Severe Weather Safety Preparation

Spring is a time for transformation and the anticipation for new beginnings. It's also a time for changing weather patterns, from increased rains and melting snow to sudden storms like tornadoes. And just as is true for all types of weather, spring weather brings with it a certain sense of unpredictability; it's a time when a sunny hike can quickly become dangerously cold and thunderstorms can bring unusually high winds, flooding or hail without much warning.

It always pays to prepare yourself for weather extremes, particularly during spring and summer when severe weather can hit suddenly. Educating and preparing yourself and your family will dramatically decrease your risks of injury or death in the event that an extreme weather event should occur. Let's talk about some essential items you'll want to add to your preparedness kits this spring, to ensure you're safe from floods, tornadoes and severe storms.

Equipping yourself with the right knowledge is at the foundation of proper emergency preparedness. Knowing what to expect, how to react and which tools are appropriate for the job are absolutely crucial to your safety and survival during any disaster, be it weather or otherwise.
If you're located in the Van Nuys area, we strongly recommend participating in one of our emergency planning and/or first aid training courses. These classes are ongoing and are designed to help you build or refresh the skills necessary to keep yourself, your family and your pets safe in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

Additionally, check out our Disasters by Region blog to learn, statistically, which natural disasters are most likely to impact you at home or while traveling.

Finally, our selection of affordable pocket manuals offer a handy guide for laymen, volunteers, parents and pet owners to basic preparedness and recovery for disasters including floods, earthquakes and school incidents.


Knowing your risks and how severe weather can impact you will help you to develop a useful action plan that includes proper in-home preparation, family communication, potential evacuation routes and necessary emergency supplies.

A NOAA weather alert radio should be near the top of your list of emergency preparedness item. This versatile tool will help you to stay up to date on all types of severe weather warnings all across the nation. We recommend this radio in addition to keeping severe weather warning apps on your phone since it'll far supersede the capabilities of cellular technology during a long term power outage.
This particular radio includes hand crank as well as solar technology to charge the lithium ion battery when power outlets are disabled or unavailable. The 130-Lumen flashlight can be activated to flash the SOS Morse Code signal, in the event that you are stranded. This radio is a must-have for all homes, homes away from home, recreational camper vehicles and car emergency kits.


A flood can be one of the most damaging natural disasters, both to your safety and in the after effects when you're trying to rebuild your life. Flood waters move quickly, picking up tons of debris along the way. When preparing for the possibility of a flood, your priorities should always lie with your safety and that of your family. Remember to heed warnings early and evacuate immediately if prompted. Never take risks around water, during a floor or otherwise. It takes just a few inches of moving water to displace a car or loosen your footing. If water is flowing across roadways, turn around. Don't drown!

If you live in an area that's prone to some flooding during heavy rains from unusual spring weather patterns, consider first and foremost adding flood insurance to your home insurance plan. Preparation begins with anticipating all possible potential outcomes of a situation, and having the proper safeguards in place can save you from any future financial hardships that flooding can cause.

In addition, protect your home with barriers or flood walls, or at the very least with the help of DIY sandbags. Sandbags are affordable and designed to be long-lasting, whether they are a temporary or permanent fixture in and around your home. It takes about 100 sandbags to create a one-foot high wall that’s 20 feet long, so plan accordingly. Stay on alert during using NOAA or a cellphone app as your resource; if warnings are issued, heed them.

If severe weather, such as large influxes in rain, impacts your city's water safety and you're not able to boil water due to power outages, you'll need to rely on your emergency water stores to get you through the day or days ahead. Don't wait until an emergency is declared to stock up on water; this is your most precious resource, and a water shortage can quickly devolve into mayhem.

If you know that a water shortage is imminent, use your time wisely to fill emergency drinking

barrels or plastic bottles with clean water from the tap while it's still available. Make an airtight drinking water barrel an essential item in your home; adding water preserver will allow you to store your emergency water for up to five years.
Keeping individually sealed water pouches handy, whether you're at home or away, will give you the peace of mind you need when water stores are limited. Adding water pouches to your go-bag is a quick, easy and affordable way to take preventive life-saving measures.

Use your drinking water wisely. Never use drinking water to wash, flush the toilet or clean your home.


