Prepper Products And Techniques for Survival

Winter Emergency Car Survival Tips

By D.B. Meyer

One thing we should have all learned from the unusual snow and ice storm that slammed the southeast is you cannot rely on the government, even though they had plenty of warning. Children were stranded on the school buses all night with frigid temps, people abandoning their cars in the middle of the highway and walking to the nearest building for shelter, customers sleeping on the floor in the grocery stores. Would you have been prepared for this situation?

Your best decision is not to go out in bad weather but that is not always an option. Take a few minutes NOW to get together some crucial items and put it in an emergency box. Keep one in the trunk of each car so you are prepared for any number of disasters that may happen while traveling.

Warm Blankets or emergency thermal mylar blankets which take up very little room.
Extra hats & mittens, socks in case you get wet, clean under garments in case your are stranded for a few days.
Instant heat packs which can be put in your gloves, socks, or between the layers of your clothing. They can last up to 18 hrs, well worth the investment.
A first aid kit including bandages, pain killers, and a few doses of any px medication that is vital.
Flashlight and batteries or better yet, invest in a crank radio & flashlight. You don't have to risk wearing down your car battery listening to the radio for updates or keeping a light going.
Water and energy snacks. It's hard to keep calm when your stomach is growling and your little ones are crying from hunger.
Matches or a lighter in case you need to start a fire for warmth or signal for help.
A small foldable shovel to dig yourself out of the ditch or to keep the snow cleared away from your exhaust pipe if you run the car engine. Carbon monoxide poison is a frequent cause of death in situations like this.
Flares and reflectors to make sure you are easily visible to others.
Roll of toilet paper, no explanation needed.
Baby wipes to wash your hands or other personal hygiene.
Deck of cards or other types of entertainment to help pass the time.

This small investment of time and money could literally be the difference of life and death or getting severe frost bite. Many times people have left their vehicle to seek help and became disorientated and lost their life because of it. In most cases, it's safer to remain in your vehicle until help arrives. If you are familiar with you location and are within walking distance to a safe place, and are physically able to reach your destination, proceed with caution and bring some water and other necessary supplies with you. This may not be an option for the young, elderly, or other persons with disabilities.

Unfortunately most people think they will never have to face an unexpected emergency or depend on the authorities to be properly prepared. We have many recent examples such as Hurricane Sandy, and this most recent freak snow storm in the southeast to show that is not usually the case. You are leaving yourself and your family vulnerable when it can easily be prevented by taking a few steps to prepare. Stay safe!

Vertical Gardens Have Many Benefits

Vertical gardens have become all the rage lately, especially in suburbia and urban settings. All you need is a patio deck, porch, balcony, or rooftop to grow some fresh fruits and veggies. Saving space is just one reason. It's easier to control pests and harvest fruit without bending over. There is no weeding, tilling, or getting dirty so anybody can do it. You can use scrap lumber, old gutters, cloth shoe hangers, just about anything laying around or purchase one to use year after year. I've seen so many that are functional and beautiful at the same time.

There are two ways to go with vertical gardens, most people have a combination of both. There is the "gutter" garden for shallow root vegetables and fruits, and the vertical trellis for the vine-based creepers.

Algreen Vertical Living Wall Planter Save $10 Only $79

Many leafy vegetables have shallow roots. Lettuce and spinach seeds can be planted less than an inch deep, they need plenty of above-ground space between each plant. Radish grows well in relatively cramped quarters. Strawberries and many herbs will also do good in a gutter garden.

Climbing vegetables that grow good on a vertical trellis are tomatoes, peas, cucumbers, pole beans, gourds, melons, squash and pumpkins. Which ever method you chose, make sure your plants have plenty of sun and water.

Gronomics Vertical Garden Planter, 32-Inch by 45-Inch by 9-Inch $209.99 Free Shipping

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All you wanted to know about army bunkers

War or no war, there’s something about bunkers that makes them ever popular. Bunkers are not solely used by the army, but by civilians too. In tornado prone zones, bunkers are built as tornado shelters.
All over the world, bunkers are in high demand. This is why one always sees bunkers for sale all over the place. They are also the latest choice for housing too. Many old WW bunkers are still sold for unbelievable amounts of money. Many ecologically conscious families are also making the move to bunker homes, building new underground bunker-style homes.

What are bunkers used for?
Bunkers were used during the two World Wars and the Cold War to store and manage weapons, as command centres and also as storage areas.
Bunkers are currently used as storm shelters and as backup shelter by doomsday theorists.

Types of bunkers
There are generally four kinds of bunkers:

1.     Trench Bunkers
This is a military structure and is partially underground, forming part of a trench system. It helps in defending soldiers against enemy gunfire, which they would be exposed to in open trenches. The underground nature also provides shelter from aerial attacks like grenades.
Front trench bunkers are usually used as shooting posts. Rear trench bunkers are tactical centres, medical centres for wounded soldiers.

