Category: Tips and Tricks

Using Animals in Your Sustainable Living Efforts

When you become interested in sustainable living, you may want to add animals to your practices. There are many ways you can use animals on your own property to help become self-reliant and sustainable.

Using Animals in Your Sustainable Living Efforts article cover image with pigs

You need to know some of the most common animals used for sustainable living practices and how you might be able to work with them.  Some animals are used for meat, while others are used for eggs, milk, and their pelts or skins.

Using Animals in Your Sustainable Living Efforts

Honoring the Animal

It’s important to note that using animals requires you to be considerate of the animal’s needs and provide a healthy and happy environment for it.  When you choose to butcher animals, you should make sure you get proper training so that you cause little fear or pain to them.

With sustainable living, you’ll also want to make use of as much of the animal as possible so that it doesn’t go to waste.  Honoring the animal’s sacrifice means using it well.

Chickens

If you’re new to working with animals, raising chickens is a great way to begin learning.  Chickens are relatively simple to take care of and require a small amount of space. 

They can also provide regular eggs and even meat if you choose to butcher them and eat them.  You’ll need to make sure that you provide a coop for chickens where they can be safe from predators and roost at night.

Chickens need room to roam and can help cut down on bugs as they eat them along with feed that you supply.  It’s best to choose an organic feed that’s free from chemicals and additives.

You’ll want to do your homework to figure out how many chickens will fit into the coop you choose.  That will depend on the size of the coop and the breed of chickens. 

You can buy chicks online and have them shipped to your home.  You’ll need to be prepared to take care of chicks for a few weeks after their arrival.  They need warm temperatures, clean water, and bedding.  As they grow, they’ll become easier to care for.

Many urban areas allow chickens, but make sure you check your local ordinances.  You may be allowed to have chickens, but not roosters in the city limits.  As you care for your chickens, it’s important to learn from experts such as agriculture extension agents, local farmers, or even getting online help.

Chickens can provide eggs, can be harvested for meat, and their feathers can be used for pillows or blankets.  Older chickens that don’t have tender meat can be used to make chicken stock for use later.

Rabbits

Rabbits are also easy to care for and can provide meat for your family.  They require a hutch where they can live comfortably and have room to move around.  You’ll also need to feed them and provide them with high-quality food and fresh vegetables. 

Rabbits also need a constant supply of alfalfa or timothy hay. You’ll want to research rabbit breeds so that you can choose the best breed for your area and the meat you’d like to produce.

Using Animals in Your Sustainable Living Efforts

If you begin with two female and one male rabbit, you can produce more than 40 rabbits a year for meat.  Rabbits are best eaten when they are 8-12 weeks old.  The younger they are, the more tender they are.

When the rabbits reach about six weeks old, you can separate them from their parents.  Then you can wait until it’s time to harvest the meat.  When the larger, adult rabbits reach two or three years of age, you can butcher them.

Older rabbits are better in a stew because they aren’t as tender.  Rabbits can also be used for their fur.  Once they’re butchered and skinned for meat, you can tan the rabbit’s hides and use them for warm clothing.

Rabbits are a relatively inexpensive investment if you want to begin working to raise and harvest your own meat.  It helps to take a class to learn how to butcher them properly.

Goats

Goats are fairly easy animals to take care of and they can produce a great deal of food for you.  There are two kinds of goats – goats for meat and goats for milk.  Goat isn’t commonly eaten in the United States, but it’s very common in other countries.

You’ll want to choose a breed that’s specifically designed for your purposes.  Look for one that’s purebred.  You can raise approximately eight goats on the same feed it would take to raise one cow.

Goats need little in the way of food if they’re able to graze.  You may also need to provide hay, oats, and a vitamin supplement.  Housing for goats is also pretty simple – you’ll need an area where they can be dry and where they won’t get too cold.

Goats are very good at climbing, so you’ll need a fence that has barbed or electric wire to keep them in.  Goats are typically very friendly animals to have on your property.

