What are the top five or six items you should keep in every vehicle?  I shared my recommendations on “Good Morning Arizona” earlier this week.  Here they are, along with a few tips. (If my book cover looks funky, it’s because they used a graphic of the first draft!)

What would be your top five essential items to always have in the car?

© 2012, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

© 2012, Kimbersglen. All rights reserved.

Long Range Patrol entrees

My kids are in a competitive swim club and have practice every night of the week.  It makes dinner time really, really crazy because I have two choices: do I serve dinner at 4:30 every afternoon or wait until they get home and have dinner at 7:30?  I’ve decided to serve dinner later in the evening, and last night I decided to do something I’ve never done before.  I served them a military-grade Long Range Patrol entree.

I didn’t make this decision lightly.  The Freeze Dry Guy had sent me a sample package of their newest military-grade meals, called Long Range Patrol entrees (LRP), and I was amazed to find out just how delicious they were.  There are  8 varieties of these LRPs: beef stew, turkey tetrazzini, spaghetti with meat sauce, chili mac with beef, chicken and rice, western eggs with ham, seafood chowder, and scrambled eggs with bacon.  I tried the stew, tetrazzini, spaghetti, chili mac, and chicken.

No one expects this type of food to be delicious but the chili mac with beef was just as good as my homemade recipe.  Seriously!  I had two packets of turkey tetrazzini, and that’s what I served my family for dinner, along with a spinach salad.  My husband initially refused to taste the LRP entree, but one bite later, he was a convert!  He ate two huge servings.  My son asked if he could eat the leftovers for breakfast the next day.  I sat back in amazement.  How could an entree, planned and prepared for the military, be so good that it could be served at a family’s dinner table?

Well, I don’t know all the voodoo magic that went into formulating these meals, but here’s what I like about them as an addition to my food storage pantry:

1. They really do taste good.  Every entree was delicious.
2. They are very compact at about 3″ x 2.5″ x 4.5″.  A half dozen or so would fit easily in a bug out bag.
3. Preparation time takes 10 minutes, plus the time to heat up 16 ounces of hot water.
4. There are enough flavor choices to suit just about anyone, including two breakfast entrees.
5. Each LRP weighs less than 5 ounces.
6. One entree could easily feed two people.
7. These are an outstanding option for singles and couples who aren’t sure they want to stock up on #10 cans of freeze-dried entrees.
8. They taste fresher than most of the MREs I’ve tried.
9. For just $40, you can buy a Sample Unit.

I know that the supply of these at FreezeDryGuy.com is limited.  Click on “Limited Stock” in the left sidebar to see what’s available.

© 2012, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

I was watching Bruce Clayton‘s speech from the Dallas Survival & Preparedness Conference, and there was one brilliant tip I wanted to pass along to you.  No, it wasn’t, “When someone asks why you prepare, say, ‘I’m providing for my family.’  Or, “A survival situation is someone coping heroically with the results of an incredibly stupid decision.”  That was brilliant, and true.

His speech is well worth watching, but one gem he casually mentioned was the website, Minimus.biz This website specializes in the sale of all things miniature that you might need, including pocket-size duct tape and a miniature packet of my best friend, Nutella!  You’ll find tiny packets of condiments, salad dressings, water purifier, body lotion, and first aid supplies.  I guarantee this is a one-stop shop for many of the items you want in any emergency kit.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

A whole slew of new graduates, high school and college, has just launched themselves into the world of grown-ups.  They’re off on job interviews, new careers, and time with friends.  All without any close supervision from their parents!  My own nephew graduated last week.  He’ll be living on the central coast of California, a region threatened by wildfires, earthquakes, and maybe even a tsunami. Aunt Lisa is worried.

I suppose I could pitch in on a new iPad for his graduation gift, but the poor kid has The Survival Mom for an aunt!  He’s getting his own well-equipped survival kit, which is actually a pretty thoughtful gift for any graduate.

I started out with the Roll and Go Survival Kit on Wheels from Survival-Goods.com.  A pre-made survival kit is a good place to start, but I recommend customizing it for your own needs.  My nephew’s car isn’t always reliable, so I want to make sure his kit includes a high-quality tow rope, just in case.  In an emergency, he may not have money with him, so as a special treat, I’m including a wad of cash and a roll of quarters.  My motto, “Cash is King!”, is more true during a crisis than at any other time.  A kid stranded without the means to buy gas, a meal, or a night at a hotel could be in big trouble, fast.

