Southern California becomes the target of wildfire…

October 24, 2008

Malibu California, known for it’s sandy beaches and home to some of Hollywood’s A-List celebrities is devastated this past Monday as Wildfires engulf the alluring land. Due to hills of dry grasses and it’s boundless forests, California is especially vulnerable to these types of catastrophic wildfires.

Thousands upon thousands of acres of woodland were devoured early Monday morning, with firefighters putting forth exemplary efforts to keep the disastrous wildfire from spreading and attempting to douse the flames.

Sadly enough, it has been recorded that some 1.2 million acres of this country’s woodland burns every year, leaving homeless residents behind, both human and animal.

The recent wildfires in California remind us of an all too common battle, one between man and Mother Nature. And although wildfires can be volatile, as is the case with any natural disaster, it is important to do as much as humanly possible to protect our homes, our family, and ourselves.

Safeguard yourself and the ones you love by keeping an Emergency Supply Kit on hand. Create and practice your family emergency plan, and possibly, the most important thing is to remain informed.

With the daily nuisances of life, it is easy to forget about the uncertainties of the future, however, it is our responsibility to our communities to prevent, plan, and prepare.

[Fact #1: Distressing but true, it is a fact that 4 out of 5 wildfires are caused by humans.]

[Fact #2: Wildfires often begin unrecognized. They spread almost instantly, igniting brush, trees, and homes.]

[Fact #3: Wildfires are described using three specific terms- Surface Fires which burn along the forest floor, moving slowly, Ground fires which are commonly started by lighting and Crown Fires which move quickly along tree tops and spread by wind.]


Hurricanes, Tornado, Bird Flu.. Are You Ready?

July 29, 2008

Some of the most common disasters are Natural Disasters, such as Hurricanes, Earthquakes and Tornados. If you’re located in an area that is prone to these specific disasters, it is essential to have the proper emergency survival accessories on hand to safeguard yourself and your family. Our accessory kits are specifically customized to meet the challenges you may face during an emergency. They are designed to be used with our 72 hour survival kits, or they can be used on there own.

Our Hurricane accessories arrive in a waterproof container along with a handy, informative Hurricane Survival Guide. Our Earthquake accessories are designed to not only protect you, but to also protect your most important investment, your home.

Now you may be thinking, “Well, what about other types of emergencies? What about diseases and other illnesses?” Don’t you worry, we have you covered! Our Accessory Kits page includes a kit designated for the Avian Bird Flu and also a kit for Hygiene. We understand that while good hygiene is critical to our daily lives, it is even more important to maintain it following a disaster or pandemic. Allow yourself to attain peace of mind by fully preparing yourself. You may not be able to control nature, but you can control how you deal with it.

Here’s to safe living!


Survival Information: How to treat water so it’s safe to use

July 24, 2008

Water is the most important aspect in our survival, and obviously the best course of action is having some stored in case of emergency. One source of stored drinking water that is often over looked is the water in your hot water heater, maybe 55 gallons worth!!! If you do happen to find yourself in an emergency situation with no available drinking water, here are a few simple tips to help treat the water you do have access to. If you are in doubt of the quality of any water source, it is best to treat it first using these methods.

Straining and Aeration

A recommended first step would be to run the water through a clean cotton cloth, such as a handkerchief. This filters out some of the larger particles (like dirt and tiny organisms). Aeration just adds air to the water and reduces substances that affect the taste and smell of water. Partly fill a container with water and shake it vigorously.

Three Container System

According to the WELL Resource Center for Water Sanitation and Environmental Health, simply letting water sit in a container will also improve its quality. They recommend a three-container system. Container one stores newly collected water. After one day (24 hours), pour the water from container one into container two. Be careful to leave the particles or cloudy layers behind, which are at the bottom of the container one by now. Discard the rest of the water from container one, and then fill it again so that you are constantly repeating this cycle. The next day, pour the water from container two into container three. Once stored for two days, the water in container three can be used for drinking.

Disinfection

After straining the water, the most common way to disinfect the water is to boil it. There is some question about how long exactly to boil water in order to kill all the pathogens. The U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends boiling water for several minutes.

Another common method to disinfect water is to chemically treat it by adding chlorine or bleach to it. This method is a bit trickier as there are many different kinds of bleach. Household bleach has been known to lose its strength over time, whereas powdered chlorine can last 10 years without losing its strength. Ensure you use pure bleach, and not anything that has other additives (like laundry chemicals). For bleach that has 6-10% chlorine, you can use 3 to 4 drops per gallon of water. Let it sit for about thirty minutes, and then smell the water. You should faintly smell the chlorine. If you don’t smell it at all, repeat the procedure and then let it sit for another half hour. After a few hours, aerate the water by shaking the bottle vigorously, which helps reduce the smell and taste of chlorine.

