Hurricane Safety

Probably if you are in hurricane range, you already know a thing or two about what to do if a hurricane is imminent.  If you don't live in hurricane range, you might not have any clue what to do and you might be thinking, "So what?"  But the thing is, you never know where you (or loved ones) might live in the future, or what set of emergency circumstances you may be in, and having a handy set of hurricane survival skills for reference just might save your life.  So, why not?

Hurricanes are among the most costly of catastrophes.  If a hurricane approaches, you will need to prepare you and your family both physically and mentally.  Fortunately with hurricanes (unlike, say, earthquakes?), we're given a small window of prep time when we can see what's coming but it isn't here yet.  However, you definitely don't want to put off your preparations until the last minute or you are very likely to be caught without adequate preparation.

1. Prepare Yourself
You'll need to have an emergency disaster kit already prepared, if you don't already.  If you've waited until the last minute, some of these items may be very difficult to find or you may not be able to find them at all.  The best plan is to have your disaster kit already prepared long in advance so you only need to put forth minimal effort to keep it current.  Your emergency disaster kit should include important documents, first aid, food and water, clothes, prescriptions, etc.  See this page for a thorough and descriptive checklist to guide you.  You'll want to keep everything packed for portability - like in backpacks, or a large trash can - in case of evacuation.  Make sure your food and water are rotated frequently as well as clothing for changing sizes and seasons.

2. Prepare Your Home
You can't hold back hurricane winds, but you can take steps to minimize the damage.  Your home stands a greater chance of resisting damage if it has a sturdy build that follows up-to-date codes for strength in natural disasters.  Doors, garages, and windows can be boarded to prevent wind damage, but again, don't wait until the last minute unless you want to stand in long lines at the store for wood.  Trees and bushes can be trimmed.  Sandbags can be placed around your home to prevent water damage.  Of course, even with the best preparations sometimes the damage is extensive.  Insurance can be purchased long in advance to help cover costs of damages.  Take a look inside and around your home for irreplaceable items and make plans to move them or keep them safe.  Anchor what you can.  In any case, it would be wise to prepare yourself mentally for the worst outcome but continue to hope for the best.  Devastating circumstances can often be made more bearable if we can look around us with a sense of gratitude and count what blessings are still ours.  This is always easier said than done in the face of an emergency, but one can start with being grateful to be alive and breathing.

3. Make Your Plan
Do you stay or go?  Emergency reports will let you know if you are in a flood zone or storm surge zone.  If so, GO!  Same if you are in a mobile or very old home.  And don't wait until the end (traffic will be BAD).  Unplug all appliances, shut off the main water, and electricity to your home.  If indicated by emergency officials, shut off your main gas valve.  Find a friend or family member you can stay with out of the hurricane's reach, or book a hotel.  Plan for your pets as well.  If you make the choice to stay in your home, the safest areas will be in the interior, away from large windows.  Keep a radio and your disaster kit on hand.  Move valuables and documents to your home's highest level.  Keep doors and windows shut throughout the hurricane.  Turn your fridge and freezer to their coldest settings so food will stay good longer.  Prepare a plan for evacuation, just in case.  Whether you are staying or going, make sure you have an emergency contact outside the storm's reach who you can notify what your plans are.

Long-term Food Storage Guidelines

Hopefully you already have a 72-hour supply of emergency food you can grab and take with you at a moment's notice.  But it's also a wise idea to keep an ample supply of long-term food and water on hand for your family in case of extended emergencies.  First, you need to be aware of and follow several guidelines.  Don't get yourself in such a food-storing frenzy that you do it incorrectly and waste your efforts.  If stored improperly, food can quickly spoil or make you very sick.

