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12 Months Of Prepping: Month Four
If you were to ask a stranger what they are doing to prepare, chances are they would indicate that they have a few cans of extra food and some bottled water in their pantry along with a couple of spare flashlights. To be honest, those are the things that most people think of when it comes to being prepared.
You and I both know that if there were a disaster right now, these folks, out of ignorance or naiveté, would be cut off from the outside world, totally dependent on first and second responders to help them with the most rudimentary basics in life. Talk about the cost of inaction and failing to prepare!
Luckily, if you are reading this article you have taken steps to ensure that you are not put in a situation where you are on your own without the supplies and skills you need to get by in an emergency situation. You have learned that you can approach preparedness in an organized and logical manner and more important, you can proceed slowly but consistently, one month at a time.
If you have been following this series, you will know that in 12 Months of Prepping: Month 1, I talked about the Survival Mindset. In Month 2, the pep-talk topic was “Why Prepare?” and in Month 3, we dealt with the need to identify risks specific to your family.
Today, in Month Four of Prepping, I address, among other things, prescription medicine, over-the-counter remedies, cash, pets and things you need to stay warm.
MONTH 4 SUPPLIES & GEAR:
- A 7 day supply of critical prescription medicines
- Over the counter remedies
- $100 in small bills; more if you can afford it
- Pet supplies
- Infant supplies
- Extra storage containers
Something often overlooked when putting together emergency supplies is an adequate supply of critical prescription medications. The reason meds are frequently overlooked is that collecting extras is darn tough because most insurance policies tell you that they only allow a thirty day supply to begin with.
I have some ideas for getting around this – ideas that I use myself. Here are two.
1. Talk to your doctor and request a standalone prescription for a one or two week supply of your meds. Take this prescription to a pharmacy different from your regular pharmacy and do not give them your insurance information. Pay for these emergency meds out of pocket.
2. Many insurance companies allow for a 90 day prescription on maintenance drugs. Be aware that they may not tell you this so ask. They also allow the prescription to be refilled a few weeks before the 90 days is up. This is especially true of mail order pharmacies (Costco, drugstore.com and the like) since time is needed to both process the prescription and get it out to you.
Hint: You do not need to be a member of Costco to use their pharmacy. Their prices are great and they make it easy to order prescriptions online.
Over time, by pulling a few tabs from each new prescription, you can build up a decent supply of extras. This sounds a bit tedious but as long as you order those new refills as soon as you can, it becomes an easy way to build up a supply of extras.
Don’t be a wienie or a cheapskate about when it comes to life-saving prescription meds. Critical medications are going to preserve your health and should not be considered a luxury.
That said, wouldn’t it make better sense to stay fit and healthy in the first place? Alright, let us make staying healthy a topic for another time.
Over-the-Counter Remedies & Essential Oils
In addition to your most critical prescription meds, you are going to want to review and add to the stash of over the counter remedies you set aside in month two. Did you notice that I did not list any specifics? The very best way to determine which OTC remedies to stock is to open up you medicine cabinet and take a look at what you are currently using.
Chances are, you will find a pain reliever such as aspirin or Tylenol plus and anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen. Beyond that, consider antacids and antihistamines any anything else you currently use and tolerate.
I don’t want to dwell too much on the specifics here because you know what you need more that I do. But, and this is a big but, please consider the use of essential oils in lieu of pharmaceuticals, over the counter or not.
There are many essential oils with healing properties that have an infinite shelf life as well. Five to consider right off the bat are lavender, peppermint, melaleuca (also known as tea tree), lemon, and rosemary. Here are a few articles to help you learn more about using these essential oils in a survival situation.
The Miracle of Lavender Oil: 25 Amazing Uses for Survival
The Miracle of Peppermint Oil: 20 Practical Uses for Survival
The Miracle of Tea Tree Oil: 80 Amazing Uses for Survival
33 Awesome Uses of Lemon Essential Oil
The Powerful Healing Qualities of Rosemary Essential Oil
Cash and the Modern Day Cookie Jar
In great grandma’s day there was the cookie jar. Yes, it was filled with delicious homemade sugar cookies but also, at the very bottom and hidden away, was some cash. The cookie jar was there for a purpose: it was there for that rainy day when something was needed and the weekly budget was shot.
In much the same way, you need to put aside at least $100 in small bills for those times when nothing but cash will do. The need could be as simple as paying someone to help you remove a tree that has fallen on your house during a storm or it could be as drastic as all ATMs being shut down due to a computer virus hitting the bank you usually deal with.
Whatever your financial condition, try to build up a stockpile of at least $100, even if you have to do so at the rate of $5 per week. Eat pasta and peas for dinner (see Clara’s kitchen) or a bowl of soup. But save up for an emergency. It is important.
Pet Preparedness
The four-legged family members need supplies and gear as well. During this fourth month, pick up some extra pet food as well as a spare collar and if appropriate, a leash or harness. Also pack away some baggies or garbage bags for potty-cleanup purposes as well as some disinfectant wipes.
And finally, make sure that you have copies of your pet’s license information, microchip code, immunization records and other information that will be vital in the event you get separated or must leave your home. If for some reason you need to move out of your home and into a shelter, having this information may make or break your ability to take your pet with you.
