Encouraging, Empowering and Enriching Your Journey
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Reasons To Stockpile Iodine
Bathing With Limited Resources
DIY Hygiene Kit for Your Bug Out Bag
Post Disaster Body Care and Hygiene October 2014
Letter from the Editor When we discussed the theme of “Hygiene when the Grid goes Down” we knew that there were some general topics that everyone would need. We really were pleasantly surprised as our team of Core contributing writers and new members of the PREPARE Magazine’s Author base contributed such a variety! We know they cover a lot of bases with each article and our hope is that this will spur YOU on to look into this topic more deeply for your own personal needs. The thought of Bathing with Limited Resources may be foreign to some people, but it is a good place to begin if we were to face the mass loss municipal of plumbing. Maintaining Hygiene when the Power is Out is vital to more than just our physical health but our overall well being too. So when faced with a situation such as Post Disaster Body Care and Hygiene if we’ve learned and practiced some of what may seem like menial tasks of personal care then we won’t miss a beat and be able to focus on other matters at hand for long term survival. An item often overlooked for general hygiene is iodine. In this issue, one of our new authors gives you 4 Reasons to Stockpile Iodine that you may have never considered before. And if you’re heading out of ‘Dodge’ because of the grid going down, power outage or simply the need to vacate then learning proper Wound Care in the Wilderness and a DIY Hygiene Kit for your Bug Out Bag will come in handy. After all, you take your grime with you sometimes, right? “The Day of the Dead” is quite a different than having to deal with bodies after a disaster. One might think hygiene comes into play greatly when there are mass casualties. That is why one of our Core Contributors offers Tips to Managing “The Dead” During Disasters. It is not offered to pay any morbid homage to either holiday that comes around this time of year, but rather as a practical guide to speak some sense into what may be a panicked situation for any of us who would have to face it. In antithesis of the prior paragraph, the Pastor’s Perspective: Spiritual Survival can help shed light on a Greater Purpose to being prepared. And bonding in local Community Connections is a vital part of growing more prepared. Help others prepare. Hygiene is often overlooked and because it is The Forgotten Basic Need. Learning to cope with it in a ‘less than ideal’ environment may be too daunting of a task. That’s why what our authors share now is so helpful. You’re not in that situation yet! Hopefully you’ll never be – but if you are, we hope you’ll remember what you read in PREPARE Magazine!
Donna L. Miller Managing Editor of PREPARE Magazine http://www.PREPAREMag.com
Table of Contents PREPARE Magazine www.preparemag.com Publishing Mainline Marketing Group, LLC Advertising 828-484-4777 advertising@preparemag.com Subscriptions www.preparemag.com/subscribe subscription@preparemag.com Support Services www.preparemag.com/support support@preparemag.com Community Connections contributors@preparemag.com Chief Vision Officer Joseph Miller Managing Editor Donna Miller
1 - Letter from the Editor 2 - DIY Hygiene Kit for Your Bug Out Bag 3 - Bathing With Limited Resources 4 - Wound Care in the Wilderness 5 - 4 Reasons To Stockpile Iodine 6 - Post Disaster Body Care and Hygiene 7 - Maintaining Hygiene When the Power is Out 8 - The Forgotten Basic Need 9 - Tips to Managing “The Dead� During Disasters 10 - BOOK REVIEW The End Times Christian 11 - Pastor's Perspective -Spiritual Survival
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DIY Hygiene Kit for Your Bug Out Bag By Jim Cobb, Survival Weekly Maintaining any realistic semblance of cleanliness while bugging out is, while laudable, not all that feasible. However, given that cleanliness leads to better overall health, it makes sense to assemble a small stash of supplies to be used while on the move. Plus, being able to clean up at least a little bit will do wonders for your morale. So, what should go into your bug out hygiene kit? Well, we want to keep the kit small and light. You probably already have a bunch of stuff in your bug out bag and likely don’t have a lot of spare room. Further to the point, every ounce counts when you’re carrying it on your back. A small bar of soap, such as you’d find in hotel rooms the world over, and a couple of towels are a great start to the hygiene kit. Some folks like to use washcloths but I prefer dishtowels. They don’t take up much more space and you’ll appreciate the larger size. As an alternative, there are special camp towels that are sold in a sort of shrunken down size and that expand in water. You can find these in most sporting goods stores in the camping section. Next on the list is tooth care. While we might not be overly concerned about fresh breath when bugging out, I’m here to tell you that tooth problems can be absolutely debilitating in even the best of times. A travel toothbrush and small tube of toothpaste don’t take up much space at all. Toss in several toothpicks or dental flossers, too. If you end up with a piece of granola stuck between your teeth, it’ll drive you nuts until you’re able to work it out. A small bottle of hand sanitizer serves double duty. First, use it every time you have to stop for a potty break. This will help prevent the possibility of stomach ailments later. Second, it works great as a fire starter, due to the high alcohol content. Just squeeze a bit out and light it with a match or spark. A cheap plastic comb can be very helpful when searching your hair for ticks and other bugs. Yeah, I
know, that sounds like loads of fun, right? But, little hitchhikers like those are almost guaranteed if you’re spending much time at all in the woods. Last, but certainly not least, is a supply of toilet paper. You have three basic options on this front. You can buy special TP that is made for camping. A bit pricier than your normal stuff but it comes in a small package so there’s no work involved. Your second option is to grab a roll of toilet paper from the bathroom, gently pull out the cardboard tube, and crush the roll flat for easier packing. The final option is to use baby wipes in place of standard toilet paper. This is a great choice as you can use the wipes for general cleaning, too. You can buy small, travel size packages at the dollar store and other retailers. All of these items can fit into a quart size Ziploc bag, with the possible exception of the toilet paper or baby wipes, and tossed into your bug out bag. You’ll hardly notice the weight. You will, however, appreciate having the foresight to have it in your bag should you be hitting the trail at a moment’s notice.
