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Get Prepped Newsletter: July 1, 2011

Posted By Tess Pennington On July 1, 2011 @ 6:36 pm In Get Prepped Newsletter | 1 Comment

MESSAGE FROM TESS

What a week! I have been sitting at the edge of my seat reading about the havoc occurring Greece, the wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico, the devastating floods; it’s just unreal what is occuring. A lot of people think I am crazy for preparing for unlikely scenarios. Now that those scenarios are beginning to play out, I think they are crazy not to!

7 weeks ago, I suggested you purchase some simple medical supplies ^[1] in order to prepare for short- and long-term emergencies. This week we are going to be adding even more to your medical supply arsenal. I hope you have done some research to decide what type of medical emergencies your family needs to prepare for and to see if there are any pre-existing medical conditions that need to be addressed.

In the next week or so, I will be uploading my past newsletters to Ready Nutrition ^[2], so if you missed an issue, you can catch up. Having the information at your fingertips may help you as well as new readers who also want to be prepared. Another handy feature that I am adding is a prepping calculator for you to calculate how much food and preparedness items you and your family will need, so stay tuned because changes are coming.

Don’t forget to see what we’re up to on Facebook ^[3] and follow us on Twitter ^[4]. like to interact with my readers, and Facebook and Twitter are ways that I can connect with you personally. Why not extend an invitation to your extended family so they can also be prepared by reading Ready Nutrition ^[2].

Regards,

Tess Pennington

PREP OF THE WEEK

Week 10 of 52: Medical Supplies

A lot goes into being medically prepared, so this will be a reoccurring theme throughout this series. We will start with gathering the basic first aid supplies and then slowly begin accumulating more advanced medical preps and learning alternative medical therapies towards the end.

This week I would like to urge all of you to purchase a few medical reference books. Buying multiple reference materials gives you a broader spectrum in how to provide different types of medical treatment – not all medical emergencies should be approached the same way. I recommend starting with When There is No Doctor ^[5] and When There is No Dentist ^[6], but here are some other great references:

Wilderness Medicine ^[7]
Medicine for the Outdoors ^[8]
A Barefoot Doctor’s Manual ^[9]
Field Guide of Wilderness & Rescue Medicine ^[10]
Wilderness Medicine, Beyond First Aid ^[11]

Don’t forget that there are some good eBook references out there. I found First Aid Full Manual ^[12] on Scribd which would be a great place to start looking for more material. If you are out there and come across some other eBook references, please feel free to share it with me and our readers.

During short-term disasters, medical situations are inevitable and they can be complicated. It is imperative that you prepare for them if you want to keep your loved ones and yourself healthy. Considering your family members needs prior to a disaster event will help you be not only prepared but level headed too. When buying medical supplies, keep in mind family members who have preexisting conditions, allergies, or are accident prone. It is within your best interest to ensure that you have any and all necessary medications that require prescriptions before an emergency happens.

For short-term emergencies, you must have a well-stocked medical supply kits for your home and your vehicle ^[13]. Pre-fabricated medical kits are available in stores; however, these kits tend to be overloaded with unneeded items (i.e., 500 band aids). Buying your own medical supplies allows you to customize your kit to fit your family’s unique needs.

Please note that medicines can break down and spoil if they are subject to moisture, temperature fluctuations, or are exposed to a light source. (For example, aspirin has a tendency to break down when it is exposed to a small amount of moisture.) Unless the medicine indicates otherwise, store medical supplies ^[14] in a cool, dark place that is out of children’s reach.

Preps to buy for Week 10:

Medical bag or back pack, tackle kit or container
Medical reference books or eBooks on handling medical crises
Sunscreen
Aloe vera
Insect repellent
Gauze pads in assorted sizes (3×3 and 4×4)
Sterile roller bandages
Antibiotic ointment
Expectorant/Decongestant
Syrup of Ipecac and activated charcoal
2-3 bottles of disinfectant (Betadine, isopropyl alcohol or hydrogen peroxide)
Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes
Adhesive tape or duct tape
Latex gloves
Scissors
Tongue blades
Medicine dropper
Tweezers
Thermometer
Liquid antibacterial hand soap
Disposable hand wipes
Eye care (e.g., contact lens case, cleansing solution, eye moisture drops)

Action Items:

1. Create a first aid kit for the family. Ensure the kit is situated in an accessible location.

2. Take a basic first aid class, if you have not done so already.

3. Purchase a first aid manual

WHAT WE’RE UP TO

In Our Home:

Life came at me hard and fast this week. I have been so busy that I cannot remember everything that I accomplished. I made a batch of Southern buttermilk biscuits and froze them, so on busy mornings, I just have to defrost them and pop them into the oven. The biscuits come out buttery and flaky every time.