2.     Artillery Bunkers
As the name suggests, these bunkers were used for protecting artillery and especially so in coastal areas. The artillery bunkers had numerous functions. Firstly, the crew would stay inside. The ammunition was sheltered from any enemy fire. In many cases, artillery bunkers were also used to keep the guns safe as well. The only disadvantage was that storing the guns would mean a drop in their fields of firing. For obvious reasons, artillery bunkers are among the biggest ones.
Many of the current bunkers for sale are WWI and WWII bunkers.

3.     Industrial Bunkers
Industrial bunkers are found at mining sites, food storage grounds, dumping grounds for materials and also for housing. These were usually built during the war so as to protect important industrial areas from being bombarded aerially.
Another important use of industrial bunkers is that they function as labs for dangerous experiments like testing rockets or explosive materials. They are also used to store items that are dangerous, like radioactive or explosive materials. Given their storage uses, industrial bunkers can also be found in civilian or non-military zones.

4.     Personal Bunkers
These are non-military bunkers for personal use. Many houses are now built in with bunkers which often use materials like reinforced shells made of plastic. There are many reasons why personal bunkers are built.
Bunkers are also used as fallout shelters and called nuclear bunkers. These are to cope with the under pressure in the aftermath of a shock wave. They also block radiation as a result of the overburden which is created out of soil.
Some built it to serve the purposes of a safe room. In areas where tornadoes and cyclones are frequent, residents build bunkers as storm shelters. Also, given the current trends of the apocalypse and doomsday, many people build bunkers in case of an event like a nuclear holocaust or even an impending zombie attack!
Bunkers are also popular now as they are becoming a favorite option for those looking for eco homes. Underground homes are being built from nature friendly materials in an effort to create an energy efficient and pollution free space.

Read More: http://www.edthatmatters.com/all-you-wanted-to-know-about-army-bunkers/

5 Survival Uses of Pine Resin

Pine resin has multiple uses for survival. This sap is produced by the pine tree to seal up cuts or damages to the tree. If you ever find yourself lost in a wilderness environment, having a pine tree in the area is one of the best case scenarios you can hope for. There are many different species of pine trees but they generally prefer open and sunny areas. They are found abundantly throughout North America, they are also found throughout Central America, Europe, North Africa, in the Caribbean region, and in some places in Asia.
Native Americans used pine sap for medicinal purposes. The resin is either chewed on or made into a beverage by mixing with water. It is known to be very effective in treating stomach ulcers and rheumatoid arthritis. Modern medical experts have not verified the medicinal benefits of pine resin though.
Look for the damaged part of the pine tree because that will be where the resin secretions are. The resin will be dry and hardened but can be softened with heat. Look for damaged or fallen limbs first before you purposely cut into the pine tree’s bark for the sap. If you have to damage the tree, do it in a small area on one side only. Also, take only as much resin as you will need and leave some on the tree to protect the cut from boring insects.

The Survival Uses Of Pine Resin

1. First aid.

2. Use the resin to make shoes and other items waterproof.

3. Light and heat.

4. Make glue out of pine resin.

5. Start a fire with pine resin.

To Read The Original Article: http://crisissurvivortips.com/5-survival-uses-of-pine-resin/

Are You Prepared for a Water Emergency?

The water crisis in Virginia should be an eye-opener to all of us. More than half a million people are unable to use the municipal water for drinking, cooking, bathing, laundry, or cleaning due to a chemical spill into the Elk River. No one knows how long the disaster will affect water supplies, and unprepared residents are now at the mercy of FEMA. Staff members at Thomas Memorial and Saint Francis hospitals were told not to use water except for flushing the toilets. At the Charleston Town Center Mall, marketing director Lisa McCracken said Thursday evening, “We’ve closed our restaurants and we closed our treateries. We’ve turned off all the public restroom faucets, and we have issued an advisory mall-wide to the tenants, telling them not to use the faucets in their establishments. It’s like the apocalypse,” she said, half-jokingly.

If you don't have a fresh water source from a well, have a way to purify water, or a good amount of stored drinkable water, you could be in life-threatening trouble very quickly. The average person can go only 3-5 days without water, less in hotter climates. According to the Department of Defense and the Office of Civil Defense, it's recommended that a gallon of water per day per person be stored for food preparation and drinking. A gallon provides added comfort and accommodates increased fluid needs at higher altitudes or warm climates. An additional one-half to 1 gallon per day is recommended for bathing and hygiene, and to wash dishes. Disease and infections become a serious risk when sanitation is compromised.

Unfortunately water is heavy and bulky but it is more important than food so find a cool, dark place such as the basement to store some water. It's recommended that every household have at least 3 days worth as a bare minimum. Here are some items that can literally save your life and the life of your family. Don't wait until an unexpected crises happens when it's too late.