Bathing with Limited Resources By: Ken Youngquist - Survivaltek
Hygiene can be a critical issue whether here at home or abroad, especially during long term situations where a lack or absence of basic utilities exists, perhaps due to a catastrophic event. Here in the U.S. we have been blessed with an infrastructure that serves us well in urban areas. However, if we venture into rustic areas it takes some know-how to maintain the level of personal hygiene to which we have become accustomed. You may be familiar with the terms “Navy Shower”, “Sponge Bath” or “Stitz Bath”. These are methods of bathing where minimal water is used due to limited resources or facilities. Areas on your body that require cleansing are first wet or moistened to loosen
dirt or accumulated perspiration. This loosens and dilutes dry material and enables soap to be effective when lathered and subsequently rinsed or wiped off. Although limited in quantity, hand wipes or baby wipes can be useful in the short term. Over the years folks have shared with me their experiences, often while visiting third-world countries. Here are a few examples. One person mentioned that during a trip to Ghana they lived in conditions that provided only 1 hour of electricity a day with no running water. The living conditions there were sparse by our standards here but it was “life as usual” to the locals. Their bathing
solution was to use a 2 liter bottle of water for their shower. Depending on your size and level of cleanliness, it may require one to two bottles to accomplish the pre-soak and rinse. Another person lived through the 1995 Kobe earthquake in Japan. Their apartment was destroyed and had no power or water. They were able to salvage some cans of oolong tea from their apartment which they used to sponge-bathe. Later they were told by a professor of chemistry that tea binds with fats and oils and effectively washes them away to which they heartily agreed. Yet, another person shared that one winter they ran out of propane at their house in the country (so their water heater wouldn’t work and they only had cold water). They had to heat the house from their fireplace and with that fire they used a pan to heat water up to about 95-105 degrees, and then poured it through a funnel into an empty dishwashing soap bottle. That gave them an open/close capability as well as a rinsing squirt like a shower. For those who travel abroad, it becomes apparent that bathing and hygiene standards vary greatly and are largely a cultural phenomenon. American Industries have effectively promoted their products and have helped to create a fragrant society. European countries lean toward a more humanistic natural presence. Third World countries may be even more relaxed. Some considerations about frequency of bathing would relate to whether you are solitary or live in the company of others, and whether your environment is healthy or hazardous. In the end, there are options for bathing in order to maintain a healthy state and a more friendly atmosphere in shared quarters.
Wound Care in the Wilderness By Joe Alton, M.D. (aka: Dr. Bones), http://www.DoomandBloom.net what type of debris you might find in the wound and the likelihood of infection (always assume a wound is dirty initially). Other questions to ask are whether the victim has chronic medical problems, like diabetes, and whether they are allergic to any medications. You might be surprised to find that (even close) friends may have not imparted this history to you in all the time that you’ve known them.
During a wilderness outing, it stands to reason that you won’t have ready access to modern medical care. As such, it makes sense to have some idea of how to deal with the occasional wound that might occur. This is a skill set that few rugged outdoorsmen bother to learn; even though you might have extensive experience in bushcraft, it is essential to know basic first aid and have some medical supplies in your pack. Although your basic goal is to stabilize your victim and transport to the nearest emergency facility, there might be circumstances where you will have to administer wound care for a period of time. This issue, we’ll talk about the appropriate way to care for certain injuries when you are, temporarily, the end of the line with regards to your patient’s well-being. Millions of people present to U.S. emergency rooms with an acute injury every year. The typical patient in wilderness settings would be a healthy young adult male who sustains a laceration in either the arm, leg or head and neck. This is a fortunate statistic, in that this person has a strong immune system, no chronic ailments, and is well-nourished. Despite this, the best outcomes will occur with rapid action from an individual with some medical knowledge. Let’s share some of that knowledge today. Each wound is different and must be evaluated separately. If not present at the time the wound is incurred, begin by asking the simple question, “What happened?” A look around at the site of the accident will give you an idea of
The physical examination of a wound requires the following assessment: Location on the body, length, depth, and the type of tissue involved. Circulation and Nerve involvement must also be evaluated. If an extremity, have the patient show you a full range of motion during your examination. This is especially important if the injury involves a joint. Don’t forget the rest of the patient also: Are they breathing normally, are they mentally alert, and are there other injuries? A little knowledge of anatomy will help you understand the nature of the wound and what should be done to care for it. The skin is comprised of two layers: The (superficial) epidermis and the (deep) dermis. If the injury goes down to but doesn’t breach the dermis, it is called an "abrasion". If it breaches the dermis, we refer to it as a "laceration" and it is more serious. In cases where a flap of tissue has been traumatically removed, it is known as an "avulsion". In most areas of the body, you will find a layer of fat below the dermis; below that, there's muscle and connective tissue (also known as "fascia") and, finally, bone.
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Your skin is, essentially, a suit of armor. Whenever the skin is entered, infection can easily follow. A wound that extends more deeply will require a close look to see what layers have been damaged. Fat will appear globular and yellow, and muscle will appear a dark red (think steak). Connective tissue is usually grayish white. Once below the level of the skin, larger blood vessels and nerves may be involved. Assess circulation, sensation, and the ability to move the injured area. You will notice more problems with vessel and nerve damage in deep lacerations and crush injuries. For an extremity injury, evaluate what we call the Capillary Refill Time to test for circulation. To do this, press the nail bed or finger/toe pad; in a person with normal circulation, this area will
turn white when you release pressure and then return to a normal color within 2 seconds. If it takes longer or the fingertips are blue, you may have a person who has damaged a blood vessel. If motor function or sensation is decreased (test by lightly pricking with a safety pin beyond the level of the wound), there may be nerve damage. These are signals that your patient will require acute care as soon as possible. We will be discussing how to deal with a hemorrhagic wound in a future issue, so let’s assume there isn’t much bleeding for now. In order to fully assess a wound and prevent infection, it is important to clean the wound area thoroughly. Inflammation, infection, or residual debris may delay (or even prevent) adequate healing. Antiseptic solutions such as betadine (povidone-iodine) solution may be helpful if very dilute, but studies have shown that drinkable (sterilized) water is just as good or better. Hydrogen Peroxide has been put forth as an option, but is traumatic to deep tissues and may impede the healing process. This is especially true when cleaning a burn injury. Remember, if the irrigation solution is not sterilized, you can easily introduce bacteria, even into a clean wound. It's also important to know that your hands can be a source of contamination, so have some nitrile gloves in your kit. Nitrile is non-latex, so won't cause allergic reactions. It is important to apply pressure to the water when cleaning the wound. This is referred to as “irrigation”. Using a 60cc syringe to achieve this pressure will cause bacteria that is adherent to the tissues to dislodge. All wound surfaces should be irrigated; pull the wound edges open if necessary to reach the deepest layers. Repeat this procedure and re-examine for remaining debris until clean. If no syringe is available, apply a wet, clean compress using gauze or cloth. The soaking will help rehydrate the wound and improve healing. Many recommend a plastic bag with holes in it to irrigate a wound, but it is likely that you will not achieve an appropriate pressure (say, 12 PSI) using this method. Debris is both a focal point for infection and may contain toxins that further damage the tissues. A contaminated injury that is not completely cleaned is dangerous to close. Take the example of the young woman in Georgia that was injured in a zipline accident: Her wound was closed with 22 staples and an infection developed in the deep tissues that eventually cost her a leg. The time period from injury to wound evaluation is important if you have the skill to close a wound. 6-8 hours is considered appropriate for laceration repair, a little longer for the face and scalp. However, lean towards keeping the wound open, especially if you can
