Waterproof Matches - Second Only to Water

Mаtсhеѕ аrе аn imроrtаnt раrt оf аnу саmрing kit. Whеthеr уоu аrе bасkрасking, саmрing with a tent or a trаilеr, mаtсhеѕ are uѕеd аll thе time. And thеу are so inеxреnѕivе that you саn and ѕhоuld litеrаllу аdd thеm all оvеr thе рlасе - in your firѕt аid kit, your tасklе bоx, knарѕасk, bасkрасk, рurѕе, еtс.

With a rеliаblе ѕuррlу of matches, уоu will bе аblе to mаkе a сооking fire (оr a fun campfire) whеrеvеr you аrе.

But mаtсhеѕ have оnе problem. Thеу don't mix wеll with wеt соnditiоnѕ - аnd уоu often find wet соnditiоnѕ when hiking оr саmрing. Yоu slip аnd fаll into a puddle getting your bасkрасk wеt, уоur tасklе bоx gеtѕ knocked in thе wаtеr bу a big fiѕh you pulled in, еtс.

Fortunately, thеrе iѕ a simple ѕоlutiоn. You can wаtеrрrооf your matches. (Yоu can аlѕо buу mаtсhеѕ thаt аrе аlrеаdу wаtеrрrооf but it iѕ ѕо ѕimрlе аnd inexpensive tо make thеm, hоmеmаdе waterproof matches аrе a grеаt орtiоn.)

Lеt'ѕ take a lооk at thrее еаѕу wауѕ tо wаtеrрrооf your mаtсhеѕ.

Method 1

Thе easiest wау tо wаtеrрrооf matches iѕ to ѕtоrе them in a waterproof соntаinеr.

Back in thе days of film рhоtоgrарhу, this was very еаѕу. Yоu соuld juѕt uѕе an оld film саniѕtеr. It made thе реrfесt wаtеrрrооf соntаinеr fоr mаtсhеѕ. But most оf uѕе juѕt dоn't uѕе film аnу lоngеr and have nо еаѕу ѕuррlу of thеѕе grеаt саniѕtеrѕ.

Nowadays,the mоѕt likеlу саndidаtе уоu will hаvе lуing аrоund the house iѕ thе ziрlос bаg. If уоu рut your matches in a ziрlос bаg аnd thеn рut thаt bаg intо a ѕесоnd ziрlос bаg, уоu hаvе built a рrеttу good, lightwеight wаtеrрrооf container. Thе ѕесоnd bаg is uѕеd in саѕе a mаtсh рunсturеѕ thе firѕt ziрlос bag аnd to keep wаtеr оut if thе inner bag if you happen tо gеt the outer bag wеt and ѕрill wаtеr intо it whеn ореning.

You can also uѕе ѕmаll рlаѕtiс соntаinеr with lids оr even mеtаl саndу tins if уоu рrеwrар уоur matches with рlаѕtiс wrар to make аn аdditiоnаl mоiѕturе bаrriеr - especially in metal саndу tinѕ.

Method 2:

Thе ѕесоnd mеthоd is gооd old fashioned nаil polish. This method iѕ quite simple. All уоu dо is соаt the еntirе tiр оf the mаtсh with nаil роliѕh аnd lеt it drу. You should еxtеnd thе nаil роliѕh a bit bеуоnd thе head - реrhарѕ hаlf an inсh - tо еnѕurе that thе flammable head iѕ соmрlеtеlу coated.

Whеn уоu gо to use оnе оf thеѕе mаtсhеѕ, уоu will wаnt tо саrеfullу ѕсrаре thе nail роliѕh off the side of the mаtсh you will bе ѕtriking. If you dо not dо thiѕ, there iѕ a good chance thаt thе mаtсh tiр won't light аѕ the ѕtrikеr pad mау juѕt rip it оff along with thе nаil роliѕh.

Mеthоd 3:

Thе third mеthоd wе will lооk аt tоdау iѕ a hot wаx dip.

To uѕе thiѕ mеthоd, juѕt hеаt uр ѕоmе wаx until it is liquid and dip thе mаtсh into it. Thеn lеt it dry. Anу wax саn be uѕеd but if уоu hаvе thе opportunity tо uѕе bееѕwаx, уоu will get a lоngеr burning flame аѕ thе bееѕwаx will асt аѕ fuеl to kеер the mаtсh burning lоngеr.