Aquamira Frontier Emergency Water Filter System $10.57
LifeStraw Personal Water Filter$19.99
Potable Aqua Water Treatment Tablets$5.99
Katadyn Vario Multi Flow Water Microfilter$79.98 With Free Shipping
SteriPEN Traveler 3-in-1 Water Purifier, Blue$44.36 With Free Shipping
waterBOB Emergency Drinking Water Storage (100 Gallons)$19.70
British Berkefeld® Gravity Water Filter with four 7" Super SterasylTM Ceramic Water Filter Elements$210.99 With Free Shipping
50-gallon Collapsible Rain Barrel$36.64 With Free Shipping

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Are Ducks Better Than Chickens For Livestock?

This is a wonderful article by Lisa Steele October 8, 2013, that I just had to share. If you are considering small livestock, consider ducks.

"Over the last few years, keeping chickens has become all the rage. Whether it’s wanting to know where their food is coming from, a desire to be more self-sufficient or merely wanting to go back to the basics, chicken coops are popping up in suburban backyards of families all across the country. But might ducks actually be the better choice?
I have been raising ducks alongside our chickens for nearly five years. That has given me ample opportunity to compare chickens and ducks, and I have to admit that if I had to choose between them, I would pick the ducks.

1. Ducks are healthier
Because they spend so much of their time in the water, ducks are less apt to get mites, lice and other external parasites. Ducks also have hardier immune systems, tend to stay in better general health and are less likely to contract illnesses than chickens.
2. Ducks are more cold-hardy
Ducks have an added layer of fat and a thick down ‘undercoat’ that chickens don’t have. They also have waterproofing on their feathers to protect against the elements and keep them warm and dry in the rain and snow.
3. Ducks are more heat-tolerant
Ducks handle heat quite well by floating around in their pool all day. During the hot southern summers we endure, while our chickens stand around panting, crowded in front of the fans we have set up in our run, the ducks paddle about quite contentedly in their pool.
4. Ducks are quieter
Maybe hard to believe, but our chickens actually make more noise than our ducks. Chickens cackle and carry on after they lay an egg, before they lay an egg, when there’s another hen in the nesting box they want, and for no apparent reason at all. Female ducks on the other hand, although can quack loudly when agitated or excited, normally just quietly chitter-chatter.
Roosters, contrary to popular belief, don’t just crow in the morning. They crow all day long. In contrast, drakes (male ducks) don’t quack at all. They make only a soft raspy wheezing sound. On the whole, ducks are much quiet
5. Duck eggs are larger and better for baking
Duck eggs are larger and richer in flavor than chicken eggs. They are excellent for baking due to their higher fat and lower water content. Duck eggs are also slightly more nutritious than chicken eggs. Due to their thicker shells and membranes, they also have a longer shelf life and are less likely to break than chicken eggs.
6. Ducks lay more regularly
Our ducks consistently outlay our chickens – even through the winter without any supplemental light in their house. Most domestic duck breeds are also very unlikely to go broody (broodies don’t lay eggs, so they are detrimental to your egg production).
7. Ducks adhere to a far less aggressive pecking order
Ducks welcome newcomers far more quickly than chickens do. Whether the newcomers are chickens or ducks, our ducks seem unperturbed and seldom bother new additions to the flock. Chickens, however, take any new additions to the flock as an affront to their rigid pecking order. The result is squabbling and confrontations that can get quite serious until the new order is established and tranquility returns.
8. Ducks are easier on your lawn
While it’s true that ducks can, and will, eat anything green within their reach, as long as you plant bushes and trees that are tall enough so they can’t reach the tops, you can successfully landscape your run or backyard, even with ducks inhabiting it. Chickens, on the other hand, within days of being introduced to a new lawn will have it scratched down to bare dirt. Chickens will continue to not only eat every bit of green that tries to grow, but also dig deep depressions in the earth in which to take their dust baths or cool off in the summer. Ducks may trample your lawn a bit, but they won’t create a barren wasteland of your backyard like chickens will.
9. Ducks are wonderful for pest control
Ducks will eat every slug, worm, spider, grasshopper, cricket, fly, beetle and grub they can find. They are wonderful for natural pest control. Given the opportunity, they will also eat small snakes, toads and even mice. Chickens are more picky about the fare of bugs. Some of our hens won’t even look twice at a worm.
10. Ducklings are adorable! Okay, this is my personal preference, but baby ducklings are irresistibleOn the whole, ducks are far more easy-going and less likely to get their feathers ruffled than chickens. They are generally calm, smart, alert and downright funny at times. Ducks win out as my top choice for a backyard flock and they will always be an important part of ours."

Original article: Ducks Are The New Chickens