In the preparation for an event where your air is compromised, how do you choose the gas mask that will enable you to survive and thrive? If there was an event tomorrow that would require you and your family to need gas masks, are you prepared? Do you know the differences between our Israeli Military […]
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Do you know the differences between our Israeli Military or Civilian Gas Masks?
Our gas masks arrive from Israel where they provide gas masks to their citizens. Would you only need the most basic of gas masks as long as the filter works? Do you have special needs or skills that may require you to opt for the military style gas mask? These are all questions that you need to ask so that you can be prepared.
The following infographic discusses some of the differences between the gas mask styles.
The throughput of oxygen through the gas masks may seem as if it will be similar, after all, the gas masks do use the same filter. However, based on testing, the military gas mask is much easier to breathe through when in an exercise environment. Last year, the owner of WellPrepared.com ran in a 5K with the military gas mask. In preparation for this event, he practiced with the two different versions of the mask. Because of this, he came away knowing that there was a sizable difference in clean air that he was breathing. In sight of this anecdote, if you are going to be exerting yourself while wearing the gas mask, one would definitely suggest the military gas mask.
When working or wearing any type of mask, when it gets foggy, it is hard to work. The same is true of gas masks. The military and civilian gas mask have different amounts of rubber that surrounds the nose. In the Military gas mask, there is more rubber that surrounds the nose. This greater amount of rubber provides a greater seal around the nose. Therefore, it prevents your exhalation from effecting your vision.
In connection with this greater amount of rubber surrounding the nose, the rubber also makes the wearer more comfortable while wearing the mask. While wearing an apparatus around your face for an extended amount of time will never be considered comfortable, at least there can be a few concessions in the design that allow for a little bit of paradise while in your hazardous event.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>These are the states most prone to natural disasters, along with a short list of common or notable disasters affecting these states since 1953. 11: Oregon Major disasters since 1953: 79 Earthquakes, high waves / tsunamis 10. Louisiana Major disasters since 1953: 79 Hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes 9. New Mexico Major disasters since 1953: 80 Wildfires […]
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>These are the states most prone to natural disasters, along with a short list of common or notable disasters affecting these states since 1953.
Major disasters since 1953: 79
Earthquakes, high waves / tsunamis
Major disasters since 1953: 79
Hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes
Major disasters since 1953: 80
Wildfires
Major disasters since 1953: 80
Wildfires
Major disasters since 1953: 82
Tornadoes, hurricanes, flooding
Major disasters since 1953: 95
Hurricanes, flooding
Major disasters since 1953: 130
Hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding
Major disasters since 1953: 136
Earthquakes, high waves / tsunamis, volcanic eruptions
Major disasters since 1953: 173
Tornadoes
Major disasters since 1953: 255
Hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding
Major disasters since 1953: 281
Wildfires, earthquakes, mudslides
Source: U.S. News (via MSN)
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>When it comes to predicting the likelihood of earthquakes, it really depends on where you live and who you talk to. However, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has some statistics available that give you an idea of where these massive earthquakes can occur.
Take California, for instance. The USGS 2014 earthquake forecast indicates that the likelihood of a moderate earthquake – between magnitude 6.5 and 7.5 – hitting California has decreased, but the chance of a higher-magnitude quake in the region has increased.
In addition, the USGS found that more than two-thirds of the nation’s annualized earthquake losses in property and structures will be in California. In the state, 80 percent of the losses will occur in these 10 counties (percentage denotes percent of state total):
If you’re in these areas, it’s always a good idea to stay prepared with an Earthquake Emergency Kit, a Gas Shut-Off Tool, a plan of action, and anything else you might need in a disaster situation.
Sources: U.S. Geological Survey, California Department of Conservation, Los Angeles Public Library, Working Group on California Earthquake Probabilities (via)
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>How important is it to be prepared today?
According to The Economic Collapse, prepping was at an all-time low since the election of President Donald Trump. An era of good feelings has settled over the right as well as the prepping community that hasn’t been seen since the election of Ronald Reagan. The economy has been improving; the U.S. dollar index recently hit the highest level that we have witnessed since March 2003. Tens of thousands of jobs, many having something to do with Trump’s election either directly or indirectly, have returned or are returning to U.S. shores.
But is this the calm before the storm?
That’s the thing about being prepared. It’s not preparing for what you see coming. It’s preparing for what you don’t. Just four years after the aforementioned U.S. dollar index rise, the Great Recession — the largest economic downturn since the Great Depression — began, lasting officially from December 2007 to June 2009.
That’s why it’s always important to be prepared. Even if you’re in great or good shape today, you never know what tomorrow will bring.
Being prepared isn’t only about keeping food storage and extra water tools on hand. Even in times of economic rise, it’s important to make sure you’re financially secure, putting money into a emergency savings account or paying off any outstanding debts so they don’t pile up and come back to haunt you later. Investing in solar or wind power so you can live off the grid is also a good idea, as it will free up money in the long run that you can then utilize for something else.
