Few of us will be able to afford to buy a do all say all robot, will they cost people their jobs? I don't think so...

I have been reading and thinking a lot about artificial intelligence lately. It is a little out of my niche, but maybe not. It started with an article I read in the newspaper having to do with a guaranteed minimum salary. For me to comment on a minimum salary doesn't make too much sense, I don't think it will come to fruition.

You say, you can't or won't do windows? You need more
software? Good grief Gertrude.

    Let's call them "Robots", I believe there will be an abundance of jobs created for humans by the creation of artificial intelligence. I remember in the late 1970's in the central valley of California when the mechanical grape pickers showed up in the vineyards. The machines picked wine grapes, they caused a lot of damage to the grapes due to how fragile the skins are, and the hardware the machine was made of. The field workers would hang cotton picker spindles in the vines to damage the machines thinking that would save their jobs. The reality was and is, the machines created more jobs, maintenance, gondola drivers (the grapes before had to be carried out of the fields), people doing paperwork and people running the machines. No jobs were lost, in fact it appeared jobs were created.
 

A lot of jobs with less hard labor, although it's still very
hard work. 

I sense the same thing will happen when robots become common use, however,"common use" will have to be defined. Artificial intelligence will be expensive, prohibitively so. To begin with very few of us will be able to afford a "do all" robot, one to wash windows, mow lawns, do dishes, do the wash, paint and the list goes on. What I see taking place is machines will be built, they will not be able to build themselves. Some robots will be employed for manufacturing but they won't be able to perform all of the production jobs. There may be a "basic model" made that can perform a wide range of tasks, but they won't have the software installed. Too many tasks around our homes will have to be custom programmed. No two houses or lots are exactly the same. The software may be handled much like the industrial maintenance programs developed in the 1980's. One model performed all, except the tasks were divided into modules. Creating a lot of programmers, instructors and technical repair people.
    A robot is a mechanical machine, coupled with a very technical software and processing system. How many computers have we owned that were problem free? How many cars have we owned that never broke down? Robots will break down, software can get compromised and mechanical equipment breaks down. How many jobs will just that create? Not even taking into account the amount of custom programs that will have to be written for almost every home, office, and building that is owned by people wanting to use robots. If we think of the self driving cars, trucks and ships, they are, after all, robots, I don't see one repair garage shutting their doors. Contrary, I see more tow truck drivers and vehicle mechanics of every stripe.

Cargo ships are a natural for robots to operate, but what if it
breaks down at sea? Helicopter pilots, programmers and
Mechanics will have to be sent out for repairs. 

   This is a huge subject, if we think of every menial task we would like to have some one else do. I think it will come with a huge price and a huge increase in employment. In my opinion we should start preparing the children in schools for jobs we cannot imagine robots will create. Just like the people picking grapes, I do truly believe we will see an increase in jobs, not a need to have a guaranteed wage. I just don't see it.
   I am way beyond my goal of 500 +/- words, and I ventured outside my niche of survivalism. It is actually a survival skill to be able to get a fair paying job to take advantage of everything we are able to. It will be interesting to see what robots will be next and how they will be integrated into our lives. Like the Roomba.
Thanks for reading, please comment, robots are an interesting direction we will be heading and indeed have been for decades.

Thanks jimandkate EmergencyKitsPlus.com Disaster Preparedness Supplies

How much stuff do we need to survive an emergency event? Will you be ready to walk out of your neighborhood?

    I read a number of blogs on sites dealing with disaster survival, emergency preparedness and similar sites. A number of them have extensive lists of equipment, tools and food to use as reference when building an evacuation kit. Some lists have a lot of suggested items in them, I've read some suggesting a chain saw. Another had so much equipment I was wondering how in the world someone would be able to manage it all. I understand the reasoning behind the extensive lists, it is to deal with the fourth stage of a disaster event. That is the situation that has no end in site. Most of the planning for the fourth stage is establishing a safe environment after our entire system collapses.

Bad news on the horizon. 

    I prefer not to concentrate on that final type of disaster, mine is to help prepare people to survive that first 72 hour period. It is much like a shock and awe situation after a disaster first occurs. There are some basic items to have ready for an evacuation of your home, or if it is a utility outage that last's for a week or longer. I believe in planning for survival beginning with surviving the first three days. What would I need?
    It depends a lot on the type of disaster, wild fire, house fire, flood, tornado's, and any type that leaves your home destroyed forces us to leave. They are solid evacuation situations, where do we evacuate to? The answer to that will be in your survival plan which will be in your evacuation bag. I have long advised to have two bags, one small bag with enough supplies to get a person where they need to walk to. In my case I would have a 2 1/2 mile walk to the main road. I have a small kit with two liters of water, a flashlight, jacket and a few granola bars. I would have to walk the distance out, it would take me just over an hour at 20 minutes per mile. That would take me to a muster station for further evacuation somewhere, most likely a church, school or other gathering spot. A small bag with just enough to get a person to the evacuation spot is what my preparation consist of.

The flashlight should really fit in your pocket or
your kit bag.

    If it's a lose of utilities due to earthquake or another situation caused by an event some distance from your house, then we can stay home. It is a huge advantage, but still there are some items that will be needed. The advantage is with precautions your pantry and refrigerated food items can be used. Place a couple of gallon containers in your freezer filled with water to freeze. The gallon ice blocks will help preserve your food. The biggest concern as always is water, there will be some water left in the house piping and water heater, use it for non potable uses. It's really not difficult to keep an ample supply on hand. If you buy 5 gallon jugs of water for your water cooler that's a good solution. Cases of water bottles is another good way to go.
    Build a survival plan, sit down and think about the two or three scenarios you may face. Common sense mixed with reality will set you on a path for surviving the first three days. Maybe you prefer one pack, maybe your preference is to grab a bottle of water and go. We must also plan in the instance we have to get up and go with no time to take anything with us. The planning will still pay off, escaping with nothing but the clothes on your back will be part of the plan.
   Thanks for reading, I'd like your input, leave a comment, suggestion or story.