• Store foods you like that you use often.  Being familiar with the foods you store will help you use them better and are more likely to be eaten by your family.  Plus if you use them regularly, they will be easy to rotate so your stored food won't spoil.  Label all foods with a purchase date so you can see how old they are in the future.  Place newer items behind older ones on home shelves and make it a habit of practicing the "first in = first out" rule so that you continually use older items first.  (As a personal note, my husband just recently built us some new storage shelves at a slight angle so that canned goods automatically roll into place.  New cans are placed at the back and cans for current use are taken from the front so the whole group continually rotates the older forward.  It is a simple yet incredibly handy adjustment you can make to some of your own storage shelves for easy rotation.)  Foods have the best taste and nutrition if you follow the "best if used by" date; however, food can still be useful and sustaining even after that.
• Foods recommended to be rotated every 6 months:
• Powdered Milk in boxes
• Potatoes
• Dried fruits (in metal containers)
• Dry crackers (in metal containers)
• Water from home storage containers
• Foods recommended to be rotated every year (though personally, I've eaten several of these things beyond a year and they were just fine):
• Peanut Butter
• Jams and Jellies
• Canned Fruits, Vegetables, and Juices
• Canned Condensed Soups
• Cereals or Instant Oatmeal
• Canned Nuts
• Candy
• Vitamin C
• Home-canned food
• Commercially Prepared Water
• Foods that last "indefinitely" with proper storage and good storage conditions:
• Salt
• Baking Powder
• Bouillon 
• Vegetable Oils
• Wheat
• White Rice
• Soybeans
• Dried Corn
• Dried Pasta
• Powdered Milk in nitrogen-packed cans
• Honey

• Many milled grains (flour, cereal, cornmeal, etc.) or foods high in natural oils (nuts, seeds, brown rice, etc.) deteriorate faster than other foods, though I have yet to find a source that says exactly how much.  If you choose to store them (like I have), make sure you rotate them often to make use of the full nutritional benefit.  Other foods that should be rotated frequently include canned foods with a high acid content

• Some emergency supply places offer great options for long shelf-life foods.  Many companies offer dehydrated or freeze dried foods that can last for up to 25 years.  Some offer quick and nutritious meals that only need water to be ready to eat (you'll want to store extra water in that case).  However, if you are unfamiliar with the food or unlikely to actually put it to use, look into other options.  Grocery stores that offer bulk foods is a great option.  When stored correctly, items like oats, pinto beans, and sugar can have a shelf-life over 30 years. 

• The best foods are ones that don't require refrigeration, cooking, or special preparation.  Look for nutrient-rich foods with high calories to keep your body systems energized.  Stay away from foods that are very salty (they'll make you thirsty), and look for foods high in water content.  And don't forget to store vitamins!

• Good containers for storing foods include foil laminate/mylar pouches made of polyethylene terephthalate (non-toxic, food-grade plastic that helps keep out oxygen and moisture), glass jars with tight, screw-on lids (of course cleaned and sterilized before using), or plastic food containers with the letters "PET" or "PETE" next to the recycle symbol at the bottom (made of the same plastic in laminate pouches).  All containers should be cleaned and sterilized and have an air-tight seal.  Avoid paper or foam lid seals and instead opt for plastic.  Foods in boxes or bags that can go stale can also be doubled wrapped and sealed tightly in plastic containers to keep them fresher longer.

• Keep foods in a cool (40-70 degrees), dark area away from pipes or appliances that create heat or moisture.  Moisture, oxygen, and heat will spoil foods quickly.  A storage room in your basement would be great, or under the stairs, in a closet, or even under your bed!  Be creative if you need to.

• Once you've got your 72-hour food supply ready, build up to a 3-week, then 3-month, then even longer supply for your family.  This could mean half of the day's typical calories per family member for rationing (though better would be to plan for the full day's normal calories, just so you are prepared), plus 1 gallon of water per person per day (more according to individual circumstances, and don't forget bleach for purifying).  If your means are limited, start by buying one or two extra items every time you shop, like an extra bag of beans or can of fruit.  For reference, the minimum recommended amounts of food for one adult for one year are:
• 300 lbs. grains (wheat, pasta, rice, oats, etc.)
• 74 lbs. dairy (powdered milk, evaporated milk, freeze-dried cheese, etc.)
• 60 lbs. legumes (beans, peas, lentils, etc.)
• 60 lbs. sugars (honey, brown sugar, white sugar, jam, drink mixes, etc.)
• 13 lbs. oils (vegetable oil, olive oil, coconut oil, peanut butter, etc.)
• Baking essentials (baking powder, baking soda, yeast, salt, vinegar, etc.)

• Oxygen absorbers can be purchased at many emergency supply stores.  When added to food storage, they will extend the shelf-life of your food by eliminating oxygen (a food spoiler) in the closed container.  Super handy to have.

Another great way to build up an emergency food supply is to grow a garden!  Not only that, but it is a very satisfying skill to obtain.  By growing a home garden you can take advantage of the abundance of a fall harvest to boost your stores.  An old saying goes, "Eat what you can, and can what you can't!"  Canning is a great way to store food for a later use, or even just during the winter when harvests have passed.  Canning has many of its own guidelines, however, so make sure you talk with someone with experience or seek a dependable resource (many cities have them for free).

