Swine Flu Virus

A Swine Flu virus has health officials around the world working to contain the growing outbreak. One out of every five residents of Mexico's most populous city wore masks to protect themselves against the virus as Mexico City seems to be the epicenter of the outbreak. As many as 103 deaths have been attributed to the swine flu so far with many more feared to be on the horizon. The health department of Mexico said an additional 1,614 reported cases have been documented.

So far, however, only 18 of the deaths in Mexico have been confirmed by laboratory tests to be from swine flu virus and reported to the World Health Organization as such.

In the US preparations have been upgraded for a possible swine flu virus outbreak after 20 cases were reported, also the first cases of the virus was reported in Canada on Sunday -- six mild cases.

Swine flu or Swine Influenza is a contagious respiratory sickness that is normally only found in pigs. It is caused by a type-A influenza virus. Outbreaks in pigs occur year-round. The current strain is a new variation of an H1N1 virus, which is a mix of human and animal versions.

Normally the swine flu virus only spreads from animal to person containing the spread but When the flu spreads person-to-person, it can continue to mutate, making it harder to combat because people have no natural immunity.

The symptoms are similar to the common flu. They include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Learn more about swine flu and how to treat it in the link below.

The swine flu virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes around another person. People can become infected by touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose or eyes.

Calling it a "public health emergency of international concern" the World Health Organization (WHO) is very concerned. The WHO also says a public health emergency is an occurrence or imminent threat of illness or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or highly fatal infectious agents or toxins that pose serious risk to a significant number of people.

Swine Flu Virus Protection?

Advice of health experts is to follow common-sense instructions: Wash your hands, stay home if you're sick and listen to your local health authorities. Advice from the CDC about the situation is, "Very frequent hand-washing is something that we talk about time and time again and that is an effective way to reduce transmission of disease,". They also advise, "If you're sick, it's very important that people stay at home. If your children are sick, have a fever and flu-like illness, they shouldn't go to school. And if you're ill, you shouldn't get on an airplane or another public transport to travel. Those things are part of personal responsibility in trying to reduce the impact. " Get the gear to protect you and your family now


Swine Flu Symptoms

It is also noted that swine flu symptoms are relatively general and nonspecific. "So many different things can cause these symptoms. it is a dilemma," says one doctor interviewed by CNN. "It is a challenge that we are wrestling with. There is not a perfect test right now to let a doctor know that a person has the Swine Flu." It has been noted that most individuals with Swine Flu had an early on set of fever. Also it was common to see dizziness, body aches and vomiting in addition to the common sneezing, headache and other cold symptoms.

If you become sick and notice early onset of body aches, vomiting and dizziness you should consult with your doctor immediately. Although it is very unlikely that you have the Swine Flu virus, you should get medical confirmation just to be safe.



This Swine Flu virus outbreak could be a very dangerous epidemic or just another bump in the road. Health officials are still trying to figure out where exactly the virus originated, how transmissible it is and why it is mild in some cases and deadlier in others. In the mean time. Wash your hands, use common sense and be on a heightened alert to signs and symptoms of the Swine Flu virus. See you doctor if any unusual flu like symptoms occur.

Swine Flu Blog

Ten Tips to Preparing for a Hurricane

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the United States’ coastline is ravaged by hurricanes on a yearly basis. Although some years are quieter than others, usually an average of five hurricanes will strike at it every three years.

It is true that the winds in a hurricane are forceful - usually 100 miles per hour or more. With these winds come the devastating water surges, which can reach 20 or more feet high.

These storms are very dangerous and people should be prepared for their arrival. The months of June through November should have people who live on or near the water on high alert for rapidly forming and seemingly destructive hurricanes. It is wise that these months be designated to hurricane preparation.

There are 10 tips to follow when preparing for a hurricane. It is always best to keep these in mind, no matter if a hurricane is days away or hours away. Utilizing them way in advanced may be the difference between a home gone or lives lost.

Be Wary

Most coastal residents know that every hurricane that blows through has a different intensity than the one before. One hurricane can have little wind but lots of rain while another roars in with ferocious winds and light rain. It is best to be prepared whatever the hurricane decides to offer and take cover or seek shelter if need be.

Prepare a To-Do Yard List

Do you have lawn chairs in the back yard? What about a garden ornament or gardening tools? During a hurricane, these things can be tossed about and become projectile “missiles”. Make a list of things out in the yard that should be brought in before a hurricane strikes.

Do Some Trimming

When the winds on a hurricane begin, that isn’t the time to worry about the oak tree with large limbs over your home. It is imperative to keep the limbs of trees and shrubbery cut as often as one can. By doing this, it can cut down the risks of a collapsed home or other issues.

Clean and Drain
Should a home have gutters, it would be wise to clean these out before the hurricane hits. It is also important to be sure sewer drains are cleared of debris and are draining properly. By doing this, it cuts down on the unnecessary and preventable flooding that can occur with strong hurricanes that have long periods of heavy rain.

Use Hurricane Designed Shutters
These shutters, which are permanent for the doors and windows, are a safer alternative to taping glass. Glass can still break with the tape on the windows. Windows can also be protected with sheets of plywood.

Evacuation Plans
Despite all a person does, sometimes an evacuation is necessary so develop a plan. Coordinate with the local emergency management office or Red Cross officials. They can provide evacuation routes and determine which roads should be avoided. Officials can also inform residents were shelters will be located.

Blanket Preparation
It is necessary to have a sleeping bag and blanket for each member of the family should a shelter run be needed.

Pet Prep
Should you have an animal, it is already a member of your family. Do not forget their needs while rushing to cover your own. Find out what you can do for them. Unfortunately, Hurricane Katrina brought about many abandoned animals since people were forced out of their homes in a hurry by rising floodwaters.

Emergency Supplies

Always keep emergency supplies handy. These include: flashlight, radio, batteries for both, water, food, a can opener and first aid kit. Prescription medicine, if used, should also be included in with emergency supplies.

Before power goes out, turn the refrigerator temperature to its highest setting. By doing so, when the power goes out, the cooler air stays longer.

Lifting Your Home

If flooding or hurricanes are frequent in the area, then elevate your home to narrow down your chances of getting flooded.

It is always best to be prepared for the worst should it happen. Being over prepared is far better than being under prepared and caught off guard. Doing this can save your life, your family’s life and maybe even your belongings.

Earthquake Planning Tips: What Can Residents Do Before a Quake

How can you survive the effects of an earthquake? How can you diminish the results earthquakes tend to have on human beings? What kind of preparations can be made to ensure minor injuries minor damages? Scientists have no way of knowing when Mother Nature will unleash her rolling fury so people need to be on alert at all times.

Sometimes if people listen closely, they may hear the ground rumble as the crust is violently shaking about down below. Hearing this sound may send a rippling chill of fear down people’s spines. Panicking can cause a person to hinder his or her own survival. Take note, that destructive earthquakes are rare even in the Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire.

That does not mean an emergency plan of some type shouldn’t be made. There are six things to do before an earthquake strikes.

For everyone in the household, practicing how to react when an earthquake strikes is essential. By doing so, a person’s instincts will take over. The drills will ensure the person or household will know what is happening and not panic should a strong earthquake transpire.

Structurally Sound Home

Those people who live in areas frequented by earthquakes know they need to have their homes meet a certain material standard. Why? The material is designed to keep the home from totaling coming down which are most the common reasons for injuries and deaths. Make sure when you are building your home there are plenty of exit ways to escape.

Another way to ensure your safety is to tighten heavy fixtures to walls and that any items stored in cabinets are locked up and won’t come spilling out. The doorframes in the home should be made sturdy. It is recommended that people get into doorways during an earthquake.

A Plan For All

Whether at home, school or office, each person needs to be aware of the earthquake emergency plan. They need to familiarize themselves with the building procedures for when a quake happens. If there is organization after the earthquake, there will be survival.

Know Your Home, Know Your Job, Know Your School

Do you know where to go should you get caught in an earthquake? Learning where to hide could save your life. Talk to your co-workers and boss about the places you need take cover at should one strike. School administrators should brief parents and children about what they should do in case of an earthquake. At home, find your safe spots. It may be a good idea (even if the school or workplace doesn’t do this) to practice so you will be ready. Every one including schoolchildren should meet in one location so all can be accounted for.

Official Responsibility Belongs to All

Understand that one person can be in charge of the entire preparation. It takes team work to put together a plan so allot the responsibility to each person at work and home. If you are not with your family or co-workers, they should still need to know what they are doing during the disaster.