Quick Tips:

• Prepare yourself with knowledge.
• Make a plan and practice it.
• Never drive through flooded areas.
• Keep your car's gas tank full.
• Stay up to date on warnings and news with NOAA.
• Heed warnings and seek shelter or evacuation straight away if prompted.
• Prepare a go-bag for everyone in your household, including your pet. Plan now so no one gets left behind.
• Move livestock to higher ground sooner rather than later.
• Prepare one gallon of drinking water per person per day.
• Never ration water for drinking. Dehydration kills.
• Never try to outrun a tornado in your car. If you happen to be in your car when a tornado approaches, seek shelter under a bridge or overpass and cover your head and neck with your arms
• Stay indoors during lightning storms, and consider purchasing surge protectors and lightning rods for your home.
• Turn off propane to reduce the risk of fire.
• Get flood insurance.
• Use flood prevention walls or bags to keep damage to a minimum.

All About Droughts

Nearly every part of the United States will experience a period of reduced rainfall this year. While droughts can be stressful for a number of reasons, preparedness is the key to surviving drought season. Read on to learn more about what droughts exactly are, how they affect us, and what we can do during dry times.

What is a drought?

To put it simply, a drought is a period of unusually dry conditions that results in water-related economic problems. For a farmer, a drought is a period of low rainfall that impedes growth of the crops he is cultivating. For a water manager, a drought is a water-supply deficiency period that negatively affects water availably and water quality. Droughts are usually recognized by a lack of precipitation and low streamflow.

Drought Regions 

Almost all parts of the country experience droughts at some point. To check if your hometown or state is experiencing a drought right now, you can check the University of Nebraska Drought Monitor Map here. Some states are much more likely to experience drought than others. At the top of the drought-prone list are Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Kansas, New Mexico, Nevada and California, with Southern California especially known to have some of the worst drought conditions in the nation.

Can droughts be prevented?

Yes and no. While you obviously can’t control the weather, you can help preserve water so there’s a sufficient reserve during dry months and the stress on your area isn’t as severe. There are lots of ways to do this, but a few of our favorite tips are:

1. Use low-volume water conservation appliances in your home. This can hugely impact things like flushing your toilet and taking a shower. Look into installing these appliances – you’ll save water for drought season and save money on your water bill.
 
2. Get your home regularly checked by a plumber. Dripping adds up. A leaky faucet wastes 5 gallons of water per day, or 2,082 gallons per year. A pipe leak even the size of a pencil tip can waste 970 gallons of water in just one day, and that’s at low water pressure. Make sure you’re not wasting water with faulty appliances.
 
3. Plant local plants & drought tolerant grasses. Plants that are adapted to your local climate don’t need water as frequently and can survive long dry periods. Because they’ve adapted to local conditions, they also don’t need additional care involving pesticides or fertilizers, providing a highly eco-friendly solution. 

Worst Case Scenario

We could all sit back and do nothing during drought season, but this has some serious consequences. Water scarcity means more than just shorter showers, brown grass and dirty cars. According to the United States Food and Agriculture Organization, severe drought destabilizes the food supply and threatens food availability. As a result, prices increase, livelihoods are lost, purchasing power plummets and human health is endangered. In 2015, for example, California suffered a severe drought, and over 560,000 acres of farmland went unsown as farmers had to code with water shortage. That’s a lot of food that never arrived in grocery stores.

What can I do to help?

Nobody wants to experience the devastating effects of a worst case scenario situation. Luckily, there are lots of things we can all do to help today. In addition to taking preventative measures before drought season is upon you, making small habitual changes during droughts can really help on a macro scale.

If you must wash your car, look for a commercial car wash that recycles water (they’re more common than you might think). If you have to water your lawn, do so early in the morning or late at night when temperatures are cooler to prevent waste through evaporation. Remember that most of the year lawns only need one inch of water per week. If your grass springs back up after your step on it, it doesn’t need to be watered.

Try to make conscious effort to reduce your use of water whenever you can. Ask the waiter to not bring water at restaurants if you know you’re won’t be drinking it. Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. Only use the washing machine for a full load.
While it might seem like these changes only save small amounts of water, every drop adds up immensely, especially when we all work together to save.

Droughts happen, but if we educate ourselves about them, we can greatly reduce our human impact. Working together is key to maintaining a safe water supply and good quality of life for everyone. Got any good ideas on saving water before and during drought season? Leave it in the comments!

The Earth Day Survivalist

Earth Day is here, ready to remind us of our obligation to the planet. For most of us, that goes about

as far as riding a bike or remembering to recycle; we are, after all, busy individuals with established routines.
But what if your routine was suddenly changed? We’ve all thought about the possibility, and many of us have taken at least some steps to begin planning for the event of a sudden emergency. From our go-bags to our CPR training, we’re fairly adequately equipped to brave a minor accident, a prolonged power outage or an evacuation.

