Give the Gift of Preparedness this Christmas

If you are still looking for a gift for someone (or for yourself!), consider giving a preparedness gift. Here are a few ideas.


BSA First Aid Book

BSA First Aid Merit Badge Book ($4.49)
 
This is a great SMALL comprehensive book that will fit in your first aid kit.

It can be purchased at your local Scout Shop or online at the ScoutStuff website.


Cyalume SnapLight Industrial Grade Light Sticks (pack of 10 on Amazon for $9.35)

Light sticks are great to use when the power is out since they are safe for children.  These last much longer and provide more light than the more inexpensive versions available.  And they make great stocking stuffers!

Cyalume SnapLight

• Industrial grade light stick for providing illumination for up to 12 hours
• Measures 6" long and provides 360 degrees of illumination
• Hook and gate top for hanging or attaching the light
• Chemiluminescent substance is non-toxic and plastic body is phthalate free for safety
• Five-year shelf life from date of manufacture for a maintenance-free alternative to other lighting

For more information, see Amazon's product description and reviews for this item HERE.


Stove in a Can (regularly $35 - on sale HERE for $17.49)

Stove In A Can is a portable, self-contained cooking platform that provides a week's worth of cooking.

Stove In A Can

• Cooks for 4-6 hours (1 week's worth of cooking time)
• Boils water in minutes
• Holds over 300 lbs
• Stores indefinitely and safely (no chemicals)
• Can be lit and re-lit
• Has an indefinite shelf life and works great in extreme weather conditions
• Fuel cells are completely waterproof and will ignite in seconds
• At up to 18,000 BTU's, Stove In A Can boils water in minutes and burns hotter than most other outdoor stoves
• Is compact, lightweight, and ready for cooking in less than a minute
• Comes with 4 fuel cells that burn for up to 90 minutes each

For more information, see the Quick Stove website.


Wind 'N Go Lantern/Radio (on Amazon for $30.84)


Wind 'N Go Lantern/Radio



• Self-powered lantern with built-in AM/FM radio; ideal for the campsite or your emergency kit
• Three minutes of winding the handle provides up to 75 minutes of use
• Offers low setting (three LEDs), high setting (six LEDs), and emergency setting (six red blinking LEDs)
• Has emergency siren, DC charger, nightlight, compass, audio input cord, and Nokia cell-phone adapter
• Weighs 1.75 pounds; covered by one-year manufacturer warranty

For more information, see Amazon's product description and reviews for this item HERE.


IronKey Secure Flash Drive ($59 and up)

This is a great way to store your important documents since it is both durable and waterproof. (This does not take the place of having printed documents available for an emergency since you may not have access to a computer or printer.)

IronKey Flash Drive

• Military-grade encryption and easy-to-use identity management
• World's most secure flash drive
• Comes loaded with a secure private browser that lets you surf anonymously and protects your passwords whenever you go online
• Rugged metal casing protects against physical damage, and the internal components are sealed to protect against tampering
• Passed and exceeded military waterproof testing requirement

For more information, see the IronKey website.


Lodge Logic 8-Quart Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Camp Dutch Oven (on Amazon for $60.09)

Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Dutch ovens aren't cheap, but they are fun to use whether it's an emergency or not! And if you take care of it, it will last forever. Buy one with legs so you can put coals underneath it, and make sure the lid has a lip so you can also put coals on the lid for quicker and more even cooking.

• 8-quart camping Dutch oven made of preseasoned cast iron
• Large wire loop handle for easy lifting and carrying
• Self-basting cast-iron lid inverts for use as griddle
• Integral legs for campfire and fireplace cooking

For more information see Amazon's product description and reviews for this item HERE.

First Things First - 72 Hour Kits

“Preparing Every Needful Thing” is not possible overnight . . . but putting a basic 72 hour kit together is. Hurricane Season is here!  It runs from June 1st to November 30th. In light of all the natural disasters occurring across our nation, the time for procrastination is over! Every household should have, at the very minimum, a few basic emergency supplies to help sustain the family during an emergency or natural disaster.

The City of Houston recently unveiled a video series that addresses the need for a 72 hour kit. History within our own city has shown that households with disaster kits were able to endure and recover from disasters more easily than those that did not. People who had kits felt they were better prepared physically and emotionally to handle upsets with power, water and other basic services. There is a link to the Texas video series HERE.

Some Californians who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently posted a video series on YouTube called, “Prepare Every Needful Thing.” There is a link HERE. I found it to be even more motivating than the Houston area video because it also addressed the effects of disaster from a spiritual perspective. If you are having trouble becoming motivated once again to undertake the task of 72 hour kit preparation, please watch the video. It is insightful and motivating.

Sometimes when approaching the task of assembling a disaster kit we find ourselves drawn to fancy “complete and expanded” lists. Or, we find ourselves wanting to buy a fancy version of a kit online . . . the most expensive one, of course. I want to encourage you instead, to focus on the most minimal and basic list first. Put this together quickly and do it now! You will unleash a momentum within your family that will propel you to the next level quicker than you think. More importantly, you will be doing something right away to better prepare your family.

Whether you are a family of one or a family of five or more, you need to think about the ages of each individual within your family unit and plan accordingly. Remember your pets too. Preparation now leads to future success and immediately leads to a lot of peace.

Following is a Basic List for a 72 hour kit. (More expanded versions are available under the “This Month’s Focus” section.)

Basic List - 72 Hour Kit
(assuming you will shelter in place)

-Container to hold items. (large plastic bin, box or bucket with lid)
-At least 3 water bottles per person per day (more if you use dehydrated meals)
-3 days worth of easily prepared food (like soup, crackers, peanut butter, trail mix, etc.)
 Emergency food could be MREs or Dehydrated Meals
-Manual can opener if your food required one
-Paper cups, plates, napkins, utensils
-Wet wipes, hand sanitizer, paper towels
-Clean change of clothes per person
-Blankets
-Copies of personal identification and insurance information
-Flashlights with batteries
-AM/FM radio (write local station numbers on it)
-Baby and/or pet items
-Car cell phone charger and list of contact numbers
-Cash in small bills
-Basic first aid items
-Medications
-Trash bags

Water Storage and Purification

Storing water is essential for both 72 hour kits and long term food storage. Here are some informative handouts that cover some of the basics of water storage.

Water Storage Information
Emergency Water Storage, Filtration, and Purification
Emergency Water Storage and Purification Guidelines

September/October Preparedness Newsletter

I realize it's already halfway through October, but I'm finally getting around to posting the September/October Preparedness Newsletter. You can access a printable copy HERE. This newsletter includes articles on

• "Rotate" is not a Swear Word!
• Food Storage - You're Already Doing It
• 72 Hour Kits
• Homemade Non-Toxic Cleaners
• Tips for the Fall Garden
• Recipe for "Microwave Caramel Popcorn" - only 3 ingredients plus the popcorn!
• Essential Non-Food Items
• Water Storage
• and more!

May/June Preparedness Newsletters

If you didn't get a copy of the May/June preparedness newsletters, you can access a printable copy of the Relief Society newsletter HERE. This newsletter includes articles on

• gardening in Texas in June
• places you can pick fruit locally
• helpful ideas for increasing both your food supply and 72 hour kits for families with young children
• yummy recipes
• and more!

A copy of the newsletter geared more towards "The Man of the House" can be accessed HERE. It includes articles on

• Self-Reliance: It's not just about Food Supply
• generators
• hurricane preparedness
• and more!

We hope these newsletters will be one more resource of ideas for self-reliance and that they might be a spark that will prompt you to action in one way or another.