Keep Kits Nearby

Earthquakes can catch people off guard since there is no way to tell when one will happen. This is why it is so important to have a medical emergency kit handy whether at home or the workplace. These kits will be a way to stay alive. Make sure it has plenty of drinking water, food, band-aids, gauze and antiseptic cream or spray. Everyone needs to know where these are located.

Preparing for An Earthquake – Six Steps to Survival During One

Many people who have studied history and earthquakes remember the 1906 San Francisco quake. For residents of this prosperous city, it was a defining moment in how people would live and continue to live their lives. Would they go to sleep and wake up? The reality is there and those citizens realize this.

It is the same for many countries and islands throughout the world who have felt strong earthquakes. For many, they were caught off guard, which makes the only earthquake experience worse. What are some of the places that experience these quakes? Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Guam and even Mexico.

Residents in the city of San Francisco know that the day is coming when their city will fall victim to a catastrophic earthquake, which will turn the streets into rubble and possibly destroy the Golden Gate Bridge. If many know this, why would residents want to live in this city?

For residents who live in known earthquake regions, they live with the knowledge that any day could be the last day they live and they’re prepared for that possibility. These residents want to live like it is their last day on earth. The tragedy is always a possibility.

For earthquake prone residents, they choose places to live that are built to withstand a medium to strong earthquake. Engineers and city planners have built high rises and two more story buildings with this natural calamity in mind. It is all done to keep the city’s residents safe.

Technologist specialist Jason lives in an area of the city, which is likely to be destroyed by an earthquake: in the Marina area. Jason knows the risk to living in the Marina area and has taken steps to protect his property and himself. He has gallons and gallons of water stored up and handy.

Jason’s emergency kit is set aside that has several much-required items to survive after an earthquake. He has medicine and packets of food. There are extra batteries saved up along with flashlights and other things needed to ensure his survival.

Earthquake Preparation Tips

There are six tips to follow when a city or area for that matter is experiencing a strong earthquake. Following them can reduce the changes of getting seriously injured or killed by falling debris.

Tip One - No doubt, the first and most vital tip when experiencing an earthquake is to duck. When an earthquake is going on, things tend to topple over and tumble down.

Tip Two - Stay away from items that are heavy and cause injury should they fall over.

Tip Three - Find a study table to hide under. Again, with heavy falling objects, a table can protect a person from head injury.

Tip Four - Head to an open area away from trees, high rises and power lines when a table is unavailable. An open area such as this is a safe place to go to keep from getting injured by falling debris.

Tip Five - Never go outside or run around during an earthquake. With debris falling, injuries are likely should a person panic.

Tip Six – Stay inside your car should you be caught in it during a quake. The same goes for stores, malls, theaters and stadiums… never run! Get under the seat and wait for the shaking to stop and things to quit falling.

When is it most people are hurt or killed? When they fail to prepare for the disaster or panic while the ground is moving. Persons should always have a plan for earthquakes even if the area is not known for them. Plan for the inevitable and plan accordingly.

How can a person survive a devastating earthquake the area is having? By being prepared and staying calm. It is those who have not prepared for a worst-case situation that will become victims rather than the survivors.

5 Ways to Prepare a Family For Disasters

Well let's face it, disasters seem to be happening more often than ever before. Whether or not you are counting, you have thought about it. We all should prepare for the eventual earthquake or storm which will leave us without many options for going to the neighborhood market or hardware store for supplies.

This article is to help you plan for such an event in your life. Your needs at home, school or the office need to be planned for ahead of time. After the event is not the time to look for essentials. So, let's discuss some of the basics allowing you to modify the essentials for your particular situation.

The family home is our mainstay of family life. We have our family, our belongings and our lives there. If you live in an earthquake prone area, you need to prepare for the eventuality of a disaster involving you and your family.

Sit down with your family and decide how you are going to get in touch with each other if an emergency occurs. Gather your family together and figure out how to contact each other. Your family will need to be able to contact each other so be sure to make plans with the entire family. Designate one person who does not live with you to be your family contact person. You will need a person who does live with you to be the designated contact. A close friend or relative who does not live with you should be the designated contact person.

Make sure everyone in the family carries the phone number of the contact person with them. In the event of an emergency and the family is not together, everyone should contact that person to let them know where they are. The person whom you have designated as the contact person should be available most days, in another words, do not pick someone who travels or is gone quite often.

Designate a meeting place near your home so everyone can be assembled. Everyone should know the place you have decided to assemble after an emergency. Emergencies are hectic and everyone should know where to meet afterwards. Run through a mock evacuation of your home to determine the best escape route for each part of the home. Time the evacuation to make sure the routes you have chosen are the shortest and safest. Your home might have multiple escape routes and these should be evaluated to insure a quick escape from emergencies.

Think about what items you might wish to take with you. Be sure to remember mementos, family heirlooms, wills or pictures. You will need to keep valuable and non-replaceable in mind when an emergency happens. Take care to have the items you want to take nearby if you need to move quickly
Have an emergency kit handy and assemble in a designated place, making sure the kit has the essentials you will need for at least 3 days. Fully stocked emergency kits are vital and should be kept near the escape routes in your home. Keep the emergency kit where it is accessible to the whole family, think of the laundry room, or the closet near the door.

Remember to keep enough water and food for at least 3 days in your emergency kit, including a can opener if can goods are included. Include a can opener if can goods are included in your emergency kit, along with 3 days of food and water for your family. Keep 3 day's water and food handy for quick evacuation.

Remember to include First Aid supplies, including bandages, scissors, rubber gloves, tape, radio, a flashlight along with the food, water and shelter in your emergency kit are some vital things to remember. If possible include some sort of shelter, for example a tarp and light rope. Keep a portable light source like a lantern filled with fuel or batteries ready at all times.

If you have pets, include pet food and supplies so our animals can survive also. Your pets will need food and water to be provided in the event of an emergency. This can be a trying time for pets so remember to provide food and water for them along with the families' 3 day supply.

This article has been prepared to make you aware of the basics of preparing for the inevitable eventuality of a disaster involving your home and family. It is not a complete essay of everything possible you can do, but a short list of things you can do at little expense that could save lives. Good luck and think about the forgoing as prudent planning.

Author: Richard A. Forester. MBA, BA
The owner of http://www.landmarksurvivalgear.com Dedicated to the preservation of lives. Community emergency preparedness expert and spokes person.

Disaster Survival Preparation - What Food and Supplies to Purchase Now For Emergency Survival

The plans you need to make are much different if you live in a city or in the country. If you are a city dweller, one of the first things you need to make plans on will be to get out of the city if and when all heck breaks loose - the cities will probably be very dangerous places. If you have friends or relatives outside of the city, make arrangements to get to their place as quickly as possible and hopefully plan on staying with them away from the city.

If you have not started already, begin storing food - don't wait any longer. Some people are saying that major food shortages could begin in as little as 6 months - if that happens, it will not take too long before the crap hits the fan. You can begin by stocking up on canned foods because they are readily available and stay fresh for a reasonable period of time. Next, you can buy large bags of rice and oatmeal and store them. Also, make sure you have the basics such as flour and yeast to make your own bread. Other good supplies you should have on hand include sugar, salt, pepper and other spices. Buy powdered milk to mix with water, refill your propane tank for your grill and maybe get a couple of spare tanks.

This will get you started, but there are other food items you should consider. You can purchase long term food supplies in various forms - freeze dried, dehydrated, mre's, etc. You should consider buying these types of long term food supplies for several reasons: a) they are cheaper to purchase this way in the long run, b) they can take less room to store, c) they have a much longer shelf life (10-25 years) and d) there are many options on the food products you can purchase.

At the next Christmas, forget buying presents and start stocking up on disaster survival supplies - buy a gun or two if you don't have one, stock up on additional ammunition. Buy camping supplies like gas stoves, lanterns, sleeping bags, etc. that will come in very handy if conditions get terribly bad. There are other things such as water storage containers, water filtering and purification kits, first aid kits. And if you require special medication, don't forget to stock up on extra medication if you can.

Perhaps the most important thing though, start talking to your neighbors and see if they know what's coming and if they are also making preparations. If there is a total breakdown, you probably will not be able to rely on the local police because they will either be totally overwhelmed, or gone awol. It may be up to your neighbors to form a local neighborhood defense group to protect your property and your family. You should consider getting CB radios or other communications devices so you can stay in touch with your neighbors and be on the ready to help each other immediately.

It may all seem daunting now, but the key point to remember is get started - your family's safety is really at stake.