It always get's back to water for me, enough water you'll be
fine, not enough you'll be thirsty. 

jimandkate  emergencykitsplus.com
 

There is a lot to fire extinguisher's, here's a description of the basics of the ratings, can you name the 5 ratings?

    Fire Extinguisher's, I have several around the house, in the boat and on the patio by the BBQ. United Laboratory classifies them in two ways, the first method describes the contents. The second is a quick reference symbol and letter designation. ( The US Fire Administration Talks about choosing fire extinguishers, click here.)
    4A:20B:C, is an example of the numerical rating of the extinguishers as follows: The "A" tells us it's filled with water, 1 1/2 gallons, when a "4" is placed before the "A" the volume is then 4 gallons + (A) 1 1/2 gallons = 5 gallons. The B:C rate is equivalent to the coverage in square feet, so 20 B:C = 20 square foot coverage (as applied by a professional). This rating system enables us to add logic to choosing the type we need. This is designated on a tag or label on the extinguisher.
    The rating's most of us are familiar with and the way we identify fire extinguisher's is by their contents, which contents extinguish which fires.

There are many shapes and sizes available, look at the rating
and the class designation.

    "A" class rating is filled with water, the numeric rating tells us how much. The designation tells us we can use this for extinguishing combustibles, paper, wood, clothe and solids that are not metal. An "A" extinguisher should never be used on electrical fires, grease fires or flammable metals. The letter symbol "A" is in the center of a triangle with a green background, the words "ordinary combustibles" is printed below it.
     "B" class rating is meant to be used on fires fueled with liquid, oil, gasoline, diesel and grease to name some. The "B" extinguisher is filled with one of two types of solid flame extinguisher agents. The first is Mono-ammonium phosphate meant to smother the fire. The second is sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) which begins a chemical reaction successfully putting the fire out. Do not use a water filled unit on this type of fire, it will spread the flames, oil floats.
     "C" class ratings are meant to be used on "live" electrical fires, they must be smothered. Mono-ammonium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) are two agents commonly charging class "C" extinguishers. Do not use water (class "A") on a live electrical fire, you could be electrocuted. If possible electrical power should be disconnected from the charged electrical system prior to extinguishing it.

A typical type of class "A" fire, don't hesitate to run if the
situation becomes too intense, it takes courage to perform
as this lady is. 

    "D" class rating are used to extinguish fires involving magnesium, sodium, potassium and sodium potassium alloys. Metals that form an oxygen bubble over them (magnesium) and create their own atmosphere which must be "pierced" to access the fire. A common point of this type of fire would be an airplane tire/wheel fire, they are typically magnesium.
    "K" class rating is used to extinguish kitchen fires with the various combustible materials used to cook. Made to put out cooking oils and deep fryers. The numeric rating might read 2A:K would contain 2 1/2 gallons water and with this designation is approved to be used on a class K (cooking oil) fire.
    Purchase fire extinguisher's and place them in the room or area they are made for.
    There is four types of contents for fire extinguisher's, also describing the "Types" of extinguisher's, they are:
    Dry chemical normally rated for multiple uses, generally propelled by an inert gas.
    Halon is a gas that removes the oxygen from a fire, common uses include use in computer rooms , machinery rooms and electrical control panels.
    Water is also commonly propelled by an inert gas, some older styles are "pump" style. The more you pump the more air that is pushed in the vessel to build up propulsion pressure.
    Carbon Dioxide is many times used in class B and C rated extinguisher's. It is a liquid inside the vessel, when released it expands and cools the ambient air, causing ice to form around the nozzle. CO2 takes the place of oxygen thus putting it out due to lack of air.
    Thanks for reading, this is a very basic description of fire extinguisher's with the intent of explaining the A-B-C-D-K rating system of United Labs. Go to this link for more information on the contents of extinguisher's.

Training includes this method, it works. 

jimandkate  emergencykitsplus.com  Emergency Preparedness Supplies
 
 
 

How many band aids should I include in my emergency first aid kit? I may have created more questions than answers...

Years ago I backpacked in the Sierra's I would have in my supplies some first aid materials. A few band aids, maybe some gauze and a little medical tape. Hey I was younger and invincible, now that I'm older and have a survival kit by my door, what do I need and what should be in it? It depends on what your projected needs are, that's right I would say common sense can lead your way. For instance if you have asthma you will probably want to pack an inhaler. Prescription medication and treatments for various physical implications will dictate the inclusion of other items. When we build a list it

Wake up and write up your survival plan, include a
substantial first aid kit. 

tends to be all inclusive, when we fill the list with purchased items it's not so all inclusive, we edit as we push the cart through the store. I believe the type of event that is likely to occur should have a certain amount of influence as to what to have in a first aid kit. Living in an earthquake or tornado prone area tells us to have supplies to treat a broken bone, deep gashes in flesh, being knocked on the head or any thing caused by falling objects or glass.