get your patient to a modern medical facility. Healing occurs in most cases of open wounds as long as the wound is kept moist and clean. This type of healing is known as “granulation” or “second intention”. Once you have cleaned and irrigated the wound, apply a moist, clean dressing to the tissues directly injured and cover with a dry dressing and tape. This is known as a “wet-to-dry” dressing. A moist healing environment will help prevent cell dehydration and death and promote the development of better circulation in the wound. Moisture also reduces pain and leads to a better cosmetic result. Compression dressings such as the Israeli Battle Dressing are useful for bleeding wounds, but unnecessary for wounds that are "hemostatic" (dry). Triple antibiotic may be useful on the skin edges and is thought by many to promote skin healing. Dressing changes should be done at least daily until you are able to access professional care. Each time a dressing is changed, note the status of the tissues. Infection can often be seen on the skin edges in the form of redness, swelling, and heat. This is known as “cellulitis” and must be considered a risk for spread of infection to the entire body (“sepsis”). The presence of pus in the wound is another sign that trouble is ahead. Infections rates differ depending on the part of the body affected; scalp wounds get infected only 2% of the time, while thigh/leg injuries get into trouble in more than 20% of cases. Regardless, treat every wound as if you are dealing with a potential problem. Many of these injuries may be candidates for antibiotic therapy. Based on how contaminated the wound is, the decision to use antibiotics should be made early, usually within 3-6 hours after the injury was incurred. The deeper the injury, the more you should lean towards starting therapy. Wounds that are most likely to be infected are animal bites or those lacerations
contaminated with feces, saliva, or other bodily secretions. If you intend to be out in the wilderness for a period of time, make sure that you include some antibiotics in your medical supplies. Speaking of medical supplies, what are some medical supplies that a wilderness traveler should carry? Here are some suggestions for the minimum you should have: •
Dressings (roller gauze, sterile gauze, triangular bandages, Combine pads, eye pads, Israeli battle dressings)
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Non-adherent dressings (Telfa pads for burns, Moleskin for blisters)
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Antiseptic solution/wipes (alcohol, BZK, Betadine)
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Sterilizing tablets or other ways to sterilize water
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60cc or 100cc irrigation syringe
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Nitrile gloves
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Triple antibiotic ointment
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Ibuprofen (Advil) or Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and other OTC meds
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EMT shears (bandage scissors) – to cut clothes away from the injured area
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Adhesive Bandages (Band-Aids or, alternatively, Second Skin)
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Sunblock
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Tape (Duct tape will do in a pinch)
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Solar blanket
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Light source
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Antibiotics
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Splint material (SAM and other splints come in a 36 inch roll you can cut to fit your needs)
Knowing how to deal with wounds in any survival setting (and having the supplies to match) will give you the best chance to make sure that bump in the road doesn't become the END of the road.
4 Reasons To Stockpile Iodine for Survival By Karen Lynn, Lil’ Suburban Homestead
We have just started stockpiling iodine for survival at our Lil’ Suburban Homestead which iodine has a lot of uses that are not readily known to just everyone. Currently we are stockpiling the liquid iodine found in pharmacies but there are also uses for iodine in other forms. Here’s the thing when we are faced with an emergency situation we are going to want clean water, and if we have to do any surgical procedures at all we are going to need sanitary conditions. Iodine can provide both of those requirements for us if it comes down to the fact that we don’t have access to our everyday first aid essentials. Some questions before we get started…do you know how crucial iodine is to your body? I sure didn’t and maybe if I had known more about ways to protect my thyroid I might not have ended up with thyroid cancer. Did you know you can use iodine an inexpensive solution or tablets readily available for many medical and nonmedical uses in an emergency situation or even every day now!
1.- Water Purification
Iodine is poisonous so caution and following directions from an accurate source is extremely important. I am going to share with you a website that outlines exactly how to purify your water using iodine. The advantage of having safe drinking water is huge and it will protect you and your family’s health and may ensure your safety over LINKS the long term in a survival situation. Unsanitary water conditions can cause sickness or even fatalities it is worth knowing every possible way you can know to sanitize your drinking water. (Mississippi State University/http://msucares.com/ disaster/emergency_water.html)
2.- First Aid/Medical Iodine is a great sanitizer and effective against all bacteria interestingly it’s not all that much talked about and yet before a major surgery most people have to scrub their bodies with an iodine based soap that’s the best advertising ever to explain how important iodine is in keeping bacteria at bay. Then once patients are in surgery they are often painted with iodine again and in addition to this iodine is often used for wound dressing.
Emergencies will happen even in a survival or pandemic situation and probably more likely to occur because more people will be foraging and hunting for food and protecting their food source as well.
3.- Sanitation/Cleaning In a survival emergency cleanliness and good hygiene is everything and yet surface clean is not good enough you really need to know you are killing bacteria and iodine is effective at removing all the bacteria even though it’s not our first choice today to do our household cleaning with. It should be a part of your preparedness arsenal and it’s relatively inexpensive and easy to stockpile. This could be especially useful if you have to keep your dishes clean or any area clean that could be susceptible to more bacteria and germs.
4.- Supplement For Good Health Iodine supplements provide support for good thyroid health and also support a healthy metabolism. Meeting your body’s need for iodine is not only a crucial part of staying health but it is getting more and more difficult in today’s world with all of the fast food and chemicals in
our diets. To find out more about adding iodine to your diet seek help from your medical professional as not everyone needs to supplement their bodies with more iodine so a medical professional can help you make that determination. Definitely worth discussing though as iodine also has properties in it that support mental health, goiter health, and more! Additional Notes – Store your iodine in a dark location and it’s placed in dark bottles and store in a dark location to keep it from breaking down and Iodine should be kept in closed bottles because of its corrosive nature. A lot of “designer” salts that are coming onto the food market do not contain iodine. This includes natural sea salt. (READ YOUR LABELS) If you are not getting proper foods in your diet that also contain iodine your body may be deficient in this trace element. 4 great reasons you should be stockpiling iodine for survival sanitation, medical, first aid, and water purification. All of these are huge reasons to keep this lesser known sanitation product iodine that is readily available to all of us in your preparedness gear. You never know when you will need it.
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Post-Disaster Body Care and Hygiene By Cat Ellis, www.HerbalPrepper.com
In my herbal practice, I've made my share of herbal body care and hygiene products. These formulas used natural ingredients, like cocoa butter, olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax, herbs, and essential oils. I loved that they were free of questionable, synthetic ingredients. My clients adored having products custom-blended for their needs and preferences. There was, however, one thing nagging at me. With the exception of the beeswax which I obtained from our own hives, and some of the herbs which I grew or wildcrafted, my products were dependent upon imports from all corners of the globe. Herbal suppliers and essential oil companies are resellers of products grown and produced in exotic locations. It bothered me that there was such little domestic production of essential materials. What if shipping came to a halt due to an EMP or fuel shortage? What if a pandemic broke out in a region that produced one or more of my basic ingredients? The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa could very well
spread further, we LINKS can expect shortages in cocoa butter and shea butter, two very common ingredients in natural skin and body care products. As both an herbalist and a prepper, I couldn't ignore the vulnerability of the situation. My task, then, was to "disaster-proof" my products. Things like tooth powders, deodorants, diaper-rash lotion, burn and blister balms, and anti-fungal foot powders, would be useful for both comfort and their barter value. I needed to identify: •
Alternative, locally-produced ingredients that I could substitute for the exotic ingredients in my formulas.
