Thrifty Thursday: Water Storage Container Comparison

April Showers:  Water Storage Container Comparisons

Below is a chart I originally put together back in 2011, but updated for this year.  Most things were either the same price or little change up or down.  There are many more water containers and such available than what is shown on the chart.  Simply search water on the Emergency Essentials website or Sams Club, etc. to find more information and products.

The cost per gallon listed is taking the initial cost of the item(s) and dividing it by the amount of gallons (128 oz) it holds or contains.  For instance the Emergency Essentials blue barrel cost of 75.95 divided by 55 gallons equals about $1.38 per gallon.  Another example:  The 40 pack of bottled water at Sams Club costs 3.98.  16.9 oz per bottle means there is 676 oz or about 5.28 gallons.  $3.98 divided by 5.28 is about $0.75 per gallon.  I set the price of the pop bottle being used for water as $0.00 because you are simply reusing a container that you bought for another purpose, the pop; but if you want to use the initial price of the pop--generic Kroger brands can cost around $0.69, then your cost per gallon is .69 divided by .53 (2 liters is about .53 of a gallon) which comes to about $1.30 per gallon (basically 2 2 liter bottles gives you one gallon of water).

These costs are based on regular prices.  If you can find a sale, the price will drop.

When considering what containers to use, initial cost is a factor.  But also consider how well it holds up--is it something that will have to be replaced within 1 to 2 years or something that will keep for 5, 10 or 20 years without a problem?  Also consider the space needed for the varying sizes of containers--some are really bulky others can be stored just about anywhere--under beds, closets, under couches that are raised by legs, etc.

conversions used:  128 oz in 1 gallon; about 3.79 liters in 1 gallon or about 33.8 oz in 1 liter

Wednesday Why: Water Storage Q&A

April Showers...More on Water

Water Q&A:  I often get asked questions about home storage and preparedness, here are a few about water and water storage that I've been asked over the years.

Why should we store drinking water besides obedience to wise counsel?  It simply makes sense because we cannot live long without water.  If the water source becomes contaminated or is completely disrupted, you will need water to sustain you until the water is safe to drink again.  It is so much better to prepare 5 years in advance to any emergency, than 5 minutes too late.  Failure to prepare is choosing to be dependent on others during crisis and choosing to possibly not have your needs met and thereby getting sick or dying.

Why do people neglect to store water?  Some possible reasons people may not be storing water are:  Space!  Water takes up a lot of space.  Cost.  Quality containers cost money, as do filters and such.  Uninformed:  missed warnings and counsel that come from multiple sources.  Uninformed:  don’t know how to best store water.  Lack of desire to prepare oneself for emergencies.  Want to rely on others--”My____has food & water storage, I’ll just go to their house in an emergency.” (and thereby lessen their resources).

What is the best way to store water?  Actual drinking water stored in leak proof food grade containers that limit light and stored in a cool dark place is the best way to store water.  Container size is an individual choice, but generally speaking the larger containers can store more water in less space than smaller containers.  Small containers are nice to have if need to move it around.  Beyond drinking water, storing filtering systems and their parts, chemical treatments and/or other materials needed to purify water are another good way to prepare for water shortage/contamination emergencies.

How much water should I store?  1 gallon of water per person per day.  Increase this amount if living in an area of high heat or if have health concerns that require you to have more water (like pregnant or nursing, diabetes,etc.).  Store at least 3 days to 2 weeks worth of water at home.  In an emergency where water is limited or contaminated you probably won’t be sorry for the space you used to store water.

Can I use milk jugs to store water?  Yes, but be aware the plastic breaks down quickly so it is only a short term option--as little as 3-8 months before the jug should be replaced.  Also, be sure to completely clean them and use a bleach/water solution to sanitize them before filling with water.  There are much better options, including pop bottles, water barrels, and water bottles.  

Can I use bleach bottles or laundry detergent bottles to store water?  No, at least not for drinking water.  They could possibly be used to store water that will be used for washing clothes or cleaning, but should NEVER be used to store water to be used for drinking.

Can I store my water barrels outside?  Yes.  But beware it is subject to the elements--high or low temperatures, light and such.  Outdoor storage is not ideal, but it can be done, just be sure to purify it periodically or before using it since bacteria thrives in light and heat.  Also be sure to store the water off of cement.