Some good goat breeds for meat include Texmaster, Moneymaker, and Savanna.  Good goat breeds for milk include Saanen, Alpine, and Togenburgs.  You’ll want to learn more about specific breeds and what will work best in your area.

Goat milk can be used for drinking and for making cheese.  Many people who find cow’s milk problematic find that goat’s milk is a good substitute.  In order to produce milk, your goats will need to be bred once a year. 

Your goat will need to feed her kids, but you can still milk her once a day.  The best method is to keep the kids separate from her at night and milk her once in the morning.  Then the rest of the day the kids can nurse when they choose.

Using Animals in Your Sustainable Living Efforts

If you continue to milk her, she can produce milk for approximately 10 months.  That’s a good supply of milk for a family.  You can have more goats if you’d like more milk for your use or to sell.

When it comes to meat goats, the best time for butchering is between five and nine months of age.  You can learn to do this yourself or take the goat to a meat processor.  After butchering a goat, you can keep the hide and tan it for use. 

Pigs

Pigs can also be raised to use for meat.  Pigs will need at least a tenth of an acre for pasture.  You can also grow them in an enclosure that’s at least 100 square feet – such as a barn or a pen.

You’ll also need food for your pig.  Unlike what you see in movies, it’s best not to feed pigs just whatever is leftover from your own meals.  They need a diet full of vitamins and minerals.  It’s best to give them organic foods and allow them to graze on grass.  They also need plenty of access to clean water.

You’ll want to choose a piglet that’s a good breed for meat.  You can buy them at farms or from auctions.  Some of the best breed choices include Berkshire, Yorkshire, and Hereford.  But there are many choices.

You’ll want to research what will live best in your area and grow to the preferred size.  In general, pigs usually are ready for slaughter when they reach approximately 225 pounds, though this can vary based on weight.

You can learn to butcher them yourself or take them to a meat processor.  Each pig will give you around 150 pounds of meat.  Again, this is an average and will depend on your pigs.

Once a pig is processed into different cuts, you can freeze them for long-term use.  Some people also choose to sell meat as a way to make money and profit from pig production.

Cows

Many people enjoy raising cows for either milk or meat.  Raising your own cows on a grass diet without antibiotics or added hormones makes the meat and milk much better for your body. 

The best breeds for dairy cows tend to be Jersey, Guernsey, and Holstein.  For beef cows, look for Angus or Hereford cows. There are other breeds that may be better for your needs, so do your homework before settling on one type.

Cows will need a source of grass and in the winter months will need hay.  Each cow will need about half a bale of hay per day.  Your cow will also need to be confined with a fence made from barbed wire.

how to raise cows

You can also use an electric fence to keep your cow from leaving home.  Each cow will need about two acres of pasture in order to get enough nutrition.  If you live in a drier area, your cow may need even more space.

For milk cows, you’ll need to breed your cow in order for her to produce milk.  One cow can give you eight to ten gallons of milk each day.  This will allow you to have plenty of milk for drinking and making other dairy products or for selling.

For meat cows, you can learn to do the butchering yourself.  However, most people will take a cow to be processed and divided into different cuts of meat and ground beef.

One cow is usually more than enough meat for an average family.  You may even consider selling half of the cow so that you can make back some of the money you’ve invested in raising your cow and processing it.

Fish

When you think of farm animals, fish don’t usually make the top of the list.  But fish can be very good food that you can raise right on your property.  The best breeds of fish for farming include catfish, bass, bluegill, and carp. 

In order to raise any of these fish, you’ll need a barrel that holds at least fifty gallons of water.  This will hold about 40 fish that you can harvest for food.  You’ll want to research the specifics for putting together an aquarium based on the breed you choose.

You’ll be able to feed your fish commercial food or you can feed them worms.  For 40 fish, you’ll need at least 50-100 worms each day when they are young and even more as they get older.

You can either clean and prepare fish all at once or stagger your use by taking a few adults out and replacing them with younger fish.  This gives you a regular supply of fish.  If you do it all at once, you’ll need to freeze them.

