Survival and Self-sufficiency

Keeping Water Safe With ION Stabilized Oxygen

When people drink untreated water, even from a stream in the mountains, it can be dangerous and even deadly. ION is great for wilderness water treatment. I believe every medical kit and 72-hour bug out bag should have a bottle of ION in it at all times.

Prepare To Bug Out

While many people romanticize the idea of social unrest or martial law as motivations for “bugging out,” the more likely event is that something like Hurricane Katrina or a forest fire will be your stimulus for actually leaving your home behind and hitting the road with your bug out bag (BOB). If you classify yourself as a “prepper,” then you may already have your BOB packed. However, you may not know that system redundancy is just as important in building your bag as it is in every other aspect of prepping.

When building your BOB, make sure you have particular items in multiple pockets and pouches, as well as retaining multiple versions of the same functionality. For example, instead of having one lighter in your front pocket and that’s it, make sure you also carry some waterproof matches in your medical kit, a ferrocerium rod and steel striker in your waterproof clothing bag, and a road flare in the side pocket of your bag. That way, if anything happens to any piece of equipment you have (i.e., submerged in water, stolen, dropped along the way), you will have diversified your reliance on any single part of your bag.

Don’t Drink The Water (Without Taking Precautions)

Water is one of the most critical things that we need for survival. If you drink bad water, you can die very quickly. You really can’t trust any of the sources of water in the wild that you’ll have. It is critical that you purify whatever water you put into your body. Don’t be unprepared.

The 5 Things You’d Better Have in Your Bug Out Bag, But Probably Don’t

When you are preparing for the worst, it becomes very easy to overlook simple items that you’ll need to survive. Sure, you’ll have your basic first aid kits and rations of food, but there are a few items that you should always remember to have with you.

Be Prepared For A Blackout

During emergency situations, you may find your home and community in the dark. That can be a very frightening thing — especially for children. We have all experienced a power outage. We need alternative sources of light during blackouts.

NASA Observes A Fireball From The Sun

On Monday, a giant fireball erupted from the east side of the sun.

Dealing With Dehydration In A Survival Situation

One of the greatest dangers to people in survival situations, especially in the summer in warmer climates, is dehydration. While working to overcome a new hardship, it’s easy for someone to overexert and become overheated.

Barter Items

One of the advantages of having a preparedness plan is the opportunity to stockpile items that can be used in a barter economy. I have written many times that, at least for a while following an economic collapse, a barter economy will develop.

That is why I recommend having a large quantity of pre-1964 silver coins. They will be recognized as “money” because they look like the coins we are familiar with, but will also retain value because of their silver content.

Finding Love While Prepping

If you are single, prepping can be a lonely lifestyle and dating may be even more treacherous than it is for non-preppers. Imagine trying to explain the importance of the five-year food store and impressive ammo cache in your basement to someone who doesn’t get it.

Pack A Bug-Out Kit And Conduct A Practice Drill

Every family should practice emergency procedures and conduct regular emergency drills, especially with their children, friends, neighbors and church or group members. Belonging to a like-minded group is very important.