Growing your own garden is a good way to learn self-reliance — and is also overall cheaper and better for you than buying your food at a supermarket. You can even learn to grow a garden inside your home.
What other ways can you think of to prepare for the future? Let us know in the comments!
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>An EMP (electronmagnetic pulse) is a phenomenon that can be caused when a device or a nuclear explosion is detonated, causing irreparable damage to electronic equipment for a radius of potentially over 900 miles. This makes electronic devices unusable, even if they’re not plugged in or battery operated. However, there are some ways you can protect your electronic equipment from potential disaster.
Faraday cages (also known as Faraday shields) are enclosures formed by conductive material, often in a mesh, that block electric fields such as an EMP. Named after English scientist Michael Faraday, who invented them in 1836, Faraday cages are not difficult to build and can help shield smaller electronics like a HAM radio — any kind of communication device that doesn’t operate off of the cellular networks (which would be down) — as well as batteries and even computers or Knowledge Vaults that have your vital information stored.
Faraday cages need to be grounded to work. If they’re not grounded, then the Faraday cage merely becomes a reflector or an amplifier. It’s also recommended that they be buried two or three feet underground to maximize their effectiveness.
Foil is the easiest (though not the best nor most effective) way to build a Faraday cage.
First, you’ll want to measure the item or items you want to protect from an EMP attack.
Next, you’ll need to find a plastic or cardboard container or box that will be sufficient to store these items.
Use wadded scrap paper or newspaper to fill any holes in the box to keep the contents from moving around.
Use duct tape to seal the lid shut. Make sure all holes in the box are covered by the duct tape.
Now wrap the box completely using at least five layers of aluminum foil. You’ll want to make sure the box is completely covered with the layers; one layer of foil is not going to be thick enough to withstand the pulse.
The foil Faraday cage is now complete; your device is now protected from EMP.
You can build a brass mesh Faraday cage by making a box frame with some wood and attaching the mesh to the outside. Again, make the box big enough for your electronics. Make sure you clamp down or secure the access point you’ll need to use to get to your items.
You can then use layers of iron, steel, or thick layers of copper to apply to the outside around the mesh box. Make sure you have grounded the box as well
There are some items around the house that will make great Faraday cages. A Microwave would work, as would a large stock pot or galvanized trash can with a lid firmly clamped.
Keep in mind that you should only save cell phones, batteries, laptops, and radios using a Faraday cage. Stuff that can work somewhat independently of deliverable electricity. Cell phone networks will be down, but the cell phone could still potentially be used for light, information (if you have a smartphone with files saved on it), or entertainment during an emergency (so you don’t go too crazy).
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Whether it’s a full-scale disaster, an inconvenient extended power outage, or a campout with family and friends, the ability to provide hot meals is essential. Bear River Rocket Stoves provide you with a way to cook for a group large or small with efficiency and style.
Rocket stoves are wood-burning stoves that are very energy efficient and easy to use in situations where fossil fuel and electricity are not available, making them idea for emergency situations as well as outdoor activities like camping or bugging out. A rocket stove is able to run from small amounts of wood, making it a very resourceful way to cook. Rocket stoves are an ideal survival tool because they run from twigs, leaves, and wood debris — all readily available after severe storms or earthquakes — and can be used to cook almost anything that requires stovetop cooking.
The large capacity of the Bear River Rocket Stove and oven allows you to do a week’s worth of baking in one day. They are worthy of a professional kitchen, and while they are definitely not for the backpacking crowd, Bear River Rocket Stoves offer what small rocket stoves can’t: the ability to provide a hot, comforting meal to a group.
Fuel — in this case branches, twigs, or any readily available wood — is burned in rocket stoves by lighting a fire near the bottom of the elbow. An air draft is created from the chimney, causing efficient airflow within the stoves, which can become very hot quickly and make them very convenient to cook with and serve people quickly. Rocket stoves propel air through the heating chamber, causing astronomically efficient fuel use.
In order for fires to get very hot, they need plenty of oxygen. Rocket stoves are designed with an insulated J-tube, or elbow where the fire of the rocket stove occurs. Sticks are placed in the end of the tube and air is pulled down into the chamber. When the oxygen-rich air meets the wood fuel and the heat created by the insulated tube, the ideal circumstances for combustion occur.
The chimney, where the “rocket” part of the rocket stove is, ensures proper ventilation to deliver plenty of oxygen to the fire. The ventilation in a rocket stove heats the fuel super-efficiently with only a very small amounts of wood fuel needed. When finished, ashes can easily be cleaned out so you are ready for the next fire; there will be very few ashes.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Back in March 2016, we released Well Prepared version 2.0 in the Windows Store, adding a wide range of new features and improvements and bringing our app out of the web wrapper phase. Today, we’re showing our commitment to the Universal Windows Platform by releasing version 3.0, which adds even more to the app.