Like thе nаil роliѕh mеthоd аbоvе, you ѕhоuld rеmоvе the wаx frоm the роrtiоn of the hеаd уоu рlаn tо strike to еnѕurе thаt it will light.

All thrее methods work аnd will рrоduсе wаtеrрrооf mаtсhеѕ thаt аrе juѕt аѕ gооd аѕ thоѕе you wоuld buy in a саmрing ѕtоrе - аnd fоr a lot lеѕѕ money. So gеt buѕу and start making ѕоmе ѕtаѕhеѕ today!

Essential Alternative Treatments for Natural Disaster Preparedness

With global warming comes more natural disasters. Those natural disasters can create serious health risks, such as the release of radiation from the Fukushima nuclear plant after it was damaged by a tidal wave. More likely are disasters such as hurricanes and floods, which leave disease festering in fetid waters long after the storm has passed. Alternative health remedies are essential to have on hand to combat disease and treat injury after disaster strikes.

Alternative Health Treatments to Have in Your Disaster Preparedness Kit

After a natural disaster strikes, your first job is to survive. To do that, you need to stave off disease and infection.

·       5% Lugols Iodine is an extremely effective antiseptic for external wounds. Use it to disinfect water and take internally to detoxify your body. Taking iodine helps protect your thyroid in case of a nuclear disaster, because if your body has sufficient iodine, the irradiated iodine cannot fix itself in your thyroid or cells. If you can only have one thing in your preparedness kit, this is it. Don't confuse Lugols Iodine with iodine tincture from your local pharmacy. Iodine tincture is made with ethanol and is toxic when taken internally. 

·       Garlic is one of the most potent antibiotics you can use. In WWII, the Germans used it when they couldn't get penicillin across enemy lines, earning it the name "battlefield penicillin." Liquid garlic is a concentrated, potent form that should be in any disaster kit. Garlic capsules are also convenient. If you have time beforehand to prepare, get as much fresh garlic as you can and add that to your kit.

·       Coconut Oil contains Lauric acid, which has antimicrobial, antibiotic, and antifungal properties. It can be used internally or externally. It is also an excellent source of energy, so taking it internally will give you some of the strength you need to get through the day.

·       Raw honey, especially Manuka honey, can be used as an antibiotic to treat sepsis when applied topically. It is also a good food source to provide energy.

·       Food grade diatomaceous earth is a blood and liver detoxifier and kills parasites in the intestines.

·       Calcium Bentonite clay is one of the most effective means of removing pathogens from the body. Packed into a wound, it draw toxins out. Taken internally, it binds to pathogens and toxins and carries them out through the intestines. You need to either dilute the clay 50/50 with water or take it with psyllium to prevent it from binding you.

Preparations Before Natural Disaster Strikes

Don't wait until an emergency to start using alternative health remedies. Start building up your body now by including these products into your everyday life. A healthy body is more able to withstand the extreme stress of the disaster aftermath. Study and learn as much as you can about which alternative remedies to use and how to build up your immunity. Those listed above are only a very few of the herbal and holistic remedies available. The more you know, the better your chance of survival.

While alternative remedies are wonderful to have in your preparedness kit, don't forget simple things like bleach, alcohol, peroxide and pain killers. When disaster strikes, it's often the old, familiar medicines that we turn to at first. 

Energy Supply

When getting started in prepping of course, the first thing to worry about is the storage of food. Along with this necessity, water and shelter comes next. However, an alternative energy supply should never be forgotten as refrigeration and cooking both requires energy.

Energy supply is almost a necessity in this electronic age. It helps to charge up devices or for things that use electricity, energy supply is important. For example, in extremes of chilled weather, to keep the surroundings warm with the help of an electric heater, energy supply is a must-have. Renewable energy sources are recommended to preppers usually, such as solar panels, wind and water turbines. They are among the best sources for the generation of energy.

While choosing the type of energy, one needs to be well-informed about the energy supplies that exist abundantly in the respective area. It is often recommended not to rely on any single source i.e. not to be solely wind dependent or entirely solar energy dependent, rather keeping a hybrid system is the safest of all.