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Ingredients, local or imported, with a long shelf life for bulk storage.
The following is what have found.
Salves, Ointments, and Balms Salves, ointments, and balms all refer to blend of oil and wax that results in something akin to petroleum jelly. My basic salve recipe calls for 2/3 cups of oil, plus 2 tablespoons of beeswax (pastilles or shavings). Beeswax should be available when more exotic and processed waxes are not. My husband keeps bees, so this is my go to wax anyway. I would highly recommend to any prepper (not allergic) to keep bees for the honey, propolis, and the wax. Otherwise, befriend a local beekeeper. The oil can be infused with an herb prior to this use, imparting some of the herb's properties and aroma to the oil. The oil and wax are then warmed gently until the wax thoroughly melts into the oil. The entire mixture is then poured into containers to cool. While olive oil is good at resisting rancidity for a longer shelf and is great or the skin, I cannot grow olives it in New England. Olive oil, however, may be an available option for other areas of the US, or to stock up on if you live in an apartment or a home with no room to grow an oil producing plant or tree. I have been experimenting with both sunflower seed oil and pumpkin seed oil. Both can be grown and oil produced in quantity in my region with the help of a small, household-scale expeller press, such as a Piteba. In a pinch, sunflower oil could be made by sprouting the seeds, crushing them, and squeezing them through muslin.
nursing mothers. The lanolin is obtained by boiling the sheered wool and allowing the lanolin to rise to the top, where it is skimmed off. Some people have experienced allergies when using lanolin, which may be related to the increase of agricultural chemicals. This may be a self-correcting situation in a post-disaster situation, where shipment of agricultural chemicals is interrupted. Or, you could raise your own sheep. If you enjoy knitting, spinning, felting, or weaving, as I do, a small flock would provide you wool, lanolin, and potentially meat and milk as well. But, what about those exotic fats? I struggled to come up with a solution for this for months before I finding a recipe that used lard. That's right- lard! My homerendered lard from a pastured pig we bought at a local pig farm for our freezer produced the most decadent and emollient lotion I had ever made. It absorbed quickly, and was non-greasy. I know this is a hard one to believe, but just try this recipe:
Lotions Lotions are very similar to salves, however they contain a water component and usually some of those exotic butters. Since water and oil do not mix, lotions also require an emulsifier. The concept is the same as adding an egg yolk to bind water and oil together to make mayonnaise. Technically, you could use an egg yolk, but the shelf life of the lotion would be exceptionally short, and must be kept in the refrigerator. A very common emulsifier used today is emulsifying wax, also known as e-wax. It's touted as a natural, vegetable wax. In reality, it's a highly processed product, and not something that could be made at home. Many people looking for a completely natural option use beeswax, but beeswax is more of a thickener than a true emulsifier. Still, it can do a fair job of keeping oils and waters blended. Beeswax plus borax works well as an emulsifier, but that requires you to have borax in your long term storage. Lanolin may provide the solution. Lanolin is comes from sheep's wool, sometimes called wool grease, wool fat, or even wool wax. It is moisturizing to the skin, and is often used in lotions to heal the cracked, sore nipples of
Lard Lotion •½ cup calendula-infused sunflower oil •¼ cup lard (liquid measure) •¼ beeswax pastilles (dry measure) •1 cup warm lavender tea Melt your oil, lard and wax together, and allow to cool to just warmer than room temperature. Warm the tea gently so it reaches the same temperature as the oil/wax mix. Slowly, whisk (I used an immersion blender) the two together for ten minutes, and pour into a glass jar. When it cools, you may add some lavender or rose geranium essential oil if you wish. Next on my list of fats to try is tallow.
Aroma One thing I had been worried about was how lard lotion would smell. A plain batch had a mild odor. I added some essential oils, and that took care of the issue. However essential oils will likely not be available to resupply in a post-collapse situation. Essential oils require a large amount of plant material, specialized equipment, and an understanding of distillation. However, it may be possible for those who have some spare acreage and interest to make a handful of essential oils at home. A half acre completely dedicated to peppermint is capable of yielding approximately five pounds of peppermint essential oil. If you are drawn to essential oils and feel strongly about making your own, look for herbs that naturally have a high percentage of volatile oils, such as peppermint and sage.
itching, excellent for cooling the skin, and can be used as the base for a wound wash. If you are more comfortable with a stick deodorant, two ingredients used in DIY deodorants which have a long shelf life are coconut oil and baking soda. While these are not items that you can obtain by going into your average back yard and picking them. Both, however, are easy to obtain now, and have an exceptionally long shelf life.
Other options include using the hydrosols (byproduct of distillation) and infused oils. The hydrosol is the floral water component that is separated out during the distillation process. To make infused oils for scenting purposes, choose a light oil, like grape seed or sunflower oil, and steep an herb like lavender, peppermint, or citrus peels in the oil. The plants properties and the aroma will transfer to the oil over several weeks.
Tooth and Mouth Care If you are stocking up on baking soda and coconut oil, you not only have the basics for a soft stick deodorant, but also for a tooth paste. If you infuse your coconut oil with a flavorful her like peppermint (easy to grow yourself) or cinnamon (stock up), all you need to do is take a teaspoon of baking soda, and add small amounts of infused coconut oil until you get a paste consistency.
Deodorant Another infusion to try is infused witch hazel extract. I have been making a spray deodorant with witch hazel extract and lavender essential oil. I was able to come close by infusing witch hazel extract with lavender flowers for 6 weeks, straining out the flowers, and retaining the liquid. Witch hazel is a fabulous herbal product with plenty of first aid applications. It is astringent, calms
However, if your supply of coconut oil and baking soda has run out, another option you can try is making tooth powder. Most recipes for tooth powder involve cinnamon LINKS or myrrh powder, both you could store but likely cannot produce. However, another option is to use the powder of rose petals. Herbalist Rosalee de la ForĂŞt has written about using rose petals as a tooth powder by sprinkling some on a wet tooth brush. The astringent nature of the rose petals are good for the gums and provide a gentle powder just abrasive enough to clean without damaging the teeth. This may be the most simple and effective tooth powder ever.
Conclusion I'm still on the hunt for more options for more formulas. It is entirely possible to care for your skin and body with natural ingredients produced at home or close to home. Check around, and see what you can find in your immediate area.
