An Ultralight Get Home Bag – Part 4, by J.M.

(Continued From Part 3.) Information/References I firmly believe that one of the keys to surviving almost any situation is having the right information, so I tried to include enough of the right information sources to get her through her journey. Fortunately, she has a decent cell phone in a rugged case, so she can use […]

An Ultralight Get Home Bag – Part 3, by J.M.

(Continued From Part 2.) Food This was one of the toughest areas to address – I didn’t want her to have to do things like hunt, fish, trap, or forage on the way, since those take a lot of time and can be very dependent upon the season, but 7 days’ worth of food is […]

Top Food Choices for When the Power Goes Out

We may be scattered across the country from each other, but we’ve all experienced the same thing at one time or another. Or perhaps many times.

The electrical power goes out. And there’s no telling when it might come back on. If you don’t have a generator, or there are other things you need to power up with your generator besides your refrigerator, you have some food decisions to make.

Such as what you can safely eat and drink before those foods and beverages go bad. Now is the time to take a quick peek in your refrigerator to see if you have enough for a couple of meals.

But don’t keep your refrigerator door open too long. The last thing you want is to allow warm air into a refrigerator that is already slowly losing its ability to cool food.

Fridge first, then pantry

Next on your agenda should be determining what’s in your pantry. And what kind of meals you can make without power.

Because once again, you don’t know how soon power will be restored. This will be easier because most of the items in your pantry have longer shelf lives than those in the fridge.

While canned food is not a great long-term survival food plan, it doesn’t hurt to have some canned food available.

It won’t taste as good as your freeze-dried survival food. And it definitely won’t last as long. But it has its place in a food pantry.

Canned food serves a purpose

Among the canned food you might want to keep in the pantry are vegetables. Such as corn, peas, chickpeas and green beans. Plus black beans, lima beans, carrots, beets and others.

You can also include canned fruit in your pantry. Such as apricots, peaches and pears. As well as Mandarin oranges, pineapple, cherries, grapefruit and mixed fruit.

For additional protein, include a variety of meats in your canned stockpile. Such as chicken breast, cured ham, corned beef and roast beef hash. Plus Vienna sausages and spaghetti and meatballs. As well as fish including tuna, salmon and sardines.

Soup is another canned staple you should have. Such as chicken noodle, tomato and vegetable. And squash, mushrooms, beans and lentils. Stew is another canned item. Including beef pot roast, beef barley and vegetable beef.

And don’t forget to keep a manual can opener on hand. You’ll feel pretty silly if you have 50 cans of food and no way to open them because the power is out.

Other non-perishable choices

There are plenty of other foods you can keep in your pantry that don’t come in cans. They do come in handy, however, when you’re hungry and the power is out.

Boxed food such as cereal won’t last too long. But it should be fine for the duration of most power outages. You should also have plenty of protein and fruit bars on hand. As well as dried fruit, granola bars, peanut butter and other nut butters.

But hold off on most of those items until you’ve consumed any fresh fruit and breads you have on your counter or kitchen table. They’ll go bad first, so eat them before that happens.

As far as beverages are concerned, drink your refrigerated milk first, then your canned juices. Keep some non-perishable pasteurized milk or non-diary milk around as well.

How long until food spoils?

Getting back to your refrigerator for a moment… If a power outage continues for several hours or more, how do you know how long your food will stay good?

As a general rule, an unopened full freezer can keep foods safely frozen for about 48 hours. Most food in a refrigerator will remain safe for about four or five hours.

A food thermometer will allow you to check the internal temperature of meat. It should be 40 degrees or lower.

And remember this slogan: when in doubt, throw it out. You’re better off being hungry until the power comes back on than being sick for days afterward.

Shake it up with this meal replacement

Choosing a meal replacement during a power outage can be difficult. But here’s an easy selection I’d recommend.

It’s the 4Patriots Survival Shake Kit – Chocolate. I’m willing to bet you’ve never had a survival drink that tastes this good.

You get 32 servings in one kit, designed to last 20 years. This quick energy and nutrition provider gives you 29 grams of protein and 480 calories in one serving.