Can I store water containers on cement?  Containers should be off cement, either by simply placing on pieces of wood or by putting on a shelf.

Can I just store water filters or purifying tablets rather than storing drinking water?  These are good to have on hand and know how to use, but remember you have to have a source of water to use these, so if you have no drinking water and no water source nearby, then having only these may not be affective without travel or other method of obtaining water.  I personally suggest having at least a 3 day to 2 week store of drinking water (at least 3 days, but as much beyond that that you have room for) and then having the knowledge/skills and materials needed to purify water should you need it beyond what you have stored.

Do I need to transfer bottled water into a different container?  No.  If you buy bottled water, store it in its original container, then just be sure to check it periodically for leaks, discoloration or odors.

How often do I need to rotate through my water storage?  It depends on the container and where it is stored.  If using milk jugs, you will need to rotate within a few months to as long as a year.  If using pop bottles or other plastic bottles (like that of bottled water), you will want to rotate every 1-2 years.  If using large barrels or other food grade containers made for water storage, and they are stored in cool, dark places; it is wise to rotate every 3-5 years.  Though technically if the container is sanitized, doesn't leach/leak, etc and the water was purified, the water can store for much longer.  

All water storage should be checked periodically for leaks, discoloration, & odors.  If there are leaks, bacteria can get in.  If there is discoloration or odor it is likely a contaminant of some sort got in or the container itself is leaching something into the water.

Miscellaneous Monday: Levels of Preparedness

Today I want to share what I consider some of the different levels of preparedness & living providently.  Many preparedness books/websites have different levels and steps you can follow in order to get anything from very basic to luxurious kits & supplies for preparedness.  I suggest getting at least basic supplies and knowledge to help you survive, but some of the more advanced or luxury items can help those emergencies turn from simple survival to enduring with comfort.  For each area of your life you will need to determine what level you want to experience:  basic survival or enduring & living with comfort.  When this is decided it will help you determine what supplies and knowledge to obtain.  Perhaps you want a basic 72 hour kit, but a more advanced home storage.  A very basic 72 hour wouldn't include foods that need to be heated/cooked, whereas a more advance one could.  Perhaps you like basic budgets or more advanced ones that include specifics in different incomes and outgoings.  Do you want a home storage that is simply for basic survival if you can't get those items otherwise because of financial difficulty or emergencies or do you want one that allows you to have enough on hand at all times that you never (or at least hardly ever) have to pay full price for products because you stock up on items when they are on sale?  These are just some things to consider when you decide what and how much to store and learn.

BASICS--SURVIVAL MODE:  The first step or level would be to get the very basics--whether you decide to buy pre-made kits or to put your own together.  The very basics would simply supply the necessities for survival for a specified time period (72 hour, 1 month, 1 year, etc).  This level would also include basic knowledge.  Basic first aid, basic food preparation, use of the basic products you have bought, etc.

ADVANCED--SURVIVE & ENDURE MODE:  the next level or step is to buy/make and have knowledge of more than the basics.  Adding things for comfort, entertainment, food preparation, powerless cooking, etc. to your supplies and knowledge for the specified amount of time you want.

LIVING PROVIDENTLY--LIVE WELL MODE:  I consider this to be the level where you can not only survive, but endure & live well during times of plenty as well as times of scarcity.  This is where you have the supplies and knowledge you need to survive and endure emergencies and life with at least some degree of comfort.   Being able to buy things only when they are on sale because you have enough on hand would fall under this level.  You rotate through your supplies, learning how to use them in ways you like and being able to replenish your supplies.

These are my thoughts on some of the levels of preparedness, they aren't fact or anything.  I simply share them to help in deciding what kinds of products and knowledge you want to have for possible future events that are beyond your control.  I hope these thoughts help.

Wednesday Why: Emergency/Evacuation Plans

Today's question:  How do I prepare for a possible evacuation?  What should I take with me?

There are many situations that may require you to evacuate your home for safety reasons.  Here are just a few examples:  hurricanes & other major storms, wild fires (or simply fires that haven't been contained), man-made disturbances (like political unrest), flooding.