Developed by Josh Robert Nay, version 3.0 builds upon 2.0 in a big way. The UI has been updated to make the app easier to navigate. We’ve also added real-time product updates, so our Windows users will never have to worry about missing out on what’s new on Well Prepared.
Version 3.0 also marks the app’s first appearance on Windows Holographic. This means that if you’re using a Windows 10 holographic computer, you’ll be able to pin Well Prepared literally on your walls, desk top, or in your cave — wherever you see fit. We plan on adding Xbox One functionality to the app in the future.
Finally, we’ve also added one-tap email or call features to the app, so you can easily call or email us with orders or questions. Of course, you can still order online by way of the “Buy Now” feature on the Menu of each item.
Well Prepared 3.0 is now available for download in the Windows Store. Download it here
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>If you’re looking for a quick, easy, and low-cost way to get prepared, look no further than Well Prepared’s Jars of Life products. Jars of Life were made specifically for preppers by preppers, so you can be sure to find everything you need — whether you’re getting started with prepping or an experienced prepper who’s supplementing their bug out bag or emergency kit.
There are six types of jar, each with a special focus. The jars are easily identifiable, easy to organize, and full of content. The jars themselves will protect items from water, dust, animals, and weather. The jars will even make bug out bags float and can be re-used for additional storage when empty!
Fire has played a vital role in our existence since the dawn of man.
From providing warmth and fending off wild beasts, to cooking food and providing comfort during those cold, dark, moonless wilderness nights, fire still plays a vital role in our survival – especially for those who still have that primal need to venture out into the wilderness.
In a wilderness survival situation, being able to build and maintain a fire is probably one of the most important survival skills you can have.
39 Pieces Total
Buy the Fire Jar
Accidents happen, often at the worst possible moment.
Other injuries during an emergency could even be inflicted from violence.
When a simple trip to the doctor isn’t possible, you’ll need to have the right supplies and knowledge to administer first aid.
This first aid kit contains some of the most important items that could help you survive in extreme conditions.
Be sure to supplement this kit with your personal medications!
52 Pieces Total
Buy the First Aid Jar
The average person needs at-least 1,200 calories a day to survive.
During an emergency, most people will expend huge amounts of energy trying to bug-out and survive, and will likely need more calories than normal.
Food is heavy, you can only carry so much. Being able to hunt and gather from natural sources is a lost skill that is necessary to survive.
Having the tools for trapping, fishing, butchering and more will help you to make it through whatever may come.
11 Pieces Total
Buy the Food Jar
Seeking shelter and protection in an emergency is an important step to surviving.
Exposure, hypothermia, and various infections and illnesses are the leading cause of death during a disaster.
Protect yourself from the elements and nature with the vital tools found in the shelter jar. Be prepared to seek and maintain shelter for at least three days.
Bugging out often forces you to leave in an instant and travel through harsh terrain while heading to a safe location.
1 – Emergency Blanket
1 – Emergency Poncho
1 – Insect Repellant
1 – Dust Mask
1 – Hand Sanitizer
3 – Pocket Tissues
1 – Sewing Kit
4 – Stakes
1 – 30 Foot Paracord
1 – Chapstick
2 – Rolls Duct Tape
1 – Storage Bag
19 Pieces Total
Buy the Shelter Jar
Water is one of your most urgent needs in a survival situation. You can’ t live long without it, especially in hot areas where you lose water rapidly through perspiration.
Even in cold areas, you need a minimum of 2 liters of water each day to maintain efficiency.
More than three-fourths of your body is composed of fluids. Your body loses fluid as a result of heat, cold, stress, and exertion. To function effectively, you must replace the fluid your body loses. So, one of your first goals is to obtain an adequate supply of water.
1 – Sawyer Mini Water Filter
1 – Water Purification Tablets
3 – Emergency Water Packets
1 – Storage Bag
7 Pieces Total
Buy the Water Jar
What would you do without power? Every day, we take for granted that our lives are powered and connected 24/7, but what would happen in the event of an extended power outage or an EMP attack?
Imagine going several days or even weeks without power — in the dark, without heat.
Stay in control, connected and in power with the essential items for survival in an emergency or disaster. Don’t get left out in the dark!
16 Pieces Total
Buy the Power Jar
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>A Space Blanket (also known as a Mylar blanket, first aid blanket, safety blanket, thermal blanket or weather blanket) is an especially low-weight, low-bulk blanket made of heat-reflective thin plastic sheeting that retains 90 percent of an individuals body heat to keep warm in cold conditions. Their design reduces the heat loss in a person’s body which would otherwise occur due to thermal radiation, water evaporation, or convection.
Space Blankets are very useful to protect against wind and rain. As we can all imagine and attest to, space blankets are a great item to included in your emergency, first aid, and survival kits, but there are also a variety of other uses for them. The fact that space blankets are waterproof, windproof, lightweight, and portable makes them popular among outdoor enthusiasts, high endurance sportsmen such as marathon runners, or during any time the weather is colder.