A full Haz Mat suit is probably not needed in a
typical first aid kit, 

If you live in a flood prone area a life jacket may not be out of the question as well as hygienic supplies to clean the flood water off our bodies. Supplies to treat water born illnesses should be considered as well in a flood zone. Wild fire prone areas may include supplies to treat burns and smoke inhalation, a respirator may make sense in a first aid kit. All of that is true, however isn't there some first aid supplies that should be common to an evacuation kit? Band aids of different configurations, finger tip, knuckle and butterfly type, a lot of each 30-50 perhaps. Gauze bandages, big ones 4 inch square or a roll of 4 inch wide medical gauze. Different configurations of gauze, triangles and round for instance. Pack a large amount of gauze as well. Tweezers, medical gloves, first aid cream, Alcohol pads to clean wounds and a cpr barrier. We want to pack enough to keep a bad gash closed for up to a week, during a disaster the chances of being injured increase. If a finger is cut we would want to be able to change the dressing at least twice a day. If we break an arm we may not be able to set it but if we have a sling the arm can be made immobile. Click here for first aid advice from the Mayo Clinic for a broken bone.
    I believe the type's of injury's we may be confronted with will be cuts, sprains, dehydration and burns to name a few. Do we need a stitching needle and stitching thread? Probably not, butterfly bandages work well as does tightly sealed gauze and medical tape. We don't need surgical equipment, unless they are for a surgeon to use. Aspirin, Tylenol, Bug repellent and Sun screen will serve us well in an emergency.
    Commercially prepared first aid kits generally have a lot of supplies in them, however rarely would one be found that fit everyone's needs exactly. Most people I believe add special items to their first aid kits to make them more applicable to their needs. With a store bought first aid kit 80% of most people's needs will be met, will I need any more than that? Everyone must determine their needs then buy or prepare the first aid kit they require.

Commercially prepared first aid kits make sense as well.

    Thanks for reading, first aid is hard to plan for, it's impossible to know exactly when a disaster will strike, it's likewise as difficult to project what injuries we may encounter. I'd like to hear your comments, suggestions or stories, give some thought to first aid and put the thoughts into action.
jimandkate  
EmergencyKitsPlus.com 
First Aid Kits for Home or Away.

Just when I think I know it all, have you ever heard of "Seed Ticks?" They are bad dudes Save your dog.....

Seed ticks, until recently I have thought there was one type of tick to look out for. About four weeks ago my mid size border collie mix female began to go crazy with an irritation on her tail end.

We had three times this amount on the dogs tail end. 

We treated her with the normal stuff, I use 50/50 apple cider vinegar and water in a spray bottle, a nit comb for dogs, I feed her 1/2 clove of garlic weekly and hand pick the little buggers off of her. I had no idea just how serious Seed Ticks are. Running the comb through her fur on the base of her tail exposed a lot of pepper looking almost micro-scopic eggs. My first thought was, they are laying eggs! I knew it must be bad, then I saw the live bug. Not much surprises me anymore, but that discovery blew me away. We have been fighting these things for a month, the poor dog is going crazy with the unbearable itching. Now what to do.
   

These guy's are tiny, this is a big one from my experience, stick it on tape and
show your Vet, she will know what to do.

The first thing we did was call the vet, (I still did not discover they were "Seed Ticks".) The Vet wanted a sample of the eggs and the live one. We are still dealing with the eggs, but could not find a live one, great. My friend texted me and suggested I look at "Seed Ticks" on line. Holy smokes, we're in an epidemic. The Vet told me that some of the popular tick and flea repellent did not work this year, many dogs are infested. One more time, Oh Great!
    The first thing we did was make a plan, more of the same comb, apple cider vinegar, garlic and flea treatment. I am switching to the pill type of repellent, it lasts 12 weeks, I'm reluctant but I'm going with it. The ticks have barbs on their mouths, allowing them to attach to the skin of the animal under the fur, difficult to remove. I am picking them off by hand. (Popular advice is to use tweezers, don't touch them.) When they hatch they burrow into the skin and attach, that's where the garlic will help. Hopefully the tick will let go when it gets a bite of it, the infestation is getting better it seems. The bites can cause an infection and serious illness to the animal if left unchecked, they must be removed. They will also find humans quite tasty as well, if we start to get tick bites the entire house must be de-bugged.
   Use tweezers to remove them, try not to leave their heads in the skin, they are tiny. Use a magnifier of some sort, my dog gets real tired of me digging around on her rear end. Use alcohol based mouthwash to remove them, sticky tape on the skin will also remove them, save one for the Vet. Give her a bath with a good flea and tick soap.

Good flea and tick soap, a warm bath will put her on a
solid path of recovery.

    They itch to the point of driving the dog insane, my dog would howl with irritation, there is a strong level of compassion from me. Benadryl, hydro-cortisone, ice packs on the skin, some essential oils work, Aloe Vera is good to use, Calamine, marigold extract will all soothe the itch. Seek medical advice, especially if you detect a fever, that means infection set in, now we have a problem. Antibiotics are the only cure after that, but if the eggs and ticks are still on her, the cycle will repeat. It's imperative to remove them. They can cause death.
    I live in a rural area, tall dry grass is the natural habitat of ticks, fleas and other parasites. Keep the lawn and as much of the area the dog frequents trimmed. I paid a gardener this morning to cut down tall weeds on my neighbors lot where my dog chases everything imaginable. Ticks live in the grass as well, on your cut lawn. diatomaceous earth spread on your lawn will kill the ticks, it drys them out, use organic not the stuff for a pool filter. The pool diatomaceous earth has chemicals in it that could harm you pet. Spread it on the approach to each door of your house. Buy a new bed for the animal, the one she has is infected. Buy one stuffed with cedar, it's a natural repellent to ticks and fleas. Wear a quality respirator, the dust is not good in your lungs.
    If you are the human in charge of all of this, be certain to wear long sleeves and trouser's. An application of bug repellent when you're outside should be applied. Before you enter the house remove your clothes, yep just like when you were 9 years old and had to strip on the stoop. Get help checking front and back, remove any ticks with tape, don't give them time to pitch a tent and camp out on your body. Shake your clothes out and immediately toss them in the washer, the dryer will kill the eggs. Finally take a shower. More information from the State of Washington here.

She'll be good to go in no time, but it will take time.