For any major public disaster, neighborhoods & cities will most likely be on their own for at least 3 days--as local and state/national resources may be damaged and/or the access be limited due to local damage to roadways and such.  When help is available, emergency responses will be prioritized.  So, what do you do?  Do you shelter in place or evacuate?

If you decide to shelter in place (because there isn't a mandatory evacuation), remember that you will need to have available enough food, water, medicine, hygiene, cooking/heating/cooling fuels to keep you for at least 3-5 days, if not longer; you will need to determine if you will remain safe during and after the disaster;  you will also need to be ready to leave if safety or local officials order an mandatory evacuation.  If you decide to disregard mandatory evacuations, you are putting your safety (and any who stay with you) as well as any responders who may have to rescue you at a later date in jeopardy.  Remember evacuations are for your safety.

If you decide to or need to evacuate, you will need to have a plan before hand of where to go, how to get there, and what to take with you and what needs to be done before/after the evacuation.

Where to go/how to get there:  do you have family/friends a few hours away/out of state you can stay with, do/will you have funds to stay at a hotel, will you need to stay at an emergency shelter for those evacuated?  Do you have alternate routes to get to your destination (in an evacuation roads can be crammed) and know these enough to use them-or have maps you could use?

What to take with you (or have with you if sheltering in place):  identifying documents (that show you live in the area--besides drivers license, a bill or other document showing your address)--the reason is after an emergency sometimes only those who can prove they live in the area are allowed back in; cash--if the electric is out your credit/debit card won't work, small bills are better than large ones; basic food and water, clothing, hygiene items (basically a 72 hour kit) and distraction items (games, things to occupy you while you wait the disaster out)--enough for at least 3 days is good.

What to do before/after a disaster whether or not there is an evacuation:  If you have the benefit of advance notice of a possible disaster, you have the advantage to be able to fill up your vehicle, get cash, clean your home, check the condition and status of everything you own (take pics for insurance purposes), purchase any fresh foods you would like to have on hand, have your emergency supplies ready and in working condition, contact your out of area contact, fill up cleaned bathtubs, etc. Why do these things?  Gas stations will be full of vehicles trying to get gas in and near disaster areas, if they have gas.  If the electric is out credit/debit cards won't work.  After a disaster there may not be running water/clean water available to clean with so you want to have your home as clean as possible to return to (obviously disasters can cause a mess in your once clean home, but it would be better to hope for that clean home rather than knowing you have a mess to come to because you left it in a mess).  Take pictures of everything you have insured--and even if you don't have it insured so you know what you might want/need to replace in the event things are lost or destroyed.  During and after a disaster if supplies (food, gas, fuels, etc) are even available you may not be able to get to them.  Let your contact person know of your plans (staying/going) and when you plan to next contact them--and when they should start in earnest contacting you if they haven't heard from you.  Also, if you haven't already gotten items that may be needed to clean-up/repair your home and yard, it may be wise to do so--like tarps, hammers, nails, etc.  Also before a projected disaster, remove any items from your yard/patio/deck that could become projectiles/blow/float away.  If you expect the electric to go out, unplug anything you feel safe doing so--like TVs, computers, etc.  Move to high ground any items you fear may get wet if water were to come into your home--like put the dresser drawers on top of the dresser or bed or the stuff in the bottom kitchen cupboards onto the counter.

And of course close up, seal up, and lock up all doors & windows before leaving.

I hope these ideas help in making a family plan on what to do and plan for should a disaster come and require evacuation.  Plan and use what works for your family, preparing can be and is a lot of work, but wouldn't you rather that planning and preparation be in place for the unexpected (or even expected) than wish it you had...

Wednesday Why: Starting Food Storage

What advice would I give to someone just starting to gather food storage?

After deciding that you want to have food storage (the why), you will need to determine the where, how, what, and who of food storage.

