Not the usual topic for my emergency preparedness blog but for some reason this past week it has hit me hard. May be because it was Father's Day last Sunday and my Dad was an American Hero. I was brought up by my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles to love this country, the United States of America, to be patriotic, to respect it, to honor it and to protect and stand up for the freedoms we enjoy. I am grateful for a father, my father-in-law, grandfathers, uncles and a husband who have given of their lives and sacrificed their time to protect this wonderful free country by serving in the military. Our grandparents and we have taught our children and grandchildren to be patriotic and to love this country. To fly the American flag with honor and pride. Each day for 43 years we have flown the American flag in front of our home (except when it rains) to honor those who have fought for freedom, given of their lives and to remind us and others of the freedoms we enjoy daily. Each of us need to teach our children about those who have fought to defend our freedom and others, let them not forget the sacrifices that have been made so they can enjoy freedom and the right to vote and speak up, to respect and honor this great country, to be patriotic, and to fly the American flag proudly.
Recently I came across a video regarding a young 13 year old boy who tried to show his love and respect for this country by flying the American flag on his bike. What happened to him was a shock and a shame! But those who came forward and stood up for what he did we honor. I love this young man and what his parents have taught him. Please take time to view this video and teach your children and grandchildren that it is an honor to say with pride, "I Am American".
For those of you from other countries who view this blog, teach your children to be proud of their country and the freedoms they enjoy today. Many enjoy freedom today throughout the world because Americans stood up and defended freedom around the world by fighting for it and sacrificing their lives.
When you come across a Veteran, please thank them for their service, their sacrifice and the freedoms we enjoy today! Teach your children to thank them also. Let us not forget them!
We should feel so blessed to live in a country where we can store extra food and water for emergency situations. Many countries they cannot do this, or they are limited.
Weekly
Assignment: Family Emergency Medical Kits
Many of us have some sort
of medical supplies in our homes like band-aids, alcohol, peroxide,
anti-infection creams, pain killers, etc.. Some of us have limited
first-aid kits in our cars and home that we probably have not checked
in months, years. Medications do expire!
If there was a major disaster or emergency situation would you have the proper emergency medical supplies to take care of you, your family and help your neighbors. I would say most of us do not! Right?
The next few weeks we are going to work on our Family Emergency Medical Kit. We have done this before but I am sure there are some of you who did not do it, never completed it and some things need to be replaced due to expiration dates. Some of these items can be found at discount stores and drug stores. Make sure you check the expiration dates before purchasing them, you want them to last for at least a year or more.
Note: Make sure you keep this out of the reach of your young children and explain to the family is your Family Emergency Medical Kit/Supplies. If you need to use an items from it, make sure you replace it right away!
If there was a major disaster or emergency situation would you have the proper emergency medical supplies to take care of you, your family and help your neighbors. I would say most of us do not! Right?
The next few weeks we are going to work on our Family Emergency Medical Kit. We have done this before but I am sure there are some of you who did not do it, never completed it and some things need to be replaced due to expiration dates. Some of these items can be found at discount stores and drug stores. Make sure you check the expiration dates before purchasing them, you want them to last for at least a year or more.
Note: Make sure you keep this out of the reach of your young children and explain to the family is your Family Emergency Medical Kit/Supplies. If you need to use an items from it, make sure you replace it right away!
This week add the following:
(You can purchase these at discount, department and drug stores, but
what the expiration dates at the discount stores)
1) Topical antibiotic ointment
2) Petroleum jelly
3) Sunscreen--purchase the right type for your family needs
So far you should have the following in your Emergency Family Medical Kit: Assorted sizes of band-aids, antiseptic/alcohol wipes, hand sanitizer (2), hydrogen peroxide, topical antibiotic ointment, Petroleum jelly, and sunscreen. Go back to the beginning of June 1st to see the items we have added so far.
June Monthly Assignment: Paper Supplies
This is a great time to work
on storing paper supplies since most stores have them on sale due to
the many holiday and summer activities, Memorial Day, Fourth of July,
Graduations, Summer BBQ, Labor Day, etc..
Figure out how many paper products you will need for your family for 3 months, 6 months or a year. Remember, there are 3 meals, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Most of us use large paper plates, small paper plates, paper bowls, paper cups for hot and cold drinks, plastic silverware and napkins. You can also include paper towels.
Here is an example: Lets say you are going to store enough large paper plates for 6 months. That would be about 183 large paper plates per person. If you have 5 people in your family, you would need to store 915 large paper plates for 6 months. But remember, that is only for one meal, breakfast, lunch or dinner. Multiply the number of meals a day you would use the large paper plates. Do the same thing for the other paper products you need to store.
Watch for sales. Sometimes the sales at regular grocery stores and department stores like Walmart are better than the big box stores. Compare the prices and save!
Figure out how many paper products you will need for your family for 3 months, 6 months or a year. Remember, there are 3 meals, breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Most of us use large paper plates, small paper plates, paper bowls, paper cups for hot and cold drinks, plastic silverware and napkins. You can also include paper towels.
Here is an example: Lets say you are going to store enough large paper plates for 6 months. That would be about 183 large paper plates per person. If you have 5 people in your family, you would need to store 915 large paper plates for 6 months. But remember, that is only for one meal, breakfast, lunch or dinner. Multiply the number of meals a day you would use the large paper plates. Do the same thing for the other paper products you need to store.
Watch for sales. Sometimes the sales at regular grocery stores and department stores like Walmart are better than the big box stores. Compare the prices and save!
1) Napkins/paper towels (As many as you will need for your family for the number of months you are working towards; 3 months, 6 months or 1 year. You can store one or the other or both.)
You should have paper plates, paper bowls, paper cups, plastic silverware, and napkins/paper towels.
Note: One blog follower said it is better to store paper and not Styrofoam plates, bowls and cups because they burn easier and give off better heat. You may want to store some Styrofoam cups for hot drinks.
Emergency Preparedness Ideas
Finding Water in the Wild--Emergency Essentials (as you know one of favorite websites for food storage and emergency supplies) posted a great article on their blog about "Water". Click here to read this article. Great information on finding water in the wild, how to tell if drinkable, how to filter and purify, and 5 ways to collect water.
Hand tools in an emergency situation/disaster . . .
We are so use to being able to plug in or use our rechargeable batteries for our electrical power tools, like drills, chain saws (some are gas), circular saws, all types of saws, electrical grinders to sharpen our tools and other electrical power tools. Imagine there is no electricity, what would you do? Could you function without your electrical power tools?
Everyone should have some non-electrical hand tools to help out in a disaster situation; hand drill, hand saws (different types), hand-crank grinder, crowbar, axe, chisels, whet stone, hammer, shovel, etc. If you had a gas or solar generator you could use your power tools, but most people cannot afford them nor have a place to store lots of gas. Plus, you want to save your gas generator for the more important things like light and keeping the refrigerator going.
Think back to what our parents, grandparents used before electric power tools. Make sure you have some regular old hand tools to help remove fallen trees, rescue someone that is trapped, build a shelter for your family, and for what ever else you might need. Think about the types of hand tools you might need and work on storing them and learn how to use them before you need them.
Comments: Please post your comments below. Share your personal experiences with food and water storage and emergency preparedness. We can all learn from each other.
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