Maintaining Hygiene When the Power is Out
By LeAnn in AK, Homestead Dreamer
Many preppers consider food, water, shelter, and heat as their primary focus when it comes to facing disaster situations. Many, if not most, also see the importance of having medical supplies on hand to deal with wounds and illness. When it comes to hygiene though, many people do not think about doing much beyond making sure they have soap, shampoo, and some hand sanitizer or body wipes. They fail to take the next step and plan for how they will meet their hygiene needs. A sponge bath only goes so far. Keeping good hygiene isn’t rocket science but when there is no power, running water, or plumbing; meeting the challenges of cleanliness can be daunting. Clean areas for food preparation and preventing illness from spreading are even more important without the modern conveniences we enjoy today. We will look at different solutions to help you decide what works best for you and give pointers based on personal experience on how to keep the stink down and hygiene up.
Even before you think about a bar of soap, you need water to get clean. Not only that, it must be clean water to start with. Hopefully, you have water stored for each member of your family already for at least two weeks. “A gallon a day, per person” is the rule of thumb but that is only for cooking and drinking needs. Water for cleaning your dishes or body is above and beyond that. Most people are used to having an unlimited supply of water at an adjustable temperature. It runs down the drain and they don’t think twice about it. Some, like myself, may just stand there a few minutes and enjoy the luxurious feeling of the heat seeping into your bones. You ever have those days when you are running late and manage to take a shower in 3-4 minutes? You may have joked later about breaking a shower record. What most people don’t understand is just how little water you really need to get clean. My first shower in the woods was using a solar shower system and I will never forget how little water I used! The bag could hold 5 gallons but I had used less than two. The trick is to wet yourself
down, turn off the water flow and soap up, then rinse off. Done! I would have likely used even less if the nozzle hadn’t opened from the pressure. Granted, I was only washing my body but it really opened my eyes. Since then, I have taken many showers in the woods with all sorts of different ‘systems.’ Once, I used a two liter bottle with a hose duct taped to it. There are plenty of DIY projects out there for making a ‘camp’ shower. TIP: Unless you have short hair, it is always best to wash hair and body separately. Washing long hair can take as much water as it did for your body. If you literally only have enough water to sponge down with, focus your efforts under the arms and groin area as those tend to stink first. It may be difficult for those who have smaller spaces to store water for cleaning as well. To combat that, you can buy a Water BOB (found on Amazon) that will fit into your bathtub and hold 100 gallons of water for you. Open and use it when you deem necessary. Other people have water catch systems or the storage space to put extra water for cleaning purposes. Whichever way you end up getting a little extra water on hand for hygiene, I would recommend 5 gallons per person, per week. Yes, you can get by with less but this is a good, safe bet. You should be able to wash your body twice and hair once a week with that 5 gallons. Supplementing your wash water by swimming or setting up rain catching systems will greatly improve your supply. Even if all you do is lay out a tarp in a shallow hole, it will catch water for you when it rains and every drop counts! If you do harvest rainwater, you want to make sure it is clean and free of debris. Filtering it will remove bits of leaves, dust, and dirt. In areas prone to high pollution, having a way to boil it is something that should be considered as well. In any case though, having hot or at least warm water is important not only for cleanliness but also morale. I don’t know many people who are chipper and happy after a freezing cold shower. Utilizing the heat source you have available is vital and passive. Put your stored water in a warm room or close to the heat source if you can. Those who have wood burning stoves are at a distinct advantage when it comes to all things hygiene related. Provided there is a fire and water to be heated, they have all they need to stay cleaner than most in both body and home. In Winter, having a bucket by the door where snow is scooped into it as people come in will help you keep a constant supply of extra water. Even better to add to the
bucket would be icicles as they are solid water instead of flaky snow. Once melted down, snow does not yield much water but anything is better than nothing when you want to get clean.
Soap and Shampoo This is assuredly a personal decision here but in a grid down scenario, it is important to think about certain things. For example, you may not have enough water to both wash and condition your hair. Soaps that take extra water to get fully rinsed off are not going to be your friend.
Graywater Issues Greywater is the used water from doing dishes, washing your hands, taking showers and the like. Blackwater is sewage. If there is no plumbing due to backed up pipes, what are you going to do with the gray water? If you are in a rural area, this is easier to deal with but not in a skyrise apartment complex. There are some who reuse gray water in various ways and I will leave it up to you whether or not you wish to take that route. It is something that must be planned for if there is a long term grid down situation.
Personal Experience Having gone on numerous camping trips and trying my darndest to keep clean, I have learned a few tricks here and there. Granted, I live in a rainforest and there are streams and whatnot all over the place. Finding water is not really hard but sometimes getting to it CAN
be. Some of the things I have done over the years to make sure my body and my stuff stay clean include: •
Hand sanitizer can help greatly in keeping more than your hands clean! Dilute it down a little and it can be a refreshing face wash. Also, using hand sanitizer saves on water!
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Airing your clothes, blankets, and home helps to get dust, mold spores, and dirt out of the area. If you can let the sunshine in too, even better. A good sunny day with a nice breeze can make a huge difference!
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Body or baby wipes are inexpensive and if left unopened, can last years and years. These are especially helpful during menstruation cycles and of course, keeping baby clean too!
Keep one full set of clean clothes together. ONLY wear these after you have fully cleaned yourself and either a) will be doing laundry after you get dressed or, b) you will be returning to civilization in the next 48-72 hours. There is not much worse than putting dirty clothes on a clean body, save yourself from the experience and keep a set aside.
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Swimming in a lake, stream, pond, and even the ocean can greatly cut down your water needs to keep clean. Using soap in these areas is not recommended unless you have specifically brought something eco-friendly. Just the simple act of swimming around can slough the grime and sweat away and leaving you cleaner and feeling much fresher.
Good health in a grid down scenario is largely maintained by good sanitation. With a little research and forward thinking, should the grid go down due to either natural or man-made disasters, you will be able to rest even easier having ticked one more thing off the list of preparedness.
