Medical | Outdoor Survival Gear And Preparedness https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/survival-skills/medical/ Knowledge Is Power Sat, 22 Oct 2022 01:17:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/cropped-1-Outdoor-Survival-Gear-Logo-Circle-Green-1-32x32.png Medical | Outdoor Survival Gear And Preparedness https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/survival-skills/medical/ 32 32 How would I better prepare for another Pandemic? https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/how-would-i-better-prepare-for-another-pandemic/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-would-i-better-prepare-for-another-pandemic Mon, 21 Jun 2021 14:02:53 +0000 https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/?p=10542 Lessons I've Learned From The Pandemic The other day I went down to my food storage room to drop off some Nutella that I just bought in bulk and needed to store long-term. While I was down there, I...

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Lessons I’ve Learned From The Pandemic

The other day I went down to my food storage room to drop off some Nutella that I just bought in bulk and needed to store long-term. While I was down there, I started thinking about the world in 2020 and the current state of the economy in 2021.

In my own little bubble, I feel like I am better off now than I was in 2020, but that year had a way of shifting the overall mood, and sense of security for the whole world. 2020 didn’t just affect the United States. It put that same damper on many countries throughout the world. In fact, I still have friends in Peru and in India that are struggling more now in 2021 than the US ever did in 2020.

The COVID-19 Pandemic really put the world in a tailspin, but somehow, it seems that it was just the beginning of our problems. Even while people are still struggling with this virus, the world is facing other challenges that you might not even know about.

Related Post: Minimum Calories Per Day To Survive

Major World Issues Most People Don’t Know About

Australia’s War on Mice

Australian Mouse Plague

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/20/australia/australia-mouse-plague-dst-intl-hnk/index.html

The Israel-Gaza Violence

Israel Gaza Violence

https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44124396

Heading for Hyperinflation

The Beginning Of The End

“Things Are About To Get Worse” – Peter Schiff

Inflation will hit poor and middle class harder than the pandemic

The top 10 crises the world should be watching in 2021

World Crisis

https://www.rescue.org/article/top-10-crises-world-should-be-watching-2021

Why It’s Not About Fear But All About Being Aware

I don’t share this information to instigate fear. I share it to open your eyes to a world outside of your comfort bubble. I am self-aware enough to know that I live in this bubble as well. Even though it might be hard to see other people struggling, we need this understanding to help level-set our minds. It’s important for us to recognize how fortunate we are to not be going through these same struggles.

How Fragile And Broken Is Our Society Current Systems?

After going through the pandemic and experiencing a country-wide shutdown, seemingly overnight, it’s pretty easy to see how fragile our society and systems can crumble.

In my years of experience educating people about preparedness, I have always told them to be ready for the worst-case scenario. When I talked about how things could potentially change in the blink of an eye. Some people believed me, but others would often say stuff like “that would never happen in America.” or  “the government will take care of us if it gets to that.”. If you believe stuff like this, it’s time to get your head out of the sand and awaken to the reality of our new world.

Why You Should Prepare Yourself, Just In Case

Why not take the preparedness approach just in case? Think about it, if you are prepared for some other type of devastation, and the government comes in to help, that’s just gravy on top. But, what if someone is not there to save you?

Wouldn’t you rather be prepared to take care of yourself and your family just in case? Think about the look in your kid’s eyes when they are hungry and cold. Knowing you could have done something about it and didn’t… I promise you will just sit there and regret your actions. Take action now so you don’t have to live with that regret.

Even though the pandemic did open a lot of eyes, some people still refuse to believe that things could get worse than they were in 2020. I don’t know why this is a truth that so many struggles to grasp. If there is one thing we can learn from our own history, it’s that any number of things could devastate our country much worse than the Pandemic.

What Is The Solution? – Family Sharing Bucket

Because of the possibility of things getting worse at some point in the future, I’ve decided to analyze where I am at and what I could do better just in case something like the pandemic happens again.

One area where I know I need to improve is helping other people. Because of the lockdown and all of the fear the media was putting out there, most people were afraid to help their neighbors due to the risk of getting infected themselves. I was one of those people. Because of some medication, my wife was on at the time, her immune system was in a weakened state. The last thing I wanted to do was bring the Coronavirus home and put my wife’s life in danger.

After doing some research and talking with some of my preparedness buddies, I decided that creating a family-sharing bucket would be the best way to address this concern in the future. A family sharing bucket is a 5-gallon bucket full of food that can be given to any person or family that is in need of some additional calories.

You can have these buckets up by your door for when people come asking for food, or you can take them around to specific people that you know could use the help. Aside from having the buckets on hand to help those in need, I also wanted something I could use to easily disburse from my front door.

Very rarely do I allow people to visit my food storage room right now when things are calm. The last thing I would want is to let someone in my food storage room when things get tough. I would hate for someone with “authority” to try and dictate how I should use my food storage when that time comes. I’ve read too many post-apocalyptic books to know how that ends. LOL

Family Sharing Bucket Numbers

What Should I Add To My Family Sharing Bucket?

I didn’t want to wait a long time to prepare these Family Sharing Buckets, so I just grabbed a few things I had in my food storage room already. I think it will do the trick but still plan to create a Family Sharing Bucket 2.0 with more calorie-dense items. Having more calories might not be as enjoyable, but they will keep you alive for a lot longer.

The items I decided to put in this bucket are easy to prepare and most people tend to enjoy eating them. I wanted to make sure I didn’t add any items that were hard to prepare.  Almost everything I’ve added to this bucket can be cooked with water and just a little bit of heat. I also decided to add some sweets to break up the monotony of so much plain food.