    Lyme disease, Rocky mountain fever, Tularemia and festering sores can all be the result of being bitten. It is a very serious situation. If you see your dog going absolutely out of control with itching, take a serious look around the tail up to about 8 inches towards the tail tip. Compare what you find with the pictures I have posted, if they match, they are "Seed Ticks". It has taken my wife and I three days of removal to finally realize a reduction in irritation. It seems the warm temperature is helping as well.
   I hope you never experience this, I never heard of them until my friend told me. They are different than the "wood ticks" we have all searched our dogs for, these guy's are tiny and infectious. Wood ticks have eight legs, seed ticks have six, that's one way to tell what you are dealing with.
  Thanks for reading, normally I don't write my blog this wordy however I feel this is of the utmost importance. I'd like to hear from you, I am by far not an expert on this. If you have any knowledge of these pest please share it. Thanks!

jimandkate EmergencyKitsPlus.com Dog Emergency Kits
 

What diseases might return after an interruption of our food supply? There is one that just may rear it's ugly head......

    There were many hardships our ancestors encountered whenever they wandered away from civilization. Whether crossing the country in a covered wagon or sailing in a ship, hardship was the course of the day. Disease played a big role in their lives, the medical field was still in it's infancy in the early and mid 1800's. On the overland journey's the food that was typically packed were of the type that had a long shelf life. Flour, Salted Meats, and dried fruit were among them. One of the most endangered of the pioneers were the gold miners, it is estimated that several thousand died from "Scurvy". However it was not identified as the cause of death, mostly exposure, starvation and disease took the rap. Yes that maritime disease that many of the sailors on the tall ships suffered from, the miners shared. (For a further description of scurvy click here. )

A fresh supply of vegetables and fruit would be more than tough on a trail like this. 

    The cause of scurvy is a lack of vitamin "C", when deprived of it for 40 days the symptoms begin. Night blindness along with vision problems, wounds would not heal, gums would begin to bleed. Crippling pain in the legs and feet, swelling to the point of ending a persons mobility. The skin begins to turn black, death was on the doorstep.
    In the year of 1859 Fort Laramie experienced a scurvy outbreak which was ended by consuming cactus. A remedy taught to the forts doctor by the local Native Americans. The epidemic was caused by a lack of vitamin C, the cactus was rich in it. Within a few days of consuming vitamin C the symptoms begin to diminish. The gold miners in California would eat raisins to ward off the disease, the raisins were more valuable than gold.

It was a hard life chosen by the miners, disease was rampant.
Scurvy was a very real threat,.

    I would like to make the point I am writing this blog about, that is the question: Even though it is rare in this day and age, are we immune? The short answer is no, I can see in an evacuation event Scurvy raising it's head again. If the event last for two months or longer there is a real possibility that scurvy could return. That is the reason when we prepare our emergency kits we must include fruit and vegetables. Dried is fine however keep in mind cooking will reduce the vitamin C in it. Vegetables are rich in vitamin C as well, soup, hot dishes or just eating a carrot will keep the disease at bay.

Here's a good source of vitamin C, as
we all know. 

    We are very fortunate to live in a time when food is readily available. Abundance sometimes causes us to become complacent, assuming this will always be the case. Unfortunately there are a number of situations that could change our food supply. Drought, infrastructure failures, civil unrest or an incident like a volcano eruption. Placing us at the mercy of the supply, causing shortages, possibly starvation. (More than you want to know about Vitamin C is here.)
   
The chances of such are remote, but still possible. Scurvy makes me wonder at times just how vulnerable our society would be if as a nation we were faced with an event that compromised the food supply, what other diseases might be waiting in the wings.
    A little depressing, after reading this over it makes me hesitate to publish, but I feel there is an important message here. That message is "Be Prepared". Thanks for reading my blog, please comment, suggest new topics or just say "Hi".

Thanks jimandkate  EmergencyKitsPlus.com Dried Fruit Packs
 

Here are 7 things to do after you receive your emergency kit supplies, are you prepared or worried? Get ready read this:

    Freeze dried emergency food, that is a long mouthful description. It is also referred to as "freeze dried backpacking food". It's what is commonly included in a commercially packed disaster evacuation kit, or a "grab and go", "bug out bag" or simply as an "emergency pack." So after you purchase your three day kit, what in the heck do you do with it? The kits have a lot of items in them;
    1) The first thing to do is to unpack the contents and read the descriptions. Take an inventory, get to know what each item is, which items you should use first to last. There will be some items not in the kit that you would like to add, so add them. Each kit ends up being a "custom" kit, the basics, water, lights, a poncho and a way to start a fire are some of the rudimentary items in the kit. You may want to add extra clothes, a small stove (some kits have a small stove included), and a way to purify water. If you're like me, I added a pot to boil water, and coffee and a cup.

It doesn't have to be fancy, only effective. Now to find
a solar coffee bean grinder. 

    2) Whatever kind of pack you choose, make sure it fits you, in the event that an evacuation is required we don't want to adjust it on the way out the door. Make sure the children's packs fit them, if it's a rolling bag make sure you and your child know how it works. Be certain to keep your packs in a convenient spot that is easy for the person responsible to access, practice going to it and putting it on or pulling it out the door. Be sure not to over pack it, all zippers must be secured and closed, if a second bag is needed for one person a backpack and a rolling bag may just be the ticket. You don't want articles hanging out exposing it to the weather. Doesn't it seem emergency's have a tendency to happen at about 2 am? Make the kits as easy as possible to grab.
    3) Not every event mandates evacuation to a remote place, sure floods, collapse of the home, house or apartment fire and the like depending on the amount of damage are common evacuation disasters. A disaster may occur many miles from your location and still cause a utility outage that lasts many days, possibly even weeks. Many times a utility outage can go on for days on end, allowing you to stay in the home. In a case like that the contents of the 3 day evacuation pack should be used last, relying on food in your pantry until it runs out.
   4) You know you can rely on your camping equipment, that camp stove is a very universal device. I prefer liquid fueled stoves, typically they are called "dual fuel" meaning they can operate with unleaded regular gas or readily available stove fuel. The limiting factor on a camp stoves use is the fuel, propane is fine however you will store more liquid fuel in the same space as a "gas bottle". Fire starting compounds can be used for many outdoor activities. We heat our house with wood pellets complimenting it with a wood burning stove on the 3rd level.
 