They can also be included in camping equipment. Lost campers and hikers have an additional possible benefit: the metallic surface appearance flashes in the sun, allowing use as an improvised distress beacon for searchers.
In a hotter environment, a space blanket can be used as a way to block sunlight since they have a reflective surface. Of course, you want to avoid wrapping yourself with them in these instances due to their ability to trap body heat.
Finally, space blankets can also be used as a way to insulate containers or for other DIY (do-it-yourself) solar projects.
What are some other uses you can think of for Space Blankets?
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>If you’re on the fence about getting your own solar oven for outdoor cooking, or you’re new to the process and want to be able to list all of the benefits of utilizing a solar oven instead of a fire, you’ve come to the right place.
Can you think of any other benefits of solar ovens?
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>When you think you have a great bug out bag ready to go, you might inevitably discover during a disaster that you’ve missed something, even if it is something you don’t need to survive per se, but it’s something that would make your prepping life a lot easier. We’ve listed five such items below. Let us know if you think of more.
Extra Socks – Yes, having that extra pair of socks in your bug out bag is a good idea. We recommend wool or synthetic socks, as they dry faster and you’re less likely to get blisters.
Pepper Spray – This one is meant for protection not only from people, but from animals as well.
Emergency Radio – This item seems almost obvious, but you’d be surprised how many preppers don’t even think about putting these items in their bug out bags.
Guides and books – We’ve touched on this a little already but guides and books can help you improve your knowledge and therefore your chances of survival.
Games – Keeping your sanity in disasters is almost as important as knowing what to do in one. Games — in particular board, card, or mind games — can be a great way to keep your sanity while you’re bugging out.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Part of being a prepper is knowing how to do things that might come across as unconventional, including utilizing non-conventional or natural forms of medicine to provide relief for different ailments that will inevitably come along.
One of these ailments is heartburn, and it turns out that a lot of natural and alternative treatments have been suggested to cure heartburn, including Melatonin, but there isn’t a whole lot of dependable research out there for supplements that help cure heartburn. Besides, for preppers, medications and supplements aren’t always an option.
A remedy that does seem to work well is celery. Eating a couple of sticks of celery for your heartburn should cause your heartburn to subside quickly. Aside from this, you can also try chewing gum, baking soda, licorice, aloe, and slippery elm.
Let us know of other ways you’ve heard of or tried to treat heartburn without medication.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Radiation comes in many forms, and we should try to avoid exposing our bodies to it whenever possible.
The most obvious way to protect yourself from radiation is through the use of either a military grade gas mask or a gas mask made for civilian use. In either case, you’ll have some protection from many different types of radiation handy if and when you need it.
Each standard package of IOSAT offered through Well Prepared contains a strip of 14 tablets, with each tablet containing 130 mg of potassium iodide. The tablets are double scored to split easily and cleanly into 65 mg and 32.5 mg child doses.
It’s important to note that all IOSAT is fully FDA approved for thyroid blocking in a radiation emergency.
There are many different DIY (do it yourself) methods for protecting yourself from radiation as well. We’ll be discussing these in future entries on the Well Prepared blog.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Would you know what to do if you were dropped in the middle of nowhere with only the clothes on your back and a knife on your belt? Or if you found yourself in an unexpected situation such as a flood, a wildfire, or even a terrorist attack? Could you build a shelter, find water […]
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Would you know what to do if you were dropped in the middle of nowhere with only the clothes on your back and a knife on your belt? Or if you found yourself in an unexpected situation such as a flood, a wildfire, or even a terrorist attack? Could you build a shelter, find water and food, and live without the comfort of modern society?
Like most of us, especially in the cities, we often wonder how well we’d survive in the face of such danger, and if we’d be able to do everything from the seemingly basic like starting a fire to the arguably more complex, like first aid. If you’re also like most of us, you are probably in need of a little bit of help. Luckily, in addition to online resources such as Well Prepared, there are a handful of “survival schools” out there that teach primitive skills like flint knapping (making tools out of stone) and other skills that the prepper can benefit from having.
Many of these survival schools will teach you how to live in the wild as our ancestors did centuries ago. This can be vitally important in a variety of scenarios, and can especially in the worst of possible worst case cenarios — a post-apocalyptic society where skills such as these will be imperative to human continuation.
You can likely find survival schools in your area via search engine or local sources. Have you enrolled at a survival school? Let us know about your experience in the comments below or on our social network pages!
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Emergencies happen every single day, more so in today’s world than quite possibly at any other time in history. As a result, “Prepping” or preparing for the worst — often referred to as SHTF — has become a popular way of life. Preparation is not something that happens overnight. It takes time, energy, patience and practice. One of the biggest reasons people don’t prepare is because they feel like it’s a waste of time. Others don’t even know what to prepare for.
FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) says “Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters. People also can reduce the impact of disasters and sometimes avoid the danger completely.” FEMA lists emergency situations under three main groups: Natural Hazards, Technological Hazards, and Terrorism.