At SOS Survival Products, we love that you’re as enthusiastic as we are to prepare yourselves and your families for the unknown. Today, we’d like to take preparation one step further by talking to you about survivalism. And because we can’t neglect Earth Day, today’s survivalist tips all have a positive environmental impact.

Water

You need it, and in an emergency it may be hard to come by. You might already be storing water for two or three days, but what happens if a major disaster turns into a nationwide or even global crisis? Living sustainably now is the best way to prepare you for an uncertain future, and water should naturally be your number one concern.

Collecting rainwater can be tricky business since it does have restrictions.
As early as the 1880s, states have been involved in personal water usage by placing constraints onto consumers. In 2012, 64-year old Oregon resident Gary Harrington was sentenced to 30 days in jail for collecting rain water.
Gary wasn’t collecting a few barrels of rainwater; more precisely, he collected about 20 Olympic swimming pools-worth. But just to be safe, check what your state has to say about collecting rainwater.
If you're permitted to or rebellious enough to start collecting your own water, it's simple.

Runoff can be collected anywhere, for example, from the roof of your house. How much water will
be created through runoff? That varies, but Garden Gate magazine estimates that it’s somewhere around 600 gallons of water within an hour of moderate rain fall. That’s a lot of manna from heaven.



In order to get your runoff into storage, you’ll need something like a gutter or downspout. In addition, your transport system needs a filter that'll trap debris like leaves which can clog your water highway.

Ensure your collection area, like a barrel, fits your transportation system securely so that insects, leaves or small animals like birds or lizards don't end up in your precious collection and contaminate your water.

SOS Survival products carries plenty of barrels including this rain collection barrel, designed to collect your runoff without any major setup requirements.

Storing your barrels on a bed of cinder blocks situated on some pea gravel will ensure that moisture doesn't get trapped under the barrel. Raising your barrel in this way will also create more pressure for spout openings, an excellent solution for gardening.

Collecting, storing and using rainwater for your personal use is a wonderful way to save water and prepare for the event of an emergency. The United States Geological Survey estimates that the average person uses 80-100 gallons of water a day! That number might sound astonishing, but consider all the ways in which we depend on water, from brushing our teeth to washing our laundry. Rainwater collection provides a sustainable avenue for water consumption and will ensure you aren't stranded without this vital resource in the event of a major catastrophe.

But what about using rain water for drinking, food preparation or bathing?

Rainwater looks clean and feels refreshing, but unless you live in remote areas, rainwater contains a variety of pollutants that include car exhaust, chemicals from runoff and various other things we don’t want you to think about while looking at this adorable image of a boy catching rain on his tongue.





One way to eliminate harmful contaminants from water is to boil it. Boiling water for one to three minutes kills viruses, bacteria and parasites.
Keep in mind that water that’s previously been boiled will not remain sterile in a non-sterile environment like a bucket or barrel. You can reuse boiled water, but if you intend to consume it, boil it again.

Another very easy way to stop contaminants is with a filter. Filters come in a variety of materials from ceramic and clay to carbon.
These types of filters work because they trap small particles that include harmful bacteria, protozoa, and microbes. Because of their small size, filters cannot trap viruses.

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Ceramic filters have been successfully in use since the early 1800s and continue to be used in many countries where water filtration isn't available. These filters are inexpensive and can even be manufactured at home with the use of some clay pots, cornhusks, tealeaves or coffee grounds.


RECYCLING

Depending on what your trips to the grocery store look like, your home might already be filled with materials that can be reused. From cans and bottles to old clothing, survivalists know how to repurpose.

Reusing what you have is a valuable skill, and one that gives our planet a chance to breathe. Although we encourage recycling because it greatly reduces waste in landfills and helps to conserve natural resources, it does not eliminate waste or pollution. Reusing is the only way to temporarily remove your carbon footprint, whether you're planting herbs in old coffee tins or washing the car with a favorite old shirt that simply couldn't be saved.


Aside from the practical applications, reusing can also be insanely fun. Check out these cool DIY projects created entirely from old materials you might otherwise toss in the bin!


GARDENING

You don't need a giant plot of land, expensive tools or a ton of know-how to begin gardening.

Start by growing herbs and vegetables for beginners such as dill, chives, rosemary, parsley, tomatoes, zucchinis, cucumbers, carrots, chard, lettuce, cabbage or peppers. Gardening books and websites are widely available to help you start on the journey toward home growing. In addition, consider that many of the plants we consider weeds are in fact edible.
These plants oftentimes provide valuable nutrients that may be hard to find otherwise.