It takes about 2 months for fish to grow into adulthood and be ready for eating.  You can start over every 2 months with a new group so that you have a continuous supply of fish to eat.

Researching Your Best Options

If you’ve never raised your own animals for food, it’s a good idea to start small with chickens, rabbits, or even fish.  Don’t try to do too much at once and become overwhelmed by the process.

Once you’ve mastered one animal, you can add another.  It’s also important to do a lot of research before deciding on an animal and breed.  You need to do a lot of preparation and be prepared for feeding and even medical care if necessary.

Using Animals in Your Sustainable Living Efforts

A great place to start is with your local agriculture extension office.  This office helps local people figure out what to grow and you can even take educational classes to learn about animal management and harvesting.

This guide may have sparked your interest in a particular type of animal, but now you’ll need to get much more depth of information in order to carry out the process of growing and harvesting animals for food.

Growing your own animals can help you save on the cost of food.  It can also ensure that you have meat or milk that’s free from chemicals, antibiotics, and hormones.  You can also feel good that your animal has a good life and is treated with care and respect, unlike many animals raised on corporate farms.

Raising animals is a great way to develop a sustainable living homestead.  It does take a lot of work, but many people feel that the work is well worth it for quality meat or milk.

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The Best Emergency Elder Care And Disaster Preparedness Plans

When you have to consider older adults in the disaster preparedness scenario of yours, Emergency Elder Care takes a lot of work. FEMA doesn’t really cover this topic well. Our senior citizens require a few extra thoughts when a disaster occurs. Some matters caregivers must consider are:

  • Whether to evacuate
  • Emergency cash and fuel
  • Special needs
  • Elder’s medications and vital records
  • Emergency evacuation of bedridden elders
  • Communications problems during disasters
  • General emergency supplies
  • Comforting a frightened elder
The Best Emergency Elder Care And Disaster Preparedness Plans article cover image

Emergency Elder Care And Disaster Preparedness

Deciding Whether to Evacuate

When it comes to disaster planning in geriatric care management, caregivers must first decide whether it is safe (or even possible) to shelter-in-place.

  • Will the house be in danger of a tree crushing it?
  • Is the area prone to flooding?
  • Is the house likely to lose power? For how long?
  • Is the elder loved one on a special needs list with the utility companies?

Caregivers should assume they will receive no help from first responders, emergency management agencies, or healthcare providers. So, caregivers need an excellent emergency disaster plan!

If evacuating, caregivers must decide where they can go ahead of time. Is it possible to shelter with friends or relatives? Ask now. Do not wait until the disaster arrives to find out.

Emergency Cash and Fuel

Caregivers must also have cash on hand. Carefully consider family size and needs to ensure enough money on hand at all times to care for the family at least two weeks.

If immediate evacuation becomes necessary, on a Sunday, for example, banks will be closed, and ATMs will run out of money quickly. In the wake of major disasters, banks won’t open at all–maybe for weeks. ATMs cannot work without electricity. Merchants will refuse checks and credit cards.

It is wise to keep vehicles’ fuel tanks mostly full as well. If a fire is roaring over the hill, the last thing a caregiver needs is to have to stop for fuel before evacuating the danger zone! Check tires and fluid levels regularly, too. Finally, make sure the vehicle has a working jack and practice using it.

Geriatric Care Management for Seniors with Special Needs

Elderly individuals may have many special needs. They are especially vulnerable to heat and cold. Even limited exposure to temperature extremes can rapidly result in a life-or-death crisis. Will heating or air conditioning be available while sheltering-in-place or at the planned destination?

Many infirm seniors are oxygen-dependent. Oxygen concentrators require electricity. Have spare oxygen tanks available and ready to pack and go at a moment’s notice. Special needs shelters will not have oxygen available for elder loved ones. Caregivers must provide their own.

Before depending on a generator to operate special equipment, a caregiver must know how to use the generator safely and must be sure he can obtain fuel over the long term.

