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News for the week of 2024-07-22
The Prepared Support - 14 hours ago Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreNeutrality for the sake of survival and how to manage the full spectrum of ideologies
Watchtower - 10 hours ago First most, politics are not allowed.
It’s very clear that society for Americans is rapidly transforming due to several factors and people are largely polarized in what they believe, how they choose to exist and what they expect others to be like in terms of their own beliefs.
In terms of prepping and long term survival from a SHTF event that could play out for the medium to long term changing society as we know it today,
What are people doing to prepare in terms of which side you may be on when things go bad?
Do you find yourself welcoming to all type of beliefs and ideologies?
Do you hold strong opinion and are more narrowly focused in an ideology?
Do you find it dangerous to be around certain types of ideologies more than other types?
Are you concerned about being subjected to aggressive type ideologies (cults, criminals, hordes) or even passive type ideologies (hippy, no-violence, share-the-wealth types) compromising your safety and survival during troubled times?
Do you just plan to go it solo or work with a small group of folks knowing that strength in numbers can also backfire at a certain point?
Please share your thoughts, you don’t have to answer any specific question from above.
-Watchtower
Read MoreEssential medical reference books for the prepper library
Scott P - 14 hours ago I wanted to start compiling a list of great medical references at different levels that are useful for austere medicine and hopefully longer term survival. Also curious what books others have found useful to study or have on hand as reference.
Quick reference
Wilderness & Travel Medicine – fairly good first step and comes with larger AMK kits, which I like for the packaging. Written in an accessible and easily referenced way. NOLS WFA reference card – Good for rapid reference for those in your group who are less trained or practicedFirst aid
Wilderness Medicine (Forgey) – Well written and it has a good focus on being more remove from definitive care Fix Your Feet – A good reference on foot care. It is targeted more at runners and hikers, but if you suddenly increase time on your feet it will be valuable to know how to care for them Hypothermia, frostbite and other cold injuries – a good deep dive into cold injuries for those of us who live in climates with extreme cold.First responder
Outdoor Emergency Care – This is the textbook use for national ski patrols certification. I don’t love it, but it is a reasonable textbook at the FR/EMT level that also includes some more environmental emergencies and dealing with more austere situations such as backcountry rescue.Advanced
Auerbachs Wilderness Medicine – THE textbook for wilderness medicine. It is a 2 volume medical textbook, which is very comprehensive. Depending on your science background this could be a hard read.What have others found?
Read MoreAR15 stock weight
grntrkguy1964 - 4 days ago I am considering getting a stock weight for a target match AR 15 rifle. Has anyone used/tried one? Is there any preceived difference in performance? Thanks!!
Read MoreBurning Candles
Barb LeeContributor - 5 days ago This probably seems like a grade-school level subject, but I’ve tended to have a lot of difficulty burning candles efficiently. Boredom with the bad weather has encouraged me to relieve my ignorance. It turns out there’s a lot more to burning candles than just lighting the wick. And there are lots of articles on the internet about how to burn and maintain candles for optimal light and burn time, not to mention safety practices.
One of the main points (there are many!) is always trimming the wick. As I was reading an article, I was burning an Amish stearic acid carriage lamp candle (really!) in a little kerosene lamp that I converted for the candle. This candle was burning flawlessly (my last try with the candle that was just open to the air was a failure, yet these candles burn handsomely in carriage lamps!). To my surprise, when I looked up from reading about burning candles, the candle (which had been burning about an hour) was really “chugging” and smoking a bit.
So one of several rules about burning candles is that depending on the candle, it’s going to need its wick trimmed during extended burn times. After burning an hour the wick was about 3/4″ long! This candle looks like it needs attention about every hour.
I’d encourage folks who have a stash of candles for emergencies, but never actually gave a thought to burning them, to look up the many articles on burning them safely and correctly. This is a pretty good place to start.
Read MoreCan a regular refrigerator be used as a medical refrigerator?
Jeson - 1 week ago Due to some physical reasons, people have to take some medicines frequently. Some medicines that are frequently taken need to be kept at a certain low temperature for a long time. These medicines need to be refrigerated, but can they also be stored in a regular refrigerator at home? I tried to find the answer online. Professional medical refrigerators have temperature control between 2-8 ℃ and have some safety functions to ensure that your medicines are not damaged. What do you think?
Read MoreNews for the week of 2024-07-15
The Prepared Support - 1 week ago Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreBottom Water Dispenser
Gen - 1 week ago Hi everyone! 🙂
This is my first post, and I can already tell I’ll be doing a lot of reading here.
Since 2020, we’ve been building our log home in the woods. Every trip involves packing food, dog supplies, clothes, and—most importantly—water.
Over time, our packing has gotten easier, but one constant is the water situation.
We have a dug well that tests safe to boil, but it has a noticeable color and odor, so we prefer to bring our own water.
I’m considering getting a bottom-loading water dispenser. My concern is, when the bottle is open and in use – even if it is in the dark compartment and we keep it plugged in, how long will the water stay good?
It would be a hassle to replace it too often, especially since we might be away for a month or only visit a couple of times a month.
Thanks for any insights!
(I am watching youtube review videos so there goes the inspiration for the image!)
Canning lids and rings in Nm
Sammy’s mom - 2 weeks ago I once was a “seller” have several hundred of these. Because I’m in NM and shipping is too costly I’d be willing to trade for other gear but close to Santa Fe, Abq but when I make my every couple month trips.