Items In My Family Sharing Bucket 1.0

Family Sharing Bucket Total Servings Calories Per Serving TOTALS
Quick Oats 30 150 4,500
Black Beans 51 170 8,670
White Rice 50 160 8,000
Mashed Potatoes 16 110 1,760
Ramen Noodle Soup 4 370 1,480
Mints 200 15 3,000
Lollipops 50 20 1,000
TOTALS: 401 995 28,410

 

Non-Food Items Used

Non-Food Items
5 Gallon Food Grade Bucket
1 Gallon Mylar Bags
Oxygen Absorbers
Rubber Mallet
Mini Heat Bag Sealers

 

Help Others However You Can

When we started our food storage journey over 10 years ago, we were very poor.  We were so far in debt and both working multiple jobs. We knew that we had to get started though, so we put together a budget that allowed us to pay off that debt and put a little towards food storage each month. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to motivate us to continue preparing month over month.

This is only my opinion, but I think that those who have been blessed enough with the foresight and the financial means to get food storage should be willing to help those around them, within reason. We might not be able to take care of everyone, but if we have the means to take care of our friends and family, we should do so. If we don’t come together as a people when the SHTF, we are going to have a hard time rebuilding. We need to get each other’s backs as much as we can when that time comes.

Take Care Of Your Family First

We do want to be cautious with the amount of food we are willing to give away. If it comes down to taking care of our families or someone else, we should choose our families first. We had the foresight to get prepared and for that, I think we should have the freedom to make that choice without feeling guilty.

I do not have enough food to feed my whole neighborhood, so I want to be cautious but still try to be a good citizen and a good neighbor. At least while the supplies last. For this reason, I do think it is important to prepare something like this family sharing bucket.

What Should I Put In My Family Sharing Bucket 2.0?

As I mentioned above, I plan to create a Family Sharing Bucket 2.0 that has more calorie-dense items. I am super interested to know what you would put in your bucket that’s different. What foods should I put in my next bucket that will be calorie-packed, but still easy for someone to prepare but would also give them the nutrients they need to survive and thrive?

One way or another, we are going to have hard times in the future. I’m not sure when that will happen, but I want to make sure I learn from my past mistakes and prepare better for my future. This Family Sharing bucket is only step one.

How else should I prepare to help others when tough times come again?

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]]> Besides a Pandemic, What Else Should I Prepare For? https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/besides-a-pandemic-what-else-should-i-prepare-for/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=besides-a-pandemic-what-else-should-i-prepare-for Mon, 06 Apr 2020 23:18:01 +0000 https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/?p=9856 What Other Emergencies Are Possible In Your Area? The best way to prepare for whatever specific emergencies you may be susceptible to is to research a little bit about your area. To do this, look up...

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What Other Emergencies Are Possible In Your Area?

The best way to prepare for whatever specific emergencies you may be susceptible to is to research a little bit about your area. To do this, look up what disasters have happened in your city and surrounding areas in the past, and then look up what may happen in your area based on the experts. In addition, you will want to consider and prepare for emergencies that can happen in any area, such as an active shooter, a home fire, and household chemical emergencies and more.

How Do I Begin to Plan For More Potential Disasters?

First, research the most likely emergencies in your area. Second, rank them based on the likelihood of them happening. Third, under each emergency category, create a plan specific for the disaster. For each of these plans, consider what financial, physical, and emotional losses these could bring and plan accordingly. As you carefully sort through possibilities, you will be better prepared when the moment of stress and emergency actually comes. Even mentally running through an event once will help you react more intentionally and with less panic. Below is a list of the most possible disasters for which you should consider preparing. Instead of letting this list overwhelm you, simply pick a few that seem most likely, think through them, create a plan, and work from there.

POTENTIAL EMERGENCIES

Although we can’t walk through each of these emergencies, some of the most commonly occurring emergencies are discussed below. According to Ready.gov, you should prepare for the following:

ACTIVE SHOOTER

If you come in contact with an active shooter, you want to 1. run, 2. hide, or 3. fight. Running away is your safest bet. Before anything else, you want to get away from the shooter if possible, leaving behind any belongings. Call 911 as soon as you are safe. If running is not possible, hide. Get out of the shooter’s view, and keep quiet. Remember to silence your electronics, lock and block doors, and hide with only yourself or one other person  If these two options are not possible, you will need to fight. Create a plan with others to ambush or distract the shooter, and be prepared to cause severe or lethal injury to the shooter.

CHEMICAL EMERGENCIES

A chemical attack is the release of a poisonous vapor, aerosol, liquid, or solid that has a toxic effect on people, animals, or plants. An attack of this kind could come without warning. People may react to a chemical attack by experiencing difficulty breathing, eye irritation, loss of coordination, nausea, or burning in the nose, throat, and lungs. In addition, if you see a group of dead insects of birds, this also may be indicative of a chemical emergency. To prepare for an emergency of this kind, you will want to build an emergency supply kit including duct tape, scissors, and plastic to cover doors, windows, and vents. In addition, you will want to create a family emergency plan that outlines what you will do in a chemical emergency and where you will meet. After you have a sense that you may be in a chemical attack, try quickly to find where the chemical is coming from, and take immediate action to get away from that source. Get out of the building or area and avoid contaminated areas, if possible. If you are not able to do this, you will want to move as far away from the source and immediately shelter in place. In order to shelter in place, close all doors and windows. Turn off ventilation, and seal the room in which you are sheltering with duct tape and plastic sheeting. In addition, turn off ventilation that could potentially cycle contaminated air to you. Listen to the radio for when you are clear to exit the building and contact medical professionals quickly when it is free to exit. Earthquake Damage

EARTHQUAKES

Earthquakes are one of the most common types of natural disasters. Your number one goal in the case of an earthquake is to protect yourself. Do not run outside or stand in a doorway. Instead, if you are in bed, turn over, face down, and cover your head and neck with a pillow. If you are driving, pull to the side of the road. If you are outdoors, stay away from buildings. The three basic steps to remember for keeping safe during an earthquake is to 1. stop, 2. drop, and 3. hold on. Try to burrow under a table or desk if possible, and hold onto whatever you are hiding underneath.