Family Preps:

My husband and I are celebrating our anniversary this week, and he showered me with tactical gifts. He presented me with a custom gun holster and a laser sight for my 9 millimeter. Criminals watch out! I am now a high-tech pistol packing mama!

I have started making plans to increase some of my medical skills by enrolling in a local community college. I will start EMT training this Fall. Since I will be taking classes again, I decided to sign up for a gun training course too. Even if we are comfortable with a weapon, we can always use advice from a professional and there is always room for improvement.

Outdoor Activities:

My lasagna compost pile that I started last week is doing well. I aerated the pile a few days ago and added a heap of fresh mowed lawn clippings (green layer) and a new cardboard box (brown layer) layer to the pile. Also, I started some assorted tomato and peppers seeds for some late Summer/early Fall enjoyment.

STATS AND FACTS

I’m three days early, but Happy Independence Day! I have an intense respect for my rights and my freedoms, and I realize that these came at a high price. I appreciate all who have fought and fallen in order for me to live in this amazing Nation. God bless America! Before all of the festivities, sit down and share with your children the story of America’s independence. Make sure they know that our freedom came with a price. Again, Happy Fourth of July!

You all stay safe and practice good firework safety skills.

Kids should never play with fireworks. Things like firecrackers, rockets, and sparklers are just too dangerous. If you give kids sparklers, make sure they keep them outside and away from the face, clothing, and hair. Sparklers can reach 1,800° Fahrenheit (982° Celsius) — hot enough to melt gold.
Buy only legal fireworks (legal fireworks have a label with the manufacturer’s name and directions; illegal ones are unlabeled), and store them in a cool, dry place. Illegal fireworks usually go by the names M-80, M100, blockbuster, or quarterpounder.These explosives were banned in 1966, but still account for many fireworks injuries.
Never try to make your own fireworks.
Always use fireworks outside and have a bucket of water and a hose nearby in case of accidents.
Steer clear of others — fireworks have been known to backfire or shoot off in the wrong direction. Never throw or point fireworks at someone, even in jest.
Don’t hold fireworks in your hand or have any part of your body over them while lighting. Wear some sort of eye protection, and avoid carrying fireworks in your pocket — the friction could set them off.
Point fireworks away from homes, and keep away from brush and leaves and flammable substances. The National Fire Protection Association estimates that local fire departments respond to more 50,000 fires caused by fireworks each year.
Light one firework at a time (not in glass or metal containers), and never relight a dud.
Don’t allow kids to pick up pieces of fireworks after an event. Some may still be ignited and can explode at any time.
Soak all fireworks in a bucket of water before throwing them in the trash can.
Think about your pet. Animals have sensitive ears and can be extremely frightened or stressed on the Fourth of July. Keep pets indoors to reduce the risk that they’ll run loose or get injured.

MEDIA

As busy as I have been, I have not had any new media opportunities, but I do plan on getting some more demonstration videos up for everyone on my YouTube Channel. So, stay tuned! In the meantime, click here ^[16] and you can view some past media opportunities I had the pleasure of doing.

LETTERS TO TESS

One of the perks of my job at Ready Nutrition is to address questions and/or concerns that you may have with your prepping endeavors. Feel free to ask anything that is on your mind because no question is too big or small. You can email questions to: getprepped@readynutrition.com ^[17]

This week’s question addresses Survival Gardening:

Howdy Tess,

I got some basic foodstuffs to start a larder, but I want to start a garden to start putting food away myself. I’m limited on space because I live in the burbs. I’ve seen alot of websites selling open pollinated seeds and think i know which ones to get. Can you give an old man some advice before I start this project?

Thanks, Tony

Answer:

Hi Tony,

There are many different types of gardening techniques designed for small spaces. In fact many people, my family included, have had great success with Square foot Gardening (Mel Bartholomew) and lasagna gardening ^[18]. You could plant companion vegetables together like the Indians did (e.g., three sisters ^[19]). Companion plants keep each other healthy and even protect the more vulnerable plants from insects. If this is your first garden, you may want to consider starting out with the easiest types of vegetables and fruits to grow, such as the following:

Squash/Zucchini
Berries – Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc.
Grapes
Peas/Beans
Kale
Broccoli
Peppers
Pumpkin

Also, most of the items listed above are good candidates for canning. Be sure to consider what native fruits and vegetables that grow naturally in your area. It will be easier and more successful for you if you focus on those. You do not want your gardening to be an unwelcome chore. The best piece of advise that I can give you is to make sure your healthy soil ^[20]. Also, choose nutritious plants that can provide for you and your family during hard times. Most importantly, just get used to gardening. Each gardening season you will increase your gardening skills, and maybe even pick up a few new tricks. (If you do, share them withReady Nutrition. We all benefit from each other.)

Thank you for your question, Tony, and I hope this helps!

Good luck,

Tess