Kentucky Preppers Network

Kentucky Preppers Network on Twitter!

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 22:34:00 +0000

Hey everyone, Kentucky Preppers Network is now on Twitter! If you're a Twitter user make sure you follow @kypreppers for updates. This is only the feed from the blog. Personal Twitters are posted in the sidebar under "KPN Blogging Team."

For safety sake, homestead fuel storage must be handled properly by Emory Warner Issue #43

noreply@blogger.com (Knine) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 13:51:00 +0000

Home storage of fuel is a necessity for homesteaders. Even if you are still on the grid, your truck, tractor, standby generator, etc. will still require fuel. I intend to offer appropriate methods of storage for LP gas, gasoline, diesel fuel, and kerosene. I will also offer some tips on safe fuel handling.

Fuel types

LP gas is one of the easiest fuels to store and also one of the most dangerous. It is a highly versatile fuel which can be used to power internal combustion stationary engines, tractors, and other motor vehicles, as well as for cooking and heating. LP has two serious drawbacks: First, it must be stored under pressure to remain a liquid; any leak (which may not be visible) could leak away all of your fuel without your knowledge. Second, LP is only slightly heavier than air, and will disperse at the exact ratio to produce an explosion. It will also “puddle” in low spots, waiting for an ignition source.

Salvaged 275 gallon horizontal fuel tank with hand fuel pump and filter. This type of pump is suited for all fuels; current use is for diesel fuel.

Gasoline has the advantage of being a liquid at room temperature. But it is probably the hardest fuel to store for any length of time. It has a high vapor pressure (which means it evaporates quickly) and will go stale in a few weeks if not chemically treated. It does have a fairly high ignition temperature (about 1100° F) even though it does not need a large volume of heat to ignite. Stored gasoline must be treated with a BHT additive like Sta-Bil and protected from moisture if it is to be stored for any length of time.

Large quantities of gasoline make me nervous. I used to live on the water in southern Maryland, and was witness to several boat explosions and fires due to gasoline vapor in the bilges.

Kerosene is one of the easiest fuels to store, and is more versatile than most people think. It does not evaporate as readily as gasoline and will remain stable in storage with no special treatment. Many pre-1950 farm tractor engines were designed to run on kerosene, and diesels will run on kerosene if necessary. Kerosene stoves and refrigerators are also available and would definitely be preferable to LP models from the safety standpoint.

Diesel fuel stores almost as easily as kerosene and is becoming more and more popular among the self sufficient. It is difficult to ignite intentionally and almost impossible to ignite by accident. Two grades are available: #1 diesel which is old-fashioned yellow kerosene, and #2 diesel which is the same thing as #2 home heating oil. (You may see literature to the contrary, but #2 diesel is #2 heating oil. Period.) Diesel fuel presents its own unique storage problems: The first is that it is somewhat hygroscopic; that is, it will absorb moisture from the air. The second and related problem is sludge formation. Sludge is the result of anaerobic bacteria living in the trapped water and eating the sulfur in the fuel. Left untreated, the sludge will grow until it fills the entire tank, ruining the fuel. Stored diesel fuel should be treated with a biocide like methanol or diesel Sta-Bil as soon as it is delivered. Unique to #2 is the fact that some paraffin wax is dissolved in the fuel and will settle out at about 20° F, clogging the fuel filter. This “fuel freezing” may be eliminated by adding 10% gasoline or 20% kerosene to the diesel fuel. Commercial diesel fuel supplements are also available to solve the same problem. Diesel should be filtered before use.

Thirty dollar drum pump mounted on a 55-gallon drum of kerosene. This type of piston pump is not suitable for gasoline.

Alcohol (ethanol) is not commonly considered a storage fuel, but here is the data on it for those who distill their own. Alcohol is as hygroscopic as it gets, and must be stored in a sealed container to prevent moisture contamination. It is about as volatile as kerosene and presents the unique problem, when ignited, of burning with an almost invisible blue flame. It may be best to store the raw material for stilling the alcohol and producing the fuel as needed, rather than producing a large quantity and storing it.