In general, humans can survive for quite a while on limited food rations.  Water...not so much.  Of course, children, the elderly, ill, or pregnant women have different nutritious needs that need to be considered.  The best advice is to reduce your activity as much as possible, try to maintain an even body temperature, and stay hydrated.

How to Control Bleeding

Photo by quinn.anya

A bleeding wound is no joke.  Depending on the severity, it can leave its victim in shock or even dead.   Before a wound can mend and heal, the blood must stop flowing so it can clot.  Knowing how to stop severe bleeding while waiting for help to arrive could greatly increase a bleeding victim's chances of survival.

Here are some general rules to stop major bleeding:

1. If time and circumstances allow, wash and sanitize before helping a bleeding victim to prevent spreading infection.  Wear gloves if they are available and take precautions to prevent the spread of HIV including covering any open wounds you may have and putting on protective clothing for your face and body.
2. Apply direct pressure to the wound.  For mild wounds, this may take as little as 2-5 minutes, or 20+ minutes for serious wounds.  Sterile gauze is perfect to use if you have it on hand, or terry cloth.  If not, look for a clean towel, rag, clothes, or any material you can fold and cover the wound with.  Small foreign objects within the wound may quickly be removed, but a large object within the wound should be left in case it is stopping some of the blood flow.  Your immediate need is to stop the blood, so just bandage around it.  Don't start out too thick (because it could interfere with good pressure), and once the cloth is on, don't take it off.  This could reopen the wound and undo any clotting that began.  If your material becomes soaked with blood, add another layer on top.  Keep your pressure constant.    
3. Along with applying pressure directly to the wound, you can also apply pressure to specific pressure points where arteries are close to the surface to help slow the flow of blood.  These pressure points should be found between the wound and the heart.  Common pressure points are found in the middle of the upper arm (brachial artery), the back of the knee (popliteal artery), and the groin area where the thigh meets the pelvis (femoral artery).  Be sure to apply pressure nearer the heart rather than the wound.
4. Raise the wound above the level of the heart.  It is easier for blood to flow down rather than up against gravity, so raising the wound will help slow the flow.  Continue to apply direct pressure.

Applying a tourniquet should only be used as a last resort when someone is willing to lose a limb to save their life.  Limbs are often lost with tourniquets because the blood flow is so completely restricted. Use with caution.

For minor bleeding, direct pressure is still important.  Other ideas that have been "reported" to stop minor cuts from bleeding (like when you nick yourself shaving) are ice, hot water, salt water (sting!), lip balm, flour, cornstarch, deodorant, witch hazel, sugar, white vinegar, a tea bag, duct tape, and spider webs (really?), though I've tested very few of them myself (ice and cornstarch work) and can't verify the truth of the others.  Yarrow is supposed to be great for healing and a natural remedy with antiseptic properties.  Crush cleaned yarrow leaves and hold to the wound to stop bleeding.

How to Prevent Frostbite

It's a post that makes me cold just writing it.

I fully intended to post a picture of real frostbite so you could get an idea of what it is like, but it is truly gruesome.  The blackened fingers and yellow-gray blistery skin made me feel ill just looking at it.  If you really want to see it, there are countless photo references to be found on the web, or you can just take my word that it is horrible and follow the tips below to avoid it.

Frostbite is tissue damage as a result of your skin freezing.  It starts first in the extremities (fingers, toes, nose, ears) where heat has a harder time reaching but can move deeper with increased exposure.  Frostbite begins as frostnip, then progresses as superficial frostbite, then deep frostbite.  Here are some tips to avoid getting frostbite:

1. Dress for the weather.  This may seem an obvious tip, but it is for that reason that it is easily neglected.  Don't underestimate the weather.  Make sure your head is covered since a large portion of your body's heat is lost through the head.  Make sure you have well-insulated clothes against wind and rain and pick fabrics that will insulate you even when wet (wool = yes, cotton = no!), but try to stay dry anyway.  Dress in several thin layers but make sure your layers aren't too tight because this could restrict circulation.  Mittens rather than gloves allow your fingers to benefit from the warmth of nearby fingers.  You can also use body warmers to counteract the cold.  Keep all your body warm to aid the extremities.
2. When participating in outdoor activities in freezing weather, monitor your energy levels.  Don't exhaust yourself because that could affect your ability to detect and fight the frostbite.  Stay well-fed and well-watered.  Eat small servings of simple carbohydrates frequently to keep up your energy and heat supply.  And as in almost anything else, dehydration will only interfere with your body's efficiency and speed the frostbite.
3. Numbness is one of the early signs of frostbite.  Rubbing before frostbite has set in helps to warm your body by creating friction and increasing circulation.  Keep moving to keep blood flowing.  Be wary of patches of white, very cold skin (frostnip) because it could very quickly become frostbite.  Tuck cold toes and fingers inside your clothes next to warm skin to help their temperature return to normal.  Don't rub body parts that have frostbite already or subject them to high heat because that could make the damage worse.
4. Avoid drinking alcohol.  This not only impairs your judgement, but also dehydrates you.  Caffeine and nicotine are also no-no's because they constrict blood vessels and impair circulation.