HOME FIRES

Since fires spread surprisingly quickly and are incredibly deadly, acting immediately in the case of a home fire is critical. Make sure that the fire alarms in your house are functioning and up-to-date. Create a plan with your family on what to do in the case of a home fire and practice it twice per year to ensure that all of you are prepared. In the case of a fire, drop to the ground and army crawl under the smoke. Touch the door and doorknob lightly before opening it. If it is hot, use another exit, if possible. If you choose to open a door, do so slowly and carefully. If you are unable to get to someone needing assistance, or you have a pet trapped in the home, tell the fire department immediately once outside instead of going after the person or pet yourself. If your clothing catches fire, stop, drop, and roll.

POWER OUTAGE

Chances are, you will experience a few power outages in your life. As a few basic tips, keep your refrigerator and freezer closed except to get the necessary food, as this will save energy and keep the food cool. Use generators outdoors and away from windows, and disconnect appliances to avoid damage from electrical surges. Try to have a few things in place before the power outage, such as a generator, battery-operated flashlights, and battery-operated medical devices.

SNOW STORMS & EXTREME COLD

Most everyone will experience a snowstorm at some point in their lives. The most important things to remember during snowstorms or extremely cold weather are to stay off the roads if possible and keep warm and dry. Having protective gear to keep warm is essential during extremely cold weather. You will want to keep dry at all costs, by wearing waterproof clothing and changing quickly when you do get wet. You will want to stay indoors if possible. If you do have to drive, drive slowly and carefully. Put your car into 4-wheel drive and put chains on your tires to lower your risk of sliding on the icy roads.

THUNDERSTORMS & LIGHTNING

When you hear thunder, go inside, as a general rule. Unplug appliances during a thunder and lightning storm, and avoid using landlines or turning on running water. If you are unable to reach a sturdy building, take shelter in a sturdy car, but avoid touching any metal. Immediately evacuate any pool or other body of water if you are swimming or boating, and find a building or a car under which to find shelter.

CONCLUSION

Being prepared for what emergencies are most likely to happen in your lifetime can be the difference between life and death. Keeping up-to-date on your emergency preparedness plans as an individual and a family is a critical component of any preparedness scenario. Aside from the previously scenarios, here is the rest of potential disasters we should prepare for. This list is given to us by Ready.gov.  
  • Attacks in public places
  • Avalanche
  • Bioterrorism
  • Cybersecurity
  • Drought
  • Explosions
  • Extreme heat
  • Floods
  • Hazardous material incidents
  • Household chemical emergencies
  • Hurricanes
  • Landslides & debris flow
  • Nuclear explosion
  • Pandemic
  • Radiological dispersion device
  • Severe weather
  • Space weather
  • Tornadoes
  • Tsunamis
  • Volcanoes
  • Wildfires

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]]> Should I Wash My Hands or Use Hand Sanitizer? https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/should-i-wash-my-hands-or-use-hand-sanitizer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=should-i-wash-my-hands-or-use-hand-sanitizer Sun, 05 Apr 2020 21:20:15 +0000 https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/?p=9834 As we see basic commodities become valuable items during this coronavirus outbreak, we are led to wonder which items are really necessary and which are just helpful. One of these “hot” items is...

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As we see basic commodities become valuable items during this coronavirus outbreak, we are led to wonder which items are really necessary and which are just helpful. One of these “hot” items is hand sanitizer. In the last few weeks, we have seen bottles of hand sanitizer flying off of the shelves in the stores, so much so that the amount that we can buy in many locations is limited. We see businesses, offices, and restaurants doubling down with the hand sanitizer, planting the clear bottles on every corner. All of us want to help slow the spread of COVID-19, especially by following the guidelines set out by the CDC, the federal government, and each local and state authorities. Central to hand sanitization is proper handwashing. If we can all keep our hands clean, we are one major step closer to slowing down the spread of this massive pandemic. To put it simply, the CDC recommends both handwashing and the use of hand sanitizer. But which is better, if any? And what purpose do both hand sanitizer and proper handwashing serve? What are their similarities and differences?

Which Is Better, Hand Sanitizer or Washing Hands?

Both hand sanitizer and hand washing kill bacteria and viruses on our hands. Hand sanitizer is recommended for use throughout the day in medical clinics, and hand washing is recommended for most of us at home, with steady access to a sink and soap. Both are needed. And here’s why:

Positives of Hand Sanitizer

The CDC recommends that medical providers use hand sanitizer instead of handwashing throughout the day, except in cases of using the restroom, before and after eating, and when their hands are visibly dirty.

Specifically, they ask that medical providers, and actually all of us, use hand sanitizer often.

But this isn’t any new information. Long before the outbreak of COVID-19, we were advised:

“The CDC continues to recommend the use of alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) as the primary method for hand hygiene in most clinical situations1. ABHR effectively reduces the number of pathogens that may be present on the hands of healthcare personnel after brief interactions with patients or the care environment. In addition, frequent use of ABHR formulated with emollients is less damaging to the skin than frequent hand washing. This factor, along with ease of use and greater access, leads to greater overall compliance with the use of ABHR than handwashing with soap and water.  Hands should be washed for at least 20 seconds with soap and water when visibly soiled, before eating, and after using the restroom.” —Frequently Asked Questions about Hand Hygiene 

Hand sanitizer is portable, accessible, and quick to use, making it a convenient way for us to help slow the spread of any viruses and bacteria.