The Forgotten Basic Need By Survivor Jane usually labeled something like “sun kissed bronze” or “cocoa mist”. The cosmetic counters at the better department stores knew me by name (of course they did they were working on commission! And here I thought it was because I was special! Not!) I remember waiting with baited breath for the next “beauty promotion” to come around – you know the ones, where they offered that huge pallet of eye shadows, cheek blushes and lip sticks and glosses for free or at a minimal cost when you purchased a certain amount of their other products? Little did I know at the time that I could have purchase a bazillion of those “pallets” with the money I was spending on the “other” products! Chalk it up to the price of learning the hard way. I love make-up. I always have and probably always will. In fact, when other three year olds were honing their artistic skills on walls, floors and carpeting using those hue-y mediums of mommy’s lipsticks, eye shadows and rouges, I was happily applying them to me; all of me emphasis on the “all” part. It wasn’t until much later in life that I learned that these “paints” actually had a purpose and designated area for which to be applied (who says blue lips aren’t pretty? Just sayin’.) My early years revolved around all things beauty magazines – I was always striving to replicate that “perfect look” …yes, even after being told that most of what I was seeing on these magazine covers were airbrushed to perfection. “Eh”, I thought, “just a mere bump in the road on my journey to beauty-dom.” As I matured, make-up became an even bigger part of me. In came cosmetics, too, which encompasses make-up, lotions, moisturizers, cleansers and shampoos. Now, along with hair and clothes I was coordinating my “look” with makeup and cosmetics as well. It was a total package thing. In fact, it got to the point where I wouldn’t be caught dead answering the phone without having my make-up and hair done, let alone answering the door! Yes, there are other people out there like this. Make-up was a part of me. Without it I felt “faciallynaked”. The natural golden tan that most strived for in the summer, for me came in the form of a small bottle
Since beginning my journey into preparedness, the importance of make-up and cosmetics has diminished considerably. After all, the goats and other animals on our homestead really don’t care if I’m wearing my PJ’s or a formal gown - they just want to be fed. So then why am I telling you about my obsession with make-up and cosmetics? Because working on my homestead I have realized just how important hygiene/cleanliness is. My once manicured nails are now kept short for better cleaning. My hair stays in a ponytail most times, and my designer jeans of the past are most times covered with mud and animal poop. No longer do I have the luxury to jump in my car and go buy something - money is now used for the upkeep of our homestead. But I still wanted to stay well groomed. I needed a means to replace items after they were used up - and would if and when the poo hits the fan too. I began to research alternatives for hygiene products. The more I researched the more I began to realize that most of what I had been using originally came from very simple ingredients that we use daily for other uses. Things we have in our kitchen cupboards and pantries, and in our gardens. I was also amazed at all the tidbits of information I was learning about make-up and cosmetics. For instance, did you know the first cosmetic mascara was made by Maybelline in 1917 and it consisted of combining charcoal dust and petroleum jelly! What this
redundancy of hygiene with items already in your preparedness arsenal, you would be ahead of the game. There are a lot of people out there who are just like I used to be, but who aren’t into preparedness. Make-up, cosmetics and cleanliness to some are who they are. If and when the proverbial poo ever hits the fan, this simple area alone could be devastating to them – especially to those not used to doing things manually by hand. I felt so strongly about the subject of hygiene that I wrote a book titled “Emergency/Survival Hygiene: A Prepper Cookbook for Making Survival Hygiene Products”. Just as you have a resource library for alternatives for water, food, shelter and protection – this is your book for hygiene and cleanliness. said to me was, for pennies opposed to say $7 - $20 a tube I could make it! And I did!
Cleanliness is next to Godliness and Survivalness. Just sayin’.
As preparedness minded people, most of us understand the need for water, food, shelter and protection, but what seems to be a forgotten basic need is hygiene. Cleanliness will be essential after a disaster scenario. Like me now, you will be doing things never done before - physical labor. We will be overexerted and tired, putting us at risk for cuts, burns and other injuries. If we don’t have the means for which to keep ourselves clean we could end up with a severe infection. Let me share this little known fact. “Infectious diseases are the number one killer in the world.” Why hygiene is not closer to the top of our preparedness priorities and lists is beyond me. Think about it. If you don’t have the means to keep your body, hair and teeth clean you are setting yourself up for …, yes infection - which by the way seems a little odd because we have the means by which to treat infection. Our medical emergency kits are full of treatments for infections – just not preventions. Preparedness is all about redundancy. We have alternative means for water, food, shelter and protection. We need to start considering redundancy for hygiene as well. As I mentioned before, one day our grooming aids will all run out. Hygiene plays a far more important role in preparedness than looking good. It is the life line of our very existence. Fathers, mothers: what are you going to tell your family, who looks to you for all-things-survival, when their soap, shampoo and tooth paste are all used up? Unfortunately, we can only stock so much. If you could create a
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Tips to Managing “The Dead” During Disasters By Bill & Janet Liebsch, FedHealth
Quite often disasters like earthquakes, landslides, hurricanes and tsunamis bring not only destruction but death to a community. Sometimes First Responders cannot reach a disaster site for hours, days, or weeks so citizens should be prepared to deal with death or the handling of dead bodies. Please realize the suggestions and tips below are associated with natural or man-made disasters, but not necessarily an outbreak like Ebola, plague or other infectious diseases. Those types of emergencies require specific types of protocols and we are including a few links at the bottom if you’d like to find more information.
If in a disaster situation with casualties and no help…
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Dead bodies typically do not cause epidemics after a natural disaster. In fact, it’s survivors who will most likely spread disease.
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Do not put yourself in danger to recover a body if there is any chemical, biological or radiological contamination in the area or structural damage due to an earthquake, etc.
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People handling bodies should wear gloves and boots and avoid wiping their face or mouth with their hands. Facemasks and eye protection are not typically needed [unless the cause of death is a highly contagious disease like Ebola, etc.], but may be helpful to some handlers.
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Wash hands with soap and clean water often, and disinfect tools, clothing, equipment and vehicles used to move the bodies.
buried in holes at least 3 feet (1m) deep where there is no possibility of contaminating surface or ground water. Livestock animals should be disposed of by incineration. •
If a person (or pet) dies while in a shelter during a nuclear / radiological event, cover the body with a sheet or put it in a bag (or tape several large plastic bags together) and move it outside the shelter. Don’t try to bury it if high levels of radiation are still in the area, but do poke several pinholes in bag so gases won’t build up. (And make sure to decontaminate yourself before reentering shelter.)
Some FAQs via Pan American Health Organization Do dead bodies cause epidemics? Dead bodies from natural disasters do not cause epidemics. This is because victims of natural disasters die from trauma, drowning or fire. They do not have epidemic causing diseases such as cholera, typhoid, malaria, or plague when they die. What are the health risks for the public? There is a small risk of diarrhea from drinking water contaminated by fecal material from dead bodies. Routine disinfection of drinking water is sufficient to prevent water-borne illness. Is spraying bodies with disinfectant or lime powder useful? •
Bodies often leak feces after death so avoid contact with it (and body fluids) to limit exposure to any possible diseases.
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If no First Responders are on scene (and it may be a while before any are), write down any known details about where and when a body was found, name (if known), personal belongings on or with the body, take a photo (if possible) to help with identification later, etc.
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Graves should be between 5 ft (1.5m) and 9 ft (3m) deep.
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Burial sites should be at least 218 yards (200m) away from water sources such as streams, lakes, springs, waterfalls, beaches, and the shoreline. (If 4 or less bodies: 650 ft (200m) from water … if 5 to 60 bodies: 820 ft (250m) from drinking water well, etc.)
