GUIDELINES FOR EMERGENCY WATER STORAGE

The human body can only survive three days without drinking water. This makes water a crucial aspect of emergency preparedness.

In most homes, nearly 25 gallons of water per day is used by each person. This includes water used for drinking, cleaning, flushing and cooking. Additionally, most of the systems which supply water to these homes are dependent on electricity. Even properties with wells often utilize electric pump systems. So, water storage is important should the power grid go down.

It is recommended that you evaluate your family’s needs for a seven day period. If you are careful with your water use, you should be able to manage with 2 to 3 gallons of water per person in very warm climates. Half of this will be drinking water. The other half will be used for cooking and hygiene. You may not drink this much water currently, but keep in mind that other sources of beverages may not be available. Additionally, you will be adjusting to living without the benefit of items like air conditioning and electric fans. You will need to replace water lost through perspiration and respiration.

If you know ahead of time that you may lose your supply of water, take the opportunity to fill bathtubs, sinks, ice chests and any other container you have that is strong enough to hold water without leaking. Separate your water into two categories: drinking and all other.

It is advisable to prepare for at least seven days without water. This means that each member of your family will need 21 gallons of water in storage. To be safe, you may wish to double this amount. A family of 5 would require 105 gallons of water in storage. Twice that amount would be 210 gallons. So, two or four, 55 gallon drums would meet your storage needs.

A gallon of water weighs a little less than 8.5 pounds. This is an important consideration for storage and transportation. Quantities of water are best stored on a reinforced concrete floor as 55 gallons of water (not including the weight of the drum) would weigh almost 500 pounds. This is too heavy for most other flooring systems.

If you are unexpectedly without water, there are places in your house that contain useable water. Most hot water heaters hold about 40 gallons of drinkable water. The tank portion of the toilet also has water that is useable for some non-drinking purposes. Ice cubes in the freezer are another source. Don’t throw away the water found in canned goods as it is another valuable source of hydration when every drop counts.

Water can be collected from downspouts or in a child’s wading pool during a rainstorm. You can leave a clean bedspread or sheet out during the rain or overnight on the grass to collect the dew. Wring it out over a storage container. Non drinking water sources include water from the toilet bowl and the waterbed mattress.

Take time now to plan ahead for possible water shortages. Get creative with ways to replenish your stored water once the faucet is turned off. Train yourself and your family members to conserve the water you DO have.

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TREATMENT FOR SWOLLEN FEET AND HANDS

Mobility and ease of movement are greatly impeded by inflammation and swelling. In urgent circumstances, this can be dangerous. Swelling indicates that more fluids are being delivered to the area than it is possible for your lymphatic system to carry away. Rather than leave the fluids there to stretch and strain the tissues, there is a way to reduce the swelling and recuperative time.

You can create a biological pump.

Fill a bucket with icy water and another container with the warmest water you can endure. Place your swollen limb into the cold water and allow your limb to soak for several minutes. Then move the limb into the warm water soak for several minutes. Continue to do this until you are relieved of the swelling.

I have found that inexpensive foam ice chests are useful for this application as they are large enough to hold a sufficient volume of water and maintain the heat or coolness of the water over a 30 minute session (or longer). If this is not an option in a remote location, find a container that can hold warm water and move between a cold running stream and the heated container of water. You may even substitute heated rocks wrapped in an insulating cloth as your source of warmth and a frozen towel for a cold wrap.

The point is to repeatedly cool and warm the limb. The heat draws oxygenated blood to the area and relaxes the tissue. The ice shrinks the tissues and helps move fluids away from the limb. Done repeatedly, it increases the movement of fluids away from the area, promoting healing and increasing the range of motion.

You may still need some time to regain strength in the limb, especially if there has been structural damage. However the healing will progress at a faster rate when swelling and inflammation are reduced.

Of course, the primary defense against a swollen limb is to prevent its occurrence.

Poor movement mechanics and a lot of sitting can lead to a tendency towards swellings. Additionally, this can contribute to arthritis pain, poor bone density and tension in the neck, eyes, and jaw. These are common symptoms among populations that have a sedentary lifestyle with brief interludes of intense exercise. In cultures that require movement throughout the day this is not the norm. The human aging process is not naturally characterized by these symptoms.

When your feet or hands swell, it is an indication that toxins and waste material have accumulated in the area. With the regular use of your muscles, the circulatory and lymph systems can become healthy enough to flush the area free of toxins and bring nourishment to the tissues. Not using muscles means that these functions cannot be carried out as they were designed, and this makes you prone to injury and disease.

The good news is that the function and health of your body can be improved when you change your behavior with respect to the design. So, if you haven’t been utilizing muscle groups, it’s not too late to start. Your ability to take care of yourself and your loved ones is improved with physical fitness.

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This guide is written for information purposes only and not meant as a substitute for skilled health care. When incorporating these methods, a reader must be informed, utilize good sense and be aware that he assumes all liability.

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EVALUATING CHARACTER IN A CRISIS

When determining your options in an emergency, those who trust the all-knowing God can pray for wisdom to know the best course of action and maintain composure. Additionally, there are skills you can practice to evaluate character in a crisis.

Make mental notes of the demeanor and behaviors of anyone that attempts to take charge. Observe these things closely while discussing a topic that is not controversial. What is the tilt of the head, the posture, the position of the shoulders, arms, hands, legs and feet? How does this person stand or sit? Notice the eyes, the lines around them and the lift of the eyebrows. Notice the thickness of the upper lip and whether it suddenly becomes thinner when certain topics are broached.