Negatives of Hand Sanitizer

The main downside of hand sanitizer is that whatever dirt or grime is on your hands will stay on your hands instead of being washed away with water. Washing with soap and water is preferred when it is accessible, for most of us staying at home with accessibility to soap and water.

For a more overall, thoroughly clean, using soap and water kills bacteria while also rinsing away whatever debris has gathered on your hands. Bacteria are killed but not physically removed from the hands from the use of hand sanitizer.

READ MORE: How Do I Prepare For A Pandemic Outbreak?

So What Type of Hand Sanitizer Should I Get?

The specific type of hand sanitizer you purchase should contain either greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol as active ingredients. (Both of these active ingredients are types of alcohol.) Benzalkonium chloride, another active ingredient, is also appropriate to use, as deemed by the FDA. However, preliminary research suggests that benzalkonium chloride is less reliable in preventing the spread of coronavirus than either of the other alcohols, making alcohol the better active option in hand sanitizers for now.

Positives of Hand Washing

Hand washing is critical for killing bacteria and viruses and washing them away down a drain. The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water often, when we are at home, throughout our day, before and after eating, after touching our faces, after using the restroom, and after sneezing or coughing.

As one physician put it simply: “Hand sanitizer may kill viruses and certain bacteria, but it does not ‘clean’ your hands like soap and water do. Sanitizer doesn’t remove actual dirt and debris. Soap kills germs, binds them, and helps physically remove them, with the water, off your skin and down the drain.” 

Therefore, hand-washing can’t be cut out just because of the convenience of hand sanitizer. There will be cases when we need actual soap and water to clean our hands properly.

Negatives of Hand Washing

The most prominent negative of handwashing is that it is not as convenient. You need clean, running water and soap in order to wash your hands. In addition, it is not sustainable to wash your hands 50 times per day without your skin suffering.

What Type of Soap Should I Use?

While many people think that purchasing “antibacterial” soap is superior to regular soap, the jury is still out with which one works most effectively. With everything that we know to this point, purchasing and using any regular soap is just as effective as antibacterial soap, although you can certainly buy antibacterial soaps as well.

Proper Technique Matters

With both hands sanitizing and hand washing, the technique is critical and can make a big difference between either some or all of the germs on our hands being cleaned.

For hand washing, the CDC recommends that we wash our hands for 20 seconds, scrubbing the soap first on our palms and then between each of the fingers.

For hand sanitizer, the CDC recommends rubbing first between the palm of our hands and then continuing to rub between our fingers and on our palms until the hand sanitizer is completely dry.

READ MORE: Besides A Pandemic, What Else Should I Prepare For?

Why We Need To Both Wash Our Hands AND Use Hand Sanitizer

The use of hand sanitizer is recommended for the use of medical professionals in a clinic and for the rest of us at home or work to use throughout the day, especially after touching new surfaces. Hand washing kills bacteria and rinses it away, making it the ideal for those of us with sinks and soaps readily accessible.  We should wash our hands with soap and water before and after eating, after using the bathroom, after entering public places, or after blowing your nose, coughing, and/or sneezing. In addition to this, we should use hand sanitizer often in between our hand washing, to disinfect whatever bacteria and germs we have collected. Both are helpful for hand hygiene, health, and the slowing of the spread of many bacteria and viruses, including the coronavirus disease. The best route to go is the one that will work for you. Participating in either one of these methods will slow the spread. Although we are recommended to do both, do whatever feels easiest and most sustainable. *This site does not provide medical advice. I am not a doctor and all content on this site is of my own opinion. Please refer to your doctor or the official CDC website for more accurate information about this topic. 

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]]> How do I prepare for a pandemic outbreak? https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/how-do-i-prepare-for-a-pandemic-outbreak/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-do-i-prepare-for-a-pandemic-outbreak Fri, 03 Apr 2020 14:38:11 +0000 https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/?p=9706 BEFORE THE PANDEMIC How Should I Plan For a Pandemic? In order to properly prepare for a pandemic, you will want to have both a knowledge of skills and the resources necessary to sustain yourself,...

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BEFORE THE PANDEMIC

How Should I Plan For a Pandemic?

In order to properly prepare for a pandemic, you will want to have both a knowledge of skills and the resources necessary to sustain yourself, your family, and anyone else you have close to you. Although it can seem overwhelming to know where to begin, the good news is that a lot of preparing for a pandemic can also overlap with other forms of emergency preparation. 

What Can I Do Personally To Prepare For a Pandemic?

  • You will first want to start by training your mind to handle stress healthily. One of the most important things you can do for yourself in times of collective, global unrest is to personally be in a space to be able to keep calm and manage your emotions and stress. With this, you will be able to think clearly, create plans, be resourceful, and make good decisions. In order to do this, try to increase your coping skills. Practice in your daily life with small stressors. Identify things that increase and decrease your anxiety. Altogether, work daily for your mental health.
  • Next, prepare yourself physically. Exercise often, eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and learn to be flexible with what you eat and drink.
  • Next, you will want to have enough water and food to sustain you and your family in the case that stores did close during a pandemic. Since water is a precious commodity in a time of any emergency, have clean water stored. In addition, have a water filter on hand. In case your water supply was to run out, you will want to be able to access water in any number of ways, including through filtration or purification. From here, build your food supply. You will want to have stored enough food for everyone in your family for at least one month, and more if you have the resources and space. Store nutrient-dense food that can give energy to everyone in your family.
  • Next, prepare yourself financially. Create a savings account specifically for “a rainy day,” putting 5-10% of all of your earnings. Start now and decide not to dip into this fund unless there is truly an emergency, like a pandemic. In times of global upheaval, you may be out of a job. It may become difficult to make house payments. You may not be able to keep your business afloat. In addition to this saving account, you will want to have a few hundred dollars worth of small bills in a safe place in your home.
  • Have toiletries, soap, hand sanitizer, a hearty first-aid kit, medical masks, and other preventive measures on hand.
  • Find a local doctor who you know and trust. In times of a pandemic, there will be massive amounts of information in the media. Knowing where to find information and from what sources can save you headaches and stress.
  • Finally, check the CDC website often for up-to-date information.
READ MORE: What Can I Do To Prevent The Coronavirus Disease At Home?