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The Department of Health and Human Services for North Carolina suggests pets and wild animals be
No, it has no effect. It does not hasten decomposition or provide any protection.
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Local officials and journalists say there is a risk of disease from dead bodies. Are they correct? No. The risk from dead bodies after natural disasters is misunderstood by many professionals and the media. Even local or international health workers are often misinformed and contribute to the spread of rumors. However, as mentioned above, if the incident is due to a chemical, biological, radiological or infectious disease there may be risks associated with handling bodies, so listen to local authorities.
If a loved one dies…
In addition to dealing with the sadness and loss, there are several things families may need to think about and plan for if they lose a loved one during a disaster or crisis. •
Realize some bodies may never be recovered or could be contaminated in certain types of disasters so families may not have the body released to them.
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Determine who is Executor of the will (if any) and make 10 to 12 certified copies of death certificate (for probate, insurance benefits, bank accounts, social security, etc.) The certificates are easier to obtain from the mortuary when the funeral arrangements are made.
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File with the probate court within 30 days, if necessary.
Some normal reactions to disasters Disasters can cause you to lose a loved one, neighbor or friend or cause you to lose your home, property and personal items. It is very important that you understand no matter what the loss is… there is a natural grieving process and every person will handle that process differently. Right after disaster – shock, fear, disbelief, hard time making decisions, refuses to leave home or area, won’t find help or help others Days, weeks or months after disaster – anger or moodiness, depression, loss of weight or change in appetite, nightmares, trouble sleeping, crying for “no reason”, isolation, guilt, anxiety, domestic violence Additional reactions by children - thumb sucking, bedwetting, clinging to parent(s) or guardian, won’t go to bed or school, tantrums (crying or screaming), problems at school
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Contact banks/trusts (to change names on accounts), employers (to check on any available benefits), Social Security, etc. If the deceased had a safety deposit box rented in their name only, a court order will be required to open the box.
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Contact credit card companies to ensure accounts are cancelled if the deceased is the only name on the account.
Please note: If any of your disaster reactions seem to last for quite some time, please consider seeking professional counseling for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There is nothing wrong with asking for help!
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Check on insurance policies (e.g. life, health, mortgage, auto, etc.), any 401Ks or profit sharing plans, V.A. benefits, etc.
Sources and for more information:
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Consider pets, mail and utilities if the deceased lived alone.
IT’S A DISASTER! …and what are YOU gonna do about it? book
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If the deceased is listed in your will to receive certain property, it’ll need to be changed. (And mention this to other family members in case they have left property to the deceased too.)
CDC’s Ebola (EVD) site www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola CDC Emergency Preparedness & Response www.bt.cdc.gov Pan American Health Organization www.paho.org
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Book Review: The End Times Christian
The End Times Christian is a new book by Dr. Jason Hunt that delves into the Biblical foundations of Survival and Preparedness and how these topics are tools for the church of the last days. In the book, the author begins by slaughtering some “sacred cows” (aka: long held traditional beliefs) about the rapture and moves right along into demonstrating how The Feasts of the Lord of Leviticus 23 are designed to equip God's people in survival and preparedness concepts. The author explains that the church has been robbed of its preparedness mandate by not celebrating God's holidays over man’s as we're told repeatedly to be prepared and watchful for the coming of Christ. In the chapter about Passover: The Bug Out, the author demonstrates how Passover is a bug out rehearsal and gives historical and perhaps prophetic insight into how this concept will again come into play. Each of the seven Feast Days are covered in detail as well as some advice on how one might practice them in their home, as well as some information on what they are not, which is the traditional Christian holiday.
Taking you from the foundation to the structure, the author discusses Survival Philosophy and Psychology with chapters dedicated to The Survival Triangle, God's E.D.C., and Survival's Base 5. Skills, tips, concepts and kit development are also discussed, all in an effort to provide a solid overview of what knowledge will be needed to be successful as an End Times Christian. Many have felt a call into the area of survival and preparedness over the last decade or more and the Church, for the most part, has remained ignorant as to why many people are being appointed by God to serve in outdoor, survival and preparedness ministries. Many don't quite know if it's scriptural or right to do so; and many others simply don't know how to connect the dots between the Bible, survival and preparedness concepts. This book will help all these people and others by providing insight on these topics and more.
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The author, Dr. Jason Hunt, is a full-time survival instructor and gospel minister; founder of Campcraft Preparedness Ministries and President of Frontier Christian University. He has completed advanced survival training from military and civilian schools and is certified in search & rescue, man-tracking, firefighting, self-defense and wilderness medicine (WEMT-B). He's also an instructor at Dave Canterbury's Pathfinder School, considered one of the top outdoor schools in the country by USA Today. “The End Times Christian” is available on Amazon, Kindle and available to order at other book retailers. You can also pick one up at the author's website www.campcraft.us
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Pastor’s Perspective: Spiritual By Dr. Jason Hunt, Th.D., www.campcraft.us
Excerpt from his book: The End Times Christian (from pgs 107-108) There is a spiritual component to the art of staying alive. Without faith, hope and love in and for something or someone; there is no purpose in life. If we make grandiose plans to survive a nuclear holocaust, economic collapse or zombie apocalypse simply for the sake of “living” or “making it”; we’ll surely fail. As Christians, we do not make plans to simply stay alive or keep our loved ones safe, because Jesus said if we seek to save our lives, simply for the sake of living as the world does, we shall surely lose them in the end anyway (Luke 17:33).
endure are nothing more than proof that Jesus is coming back! Last but not least, we must have love; love for those with us be it family, friends or neighbors and also compassion for those we find along the path that are in need. We may be able to teach them a skill, share a meal, or give them a warm blanket all for the purpose of sharing our faith and adding to the Kingdom of God.
The Bible teaches that to gain life, we must first lose it; for a Christian that means coming to know Jesus as savior, learning His word and then learning what His plans are for our survival and preparedness strategies. What I’m about to share may be a bit much, but I have a feeling some may need to hear it. I was never an arm chair survivalist before becoming a Christian. I had zero interest in any of it as a matter of fact. I got started in learning outdoor skills and survival concepts because I began to have spiritual dreams and visions that I saw coming to pass all around me. I started to receive phone calls from people out of the blue that I didn’t know me telling me that God told them to call me to tell me something related to ‘getting ready’, ‘survival’, ‘gardening’, etc. This process lasted a couple years before I decided to act on the things I was hearing (spiritually speaking) and what people were saying to me. This is what led me out of the traditional church ministry I was accustomed to. Surviving simply for the sake of staying alive in the face of impending apocalypse isn’t enough; we must have faith. Having faith in God gives comfort; so that our fears and cries are being heard in our time of need, distress, and anguish. Having faith gives us confidence that what we are doing is the right thing to be doing, right now, in this day and age even when everyone on the news, in the government and even in your church is saying you’re an extremist or cult leader because you stockpile food, clothing, etc. for a rainy day. We must have hope, that there is a better tomorrow, there is a solution to life’s problems and that we will weather the storm, however it may come and we’ll do so in good health. Our hope has a name, Jesus Christ!(1 Peter 3:15) His return should serve as our big picture- the trials we
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THANK YOU! the creation and growth of PREPARE Magazine. We want to share our sincere and humble gratitude for everyone who has shared their support and encouragement. We simply could not have launched PREPARE without you!
