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Emergency Preparedness
EMERGENCY SHELTER
In survival, as in all aspects of life, it is easier to be organized if we prioritize. The priorities, in order, are shelter, water, heat, food, signal, and utility. You can live four to six weeks without food; three to five days without water; but hypothermia will kill you in 30 minutes. Therefore shelter is the first priority!
Shelter may be defined as anything that protects the human element from nature's elements. A good coat can't be beat, and it is easier to survive in the summer with winter clothes than in the winter with summer clothes.
WHAT YOU NEED
A free-standing dome or A-frame tent is the only realistic option for a mobile shelter in a short-term emergency preparedness kit. There are several things to be aware of in selecting a tent. Construction should be of good quality, breathable materials. The rain fly should extend from the apex of the tent to the ground. A small rain fly, like those found on many discount shelf specials, is unsuitable because it means the tent walls are made mostly of waterproof material. The human body passes one to two quarts of water vapor daily and if you are in a waterproof tent for an extended period of time, that water vapor will condense on the walls. It is for this very reason that tube tents should be avoided like the plague.
A heavy-duty space blanket is recommended to put under the tent in order to protect the tent floor. It is much easier and cheaper to replace a $12 space blanket than a $100 tent. Avoid the pocket space blanket-another plague! Their usefulness is limited and they breed a false sense of security.
A sleeping bag is the most critical piece of survival equipment you can possess, especially in winter. Fires are only 50 percent effective. You cook your front side while your buns freeze, or you toast your buns and your nose freezes -- you just can't win! In a sleeping bag, however, you can efficiently maintain body heat.
A good sleeping bag will have the capability to form a hood. It will have a sizeable draft tube along the length of the zipper to prevent snags. Another important feature is the ability to zip two bags together to share body heat or to put a child between parents. Select a synthetic insulation rather than water just like a sponge.
In putting together a good short-term preparedness kit, you may think it necessary to initially purchase items that are of inferior quality. Perhaps so, but at the first opportunity the higher quality equipment should be purchased. There is no economy in going second class. Tents and sleeping bags are expensive and should be considered a serious investment. After all your life and the lives of your family are in the balance!
WATER: THSE MOST CRITICAL COMMODITY
Water is critical to survival. But where do you find safe drinking water in an emergency?
Water is the most critical commodity in a survival situation. A normal, healthy adult can survive four to six weeks without food, so long as there is adequate water. Without sufficient water your chances of survival drop dramatically. See chart below for details.
The experts in wilderness survival indicate that a person should have a full gallondown Qualofill. Polooguard and some of the new materials recently released are excellent. The advantage of synthetic insulation is that when the bag gets wet, it can be wrung out and still keep you warm. When down get wet, the insulation value drops to nearly nothing. Emergency survival situations rarely occur on warm sunny days, and you can just about bet it will be on a dark, rainy or snowy night when the world comes apart.
An absolute must in a temperate climate is a sleeping pad. Ground cold can suck the heat right out of your body, through your sleeping bag. A closed-cell foam pad will provide the insulation required, but will give little if any comfort. An air mattress of the type you take to the beach or swimming pool will freeze your whole person during the winter. For true comfort an air mattress such as Thermarest is expensive but worth every cent. For economy, a simple 3/4 length closed cell foam pad is all that you need. Avoid open-cell pads because they soak up processed before consumption. There are several ways to do this. Here are some of the easiest and most common methods:
Boiling: This is the only process that is 100 percent effective in killing any crawlies, but it does not remove any floaties. Water should be boiled for at least 10 minutes at a rolling boil. It tastes terrible because much of the dissolved air has been lost. You can improve the taste by pouring the boiled water back and forth between two clean containers several times.
Filtering: The easiest and most effective method of removing almost all crawlies and all but the smallest floaties. Does not affect the tastes of the water. You should look for one that filters down to 0.2 microns or less. A combination of filtering and boiling or treatment, when possible, it is the best way to ensure water safety.
Iodine: 75-90 percent effective in killing crawlies, but does not remove floaties. The effectiveness of this method depends on water temperature and contact time. Iodine does affect the taste of the water. Avoid like the plaque Iodine tablets sold as "military surplus." The reason they are surplus is because they have exceeded the shelf life of five years and the military, by regulation, cannot issue them. Always check the expiration date.
Bleach: Almost as effective as iodine in killing crawlies, but does nothing about floaties. Use four drops of regular chlorine bleach (not color safe or scented) per quart of water. Note that liquid bleach also loses potency over time, so bleach that has been stored for more than two years is not going to be very effective for water purification.
Water is critical. A filter and some iodine tablets in your kit are a good item to have.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER CANNOT BE OVERSTATED!
BREAKING THE RULES FOR WINTER SAFETY
Winter safety is a concern as we travel and play in the snow and cold. Here are some guidelines for being prepared to survive a cold weather emergency. This information can also be used to make you more comfortable while enjoying outdoor winter activities.
Traditional Methods Don't Work
These methods are from the Eskimos who live in the harshest of conditions.
Fire and Shelter are Unreliable.
Fires fail in extreme cold or high winds. Tents blow away and cabins burn down. Sub-zero safety must be based on clothing, water and food.
There is No Such Thing as Thin Insulation
The only thing that really insulates the body is dead air space, and it takes about one inch to do the job. Open-cell polyurethane foam is one of the best insulating materials.
Moisture Control, Not Insulation, is the Key to Warmth
In other words, regardless of the "R" factor, insulation is not insulation when it becomes wet. Insulating material that does not absorb and hold water will be warmer.
Forget Layering
The problem with layered clothing is that it promotes moisture and frost build-up between the layers.
Avoid Waterproofing
Waterproof clothing and footwear may keep outside moisture from getting in, but they trap body moisture inside, where it decreases the effectiveness of insulation.
Get rid of that Cotton Underwear
Cotton absorbs and holds moisture. Use synthetic fabrics such as nylon and polyester throughout your clothing system.
Leave the Chocolate at Home
Wholesome foods with complex carbohydrates provide more warmth and energy than candy.
Have Patience!
Anticipate that everything takes longer to do in the cold. Plan far ahead and don't become frustrated.
You can apply this knowledge to assure your own safety and comfort by providing yourself with adequate knowledge, clothing and nutrition.
First: Get a copy of the Boy Scout Field Book. (Don't confuse this with the "Handbook.") Study the sections on winter camping and making your own equipment.
Second: Provide yourself with adequate clothing. Be sure to not use cotton clothing or cotton underwear. Mittens should be made of wool as the polypropylene mittens will melt on the stove or car engines.
Third: Provide yourself with water and food. It is easy to become dehydrated in cold weather and because cold dry air draws the moisture out of the body. It will be necessary to force yourself to drink, especially if there is snow on the ground, it has a psychological effect that keeps us from feeling thirsty. Becoming dehydrated slows the metabolic processes and can result in hypothermia. Dehydration also results in a negative attitude and sluggish thinking. These effects can be disastrous in a survival situation.
Carry the water on the inside of your clothing to keep it from freezing. Take the water to bed with you also, for the same reason.
Eating snow does not give enough water and you will feel full long before your needs are met. In cold weather you need a half-gallon of water per day, and one-gallon if you are working.
For food, use whole grains, nuts and meat. (whole grain bread, biscuits, pancakes, bagels, all types of nuts, cheese and jerky with lots of fat). This will help you keep your mind active and your body warm.