Whatever fuel you store, it would be a good idea to monitor your fuel usage and plan your storage around a 90-day supply.

Safe fuel handling

Regardless of the fuel in question, all liquid fuels should be handled in the same matter as the most volatile, which is either gasoline or LP gas. Fuel should be stored in an isolated area, downhill and downwind from any other buildings. Fuel vapors are heavier than air, and will flow downhill. LP tanks should be left in the open and not enclosed in any way. Liquid fuel tanks can and should be stored in a well-ventilated building or open lean-to to prevent solar heating from evaporating the fuel. If the storage location is permanent, consider using a buried tank. If set below the frost line, temperatures are stable at 55° F or so, which will inhibit evaporation. The tanks will be safe from everything, including stray (or aimed!) gunfire, brushfires, and just about everything else except the EPA. If buried fuel tanks offend your sense of environmental responsibility, then consider an underground vault. This has the added advantage of being able to inspect the tanks from time to time.

One type of approved and properly marked portable fuel cans.

Regardless of the tank location, a dry chemical or C02 fire extinguisher should be hung on the outside of the building or near the pump. Any electrical fixtures should be “explosion proof” (sealed) and wired in sealed conduit to prevent fuel vapors from coming into contact with electrical sparks. Prohibit smoking or carrying of smoking materials within 50 feet of the fuel pumps. Electrical fuel pumps should have a heat sensitive shutoff to stop the pump in the event of fire. Always shut down the engine of the machine being fueled. Promptly clean up any spills. Last of all, be certain to use only the equipment that is approved for the fuel in question. (Some fuel pumps are approved for diesel only, and are unsafe to use for gasoline.)

Fuel storage methods

Liquid fuels use the same storage systems and will be covered as a group. LP gas is normally stored in pressurized tanks supplied by the LP dealer, and will be only briefly covered.

The most basic fuel storage system is the common portable fuel can. If you are still on the grid and have a job “off the property,” then this is a workable and economical method of fuel storage. A minimum of three cans will be required: one full at all times, one for use as needed, and one to be refilled at the first opportunity.

Rotation of the cans will ensure some amount of reasonably fresh fuel at all times. This storage system has the added advantage of portability in the event that the storage site must be abandoned. Use only approved containers, and use caution not to mix up containers. The standard color code for portable cans is blue for kerosene, red for gasoline, and yellow for diesel fuel. This is not cast in stone. Use whatever color scheme you like, but be consistent with it. Gasoline introduced into a diesel tank will make the diesel engine hard to start when hot. Gasoline in a kerosene heater will explode like a Molotov cocktail. Diesel #2 in a kerosene lamp will smoke and stink and soot up the globe. If you use all three fuels like we do, it seems that you will be filling a fuel can every time that you go out. Delivered fuel is much more convenient, and usually cheaper.

A horizontal drum storage system. Front and rear 2x6s are notched to hold drums and are bolted to 4x4 posts. Braces are 2x4s. This would be nice to have under a lean-to beside the tractor shed.

The next storage system is the 55-gallon drum used with a hand pump or horizontally on a rack. This is a highly flexible storage system, as drums may be added as needed to suit individual requirements. Most fuel dealers have a 100-gallon minimum delivery, so at least two drums will be needed. You can even load one drum in your truck, drive to the service station and fill it, then bring it home and pump the fuel into your storage drum. Drums are also portable enough in the event that the storage site must be abandoned. The only disadvantages are the negligible cost of the drums and that the drums will eventually rust and leak. We use drums for our kerosene and gasoline storage. Label each drum clearly if you are storing more than one type of fuel.

If you wish to store large quantities of fuel, then the built-for-the-purpose fuel tank is the system of choice. Tanks are available new in capacities from 100 to 10,000 gallons in above ground and underground types.

Most commonly used here in the Northeast is the standard residential 275-gallon fuel tank. These are available new at plumbing and heating suppliers for about $150. Used tanks are usually available free for the hauling, including whatever fuel is in them. As a side note, an individual with a pickup truck and a reciprocating saw could make a fairly decent living removing old fuel tanks as homeowners change away from fuel oil to natural gas. This is about the dirtiest work available, and pays about $100 per tank. The removed tanks could be cleaned up, painted, and resold for $50 or more. I have accumulated about five or six tanks in the last few years without really looking for them.

