Your Survival Blog
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Just a Few Steps to Help you Thrive - By: Dr. Maurice A. Ramirez
The recent tornados and extreme winter weather across the United States serve as grim reminders of the unpredictability of Mother Nature. Dr. Maurice Ramirez offers some helpful tips to prepare your household and family before a disaster strikes, as well as some tips if you did not prepare as much as you would have liked.
Emergency Managers, Contingency Planners and Disaster Preparedness Educators nation wide sing a common refrain, the need for a coordinated disaster preparedness effort is not news. The need for meaningful and effective disaster preparedness funding is not a recent revelation. The Institute of Medicine and later the National Academies of Science have published a total of 3 reports calling for increased funding, more coordinated planning, effective and meaningful drills and the widespread adoption of High Fidelity Immersion Simulation by the medical community and the rest of the disaster response community. Outspoken advocates for the American people form a cacophonous symphony of concern. But is anyone listening as this band plays on?!
What can you do when disaster strikes?
Well, if you didn’t prepare ahead:
1. Don’t panic – this is easier said than done. With a few must-haves you’ll be able to survive at least 72 hours. By then communications should be back up and help will be on its way.
2. Use common sense – if it ain’t yours, don’t touch it. If the power line that fell is not yours, don’t touch it, and if the stray dog isn’t yours, don’t touch it. This will help you remain safe.
3. Don’t wander – wherever you are from, you know the dangers there. This is not the time to learn something new. See rule one.
4. Seek help – talk to neighbors, friends, and other family members. Don’t go it alone. There is safety and strength in numbers.
But since it is always better to plan ahead, here is a short list of “must-haves:”
1. Tarp - Not one for your roof. If you’re outside you can create shade; if your shelter is gone, it provides shelter; and condensation to collect and cool drinking water.
2. Crank or shake type flashlight – when it’s still overcast and there is no moon, nothing is darker than dark.
3. Crank type radio with cell phone charger – receive information and send messages through wireless.
4. First aid kit – small personal ones for each person in the family that you can carry in a backpack.
5. Backpack packed before disaster strikes – list of basics can be forwarded.
6. Water – most people think food and water, but this one is left until the end on purpose. Obesity is found in more than 50% of the population. Most can live off what they have stored for 3 – 5 days. However, water is not stored in the human body, it must be replenished. Two gallons per person, per day is ideal which will cover only drinking, not flushing or washing; two quarts is minimum.
With these few steps, you can ensure that while others are fiddling, you are thriving.
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Tuesday, February 05, 2008
China faces coldest winter in 100 years - How to Protect yourself from the Most Unpredictable Storms
New York, NY - Global climate change has recently made headlines bringing disaster and chaos to many parts of the world. With China enduring the coldest winter in 100 years, global climate change and its consequences are starting to be felt more than ever. Due to the unexpected weather patterns, storms form more quickly, temperature changes more rapidly and most people are left unprepared. A winter storm can strike at any time so it is best to get organized. So how do you brace yourself for the coldest winter weather? Stocking up with food and supplies is smart but here are some other tips from CEO of Your Survival LLC, Sam Brown.
- If your regular heating system goes out, and you’re forced to use your backup, be mindful of proper venting. Be sure to always crack a window open to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Further conserve heat by shutting off unneeded rooms, nailing up blankets over your windows at night─ and eating! Food provides the body with energy to help it produce its own heat.
- If you must venture out, wear multiple layers of loose-fitting, lightweight warm clothing, rather than one heavy layer. Cover your head and mouth, and opt for mittens over gloves.
- Try to stay off the roads─ 70 % of all winter storm deaths occur in automobiles. If you do end up getting stranded on a remote road, tie a piece of cloth to the antennae and then stay inside the car and wait for help. Run the engine and heater about 10 minutes every hour, cracking the window to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Don’t eat snow! While it’s important to stay hydrated, you need to melt it first; otherwise, it’ll just lower your body temperature.
More survival tips are available in Your Survival. Complete with checklists to help you stock an emergency food closet, vet your insurance policy, and protect your home and your family against the most unpredictable storms, Your Survival is the disaster-preparedness guide that will get you through any winter storm this season. And with survival information on fires, floods, blizzards, and every natural disaster, this is the only guide you will ever need to plan for, cope with, and recover from any disaster.
Posted by Saba on 02/05 at 02:46 PM(0) Comments • Permalink