Where:  

where are you going to store the food

Ideas on storing in small places:  see these posts---Wednesday Why:   Small space storage ideas; Wednesday Why:    College students having food storag

Places around the home or apartment:  cupboards/pantry, spare/guest bedroom, under tables/desks, under beds, in closets, in basements, if necessary:  garage or attic (not ideal because of the heat and such)

Be sure to take into account temperature, moisture (humidity) and light--in general most foods store best and the longest in dry dark and cool places.

where are you going to get the food storage

local stores, online, local farms, home garden, canning/freezing/drying on your own

How:  

how are you going to organize & inventory your food storage

There are many ways to inventory and organize your food, do what works for you! 

how are you going to rotate your food storage

Plan how you are going to use and rotate your food 

how much

determine how much of an item you will need for a specified amount of time

do you know how to use the food

If you aren’t allergic to any longterm food storage items, it is a good idea to store them and learn how to use them

What:  

what are you going to store and what is your budget

What items will be part of your long-term food storage and what items as part of your short term food storage, store only what you will eat and use, don't go into debt for food storage.

Who:  

who is going to be involved, who is going to be doing the shopping, canning, gardening, etc.

Will each person participate or will most of the planning, organizing, obtaining and using be up to you; what will each person’s role be

Wednesday Why: Dry Milk & Hurricane Prep Resources

Two questions for today:  1.  Milky May: What is the storage life of powdered milk?  and 2.  What are some resources for the coastal communities in South Carolina and Georgia to prepare for hurricane season which officially starts this Friday?

1.  What is the storage life of powdered milk?

Instant powdered milk has a little less storage life than non-instant.  Both can last in a dark cool space unopened for about a year (non-instant can last about 3-6 months longer on the shelf than instant).  Humidity, heat and exposure to air will reduce both the storage life and the taste.  If sealed in #10 cans or mylar bags with oxygen absorbers, the shelf-life is greatly increased--as long as it is stored in a cool dark place it can last up to 20 years, albeit the taste may not be maintained that long so it is still good to rotate through your dry milk much sooner--maybe every 5-7 years for best taste, taste diminishes with both time and air exposure.  As long as it has been stored properly, the milk will retain its nutrients and will be good for baking or cooking if not tasteful enough for drinking.  If the milk has a rancid smell or taste, toss it.  It is better to be overly cautious than sick.

2.  What are some resources for coastal communities in SC and GA to prepare for hurricane season?

The following links contain information more focused to SC and GA, but it is sound information for anyone wanting to prepare for hurricanes, storms or other disasters.  If you do live in a coastal community, it is wise to prepare and plan for your family.  Prepare supplies you may need both in the event your stay as well in the event you may have to evacuate.  Plan as a family what and when you will implement your plans should a disaster happen.  Be sure to gather and inspect supplies for 72 hour kits for each member of the family, including pets and to review family evacuation plans noting community traffic changes during disasters (some lanes/roads may be closed and/or traffic direction reversed).

http://www.scemd.org/index.php/component/content/article/21-public-information-home-page/public-information/142-south-carolina-hurricane-guide:  this will get you to a South Carolina Emergency Management Division hurricane guide that can be printed (the front page of this guide is the image above, from this website, it is also the guide being delivered with many coastal community newspapers in SC, so be sure to save and review your copy to be sure you are prepared as best you can)

 It includes the following information:  descriptions of tropical cyclones & the accompanying watches and warnings, mitigation (things you can do to reduce or avoid loss of life and property), emergency alert systems and radio stations for weather, important phone numbers and websites, how to prepare as a family, evacuation information

http://www.scemd.org/index.php/news-release:  includes information about the hurricane guide and such, the following quote comes from this link: 

“SCEMD will be using social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and others to communicate important safety information during large scale emergencies as well as passing along preparedness tips and useful information. Everyone is encouraged to visit our recently updated website for links to our social media pages. Follow SCEMD on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube at www.facebook.com/SCEMD, www.twitter.com/EMDSC and www.youtube.com/TheSCEMD.”

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/:  links to information and youtube videos on preparedness issues like a brief video reminding people they need to prepare despite not knowing when or where a storm may hit:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9-s4iU1yHI&cc_load_policy=1&list=PL63A9138A2047B1A4

http://www.thecoastalsource.com/content/weather/hurricane/default.aspx:  links to both Georgia and South Carolina evacuation information

http://www2.wsav.com/weather/hurricanes/evacuation/:  information on evacuation for both Georgia and South Carolina areas

First Aid Friday: 72 hour/Emergency Kit

For those who live along the coast, including the low-country, hurricane season is almost here.  So today I wanted to send a reminder to gather, inspect, rotate and otherwise make sure disaster supplies and such are in place and in working and usable condition.