Over kill for me in the desert, but not if you live in
the Northern locals. 

5) Heat, the pellet stove we use can be rigged up to run off of a 12 volt car battery. That will dictate keeping a way to charge the battery, a solar cell or a small turbine could be used. Honestly we most likely would use the wood burning stove exclusively, reacquiring wood. How much firewood to keep on hand? It depends on where you live, in the north during a blizzard a great amount will be required. Where as in the southern deserts you will need much less.
   6) If your kit contains freeze dried food, vegetables and meat, the meals can be extended by making soup. Packets normally contain 1 meal, some contain as many as 8 servings each. One package of vegetables, one of meat and a little bit of rice in 1 1/2 gallons of water will make a very good soup, a little salt and pepper will do wonders.
    7) Flashlights and lanterns, make sure to have a few extra battery's if your's is not a solar or wind up type of light. Some emergency lights are solar, some you have to crank and some are multi-powered. A real good direction to go, and a lot of kits have them, is a radio, light and charger combined. There are also lights that create electrical current (Tea Lights is one common name), they are expensive but it all depends on your personal needs. My indulgence may just be a propane powered coffee pot, we're all different, customize your kit, make it your's. If your kit provides 80% of your needs, you are doing better than 90% of everyone else.  Kit suggestions click here.

Tea lamp, Burns candles, makes enough electrical energy
to charge your cell phone, or flashlight. 

    Our goal at EmergencyKitsPlus.com is to help you make it through the initial three days of a catastrophic occurrence. There is a chance the event can last for several days longer, or even several weeks. We suggest taking care of the immediate emergency now, and slowly building up your long range food inventory over several months or a year or two. Preparing for an event can become an overwhelming experience, depending on the amount of preparation you want to make. We will help with all of your needs for survival, but first let's concentrate on the shortest preparation needed. If we get past the first phase (3 days plus perhaps) we will be doing great. So get prepared today, look through EmergencyKitsPlus.com, email us with questions and together we will make it through the next event with your emergency kit supplies.
    Thank you for reading the blog, I hope it helped clear some things up, maybe simplify the choices, hopefully inspire you to get prepared and stay prepared today.

Thanks jimandkate  emergencykitsplus.com   emergency preparedness supplies 

    It is impossible to predict when we will be faced with an evacuation emergency. There is however some things we can make part of our everyday lives to make an unpredictable event more manageable when it raises it's ugly head and starts to breath fire. A few of the emergency's are Wildfire, Earthquake, Flood, Home fire and Hurricanes, most will dictate relocating for a least a short while.  More on descriptions of natural disasters here.

    Living in a large City presents it's own unique challenges, this is written as if a person just left the home to walk to a market two blocks away when en-route an incident occurs. I will write today about the things we can be pre-planning as the basic tenets of our evacuation. Here are six things we can do:

Happiness is being prepared.

    1: Buy a water tight fire proof safe for important documents. In it should be Passports, Birth Certificates, Cash Money, Insurance Documents, and any papers or documents that are not available to be reproduced anywhere. Once the documents are in the safe you will not have to worry about them again.
   

This may be a bit over sized for our use. 

2: Make a plan, make several plans, one for different circumstances. For instance if you are walking to the market a few blocks away, your spouse is working and you have a child in school, you are all separated. Make sure you have a way to communicate that you are alright. One very good way is to have an out of the area relative as a contact, everyone calls this person to relay the message that you are OK. Most likely the local cell phone frequencies will be completely jammed up, but numbers out of the area will be open.
     3: Before you leave the house, put your dog in the yard, be certain your cat has a way out, install a doggy door or another safe pet door. I have a neighbor that was moving into a house that they had just had remodeled. On the first day of their move in they decided to go to lunch, they locked the place up with their pet dogs inside. While they were gone the Utility Company turned the electric service on and after checking it out they left. The house burned to the ground in about 15 minutes after the workers left, both dogs were lost in the fire. It definitely can and does happen.
    4: In your purse or messenger bag have these three things- First: a small flashlight, if you are gone past dark or you have to enter your house when it is dark. Second: a small pocket knife or a leather-man type tool, it should have a Phillips and regular blade screwdriver, tweezers, small scissors and a cutting blade. Third: water, when you leave the house have at least two pints of water. These seem like very small things, but they will be the most valuable things you have in an emergency.
    5: Wear clothing appropriate for the weather and take a look at the forecast, a light sweater or jacket is not a heavy load. Dressing as if you are a refugee is not reasonable, and carrying a complete set of clothing isn't either. Just in case bring a jacket, normal for a lot of people.

A little bit of planning and everything will be OK!

    6: Practice your plan, everyone in the family needs to understand where to meet, how to communicate and what to expect from each other. The more children practice according to your plan the more second nature it will become. Be sure to have a meeting place, go to it while going over your planning. The gathering spot could be a park or a parking lot, any place away from buildings that may collapse or catch fire. Make sure each person has a copy of the plan with all telephone numbers and addresses on it, the meeting place and other important information. The plan may prove to have flaws, regardless it will still work, just having a pre plan ready will reduce stress.
    There is really no reason to be all consumed by the idea something is going to happen, things happen every day. The idea is to incorporate a few behaviors into your normal day to day activity's that in the rare chance something were to happen you were prepared. It's important, so sit down and write a plan out, get input from everyone in the house, practice the plan, keep a few things in your pocket or messenger bag and have some water with you. Keep the disaster plan in your wallet or purse always. Most likely nothing will happen, but it never hurts to be prepared.
   Thanks for reading my blog, I welcome comments, suggestions and stories. Please comment.

jimandkate   emergencykitsplus.com   must have survival gear

Smoke Detectors, how many, where should they be installed, who can install them? How many does your house require....

