Archive for July, 2010
When Disaster Strikes
Disasters disrupt hundreds of thousands of lives every year. Each disaster has lasting effects, both to people and property. If a disaster occurs in your community, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you, but you need to be ready as well. Local responders may not be able to reach you immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere.
You should know how to respond to severe weather or any disaster that could occur in your area – hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme cold, flooding, or terrorism. You should also be ready to be self-sufficient for at least three days. This may mean providing for your own shelter, first aid, food, water, and sanitation. One of the best ways to ensure that you have everything that you need is with emergency preparedness kits.
When It’s Hot – Stay Hydrated!
The warmer weather brings about unique challenges to campers, hikers, or any other outdoors sports participants. When it’s hot outside, it is very important to stay hydrated – keeping your water intake high. A readily available supply of emergency drinking water is a critical component to an enjoyable and safe outdoors experience.
The most important source of replenishing fluids in your body is water. Drinks with high sugar or caffeine content, such as sodas or coffee, can actually be detrimental if your body becomes dehydrated (not enough fluid). Water is the body’s most natural source of hydration.
Should You Invest in a Water Filtration System?
When you’re trekking in the wilderness, it’s all about the basics of survival-shelter, food, and water. Without these fundamentals, your camping trip is going to be inordinately short. There is, however, the cost of camping gear to consider.
Take, for example, portable water purifiers. There is no question that these devices are useful. Water is heavy to carry, and for any extended trip, you can’t possibly take enough. With access to a water purifier and any water source, you are guaranteed to stay hydrated.
But, on the other hand, water purifiers are expensive. There is a range of prices, but even the inexpensive products are around $50. The more expensive units run upwards of $250.
Purification tablets are a more cost-effective solution, but they have their own set of downsides. Some add an unpleasant taste to the water. Some take a long time to work. And so on.