Below are some sites that have information about hurricanes and what to include in a disaster supply kit.  Also is a link to some activities for kids.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/prepare/supply_kit.shtml

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/basics.shtml

http://www.ready.gov/kids

These talk about the basics in preparing for possible natural disasters, including a first aid kit.

Some ideas on using the next few weeks to prepare as a family for hurricane season (or other natural disasters):

Have family nights (Family Home Evenings) to discuss what types of natural or other disasters your family could possibly face and what you can do to prepare to lesson the effects of it on your family.  Assign family members to specific duties--an example of this is if there is an evacuation notice for whatever reason, who will grab what, what is most important to grab--that way you have a plan rather than last minute panic.  See a great video, on youtube or here:  http://pgward.org/ep/archives/468, of a mock evacuation that someone put together (the video on pgward is the same one as on youtube).  The video compares 2 families--one that planned for possible evacuation and one that didn't.

As part of the family night or as part of another activity gather your supplies--you can make it fun by doing scavenger hunts, or races to gather the supplies.  Have a packing race--see who can pack their disaster kit the fastest or the best, etc.  

Be sure to inventory your supplies so you know what you have and what you may still need, and can watch for sales on those items--like right now Publix has a buy one get one free deal on its brand of acetaminophen.  And some other stores have some sales on bottled water.  Many camping and backpacking supplies work well for disaster supplies.  As part of your inventory, you may want to indicate which bag or container the supplies are in if each bag contains different items--like when trying to distribute weight for various ages and abilities within the family.

Below is a handout I put together a while back for a RS meeting, that I shared in this post, but thought I'd share it again.

Here is another video on youtube that talks about the need to prepare, please note it isn't made or produced by the church.  I think the person who did put it together did a tasteful and good job of reminding us that there is hope in being faithful and obedient to the counsel we receive from prophets and leaders to prepare ourselves and our families, that with trials that we all do and will face, we can and need to prepare spiritually and temporally.

Wednesday Why: Why Food Storage?

Wednesday Why:  Why bother with food storage?  Why teach others about it?

Some reasons for having, using and teaching about food storage:

1. Obedience to prophetic counsel
2. Cut food bill by using basic ingredients and cooking at home
3. Save time & money--not as many trips to the store, homemade mixes and meals cost less (usually), able to buy things on sale since have a stock & therefore not pay full-price.
4. Health:  homemade meals are easier to control ingredients
5. Taste:  it really can and does taste good to have homemade meals from basic ingredients!
6. Peace of mind:  have something tangible and edible when temporary emergencies or disasters strike, anything from a power outage, loss of job, sickness, to a needed car repair that may need to cut into the food budget.
7. It is fun to know how to care for one’s self on normal days as well as not so normal days-- that it won’t be required to rely on someone else or a governing body.
8. Quite simply, it makes sense to have a store of some sort at home.  Food prices are rising at a higher rate than inflation in many instances, having actual food in the home is in general a better rate of return on the money spent on it over time.

I hope these ideas help in encouraging anyone who is still holding back and not convinced about having food storage.  I know we are blessed when we follow a prophet.  Because of circumstances we might not be able to have a full year supply of everything, but we can and should still get and learn what we can to be prepared temporally as much as possible.

Thrifty Thursday: Dollar Store Deals & Finds

In a Thrifty Thursday post I did 2 weeks ago, I mentioned the funcheaporfree website I came across that I think has some great information.  One of the things it shares is about finding deals at dollar stores, hop on over there for more ideas on what to get/not get at dollar stores and on how to determine a good deal at a dollar store.

Below are some things that I think are good deals to be found at dollar stores.

Those foam swim noodles that are fun to have when swimming.  The dollar store sells what seems to be the same thing as other stores are selling for up to 5 times more.  These are seasonal, but almost every late spring into summer, I’ve found them at dollar stores.

Flip-flops.  Yes, they are cheaply made, but so are the more expensive ones at other stores.  I’m talking about the very basic flip-flop, nothing fancy here.  But what sells for a buck at a dollar store can be 2-5 times as much elsewhere.