Smoke Detectors, how many, where should they be installed, who can install them?

Special rules for this house, check your local codes.

    Smoke detectors need to be installed in each bedroom, in the hall or near the entry of bedrooms, install on every level of the house even the basement. If there are no bedrooms on the level install them in common areas, Dens, Sitting rooms, Kitchens and Home Offices. The main concern is to look at your house and do not leave any rooms without one.
They are important in a garage and inside the entry door to the house from the garage. Install one at the bottom of stair wells and at the top, smoke rises, we want to detect it under any possible condition. Install a smoke detector in your attic as well, a fire can start anywhere. In areas that several alarms are to be installed close to one another, they must be wired together enabling all of them to be activated at the same time. For information from the National Fire Safety Association click here.
    When properly installed and operating smoke and fire alarms are in a home the odds of surviving a fire is increased by 50%, as stated by the California State fire Marshall. Most localities in the United States have very strict building codes pertaining to the number and locations smoke alarms must be installed in residences. Operation, location and how many are spelled out in most building requirements. Some County's also mandate installation of sprinkler systems on new homes and houses that have had fires. Older homes sometimes have special laws written dealing with smoke, fire and Carbon Monoxide sensors. Rental homes are also covered by special rules and here.

Dad's cooking again it appears. 

laws, making it imperative to check with your local planning commission on installation. Some codes require the alarms not only be battery energized but must also be installed into the electrical wiring system of the home. If the home was built prior to building codes requiring them (grandfathered in), battery's only are acceptable for a power source. Many areas now require smoke alarms to have a battery that has a ten year life and is installed permanently, when the battery dies the detector must be replaced. If the home is being renovated, the new codes and requirements must be met, sometimes including sprinkler systems. Most are exempt if the renovation is entirely outside the home, however if ceilings and walls are removed inside, the new codes must be met. Rental properties will sometimes have special laws dealing with who is responsible for installation and maintenance, sometimes there is a difference between leased and rented homes. The land lord is responsible when the new tenant occupies the residence on the first day of occupancy. Most localities require the land lord to maintain, replace and repair the alarms, but check your local laws. These issues should be discussed prior to renting or signing a lease, spelling out clearing each person's responsibilities pertaining to them. You can read about some requirements for installation

Not quite that loud, they will wake you up!

    Smoke detectors save many lives each year, often we hear of deaths during home fires only to find out there were no smoke detectors installed or the battery's were discharged. Smoke detectors are required to beep when the battery's are getting weak, everyone in the house should be aware of what that sounds like. On a similar note everyone in the house must know what the alarm sounds like when it is activated, as well as know the escape routes out of the home.
    The installation of the correct number of smoke detectors in the home is very important, use the County codes as a guideline, install more if you are in question, don't put your family in peril, it's just fine to install too many.
    Thanks for reading, leave a comment, suggestion or your experience.

jimandkate  emergencykitsplus.com    Emergency Survival Supplies

    The onset of a disaster for most of us is an extremely confusing chain of events, resulting in the situation slowly becoming less stressful. It's a different story for the millions of people dealing with a disability, it could be just the beginning of a much larger struggle. People with a hearing loss will have a hard time communicating, people with loss of sight can become easily confused in an evacuation event. Service dogs can become disoriented and confused. People with disabilities

Accept assistance when it is offered if
you need it.  

become accustomed to ramps, handrails, handicapped restrooms and similar aides for mobility. When rapid movement and quick communications are needed disabled persons are at a distinct disadvantage. Many times the needs of disabled people are not addressed in emergency response planning. Some of the critical needs during emergencies are access to transit, the ability to arrive at a safe shelter, and evacuation transportation that may or may not be available. If a disabled person is a relative, neighbor or friend they are in need of special planning and precautions during an evacuation event. (Click here for information.)
    Assistants to the disabled: Remain calm, do not get stressed and if you are don't show it, fear and panic are contagious.
    Visually disabled persons: It is reasonable to assume that during an evacuation event a visually impaired person will become confused and disoriented. If there is a service dog involved the animal will most likely be confused as well. The dog will have to be taken care of, and the disabled person will need someone to guide their way to safety.
    People with a hearing disability: Will not be able to hear warning sirens, knocks on the door, explosions or calls from emergency response teams. They will need to be physically awakened and assisted to safety, a written emergency response plan can be shown to them for a fast explanation of what is happening.
   

The service dog will need help as well.

Mobility disadvantaged people: At best have a hard time walking and the most in need of help are those who are not mobile at all. Some will need a lot of assistance, others minimal, the needs must be described in detail in the emergency preparedness plan. It will have to be decided in advance if wheelchairs, mobility scooters or other devices will be needed or will even be able to be used. Some of the decisions will be made during the crisis. If the person is completely immobile they may have to be carried, it must be written into the plan and advance planning is mandatory.
    People with intellectual disabilities: Pre-Planning and rehearsals are essential, confusion will be the order of the day, everyone will be disoriented. The intellectually challenged may be more confused, however practicing what is in the preparedness plan regularly will breed familiarity and people will act according to how they practice. Every person will have different and unique needs.
    People with dementia: Will have a need for more direction than normal, they will have to be lead to safety.
    A few other needs:
    If in an apartment building make sure the exits are clearly marked and make arraignments for help to leave the building. Make sure emergency doors and lights are in working order, if they are not talk to the apartment manager for repairs.
    Make sure to wear alert tags or bracelets that identify disabilities. Have all medications in an emergency evacuation kit. If there is a need for special facilities such as dialysis machines or refrigeration for special medications make arraignments in advance and have more than one facility available.
    Check with emergency response capabilities of the local community, register with them and become familiar with their procedures and requirements for evacuation. Some will not evacuate pets, be certain to make arraignments for them, some disabled people will not leave them behind. Pets must be in the planning checklist and arraignments for them must be made for long term care in the event the owner has to live in a special facility for a while.