No experience necessary, they’ll grow like, well, a weed.


Not really sure why you should grow your own?

Like livestock farming, food farming forces us to use a ton of valuable resources like fuel, land and water while contributing negatively to the environment and our health through the use of pesticides. Although our knowledge of farming has greatly increased since the days of the Dust Bowl, conventional farming methods haven't stopped top soil erosion and have lead to nutrient deficiencies and pesticide resistance. That means we're not only creating unusable land and super insects, we're also depriving ourselves of valuable nutrition that naturally occurs in fruits and veggies grown in rich soil.
If you can't grow enough food to sustain yourself and your family, we can't blame you. The average person needs about 2,000 calories per day to survive. That's a lot of parsley.

Supplement what you can grow on your own by taking a trip to your local farmer's market once a week or until you can find your own little plot of land to get started on. The foods you'll find there are grown sustainably without pesticides, and because they don't have to travel hundreds or even thousands of miles to get to you, their carbon footprint remains minimal.






BIKES, BURPEES & BOX JUMPS

We don't all have the opportunity to ride our bike to work or school every day, but utilizing alternative modes of transportation whenever we can offers an enormous amount of benefits. Each time you ride your bike or walk, whether it's across town or to the corner store, you're saving natural resources and helping your body by conditioning your cardiovascular system. And that's important because, let's face it, a sedentary lifestyle isn't exactly conducive to survival.

Want to kick your survivalist skills into high gear? You've got plenty of company. Functional
intensity training continues to be a major workout trend all across the world, and with good reason. By using natural movements such as jumping and pulling, you're doing more than conditioning your glamour muscles. In addition, by exercising regularly, whether you use a high intensity interval program or a regular weight and cardiovascular combination, you're creating core strength, increased mobility, better cardiovascular health and the endurance necessary to survive disasters.



Did we miss something? We’d love to hear from you. Use the comment box below to share how you’re reducing your carbon footprint while becoming an expert survivalist.

Water Safety

 

May is National Water Safety Month, and SOS Survival Products is here to remind you about the dos and don'ts of swimming, boating and other recreational water activities. Whether you prefer to spend your summers lounging by the pool or beach or you're ready to hitch up the boat or jet ski for a trip to the lake, equipping yourself with proper water safety knowledge is a must.

Drowning happens fast and silently. The CDC reports that between 2005 and 2014, an average of 3,536 deaths per year occurred from accidental drownings. Roughly one in five drowning victims this year will be 15 or younger. 
Don't become a statistic. There are ways in which you can prepare yourself and your family. Learn water safety now, follow the rules closely, and get ready to enjoy a fun and safe summer.


DON'T SWIM ALONE
You've heard it before, but we stand behind this rule 100 percent. By buddying up, you statistically increase your chances of being noticed should your safety suddenly be in danger. So make swimming with a buddy your number one rule for water safety, whether you're taking a dip in the pool or you're planning something more adventurous.

SWIM IN DESIGNATED AREAS
Swimming in areas that are potentially hazardous will unfortunately render the buddy system ineffective. If you and your swimming partner are both caught in an undertow, a sudden tidal change or swept away by a strong, unseen current, neither will be of help to the other — a terrifying and deadly situation. Avoid isolated and non-designated areas with which you aren't familiar in order to avoid being caught off guard.

DON'T CLIFF JUMP OR DIVE
With the exception of designated locations and tourist attractions, we recommend you leave this activity where it belongs: in the movies. Without a dinosaur at your heels, the act of cliff diving simply amounts to you voluntarily throwing yourself off rocks into another set of rocks. While exhilarating, without a proper knowledge of the area, cliff diving can result in serious injuries and death.

DON'T LEAVE CHILDREN UNATTENDED
As a parent, you're already aware of the dangers of drowning, but we believe this point is worth driving home. Drowning is a silent killer. Forget what you think you've learned from beach dramas and soap operas; the signs of drowning aren’t apparent. Drowning victims don't flail, thrash or scream because complete submersion occurs in seconds. Don't be distracted by your phone, a conversation or a daydream. Keep an eye on your child(ren) at all times.

BE AWARE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS
A sudden change in weather can ruin a trip to the beach and can be devastating if you're planning on boating this summer. Always check the weather before leaving and stay up to date on changing weather conditions while out. Drops in temperature, heavy rains and increased wind speeds can quickly turn your boating trip into a disaster.