If you are even remotely observing all the bad economic and political issues of today, you might be wondering how our country can survive. Record job losses, rising energy prices, deficit spending, inflation - and this is just the tip of the iceberg! If these trends continue, many more millions Americans will be out of work, creating a downward economic spiral The result could be civil unrest and chaos. You need to prepare by stocking up on emergency essentials and emergency supplies and food.

Packing a First Aid Kit

When packing a first aid kit, there are always some simple things that must be included. It is my intention to briefly touch on some of these items here, and to give a little explanation of each so you are better informed.

First pack some band-aids and some bigger bandages. In certain cases it is highly important to stop blood from flowing out of the body. More commonly, you will just need to protect a wound from infection.

In order to clean up a wound, you must have some sort of antibiotic ointment or cream. Flush the cut, get all the junk out, and then apply your antibiotic which you have packed in your first aid kit. Only after this point will you turn to the bandages that we have previously spoken of.

If you take prescription medications do not forget to pack them in your kit as well. I know that if you get to where you're going and realize that you forgot your meds, you will probably tell yourself, "Oh, I can get away without taking them for a couple of days." This more than anything else is most likely to get you in trouble.

The last thing I'd suggest packing is a recent addition to people's first aid kits: bring a cell phone. You probably won't literally stick this in with the other medical supplies, but I don't know of any other invention of the last fifty years which has probably saved more lives than mobile phones. If you get in trouble this is a life saver.

For more info on camping and Coleman camping lanterns, check out our website at Buy Camping Lanterns.com.

72 Hour Emergency Kits

You have already heard about survival kits, and you see the importance of protecting yourself and your family by having one for each member of the family. These kits are also known as 72-hour Survival Kits, disaster kits, emergency kits or emergency disaster kits. Whatever you call them, the question now is, what should you put in your survival kit.

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Dept for Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness experts your survival kit should contain at least the following.

* Water -
* Food -
* Flashlight
* Waterproof blanket / sleeping bag
* Emergency Radio
* First Aid Kit


Those are just the bare essentials, you may want to include several other items to help you make it through an emergency, and perhaps even allowing you help others. Other items you could consider are:


Light and Communication:


Hand cranked cellphone charger

Rechargeable Squeeze Flashlight

36 Hour Emergency Candles - These can also be used for a emergency stove

Green Emergency Glow Sticks - These typically last 12 hours each

Survival Whistle

Compass

Signal mirror

Flint starter - for starting fires

Waterproof containers or bags

Box of 50 Waterproof Matches

Bic Style Lighter

Shelter and Warmth:

Emergency Survival Sleeping Bag

6-20 Hour Body Warmer - these can heat up in minutes with an average temperature of 130 degrees.

2-Person Tent

Emergency Poncho with Hood

Tools:

Mulit-Function Knife

Leather Palm Working Gloves

Respirator Dust Masks

At least 45 Feet of Nylon Rope

Hygiene and Sanitation:

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Wetnaps and soap

Dental floss pick

Hand and body lotion

Feminine Hygiene items

After putting toghether these essential, you can also add items that may be of particular interest to you, or add prescription medications that you would need to keep taking. Perhaps an extra set of eyeglasses.

The best way to pack these items is in a backpack or other easily portable container that you can easily grab and go when an emergency strikes.

72-hour Survival Kits are worth their weight in gold during a disaster, I have over 20 years Military experience and have provided emergency relief several times, and I know that having a survival kit is indispensable. I would never go into a disaster relief situation without the proper survival supplies. I strongly advise everyone to have a emergency disaster survival kit for every member of the family.

Is There a Mole Living Next Door to You?

Generally the common man has no idea as to what a mole is. I don't mean those furry little animals which tend to make it's home within the ground and destroy your lawn but rather a mole in the sense of international espionage.

Let's start our discussion on just what characteristics make up a mole. A mole is usually an intelligence officer that is working for one agency while covertly feeding critical information to the agencies rivals. Moles are most likely to be individuals who perhaps carry some sort of authority within their agencies that employ them. In this way the information which they supply is more then likely reliable and of high caliber.

Since high rank is one of the vital characteristic of a good mole this fact alone generally eliminates most of the enlisted personnel. This is generally the major difference between moles and spies. A spy such as those Marine guards that were employed at our embassy in Moscow in the 80s was seduced into performing spy routines by female KGB agents. These people did not serve as moles even though the information that they provided did in fact prove valuable to the enemy. Another term that we need to differentiate is that of the sleeper agents that are merely in a location with nothing what so ever to do until they are instructed to act. These agents are also not considered to be moles in any sense of the word.

You may be wondering why I even bother to mention moles at this time. The answer is that due to the status of our country these days it only stands to reason that in the event of a major crisis the appearance of moles is certain to increase. Knowledge will need to be obtained concerning survival groups in general and one of the best methods of doing so is to employ a modified version of the militaries mole.

The problem here is that in order to identify and isolate a mole we must be very careful that we do not drop to the same level of what Senator Joseph McCarthy had done. In fact we must move at a snails pace and be just as quite. The less attention that we bring to ourselves the better off our survival group will be.

It is ironic how many people fail to have the slightest ability to root out the intelligence sectors within our society. It is totally true that in order to dig out the various facts relating to moles one will have to bee extremely diligent in their quest for information.

At this time I would like to fill you in on a few bits of "mole history". Moles do not necessarily perform their deeds for monetary values. A typical example was the Cambridge spy ring that simply refused to accept any sort of pay. This reasoning was primarily because most of them honestly believed that spying for Russia was the correct thing to do. These moles and spies cost many brave men their lives which usually occurred at the end of a long torturous ordeal. Moles which are motivated by ideology usually consider themselves free to avoid any sort of orders which contradicts their beliefs.

One of Americas most well known moles was Oleg Penkovsky who was a KGB Colonel. Here we have a man who was so terribly disillusioned with his countries political system that he sought out the assistance of the United States. The colonel was originally assigned by the KGB to operate as a trade delegate. It was during this masquerade that he first contacted the US agents. The list of moles could go on and on with an endless supply of names such as Michael Goleniewski or perhaps Anatoly Filatov.

As survivalists it is important that we understand these people and their purpose. If our current infrastructure should collapse information would be vital to both those groups attempting to take over our nation as well as to those patriots that want to preserve our current style of living. In such cases it is to our best interests to watch our neighbors very carefully and to ensure that they are not assuming the identities of moles.

The major point that I wish to make here is that when dealing with moles we should be very careful. As a survivalist never openly advertise your intents. Don't let people know about your potential bug out plans unless they are part of your immediate survival group. Try to conceal your preps that you have been actively putting away and never publicize what supplies you have stored. The current administration appears dedicated to having neighbors turn against neighbors and as such the appearance of moles is sure to increase particularly when a crisis develops. Be prepared!

Copyright @ Joseph Parish

For more information relating to survival visit us at SURVIVAL TRAINING

Surviving a Fire: Plan, Talk and Act

Fires can break out any time, any place even schools and work places. Smoke alarms and water sprinklers can do good jobs to alert people but schools especially need to have an emergency evacuation plan in case fires do break out.

This plan involves two very important details: information and delegation. Individuals should familiarize themselves by noting where the exits are and read the manual that should be provided. In each classroom, there should be a fire exit poster near the door and perhaps a light sign showing which way to go in case of thick smoke.

Fire matters need to be conversed between staff and faculty. It should be done in case there are any concerns or recommended improvements. When a plan has been devised, it is then that the information be relayed to students and to parents.

No matter how hard you pressure the situation to people, some just do not take it seriously. Telling them it could mean the difference between life and death may be the only way to convince them. This is truly upsetting for those who take the subject to heart.

Schools do carry out drills once a year. However, when they aren’t done on regular basis, kids and faculty are likely to panic during the real emergency. This can lead to injuries and possible fatalities. Being prepared is important to everyone’s safety.

Should a child find the fire, it is imperative they hand over the responsibility of the evacuation to an adult so an immediate evacuation can begin. Should the fire be contained in a room, no one should open the door. Doing so can cause a back draft, making the fire much stronger, creating an atmosphere for an explosion.

Whether it is a child or adult, the fire alarm should be pulled and 911 called. The alarm will alert students and teachers. The faculty and staff will then direct the students toward the exits away from the fire, usually in a single line.

Fire extinguishers should be placed strategically in the hallways, classrooms and offices of the buildings. They are adept to handle the small fires but no larger ones. A person who is risking his life trying to put out the fire should not play hero if the fire is too big. Instead, getting people out of the building should be the priority.