Nature’s Own wheat bread.  Yes, the exact same 20 oz loaf that can be found in a regular grocery store for over $2 or $3, can be found at certain dollar stores (but usually need to shop in the morning to find it)

Mylar balloons.  Love these!  Again why pay more?  They have a big selection, from spiderman to smiley face to congrats grad, of course the selection varies from store to store and from time to time.

CD cases, the ones I like hold 24 CD’s.  These are nice to use for DVDs in the car or even at home.  True, they are cheaply made, but still worth it when compared to 5-10 times as much at other stores for basically the same thing.

Party/Halloween costume stuff:  like a knight helmet, shield and sword or cowboy hat & bandana or colorful boas and faux fur purses, pirate eye patches, etc.

Toothbrushes:  some even come in packages of 4 or 5.  They may not be name-brand but they still do the job they were meant for.

Kitchen gadgets/dishes--though I only get certain types at the dollar store.  If I need a quick decorative mug or plate, a dollar store is a good buy, but if I want heavy duty kitchen scissors, the ones at the dollar store don’t last as long as the more expensive variety--but they still do the job for normal every day jobs.

Decorative items:  baskets, metal buckets, etc.  Some of these are really cute to use for gifts or for growing things on the window sill.

Glow sticks.  These are nice for halloween.


I once found combination emergency  flasher/flashlight/glowstick/whistle, like these found at Emergency Essentials, at the local dollar store!  They have been a great addition to the 72 hour kit and kids like them too!  I’ve not found them since or ever seen them before the time I found them, so they are likely a once in a great while deal.  

Note:  Despite the higher than a dollar store price at Emergency Essentials (or elsewhere), I do thing they are worth the price when it comes to having something useful and fun for emergencies or nights when the kids just want the lights out and chase each other around the house with flashing lights and such. Since they aren't normal dollar store items, keep an eye out for sales on these types of items.

Beach toys--sometimes the price of a simply bucket and shovel at other stores is ridiculous, but getting them at the dollar store helps the wallet a little.

Bouncy balls--usually they have the same lifespan as balls sold at other stores.  Other dollar store toys usually break within a very short time (can you say "that didn't even last 10 minutes!").

Hair accesories--headbands, ties, and combs seem to me to have the same lifespan as comparable products at other stores.

As always, I think knowing the price at other stores is a good idea so you know if the buck you'd have to pay at the dollar store is worth it or not.  Some things that I have found are actually cheaper at Sams, Walmart or when on sale:  soap, shampoo/conditioner, those nifty plastic condiments holders & certain other kitchen items, toothpaste, wipes (diaper wipes or otherwise--the quality is better too when bought elsewhere than a dollar store)

Wednesday Why: College Students & Food Storage

Q:  Should college students have a home storage?


A:  My opinion is that they should have something--at least a 72 hour kit.  If they have room under the bed or in a closet, they could have a few more things, but probably only like a 1 month supply rather than a year supply.  For ideas on storing in small spaces see last weeks post here.


This question has been asked before, see this article:  “The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Home Production and Storage,” Ensign, August 1977.  Here is what it says about college students and those who move a lot:


"Barbara B. Smith, general president of the Relief Society, when asked if Young Adult sisters should try to start a food storage program, replied:

“We’re really not encouraging them to get into an extensive food storage program while in school, but we do think they should learn provident living: how to plan, budget, and save for tomorrow. They can learn to have more than one or two weeks of supplies on hand. They can learn sound purchasing habits.” (Ensign, March 1977, p. 37.)

However, if you are in school and married or out of school and establishing yourself, and if small apartments or moving around a lot are a regular pattern in your life, you should work on overcoming the limitations of your situation: “Often in rather limited space, basic food items such as wheat, dried milk, sugar or honey, and salt can be stored. Closets, attics, space under beds, or even space made available by family or friends can be utilized for food storage.” In this case, “it is better to have food storage sufficient for a few months than to have no storage at all.” (Essentials of Home Storage pamphlet.)

Some additional methods of storage for those in this situation are:

1. Store food in dual-purpose places, e.g., as the foundation for a mattress, under a table, etc.

2. Join with other families in similar circumstances and all contribute to a “perpetual” community supply of some sort, which would continue for others even after you leave. (This is not an ideal arrangement, but is one alternative. In a real crisis we should be willing to share whatever food we have with others anyway.)