Learning Morse Code

You might be thinking to yourself, "Why would I ever need to learn morse code?  No one ever uses it anymore."  Not so.  Morse code is very popular to and well-used by amateur radio operators all over the world.  It is used frequently in radio aircraft navigation.  Many special forces in the military are trained in morse code.  U.S. Navy ships use signal lamps to send the code.  Many pilots and air traffic controllers are fluent, or at least have a basic understanding.  Morse code is a means of emergency communication that uses less power and cuts through more interference than almost any other means.  It is simple, highly versatile, and internationally recognized.  It can be communicated visually or audibly by using simple objects like flashlights, mirrors, smoke, or whistles.   By practicing for only a few minutes every day, you can soon develop an invaluable emergency skill that could save your life.

International Morse Code:
   
          A: . _                                                    T: _
          B: _ . . .                                              U: . . _
          C: _ . _ .                                          V: . . . _ 
          D: _ . .                                               W: . _ _
          E: .                                                         X: _ . . _
          F: . . _ .                                             Y: _ . _ _
          G: _ _ .                                               Z: _ _ . .
          H: . . . .                                          
          I: . .                                                     
          J: . _ _ _                                           1: . _ _ _ _
          K: _ . _                                                2: . . _ _ _
          L: . _ . .                                             3: . . . _ _
          M: _ _                                                   4: . . . . _
          N: _ .                                                    5: . . . . .
          O: _ _ _                                              6: _ . . . .
          P: . _ _ .                                            7: _ _ . . .
          Q: _ _ . _                        8: _ _ _ . .
          R: . _ .                                                 9: _ _ _ _ .
          S: . . .                                                   0: _ _ _ _ _
       
The most common letters in English are represented by the shortest codes, making coding more efficient.  Technically speaking, each dot is 1/3 the length of one dash, and every space between letters is a dash.  Every space between words should be the length of about 7 dots.  It all seems confusing at first.  Just start out by familiarizing yourself, learning the letters, practicing a little at a time.  As you slowly become more competent learn to be more accurate with your spacing.  Accuracy will make your code easier to translate.

Other ideas for learning:

• German psychologist Ludwig Koch developed a method of learning morse code by listening at regular speed but beginning with only two letters.  After listening and decoding for 5 minutes, compare your results with the true ones.  If you were 90% correct, add another letter!  Continue building on your knowledge letter by letter.  This will not only help you hear the codes and decipher them in your head, but it will be faster and more accurate than most other methods.  Go to this page to begin practicing.
• Practice coding simple words by writing them down and sounding them out loud with "dih" for the dots and "dah" for the dashes.  Once you can code words by just sounding them out (without writing them down) move to books or paragraphs.
• Memorize letters with easy patterns first.  One dash is "T"; one dot is "E."  Two dashes is "M"; two dots is "I."
• Many morse code mnemonics have been designed visually and verbally to make remembering morse code easier.  However, some experts strongly discourage using them and suggest instead a stronger focus on listening.
• Here is a page with a special chart you can print so you can practice listening to the "dits" and "dahs" of morse code and hone your coding/decoding skills. 
• Find words that rise and fall with the patterns in morse.  Make the dots represent a rise in inflection and the dashes represent a fall in inflection.  For example, "P" could be "Pho-to-graph-y" with a rise on the first and last syllable, just like the morse code: . _ _ .
• Find a famous line of music that correlates with a letter's morse pattern to help you remember tricky letters.  The famous measure in Beethoven's 5th Symphony could be changed to "di-di-di-dah" which translates to the letter "V," which is also the roman numeral that equals 5.  Finding associations like this are extremely useful at boosting your memory.
• Practice with a friend.  Find someone who can learn with you so you can practice sending and receiving messages.  It makes it more fun and gives you practical experience.