Elders’ Medications and Vital Records during Emergencies

This might be one of the most important things while looking at Emergency Elder Care. It is best to keep infirm elders’ medications and copies of their prescriptions stored together in a waterproof tote. This helps to prevent last-minute scrambling to find medications. The same storage technique works well for small medical equipment, too, like blood pressure cuffs, lancets, blood sugar monitors, etc.

Regarding records that are vital in an emergency, Durable Powers of Attorney and Living Wills top the list. Keep these and Drivers’ Licenses, Social Security cards, Medicare and Medicaid cards together with Home Health Care folders, doctors’ names, and contact information in their briefcase.

Emergency Evacuation of Bedridden Elderly

Know that shelters will not accept unique beds often needed by the bedridden. Elders staying in special needs shelters will have to sleep on cots, aggravating, or initiating pressure wounds. Some special needs shelters may not allow caregivers to remain with their loved ones. Become well informed regarding special needs sheltering options!

Additionally, many bedridden elders have developed severe contractures of the legs, arms, and spine. It can be nearly impossible to find a safe and proper position in a vehicle for placing elders who aren’t able to bend. If the caregiver is unsure about this, he should do a dry run to see how people and emergency supplies will fit.

Communications Problems during Disasters

It is important to note that communications inevitably break down during severe disasters. During the Hurricane Katrina disaster of 2005, telephone communications were out for weeks. After land-line phone services were restored, circuits were jammed by families trying to find or check on one another.

TV stations and internet services were out of commission. Cordless telephones did not work without electricity. Only cell phones with texting ability were useful. Texting won’t be very helpful, however, when power is unavailable for recharging.

Discuss disaster preparedness plans in advance. Let friends and family know where each party will be, and of alternative means of contact for reunion purposes.

Emergency Food, Water, Clothing

The American Red Cross offers excellent suggestions and checklists to get families started in emergency planning preparations. They explain how much drinking water should be available per person. They also describe what sorts of foods and other supplies are appropriate for stocking in advance of an emergency.

Yet, most resources do not cover preparing a dependent senior for such situations. In preparing elders for an immediate evacuation, keep a backpack ready for loved ones; pre-packed with a change of clothing, a toothbrush and personal items, an excellent book or game, a few favorite snacks, and even a teddy bear.

In predictable disasters, like hurricanes, include these “non-standard” supplies:

  • Depends or other disposable undergarments
  • Draw-sheets for turning or lifting the bedridden
  • Disposable bed-liners for a comfortable, sanitary sleeping environment

Comforting Elders during a Disaster

Dementia patients are very easily disturbed by changes in routine. Be sure demented elders have some of their favorite foods and pastimes available to them. Many dementia patients seem to have an excessive desire for sweets. A supply of cookies, candies, and gum can add to their peace and happiness. Coloring books, playing cards, or favorite music can all help keep demented seniors happily occupied.

Still, having her calm prepared caregiver nearby will give the greatest sense of comfort and safety of all! Well-prepared caregivers insure themselves and their loved ones the very best chance of survival in any disaster situation.

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How to Wash Clothes Step by Step

The electric washing machine and dryer are time and labor-saving devices, but they’ve only been around for the masses for about 60 years. For thousands of years before that, people had to do their laundry by hand. How to Wash Clothes Step by Step is something many people no longer know!

How to Wash Clothes Step by Step article cover image

If you’re ever in a survival situation and don’t have the electricity or other resources needed to do your laundry by machine, then you’ll need to do laundry by hand. It will take extra work, but you’ll find you can get your clothes very clean.

How to Wash Clothes Step by Step

Laundering clothes frequently is especially crucial in the event of a pandemic that’s viral. You want clothing kept free of germs so that you’re disinfecting and cleansing each item. 

How to Wash Clothes Step by Step: Get your supplies

First, you’ll need some supplies – including a large washtub (could be a bathtub, sink, or separate bucket), detergent, clothesline, and clothespins. In the past, people used washing boards to help scrub items, but that’s not necessary.