Read MoreNews for the week of 2024-07-08
The Prepared Support - 3 weeks ago Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreNews for the week of 2024-07-01
The Prepared Support - 3 weeks ago Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreNews for the week of 2024-06-24
The Prepared Support - 4 weeks ago Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreWhen and where to not carry concealed firearms
My name is Megan - 1 month ago I sometimes see signs like this on the entrances of businesses and restaurants. Banks, hospitals, schools, and even The Cheesecake Factory prohibit firearms on their premises. Is it outright illegal to carry a gun in these places or just their company policy? Will disobeying these signs result in a felony, a misdemeanor, or just being asked to leave?
The bad guys who are going to shoot up a place are not going to care if there is a sign on the window or not and might even target these locations knowing that all the good people inside are going to be disarmed. Weighing the pros and cons, I am leaning more to conceal carrying in my purse and worst case scenario being asked to leave rather than be left vulnerable against an active shooter like what happened in the Brooklyn subway the other day.
It probably will depend on the state or city you are in, so there might not be one overall right answer, but if you have any thoughts I’d like to hear.
Read More
Turn old bed sheets into durable waterproof tarps
Carter Murphy - 1 month ago The following video shows how to take old bed sheets and turn them into durable waterproof tarps.
The reason I am sharing this project here is because it looks to be a more durable tarp than the plastic tarpaulins you would buy at the hardware store and isn’t that expensive for what you get. A cheap tube of silicone caulk is about $5 and the gallon of Naphtha is $10.
From the video it says to find the volume of your bed sheets and use 3/4 of that volume in solvent (naphtha). Then using a ratio of 5:1 (Naphtha:Silicone) combine until the silicone is dissolved into a maple syrup consistency and soak your bed sheet in it. Hang to dry for a day and you have a waterproof fabric tarp.
To be honest I am tired of the UV rays of the sun and wind beating up my cheap plastic tarps and may try this out. This will probably hold up longer durability-wise and I don’t see it losing it’s waterproof ability like some fabrics do because it isn’t just a topical coating that can be rubbed off and silicone is a strong synthetic material that won’t break down as easily or quickly like bees waxed canvas would.
Read MoreNews for the week of 2024-06-17
The Prepared Support - 1 month ago Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreNews for the week of 2024-06-10
The Prepared Support - 2 months ago Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreNews for the week of 2024-06-03
The Prepared Support - 2 months ago Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreRecipes for cooking with only non-perishable food
Adriaan - 2 months ago I was wondering if anyone could share some recipes for cooking with only non-perishable ingredients? I’m thinking canned fish and chicken. Thanks in advance 🙂
Read MoreAtmospheric water generators
Claire - 2 months ago Has anyone heard of atmospheric water generators (particularly for home use)? If so what are you thoughts and is there one you’d recommend?
Read MoreNews for the week of 2024-05-27
The Prepared Support - 2 months ago Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreIs a portable solar-powered generator practical for powering my home?
Kristin Vogel - 2 months ago I don’t have solar panels on my house and I don’t have the money to invest in a rooftop array. I want something to power my home…the refrigerator as much as needed, lights at night, our on-demand water heater. Is a portable system with panels I can set up in my backyard practical for this purpose? I like the idea that we can take it with us if we need to. I would love your thoughts and thanks in advance.
Read MoreNews for the week of 2024-05-20
The Prepared Support - 2 months ago Make a top-level comment for a new story/topic. Discussions about the topic should be in the replies to the top-level comment. That way things stay organized and every main comment as you scroll down is a different piece of news.
Read MoreAltoids First Aid Kit
Bigwig - 2 months ago I’ve been making up some kits lately and thought I would share.
Here’s my Altoids first aid kit (including packing order):
Moleskin, Pre-cut and Shaped Pieces (1)
Bandage, Gauze 2”x2” (1)
Alcohol wipes (2)
Bandage, Knuckle (1)
Bandage, 1”x3” (2)
Bandage, Butterfly (2)
Sting relief wipe (1)
Triple antibiotic ointment (1)
Ibuprofen 200 mg (2)
Benadryl 25 mg (2)
Glue, super (1)
Tweezers (1)
Lahaina Fire: Deadliest US Fire in a Century
Eric - 2 months ago A wildfire destroyed the historical town of Lahaina, former royal capital of Hawaii, on August 9, 2023. Many people burned alive in their homes, unaware that a fire was approaching. Others burned in their cars, stuck in traffic while trying to evacuate, or drowned while trying to escape into the harbor. Bodies are still being counted (93 so far), but the death toll could be up to 1000.
As fires become more common and more intense, we need to learn fire emergencies like Lahaina so that we can prevent them, or at least reduce the loss of life in the next fire emergency. Please join me in collecting information about what went wrong and what could have been done differently. What challenges did the people of Lahaina face as they tried to escape the flames. What could individuals have done differently to improve their odds of survival? What could the community have done differently to prevent the town from burning or to get people out in time?
Read MoreYou are stranded on a deserted island, you can choose four items…
Captain Peanut - 2 months ago First post here. Wanted to share something I saw on Facebook that I thought would be fun.
I took out that spot near the hunting rifle because it had weed in there. I don’t think that’s a very good survival item so lets place an ax there instead as an option.
Don’t just list four items that you would take though, tell why you would choose those over something else and how you would use those items to keep yourself alive.
Read More