It may be the easiest food preparation you’ve ever experienced. All you do is add water and shake. Then enjoy a creamy, malted milkshake flavor.

The 4Patriots Survival Shake Kit is made in the USA, ships from the USA and comes directly to your door. With free shipping in the 48 contiguous states.

It comes in “disaster-resistant” packaging. And in convenient, stackable boxes. Keep some at home, some in your bug-out bag and some in your car. It’s perfect for emergencies. Or anytime you get a craving for a delicious chocolate shake.

Just writing about it makes me want one!

An Ultralight Get Home Bag – Part 2, by J.M.

(Continued From Part 1.) Shelter/Warmth The next area involves protecting her core body temperature, especially while sleeping at night. One important thing to keep in mind is that in New England it gets down into the lower 60s or upper 50s at night, even in the summertime, and since you can get hypothermia at temperatures […]

How to Properly Dispose of Batteries

You probably know this about me by now. When I talk about batteries, I always emphasize the importance of using rechargeable batteries.

It just makes sense… for so many reasons. You’ll save time and money with rechargeable batteries. And you’ll be kinder to the environment.

You may not be convinced yet. Or you might want to use up your disposable batteries before switching to rechargeables. Either way, I hope you’ll consider this advice.

Please make sure to dispose of old batteries in the proper fashion. If you’re not sure how to do that, you’ve come to the right place. That’s the topic of conversation for today.

Don’t make landfills even worse

Most ordinary batteries are not considered hazardous waste. I’m referring to regular alkaline, manganese and carbon-zinc batteries.

But millions of these single-use batteries get thrown away every year. They help fill up landfills unnecessarily. And if they leak, some can spread lead, cadmium and mercury.

I’m talking AA, AAA , 9-volt and others. They’re frequently used for TV remotes, flashlights and children’s toys. As well as smoke detectors, fire alarms, cordless phones and other small electronics.

Depending on where you live, it may be illegal to dispose of old batteries in the regular trash. In California, for example, it’s illegal to throw away all types of batteries.

Battery recycling options

Some people choose to recycle their single-use batteries. Even when they’re not legally required to do so.

Here are several ways to do this. You can call your local solid waste district. Your community might have a collection program. Or an upcoming event.

You could do a search in your area for recycling centers that accept single-use batteries. These centers grind batteries into three different products. They are a paper, plastic and brass fraction. Plus a steel fraction and a zinc manganese concentrate.

Or you could find a mail-in recycling program that accepts batteries. Most programs sell a container to store used batteries that can be mailed when filled.

To prep a single-use battery for recycling, you can bag each battery separately. Or place non-conductive clear tape over the ends to prevent a current transfer. A single-use battery incapable of running a device might still produce electricity.

Next, store the batteries in a plastic or cardboard container. One that doesn’t conduct electricity.

Better yet – get rechargeable batteries

Once you’ve disposed of your old batteries – or sooner – I hope you’ll make the change to rechargeable batteries.

Standard batteries have a bad habit of dying just when you need them most. And when you open that kitchen drawer, you find every type of battery except the one you need.

My suggestion is the 4Patriots Platinum USB-Rechargeable Battery Variety Pack.

It features five different battery types (AAA, AA, C, D and 9-volt) ready to go at a moment’s notice.

You can charge radios and flashlights with these rechargeable batteries. As well as smoke detectors and fire alarms. Plus emergency lights, TV remotes, toys and other items. And all your batteries are protected in hard-shell storage cases.

Why depend on single-use batteries? They could die at the worst possible time. Especially when you could use batteries that recharge up to 500 times.

Public Mass Shooting, Prevent Yourself From Becoming The Victim

The Omaha Nebraska mall mass shooting made me realize that I or a member of my family could have been one of the victims. It has become apparent that mass public shootings are becoming more and more common in American society. We can no longer go about our daily lives with the belief that we […]

377 Survival Hacks You Should Learn in 2022 | Your Ultimate Survival Life Hacks Guide

Survival hacks are essential for anyone. If there is anything that 2021 has taught us, it is that prepper or no prepper, you never know what nature can throw at you on any given day. Make sure you and your family are prepared for the worst-case scenarios with these Survival Life Hacks! RELATED: 9 Smart Soda […]

9 Ways You Can Collect Water in a Crisis

We’ve all been taught the importance of storing water for an emergency. It’s kind of a no-brainer, if you think about it.