Of course you can always make a survival kit from the ground up.  Take into consideration which type of container will suit your graduate best.  A rolling bag is a good choice, especially if it includes backpack straps.  For others, a backpack might be enough, and if the grad will be doing a lot of driving, a larger bin could hold the basic supplies along with a sleeping bag, a one-person tent, and a small campstove.

You can download lists of ideas for packing a survival kit here and here.

In a sense, this survival kit may become a replacement parent, ready with necessities and comfort items in an emergency.  You’ll feel a little better knowing your grad is equipped for survival.

© 2011, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by chidorian

The contest is now closed, but go on ahead and read about these great survival/preparedness products!

Today is my birthday, and we have some fun family plans, but I’m just as excited about giving away a massive number of great Radio Shack survival products!  Now, pay attention because in order to enter the giveaway and have a chance of winning is to let me know which product you want and why.

The Blackout Buddy

First, I have three Blackout Buddies to give away.  These are cute, white emergency LED flashlights that plug into any electrical socket which not only keeps the flashlight charged but at night, it serves as a nightlight.  When there’s a power failure or blackout, it automatically lights up.  These would be great placed in a hallway, a child’s room, or a master bedroom.  They would also be an excellent addition to the home of a senior citizen, providing a nightlight and an easy-to-find and always-charged flashlight.  A donation is made to American Red Cross with each purchase.

The ICON Flashlight Rogue 2

The next product is already popular in my house, and I have two to give away.  It’s the ICON Flashlight Rogue 2 .  This is a smaller size flashlight with an intense LED light and an “aerospace grade” aluminum case.  It offers hi and low lighting levels (100/10 lumens) and is very well designed.  An oversized rubber O-ring washer provides a water-resistant light.  Simply put, it’s just a very well designed flashlight that offers all the features recommended by survival experts.  I think it’s just the right size to keep in the car, an outside pocket of a backpack, or even your purse.

The Enercell Portable Power Bank

My very favorite product of the batch, I think, is the Enercell Portable Power Bank.  I’ve been using this for two weeks and so appreciate having a charge for my cell phone, even when I’m far away from a charger or electrical outlet.  Here is how the Enercell works.  I plug it into my laptop computer via its USB port, and when I see four green lights on the indicator, the power bank is fully charged.  Its lithium battery loses only about 5% of the original charge each month, so it’s ideal for keeping in a Bug Out Bag or 72 Hour Kit.  I’ve been keeping the charged Enercell in my computer bag so I always have a way to recharge my phone no matter where I am.

I have two models to give away.  One is designed specifically for iPod and iPhones only, and the other adds some adapters so it can be used to charge mp3 players, a digital camera, and other phones that have either a mini USB or micro USB outlet.  This second model also comes with an Apple® cable.  If you want one of these Enercells, let me know if you want one that is iPod/iPhone only or the one that can charge multiple electronics.  THIS IS IMPORTANT because I’d really hate to send you one that only functions with iPod/IPhone if you don’t own those products.  These Enercells retail for either $29.99 (iPod/iPhone) or $49.99 for the one with the Apple cable and the additional adapters.  I have several of these to give away!

The Radio Shack Desktop Weather Radio with SAME Alerts

Finally, I’m giving away one RadioShack® Desktop Weather Radio with SAME Alerts.  SAME stands for Specific Area Message Encoding.  When you enter your zip code, you’ll receive weather-related warnings and announcements.  This could be a huge advantage during a severe weather situation, because this radio will deliver local warnings a few minutes earlier than TV and radio warnings, giving you more time to prepare.   It has an AM/FM radio and an alarm clock feature.  This radio retails for $79.99.

© 2011 – 2012, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by DoubleM2

Your 72 Hour Kit, Bug Out Bag, Get Home Bag, or whatever you want to call it might be as fully equipped as can be, but if you haven’t covered the Five S’s, it may fall short just when you need it most.

Sanitation

In a crisis, sanitation and general cleanliness may be the last thing on people’s minds, and that’s just what evil microbes love to hear!  Make sure every kit has hand sanitizer, a supply of toilet paper, a small bottle of cleaning solution, and the like.

