Having enough water is one of the most important things you can prepare for as a survivor. Surviving will depend heavily upon your access to and knowledge about how to use and maintain adequate amounts of drinking water.
Many people believe that having lots of food is more important than being prepared to eat. While food is definitely needed after a disaster, knowing how to make yourself drink is equally if not more important!
Without proper hydration, death could occur within hours or even minutes. Drinking sufficient quantities of water should be a constant habit to ensure this does not happen.
Some tips include:
– Rehydrate quickly by drinking at least eight 8oz glasses of liquid per day.
– Make sure your beverages contain some level of sugar (unless you are diabetic). This includes drinks such as tea, coffee, and soda.
Drinking plain water is also okay when starting out, but soon you may want something more flavorful. Add ginger, lemon, or other flavor extracts to get your thirst quenched. The best flavors seem to come from taking pictures of them and then writing down their recipe. You can then add those ingredients to your own personal blend.
Note: Do not ingest large amounts of any substance unless it has been approved by the FDA. Doing so could cause adverse effects or in worst case scenarios poisoning or coma.
Food
Having enough food is one of the biggest things you will struggle with as a prepared individual. It is also arguably the most expensive item in ensuring your survival. Luckily, it is not necessarily the case that the “elite” or even wealthy can’t prepare for an emergency.
Most people are familiar with the term “food storage” but what kind of foods should we store? More importantly, how much should we have on hand?
The first thing about storing food is to make sure it is natural and nutritious. Avoid buying packaged snacks and junk food if possible. These may taste good at first, but they don’t keep well and won’t help you achieve your goal of eating well after a disaster.
Some foods such as dried fruits and vegetables can last quite some time when stored properly. Make sure to only purchase small amounts though, otherwise you will waste money!
There are several websites and books that offer tips and recipes for free. Although these days this isn’t too common due to the cost, it is still worth looking into.
First Aid Kit
A very important piece of first aid equipment is an easy to access, durable, sterile container that you can use to apply bandages or treat open wounds. These are typically referred to as first aid kits because they contain all of the necessary supplies for minor skin cuts and bruises.
Most major drugstores will have one at a relatively low cost (under $20). Make sure it is certified by the American Association of Blood Banks as being fit for use in treating human blood!
I recommend buying both the kit AND THE SPARE PARTS so that you have second chance if something happens and you run out of something. This way, you’ll know there’s a back up plan.
Research some common items such as tinctures, gels, and solvents to see how well they work and what effects they may or may not include. Some people feel that alcohol works just as effectively as pure hydrogen peroxide but does not require medical certification. As with anything new, try to do a small patch test before applying to a larger area.
Battery Charger
A battery charger is one of the most important things you can have in the world today. Almost every device these days requires at least two batteries to work!
Batteries come in many different sizes and shapes, but they all work via chemical reactions that produce electricity. Just like when you mix dry chemicals in a solution and create water, your smartphone or light source uses this process to generate an electrical current.
Most people know how to use a flashlight as a power source, but there are some more advanced applications for re-purposing old gadgets. For example, some photovoltaic chargers will connect directly to sunlight to help back up your phone’s charge!
A lot of people start investing in backup energy sources after watching various survival shows or reading about what survivors were given to ensure they could stay alive.
Flashlight
A very important item to have in your arsenal is a flashlight. There are many types of flashlights that do different things. Some are designed to work better for vehicle use while others are more portable.
Having several varieties means you can choose one depending on the task at hand! For example, if there’s an urgent situation that requires searching or finding something then a heavy duty flashlight such as a Maglite would be appropriate. If there’s not much light available then a brighter option like a LED torch would be needed.
Fire Extinguisher
Having a fire extinguisher in your home is one of the most important things you can have! A lot of people never really use theirs, though.
Most homes these days are equipped with at least one automatic wet chemical fire extinguisher, also known as an A-B gun or Halon type system. These work by mixing together chemicals that make water into foam which then covers the flame. The more chemicals they contain, the longer it will take for them to run out so there’s not too big of a risk here.
These systems usually have a two year warranty so if this article talks about how to install yours, look up how to do that and see if that works for you. There are some great resources online where you can find tips and tricks as well.
But what if there was no such thing as a drought or shortage of those chemicals ever? Or what if someone made their own instead?
That is totally okay because we all have to prepare for ourselves now! You should definitely try making your own first before buying a pack from stores.
There are many ways to do this and they are very simple to follow. Even if you are not quite sure about how to put one together, you can watch YouTube videos to learn that.
Hand Sanitizer
Having enough food for your family is great, but how well you prepare for an emergency depends largely on how well you manage your hands.
One of the things that can quickly make you sick in a crisis situation is contact with contaminated fluids or materials. This can happen when you try to pull out snacks that have been packaged with dried fluid as a moisture source, or when you use tissues that have touched infected areas.
Having enough hand sanitizers is important because they will help keep your health protected. You never know when there might not be a nearby store that sells them, so it is better to pack yours than be without!
There are many different types of hand sanitizers, so choose one that is appropriate for what you will be using it for. Make sure to test it before buying though, as some work faster than others.
You want to let it dry completely before applying it to wet surfaces such as fingers. Some people also recommend rubbing it on any exposed skin to further protect yourself from contagions.
Matches
Having a supply of matches is one of the most important things you can have as a prepper. There are many reasons why having enough matchs is essential.
Matches can be used for several purposes, including starting a fire, creating heat, lighting a candle or torch, and even striking bullets if necessary. They are also helpful for removing bits of trash or burnt material that may remain after your burn all the other materials down.
Having more than just a few sets is ideal because it allows you to constantly have fresh ones. It will help keep your stockpile up-to-date and useable.
Some tips before shopping for matches: make sure they are chemical free, test a pack before buying them to see they work, and check that they fit in your purse or backpack properly! Also, look into whether or not these are environmentally friendly or recycled matches.
It is very easy to get good quality wooden matches at almost any store these days. These are great since you don’t need too much of them to start a fire, and you can recycle them later.
Water Filters
Having enough water is one of the most important things you can prepare for in any level of survival. Luckily, there are a wide variety of low cost or even free ways to get yourself into good shape when it comes to your drinking water supply.
Some of the more popular ones include: filtering systems such as pitchers and bottles, spring-loaded water bottles, and purification tablets or drops that you add to water. It’s best to have several types of filters so that you don’t run out of something!
Another good way to make sure you have all the right amount of liquid is by starting with an empty stomach. That means no drink with breakfast, nothing but water until lunch, and then only if you’re hungry.
This helps deplete your hunger hormone levels, making it harder to reach your goal at night. Also, eating before bed time will cause sleep problems due to not feeling full.