You might be shocked to hear this, but during an emergency if the power is off, your television won’t work!  (gasp!)  Just a little humor about a serious subject.  With all the preparations I’ve done so far, and what I have planned, I still need to think about this.  I really, really need to buy an emergency radio.  One that runs on solar and by a hand crank.  I also want to have a back-up battery powered radio, which will need a stock of batteries.  Hearing the news during a natural disaster or worse, could save your life.  There are many different types of radios, but you should probably buy the most expensive you can afford.  Here’s a link to a Consumer Reports review that has some recommendations http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/electronics-computers/news-electronics-computers/emergency-radios-805-power-outage-radios-battery-charger/overview/

Whatever type of radio you choose, make sure you learn how to use it.  Know exactly what kind of batteries it uses and stock up on those.  Use it - don’t just put it in a box and forget about it, then when you need it be unprepared because it doesn’t work.  Learn how to find the National Weather Service Station, this is helpful to know when your flowers will be getting rain too.  Learn which AM stations have 24-hours news in your area. 

Be prepared to seek out news as it may not be delivered to your doorstep, tv, or computer in a time of crisis.  If you think ahead, this is one thing you won’t need to worry about.

You don’t want to be caught during a disaster without a well stocked medicine cabinet.  While it’s imperative to have plenty of bandages, ointments and medicines at home, you’re more likely to be unprepared when at work, school or traveling in your car.  You should have a great first aid kit suitable for each of these, and also one for each of your BOB bags (don’t know what that is?  It’s a Bug Out Bag, but we’ll talk about those later).  You could certainly buy a first aid kit - they’re usually fine and have what you’ll need.  I have found that I can make a kit that’s more serviceable and sometimes less expensive. 

For my car I like to use a small shoe box size plastic box.  In it I stock:

• Band aids - I have lots since kids want a band aid for everything
• Gauze - I have some large squares that are individually wrapped and some long rolls
• Neosporin - you can stock whatever brand of antibiotic ointment you like
• Surgical Tape
• Scissors - I buy the small Fiskars craft scissors, they’re sharper and stronger
• CPR Barrier
• Rubber Gloves - you can buy individually wrapped, or add some from your box at home
• Aspirin
• Tylenol - remember to add kids dosage if you need it
• Ibuprofen - remember to add kids dosage if you need it
• Benadryl - remember to add kids dosage if you need it
• Purell - any brand you like will work
• Small amount of any medications you take - remember to rotate so they’re constantly fresh
• Small Ace Bandage - this can have several uses other than the obvious

You may think of additional things that you would like to have available in an emergency.  Stock things you’ll use - you can always add things later.  This is adapted to my personal needs and I think overall it’s a better first aid kit than I could buy off the shelf.  You could use a similar, or smaller kit for work and/or school, although your kids might not be allowed to carry scissors in their bag, so check on that.  Always check the expiration dates on medicines and ointments - although in a pinch they won’t hurt you, if it’s expired it most likely will have a reduced effect. 

This first aid kit is in addition to the food, water and blankets I already have stored in the car.  I know it’s all there, so I don’t have to worry if I’m prepared or not.  I have a calendar that reminds me to check it monthly to see if anything needs restocked or replaced.  Be prepared and in an emergency, you’ll be grateful you did.

Did you stock up on anything this last week?  Here’s a picture of what I was able to buy from my list:

I modified my list a bit, since a couple things were on sale.  The main thing to remember when stocking up is be flexible from your list.  Sometimes you’ll find something you use all the time on sale, that wasn’t necessarily planned for this week - be flexible.  Buy what you’ll use, that way your rotation will ensure your stock is fresh. 

2 Cans Spaghetti Sauce

2 Bags Spaghetti

2 Cans Green Beans

2 Cans Peas

2 Cans Corned Beef Hash

2 Cans Vienna Sausages

4 Cans Tuna

Total Spent:  19.90 - not bad, that’s about as close to $20 as you can get without going over.

You could definately buy more with $20 if you bought store brands (which are just as good) and also checked the dollar stores, etc.  I choose to stock up what I’m comfortable using - I know what the quality is and what my family will eat.  Use this as a guide, but adjust for your own needs and budget.

Now for this week’s challenge - October 27th.  Use this as a guide and adjust for your budget.  Buy brands you know and like so you will use your stock in rotation.

1 Bag White Rice

1 Container Oatmeal

4 Cans Chicken Noodle Soup

4 Cans Cream of Mushroom Soup

2 Boxes or Cans Chicken Broth

4 Cans Corn

Good luck this week and check back every Monday for our Stock Up Challenge.