What Can I Do For My Neighbors During A Pandemic?

The best thing that you can do for those around you in a pandemic is to follow the guidelines of the CDC. If the CDC requests that you stay away from others, please do so. There are still ways to connect and help, such as sharing your food and supplies, offering financial support, and offering whatever unique talents and skills you have. Just make sure that whatever you do, you do it from a safe distance. Sometimes we miss the point of preparedness in the midst of stress and fatigue. The point is not every-man-for-himself. The point is that we do everything in our power to prepare for ourselves and those around us so that we can be in a position to assist the most vulnerable in our communities.

Why Should I Practice Good Health Habits Now?

The health of our bodies and minds are strongly linked. Being able to think clearly and calmly, stay on top of your mental health, and fight disease can be linked to the healthy habits you have created for yourself. To begin, incorporate movement into your day for 30 minutes a day, 5 times per week. This has been proven to help fight mental and physical diseases. Next, increase eating foods that boost your immunity and help you feel clear, energized, and happy. Incorporate healthy mental habits, such as meditation in any form, spirituality, and stress-management.
READ MORE: Should I Wash My Hands Or Use Hand Sanitizer?

How Can I Help When I Can’t Physically Be There?

Start by asking yourself what skills you have. Are you a painter? You can paint something for someone. Are you a writer? Write encouraging notes to friends. Are you a medical professional? Offer information to those around you. Can you create music? Sing from a distance or online to people who are lonely. You can make goals to send encouragement, Facetime, offer your skills or product for a reduced price if possible, and spread hope in any number of creative ways.

How Do I Create An Emergency Pandemic Plan?

As mentioned above, during a pandemic, the best plan that you can have is to be mentally, emotionally, financially, and physically in a place to stay calm and hopeful. From here, listen to the guidelines by officials in your country. From here, have a family-wide plan, often called a protocol, that has been pre-discussed and decided upon, on what you will collectively do to get through the pandemic. Answer questions for yourself and your family like: How will we get groceries? What will we do to sustain ourselves financially? What should we do if stores close down? Where will we meet if we are out of power? Once you have these decisions made and written down on paper, practice them with your family. Get it into their heads so everyone knows exactly what to do, even if they don’t have that paper next to them when the time comes to follow the plan.

How Can I Prepare For Temporary School Closures?

Although nothing can fully prepare us for this, a few things can help.
  • Be involved in what your child is learning at school. Help with homework, or at the very least, take note of what your child is covering in each class.
  • Continue your own learning, alongside your child. The new form of long division may be hard, but you can learn it together!
  • Have a relationship with your child’s teachers and administrators.
  • Know specifically where to find streamlined information for your child’s school.
  • If at all possible, make sure you have a computer at home. Chances are, schools will be taught using Google Classroom or some other form of a digital platform that allows teachers to communicate with their students.
READ MORE: What I Wish I’d Known Before The Coronavirus

How Can I Prepare for Changes at The Workplace?

The best thing to do to prepare for changes in the workplace is to have a small emergency fund because your work will likely be affected during a pandemic. The next best thing is to simply think ahead. Ask yourself the question: what will I do if I were to suddenly have no income by my traditional job? Be creative with your answers. What could you do to support yourself? How would you handle the stress? What are the ways that you could offer your services virtually? If a pandemic happens, there will be hundreds of thousands of businesses that won’t be able to sustain themselves during a lockdown. If that happens, millions of people will lose their jobs You either need to have a side-hustle with a decent amount of income that won’t be affected by e-commerce shutting down a good savings account or some other plan to take care of your family in case this emergency becomes reality. 

How Do I Plan For a Potential Quarantine?

This, more than anything, is where mental practice, strength, and stress-management comes in. You will need to not only have the resources and skills necessary for survival, but you will also need the mental strength and stamina to survive isolation. This is not easy. Specifically, if you struggle with mental illness, this can be particularly dangerous and challenging. Give yourself permission to just survive, if that’s what you need to do. You don’t need to be creative or resourceful if your mental health is suffering. If it helps you to make goals, increase creativity, exercise indoors, and watch movies with your family, do so. Make sure to take time each day to practice mindfulness, through apps such as Headspace and Ten Percent Happier. As humans, we are hard-wired for connection, and quarantine can make this difficult. Recognize this, give yourself space to struggle, and do what is in your power to manage your stress.

DURING THE PANDEMIC

First and foremost, do your part to take action, helping to slow the spread of the illness. Follow the guidelines set out by medical professionals. It is their job to study and understand the virus, and it is your job to trust their research. Check the new, updated guidelines every day and adjust your activities accordingly. If the CDC asks us not to attend large gatherings, do not attend large gatherings. Do your best to make considerate, conscious decisions. Next, put your emergency plan into action, if it reaches that point. Stay calm. Know that you have planned for this. Finally, adjust accordingly as you may need. Perhaps you planned to go to the grocery store every week, but different stores are doing pick-up. Perhaps you need to order off of Amazon. Perhaps Amazon isn’t functioning and you need to eat your food storage. Every situation can be different, and your emergency plan needs to be flexible enough to account for those differences. 