Get the water ready

Once you have supplies ready, fill up your washtub with cold water. Add detergent – the amount will depend on how much water you’re using. If you’re using a large bathtub, you can use the same amount you’d use for a washing machine.

How to Wash Clothes Step by Step: presoak

Place your dirty laundry in the large tub – as many as you can fit loosely in the tub. Allow the clothing to soak for a few minutes. Then swish them through the sudsy water gently. 

Annnnd Rinse

Keep swishing until the items are clean. You may need to scrub stubborn areas. Drain the tub and then add cold, clean water. Raise and lower each item until you feel that all the soap has been removed. 

She does her laundry in her bathtub and hangs it to dry there too!

You may need to rinse twice if you find that your clothing still feels soapy. Then drain the water from the tub. Gently squeeze each garment in the laundry to remove excess water. 

Wring it out

You don’t want to twist the fabric as that can stretch it. Once you’ve removed the excess water, you can then hang your clothes to dry. If you’re able to attach a clothesline outside in the sun, then this is the best method for drying and disinfecting. 

Hang it up

The sunlight acts as a natural dryer and can sanitize items at the same time. If you’re not able to hang clothing outside, you can use areas over tile or bathtubs to allow the things to dry.

You can remove even more excess water by laying items on a clean towel and then rolling up the towel to absorb excess moisture. This towel water extraction idea will shorten the drying time. When you’re cleaning items such as towels and sheets, you may want to use warm or hot water if it’s available. However, even if you have to use cold water, the soap will help break down soil and get them clean.

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Things To Stock Up On NOW Because They Are The First To Vanish

There comes a time when we all have to stock up on a few items, and there are some that are needed more than others. But, the interesting thing about everything is that some of the items do seem weird and leave you asking…why do I need to buy this?

Things To Stock Up On article cover image

Well, after the Coronavirus pandemic hit the world in 2020, there was a different outlook on life and what was required for purchase to take home. Interestingly, people started panic buying, and before long, we all realized they were needed more than anything else. The question of Things To Stock Up On was answered.

Things To Stock Up On NOW Because They Are The First To Vanish – We Learned This With The Panic Shoppers In March ’20

The most popular items were in high numbers on the shelves, but after information started circulating, they became so scarce. Can you imagine, toilet paper, that was so plenty could not be found at any store in the country, and they had to be imported from other countries? Yes, it was that serious at one point!

Based on everything that became scarce, we have identified a few of the essential items you may want to stock up on now before it gets worse. If you wish to, believe it or not, this pandemic will stick around longer than we think, and these items will forever be going off the shelves very fast…

Paper Products

Toilet Paper and Paper Towels are easy to stock up on and never expire! It was said diarrhea was a significant symptom of Covid-19, as well as they were needed to cough and sneeze in, in case you have the virus. It was highly recommended to sneeze and cough in a disposable napkin instead of a rag or towel, and, as such, people rushed these items above everything else.

Soap

Soaps of all kinds are in high demand as it is recommended to wash your hands and clothes as often as possible. Each time you touch a surface, you have to wash your hands before touching your face.

Also, seeing you don’t know who has the virus, you can come in contact with them, and should they cough, and it touches your clothes, you have to ensure it is washed before you mix it with any other linens at home. They should certainly be on your list of things To Stock Up On.

Cleaning Agents

We are talking about Cleaning Supplies like bleach, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, along with trash bags and sanitizers here. Cleaning is critical to slowing the spread of the virus, and as such, you have to ensure you do lots of cleaning and sanitizing.

The virus can live on different kinds of surfaces for up to nine hours, and seeing you don’t know who has the virus, you can never tell if they touched the area you are accessing. The alcohol and hand sanitizers, according to health professionals, should contain at least 70% Isopropyl to kill the virus from your hands.

Trash bags are also important as the materials you use to clean, such as the paper towel or cloth, should be thrown out immediately.