I mentioned that there are a few things you can do to decrease your risk of catching the flu during a pandemic.  Probably the best method of prevention is avoiding anyone that might have it.  This might not be practical for a lot of people, but if you’re around someone that’s coughing and sneezing into the air, chances are you’ll get it.  But, this is not always the case.  If you’ve read anything about the Spanish Influenza you know that in some households, all the kids and Dad contracted it, but Mom didn’t.  Sometimes everyone died except the baby.  Sometimes no one got it.  The thing to remember is the virus doesn’t “think” about it’s victims.  It’s an equal-opportunity infector!  I’m lucky enough to have a job that I could do at home, so my first level plan is to keep myself and my kids quarantined.  I have a slight problem though because Dad won’t have this convenience.  So even quarantine won’t work 100% since we’ll have someone going out of the house. 

You’ve probably read a lot about masks and respirators.  The N95 particle respirator is the only mask know to probably filter the influenza virus particles.  The key word being probably.  And at over $12 per mask, it’s an expensive probably.  I’ve stocked up on regular particle masks that will basically provide protection from wet particles being coughed or sneezed - this is most effective when the sick person wears it.  In this case I feel it will mitigate my risk.  Masks aren’t made for children, so seclusion is the best prevention factor for them.

Influenza is airborne, but unless you’re out in public, you’ll probably contract it through touch.  People pass their germs to each other by rubbing their eyes, noses or sneezing and touching items that everyone else touches - faucets, doorknobs or the refrigerator handle.  So, if someone in your household does have the virus, or is out in public often, you may want to restrict their access to the common areas of your house.  If you’re the main caregiver to your kids, or an elderly person, and you’ve had access to the public, you should plan on wearing a mask and washing your hands A LOT when providing care.  They may still contract it from you, but any mitigation of the risk is worth it.

I’ve started taking Vitamin C every day - just for my overall health, but there is a large following that believe it can prevent or cure influenza.  Vitamin C is a highly effective antioxidant, so there may be some fact to this.  Really though, it doesn’t hurt to stock up.  The main thing to remember is too much Vitamin C can give you diarrhea and some other, mild side effects.  However, these usually aren’t present in those taking it for influenza in high doses.  The Food & Drug Administration in 2007 approved clinical trials for high-dose Vitamin C treatment for those with untreatable cancer.  If this stuff is thought to treat cancer, my idea is it’s probably effective in some way on the flu.  Be especially careful when giving Vitamin C to children as diarrhea can be deadly - always check the dosage before administering. 

You’ve all heard of Tamiflu.  It may be effective in preventing or shortening the flu virus, but honestly I don’t believe there will be enough during a pandemic.  You could ask your doctor if you could have some to stock up.  You might also want to try Oscillococcinum, which is a homeopathic medicine that is marketed to relieve flu symptoms.  There is some evidence from doctor’s writings that during the Spanish Influenza, Oscillococcinum was highly effective.  You can find Oscillococcinum at most health food stores, and all over the internet. 

No one knows if or when we’ll have an influenza pandemic.  But, you can prepare yourself and your family by stocking up on items that may ease your symptoms or prevent infection, getting plenty of rest, washing your hands and avoiding the public.  Frankly, I hope you never need to use any of this information, but if you do the best medicine is to Be Prepared.

As with all suggestions on this site, this isn’t intended to be medical advice.  Please see your doctor when taking any over the counter or herbal items.

In any emergency situation, a parent’s worse nightmare other than running out of food and water is some medical emergency happening to their child.  I remember one night, about 2 years ago, my middle son put a small plastic disc from a bug keeper lid in his mouth, it flipped around, and he suddenly was choking.  Dad of course, stood there yelling “he’s choking, he’s choking”, and looking at me across the room.  I ran over, grabbed him up, turned him over and thumped him as hard as I could between the shoulder blades with the heel of my hand.  The piece flew out of his mouth, crashed to the floor and he was fine.  The technique I had used was taught to me about 5 years prior at a first-aid class I happened to take.  I never thought I’d end up using it on one of my own children, but I’m glad I knew what to do.  Knowing exactly what to do kept me from panicking, unlike the other unprepared parent in our house.  Basic CPR and first-aid training, supplemented with your own research could end up saving a life during a disaster situation. 

If we are unfortunately hit with some type of pandemic flu virus (a possibility that even the government has repeatedly warned us about), knowing some basics about healthcare and medicine could mean the difference between living through it and being a casualty.  I’ve thought about the scary scenerio of our wonderful Pediatrician’s office overwhelmed with coughing, sick children and parents fighting each other to be first in line.  And, who knows if doctors will even see any patients - they may be busy saving their own children or other family members.