We know our main water source could be cut off following a disaster. And we know we need water to survive. So, the more drinking water we have stored in a safe place, the better off we’ll be.

But no matter how much water we store, we could run out eventually. That’s why it’s crucial to know both where you can find water and how to collect it. There’s one more key component to this process – filtering that water – and I’ll get to that at the end.

In the meantime, let’s look at ways to find and collect the water we will need to survive if an emergency halts our normal access to water.

Collecting rainwater

First, it’s important to know in advance exactly where water sources near you are located. This could be a stream, river, pond, creek or lake.

But if rain is your only option for collecting water, there are ways to do that. Including developing a homemade system or purchasing a ready-made one.

The most simple DIY way is to cut one of your drainpipes and divert it to a large barrel. Make sure to have several barrels available so you don’t lose out during a heavy or extended rainfall.

An elaborate system features underground rainwater collection tanks. This is costly but does have the advantage of allowing you to collect water covertly.

Underground water still

Another option for collecting water is creating an underground still. First, choose a location that gets plenty of sun during daylight hours. And that is in a low-lying area.

Next, dig about 15 inches down. The sides of the hole should not be straight up and down. Rather, aim for a bowl shape.

Place your collection container in the center and cover the entire hole with plastic sheeting. Including the container.

Place a rock over the container and use other rocks to hold down the sides of the sheeting. Condensation will gather in your container. It might be difficult to collect more than one quart per day, but that’s better than nothing.

Swimming pool & hot water heater

Yes, I know what kids do in pools. But if you have a pool used by your children or grandchildren, you may need to access that water for survival.

Drain water from the pool into your barrels and other containers. Due to chemicals and other impurities that might be in the water, filtering is a must.

Another place from which to collect water is inside your home. You may have as many as 30 to 60 gallons in your hot water heater.

Most hot water heaters have a valve from which you can access the water. But you will need a hose or pump to make the collection easier.

Wells and cacti

If you don’t already have a well on your property, you might consider installing one. This water could become contaminated by whatever problem is affecting the general water supply. But perhaps not as quickly.

Some of you live in Arizona or other states containing cacti. Some types can be a source for water in an emergency. But some are poisonous.

There is an art to gaining water from a cactus. I’d recommend doing an Internet search if this is an option for you.

Whatever you do, don’t just hack away at it with a machete. You may wind up wasting what precious little water it contains.

Dew, transpiration bags & toilets

Early in the morning, tie one clean rag around each of your feet and walk through an area of grass where dew has not yet evaporated. Then squeeze the water from those rags into a bowl.

Another option is a transpiration bag. Tie a clear plastic bag around a branch with plenty of green leaves. Water should collect in it throughout the day.

I was hesitant to mention this ninth and final one because of how gross it is. But desperate times call for desperate measures.

Personally, I wouldn’t touch water in a toilet bowl unless I absolutely had to. But the six or so gallons in a toilet tank are somewhat cleaner.

5 more you can’t do

These next five methods of collecting water are impossible for the average person. I’m only mentioning them because I find them interesting.

One is catching fog. A large vertical mesh made of screen materials can intercept the droplet stream and collect it in a storage system.

A second is cloud seeding. This technology involves dispersing small particles into clouds. This has the potential of increasing the volume of water those clouds drop.

A third is minimizing evaporation. This can be accomplished through a catchment area in a small reservoir of a cultivated area.

A fourth is desalinating seawater. If this were easy and inexpensive to do, no one in the world would ever be thirsty. But they are making strides in this area.

A fifth is iceberg harvesting. Theoretically, it is possible to move an iceberg, although there are countless environmental concerns about it.

The best way to filter your water

Even if you had an iceberg in your backyard, you’d need to purify the water you gain from it. And as we’ve seen, a vast majority of the water available for collecting from more conventional sources will also be contaminated in one way or another.