Natural Hazards consist of disasters like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, volcanoes, winter storms, Extreme Heat or Cold, Fires, and wildfires– one the most common of these types of disasters we see. Technological Hazards include hazardous materials or nuclear disasters. Terrorism is a given, but encompasses bioligical, chemical, and nuclear attacks.
So for any of you that are just getting into the prepping lifestyle, being prepared can start with getting a little food storage, putting some extra money away for emergencies, saving your plastic bottles for water storage, or making sure you have a knife or other weapon to not only hunt with but to defend yourself if necessary. There are many other great tips right here on the Well Prepared blog.
Regardless of whether you’re a new or seasoned prepper, let us know in the comments or on social networks what “being prepared” means to you.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>It’s important to note that before making a splint, you should provide care for any wound in the area that needs the splint, including cleansing and bandaging the wounds. You’ll also want to keep the wounded portion of the body immobile, especially if the injury is in the neck or back. To avoid injury or further pain, don’t try to put broken bones back together; instead, splint the bones together in the position you found them. Use clothing or other soft materials to pad the wound.
Find a rigid object to use as an emergency splint — boards, branches or sticks are generally easiest to find. You can use pretty much anything as long as it’s rigid and doesn’t bend. You can also secure a broken finger to another finger if needed in the case of a broken finger.
You’ll need to make sure the splint is longer than the length of the area that’s injured and pad the pressure points.
Finally, secure the emergency splint using anything available that will work — tape, belts, neckties, clothing, or other strap — both above and below the injury.
Image credit: shtfjournal
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>The summer heat is unforgiving, even more so if you find yourself in the outdoors with little water or no access to it at all. During these times, your chances of suffering from dehydration increase, and if you do find yourself or someone else suffering from it, you’ll experience a variety of symptoms:
You can also tell if you’re suffering from dehydration by checking your urine; if urine is concentrated and deeply yellow or amber, you may be dehydrated.
Treating someone with mild dehydration isn’t too difficult, but it’s very important to do it correctly. Make the person lie down in a cool place, away from the sun. Have them sip — not gulp — cool — not cold — 2 quarts of fluid, such as water, juice, or sports drinks (clear fluids are best) every few minutes for at least 30 minutes or until they are feeling better. Unless the situation is absolutely dire, make sure they relax for at least an hour to give them enough time to recover. As soon as the person is feeling better, they can move.
It’s important to note that the person should drink at least 10 glasses of liquid a day to replace lost fluids. Also, if the person is elderly, fluid replacement may need to be done slowly. If the person is vomiting, you’ll want to cool them down with ice chips, popsicles, and small sips of fluid. If the person is recovering from diarrhea, consider that some sports drinks contain a lot of sugar, which can worsen diarrhea.
To avoid dehydration in the first place, it’s recommended that you pack a survival kit with extra water such as emergency water pouches, or get a water carrier for longer trips.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Whether you’re out and about during a camping trip or bugging out during a disaster, it’s important to be able to keep yourself healthy even during the warmest or coldest of days. Even though we’re in the middle of the dog days of summer as of this writing, we’re all about prepping for the future, […]
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Whether you’re out and about during a camping trip or bugging out during a disaster, it’s important to be able to keep yourself healthy even during the warmest or coldest of days. Even though we’re in the middle of the dog days of summer as of this writing, we’re all about prepping for the future, and winter isn’t too far off. With the winter weather comes the cold season, including Hypothermia.
These usually develop slowly. People with hypothermia typically experience gradual loss of mental acuity and physical ability, so they may be unaware that they need emergency medical treatment in the first place. After awhile, though, they’ll start to experience symptoms such as shivering, slurred speech, loss of coordination, fatigue, lethargy or apathy, confusion or memory loss, abnormally slow breathing, they’ll start to feel cold, their skin will pale, or they’ll turn bright red. Hyperventilation — difficulty breathing or shallow or muffled breathing — is also a sign.
In infants, hypothermia is more difficult to spot. If their skin feels cold, this is a sign of hypothermia. A loss of appetite or unusually quiet demeanor is also a sign.
The most obvious way to prevent or treat hypothermia is to move the person out of the cold, preferably indoors. If you can’t go indoors, it’s important to keep the person protected from the wind by covering the head. You’ll need something to keep the person from being in direct contact with the cold ground as well.
Whether the patient is indoors or outdoors, wet clothing is a problem. Replace wet clothes with clothes or coverings that are warm and dry.
It’s important that you do not apply direct heat to the patient’s skin. You should also avoid the use of hot water, heating lamps, or heating pads. Use warm compresses to the head, neck, chest, and groin. Let the arms and legs take care of themselves; do not attempt to warm them or cold blood will end up rushing back toward the heart, causing the core body temperature to drop and the patient could die. Avoid massaging or rubbing the patient; frostbitten skin can be damaged by doing so.