Yes it is important. 

    The creation of a network of relatives, neighbors, friends and emergency response units will aid in the emergency. Be certain someone knows how to operate essential equipment. Be certain to have included in the emergency response kit all medications and medical supplies that are needed, there may be just a few minutes to get to safety.
    With planning and rehearsing your plan and emergency will be more manageable and second nature than responding "cold turkey".  (Planning templates are available here.)
    Thanks for reading, I welcome all comments I would like to hear them and suggestions. Thanks!

jimandkate  emergencykitsplus.com   Emergency Disaster Kits
   

Most of the people that died during Katrina were Elderly, how important is social infrastructure..

    How important is "Social Infrastructure" to our society? Reading some disaster reports it seems when it comes to elderly people in emergency situations it is quite important. Over 1/2 of the deaths from Hurricane Katrina were elderly, most died in their own homes due to drowning or lack of medications for pre-existing conditions such as heart disease. Many elderly are isolated, in the homes they have lived in for decades by the fact they don't drive, rarely go to the grocery store, have few visitors and absent family. Neighbors have a tendency to not really ignore them but to assume if they are up and in their yards they are doing fine. We must remember the scenes from Japan during the Tsunami, groups of people running to higher ground followed by older people walking slowly up the hill, we have to do better. (Click here for advice.)

Elderly really do need our help during an event. These guy's
are good neighbors. 

    We can do better as neighbors and relatives. Before a storm is to strike our area make a trip to their house to check if they need anything from the grocery. Help them if there is a problem in their house, arraign to have a broken window repaired, or locks put on a door. Make sure the stove works and there are no gas leaks, make sure phones, heater and water systems are in working order. Ask them if they would be prepared to evacuate if need be, help them make an evacuation plan. Write it down and put it on the refrigerator making sure to include a list of medications and their doctors name, address, and phone number. (Print a plan checklist here.) Many older residents call their doctors by their first name only "Doctor John" and normally have not committed phone numbers or addresses to memory. Ask if they would like assistance in preparing an evacuation set of clothes, set up an emergency pack with them. It's just being neighborly, if a few preparatory steps are not taken before an event occurs there is a likely hood emergency actions will be resisted during an event. Older people have a tendency to trust a relatively few people, a relative or close neighbor are among the accepted. Distrust is big, they have been isolated, from choice or circumstance, for a very long time and are very independent. That independence is a thin veneer,

Our reality is a little different than how
we sometimes see ourselves.

at one time they very independent however during an emergency event their stamina is not able to keep up with the demands of the Catastrophic occurrence. We would be doing a service to them to prepare their pets needs as well, many will refuse to evacuate without them. Help to find a safe place for their pet in the chance they may have to spend an extended time in a relief center. If damage occurs to their home, they may be out for many months or even years. A very important aspect is to be certain that the feeling they have of independence is not compromised, they do not want to appear weak and dependent. That is a big reason to be neighborly before, during and after a disaster event.  (Survival kits are available click here.) Help them contact their relatives, meet their relatives either on phone or in person prior to the event occurring, get their contact information. During the event make a call to them if possible to keep them appraised of the situation and the location of their relative.

Older citizen's and Children are affected
the most in a natural disaster. 

    The effects that natural disaster's have on Cities, County's and Humans is obvious most of the time. There is however a disproportionate toll taken on the elderly, 65 years and older will need some sort of assistance during a natural event. To shore up the "Social Infrastructure" is not a massive government program or organized by the state, it's simply being neighborly. Take an interest, be compassionate and interact with your elderly (indeed all) neighbors it will make our communities stronger and make times easier if we are faced with a confusing evacuation disaster.
    Thanks for reading my blog, I welcome comments and suggestions. Do you think I'm on the money with this or am I soaking wet? Let me know.

jimandkate  EmergencyKitsPlus.com    emergency kit supplies

What do you think of having a child's harness and lanyard in a disaster? How about toilet facilities? What's a mother to do...

    During and after an emergency event the most vulnerable among us are the children, elderly and disabled. This blog will focus on the children today, how to make sure their safety needs are met, during a flood event.
    It's very important that the adults involved with the incident stay calm, it is possible to deal with emergencies in a stress free manner. Stress is contagious, if you find your self acting impulsively, fearful or angry take deep breaths, sit down and take a break. Make sure that you are in a protected area that is safe for your children and you. The first person to take control of is yourself, it is extremely important to be mentally strong.

    The more preparation and practice you do prior to an event will pay dividends to you when an actual survival situation presents it's self. A disaster plan, written down and practiced is one of the most important task to complete. Practice will become second nature, the more you walk through the plan with your child the more at ease you and the child will be during the event. Walk through the plan with your child, start in their bedroom and explain every step of the way. Show them how to put on their emergency pack, show them the two ways to exit the house, and explain what the reasons are for using each. Make sure they know they can leave the house whether or not you are with them, it's that confusion that can turn into a regrettable outcome. Stress they must get out fast, assure them you will be alright. Have a kids survival kit ready for every child in your house. A more extensive kit must be made available for each adult as well.
     While you are in a flood event, make sure you have a life preserver for everyone, especially the little ones. Teach them how to put the PFD (personal flotation device) on, practice many times. Teach the kids about the dangers of electricity, fallen power lines, outdoor electrical sockets and the danger of going into flooded basements.
     