The must-know topic among preppers is that of the renewable energy resources. When talking about power, first alternative energy source that comes to the mind is a generator obviously. Generators are relatively cheap and easily available. Most commonly used standby generators are good for short term use. They should not be counted on for a long term support because of a number of reasons. They need fuel like gasoline or diesel to work. Most generators use about 10 to 20 gallons of gasoline per day and if a person runs out of fuel, these generators fail to work. Many gasoline generators run off of electric supply or natural gas. For the fact that they rely on electricity or natural gas supply, even if one of these goes down, generators do not work at all.

Solar generators are the most sustainable energy source. Because the source of energy i.e. sunlight is free, it serves as the most reliable and cost effective renewable energy source. Lately the prices for solar systems have met inflation due to their increased demand, but overall costs if calculated are worth spending as they provide energy for life. Aforementioned reasons explain the pros and cons of standby and solar generators, therefore, encouraging the use of solar generators by preppers.

Among other renewable energy sources comes wind. This natural and powerful energy source helps make electricity if wind-electric system is installed. Wind generators are designed to generate electricity in this system. Hydro-power also falls in the category of natural energy sources. Water turbines are designed specially to generate power. However, the disadvantage of this system is that it is not portable. Gasifiers are an amazing invention and can be used as an energy supply, however it is non-renewable.

Survivalism is an act which displays self-sufficiency. Only by keeping all the alternatives in mind a prepper can make the right choice of the energy supply that suits the best for the unfortunate situation he meets. However, a survivalist must know how to set-up and operate all the alternatives for energy supply. 

How to Deal with a Catastrophe

With climate change, natural calamities are becoming more frequent across the world. In order to conserve against natural disasters, it’s essential to get acquainted with the effects they have on society by looking at past disasters. A natural catastrophe is anything ranging from a tropical storm to volcanic eruption. Natural catastrophes are not caused by humanity, like those caused due to global warming.  In the context of a nation, a natural calamity in a populated area could easily cause an economic slump. Companies can be shut down due to the loss of business and the reduction in tourists which will result in unemployment.

Don’t panic. It is an obvious thing that the world likely will not be ending. Human life will continue for thousands of years for sure. It is good to be prepared for the worst case scenario. Being prepared for the world’s overreaction could conserve you and your family. So be calm and prepare your own self for an emergency plan with this article.

Form an Emergency Plan

What would you do if there was a hurricane, tornado, a chemical spill or an earthquake? What if an emergency happens while you were out of town? It is not possible to predict the different kinds of disasters that can happen. However, it is advisable to think of a way by which you can deal with these emergencies effectively.

·         Decide the plan of action

·         Have a backup plan

·         Account for places to meet in case you can’t get to your home

·         Know what your child’s school will do in case of an emergency

·         Make certain that everyone is aware about the place where supplies are kept

·         Practice the plan regularly

Collect Survival Knowledge

Getting certified in a first aid course are great ways to prepare for an emergency. You could save someone’s life during a major disaster.

Brace Yourself Mentally

The destruction of things that we know and love can be calamitous. But the truth is that everything is evanescent. We may think society could never be destroyed, but that isn’t reality. If something happened globally, the disaster could completely change the way of our life.

Can you mentally handle those consequences? In order to prepare for that mentally you should start thinking about how you would feel and cope with disaster situations. Get acquainted with apocalyptic movies books and imagine yourself in the situation of the characters. How would you behave if you were in their situation? You need to have a positive attitude and the knowledge to face situations. 

Prepare Yourself Spiritually                    

               

Prepare yourself to face the end phase of your life and what might come afterwards. Don’t live with the dissatisfaction about your past action or the things, which you have left unsaid. Be prepared to leave the world when your time comes.

Here and Now

We can’t anticipate every catastrophe that could happen to us. We are not aware what the future holds. That is part of the joy of life. We are not sure with it that our future will always contain good times. Every situation in a new day is unexpected.  Our life is full of good and bad times. Will we have bad times in the future? That is an almost guaranteed ‘yes’. The best thing, which we can do, is to be prepared with the bad times along with the enjoyment of the good times. 