AFTER THE PANDEMIC

After the pandemic passes, evaluate the effectiveness of your emergency plan.  Ask yourself and your family what went well and what you would do differently next time. Adjust your future pandemic emergency-plan with what you have learned, and carry on. *This site does not provide medical advice. I am not a doctor and all content on this site is of my own opinion. Please refer to your doctor or the official CDC website for more accurate information about this topic. 

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]]> What I Wish I’d Known Before The Coronavirus https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/what-i-wish-id-known-before-the-coronavirus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-i-wish-id-known-before-the-coronavirus Thu, 02 Apr 2020 16:05:35 +0000 https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/?p=9782 Before the COVID-19 outbreak, I wish I would have known a few things and prepared a little bit better. In emergency preparedness, we often think of storing food, water, and first-aid kits. We often...

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Before the COVID-19 outbreak, I wish I would have known a few things and prepared a little bit better. In emergency preparedness, we often think of storing food, water, and first-aid kits. We often think about learning basic survival skills. And although these are critical in any emergency preparedness, there are a few parts of preparing for a pandemic specifically that I overlooked. Hopefully, with this insight and experience, we can all be slightly better prepared if a pandemic of this magnitude spreads again. The purpose of the kind of preparation as outlined below, of what I wish I would have known before the coronavirus disease outbreak, is to save mental, emotional, and physical energy in an extremely stressful time. With these things done, transitioning to a new “normal” would have been smoother. During any emergency, we want to be able to think clearly about what we need to do and how to do it. By accomplishing a few of these tasks, I would have been able to be better prepared and thus have more energy to adjust to all of the rapid changes. From here, the best thing I can do is take what I have learned from the outbreak and transform it into useful information for myself. I can adjust my preparedness for next time.

READ MORE: What To Do If You Run Out Of Toilet Paper

STORAGE

I Wish I Would Have Stored Extra Toiletries

In most emergencies and especially unprecedented emergencies, groups of people tend to buy enough of something to last them quite some time. They do this for any number of reasons, from stores potentially shutting down, to quarantine, to wanting to avoid public spaces for weeks at a time. Especially when we have no reference point for what may or may not happen, people want to stock up on everything that they may need. For the outbreak of COVID-19 specifically, people started to buy toilet paper. When this happens, it sparks scarcity in others. Others who feel like there will not be enough, they should be doing the same as those around them, or simply that they are running out of the supply and need to rebuy it as normal. When we have seen shelves stocked our entire lives–never or rarely seeing anything sold out, unavailable, or limited–the natural human response to seeing something missing is to switch into scarcity and fear. This creates a snowball effect where we purchase more and more of the product, the product becomes less and less available, and scarcity and fear are sparked with even more intensity. I wish I would have thought about and stored other products, such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer, hand soap, and paper towels. These products are not necessarily essential but are definitely helpful for maintaining the semblance of a normal life during a pandemic.

READ MORE: Outdoor Survival Tips For People With Kids

FAMILY LIFE

I Wish I Would Have Prepared Better For My Kids

Can anything really prepare us for this? Probably not. But still, I wish I would have done more to prepare. Being stuck at home with kids can be challenging, as probably most of the world would agree right now. Being more involved in creating games, entertainment, and at-home learning opportunities for my kids would have been extremely helpful. I wish that I would have had a box in our emergency preparedness storage full of age-appropriate art projects, math projects, reading projects, and family games. This could have given us new activities and games to look forward to discovering every day. Kids are adjusting to all of the changes just as much as adults are, but they often express this in different ways. I wish that I would have been better prepared to help them adjust without too much stress (or boredom.)

WORK

I Wish I Would Have Prepared Better For Work

Next, I wish I would have purchased more work-from-home equipment before it was sold out. Many people had not really considered that working-from-home for weeks would be a real possibility, but the COVID-19 outbreak proved us wrong. I wish that I would have not only prepared for having and teaching my kids at home, but also for working from home. It would have been helpful to already have the supplies needed specifically for my job already in place. This would have saved me headaches and stress of trying to collect these work necessities in stores that were rapidly running out. With so many people all working from home at once, once again, supplies began to disappear. In addition to this, I wish I would have set up a place in my home where I could work from home with minimal distractions. This would have been as simple as buying a small desk, setting up a “quiet space,” and using it occasionally to help the family dynamic understand that this area was for quiet focus. Also related, I wish I would have learned to use the work-from-home and education platforms like Zoom, Google classroom, and Skype. In the midst of a massive emergency, like the COVID-19 outbreak, the last thing I want to do is try to teach myself how to utilize virtual communication tools. Understanding and occasionally using these services would have helped me transition smoothly from office work to homework.

HEALTH

I Wish I Would Have Gotten Into Better Shape

It is so easy to put exercise and nutrition on the backburner with a multitude of other demands asking for our attention. But with a highly contagious virus spreading quickly, I can see how much I take my health for granted. I wish that I would have invested a little bit more into exercise and eating in ways that gave me energy and good health.  As an extension of this, I wish I would have had options for working out at home. With gyms closed and social distancing enacted, it would have been helpful for me to have at least a few pieces of equipment to help me get a good sweat. Exercising during quarantine can be sanity-saving, and I wish I would have considered the implications of this a little bit more. Altogether, the COVID-19 outbreak has been a difficult time for everyone collectively. As we learn from our experiences, we can be better prepared to weather whatever may come next.

*This site does not provide medical advice. I am not a doctor and all content on this site is of my own opinion. Please refer to your doctor or the official CDC website for more accurate information about this topic. 