WEAR A LIFE JACKET
As adults, we've become accustomed to the idea that life jackets are for small children and those who can't swim. But in the wrong conditions, boating without a life jacket can be the equivalent of jumping out of a plane without a parachute. Moving water contains an unimaginable force, and oceans and lakes are crossed by strong and unseen currents that can be difficult to navigate. Because of this, we recommend that unless you've dropped anchor in calm waters, you keep your life jacket on and follow other recommended boating safety tips at all times.

PREVENT DEHYDRATION
Dehydration can happen quickly and unnoticed. We lose an average of about 3 liters (or 3 quarts) of water per day through breathing, sweating and urinating. A few hours in the warm sun combined with swimming, volleyball or other recreational activities can cause dehydration quickly, even when you may not feel particularly hot or thirsty. Once dehydration has set in, you may experience loss of balance, headaches and confusion. Make adequate fluid intake a vital part of your pool and beach safety plan by drinking water regularly, even if you aren't thirsty, and avoiding sugary drinks like juice or soda.

DON'T DRINK AND SWIM
A margarita by the pool, a cold beer while tubing or a glass of wine while boating — swimming and alcohol tend to want to go together like s'mores and camping. But when combining the effects of alcohol with a prolonged exposure to sun and heat, drinking in or near water can have devastating effects. Impaired judgement sets in quickly, allowing you to take risks you wouldn't normally take. Decreased balance combined with increased carelessness can quickly result in a tumble overboard and the inability to know which way is up. Don't risk injury or death. Swim now, drink later.

LEARN CPR
No matter what your plans are this summer, we recommend you make CPR a part of your knowledge repertoire. CPR is easy to learn, easy to perform and it can help save lives. Don't find yourself unprepared in the event of a drowning accident or injury, and ensure you are prepared anytime should a family member, friend or neighbor require your assistance.

From lounging and tubing to adventurous sports and boating, summer provides the perfect opportunity for a variety of water-related activities. Stay safe throughout them all with these water safety tips from SOS Survival Products.

5 Ways to Purify Water in an Emergency Situation

Water is the single most essential element necessary for human survival. Whereas the human body can last multiple days without food, water must be consumed every day in order to sustain life. In an emergency situation where you find yourself facing a shortage of drinkable water, there are several water purification methods you can use to help you in this time of crisis:

1. Boiling

The easiest and most basic way to purify water and rid it of any harmful bacteria is to boil it. Boiling requires only a heat source and a pot and can take as little as 7 or 8 minutes depending on how much water you want to disinfect. The water needs to stay at a full, rolling boil for at least 3 minutes (unless you are in higher altitudes in which case 5-7 minutes should be long enough).

2. Purifiers

Iodine is the most common chemical purifier for water, and it is available in easy-to-use tablets. Some form of neutralizer or flavored drink powder should be paired with iodine to remove the color, odor and taste of the iodine. However, be sure to not add the neutralizer to the water until the iodine has had sufficient time to eliminate the pathogens. This water purification set from SOS Products includes water germicidal and taste neutralizing tablets.

3. Distilling

Distillation is particularly useful when dealing with salt water. This technique relies on a heat source to evaporate unpurified water into water vapor. Only clean drinkable water will evaporate, leaving harmful bacteria behind, which means the vapor that condenses will be purified. Solar distillation utilizes heat from the sun and can be done using a pre-manufactured solar water still. You can also distill water by warming it on the stove and using a cloth to collect the water vapor and ringing out the clean water into a separate container until you have the desired amount of purified water.

4. Filtration

Filtration is simply the process of filtering out undesirable sediment or bacteria from your water. Purifying filters and pumps come in many different shapes and sizes depending on your specific need. This mini water filtration system attaches directly to standard disposable water bottles and hydration packs for instant water purification—the flow rate of the filter is as fast as you can drink!

5. Ultraviolet Light

Ultraviolet rays from the sun can be used to purify un-potable water by deactivating pathogens in the water. To carry out this method, empty clear bottles should be cleaned and filled partially with water. Shake the bottles for about 15-20 seconds before filling it up all the way. Then, the bottles must be exposed to sunlight for at least 6 hours (or longer if it is cloudy). An important note about this technique is that it will only be effective when applied to clear water.

In an emergency situation, you may find yourself in need of potable water in order to maintain healthy bodily function until emergency responders arrive. Familiarize yourself with these methods before embarking on any adventure trips, or in preparation for an oncoming storm or emergency to provide you and your family with a drinkable water supply. Find more water purifying products at SOSProducts.com.