How to Avoid Being Struck by Lightning

Lightning is a natural release of atmospheric energy.  It may discharge between clouds with different charges or it may look for the path of least resistance between the clouds and the earth.  Air is a poor conductor of lightning, but trees and buildings and other objects (like people) conduct the electricity well and help make the lightning's pathway easier.  It may strike one object or flow through several nearby objects to help its conductivity, so be aware of what is around you.  Lightning is a rather unpredictable phenomenon, and no precaution you take can guarantee you will be safe, but at least you increase your chances.

• If caught in a thunderstorm outside, avoid mountain peaks and ridges, tall cliffs, water-filled ravines, beaches and waterlines, boating, swimming, flat fields, parking lots, wide open areas with lone trees, or standing under trees.  And don't just find an overhang to shelter under thinking it will protect you; lightning can get there too.  Find a ditch to crouch in instead.
• Take off anything metal you may be wearing.  If you have any metal tools or equipment (including umbrellas!), leave them 50 feet away from your camp or location.
• Wet rope should also be kept at least 50 feet away.  Don't fly kites.
• Stay in a squatting position (not laying down) with your arms wrapped around your body to protect your brain and vital organs from being shocked.  Squat on rubber or plastic material (rubber-soled shoes, a poncho, or a sleeping mat work well).  At the very least, you should try to touch as little of the ground as possible.
• If in your car, stay in your car.  The rubber tires are a good buffer between you and the ground, and the metal shell of the car will conduct electricity better than you.  Avoid touching anything metal inside the car.
• If in your home, avoid electrical appliances, home phones, and water faucets, or anything with copper pipes or wiring.  Copper is an excellent conductor of electricity; that is the most likely path lightning will take if it strikes your home.  Don't shower or bathe during a lightning storm.

When is it safe to resume regular outdoor activities again?  The National Lightning Safety Institute suggests waiting 30 minutes after you see the last lightning strike or hear thunder.  If you hear thunder but don't see lightning, you may still be in strike range.

How to Treat a Bee Sting

The sting from one of these tiny insects is painful and even possibly fatal.  If you are stung, follow these steps quickly to reduce your body's reaction:

1. Get to a safe area quickly.  When bees feel threatened, they release a scent that attracts other bees to come help.  You should also be aware that hornets, yellow jackets, and wasps produce similar reactions to their stings but their stingers don't come out like bees, and they can sting many times.  Avoid multiple stings if possible.
2. Get the stinger out as quickly as possible.  Scrape it off, pull it out, or brush it away.  The longer it sits in your skin, the stronger your reaction will be to the bee's venom.  Some sources say you should avoid squeezing the stinger since it can release more venom, but others say to use whatever method you need to get it out as fast as you can.
3. Elevate an arm or leg that has been stung.  Remove any nearby jewelry (rings, bracelets, etc.).  Pad the affected area with a towel and cool with an ice pack to slow the venom's spread and numb the area.  
4. Itching at the sting site can be treated with an antihistamine, calamine lotion with an analgesic, hydrocortisone cream, or even toothpaste.  You can also create a soothing paste for your sting using baking soda and water.  If you have meat tenderizer, you can add some to your paste to help break down toxins in the sting.  Reapply any of the previous treatments if symptoms return.
5. Pain relievers can be used for lingering pain.
6. The area may take several days to heal so you should keep it clean to prevent infection.  Wash the area with soap and water.

Some people may have a severe allergic reaction to bee stings called anaphylaxis.  Anaphylaxis can occur when an affected person has contact with various allergens: latex, pollen, animal fur, nuts, bee stings, etc.  The outcome may be fatal, so if you suspect anaphylaxis you should call for emergency help immediately.  Look for:

• Redness, itching, or hives that spread beyond the sting
• Dry mouth or itchy throat
• Hoarseness or difficulty speaking

And especially look for:

• Difficulty breathing, swallowing, or tightness in the throat
• Swollen face, mouth, or tongue
• Dizziness or rapid drop in blood pressure
• Feeling weak
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Quickened pulse
• Unconsciousness

If the allergy is previously known and you have an EpiPen, use it!  This could save your life.  An antihistamine could also slow the reaction but ultimately will not stop anaphylaxis.

You should also seek medical help if you are stung more than 10 times, or have stings inside your mouth, throat, or nose.  Swellings from these stings may block your breathing and be deadly even in people who are not allergic.