Moisturizers

Think Blistex, Carmex, Lotion, and Coconut Oil for Dry Skin & your lips. You need to get moisturizers because having to come in contact with the cleaning products, and the alcohol regularly can dry out your hands and leave the pores open and susceptible to picking up other elements.

Take, for instance, the lotion and coconut oil, which have healing and repair elements that help you to build back any damages or blisters which the abrasive products may cause.

Storage Products

Trash Bags, Foil Ziploc Bags – these are the things to focus on here. Storage products are needed at this time because you have a lot you need to put away, especially in the refrigerator. You can bulk prepare your food and stack them away in the freezer, or you may need to store up a few items and need extra space to stack them.

Medicated Items

You need to ensure you get all your meds in advance as there will be instances you can’t go outdoors, and you can’t risk doing without them. A lot of countries’ health systems allow persons to purchase their prescribed medication in bulk (up to three months supply for usual one-month supplies).

This will give you a better opportunity to stay in and not have to face the dangers of what is happening outside. Take note, Gatorade may seem like a simple drink, but it is a powerful source for providing strength and building one’s system during weakness. It is like Pedialyte for adults. Look into Vick Vaporub and Vitamins too!

General Items

There are a few general items you will need to get before they run out as they, too, are going fast. Items like candles, matches, cooking gas, lighters, and more are needed in case you can’t be out, and the need calls for it. You should also stock up on pads and tampons if there are persons in the house who need them.

You should also consider getting a portable sewing kit, whether needle & thread or one of those hand-held sewing machines. This will enable you to make one of the most needed items of this period – masks. There are many others you will need to get depending on your household requirements.

Food Items You May Need

In addition to all the items listed above, there are a few food items you may need to grab while you are out as they are needed, just the same. Even though you can grow a lot of plants like vegetables in your backyard, there are others you can’t do without but unfortunately cannot grow there. These items include stuff you might need for baking, cooking, and other activities…

Butter, salt, sugar, cooking oils, flour, pectin, yeast, milk (liquid, condensed, dry), vinegar, spices, and pet foods. There are lots more you may get based on your needs. Also, when making your shopping list, ensure you add food items with lots of vitamin C as this is great to help your immune system combat the dreaded Coronavirus.

Security for Your Home

In light of the virus, there are lots of things going on, including loss of jobs and business, and this is only an onset for more dangerous things to happen – like looting and riots!

It may sound weird that you need to prepare for events such as these, but they are imminent. 2020 will be a year to go down in the record books as so much stuff has already happened and from the look of things…much more is left to come. From the world pandemic to looting and riots all over the country with people protesting injustice and many other things, you may need to safeguard your home. Here are a few must-haves to help you prepare…

* Plywood – You may have to build some barriers for your home to keep the “inside in and the outside out” thus, the need to have a few sheets of plywood is critical. Whichever way you choose to build your barrier is up to you, but it is safe to have them on hand.

* Hammer & Nails; Screws & Screwdriver – Sounds like it’s a war, but based on what reality is presenting, you will need them, especially for the above-noted barrier source. Just imagine you will have to nail barriers across your gate, doors, or even windows.

* Source of Information – You can always watch the news and updates on the television or read it in the papers, but who said with the potential of what’s currently happening the papers will be able to reach you, or your electricity will remain intact? As such, a transistor radio with extra batteries is critical, as you will be kept up to date on what’s going on.

* Tarps/Heavy Plastic Sheeting; Duct Tape – Anything is possible with the current happenings, and you have to help keep yourself protected from the “outside world” (outside your home). Getting a roll of heavy plastic sheeting (or a few rolls of them) will come in handy.

Reducing Boredom While Locked In are Things To Stock Up On too!

Staying indoors can be a great feeling, but after a while, you are tempted to go out to have a little fun. Well, this may not happen soon, so you will need to take the fun inside. Stock up on a few fun games and pleasure items to keep you occupied while you wait for the dreaded period to be over. You may want to have some board games, puzzles, books, snacks, and probably lots of juice – a little bear won’t hurt!

