When I think about it, I still get a queasy feeling in my stomach from a scenario several years ago when I was forced to put into practice survival breathing. It was a sunny day in Baltimore, and I was returning home from a business trip. I had passed through security with flying colors, of course, and was browsing the selection of breakfast sandwiches at a kiosk when I heard the unfamiliar, sudden sound of blaring sirens. In less than …
I’ve read dozens, and I mean dozens, of lists telling me everything I need to have with me to survive. Usually there are no surprises. This list of 13 survival must-haves has some genius suggestions for items your emergency kit might be missing. I know a flashlight, pocket knife, and water are essential for my survival or emergency kit, but every now and then I come across some unusual piece of equipment that are brilliant but that I never would …
13 Survival Must-Haves You May Not Have Thought Of Read More »
Men! They can be so hard to buy for. My own husband is possibly the worst. This year I bought him a beautiful menorah and, wouldn’t you know, he just happened to open that particular Amazon box — after I had spent weeks wondering what I should get him. Bah, humbug!! If you, too, are at a loss as to what to get the men in your life, this list may prove to be a lifesaver, especially since so many …
The internet is full of websites that give information on survival topics, including food storage. There are dozens and dozens of books that will teach you “the right way” to store food and YouTube videos galore. Most contain valid, trustworthy information, but mixed in with that are a number of food storage myths that many people accept without question. Here are 10 that I take issue with, and I explain why. Myth #1: You should stock up on lots of …
I didn’t want to read One Second After by William R. Forstchen. I knew it was a dismal and depressing book, so I procrastinated. I read rave reviews of the book, I knew the general storyline but hesitated because the book reflects one of my deepest fears — trying to survive longterm without a power grid. The book describes life in a North Carolina town following an EMP attack. This permanently destroys everything that relies on electronics: cars, airplanes, all communication, …
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If it’s springtime, that means that camping season is just days or weeks ahead. If you’ve ever gone long-term camping, you’ll be nodding your head in agreement, and then will have plenty more observations to add to this list! Snails can CEMENT themselves to nearly anything, and often they will do it in the least expected places. You MUST make peace with the giant spiders. They eat mosquitoes. Raccoons have no respect for personal property. If you fall asleep in …
Over the last two months, on two separate occasions, I had the opportunity to test my 72-hour kit. Yes, these tests were intentional. Testing a 72 Hour Kit…Why? My background is one of preparedness. In the military, we made casualty response plans, then tested those plans. We called them “drills.” Now, in my post-military life, I’m CERT-trained, and FEMA IS-22 certified and both deal extensively with emergency response and preparation. I’ve noticed many web sites that promote preparedness do not …
Growing up in Phoenix, you would think I would have become accustomed to that city’s God awful heat, but the truth is, I never did. Every single summer I found myself hunkering down indoors and scurrying from one air-conditioned building to the next. After I married and had kids, I noticed how quickly my kids over-heated when they played outdoors and began learning how to mitigate the effects of heat while enjoying school-free days. A heat wave is about as …
Who doesn’t love free? I have been welcoming free items as long as I can remember. Free hand-me-downs were a favorite when my five little kids were growing like weeds. Shelving and furniture freebies were also a reason to celebrate! What we get for free saves us money! Anything that can be used for your preparedness is a big bonus. We asked our readers to share with us some of the free preps they have received. Elizabeth shares: My free …
How do you feel about eating boiled food for every meal? If you’re not storing oil, that’s what you may end up eating every day, meal after meal. Quite a nightmare! Oil is tricky to store long-term, however, and I’ve noticed that some food storage books and websites don’t even address the issue. Polyunsaturated oils can turn rancid before they actually smell that way, and rancid oils lose much of their nutritional value. There’s evidence that rancid oils contain free radicals, which can be …
4 Simple but Clever Ways to Keep Cooking Oil Fresh Longer Read More »