Also, despite common misconceptions to the contrary, do not give the patient any alcohol to stay warm. Alcohol will lower the body’s core temperature. Only non-alcoholic drinks should be given to the patient. Caffeine-free herbal tea or hot water with lemon and honey are good options. Sugar in the beverage can help to boost the patient’s energy.
For foods, you can offer high-energy foods like chocolate.
Image credit: Galleryhip
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>When it comes to survival, it’s important to be able to have a way to replenish supplies that you need without the convenience of a store that may not be readily available. Soap is an excellent example. It goes without saying that staying clean is very important. In addition to maintaining a healthy supply of […]
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>When it comes to survival, it’s important to be able to have a way to replenish supplies that you need without the convenience of a store that may not be readily available. Soap is an excellent example. It goes without saying that staying clean is very important. In addition to maintaining a healthy supply of water, you are going to need soap in order to stave off any problems or sicknesses caused by being filthy.
It’s a little known fact that you can make soap out of coffee. This also means that you’ll have a healthy soap since coffee can act as a way to detoxify the body. Using the following ingredients and recipe makes it easy:
First, heat the vegetable oil at 120 degree Fahrenheit, and then add the liquid lye to the oil mixture. Let the mixture cook on low with lid covered for 45mnts to an hour. When the desired consistency is achieved, add the coffee powder and milk; mix well before putting the mixture into your soap molds.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>With the Zika virus this year, Ebola last year, and other viruses waiting to strike at any moment, deadly diseases are a problem that preppers could quite possibly need to deal with at any time. There are some things you need to know before preparing for surviving a deadly disease outbreak.
If a deadly disease is spreading around the world, it goes without saying that the first thing you’ll want to do is avoid other people. A safe house that you can run to in the event of an outbreak is a good idea, so it’s good to have a plan in place for one. Once you’re in your safe house, it’s recommended that you don’t let anyone into your safe house at all costs — this can be indescribably difficult — as you may not be able to tell if they are infected or not.
It’s a very good idea to pack a military grade gas mask or a civilian gas mask to avoid accidentally inhaling a virus.
Finally, be as sanitary as possible and have plenty of fresh water to do so. Other supplies — weapons, food, and water — are also essential for your survival, so it’s important to know how to procure these.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Many people don’t know that they’re sitting on top or nearby a large volcano that can erupt at any time. Yellowstone National Park — specifically the Yellowstone Caldera — is just one of the world’s largest volcanoes that, if it erupts, would quite possibly cover most of our world in ash and end life as we know it. Yellowstone has erupted in the past and it’s possible that it could happen again in our lifetime. The question is, what would one need in order to survive this type of calamity?
It may seem counter-intuitive since most shelters and lava don’t really mix well together, but in this case, a shelter is going to be the best place to be during an eruption, especially a shelter in a very high climate, away from most of the ash and lava spewing down on the world, or deep underground, where you can completely avoid the volcanic ash that would otherwise suffocate you very quickly. Either way, it has to be a shelter in which you can say for a very, very long time, until the ash passes and lava cools.
With this in mind, your shelter will need to be well stocked with emergency food and clean water, a supply that will need to last for many months. Gas masks might even be useful, specifically if you ever needed to wander outdoors for any reason.
This will take care of your basic necessities. Depending on your level of preparedness, you might also consider packing blankets, pillows, and other itmes into your shelter to help you weather the event until it passes. Let us know what else you’d bring in the comments or on social networks!
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>As we’ve discussed before, warm weather can bring an increased risk in flooding under certain circumstances. Fortunately, as with all major disasters, there are ways you can protect yourself and your family and survive a flood.
To survive a flood, it goes without saying that you’ll want to have a boat or other flotation device handy if possible. This will ensure that you have a way to transport yourself if the floodwaters aren’t overly rapid.
One thing many preppers are doing is building a safe underground shelter that will keep water out and supply them with oxygen. Water levels will have a very difficult time staying above all land for an extended period of time, so it’s very, very unlikely that you’ll spend the rest of your life on the water. In fact, you shouldn’t have to be water-bound for more than three months. You will want to hang around areas that are shallow and that were previously located on higher ground; these will be the first areas of land to resurface.
It’s good to have equipment you can use to measure water depth. You should also be able to tell your exact latitude and longitude at all times. Bringing wetsuits along with you would be a great idea as there might be situation where you have to enter the water, whether by choice or not. Harpoons and other sea weapons would be advisable for hunting and protection from sharks and other creatures.
While the water around you may be high in salt concentration, you can follow these steps to desalinate the salt water and make it drinkable.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>There are some plants that grow easily in your home, and among them is lettuce, in particular leaf lettuce. Lettuce is a little more difficult to grow inside because it requires a whopping 14-16 hours of sunlight per day, so it’s recommended that you find a heat lamp or well windowed area with which to compensate. You’re also going to need a medium-sized pot.