Another way to deal with and treat water so that it is safe to drink is use a water filtration bottle that filters out 99.99% of pollutants and contaminants found in water sources. Find one that uses a proprietary Ionic Adsorption Micron Filtration System, and can produce up to 100 gallons of filtered water on one filter. Keep one of these in the car at all times as well as in your home.

It’s best to know all ways to be able to protect yourself and your family completely, because you never know where you will be when disaster strikes!


Know the difference between Hurricane “Watches” and “Warnings.”

July 6, 2008

• Hurricane/Tropical Storm Watch—Hurricane/tropical storm conditions
are possible in the specified area, usually within 36 hours.

• Hurricane/Tropical Storm Warning—Hurricane/tropical storm conditions
are expected in the specified area, usually within 24 hours.

• Short Term Watches and Warnings— These warnings provide detailed information
on specific hurricane threats, such as flash floods and tornadoes.

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale:

(Category) (Sustained Winds MPH) (Damage) (Storm Surge)

(Cat. 1) 74-95 Minimal: Untied mobile homes, vegetation and signs. 4-5 feet

(Cat. 2) 96-110 Moderate: All mobile homes, roofs, small crafts, flooding. 6-8 feet

(Cat. 3) 111-130 Extensive: Small buildings, low-lying roads cut off. 9-12 feet

(Cat. 4) 131-155 Extreme: Roofs destroyed, trees down, roads cut off, mobile homes
destroyed. Beach homes flooded. 13-18 feet

(Cat. 5) >155 Catastrophic: Most buildings destroyed. Vegetation destroyed.
Major roads cut off. Homes flooded. >18


Will You Be Prepared For A Tornado?

June 22, 2008

It’s important that you pay close attention to the news and to weather alerts when inclement weather occurs. However, no one can stop a tornado from occurring. Ultimately, proper emergency preparedness is the best choice for you to do for both yourself and your family!
Before a storm know what you will do and where you will go if there is a threat of a tornado. If you have small children, be certain they know the plan as well in case the plan must take place very fast. Having a weather radio as well as backup batteries is desirable and relatively cost effective for singles and families alike.
Ultimately, emergency food and emergency survival items are abundant, however knowing who to trust when purchasing these items is imperative. Having a first-aid kit and other disaster kits on hand is a responsible choice especially if you have children. Lower your risk of injury by staying away from windows. If you are caught on the road and/or outside during a storm, stay within a ditch or somewhere the ground is lowered.
A variety of survival kits for the home are available for various natural disasters from Survival Gear Source. Items such as 72 hour survival kits and first aid kits are must-have for every home. Survival kits include a variety of things:
- Water
- Emergency Food bars
- Radio w/batteries
- Rechargeable flashlight
- Candle & Matches (lighter too)
- Sleeping Bags
- Body Warmers
- Tube tent w/rope
- Ponchos
- Knife, gloves, dust masks
- Hygiene Kits
- First Aid Kit
- Paper & Pencil
- Playing Cards
- Trash Bags
Ultimately, emergency preparedness is important and staying alert and informed is the first step to staying safe. Next, preparing by purchasing a variety of disaster relief items and having them on hand makes the chance of surviving a natural disaster even more likely. Don’t take a chance, purchase survival kits today!


First Aid 101

June 16, 2008

Whether you are a teacher, a parent, or simply a professional, first aid is important to be educated on. In emergency situations, you may be asked to perform basic CPR and/or first aid on individuals. This can make the difference in saving someone’s life. Thus, being prepared and having the proper survival gear on hand is imperative to both you and other people around you to remain safe.

Survival first aid kits are affordable items that make you feel safe. They most often include sterile  supplies as well as bandages, pain relievers, alcohol pads, burn cream  and more! Websites such as survivalgearsource.com provide a variety of First Aid items as well as emergency survival kits, disaster kits, classroom lockdown kits, water purification items and other emergency preparedness items.

Natural disasters cannot be stalled, however proper emergency preparedness will make the situation more feasible for you and the people around you. By remaining alert, calm, and prepared, you will feel more confident in the situation.

Knowing first aid is important, but also knowing what items to use in your first aid kit and when, is just as important. Rely on professionals to provide you with proper survival tips to aid your safety in a natural disaster. Your life is depending on it! Purchase first aid kits and other survival gear before you need it, and peace of mind that you are prepared.


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