend yourself. Train as often as you can until your reactions are instinctive.

Your self-defense MUST be instinctive, strategic, and effective during a violent encounter. This will ensure your highest chances of survival.

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Water Conservation Tips When in a Survival Situation

Loss of access to running water is one of the most common consequences of a natural disaster or other calamities. The impact of a faucet that doesn’t yield water when it’s turned on can make people panic and frantic. They have good reason to be. Water sustains life and is used for a myriad of purposes. It goes without saying that every prepper should store enough potable water to tide his/her family for at least 3 to 5 days.  The water you drink or use to wash your face, shower and brush your teeth can add up to quite a bit. So, you should know exactly how much you’ll need. Besides these uses, your toilet will need water, your cooking will need water and even your pets will need water.

In this article, we’ll look at how to conserve the water that you have and make it last. It’s imperative that you do this because if there’s a fault in the water lines due to an earthquake or other disasters, it can take days or even weeks before the problem is fixed.

In some situations, the water treatment plants may be damaged. That could mean that water may be coming into your home, but the water is probably contaminated and carrying parasites.  During a disaster, never drink water straight from the tap. Always boil your water and use water purification tablets or water purification bottles to purify your water.

Shampooing - You only need to shampoo your hair once a week. Men who wish to take things one step further could shave their head bald. When you have no hair, there’s a lot less maintenance involved.

Use a glass of water - When brushing your teeth or washing your face, always use a glass of water to do it. You’ll know exactly how much of water you’re using. If you leave the tap running, you’ll be wasting water.

Wet Towels - Soaking a towel in water and using that towel to wipe yourself down will really help to conserve water. Showers use up a lot of water. So, you may wish to take a shower once every 3 days and just use wet towels on the other 2 days. You can even use wet towels to wipe your face instead of washing it.  Alternatively, you could get a camping shower such as the Coleman 5-Gallon Solar Shower and use that to shower. You’ll be able to save water, and it’s more convenient than pouring a bottle of water above your head.

Hand Sanitizers - Instead of washing your hands often, you can use hand sanitizers that are just as effective.

Recycling Water - This is a tip that many preppers are unaware of. The water that you use to brush your teeth and wash your face, can be collected in a pail and poured into the toilet bowl to act as a flush.  Besides these tips, there are many ways you can save water if you are constantly aware of your limited supplies and focus conserving and rationing them.

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The Self Defense Sentinel

I wanted to share a 5-part video series on defensive awareness and other related strategies for staying safe.  Pat McNamara, who is a former Army Special Forces Delta Operator, did this video series.  He is a former Tier 1 operator and instructor – the best of the best, and now owns his own training and fitness company called TMACS (Tactics-Marksmanship-Adventure-Concepts-Security).  I am guessing that the man knows what he's talking about here.

What struck me most about this video series, besides the excellent tips for staying safe, is that he repeats three key phrases over and over that should resonate with anyone who is concerned about their own safety and that of their loved ones:

“As the Agent in Charge of your own executive protection detail…”

YOU are the one in charge of your own safety.  Not the police.  The United States Supreme Court has ruled in a number of cases that the police have no duty whatsoever to protect you as an individual.  The job of the police is to enforce laws and investigate crimes.  In other words, they show up to draw the chalk line around the dead body.  So is the dead body going to be you and/or a loved one?  Or, is it going to be that of the violent criminal who came to do you harm?  You decide.  

And if you have little ones placed in your charge, then you better have the attitude that they deserve the top level of executive protection.  YOU are the agent in charge of that executive protection detail.  No one else is responsible for your safety or that of your loved ones.  And those little ones are counting on you to put foot to ass on their behalf if someone tries to harm them.

“Make it Habitual!”

Yes – awareness and self-defense are a combination of creating good habits and breaking bad ones.  Get training.  Practice techniques.  Build that muscle memory.  War-game possible threat scenarios that might happen when you are at church, out shopping, at the park, or even at home.  

See my article on my other blog, “The War-Gaming Sheepdog,” for more information about this.  Think of how you will avoid being a target when you can.  And for the times when you have no way out, think of how you will destroy your attackers ahead of time, and then be ready to do it when the time comes.  Stay aware, and stay safe.

“We are so connected that we are disconnected…”

I can’t argue that smartphones and computers have made us so unaware of our own surroundings that we have become sitting ducks to violent attacks.  As Pat says in one of the videos, we humans cannot multi-task, even though we like to think that we can.  We can task-stack or task-switch, but we can only do one thing well at a time.