So, you need a way to filter that water in order to stay healthy after drinking it. And using it for bathing, washing clothes, cleaning surfaces, etc.

My suggestion is the Patriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System. This complete countertop solution delivers clean, delicious drinking water. It removes up to 99.9% of contaminants from your drinking water.

Including heavy metals, arsenic, pharmaceuticals and much more. Easy to set up and use, it will filter more than 5,700 gallons of water.

Here’s Your Winter Camping Checklist

There are two kinds of campers in America. One can hardly wait until spring so they can start camping again after at least three months away from it.

The other kind of camper doesn’t care which season it is. Camping is a passion for them. They’ll camp in the winter just as often – and with as much enthusiasm – as they will in the spring, summer or fall.

Obviously, staying warm is a challenge with winter camping. But there are advantages to camping during this season. Including solitude, quiet, more unused camping locations and a lack of pesky bugs.

If you’re one of the latter group, or if you want to try winter camping for the first time, today I’m going to provide you with a checklist of items to include in your winter camping gear. And as I often do, I’m saving one of the most important items for last.

Staying warm… awake or asleep

First and foremost, include plenty of warm clothing. Focus on layers. That means t-shirts, flannel shirts, waterproof jackets and a water-resistant down coat. And plenty of extra long underwear and thick socks. Plus a warm hat.

Waterproof boots and gloves are also essentials, of course. Your sleeping bags will probably have down insulation. It’s more expensive but is lighter, lasts longer and compresses smaller.

Sleeping pads are also very important. They’ll put an extra layer between the cold ground and you. Many people prefer inflatable pads to foam pads.

Needless to say, you’ll want to include plenty of blankets and pillows. Do your best to keep them dry.

More essentials

Here are more items I haven’t mentioned yet. How many of these you take will depend on whether you’re roughing it or heading to a campground where some amenities are provided. It might also depend on how long you’ll be gone.

Four-season tent, with footprints, stakes and mallet/hammer
Ground cloth/tarp
Backpack
Headlamps, flashlights and extra batteries
Camp table and chairs (if the site doesn’t have them)
Lantern
Snowshoes
Toiletries
First-aid kit including prescription meds
Lip balm
Sunglasses
Bandanas
Survival knife
Multi-tool
Duct tape
Paracord or rope
Saw or ax for cutting firewood
Compass and GPS
Binoculars
Whistle
Walkie-talkies
NOAA emergency radio
Disinfectant wipes
Documents including vehicle registration, insurance, reservations, etc.

Food-related items

Perishable food packed in a cooler or ice chest
Non-perishable food for snacking
Plenty of bottled water and other beverages
Personal water purifier
Fire starters
Cooking, serving and eating utensils
Cooking pots, pans, plates and cups
Tongs and skewers
Oven mitts
Cutting board
Canteen/thermos
Coffee pot
Can opener
Heavy duty aluminum foil
Dishwashing liquid and sponges
Paper towels and napkins
Tupperware
Zip-top bags
Trash and recycle bags

StarFire Camp Stove

As promised, I saved one of the most crucial winter camping items for the end. It’s the StarFire Camp Stove from 4Patriots.

When you need to cook food or stay warm without electrical power and without gas or butane, this is your best choice. Made of stainless steel, it “runs” on twigs and leaves, which you can find for free just about anywhere.

This low-smoke device turns cold food into hot meals. It boils water in eight to 12 minutes. It can also provide light and warmth. And since it weighs only about one pound, it fits in just about any backpack or bug-out bag. That’s portability.

Best of all, if you purchase four, you receive more than $270 in free gifts. Including the Patriot Power Cell, two 72-Hour Survival Food Kits, a Freedom Flame Flexible Arc Lighter and more. Not to mention an easy payment plan if you want it.

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — December 28, 2021

Today, Tuesday, December 28, 2021 is the 80th birthday of Jerry Wigutow — the founder (and still the owner and operator) of Wiggy’s. It is one of the last American sleeping bag manufacturers. All of his company’s outstanding products sold under their brand name are still made by hand in Colorado. Happy Birthday, Jerry! — […]

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