Do you know what every site, including the CDC’s lists at the most effective method of controlling a pandemic flu?  Thoroughly washing your hands.  That’s it.  There is no miracle cure that will save us.  Just good old soap and water.  Kind of scary huh?  The good news is you can take just a few other precautionary steps to make sure you’re stocked up and ready in the event of a flu pandemic.  Tomorrow I’ll talk about specific things that could prevent you or your family from becoming a tragic story.

I never realized how inexpensive food is in the US.  This year because of our country’s economic issues, Americans will spend more than ever on the food they eat.  The normal family spends around 8% of their annual income on food.  That’s compared with 22% - 40% in other nations.  Can you imagine not being able to buy something you want, say a new bike for your kid because you have to buy FOOD?  I don’t think any of us realize how convenient we have it.  We’ve all become used to the convenience of Costco where you can buy anything in bulk, including blueberries.  We certainly take for granted having enough to eat.  Fortunately, I’ve never gone hungry a day in my life.  I hope my kids can say the same thing, and if they do I know it will have something to do with my forethought and preparations.  FEMA used to suggest you have at least 72 hours worth of food and water stored away.  Now, they’ve extended that to 2 weeks.  When the government finally gets on board with something, you know there’s no time to waste in getting prepared.  It used to be the only people with any substantial amount of food stored were thought of as hoarders and radicals.  Now, moms I meet at PTA are talking about stocking up before prices go any higher.

There are many reasons to stock up extra food at your house.  I live in an area that is affected by earthquakes, although we’ve been lucky that a big one hasn’t hit close enough to cause any damage in our immediate area.  There may be times in our future that a disaster, natural or human caused, will strike.  It’s invaluable to have enough food on hand at all times.  Start by storing up enough for two weeks, then buy a little more until you have a month’s worth.  Soon, you’ll start checking the ads and shopping the sales - instead of buying one or two of an item, you buy 4 or 5.  Buy things you enjoy eating, so you don’t run out and also items that store well and don’t require cooking for emergency situations.  Have you ever thought about a time when you or your spouse might lose your job?  Basic staples have gone up at least 10% in my area.  Bags of rice have doubled.  Wouldn’t it be nice to know that if something did happen to your job, you wouldn’t have to grocery shop for a few weeks, or at the least just supplement your stores with fresh fruits and vegetables?

In addition to storing up for emergencies, I’ve also been thinking lately about all the food we waste everyday.  Remember those starving children in Africa your mom used to tell you about?  Well, they’re still starving and what would they think about us throwing out what we don’t consume because we don’t like leftovers?  We’ve made an effort at our house to eat up leftovers, even if we take it to work or school for lunch.  Every little bit helps.  Just consuming food you’ve already prepared and cooked saves water, gas and electric.  Every little bit helps and we all have a responsibility to do our share in conserving our resources.  Do your part, I guarantee it’ll make you feel good!

Are you planning on getting the flu shot?  It seems like that’s all anyone asks related to the flu.  Nevermind that thousands of seniors and children die ever year from what seems like just an inconvenience.  I don’t usually get the flu shot myself, although if I have the kids at the doctor, they usually get it.  My husband also is getting it this year, and I’m happy about that.  He’s had pnemonia every year for the last three years, so I think it’s necessary for him to get it maybe it’ll save me a few headaches this winter!  I’ve seen more cases in the news of children dying of complications from influenza and most often it’s because of severe dehydration.  I wanted to provide some information about making your own Oral Rehydration Solution, and it might be a good idea to stock up on a few bottles from the store for your car in case of an emergency when these supplies aren’t available.

Recipe for Oral Rehydration Solution:

1 teaspoon Salt

8 teaspoons Sugar

One liter of clean or boiled drinking water (this is about 5 - 200 ml cups)

Stir this mixture until the salt and sugar dissolve.

That’s it, pretty easy.  How do you measure 1 liter at home if you don’t live in Canada?  If you have a regular glass Pyrex measuring cup, there is a 1/2 liter measure on the back side.  If you don’t have one of these measuring cups already, you might want to get one - there are many inexpensive liter measuring cups available at the dollar store. 

It’s important to remember that if your child won’t drink this solution, keep them hydrated with anything they will drink, milk, juice or clear sodas.  Seek medical attention immediately if your child can’t keep any fluids down - this could be a very serious issue.  It’s better to be a paranoid parent than have a tragedy that could have been prevented.  I’ve found that it’s sometimes best to have my kids take a small sip every 5 - 10 minutes.  That way a small amount of fluids are being absorbed, but it’s not overwhelming for their tummies. 

Keep this recipe in a safe place.  If an emergency disaster happens to you, you may not be able to get to the store, or you may not be allowed to go to the store.  Be prepared and you won’t have to worry.