I’ll let the videos say the rest.  Enjoy!


Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

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Urban Survival Strategies You MUST Know!

People often wonder if it’s safer to stay in the countryside or in an urban area during times of emergency. This is a difficult question to answer because it all depends on the nature of the crisis.

If there’s a pandemic and people all over the city are falling ill, you’ll probably be safer being away from all of them and residing on a farm in the countryside. However, if there’s a serious food shortage in the city and society and law enforcement has collapsed, the farms may become very unsafe.

Everybody and their neighbor knows that farms will probably have food growing. So, that’s where they’ll head to get food.

That said, most of the time it’s the urban areas such as cities and sub-urban areas that are much more dangerous. During any crisis, the places with a higher number will become more dangerous because people are unpredictable, and you never can tell who might resort to desperate measures to get what they want.

In this article, we’ll look at a few urban survival strategies to take note of. Being aware of them will prevent you from being another statistic to a lot of the common crimes that take place.

Home security -  Every prepper would do well to make their house as safe as possible. It’s best to hire a professional security consultant to do an audit and give you suggestions on how to boost your home security. Do not try to do it yourself. Most people just don’t have experience in these matters. Criminals can be very ingenious.

Ideally, your doors should be strong and reinforced. A CCTV camera at the different entrances, exits and blind spots will be very useful for seeing who is out there. Motion sensor floodlights that are triggered the moment someone skulks around in the middle of the night will send criminal scurrying for the cover of darkness.

You might want to keep a well-trained guard dog too. Never EVER hide spare keys outside the house. Most criminals know exactly where to look.

Stalkers -  Usually, when disasters such as earthquakes or hurricanes strike, people tend to huddle at home. The only times they go out maybe to the store, hospital, etc. Because things are quieter outside, criminals may stalk you hoping for an opportunity to strike.

If you notice anyone stalking you, do not speed up. This will alert them, and they may quickly try to grab and overpower you. Instead, walk into a store nearby and ask the staff to call the police.

In the event, there are no stores around, reach into your handbag and have your pepper spray or whatever weapon of self-defense ready to use. Try your best not to give away that you’re aware of being stalked. You want the element of surprise.

Isolated areas -  Avoid isolated areas as much as you can. Parking lots that are poorly lit or in some basement are perfect locations for criminals to strike. Even a shortcut through a park that’s lonely could be very dangerous if someone is aware of your daily routine. 

Firearms -  One of the best forms of self-protection but also the most dangerous. If you’re going to use them for self-defense, it’s imperative that you know how to use them well. When storing firearms at home, they must be easily accessible to you and yet, your kids should not be able to get to them. Always keep them unloaded.

If you hear noises in your home in the middle of the night, if you’re using a gun to protect yourself, always shout at the intruder and ask them to identify themselves. You do not want to fire blindly in the dark. 

It could just be a family member getting food from the refrigerator. Horrible accidental shootings have occurred because people were panicky and too quick to use their firearms. Get proper training.

Vehicles - Make sure your vehicle is well-maintained and has enough fuel. You never know when you’ll need it to make a quick trip or evacuate. Transport is very important during times of crisis.

At the same time, be aware of your own safety. You can be car-jacked and even kidnapped if you’re not careful. Always have your doors locked and your windows wound up when you’re waiting at the lights.

This is especially important for women. Do not entertain strangers who tap on your car window when you’re out late. Be ready to hit the gas and escape the moment you feel unsafe.

Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be safe. When things get desperate, people can get desperate and there’s no saying what a stranger might do to you if they have ill-intent on their mind. So, your best course of action is to always be ready and on guard. It’s not paranoia – it’s survival.

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Making an Emergency Preparedness Plan For Your Family

Let’s face it. Sooner or later your family will encounter a natural disaster or similar emergency event that requires you to jump into action to stay safe and sound. Doing so will become much easier when you go in prepared and with a plan. Here are three basic questions that you should ask yourself to formulate an emergency preparedness plan for your family.

These are important questions and you don’t want to make those decisions when you are in the middle of a disaster. Those are stressful times and it can be hard to make smart decisions quickly in those situations. A big part of your emergency preparedness plan should be to think through possible scenarios and then get the information you need ahead of time. For example, figure out what routes you can take to get out of the area, determine where you want to go if possible, and then get the contact information for a hotel or the people you’ll be staying with.