Fire creates a suffocating blanket of smoke, which can confuse a person to which way to go to. For this reason, a person should have a piece of cloth or clothing over the face and use the hands to feel their way out.

Should the school be two or more stories tall, use the stairs to get out. Elevators are dangerous during fires because it can cause a short in the electrical system, trapping people inside, which can lead to smoke inhalation deaths.

Sometimes there is an instance where someone catches on fire. Should this be the case, place a heavy blanket over them. The person should do the stop, drop and roll lesson to extinguish the fire.
It is important that a place be designated to accumulate everyone at. By doing this can immediately determine if everyone has been counted and not trapped inside. Fire department officials will make the call if the building is safe to go back into.

School officials, parents and students need to be made aware of the fire emergency evacuation and preparation plans that way of the unthinkable does happen, it can go smoothly and quickly without a single death or injury.

Survival Skills Training 101 - Do You Know What to Do?

Survival skills training is becoming more and more important as our world becomes more dangerous. Even the most basic survival skills can mean the difference between life and death in several situations. You'll never stop learning new ways to survive, because potential threats are endless, but the more you know, the better your chances for safety and security.

To get you started on the right foot, this article breaks down three of the most basic and vital survival skills that could come in handy in the majority of survival situations.

How to Find or Create Shelter

If you find yourself in a location without appropriate shelter, then exposure to nature and the elements could be your greatest threat. You'll need to know how to use your environment to your advantage and create some sort of shelter to protect you, not only from weather conditions, but wild animals as well. In terms of shelter, there are actually two different kinds you need to focus on.

First, clothing is the most basic form of shelter and protection. Ideally, you should wear as many layers as possible, so you can stay warm in colder climates, but also remove one layer at a time as temperatures increase. Clothing will also help protect your skin from prolonged sun exposure, until you can find shade, which leads us to the second form of shelter. This is the more obvious form, any type of enclosure that will shelter you from rain and sun, while also creating at least some type of barrier between you and wildlife in the area. More often than not, you will have to construct your enclosure using only materials you can find around you, like rocks, sticks, leaves, clothes, and trees. A great way to practice this is to find a nearby wooded area, then try to build a small fort using only your surroundings and the clothing on your back.

Harnessing the Power of Fire

One of the most powerful and effective tools at your disposal is also one of the most magical: fire. Being able to create fire without the modern help of matches and lighters can be a literal life-saver in almost any outdoor survival situation. Fire is so versatile in that it can provide warmth, send a smoke signal, cook food, boil water, light up your area at night, and even keep some insects and animals at bay.

S.O.S. - Help!

While the above two skills will allow your to survive for much longer, you probably would like to return to civilization as soon as possible. You need to make as much noise and/or visual cues as you can to try and get the attention of potential rescuers. Fortunately, the fire discussed above will help do this on its own, but there are other ways to signal for assistance too. You can use pieces of glass or mirror to reflect the sun's rays at a passing boat or plane. If you happen to have a whistle or can make any other type of loud noise using rocks or even your voice, you could try to catch the ears of those nearby. The key to any signal for help is to send them in threes. Not only is this a universal sign of distress, the more times you send a signal, the better the chances are of someone seeing and/or hearing you.

Conclusion

You can never be too knowledgeable in the art of survival, but everyone should at least master these three core skills. Again, it is best to practice all of this survival skills training in a controlled environment first, so you have it mastered when you really need it.

Now that you've brushed up on your survival skills training, come discover even more survival skills and secrets at the number one source for all survivalists:
VISIT SURVIVAL SKILLS OUTDOORS

Ready to Go Emergency Kit (Bag)

Many of us may hope and pray that we are never faced with an emergency due to a hurricane, a snowstorm, a tornado, a home or forest fire or even an earthquake. However, history has shown that these disasters are all too common within our own country and neighboring countries.

With this in mind, you can prepare an Emergency Kit (Bag) to help you and your family through the first three days (3 days) of these trying times.

* Make a list of emergency telephone numbers, for example, the fire department, the police department, hospital, and the electric company. Keep the list handy and in the open, but place a copy in the Emergency Kit as well.

*** Note: On the telephone list, write down the numbers of close family and friends who do not live in the same area as you. It is understood that your family and friends will want to hear from you.

Additionally, if you become separated from one another, you can discuss beforehand, whom "out-of-the-area" person all of you will contact so that everyone will know where you are. Do not forget to keep the list up-to-date.

* Some stores sells already prepared (packed) Emergency Kits (Bags), but before you purchase one, check to make sure that it has enough items for your entire family. Maybe you will need to buy two.

*** Note: If you do not want to purchase an Emergency Kit, you can prepare you own. On the other hand, if you do buy a kit, you can purchase a few other items to go alone with the kit.

**Necessary items

Food - tin items and other food that are not easily spoiled
Water ( 4 litres per person, per day)
Garbage Bags
Dusk Mask
Candles
Flash Light (s)
Emergency Radios

Batteries "AA" & "D"
Toilet Tissue, Tooth Brush and other personal care items
Manual Can Opener (for the canned items)
Blanket
First Aid Kit
Medication (Prescription)
Important documents

** Safety Items

Leather Gloves
Safety Goggles
Knife (multipurpose)
Tarp
Duct Tape (just in case the Tarp rips)
Whistle
Lighter and Matches

** Distraction Items

Games (board games etc.)
Toys (for younger children)

There are other items that can be added to this kit, however, it will depend on the type of disaster that you are faced with. For example, if there is a hurricane headed your way, you may be allowed several hours or a couple of days to put a few things together. If this is the case, you can add:

Cash (small denominations)
Simple tools such as a hammer and screw driver
Clothing
Plastic cups, plates and spoons

The Definition of Survival Food

Continually I stress that everyone should have a survival kit made up and ready for any sort of emergency that Mother Nature or fellow man can toss our way. I continually relate how this kit should contain certain essential emergency supplies as well as a selection of Survival Foods.

The question that I am asked by many people is just what survival foods are. They always ask if they must spend thousands of dollars for prepared packages of #10 cans or the military MRE packs. My immediate response is a loud "No".

The strict definition of survival foods are just that - they are food which is placed in your kits or packs for use in survival situations. No where in the definition do you hear the words MRE or #10 cans. Most people who have followed any of my survival articles know that I propose using the supermarket canned foods as much as possible.

I like to stock up on foods which can be eaten directly out of the can if possible although I have an abundant supply of heatable canned food as well. Instant foods are one of my favorites for survival situations. The phrase "Just add water" holds very true to my survival intentions. Dehydrated foods have a good place in the backpacks and trunks of bug out vehicles when you think in terms of survival.

Of course this method of thinking makes storage of sufficient supplies of water all the more important. You must then not only have enough water for your family to drink but also for re-constituting your dried foods.

In all honestly I must admit that the dehydrated #10 cans of food are actually cheaper on the budget in the long run but their initial cost is greater as well. I have found that if you first stock up on supermarket canned foods and use what you store then you can slowly purchase the #10 cans of dehydrated foods. In this manner you save your budget from taking a beating.

Copyright @ 2009 Joseph Parish

For more information relating to survival visit us at http://www.survival-training.info

How to Make an Emergency Shelter

Lost! What do you do when you find yourself lost in the woods and you realize that you haven’t any shelter or food? The food problem will be addressed in a separate article, but for now, we will talk about building an emergency shelter. Just how does one go about making an emergency shelter when all he has are the clothes on his back and his backpack? The process of building a shelter is simpler than you think!

How to Make a Primitive Debris Shelter

This is in fact, one of the easiest shelters to make because you'll already have the essential materials you need all around you. Debris shelters are made of nature’s debris (leaves, branches, twigs, etc). When you’re in dire straits this type of emergency shelter will suit you just fine since although primitive, it will provide you with a warm and dry place to sleep during the night. That is, if you build it correctly.

You need to locate a good place to start building. A primary rule of thumb is to avoid building your emergency shelter near trees that look like they're dead or like they're about to die. Also another rule is to avoid building your shelter on low-laying areas because if it rains, you’ll get washed out. Once you’ve secured an area that is clear of the above mentioned dangers, crack your knuckles and get to work!

Find a strong and straight stick that will serve as the “spine” of your emergency shelter. Since this stick will be the spine, make sure that it is strong enough to hold the weight of the layers you'll put on later. Also the stick needs to be, at best, a few inches taller than you. So if you stand the stick up, it should surpass the top of your head. Take and rest the stick on a big rock or against a tree. If you rest it against a tree, make sure you place it securely at the joint where the tree and the branch meet. Secure the other end of the stick on the ground. In order to provide proper protection from the outside elements, make sure the stick at the highest end reaches your thigh or waist.