On behalf of our readers, subscribers, advertisers, and staff, we wish to extend our heart-felt appreciation to all of you. We believe there is a very special mission for PREPARE Magazine, and are so pleased to be yoked with wonderful people who wish to sow encouragement and help to others in the Preparedness Journey.
The Launch of PREPARE Magazine has been a labor of love, sharing of helpful training and ideas, and a partnership with some wonderful people. We are so thankful for the support and kindness of so many people who have joined with us in the journey and contributed to
Again… To all of you who have contributed and shared financial resources, preparedness training, advertising, testimonials, and encouragement, please know that we greatly appreciate you – and look forward to serving on your behalf. Joseph and Donna Miller
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Trent Powers Ken Youngquist Jason A. Hunt Vickilynn Haycraft Rick Austin Evan Folds Bryan Miller Bill & Janet Liebsch Pierce Jacobson Vina8 Eric Waters Charles Belitz Lynette Frye Kelly Thomas Nigel Jones Dale W.Montgomery Kim Lippy Steve Mistretta Aaron Berwick Valarie Brown Scott Angell Caryn lee Wayne Spencer N. Campbell Judith Hooley Founding Subscribers
Our Contributors... Joe Alton, M.D.
(aka: Dr. Bones) is a member of Mensa, collects 19th century medical books to gain insight on off-grid medical strategies. He is the co-author, along with Amy Alton, A.R.N.P. (aka Nurse Amy), of the #1 Amazon Bestseller in Survival Skills “the Survival Medicine Handbook". The opinions voiced by Dr. Bones and Nurse Amy are for post-apocalyptic settings only; in normal times, seek modern and standard medical care from qualified professionals..
Cat Ellis
is both a prepper and practicing herbalist based in New England. Cat maintains the site www.HerbalPrepper.com, with articles, videos, podcasts, and herbal education from a preparedness perspective. Cat, aka, The Herbal Prepper, broadcasts twice a week on www.PrepperBroadcasting.com, and is working on a book of natural remedies for preppers due out in 2015. Cat's other interests include midwifery, homesteading, and self-defense. Cat can be reached through her website, or through her Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/HerbalPrepper.
Dr. Jason Hunt is the founder of Campcraft Preparedness Ministries and Frontier Christian University. He leads an active life teaching others about Survival and Preparedness from a Biblical perspective. Jason also serves his community as a firefighter and SAR team leader, and is a Wilderness-EMT and Wilderness First Aid Instructor. He’s also an instructor at Dave Canterbury’s Pathfinder School and is a weekly host on Pathfinder TV. Visit him online at www.campcraft.us
Jim Cobb
is an author, speaker, educator, and consultant on all matters related to disaster readiness. His books include Prepper’s Home Defense and Countdown to Preparedness. Jim can be found online at http://www.SurvivalWeekly.com/ and at http:// www.DisasterPrepConsultants.com/.
Karen Lynn, of Lil’ Suburban Homestead and host of the show of the same name on Survival Mom Radio Network, decided instead of picking up stakes to move to the farm they would move the farm to them. Karen and her husband (aka: “The Viking”) are beekeepers, sell local honey, supplement their diet from their raised bed garden and “upcycled” greenhouse plus keep chickens all on less than 1/3 of an acre.
Survivor Jane
is a preparedness expert, homesteader and speaker. She is the editor of the women’s preparedness website www.SurvivorJane.com and the author of the newly released book “Where There is No Cosmetic Counter”. Jane is also the founder and creator of the hashtag #PrepperTalk on Twitter a 24 hour forum that brings people from all over the world together to discuss disaster survival and preparedness.
Ken Youngquist
is the creator of Survivaltek, a website dedicated to teaching the ways and means to survive. From his youth, Ken was captivated by primitive living skills, and in his adulthood was intrigued by the television Series MacGyver. The result has been the study and practice of survival skills and the desire to pass on the mantle of preparedness to others. You can visit and learn more at: http://survivaltek.com/
LeAnn InAK
lives in beautiful Southeast Alaska with her husband, dogs and cats. The ‘dream’ is to own land and live as self-sustainably as possible. You can follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter as well as on the main site, Homestead Dreamer. Help support her efforts and give her a like on Facebook!
Bill & Janet Liebsch
are the founders of FedHealth, a publishing and marketing company formed in 1999 to help the public focus on preparedness and health-related issues. We also are the authors, copyright owners and publishers of "IT'S A DISASTER! ...and what are YOU gonna do about it?" and are dedicated to developing programs that primarily benefit First Responders, schools and volunteers. Get a sample of the content with this free mini-ebook HERE
Community Connections These groups have meetings in Oct/Nov 2014
PACIFIC Seattle Preparedness Network B.O.B./G.H.B. show Seattle, WA Saturday, November 1, 2014 11:00 AM Inland Empire Preppers Vegetable Gardening Class Los Angeles, CA Sunday, November 16, 2014 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Outdoor Self-Reliance SURVIVAL TRAPPING San Dimas, CA Sunday, November 2, 2014 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
SOUTHWEST Tucson Self Reliance Trauma/first aid bags and working on a budget. Tucson, AZ Saturday, October 25, 2014 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
NORTHWEST Greater Denver Urban Homesteading Group Chicken Butchery: Mindful Harvesting Longmont, CO Saturday, November 1, 2014 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM Littleton Emergency Preparedness Colorado Beekeepers Association Meetup Littleton, CO Wednesday, November 5, 2014 6:00 PM
MIDWEST Indiana Disaster Preparedness / Self Sustainability CPR/First Aid Training Indianapolis, IN Saturday, October 25, 2014 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM
SOUTHEAST WNC Preparedness Group CLASS: Grow Shiitake Mushrooms (Cost) Asheville, NC Saturday, November 8, 2014 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM Florida Survivalist Network Region 6 - Preppers Intro to Prepping. Making a Plan. Jupiter, FL Saturday, October 25, 2014 10:00 AM
NORTHEAST Great Lakes Preppers Foraging for food & medicine - FREE Birmingham, MI Saturday, October 25, 2014 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
OUTSIDE USA The Toronto Survivalism Group Prepare Your Car for winter: On the Road, Emergency or Stranded Pickering, ON Saturday, November 15, 2014 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
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