Where Will You Go?  The first question you need to ask yourself is where you will go when an emergency arises. Will you stay at home and shelter in place? Will you head out of town and evacuate? If you are heading out, where will you go and where will you stay?

How Will You Stay In Touch? There is nothing scarier than not being able to get in touch with loved ones during a disaster or emergency event. Just as important is being able to get news and emergency alerts or announcements. Think about how you will accomplish this both while you’re on the road and when you’re staying in your home or emergency shelter.

Making sure everyone has a mobile phone is a great start. Don’t forget that these devices need to be charged. Having chargers, including car chargers with you, is a must. An additional battery or a backup power supply will come in very handy as well.

Be conservative with your device usage to make the battery power last as long as possible. It’s important to talk to your kids about this ahead of a disaster and remind them regularly.

Don’t rely on just your smartphone for news and communication. A backup plan will come in handy when you can’t get a good connection or run out of power on your device. Designate a meeting point or a person that everyone contacts when you can’t get a hold of each other. Have a backup solution for finding out what’s going on like a weather radio.

What Supplies Do You Need?  The more prepared you are, the safer and more comfortable you’ll be when the inevitable happens. Depending on what natural disaster you face, where you live, who is part of your family, and simple things like the weather will determine the supplies you need.

Start with the basics you need for survival including food, water, shelter, and medication. Don’t forget about your pets. From there, start thinking about creature comforts like light, entertainment, and the likes. Having a headlamp and a good book can make waiting out a power outage a lot more pleasant. Add a cup of hot chocolate made with a camping stove, hot water, and instant cocoa mix makes it even more pleasant. Be prepared and you’ll greatly increase your chances of making it through the emergency or disaster just fine.

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Staying Prepared for Terrorist Threats

There is no doubt that terrorist threats are an all too real part of our world now.  And there’s no denying the fact that terrorist incidents are on the rise. While people debate on social media over whether or not the government should use certain terms to describe terrorism, the truth of the matter is that many people are dying from terrorist attacks worldwide.   These attacks have become a very real possibility due to globalization, the influx of refugees, and many other factors.  As a preparedness enthusiast, one doesn’t have the luxury of debating how things should be. Instead, you should be looking at how things currently are and staying prepared for them.  There have been stabbings, shootings, bombings and even people driving vans into crowds hoping to do as much damage to innocent lives as possible. The goal is always to strike terror and fear in the hearts of people.

So, what do you do? Follow the tips below and stay prepared.

Be Alert and Aware… But Don’t Be Fearful:

While a certain degree of fear is to be expected, you shouldn’t let it paralyze you. During the 9/11 terror attacks, millions of people were scared and glued to their TV screens as they watched the same scenes of the Twin Towers repeatedly.  This is pointless and only serves to frighten you further. The first thing you should do is to be aware of your current situation.  There are a few factors that will determine if the area you live in could be a potential target for terrorists. Are you living near a transportation hub or an airport? Do you work in an embassy? Do you live or work close to prominent people?  All these factors will raise the risks of attacks that may affect you. Terrorists always want to cause as much damage as possible. They’ll not travel all the way to a farm in Idaho to bomb a house with two seniors sitting in it. Terrorists want to inflict maximum damage. Asses the threat level in your area.

Be Calm:

Terrorists have a few ways to do as much damage as possible. One method is to have a primary bomb that detonates and kills. Following that, they will have a secondary bomb that is only detonated when the first responders such as the police and medical teams arrive. So, this causes even more damage and panic.  When a bomb goes off, the first instinct for most people is to run away. The second instinct is to rush back in and help those affected within the blast radius. Do NOT make this mistake.  Let the professionals clear the area first. Once it is deemed safe, there will be ways you can volunteer your help.  Also note that if you’re in a high-rise building, do not go to your window to see what’s taking place outside. The force of the second blast may shatter your windows and send glass flying into your face. Always hunker down and plan your next course of action.

Expect Higher Security:

Whenever terrorist incidents occur, security in the area tightens and gets very rigorous. Make sure you have your ID and important documents with you.  Leave a little early for work to get through additional security measures in your building.  Be a part of the increased security measures by locking doors, and watching who closely follows you into doors that you have to badge into.

Besides these tips, you want to be generally aware of the people living around you, the people you work with, etc. Watch what they do, what countries they are from, what their views are, etc.  The more observant you are, the more signs you will pick up, and if something is amiss, you can always contact the authorities. Stay alert always.

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