It’s time to start stocking up.  Even if you can’t afford a $10 or $20, just do what you can, but do it weekly and you’ll see your cabinets fill up.  You can keep these items in a spare cupboard, closet or even in a plastic bin under your bed.  I don’t suggest you keep it in your garage unless it’s temperature controlled.  I will post more suggestions about storing your food later.  Buy any combination of the following up to $10 or $20.  If you have money left over, try to stick it away in an envelope for emergency use later.

Week #1

2 Packages Spaghetti

2 Jars or Cans of Spaghetti Sauce

4 Cans Green Beans

4 Cans Tuna

2 Cans Spam (any type is fine)

Don’t worry too much about buying named brand items, but do buy brands whose quality you’re familiar with.  It’s not inexpensive if the quality is bad and no one will eat it.  You should check stores in your area for sales and if there are canned peas instead of green beans on sale, by all means buy that.  The idea is to have a regular schedule to follow and an itemized list if it helps you.  My kids like alfredo sauce instead of regular tomato all the time, so I buy one of each.  Also, you may not care for Spam, so there are other options - you could buy two cans of vienna sausage, or more cans of tuna.  Don’t be afraid to adapt this to your own needs.   The idea is to help each other stock up weekly.

Okay, by Saturday I will have pictures of the items for this week to post.  Good luck shopping!

Pyro commented with the following links and I thought they’d be of interest to everyone:

Here are a couple of websites that are useful for people preparing who have little or no knowledge of making that dollar stretch:

http://www.ellenskitchen.com/

Make sure you visit Ellen’s “Facts and faqs” section.

http://frugalcuisine.blogspot.com/

Eat very well on $3.00 per day. If you follow the tips in this blog, you can actually eat well for much less if you prepare large batches and freeze or refrigerate the extra.

As far as getting kids to eat beans, try this recipe for Hoppin’ John. Excellent with corn bread.

http://www.globalgourmet.com/food/special/1999/american_home/hoppin.html

You can use other legumes in this recipe. The ham hock can be omitted for a vegetarian version, or bacon can be substituted.

If you’re looking for an awesome site that has 107 recipes for beans:

http://www.justbeanrecipes.com/inxbre.html

My weekly stocking up post won’t be until Monday, but I happened to be at Costco today, so bought these:

If I count that towards last week’s stock up plan, it’s approximately $14.50.

The ravioli is something I constantly have to replenish, the beans should last a long time, but I’ll break it down into smaller sealed bags.  Something to think about when you’re buying food is will your family eat it?  My kids won’t eat beans, but they probably would if that’s all we had.  They like ravioli and things like that, but I limit how much they can have each week.  Just because you’re preparing for an emergency doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to eat healthy.  Fresh veggies and meat should always supplement your stores as you can afford them.  I have a wonderful grocery where I go just for the produce - everything is grown local and is high quality.

An even better option is to grow some of your own fresh produce.  Zucchini and tomatoes are very easy to grow.  I live in a zone where we can grow these year round.  I don’t have a huge yard, so we’re doing container gardening.  It’s very practical for our area and we get great results.  Always look for heirloom seeds, but if they’re not available you can use regular seeds from the store.  The main thing is try it - it’s fun and kids love watching the plants grow.  I’ll put a link for my favorite heirloom seed source, Baker Creek Seeds.  I’ve always been happy with their service and products and they have a great forum for gardeners too!

One of the comments posted by a reader made me realize I needed to discuss this topic instead of putting it off.  I mentioned in my first post that I don’t like to discuss the possible future need to arm myself for protection in the event of a disaster.  You do need to think about this and discuss it with your family.  What do you think will happen if we have a really serious emergency, where police services are unavailable, or even unsafe?  You need to think over what is acceptable to you and your family and how far you’re willing to go to protect your lives. 

I have a few friends that know I’m a prepper, they always joke that they’ll be knocking on my door in the event of a real calamity.  Well, I’ve always been really up front, in a nice and straightforward way that they can knock, but they won’t get in.  Why?  I’ve put a lot of effort and money into preparing for a disaster.  While I do believe we need to help those in need, in a survival situation it could be the choice between your life and theirs - frankly I choose myself.  I have children that depend on me.  I need to protect and provide for them.  It may sound cold hearted, but it’s a decision that’s best decided on now.  Who will you help and how will you defend yourself and your home from those that won’t take no for an answer?  It’s not a happy topic, but it’s a necessary one.

I do believe that in general women don’t enjoy discussing firearms and defense plans all the time.  I’ll touch on this again because I think it’s good for women to know what their options are - self defense is a great skill and we should have some necessary training, even for our normal lives.  I do hope that if you choose to arm yourself, you’ll get the necessary training and safety courses.  You don’t want a disaster of your own making in your home.

It’s a scary topic, one that women really need to prepare for.