3. If possible, share with your own parents or “adopt” another permanent family and contribute to their food storage program, with the understanding that they would share with you during an emergency."

These are some ideas for those living in limited space, like a college student.  So if you have limited space, there are still things that can be done--learning to plan, to budget, menu planning, etc. as well as storing a limited amount of items.

First Aid Friday: First Aid Kit

First Aid Friday: Today I will just cover what a basic first aid kit usually contains or should contain.

Whether the first aid kit is for your car or your home, it should contain the following items:

First Aid booklet/pamphlet--something that simply explains how to care for certain illnesses and physical dangers (like snakebites or burns).  It can be a commercially made booklet or one you put together yourself as long as the information is correct and medically sound (no putting vaseline on ticks for instance).  Not all first aid kits come with directions, but in times of stress sometimes our brains do this freezing thing and it is nice to have something written down on how to care for the patient.

Now on to the other basic supplies:  various sizes of bandages, gauze pads & band-aids.  Bandanas or something else to use as slings, scissors, tweezers (I’d encourage pointed tip ones for removal of ticks and other things), thermometer, soap & antiseptic, sunscreen, chapstick, small containers of pain reliever (and if children are in the home, children doses), Ipecac syrup, anti-diarrhea medicine, hypoallergenic adhesive tape, safety pins, vaseline, latex/non-latex gloves, moistened towelettes, anti-histamine medication.

There are other things that can be added to a first aid kit, based on individual needs, things like prescription meds, something to help with dehydration, etc.

Whether you buy a first aid kit or make one up yourself, you want to think about the types of emergencies you might face in your area or where you go and add anything else that may be specific to your area.  Learn basic first aid skills like identifying certain illnesses (like dehydration), bites & stings, rashes & other allergic reactions (like poison ivy) and how to treat them at least on a basic level until medical care is available.  Learn how to properly use the items in your first aid kit and when to use them.

Thrifty Thursday: Getting Preparedness Supplies

Thrifty Thursday:  Getting your preparedness supplies

Being prepared:  The first step is to plan--plan what your family will need & want for emergencies, then gather the supplies needed to meet those needs/wants.  Then, you practice!  Learn how to use those items, learn what works and what doesn’t.  Practice using your storage items during non-stressful situations so that your family can become familiar with set-up, tastes, preparation methods, etc. of the supplies and food you are storing. 

Once you’ve planned as a family what you will want and need for your emergency supplies (72 hour kit, 3 month & 1 year supply).  Then comes the time to gather those items.

Pre-Gathering:

First: research the products you are looking at buying, making or getting.  Learn if they will indeed work for you, if you will be able to properly maintain them and use them, what the track record for those items are--good or bad reviews--do they break easily, etc.  Learn the average costs of buying commercial made compared to making homemade.  Also, determine if you have the skills, tools and ability to make homemade.

Gather: through buying, making or gifting

Buy: maybe for the cheaper items go ahead and buy them so you can start the gathering process; but for the more expensive items, wait and look around for sales or find them at garage sales even.  You want the best value for your money.  Not always is the cheapest the best value (like a dollar store car reflector screen is not to the same value as those obtained elsewhere), nor is always the most expensive the best value either.

Here are some examples of deals that can be found:

A simple butane stove was around $20 a couple of years ago.  But, by waiting, Walgreens had a sale for a simple one for $5!  (this was a few years ago, haven’t found/heard of this great of deal since)

Camp stoves--these often come on sale, too, in the summer.  Or occasionally you might even find some on clearance for 25-75% off--I periodically check the camping section for such deals on the things on my list.

Water:  periodically the grocery store has sales on the water bottles.  During and just before hurricane season is a time when water comes on sale often enough to spread out the buying over weeks or months.

Clothing, Shoes & Socks:  during back to school time and other times of the year, some stores have great sales on clothing--buy one get one free; don’t forget garage sales & thrift stores--just make sure that the used clothing is usable and in a condition you are happy with.

Food:  for 72 hour kits--those little fruit cups are on sale during back to school time, as are pop-tarts, and other little food items that are shelf-stable (because of being “bag lunch” items).  For 3 month or long-term supply--watch the sales & buy one get one free sales.

Make:  What about making things?  