Make sure you fill the pot until there’s about one inch between the top of the soil and the top of the pot; you’re going to need this extra space for more soil later. Before planting the seeds, you’ll have to pinch each one until you have several pinched, and then sprinkle the seeds over the soil in the pot, making sure you sprinkle them evenly.
Next, cover the sprinkled seeds with about a quarter inch of soil and spray or moisten the soil with water until it’s moist (not wet). You’ll need to continue misting (not watering) your plants until they’re fully germinated — up to two weeks. During this process, you’ll also need to water the plants about once every other day, or if the soil dries, depending on how hot your growing area is.
When the seedlings have two sets of leaves, you can start thinning out the weakest plants — replant or eat these — so that the remaining plants are about three to four inches apart. From here, it’s entirely up to you on how big you want your lettuce plants to get before eating, but it’s recommended you eat from the outside first so that your inner plants can grow larger.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>In part six of our series on growing food indoors, we’ve decided to cover garlic, which is quite easy to grow indoors, but does require around 7 or 8 hours of sunlight each day. You can grow garlic in any self-draining pot that’s around 8 to 10 inches deep — enough space to plant each bulb about 4 inches apart is preferred, including 4 inches from the outside of the container.
Start by filling your container with a soil mix until it is one inch from the top of the pot and then take a garlic bulb (round part on bottom) and push it down into the soil so there’s about an inch of soil on top of it. Plant each additional bulb the same way.
You can water your garlic plants in a sink or bathtub. Water evenly and lightly. Keep the soil damp but not wet by check on it on a regular basis.
Make sure you clip off any flowers that sprout as the garlic grows to avoid them unnecessarily stealing nutrients from the bulb itself. These flowers are not needed. When the leaves turn brown and dry, you can harvest your garlic and hang the harvested garlic to dry in a cool, dry place for about a week before use.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>In Part 5 of our gardening indoors series, prepper series, we’re going to be giving you step by step instructions on growing eggplant. Eggplant is another of those very interesting plants that can actually thrive indoors, making it the perfect plant option for prepping your apartment or home. Eggplants should be planted in 5-gallon plastic […]
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>In Part 5 of our gardening indoors series, prepper series, we’re going to be giving you step by step instructions on growing eggplant. Eggplant is another of those very interesting plants that can actually thrive indoors, making it the perfect plant option for prepping your apartment or home. Eggplants should be planted in 5-gallon plastic buckets or pots placed where they can receive good sunlight for eight hours a day. You should start the eggplant in a small pot, and then later transfer to a larger pot, as we’ve done in the steps below.
Make sure you water your eggplant on a daily basis. A tomato cage will be required if the plant starts to tip. The length of time it takes for an eggplant to reach maturity varies but you can harvest your eggplant when its skin appears glossy. Use a pair of pruning shears to remove the plant from the vine.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>As previously discussed on Well Prepared, indoor gardening is a great way for preppers to maintain a source of food that’s both cheaper and easily accessible. We touched on growing beans and peas as well as growing beets. Today, we’re turning our attention to squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes — three more types of vegetables that are widely friendly to growing indoors.
We’re going to be focused only on specific types that are able to grow inside the best. For cucumbers, this means bush champion, picklebush, spacemaster, midget bush picker, and salad bush hybrid types. Recommended types of squash include bush crookneck, bush acorn, black magic zucchini, butter bush, bush table queen, and bushkin pumpkin. If you’re looking to add some home grown tomatoes to an Italian feast, you’ll want to get micro tom, cherry, elfin, patio, red robin, or tiny Tim tomato seeds.
Regardless of the type of each vegetable mentioned above that you do get, it’s going to require 8 hours of sunlight and a 12 inch by 12 inch pot for each plant. If you’ve got your pot and a place to store it where the plant can get adequate sunlight, you’re ready to follow these steps to having your own home-grown veggies:
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>In part 3 of our indoor prepper garden series, we’re covering beets and how to grow them in your home or apartment in just a few easy steps. Beets are another indoor-friendly plant that you can grow with very little expense. Before following these steps, you want to familiarize yourself with the basics of indoor gardeneing.
Beets require little sunlight, so you can grow them nearly anywhere, even in shady areas. Just make sure you have a 3 gallon or larger pot that drains through the bottom. Once you’ve found a good spot to plant and you have your container, you’re ready to start growing beets. Follow these simple steps:
It’s worth noting that younger beets — those that are about 2 to 2.5 inches in diameter — arguably taste better and are softer than larger beets.
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Now that you know the basics of starting an apartment garden, you need to know how to grow each individual crop. Today, we’ll be covering how to grow peas and beans — specifically bush and pole beans; and snow peas, snap peas, and garden peas. It’s important to note that these crops require 6 hours […]
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Now that you know the basics of starting an apartment garden, you need to know how to grow each individual crop. Today, we’ll be covering how to grow peas and beans — specifically bush and pole beans; and snow peas, snap peas, and garden peas.