Which way is the torso facing? Individuals are more likely to turn their abdomen towards someone they care for or trust. Face the person trying to persuade you and observe his stance. If he turns his shoulder towards you, this is known as giving someone the ‘cold shoulder.’ It can be an indicator that the person is uncertain of his words, or he may be hiding something. Someone who suddenly leans backwards is displaying a desire to retreat from a topic. Alternately, leaning forward during a topic can mean that the person is very interested in the subject and the person to whom they are speaking. A turn in the conversation that results in hands clasped in front can mean that the person is trying to appear smaller and retreat from the discussion.

Any change or movement away from the established baseline could indicate that you aren’t hearing the whole story.

If poor lighting prevents you from seeing, use your ears to help determine a person’s truthfulness. Listen for verbal clues that reveal the true intent.

Use of the word ‘but,’ can indicate something is hidden. Statements like, “Some people might think I’m wrong, but” raises questions about who would disagree and their reasons for doing so.

How does the person answer yes or no questions? Do you get a solid yes or no followed by an explanation? Or does the person lead with qualifications? An example might be – Question: ‘Are you telling me the truth?’ Truthful answer: ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ A suspect answer would be: ‘I would NEVER lie to you. You know that.’

A third verbal indicator is when someone laughs when asked a serious question. ‘Are you certain this is our best course?’ followed by a chuckled ‘YES!’ is a reflexive way to cover doubts, allay fears and try to encourage the group. A more honest answer might be a sober ‘I’m as certain as I can be with my limited experience under these conditions.’ Keep in mind that a group is more easily led when a person displays confidence, so the first answer may not be a deal breaker.

A fourth verbal indicator to watch for would be the choice of words used by the individual. ‘I realize you aren’t convinced that I’m being honest with you,’ contains the phrase ‘I’m being honest with you.’ The statement, ‘I understand it’s easier for you to think that I would lie to you,’ has the phrase ‘I would lie to you.’ These are unintended keys to the truth. The first statement is likely a truthful one while the second statement is suspect.

These helps aren’t comprehensive. Used alone, they aren’t enough reason to ignore sound advice – even if it comes from a less than honest person. Like doctors delivering bad news, an individual may simply loathe to tell you the full story, believing it best not to worry you. Consider the whole picture and what you know of the character of the person before deciding whether to follow. Nevertheless, it helps to know when a person is being forthright.

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MEASURING DAYLIGHT BY HAND

When you are outdoors or living with limited (or no) electricity, tasks are measured by how much daylight remains. Light from the sun is necessary in order to accomplish many duties. Knowing how much natural light remains in the day will tell you how to set your priorities regarding things such as shelter and fire.

This is important, especially if you are accustomed to a routine that includes things like a late evening meal with time to relax afterwards. The preparation and cleanup will best be done while the sun is still shining and you are able to see what you are doing. It is NO FUN to wake up the next day to soiled cookware because there wasn’t enough light to do the job right the night before. Ask anyone that has tried to set up a shelter in the dark, and you will quickly hear enough stories to make you want to avoid that scenario also.

To estimate how much daylight remains, locate the sun in the sky without looking directly at it. Fully extend your arm and turn your hand to look at your palm with your fingers pointing to the side. Measure how many finger-widths of space there are between the bottom edge of the sun and the horizon line. For every width of a finger you can place between the sun and the horizon, there is approximately 15 more minutes of daylight. So, if you had a single span of your hand between the sun and the horizon, there is about an hour (4 fingers X 15 minutes) before sunset.

In the morning hours this method can be used to estimate how much time has passed since sunrise. Additionally, measuring the distance of the sun from both the eastern and western horizons, will give you a good general idea of the length of time you will between have sunrise and sunset. Half of that time will give you the hours between sunrise/sunset and mid-day. This valuable tool will help you avoid becoming so consumed with any single task that you run out of time to accomplish other important things.

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SWEATING IN A SURVIVAL SITUATION

Thermoregulation is a skill that is valuable to have in an outdoor situation. Thermoregulation is the ability to keep body temperature within certain boundaries, even when the ambient temperature is very different.

A first step towards thermoregulation is to remain calm. A panicked person will have an increased heart rate and the urge to move quickly. The reason to avoid this is because heavy activity will cause the body to perspire and lose valuable water. Additionally, sweat will dampen clothing. Wet clothing will speed hypothermia after sunset, when temperatures begin to fall. This is a consideration EVEN IF you are in the middle of the summer season because evening temperatures can rapidly decline. Perspiration dampened clothing can contribute to skin irritation and blisters.

Knowing how to heed your body’s signals regarding thermoregulation is a life-saving skill. If you begin to perspire, loosen and remove outer garments. This will help keep clothing and skin dry. Watch members of your group and encourage them to remove layers also. If you find that the temperatures are very warm, a dampened cloth across your neck is one method that will help you avoid heat exhaustion.

Avoid working at full capacity as this will create a greater need for drinkable water to replace the hydration you have lost. Work at 60% of your capacity – the point just before you break into a sweat. In a survival situation, it is better to learn the art of steady, plodding activity that brings gradual results, rather than racing to finish each task.

Using this method, construct a shelter, make a fire and prepare for nightfall. When the temperatures drop, re-apply the extra clothing that was not needed during the day.


The following video by Spencer Two Dogs discusses Thermoregulation.

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