Hey Hon! See if the lights work yet! 

Make sure to treat minor wounds rapidly, there are many dangers in flood water, parasites, bacteria and cholera to name a few. Even a small scratch can turn into a very bad infection, especially if you are stranded for days or even weeks.
     Teach them about the dangers of human waste, tell them about the diseases it can cause when introduced into water. Set up a toilet area, a tent, cardboard box, a blanket set up between trees, a spot that is secure for the children, you can use it as well. A port a potty can be made with a 5 gallon bucket, trash bags and a swimming noodle, sanitary paper is normally in each commercially prepared Emergency Kit.

A good solution to a tough situation, use a 2 1/2 gallon
bucket for the little ones. 

     Mosquito's go on a crazy breeding binge during a flood, teach the kids about mosquito's, some of the diseases they carry make sure to apply calamine lotion to calm the itching. Long pants and long sleeve shirts should be the uniform of the day, stay covered. A small fire will keep the pest at bay.
    Make sure to have plenty of water for them and you, a 1-3 year old needs 4 cups of water daily, minimum, more is better. 4-8 year old need 5 cups of water daily, any one older needs 1/2 gallon per day. Never under any circumstances use flood water for anything. Dehydration is a very real and dangerous every day concern no matter what is happening around you. Make sure everyone drinks at least their daily requirements.
    Typhoid fever, Cholera, diarrhea, and hepatitis are common diseases children get during a flood. Teach them to wash their hands with soap and water, don't wade or swim in the flood water. Be observant of what they eat, make sure it is not contaminated with flood water or full of bugs. Make certain they drink water that has been boiled or from a sealed bottle or container that you know without question is safe. Do not use well water during a flood, it has been contaminated by the flood.
   

Hey Mom! Is this the emergency kit?

I have often thought that to have a child's harness and lanyard during any emergency event may be prudent. I live next to a river, in a flood zone so this is very real to me and I've thought about it a lot. Those harness and lanyards look a bit archaic, appear to be mean, however I think during a flood they may be a blessing. It may just eliminate a little of your stress as well, an over active 6 year old will become a challenge to the most energetic parent during an emergency.
    These are just a few of the many concerns that children and parents face during a flood, indeed during any emergency. I welcome your comments, please tell me your experience and concerns with flooding. I welcome guest blogs, I will also write blogs for you. Thanks for reading!

jimandkate  emergencykitsplus.com
 

High heat, the desert, flies, electrolytes with lots of water; they are connected, it can be dangerous

    It seem's like no matter what the weather conditions are there is always someone walking down a highway in the middle of no where. When I lived and worked in the California desert just south of Palm Springs there was always people out in the 110-125 degree heat. I would see migrant workers walking across the desert with an old milk bottle full of warm water, heading north. I knew several people that suffered from de-hydration, even though they consumed water all day long.

Have you been here long?

We would typically drink over a gallon of water a day. It's the type of environment that flies die in, they die at 120 degrees F. When a person has a water hose and makes a puddle it is instantly covered with flies getting water. Life and death is very real when the temperatures are above 110 degrees F.
    When working outside, or having to walk a distance during that kind of heat is very taxing. Under company directions we were allowed to work 1/2 hour in the heat and retreat to the air conditioned shop where our opposite crew took over. We rotated that way for weeks on end, people still suffered from de-hydration. We had a heat safety meeting once a month, a doctor would come to the site and speak of heat related subjects. We learned a lot about hydration, "stay hydrated" was our battle cry. Sweating in the heat our clothes would get soaking wet, it would keep us cool, after it dried white streaks would show up on our clothes. The white streaks are an indication that your body is losing minerals.

Find shade, and stay there until you've
cooled down. Drink water all day long. 

 A good way to replenish the lost minerals is by consuming a drink such as Gator-aide or a number of other products. These products are not without concerns of their own. There are a lot of electrolytes in a container of one of these drinks, we were told to always mix them no more than 50/50 water to solution. Then drink a lot of clear water all day long, it works most of the time. I was working with a man that followed all the precautions we worked with, he still collapsed from heat exhaustion after 10 minutes in the sun. Granted it was his third or fourth shift and we were all getting tired, we still had to carry him in, he did recover. Drink lots of water and rest in a cool spot, don't rush it, wait until you've cooled down and make sure you feel OK.
    A mistake I made through ignorance of chemistry I suppose it would be called was when I was going to make a "batch" of one of the electrolyte drinks. I saw the water cooler and thought it was a good idea if I were to take a powdered packet and mix it in the 5 gallon container of water. I thought we would have a cold drink and it would be better. I remember the color of the concoction was green, it was in the water cooler over night. Now I don't know what caused this to happen, but it did, and I felt bad and frankly really kind of dumb. The first person to drink from the water cooler took a long drink, it was in his stomach for about 1/2 of a second when suddenly he vomited. All I can figure is there was some algae or bacteria or something in there that interacted with the drink and made it something else. I learned at least two things from that, one of course don't put that stuff in a water cooler bottle. The second is to clean the cooler once in a while.

    Now there is nothing wrong with any of the drinks, we need to realize it is not a matter of "if a little is good, a lot should be a lot better." I believe it would be better to refer to dealing with anything in the heat, water included, "proceed with caution". My advice, drink a gallon of water a day at least in the high temperatures, mix it on occasion 50/50 with an electrolyte drink and pay attention to your body. There are special ways to dress as well, but that's another blog.
    Thanks for reading, comment I'd like to hear from you, drink lots of water and pay attention to your body, you'll be alright in the heat.

Thanks jimandkate emergencykitsplus.com    emergency preparedness supplies