It’s important to note that these crops require 6 hours of sunlight per day and they need to be planted in a pot that holds enough potting soil (at least seven inches or so). It also has to be big enough to allow seeds to be planted six inches apart. If you’re using the vertical growing variety,you’re going to need some support — a tomato cage, for instance — to allow the plant to grow adequately (use a string or twine to keep the plant tethered to this support mechanism as it grows, if necessary).
Now follow the following steps:
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
Being a prepper living in a city apartment isn’t always easy; you have less space to prepare and you have to get your landlord’s permission to do a lot of the things you’d like to in order to prepare for when the SHTF. In this situation, a bug out bag can only get you so […]
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Being a prepper living in a city apartment isn’t always easy; you have less space to prepare and you have to get your landlord’s permission to do a lot of the things you’d like to in order to prepare for when the SHTF. In this situation, a bug out bag can only get you so far. Thankfully, you can at least do some at-home gardening to build your own food storage. You can garden in almost any place in your apartment with a fairly low investment.
Let’s get the most painfully obvious advantage out of the way first: You grow your own vegetables without having to be outdoors. This will give you some additional food and will also provide a nice segway into a second advantage: Saving Money. You can cut your produce-purchasing budget at the grocery store by a potentially wide margin, depending on your initial budget and how many vegetables you grow.
Growing your own garden in your apartment also carries the advantage of avoiding chemicals in your food. Obviously, you know what you’re growing your food with, so you know it’s organic (on a side note, you can avoid these in meat as well by purchasing your meat from a local butcher rather than a large grocery store). And let’s not forget the well known mental and psychological benefits of gardening. As we covered before, staying mentally stable and prepared even in the most dire situations is a great part of any prepper lifestyle.
There aren’t really any disadvantages to apartment gardening, per se. You’ll be investing quite a bit of time and some money into the project, but as covered in the advantages section, you end up saving money versus buying produce from the grocery store. But you’ll need to invest in items like garden seeds, pots, soil (or sand, depending on what you want to grow), or other items. The items you’ll need to invest in depend on what you’re planning on growing.
You really don’t need a whole lot of space to garden, and if you utilize your space wisely, you’ll need even less. Balconies or patios are likely the most commonly used option for apartment gardening and this option will provide you with plenty of space to guarden while still maintaining the patio’s livability. You might also try window sills or any indoor spaces where your plants will get plenty of light. You can install some, sure, but just keep in mind your budget; additional lights will mean paying extra money on your power bill each month.
To save space, try using hanging baskets where possible; these will allow you to grow a wide assortment of herbs and a few types of vegetables without taking up additional floor space.
In all cases, be sure to get the go-ahead from your landlord, and make sure your plants have plenty of room to grow. For this reason, it’s important to start small and gradually expand, only growing what you will use. You’ll also want to make sure you don’t have a pet that will get into your garden. Also keep in mind that you will have limitations to indoor gardening that you wouldn’t otherwise have in outdoor gardening. Mentally prepare yourself by keeping your hopes realistic and don’t expect your garden to immediately erupt in green. Stay within budget and don’t try to invest in equipment you cannot afford.
The vegetables on the following list can all be grown in your apartment in simple plant pots:
We’ll be covering how to grow many of these plants in future posts here on Well Prepared. Follow us via the social networks at the top of this page to stay informed on the latest survival and prepper topics!
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>When it comes to a complete collapse of society, there are some businesses that you can consider starting to keep yourself afloat, assuming of course money is still around. You can barter for payment with many of these businesses so that you and your family have all of the supplies you need for survival.
Hydroponic food growing – This is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral solution only, or in an inert medium, such as perlite or gravel.
Medical Practitioner – Assuming you’ve obtained the hands on medical skills necessary, you can find great work as a medical practitioner. This may even include growing your own essential oils and making your own medicine!
Shoe & clothing repair or Gunsmithing (Firearms repair) – It goes without saying that repairing these items would be very important in a full societal collapse.
Delivery & smuggling – If someone needs something delivered (or smuggled) you’ll be the go-to guy. This particular job might be risky, but you’d be in great demand. This is also a great way to segway to another high-demand career in the apocalypse: Security Guard.
Animal ranching, food processing, and Food preservation (drying, smoking, salting, canning) – Let’s be honest, this one is probably going to be difficult at first since most preppers will (or at least should) have basic knowledge in keeping food storage, but as food runs out, you can find yourself in a high-demand spot in a new society.
Woodworking and Construction – Building houses, sheds, and other buildings is essential for any society.
Blacksmith (Metal working and tool building) – You’ll need tools to do most of the jobs mentioned in this post.
Bullet fabrication, Cartridge Reloading, and Weapon Building – Weapons are essential to keeping yourself safe, and this business would be booming as a result.
What other jobs would be useful in a collapse?
Orders/More Info: CALL | EMAIL (c)Copyright 2017 Well Prepared
]]>