Best Lighting Options to Have When Power Goes Out

Best Lighting Options to Have When Power Goes Out

By: Adam Rodriguez

• July 19, 2013
• Blog, News
• 2

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http://www.suntactics.com/best-lighting-options-to-have-when-power-goes-out-emergency-lighting/

Having several emergency lighting choices is not only smart, but crucial especially stuck in complete darkness in unfamiliar territory. We all need light to navigate our away in terrain, or just having the security knowing you will never be stuck in the dark.

Light gives us the choice to be mobile and active, traveling without light can be very dangerous and the best option in that situation is to stay put. Having a wide range of lighting options at your disposal is the best decision, if you don’t have a backup generator for the home than consider these lighting choices to stock up on and put a few of these in a bug-out-bag incase you need to flee all of a sudden.

Solar Charger and LED Light

Having a portable solar charger, battery and LED light as an emergency lighting source is like having unlimited renewable electricity in the palm of your hands. Suntactics carries all three of these items and weights less than a few pounds and can easily fit inside a coat pocket, hiking, or bug-out-bag, and have power so long as you have sunlight to charge the battery.

Both battery and solar charger can even charge cell phones, GPS, tablets, cameras, and other mobile USB devices.

This is the most reliable 21st century option we have for emergency lighting, this single solar charger can charge this 6000mAh battery, along with other LED lighting options like this headlamp from Black Diamond, sometimes it’s best to have your hands free while working in the dark.

Suntactics solar chargers are also water proof and extremely durable, perfect for out in the wilderness.

Candles

While wax is a good fire-starter for taking along a trip, candles are best for home use. The cheapest and most efficient candles are the ones you make yourself. Beeswax is the highest quality wax available, but you can use cheap soy wax flakes to start making candles.

You would need: Soy Wax Flakes (the most affordable wax), which can be bought on Amazon for $8 for 10 pounds. Mason jars, can be found anywhere (sometimes for free). Wicks and Tabs can be found on Amazon, eBay or craft stores for about 100 each for less than $10.

Making the candles; There is really nothing to making candles, it’s all about preparation and setting up the jars and wicks before heating up the wax. Set up the mason jars, attach the tabs to the wicks and stand them up inside the jars (make sure the wicks are taller than the jars).

Next pour the wax flakes in a large pan, put the heat on low and let the wax melt and once completely melted you are ready to pour in the jars, that’s it! You can make over 100 large candles that will last 50-70+ hours if you use a 24oz glass mason jars for only a few bucks.

Torches

Humans have been using torches for thousands of years prior to the invention of the light bulb and oil lanterns, pine knot torches are the most long lasting and preferred torches that will last for hours at night. Although candles and oil lamps are the better option, some might not have a choice to make a torch for lighting. Without a flashlight, a lantern or a torch would be the best option when walking in complete darkness.

Making a Pine Knot Torch: You would first obviously need a thick pine branch, pine is thick and has natural oils in them so it’s the perfect torch solution. You would also need either a hatchet, knife or saw to cut into the branch, and of course a way to light the torch.

First off, you would need  a thick pine branch about the length of your forearm, preferably just as thick as well. The top must be flat, a hatchet, saw or knife would do to flatten out the top. Next you would need a sharp tool to cut vertical slits into the wood, sort of like a 4 sliced-pizza and should be 4-5 inches deep. (see bottom image on left)

Next, stuff some flammable material inside the slits and on top of the torch and ignite, the torch should last a few hours depending on thickness and other factors.

Lanterns

This is the best option when you don’t have flashlights or wax, oil burns much slower than wax and lanterns can light up a whole room making them the most efficient fire option available. The most preferred lantern is the Hurricane Lantern, it is capable of magnifying light, incredibly sturdy (sometimes made out of iron), and just makes it easier to carry since they have a guard so you won’t burn yourself and it prevents winds from blowing out the flame.

But there is also a danger in having a lantern around, if it’s knocked over or broken it can start an unstoppable fire in just a few seconds. It’s best to have a fire extinguisher around when using a lantern just incase, it’s also wise to never leave a lantern on when unattended! Also make sure kids are safe and not near the lantern, and keep the lantern on a sturdy base!

There you have it, these are the best options to have incase you need emergency lighting, we are fortunate to live in the age of solar power if we can’t rely on our modern electrical grid, gas and solar generators are the only reliable options we have, yet, we can always rely on fire to light up our lives.