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]]> What Can I Do To Prevent The Coronavirus Disease at Home? https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/what-can-i-do-to-prevent-the-coronavirus-disease-at-home/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-can-i-do-to-prevent-the-coronavirus-disease-at-home Wed, 01 Apr 2020 20:47:13 +0000 https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/?p=9711 What Is The Coronavirus Disease? With so much information floating around, it can be difficult to identify what is known and what is sensationalized about the coronavirus disease. According to the...

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What Is The Coronavirus Disease?

With so much information floating around, it can be difficult to identify what is known and what is sensationalized about the coronavirus disease.  According to the CDC, coronaviruses are large families of viruses. There are coronaviruses spread among animals, and others spread among people. Occasionally, animal coronaviruses can affect and be spread among humans, which is believed to be the case with COVID-19. The dangers of COVID-19 are that it is very contagious, there is no cure (at the time of writing this article), and that it is a new virus that hasn’t been studied extensively yet. That will change over the next few months though. The common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, and shortness of breath. to see the full list of symptoms and to see how they compare to the common cold and flu, check out the image below. 
READ MORE: How Do I Prepare For A Pandemic Outbreak?
Coronavirus Symptoms Chart

How Is COVID-19 Spread?

The coronavirus is an extremely contagious virus that is spreading quickly throughout the world. It originated in Wuhan, China, and now has confirmed cases in most countries globally. Although the CDC is still studying how this specific type of coronavirus spreads, it is known to spread through person-to-person contact. This type of spread has informed the guidelines that the CDC has given us to try to prevent an uncontrollable outbreak. This means that COVID-19 spreads between people who are in close contact with each other, and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. In addition, it is believed that a person can get the coronavirus disease after touching an infected surface and then touching their own nose or mouth.

How Can I Prevent The Spread of COVID-19?

First, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease, practice social distancing. Social distancing in simple terms is avoiding coming into close contact with other people (within six feet), except for those in your immediate family with whom you are living. This is wise to do even if you show no signs of sickness, as people can be carriers of the virus with no symptoms. Social distancing is a way to hopefully slow the spread, to save lives, to protect those who are vulnerable, and to avoid overloading our hospitals all at once. Second, avoid travel when possible. The idea of social distancing is to limit your exposure to others and their exposure to you. The more places that you go, the more surfaces you touch, the more of a chance that the virus is being transmitted. (Still even, with no symptoms.) The best thing to do, if possible, is to cancel your travel plans and stay home. Next, wash your hands multiple times per day, especially after using the bathroom, before and after eating, and whenever wiping your nose, coughing, or sneezing. Wash them with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. In addition, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol throughout the day. Next, disinfect surfaces around your house often, using detergent and water. COVID-19 is contagious in part because of how long it stays alive and transmittable on surfaces. Disinfecting often can help prevent this spread. Last, if you even suspect that you may have the coronavirus disease, self-quarantine in your home and take the necessary precautions to stop the spread. Unless you are experiencing emergency symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, a self-quarantine with a heavy dose of hydration, and self-care should be sufficient for managing the virus. These precautions are to try to flatten the curve of the potential amount of people infected with this virus. Without social distancing, a massive number of people could possibly be infected at the same time. Although it is difficult to predict, this could fill hospitals and deplete supplies.
READ MORE: Besides A Pandemic, What Else Should I Prepare For?
person holding covid 19 sign

What Is The Treatment For The Coronavirus Disease?

There is no cure for COVID-19 at this point. People with severe symptoms may need supportive care to breathe, especially if you are older than 60 or have a pre-existing medical condition. If you have mild symptoms of the coronavirus disease, stay at home until you are recovered. Get lots of rest, drink liquids, keep warm, take hot showers, and use a room humidifier.

What Should I Do If I Suspect That I Have COVID-19?

If you have suspected or confirmed COVID-19, stay away from others even within your own home, if possible. Wear a facemask when this is not possible. Wash your hands often, use your own bathroom, and sanitize surfaces you touch daily. When you sneeze or cough, do so into a tissue, throw the tissue away, and then wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. Monitor your symptoms closely. If you decide to seek medical attention, call ahead to warn the medical office that you have symptoms of COVID-19. You should seek medical attention if you have difficulty breathing, have new confusion, your lips or face are blueish in color, and/or you have persistent pressure in your chest.

How Long Should I Stay In Home Isolation If I Have The Coronavirus?

You should check with a doctor first and foremost. I’ll give you my thoughts based on my internet findings. After your two week self-quarantine, you can evaluate your isolation if you haven’t had a fever for at least the last 72 hours (without fever-reducing medication). Your other symptoms must have already gone away AND at least 14 days have passed since your symptoms first appeared. *This site does not provide medical advice. I am not a doctor and all content on this site is of my own opinion. Please refer to your doctor or the official CDC website for more accurate information about this topic. 

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]]> How to Identify Venomous Snakes https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/how-to-identify-venomous-snakes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-identify-venomous-snakes Thu, 23 May 2019 02:55:43 +0000 https://outdoorsurvivalgear.com/?p=4246 The other day my daughter and I caught a cute little garter snake in our front yard. When I was trying to get her to hold it, she asked me if it was poisonous. I told her it wasn't poisonous, and...

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The other day my daughter and I caught a cute little garter snake in our front yard. When I was trying to get her to hold it, she asked me if it was poisonous.  I told her it wasn’t poisonous, and that if it did bite her it wouldn’t hurt. That’s what I was taught growing up, so it had to be true, right? That night I found myself fact checking what I had told her. I wanted to make sure I was telling her the truth. I also wanted to be able to teach her how to identify venomous snakes so there was no doubt about it in the future. *Pro Tip: If you’re wanting to pick up a snake but are questioning if it’s venomous, it’s best to just leave it alone.