Sustenance

Food, not-so-glorious food must be included in every kit, including one you have prepared for your pets.  It’s important to pack the food in such a way that it doesn’t attract vermin and provide a breeding ground for bacteria while it’s waiting to be eaten.  Check out this list for plenty of suggestions, and be aware of the storage temperature your food will experience.  Remember, colder is better.

Survival

Think water, shelter, warmth/fire, and first aid.  Add a signaling device or two for good measure and pack a good First Aid handbook.  You’ll need a source of light, headlamps are my own personal favorite, and extra batteries.  Other necessities are a good knife, walking shoes with socks, duct tape, and an emergency radio.  You can find a more extensive list here.

Security

Nothing beats a loaded firearm with an extra magazine or two, but that might not be your preference.  At the very least have on hand some pepper spray.  One of my best friends from high school used to keep a baseball bat near the front seat of her car, at her father’s insistence.  Whatever you choose, know exactly where it is at all times.  A list of emergency phone numbers and addresses is another good idea as well as copies of your identification, your Concealed Carry permit if you have one, and anything else you might need to prove your identity, such as an employee ID.

Sanity

If you are slowly being driven crazy by your set of circumstances, including your kids, sanity-saving items are a must.  These might include a journal and pencil, a Bible, a deck of cards, a battery powered fan, foam ear plugs, and a book or two.  Never underestimate the importance of a healthy state of mind!  That’s what will keep your decisions sound and your reactions within the range of normal.

© 2010, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

Two years ago when our family went to Disney World, I picked up three or four collapsible nylon bags.  These bags collapse into an attached pouch and when zipped up, they take up as much room as half of a banana.   Yeah, they’re bright yellow and orange, hardly tactical colors, but let me tell you why they might be worth having.

I have one of these, too.

My vehicle emergency kit is (excessively) well-stocked, but I’ve realized that some emergencies might require us to abandon the Tahoe and get to safety on foot.  In that case, we would have to leave nearly everything behind, including items that might be life-saving.  The two nylon bags I’ve stuffed in a corner of my kit can expand to hold an awful lot of stuff and take up only the tiniest bit of space.

It sure wouldn’t hurt to have one of these in each 72 Hour Kit or Bug Out Bag, just in case.

In the likelihood that we aren’t facing an emergency but a family vacation that has ended up in way too many take-home souvenirs, we’ll be ready for that, too!

(The Kiva Duffel Bag that is pictured here is just like the one my mom gave me as a stocking stuffer one year.  Little did she realize she was helping her paranoid daughter prepare for an emergency!)

© 2010, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

image by Beth Rankin

While doing some research for a future blog post, I came across a document produced by the Ohio State University Extension office.  An awful lot of people have been experiencing power outages due to storms and flooding, and suddenly find themselves wondering, “What are we going to eat now that the power is out?”

This pdf document, “Eating nutritiously when the lights are out“, provides three daily menus and a list of kitchen tools to have on hand.  What I like best is that these same food ideas can be used to stock emergency kits, 72 Hour Bags, and the like.  The work of figuring out interesting meals has already been done for you.  The menu pages are definitely worth printing out and filing away in your Survival Mom binder.  Bon appetit!

© 2010, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.

Not much has been written on this blog about processes for purifying water.  Directions for boiling water are found on nearly every survival site, although not all of them give identical directions.  Water purification tablets are easily purchased, and most preppers keep extra bleach on hand, specifically for purifying water.  This week, however, I found a product

image by emrank

that makes water purification easier than ever.

The SteriPEN uses ultraviolet (UV) rays to kill waterborne microbes in seconds by simply stirring a liter of water with its’ wand.  Hospitals have used this technology for years, but this handy tools puts the same effective process in our hands.  I tried the SteriPEN Adventurer and was impressed by its’ compact size.  It’s pretty amazing that something that weighs less than four ounces can be so powerful.  For campers, hikers, and travelers, it’s hard to beat something that can purify water from streams, a lake, or even the hotel water in a third-world country!  The price isn’t bad, either.  The basic unit costs a little over $60.

What a great find for purifying a baby bottle of water or stashing in a Bug Out Bag or 72 Hout Kit!  It sure beats trying to plan multiple ways to boil water or remembering how many drops of bleach will purify a gallon of water.  Those are both good back-up plans, as are larger filters such as the Berkey, but for something portable, affordable, and efficient, the SteriPEN is a great choice.

© 2010, thesurvivalmom. All rights reserved.