Once you do that, you will need to place support sticks on either side of the “spine”. Make sure the support sticks are close together so as not to allow rain or any other elements to sneak in. There should be an opening left in the front for you to get in later.

Add a few layers of natural material that will serve as an auxiliary support for the support sticks. Next, pile on any and everything you can find that will serve as a protection from the elements. You could pile on leaves, or you could pile on more lightweight sticks. Moss could be ready attained in the woods. Moss serves as a perfect insulation for your emergency shelter. Moss will also repel the insects and will absorb the rain if it rains on you. The more you pile on, the more airtight your shelter will be. Once you’ve accomplished this, you will need to follow the last and final step.

Insulate the inside of your emergency shelter with the same material you used to create an outside canopy. Scoot into your shelter, feet first, and test out your sleeping area. You want your sleeping area to be as comfy as possible. While you’re inside, pack in the leaves and moss to your satisfaction. The goal is to make a comfortable and protected space for you to sleep for the night. Once you’ve followed the last step, you will be ready to take refuge in your emergency shelter. Now you’ll have one less then to worry about.

http://survival-training.info

Can You Live Without an Emergency Generator?

Electricity is very important. We need electricity for communication, lights, entertainment, etc. However, there are times when the power goes off for extended periods due to ice, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes and other natural catastrophes. So what do we do then? How can big industries and corporations operate without electricity? Thanks to an emergency generator, people now have backup power whenever there is a black out.

However, there is a variety of these devices available in the market. They can come in different sizes. So how do you find the right size? In finding out the correct size for this device depends on the power needed during emergencies. One thing people need to know is that the more items on backup circuits, the bigger and more costly the generator is.

This device also comes in two types: permanent standby and the portable. So what is the difference? The permanent standby model is installed as part of the electrical system. It provides power to the building wiring. It also contains an automatic switch that prevents the generator from back feeding power into the utility lines. This protects the generator from damage when power is restored. However, with this type of emergency generator, you have to remember to let a licensed electrician install the device. The city or country building department must also inspect the switches and wiring. When the installation is complete, the local utility company should be notified a back up system is in place.

The second model type of this device is the portable unit. This model is usually used when there are only a few vital electrical circuits are needed. This is usually preferable for residential use. Circuits can be used for lights in the general living area of your home, television, furnace, refrigerator, sump pumps and water well pumps, to name a few. Nevertheless, with this type of emergency generator, you have to remember that the device should be of the right size. Some electrical motors in your home appliances and equipment can be ruined or damaged if they do not receive enough electrical current.

Therefore, before you decide to buy a model of your choice, you have to determine first which items are needed in an emergency. This will help you determine the total watts needed, which in turn determines the right generator size that you need. You can ask the help of an electrician to determine this or you can check with the manufacturer.

Because the emergency generator produces electricity, as back up power, thus there is a possibility that electrical current from it may back feed into the home's electrical system. This can cause damage or fire and can ruin equipment if it is not properly installed. So only, a qualified electrician should install it to your home electrical system. This will avoid the risk of damage and fire, as well as, prevent causing personal injury.

These accidents can also be prevented by the installation of a transfer switch. Some transfer switches automatically trip to generator power if there is a power failure. But some must be switched manually.

Lastly, a safety precaution, an emergency generator must be run outdoors as they burn fuel, which can cause fire. Generators are very important. However, people must be careful in choosing the right type. In addition, they must follow the safety guidelines to avoid the risk of damage, fire and personal injury.

Your guide to information on various types of generators such as a home emergency generator. We also provide information for consumers on various brands as well. For more information please visit our site today. http://www.generatorsinfosite.com/

By Martin Applebaum

Food Storage Dos and Don'ts

When you are thinking about starting a long-term food storage program there a lot of things to consider. First off, what are your food storage goals? A common guideline is to start with a 3 month supply of foods you normally eat, and then build up a one year supply of longer-term foods.

What IS long term food storage? This concept is basically to have supply of food that can sustain your family for one year in case of a long-lasting emergency situation. These bulk foods tend to have long shelf lives and when combined with a few other ingredients can make a wide variety of meals. Some of the most common foods stored are wheat, oats, rice, legumes, powdered milk, oil, salt, yeast, etc. Basically the staple foods of any diet.

How much should you store? While there are basic food storage calculators out there to help you along the way, they aren't necessarily exactly right for every situation. Here are some do's and don'ts that can help you as you get started with your family's personal plan.

Food Storage Do's
- DO get a partner to work with you, share ideas, and motivate you
- DO learn how to actually USE the foods that you are storing
- DO buy the necessary kitchen appliances to help you use the foods
- DO include the foods you store as part of your everyday cooking
- DO be adventurous and try new recipes
- DO start small and work your way up to a full year supply
- DO make sure to have an emergency plan in place
- DO expand your food storage to include other things once you get the basics down
- DO educate yourself in other aspects of emergency preparedness such as alternative heating/cooking methods

Food Storage Don'ts
- DON'T get overwhelmed and just give up completely
- DON'T store foods that your family hates just because the calculator says to
- DON'T think that cooking with these foods is fattening and unhealthy
- DON'T think that using bulk foods and cooking from scratch is really inconvenient
- DON'T get too crazy about figuring out how to cook without electricity when you are just getting started
- DON'T buy everything all at once and kill your budget
- DON'T try to get your family to change their diet completely over night
- DON'T be too anxious to buy things that you don't wait for good sales
- DON'T focus too much on long term items and neglect to store some basic foods you use on a regular basis

I hope those little tips will help you as you get started on your food storage adventures. I've had a lot of fun learning more about these concepts this past year. Just remember that food storage is a completely PERSONAL endeavor. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to go about doing it. The most important thing is to simply GET STARTED!

To learn the recommended amount of foods to store, check out my food storage calculator and then visit my food storage blog where we walk you through the process of gathering your food storage in a series of ten simple BabySteps.

Teach Your Kids Fire Safety Tips

Are you the parent of a student who attends a school at the primary level? Are you a teacher or school administrator? If you answered either question affirmatively, it is very important for you to educate your children on how to handle fire safely and prevent setting fires. You will learn how to teach your children fire safety tips.

Dealing with Matches

One thing you must teach your children is to not play with matches. Teach them to not strike a match on anything other than a stove or a piece of wood in a fireplace. Keep matches out of the reach of babies and children who are very young.

Fire Drills

Do you remember the good old days you had as a kid at school going outside when the fire alarm rang? Your children need to go through this process themselves. If you are in charge of a school, you should have a fire drill at least twice a semester. Teach the students to exit the classroom and head out to the schoolyard through the closest door in a quick but orderly fashion when the fire alarm goes off. Let them know they must stay outside until the school officials or people from the fire department tell them it is safe to go back into the school.

Warning Others about Fires

Let your children know they cannot yell "Fire!" in a public place unless a fire really has been set because it is against the law and this could cause a panic and a possible stampede. Tell your children, "When you see or smell a fire in a setting where you are, try to get everyone out through the nearest window or door. Once everyone is out, call the fire department."

Using Fire Alarms and Fire Exits

Teach your children to only pull the handle on a fire alarm or open a door that has an "Emergency Exit" sign on it when a fire occurs. Let them know they could be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and go to jail if they set a false alarm.

Using a Stove and an Oven

If you are a parent or a home economics teacher, make your children acquire hands-on experience pertaining to turning on a stove and an oven. Teach them to turn off the stove and the oven when they are finished cooking food.

Using Heaters and Candles

Instruct your children to keep flammable objects such as curtains away from heaters and candles. Tell them to not go to sleep with heaters running or candles burning. Teach them to blow straight down on lit candles to extinguish them.

Fire Hazards

Inform your children about the dangers that can occur from being careless. Teach them to not stick objects into electrical outlets. Teach them to not expose appliances such as radios to water.

Putting Out Fires

Teach your children to put out small fires with water or blankets.

Follow these steps to teach your kids fire safety tips!

Todd Hicks owns Skill Development Institute, an enterprise that provides a keyboard typing lesson and academic study guide. To become a great typist or student, visit Skill Development Institute. http://sdinst.blogspot.com

DIY Basement Shelter Plans

As I promised in a previous article, I worked out some rough plans for a basement shelter that I want to share with you. If time and resources permit, I may begin work on building this late this Summer, but next year is probably more realistic. Along with being able to afford the project, another concern I have is whether or not I have sufficient space in my basement. If not, I may have to rent a Bobcat or something to excavate a hole to build the thing in my yard.