How to tell if a snake is venomous

According to SnakeRemoval.com, there are 3 common traits most venomous snakes have:
  1. It is a big, fat snake (quite common to see these types of snakes in the United States versus other regions of the world)
  2. The snake has a rattle at the end of the tail
  3. It has elliptical pupils (Please don’t get close enough to figure this one out)

Can you tell if a snake is poisonous by its color?

Scarlet Kingsnake When it comes to identifying snakes, it is important to know the snakes native to the area you are in. There are over 600 species of venomous snakes in the world, but only 200 of them are deemed deadly to humans. That being said, there are only four types of venomous snakes in the U.S. Each type contains many subspecies with size and color variations. This is to help them blend into their environment and become camouflage for their own protection. Trying to identify a snake using color alone would be very difficult to do with any amount of accuracy. For example, venomous coral snakes and non-venomous scarlet king snakes both have a banded pattern of yellow, brown and black. The difference between the two types is that the red bands touch the yellow bands on a coral snake whereas red bands touch the black bands on scarlet king snakes. Aside from this example, there is really no way to be absolutely positive if a snake is venomous by color alone.

Common venomous snakes in the United States

Pit Viper Poisonous snakes in the United States are classified as pit vipers, which include most species of rattlesnakes. All snakes have heads that appear to be somewhat triangular, so it’s best to not try and tell if a snake is poisonous just by looking at its head. Pit vipers are the most common snake in North America. A pit viper classification means the snake has heat-sensing pits under their eyes. The head will have a triangular shape and their eyes look like slits. Vipers will have fangs, which have venom sacks attached to them.

What to do if you see a snake

Encountering a snake in the wild is something you do need to be aware of as some are very dangerous. Always do research before a trip to know what snakes are native to the area, and which ones you need to watch for.
  • What to do if you encounter a snake
    • If you see a snake, DO NOT pick it up. DO NOT poke at it with a stick. Freeze and slowly start backing away from the snake. Certain species of snakes will play dead but will strike when you are close. Don’t take the risk. Just leave it alone.
    • A snake is less likely to strike if they do not view you as a threat. Make sure you are not cornering the snake. Always give the snake a way out.
    • If a snake is coiled up, or you hear a rattle or puffing noise, proceed with caution. This usually means it’s ready to strike. Slowly back up until you are a safe distance away from the snake. This should settle it down and if you are lucky, it will slither away.
*Pro Tip: Do not step over fallen logs if you cannot see the other side. Snakes tend to hide in fallen logs, or near the log. Wear thick boots when you are in the wild as they can protect you in the event you encounter a deadly snake and get bitten.  

What to do if you’re bitten by a venomous snake

The good news for those in North America is that most of the snakes you see aren’t poisonous. The main snakes to watch out for are the coral snake, water moccasin, copperhead, and rattlesnake. If you encounter one, and you are on the unfortunate end of their bite, use these tips as soon as possible. First Aid Symbol
  • Handling a snake bite
    1. Before you do anything else, call 911.
    2. Move a safe distance away from the snake and remain calm! Remind yourself that the chances of dying from a snake bite are close to none. Thanks to modern medicine in the United States, only one in 50 million people die from snake bites every year.
    3. DO NOT run or get your heart rate up. The faster your heart beats, the faster the venom will travel through your body.
    4. Remove tight clothing around the bite before your body starts to swell as it fights the venom.
    5. Position yourself to have the bite below the level of your heart so the venom doesn’t travel to your heart faster than it needs to.
    6. Clean the wound with fresh water, but do not flush it. Cover the wound and get medical attention immediately.
*Pro Tip: Do NOT use a tourniquet, apply ice, cut the wound, or attempt to suck out the poison. DO NOT try to capture the snake, focus on remembering the color, shape, and size so you can tell your doctor.

What is the difference between a poisonous snake and a venomous snake?

The common vernacular for a snake that has venom is a “poisonous snake”. After doing this research I’ve found that we’ve been saying it wrong this whole time.
  • A poisonous snake is a snake that will hurt you only if you eat it.
  • A venomous snake is a snake that has venom and can hurt you through a bite.

Can you eat snakes?

The simple answer is yes. The vast majority of snake species are edible, regardless of whether they are venomous or not. A word of caution, snakes can eat rodents that could be poisoned with a toxic substance and that can pass to humans.  Most snakes taste like chicken, right? I’ve had snake a few times in my life and from what I can tell, they all taste like chicken. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to eat snake. Especially if you’re in a survival situation. Before you jump in and just start killing yourself some snakes for dinner, please be aware of your local and state laws. If you’re interested in cooking up some snake for your next family party, I’d recommend checking out this article called “How to Cook A Snake in 8 Easy Steps“. What is the most venomous snake in the world? What is the most venomous snake in North America?
  • To find which snakes are in your area of North America, use this interactive North American snakes.
  • The cottonmouth, commonly known as the water moccasin, is the most dangerous snake in North America.
What venomous snakes are in my state?
  • Here is a venomous snake list for each state to help you know what snakes are native in your region.
Snakes are often portrayed in popular culture as one of the scariest, most dangerous reptiles. There is a lot of misinformation about snakes, so it is important to know what type of snake you are dealing with. I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing the native snakes in your area so you are aware of what types of snakes you could encounter. My daughter and a garter snake Conclusion So, is the garter snake venomous? After doing all of this research we find that the garter snake is indeed NOT venomous. Garter snakes are one of the most common snakes in Northern America. Many people love having garter snakes in the neighborhood as they do a great job ridding homes of other pests like mice. Still, use caution when handling any snake, but now you know that these little guys won’t kill you.

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