2020 was certainly a trying year for everyone, and getting through safely is the best bet we all can hope to win. The game now is to stay safe and be on the lookout.

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Emergency Prep Merit Badge For Boy Scouts

There are specific steps one must go through to earn their Emergency Prep Merit Badge, and though many people see it as complicated, it is a rather easy task. But how easy? It entails general tasks and features one must complete being successful in what they are working towards. When applying for the Emergency Prep Merit Badge, there are specific requirements that one ought to follow:

Emergency Prep Merit Badge For Boy Scouts article cover image

Emergency Prep Merit Badge For Boy Scouts

Earning the First Aid Merit Badge.

* Discussing the fundamental aspects of emergency preparedness such as prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Also, you should ask any question you deem fit that will help you in the process of adequately prepare yourself.

In addition to these general guides, you should also be able to understand and demonstrate the various requirements (prevention, protection, etc.) for all of the following emergencies:

  • Home Explosions
  • Food-borne Disease
  • Vehicle Aid (from blizzards, stuck in the desert or snow)
  • Earthquake or tsunami
  • Sea-related incidents
  • Toxic chemical accidents  
  • Automobile Incidents
  • Fire Accidents
  • Flooding
  • Gas Leakage
  • Nuclear power plant emergencies
  • Any other emergencies

You should also have set times when you meet with your family and discuss the ideas of building emergency kits, escape plans, and additional charts that help to keep the family safe during an emergency. After a family meeting, discuss the results with your counselor as well as the feedback of your family meeting. Through the discussion, you ought to show or demonstrate how you would safely rescue a family in the case of an emergency such as:

  • Contact with an electric wire
  • Contact with an enclosed area filled with carbon monoxide
  • Clothes caught on fire
  • You also need to show practical ways of communicating with rescue planes or aircrafts
  • Show how to transport an injured person out of different areas (building, remote locations, etc.). You can do this with the aid of another person.

You are required to fully explain the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS). Also, you will need to identify each local body or authority you can contact during an emergency and what their respective roles are. There are other requirements you will have to work through that you can research.

A great boy scout site

Now, before I keep going, I wanted to share a great Boy Scout site for ideas on just about anything you could possibly need. Check it out here:

Cub Scout Ideas

The Emergency Prep Merit Badge Workbook/Worksheet and Pamphlet

The Emergency Prep Merit Badge Workbook is a guide that helps individuals understand and master the skill of preparing and working through emergencies. Going through the workbook, you will get to assess your skills and understanding as well as see how well you will be able to cope in case something happens. The workbook is an assessment that helps you meet the basic requirements of earning your merit badge. The workout spaces on the workbook help to keep you focused and demonstrate how much you have learned from your various meetings and discussions. Make notes for revision as well as other notes you may have gotten from learning sessions.

The worksheet details spaces where you will need to explain, tell, show, identify, or demonstrate how to perform each task as per the requirements. Though this workbook is a particular way of determining how to earn your badge, your merit badge counselor may not use the same format for assessment or even use it at all. This workbook goes through various revisions at different intervals.

With the worksheet, there is also a pamphlet that has the information you need to get educated and prepared for what will happen. You may need to go through the booklet to fully understand how to complete the worksheet. The brochure will help you a lot.

Emergency Prep Kit Ideas

Emergency preparedness kits are a must in every home as emergencies can strike at any time. You would not want to risk the idea of having to face the harsh happenings of reality and not have the essential items needed for survival. The kits vary in size, and the things differ as per every household. However, there are general items that every emergency kit should have like water, toiletries, and medication. You can make your kit or purchase ready-made kits that have the essential tools and items you need.

Not sure how to make your kit, right? Here are a few ideas you can consider to follow:

1. Sustain Supply 72-Hour Emergency Survival Kit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072VNXZZ4/ref=as_li_tl?imprToken=3Kp58UTHUWLJhxcxmxtWkw&slotNum=2&ie=UTF8&tag=biipgf_030518_best-emergency-kits-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=w61&creativeASIN=B072VNXZZ4&linkId=43b90fa806c70d5583edfbaeeeb5fdde

This kit provides the necessary items needed for survival up to 72 hours in case an emergency strikes. It provides tools for critical needs like warmth and hydration.