Before we begin, keep in mind that protection from radiation is achieved through mass. The numbers I have always gone by to achieve protection from 99% of radiation are as follows: Steel - 5"; Concrete - 16"; Earth - 24" packed or 36" loose; and, water - 36".

Being that we are building this shelter in a basement, it is already blessed by having the earth around it and your house above. This effect is multiplied if your house is more than one story; the voids from each floor to each ceiling won't help you, but the combined mass of the wood and building materials will.

You'll need:

• Bricks
• A saw
• Plywood
• Electric drill
• Concrete/cinder blocks
• Mortar and a trowel
• Bagged quikrete, sand and gravel
• Wheelbarrow
• Steel or heavy wooden beams
• Steel rebar (optional, yet highly recommended for increased strength)

Steps:

1. Choose a suitable place for your shelter. I suggest you utilize a corner space as it will give your structure added strength. I also suggest you choose a space with no windows.
2. Whether or not you imagine you'll ever find yourself in danger from nuclear radiation, I'm including this next step as a means of added protection against that possibility. That being said, you can skip it if you prefer. Using the drill, screw sections of plywood to the ceiling joists to create something like a shelf in the void between each beam. I suggest screws as they will provide a stronger bond for the construction, but a hammer and nails would suffice. Also, you'll do it in sections (you'll need to pre-saw the 8x4 plywood sheets into smaller, more manageable pieces prior to beginning). Once your first row of "shelves" are ready, fill the void as tightly as possible with bricks. If you've done it in small sections and used screws on both sides, it will hold the weight. Be sure to fill the void as tightly as possible, always remembering that mass is what stops radiation. Repeat until the ceiling over the entire area you'll be building your shelter is covered.
3. This next step is another that you might be able to get away with skipping if you so choose. I consider it wise as a hedge against any possibility of flooding as I plan to store emergency preparedness supplies in my locked shelter year-round. Using whatever means you find most expedient, build a form into which you will pour a concrete foundation that raises the floor of your shelter several inches above the floor of your existing basement. Now is a perfect time to position steel rebar in the wet concrete. The rebar is another part of this you can probably skip, but using it will increase the strength of the finished structure.
4. Build the walls to your shelter using the concrete blocks, remembering to leave space to install a door as well as a filtered air intake later (you may also want to run electrical or telephone wiring or pipe in water - I'll leave that to you). If you've used the cinder blocks with the voids in them, I advise you to mix up another batch of concrete mix and pour it in the empty spaces so your walls are solid. This will help to increase the protection factor from blast forces, heat, ballistics, et cetera. The height of the walls is up to you, but FYI a wall built 10 blocks high would afford an internal shelter height of 6'8" and there aren't many of us who couldn't make do with that.
5. The roof of the shelter should be constructed by laying steel or sturdy wooden beams completely across the top of your shelter and packed tightly together. You could conceivably spread them out more and use them as supports for a ceiling of plywood or metal sheeting, but packing them closer reduces void space and thus provides more protection from radiation. You will need to buy or cut these to the correct size. They should be long enough to lie across your structure, resting upon the tops of the walls but not hanging over if it can be helped. Use vertical beams or build block columns at equal intervals within your shelter to provide added support.
6. At this point, your basic structure is complete. I would advise covering the roof with plastic sheeting to provide a moisture barrier and adding another layer of tightly-packed bricks (no mortar). Beyond that, the more overall mass you can cram into whatever empty space exists between the roof of your shelter and the roof of your basement (which we stuffed with bricks earlier) the more protection you will have from radiation. Continue to add as much as possible, but always be mindful of the weight on your ceiling and its stability.
7. Paint the whole thing, inside and out and floor to ceiling, with moisture-resistant paint.

I've left it up to you to decide certain things on your own, such as ventilation and what kind of door to use and how to construct it. I would strongly suggest a metal door though. And, since you've gone this far already, take the tiny extra step to make sure your ventilation system has filters that are rated for NBC protection.

© Copyright 2009 Backwoods Industries (except where otherwise cited). Text, video, photographs, and any other material may be republished, rebroadcast or redistributed as long as our website is sited as the author and a link back to our website is provided.

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Using GPS For Survival Geocaching

Geocaching is an up-and-coming outdoor sport, quietly gaining in popularity worldwide. Its primary purpose is recreational, and there are literally thousands upon thousands of hidden caches that span the globe. But this is only one use for a handheld GPS (Global Positioning System).

Spinning off of geocaching for recreational use, geocaching can also come in handy for survival purposes. Here we will explore some of the ways that a GPS unit can be employed from an emergency preparedness standpoint.

There are a ton of good reasons to record waypoints (longitude and latitude coordinates) for survival purposes. For starters, you should mark down a remote camping spot that you have identified as being suitable to set up your living quarters and that is favorable for supporting wildlife and other living things. The site should be in close proximity to a water source, and not be so well known that it becomes overcrowded and unproductive. Along with this site you should also record coordinates of nearby edible plants, roots, and berries. These should be researched well, and you should be confident that they are in fact edible and are not poisonous or contain other toxins. A field guide with pictures and descriptive text will help you to identify the ones your body can safely digest.

Further along the "trail" you may decide to mark a spot that is rife with critters for you to trap. These may just end up being a decent source of meat for you; after all, everything tastes like chicken anyway, right? Don't let not having a refrigerator "spoil" things for you. Dig a deep, wide hole that you can put some sturdy plywood over and cover with dirt to act as your cooling unit for foods that require refrigeration. You might also decide to do something similar for other items you'd like to store, such as an axe, flint and steel, a saw, a pair of binoculars, or whatever. Don't forget to record these locations' coordinates as well.

Another very useful waypoint for your consideration is a cave. Should you be lucky enough to find one that you could fit in and use for shelter, by all means record this, too. While were on the subject of survival, make yourself a hooter dart. If you got hungry enough you might kill and cook up some bat. Who knows, it might be a gourmet food (somewhere in the world).

Now, this is not meant to be an episode of Fear Factor, so settle down. But you may need some "creative" sources of protein in an emergency/survival situation. So mark a location where you have witnessed aplenty the following: red ants (bigger and tastier than the black variety), grasshoppers, and night crawlers. These won't all likely be plentiful in the same location, so look around and record your results accordingly. And remember, protein is a must-- why do you think when the food bank comes around asking for foodstuff donations, items high in protein are at the top of their list for requested items? Chocolate makes everything better. Just melt some chocolate over the campfire and cover these creatures to eat them for practice.

Another idea for something to mark is a honeycomb. Look around for some wild honeybees. If you find their home, and it's close enough to the ground, bingo! If it is in a hole in a tree, for example, and you need something sweet (and you were feeling really adventurous) you could build a fire at the base of the tree to smoke them into a hypnotic state while you stole away their golden juice!

To sum things up, these are a few of the serious and not so serious (but plausible, nonetheless) ideas of waypoints that you might want to record now before an emergency happens. Don't forget to record an area dense with dry wood for fire making. The reason for recording all of these coordinates is for all of you folks with Halfheimer's that forget the simplest things from one moment to the next. But seriously, everybody forgets some things, and why risk a great find in the outdoors? Record it!

For more tips on survival, come on over and watch our short video clip Survival Techniques and get a free disaster preparedness E-Book.

Hurricane Season 2009 - Seven Tips to Be Ready

Today marks the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, and early predictions by NOAA suggest that this will be an average season with as many as four to seven hurricanes.

The National Hurricane Center says there is a 70 percent chance of having 9 to 14 named storms, of which 4 to 7 could become hurricanes, including one to three major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5).

Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November. Tropical systems all get names, and the first one will be named "Ana" when it reaches sustained winds of at least 39 mph. Tropical storms become hurricanes when winds reach 74 mph, and become major hurricanes when winds increase to 111 mph.

Here are seven tips on getting ready for hurricanes or tropical storms:

1. If you have property in a hurricane-prone area, seriously consider buying flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program. Buy the coverage now, not when storm clouds gather. The link for the National Flood Insurance Program is shown below.
2. Dig out your property insurance policy and read it. If there is anything you do not understand, call your agent and get your questions answered.
3. Make sure that you are insured 100% to replacement value. In this economy, market value has dropped, but replacement value is still high. A good average for replacement value is $80.00 per square foot.
4. Make sure that you have the replacement cost endorsement on the building and the contents.
5. Be sure what your deductible is. In many hurricane-prone areas, the insurance companies assess a deductible which is a percentage of the building policy limit, such as 2%, 3% or 5%.
6. Contact a Public Adjuster (PA). Have a conversation about the services a PA can perform for you when you have a major loss. Knowledge is power, but knowledge can also get you a lot more money at claim time.
7. Remember that if a civil authority issues an evacuation order, your homeowners policy will cover your Additional Living Expense while you're out of your home. Read the policy for the details.