Making your own solar oven out of a car reflector screen is much cheaper than buying one!  Chopping your own wood is cheaper than buying it prechopped.  Making a cardboard box oven is a great way to have baked goods, but for not much cost--there are a lot of instructions available online on how to make one.  

Homemade items can be made to order (in some aspects anyway):  a homemade solar oven can be dissembled and folded for easy storage, whereas a commercial sun oven takes up more storage space, a homemade box oven can be made to have a door with a oven bag window or simply made to be put over the heat & food.

Gifting:  Another great way to gather your supplies (this again is one way my family gets/gives what is wanted/needed):  when friends or family ask what you want for birthdays or Christmas--give them some ideas off of your preparedness supplies list!  And vise versa--for you giving to them--ask what things on their preparedness list they’d like to get.  For Christmas my family has been given things like:  a small first aid kit, a homemade solar still kit, toilet paper, flashlights, toothbrushes and more.  Very practical and useful gifts!  It might seem weird to give food storage or other preparedness items for a Christmas, wedding gift or college bound student gift--but hey, it sure is useful!

In all your getting, don’t forget to plan!  I’d like to share this quote from the April 2003 Liahona: Letter from the First Presidency (dated Jan.20 2002) talking about members obtaining a year supply of basic necessities:

“Members should be prudent and not panic or go to extremes in this effort. Through careful planning, most Church members can, over time, establish both a financial reserve and a year’s supply of essentials.”

I like this quote because it emphasizes the need to plan.  Plan what you’ll need/want, then get it and use it.

72 hour preparedness

In regards to emergency preparedness, I have learned from lots of sources (including one called experience) about the what, the how, the why.  And now I want to share some of that with you.

Why do we prepare for emergencies?  Fear?  Duty?  Obedience?  Common Sense?  There are many reasons and levels to preparedness.  Some of us, out of necessity, have learned to prepare.  Others of us, simply do it because its what we did growing up and so it has become such a part of us and our character that we don’t think much about actually doing it, we just do out of habit.

We have been warned multiple times by church leaders to prepare for emergencies, to have a home storage and to otherwise prepare our families to be self-sustaining in as much as possible.  With major disasters that can happen anywhere & anytime, we need to plan on being able to sustain ourselves for at least 3 days--why?--because after a disaster it may take that long (or longer) before emergency personnel, supplies or other help is available.  This is a reason for having a 72 hour kit, besides its being handy to grab and go should evacuation be required.

So with whatever reason and motivation you have for preparing, there still comes the need to know what and how to prepare.  One way you can determine what you will want and need is to have a mock-disaster.  See if your family can live 3 days without using your water, electricity, etc.  Have practice fire, tornado, etc. drills (great FHE idea).  See how organized, or disorganized as may be the case, your plans and supplies are!  Or you can simply follow ideas for plans and supplies that have already been made & supplied by others.  I really like a list found here on pgward.org (they made a cool car kit crossword puzzle found here)  The image below is a handout for a RS mtg I taught.  (If you want to print it, click on the image, hit your print button and print at 148%--that should get it to fill the page, print only the first page if it comes up as 2).  

For some great brochures, ready.gov is a great resource.  Here are some links to specific publications as well as the link to the page where you can see what other publications they have:

• publications on planning and preparing for emergencies:   http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/trifold_brochure.pdf, http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/PrinterFriendly_ReadyAmerica.pdf

• family emergency plan publication:  http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/EmergencyPlan_REV6.pdf

• what to have in an emergency supply kit:  http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/checklist3.pdf, http://www.ready.gov/kids/_downloads/familylist.pdf

• publication for kiddos to color and enjoy:  http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/inschool_book.pdf (has coloring, crossword puzzles and a comic strip of a animal family getting prepared), http://www.ready.gov/america/_downloads/KidsPoster_Jan2011_map_web.pdf  (map of the US with some cool facts)

• other kid activities links: http://www.ready.gov/kids/parents/downloads.html,  http://www.ready.gov/kids/_downloads/matchinggame.pdf, 

• general link to available publications:  http://www.ready.gov/america/publications/allpubs.htm

(earlier in this post I mentioned pgward.org, I gotta say I love that site!  One of the reasons I debated so long in doing my own blog is because I thought their site was already so wonderful and informative, they have done a great job for their ward, and I was lucky enough to stumble upon their site)