2. ER Emergency-Ready Tornado/Hurricane Survival Kit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LLGDNX8/ref=as_li_tl?imprToken=3Kp58UTHUWLJhxcxmxtWkw&slotNum=8&ie=UTF8&tag=biipgf_030518_best-emergency-kits-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=w61&creativeASIN=B00LLGDNX8&linkId=ee15d7ccccd2f38a7c46a4eb4d44e92d

Hurricanes and tornados are natural disasters that, even though you can predict them, there is no sure way of telling the damage it will cause. This emergency kit is a waterproof bucket that contains the essential supplies needed to keep you going through the storm.

3. Emergency Zone Urban Survival Bug-out Bag

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008HHX15Y/ref=as_li_tl?imprToken=3Kp58UTHUWLJhxcxmxtWkw&slotNum=20&ie=UTF8&tag=biipgf_030518_best-emergency-kits-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=w61&creativeASIN=B008HHX15Y&linkId=a18c10664fb0016d1497ab3eed018c81

You may have to rush out when an emergency strikes, and there may not be enough time to pack things together. As such, you may need to have something ready on hand to go, and what better option to have than this emergency kit. It has essential supplies to keep you for a few days until you can venture out for more needed items.

An emergency is what it is because it has no warning signs when it will strike. Being prepared is what makes the difference and how you will be able to cope through the event. Get the information, understand it, practice, and plan.

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Best Generator to Keep Your Family Functioning?

Best Generator? It depends on your actual needs. You’re going to need a way to have some electricity when there’s no way for you to get any. Besides having solar panels in place, you should also have a generator. Not only are these good to have for when a pandemic hits, but they also come in handy during any time the power goes out. 

Best Generator to Keep Your Family Functioning?

The size of the generator you purchase is going to depend on a few different factors. When you need power, you have to figure out what you need the energy for – because various appliances use different amounts of wattage. 

Best Generator to Keep Your Family Functioning

You can find these listed in the appliance owner’s manual or through an online search, but you need to know because it determines the type of generator that you need. 

You don’t want to figure in useless appliances that will waste your fuel. It’s better to hand wash the dishes than to burn up fuel by using the dishwasher. You figure out the size that you need by listing the items that you’re going to have to use electricity for. 

For example, most people want a generator that can power a refrigerator and a freezer that is stocked full of food for the months ahead so that they don’t lose that storage. 

Best Generator to Keep Your Family Functioning?

You figure out what you need by looking up how much wattage it takes to run each of the items you want to run. You add those to give you the total wattage amount. You want to buy a generator with the wattage power that can handle all of this.

So you would look for one with the wattage capacity that was more than you need to run your most significant wattage appliance. It takes about 700 watts to run a refrigerator. 

That doesn’t seem like a lot, but when you add a furnace and electronics, the wattage use creeps up. These items also draw wattage upon starting, so you have to figure that in, too. It takes more wattage to start most things than to keep them running. 

You want to choose a generator that’s carefully matched to the wattage use that you need. If you only need 3,000 watts, don’t select a generator that can power more than twice that because you’re just burning up the gas that it takes to run the generator. 

Most homes can be run on 5,000 watts. But those are running watts, so you have to take into consideration what it takes to start up. A generator of about 7,500 watts could efficiently run a home. 

Because the generator will need gas, you’ll need to store that safely to prevent any problems with it. Keep your supply locked away and hidden. Store gasoline in gas-approved containers – but since you want to have this in bulk, you can find the larger containers that will hold more. 

Some people suggest using steel drums, and you can buy these online. Whatever amount of gas you store, it will only keep for about a year before it starts to break down. However, there are additives like PRI that you can buy that can restore the gas. 

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