To learn more about the National Flood Insurance Program, go to www.floodsmart.gov

Let's hope that this hurricane season will pass without even one storm striking land!

Copyright 2009 by Russell D. Longcore

Are You and Your Family Prepared?

How to Survive Without Water
Survival Lesson 101

In the wake of the New Orleans catastrophe, which harshly stretched out before the world, I realized that most everyone who lived in the United States have no inkling about how they would survive, for a duration of time, without food and water. In my humble opinion, most people have carelessly thought themselves excused from this sort of disaster as they've only casually observed the obliteration caused by these disasters in the news. I also think that most Americans have held this unspoken sense of protection that the "mighty" U.S.A. will protect us from such a tragedy. Do we NOW have a clear understanding that we all need to wake up and school ourselves so we can become caught up in a course of action of finding solutions to the huge number of problems facing the U.S. today, as well as disaster issues we are sure to face in the future?

Is it Time to Convey the Problems Back to the People?

As a country, we've been warned for decades about world changes. From geophysicists and geologists to seismologists and prehistoric cultures, many have openly voiced their worries over and over, yet, for the most part people seemed to have disregarded all the forewarnings, maybe the out of sight, and out of mind way of thinking is still a very strong manner of thinking with most.

In recent times, a number of questions have crossed my mind. "Did anyone in authority, in any way, teach survival techniques to those people they came across in New Orleans? Not once did I hear or read about anything directly linked to this question. Maybe this information was held back. If the news media could get into New Orleans early on, why weren't they enlightening those individuals they came across? Was it because they were not educated in survival skills? Why didn't they think to try to find experts to support in this effort? How about our armed forces, which may depend on survival proficiency if they are called to duty? Not to mention the local law enforcement and/or local and national management representatives? Was it that all the official groups couldn't get past the shock of devastation and were weighed down? There were thousands congregated at the Super Dome, waiting powerlessly. Could one or more vital survival skills have helped those in waiting? Again, maybe it was set up, but held close.

I'm also alert to the fact we can all go on and on about what should have been done and what could have been done. To blame others, at this point, doesn't solve a thing, nor amend the appalling truth of ONE of the most seemingly horrific U.S. catastrophes in the last hundred years. Out of disaster, there are superb occasions for vital modifications waiting. It's no secret that mammoth shoring up and community construction will be needed and essential in the next few years, as more immense regional changes will continue to unfold.

Some time ago I read a book which had an impact on my course. I've suggested the book "Mutant Message Down Under", by Marlow Morgan to associates, through the years. Mutant Message Down Under showed a few survival talents the Aborigines taught Marlow's female character on a walkabout, in Australia. Months into the walkabout, there were days without water. The Aborigines were adapted to this situation, but Marlo, the mutant (they called her which is any human other than an Aborigine), was not. At one point, Marlow had the notion that she would die, as the hot and dry desert didn't let up. She was brutally parched and sunburned, her bare feet scorched and raw. As the chronicle discloses, the group unrelentingly continued to walk but nothing was said as their main communication throughout the total passage was by psychic means. The shortage of water was only a small part of this survival lesson.

At one significant point in time, our character could, at last, read an elder's thoughts, "Put a rock in your mouth". Something so easy and accessible, perhaps for many of Katrina's citizens, who waited days upon days for water to arrive may have profited from this unproblematic teaching. How many in our inhabitants know about the rock/pebble method? I've heard this pebble theory a few other times. One day, I thought to go out and ask others. One good friend knew of this teaching but no other person, I spoke to relating to this concept, had a clue of this lifesaving technique. All drew a blank, but were inquisitive and very interested in knowing more. The rock/pebble in fact arouses the saliva to regenerate. It is also known that the earth's rocks carry nutrients and minerals.

Primitive Survival Techniques

If you are ever unlucky enough to find yourself in a calamity where clean water is no longer available, you can dispel some of the galling symptoms of thirst. Merely find "a quartz type pebble" and put it in your dehydrated mouth. Sucking on this pebble will stimulate your salivary glands and ease the continuous reminder of your thirst.

This is a simple survival method when water is unavailable. It is NOT a substitution or replacement for water; it will keep you sensible and extend your propensity to seek water. The fact remains that an individual can only survive a small amount of time without water before surrendering to total dehydration but a pebble, which holds minerals, in the mouth may help for a short time.

Urine Survival

There's another survival gift most individuals would have difficulty with and would not stoop down to--- urine drinking for survival. Several years ago, I read at length on the benefits of urine survival or as some call it urine therapy.

Urine therapy has been used for hundreds of generations and is still very common in India and Europe as a remedy for many ailments. It's also a survival method to help one destitute for water. Urine is full of certain nutrients the body does not use. One needs to research the short procedures, which are quite simple. A friend, from India, who has used this technique and talked about this ancient survival method as we watched the Katrina crisis unfold, was confident that most people in the U.S. would be too apprehensive to try this life saving technique. Big mistake.

Important Questions to ask Ourselves.

We all need to learn crucial survival skills. It's also our responsibility to teach our country's children who lean on us for direction and survival. And, is it fair to say, we cannot depend upon or expect our government to handle the endless issues that face and will persist to face us in the future. To me, the requirements will be enormous. We must bring the concerns back to the community and work together with our government administration agencies.

How Many More Catastrophes Does it Take for our People to Pay Closer Interest to our Changing Times?

What will it take for citizens to truly unite? As we look deeply into our hearts, the division between race, culture and class must cease. None of this is matters in a disaster condition and perhaps is evidence for us to begin a new point of view and new set values more in tune with our changing times. For too long, our culture has placed a spotlight on false morals in directions that will not work any longer. Can we now open our hearts to what's truly important?

A citation from Marlow Morgan's book says it all. Many ancient cultures have expressed similar concerns but most people have ignored the wisdom.

"Hello Divine Oneness. We stand here before you with a Mutant. We have traveled with her and know that she has within herself yet a flame of your excellence. We have felt her and altered her, but making over a Mutant is a very complex undertaking. Mutants have a bit in their life called gravy. They know truth, but it is obscured under thickening and spices of convenience, greediness, uncertainty and dread. They also have something in their lives called frosting. It seems to be a symbol of how they spend almost all the seconds of their reality in doing shallow, synthetic, fleeting, pleasurable sampling, pleasing, appearing ventures and spend very few actual small moments of their lives evolving their eternal existence.

We have selected this Mutant, and we liberate her as a bird from the rim of the nest, to take wing, far and high, and to shriek like the kookaburra, informing listeners that we are departing from this earth.

We do not evaluate the Mutants. We pray for them and let loose of them as we pray and release ourselves. We pray they will look strongly at their dealings, at their principles, and learn before it is too late that all life is one. We pray they will stop the ruin of the earth and of each other.

We pray there are enough Mutants on the threshold of becoming sincere to change things. We also pray the Mutant world will hear and accept our communication/courier."

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Prepare for Civil War

Peace is fast becoming a scarce commodity in all parts of the world. If the threat of war is not from over the boarders it is from within - civil war is what every country fears more than international aggression. The risk of having to face a civil war is an omnipresent risk and people need to need to be educated vis-à-vis what they need to do in times of civil unrest.

There are many countries such as Africa that are no longer affected by a civil war, in fact living in aggression has become a part of their lives, never the less they are well versed with ways of defending themselves and finding food and nutrition for their families. In Africa alone civil war has displaced as many as 5 million families many of them are living in evacuation camps set up by the army and social service organizations like the Red Cross.

Civil war is no different than a conventional war fought between two countries; the only difference is that the army is fighting people within the country. Nevertheless civil war can be a very devastating experience especially for women and children who in most cases are not equipped to fend for themselves. Apart from food, shelter and clothing problems civil war brings with it atrocities in the form of human rights violations - from military as well as civilian forces.

Every family living in a country that is threatened by civil war needs to put in place a contingency plan in case there is any unrest. These people should never live in the hope that their government will provide for them in times of unrest. Government, at most times, will heap atrocities on the people in times of civil war - remember that the government is fighting civilians in their own country. So, civilians are the enemy!