Get a Free Pet Safety Pack
I also recommend that you order a “Free Pet Safety Pack” from the ASPCA. This kit includes an easy-to-use sticker that will let people know that pets are inside your home. It will identify your pets to rescue workers, and and will include the types and number of pets in your household, the name of your veterinarian and your veterinarian’s phone number.
Tip: If you do evacuate and take your pets with you, write “Evacuated” on the face of the sticker so that rescue workers can move on to help someone else.
Also, I realize that pets are not only of the four-legged, dog and cat variety. If you have birds, gerbils, snakes, lizards or other pets, plan accordingly. Spouses and significant others do not count as pets, however.
Don’t Forget the Teddy Bear
Supply-wise, the last thing we need to purchase this month are infant supplies such as baby bottles, formula and diapers. This is pretty self-explanatory and if you have little ones, you know what you need. If anything, go a bit overboard on supplies for your infant or toddler. Remember, they are totally dependent on you and may be confused and upset by the turmoil around them. Now that I think about it, a small teddy bearis a good idea as well.
Now that we have taken care of the supplies and gear, what are the activities for this month? As with every month, there is nothing too difficult or strenuous.
MONTH 4 TASKS:
- Package your prescription medications in a storage container and date for annual rotation purposes
- Make a copy of your current prescriptions and keep them in a secure location so that can be filled, if needed, following the emergency event
- Pack up warm blankets, sleeping bags, socks and other cold weather items
- Review your storage area and put stray items in containers that are well marked
With the emphasis on prescription medications this month, I want to stress the importance of proper labeling. This includes not only the name of the drug and dosage, but also the date it was packed for storage.
Something that I do is to package a single day’s supply of whatever meds are required (including vitamin supplements if that is you thing), in a small baggie. Here is a photo of Mr. Survival Hubby’s meds and supplements:
The 3 x 3 baggies were purchased for just a few dollars (try Ebay, the dollar store or Amazon) and are really, really handy. We do this very same thing for every day use, packaging up 30 days or more at a time. Plus, think about this. Remember when I talked about purchasing some extra meds? Another option for stockpiling is that you can do is simply make up 1 or 2 packets with each monthly prescription and set them aside for emergency purposes. At the end of a year your will have a nice little stash. Now how neat is that?
Staying Warm and Toasty
Keeping warm blankets and clothing is pretty much a no-brainer but you would be surprised at how few people remember to include blankets or sleeping bags with their emergency gear. When you think about it though, these are very practical things to have on hand. If you do have to leave your home – or even if the power goes out or some stranded friend or family member comes to stay – you want to have bedding available and warm bedding at that. Sleeping bags are perfect for this purpose (even if they are not the most stylish or glamorous option.)
Of course not everyone can go out and spend $50 to $100 or more for a sleeping bag. So, for the short term, consider Mylar sleeping bags that form to the body while retaining 80% of your body heat. These can typically be purchased for about $7 each and are well worth the price.
Bins, Boxes and Garbage Bags
Remember last month when you identified someplace accessible to store your stuff. This month I want you to go have a peek and ask yourself this: Is everything labeled? Is the area nice and tidy? Could you locate a specific item if you were in a hurry?
This month is only month number four and if you answered “no” to any of these questions, think about the disorganized mess you will have when we get to month twelve. I want you to take a really critical eye to your storage place and think about the best way to tidy things up. Put things in bins – or lacking the funds for nice plastic tubs – use carton boxes that are available for free from the grocery store or a business in your area. Even garbage bags work, especially for soft goods.
The key – and I am a broken record on this point – is to label and then label some more. I like to use self-stick labels and a sharpie but in most cases (except for the garbage bags) you can write on the container itself.
Okay so I got a little bit carried away with the storage and organization task. But truly, this is important and advice I still need to take myself. Well, not really since I am a bit obsessed with organization which translates into continually taking a sharp eye to my shelves and cupboards so that I can make them tidier. That plus my obsession with boxes and those plastic bins you get at the dollar store.
The Final Word
If there was some way to wave a magic wand and say abracadabra, the prepping is done, I would do so. But prepping, like all things worthwhile, does not happen overnight. It takes time to build up the right supplies and it takes time to tick items off tasks or as I like to say, the “prepping chore list”.
As someone told me a few years ago, “Keep on working if you have a job but prepare as though you don’t.” I would like to add to those words with the following:
“Prepare as though a disaster will occur next month but hope and pray that it never really happens.”
Enjoy your next adventure through common sense and thoughtful preparation!
Gaye Levy, also known as the Survival Woman, grew up and attended school in the Greater Seattle area. After spending many years as an executive in the software industry, she started a specialized accounting practice offering contract CFO work to emerging high tech and service industries. She has now abandoned city life and has moved to a serenely beautiful rural area on an island in NW Washington State. She lives and teaches the principles of a sustainable and self-reliant lifestyle through her website at BackdoorSurvival.com. At Backdoor Survival, Gaye speaks her mind and delivers her message of prepping with optimism and grace, regardless of the uncertain times and mayhem swirling around us.
The article 12 Months Of Prepping: Month Four published by TheSleuthJournal – Real News Without Synthetics
Source: http://www.thesleuthjournal.com/12-months-prepping-month-four/