Preparations for civil war should include survival courses where they are trained in the art of self defense as well as the use of fire arms and other weapon training. While training in the use of fire arms adolescents must also be made aware of the dangers of handling a dangerous weapon, not just the adults.

Knowledge of first aid is very important in times of war and so every civilian must be well versed with the use of various first aid techniques. First aid kits must be prepared and kept ready to deal with open wounds as well as diseases such as diarrhea, malaria and other general contagious infectious diseases.

Families facing the threat of civil war need to prepare to be displaced in the hope of escaping violence. These people must prepare a displacement kit that would necessarily include all necessities such as covering, clothes and shoes. These times will mean living on the road for months without shelter. Your displacement kit will be of great help in these times. Include only the bare necessities in the kit to keep it light.

It is necessary to prepare for an emergency rather than hope it will not happen. So, if you are prepared you will have taken care of a few of your worries at least, and you will have improved your chances of surviving.

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How to Survive a Country’s Civil War

Whenever you make a wish, it is often one of peace and tranquility among the earth. A reality that will never be because world powers seek to dominate other powers and take over their land. It is human nature after all to want to be the supreme ruler of all. With that being said, many powerful countries’ weaponry are ready should another decide to attack them.

History shows that wars are inevitable. Already two world wars behind us, a third war is imminent. With the design of nuclear weapons in today’s society, world war three is sure to speedy when it begins. However, worse than a world war, is something that happens closer to home. Many countries deal with it on a daily basis. It is called civil war.

If though you may not see it, every county is on the verge of civil war. People in every community should be concerned, not just church and world leaders about this risk.

For some countries, civil war has been ongoing. Due to this, it is an every day reality that it no longer surprises them when conflict erupts. The war has driven many countrymen away with nowhere to go for themselves or their families including children.

Civil war is like any other war in that it is lethal for the country’s population. It is even more so for children since they cannot protect themselves from harm. With all the devastation, there are acts of abuse on both sides of the military and the civilians regarding people’s rights.

This kind of war can take the form of any number of things including family displacement, hunger, suffering and death. It is a catastrophe that many around the world know all too well. The numbers are staggering.

Families are do not want to be separated need to have an emergency plan set in place. They should know not to expect the government to help during a crisis such as this. No one wants to go to an evacuation shelter and lose their family and lose their life.

What Can Families Do?

Although many people don’t want to think a war could happen in their lifetime, it best to be prepared anyway. They can take self-defense and gun firing lessons that are included in many survival courses. Children should be made aware of the dangers guns pose but it is something that should be taught in case a civil war breaks out.

Prepare a first aid emergency kit. What should it hold? It will need medicines that are for common diseases. Special medicines will need to be placed in the kit as well if a family member has a chronic illness. Be sure to put band-aids and gauze in the kit too.

For those used to living through civil war territories, packing an extra kit with shoes, maps, a knife (Swiss knives are much better to use), food (canned goods for starters) and soap.

Make sure vital papers are placed together in case a civil war does begin. You may need the information if the family gets separated. It is entirely possible that families will be traveling for weeks to get away from the fighting outbreak.

It is always best to prepare for disaster while not living your life expecting it to happen. If you prepare for the possibility, the outcome for continued existence is higher than being caught off guard. For those who think it cannot happen, history tells us that peace is only a dream and even dreams are not peaceful. Prepare so you can continue to learn and live.

Copyright Tomira Rosser

What Citizens Can Do to Prepare for War

Every one knows war is the sign of bad times not just for the countries at conflict with one another but others surrounding or close by them. It is the last thing anyone wants to see… death and carnage.

Throughout the last 100 years, wars have been raging. Each generation has seen some type of war whether it is a world war, civil war and a small conflict between countries. Students learn about each battle through books and from talks of people have lived through them, whether they were in the war or not.

Most know that there are no winners in wars because deaths rise drastically. Even now, there are parts of the world at war. With this in mind, how can people prepare to survive should someone wish to attack us? (American soil was tainted recently on Sept. 11, 2001 when a terrorist group hijacked four planes, slamming them into three buildings.)

No one knows where an attack may happen next, so the best time to prepare is now. In fact, many people should already be prepared. Why is this? People should be prepared for natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes and there is not much difference between those emergency kits and the war emergency kit.

Country residents do not have the power to change the fact of going to war even though they know they will be in the midst of it. The most anyone can do is prepare for it.

People need to stock up on food (canned goods preferably) and water. Clothing should also be grabbed because each piece of clothing can cover the mouth and the nose. If need be, find sunglasses to keep the particles of dust out. This will be prevalent from the bombings.

To stay alive, residents can also look into what kind of planning the government put into protecting them. There should be underground bunkers with food and medical supplies for many people. Innocent people and fighting soldiers who have been injured wind up in these places for treatment.

For people who live in the bigger cities of the United States often have more than one center to turn to. Before a strike happens, each household should be aware where these are located in reference to where they are when the attack ensues. Railroad yards will have facilities like these.

When a war breaks out over a country’s soil, laws are broken down and civil unrest is possible. For people looking to survive, turning to government may not always work. Citizens should have a weapon of some type to protect themselves and their families. It is possible that when war breaks out, that the country could also fall into a civil war.

Governments should also be stocked up on fuels, water purifying systems and mobile refineries and decontamination services.

Even before a government goes to war, it should have a combined effort of several services. Those include police, healthcare, fire and public utilities providers such as gas and electric. If the government is able to get those entities to cooperate, then its civilians will be better off.

People can prepare themselves for the war but really they are at the mercy of the government in what happens. Even though this may be true, people can still collect the much-needed items to survive.

Now many people think there is no benefit to sharing information with other countries. However, there is a benefit to sharing data about self-protection with the public. Other country authorities hearing this can help to get the “warring” countries to talk and perhaps come to an agreement of some type to avoid a major conflict. As citizens, this is something every one would love to have. With more advanced weaponry being built, a country could be wiped out in just minutes. This leaves only a small window of time to prepare and get underground before the first blast.

Home Emergencies: Be prepared for anything!

The time to prepare for an emergency is not when disaster strikes but rather before any type of catastrophic event hits. It is good to be prepared and have a battle plan for fires and even floods but being equipped for all kinds of disasters, whether natural or man made, is essential in one’s survival.

There are ten ways to prep yourself and your family to survive during a crisis. Following most, if not all, could mean the difference between living one or two days and living for a week or more.

Water – The Basic Essential of Life

It is always best to have a gallon of water on hand for each person in the household. Another gallon jug should be prepared to last the family up to a week (seven days). Place the water in plastic jugs such as milk containers. Be sure to have water purification tablets or filters on hand, should the need arise.

Emergency Food Storage

Non-perishable foods, such as canned goods or boxed vegetables, that were stored should last the family up to a week. If you have a family pet, they need food set aside as well.

Alternative Cooking Source

Whatever stove you normally cook food with, be it electric or gas, having a barbecue or propane stove available is essential should the utilities be out. Make sure that the propane tank is full and another is accessible.

Family Clothing

Prepare a large suitcase of clothes for the family. Sleeping bags, though not always necessary, should be set aside just in case.

Wood For Cooking/Heating

There should be an ample supply of wood since it can be used in fireplaces or wood burning stoves.

Light

Be sure to keep a flashlight on hand and plenty of batteries. This is something that should be used during emergencies. Some flashlights now use solar power or can be cranked by hand… an alternative to tons of batteries used.

Prescription Medications

Keep prescriptions handy at all times for family members who need them. Keep a good supply of both the non-prescription as well as the prescribed medicines. If need be, contact the person’s healthcare provider to get an advanced on refill prescriptions.

Cash on Hand and Extra Gas

Nowadays, people are using debit cards to get money but credit may not work if there is an emergency. For this reason, it is best to use cash and have it ready should the ATM fail or your bank’s system doesn’t seem to be operational.

Make sure to keep the car half full due to the long lines that inevitably appear after emergencies. If possible, use a gas jug and fill it up if you know the “disaster” is coming. It is another way to avoid those long gas pump lines.

Emergency Entertainment

Even though the world is so technologically advanced, if the power is out, people will want something to do to pass the time. Grab a book to read or have some board games so the family can keep amused without worrying when the power will be back on.

Get to Know Your Neighbors

This is important because neighbors will help each other out in times of crisis. Should utilities be disrupted, a neighbor can help those who were affected or unable to prepare. Neighbors tend to keep eye on people’s property, if they need to.

Preparing for what could come or could happen is not being paranoid; it’s being responsible.