Fuel dispensing is a matter of choice. An elevated tank needs only a valve and filter; gravity will do the rest. We prefer to use hand pumps for our kerosene and diesel tanks. Valves have been known to leak, and vandalism is an unfortunate reality of modern life—especially if the vandal elects to open the valve on a tank of gasoline and follow it up with a lit match. Hand pumps are safer, and they are more easily secured if the tank must be left unattended.

The author’s system

My personal fuel storage system is a salvaged 275-gallon fuel tank with a hand pump and filter for our diesel fuel storage. Our principal tractor is diesel powered. We also use it to operate a PTO (power takeoff) generator for standby use. We use two or three 55-gallon drums for kerosene storage, with a lift pump for dispensing. (We rely on kerosene heaters to supplement our woodstove.) But, as I have a job “off the property,” and we have two old gasoline engine tractors, as well as a chainsaw, lawnmower, etc., the fuel can system works well for our gasoline supply. This is particularly suitable for us, as I feel uncomfortable about storing large quantities of gasoline.

Before Winter Storms and Extreme Cold

noreply@blogger.com (Knine) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:15:00 +0000

Add the following supplies to your disaster supplies kit:

* Rock salt to melt ice on walkways
* Sand to improve traction
* Snow shovels and other snow removal equipment.

Prepare your home and family

* Prepare for possible isolation in your home by having sufficient heating fuel; regular fuel sources may be cut off. For example, store a good supply of dry, seasoned wood for your fireplace or wood-burning stove.
* Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply by insulating walls and attics, caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows or covering windows with plastic.
* Winterize your house, barn, shed or any other structure that may provide shelter for your family, neighbors, livestock or equipment. Clear rain gutters; repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on a house or other structure during a storm.
* Insulate pipes with insulation or newspapers and plastic and allow faucets to drip a little during cold weather to avoid freezing.
* Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure everyone in your house knows how to use them. House fires pose an additional risk, as more people turn to alternate heating sources without taking the necessary safety precautions.
* Learn how to shut off water valves (in case a pipe bursts).
* Know ahead of time what you should do to help elderly or disabled friends, neighbors or employees.
* Hire a contractor to check the structural ability of the roof to sustain unusually heavy weight from the accumulation of snow - or water, if drains on flat roofs do not work.

Prepare your car

* Check or have a mechanic check the following items on your car:
o Antifreeze levels - ensure they are sufficient to avoid freezing.
o Battery and ignition system - should be in top condition and battery terminals should be clean.
o Brakes - check for wear and fluid levels.
o Exhaust system - check for leaks and crimped pipes andrepair or replace as necessary. Carbon monoxide is deadly and usually gives no warning.
o Fuel and air filters - replace and keep water out of the system by using additives and maintaining a full tank of gas.
o Heater and defroster - ensure they work properly.
o Lights and flashing hazard lights - check for serviceability.
o Oil - check for level and weight. Heavier oils congeal more at low temperatures and do not lubricate as well.
o Thermostat - ensure it works properly.
o Windshield wiper equipment - repair any problems and maintain proper washer fluid level.
* Install good winter tires. Make sure the tires have adequate tread. All-weather radials are usually adequate for most winter conditions. However, some jurisdictions require that to drive on their roads, vehicles must be equipped with chains or snow tires with studs.
* Maintain at least a half tank of gas during the winter season.
* Place a winter emergency kit in each car that includes:
o a shovel
o windshield scraper and small broom
o flashlight
o battery powered radio
o extra batteries
o water
o snack food
o matches
o extra hats, socks and mittens
o First aid kit with pocket knife
o Necessary medications
o blanket(s)
o tow chain or rope
o road salt and sand
o booster cables
o emergency flares
o fluorescent distress flag

Dress for the Weather

* Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. The outer garments should be tightly woven and water repellent.
* Wear mittens, which are warmer than gloves.
* Wear a hat.
* Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs.

What to Do During an Earthquake

noreply@blogger.com (Knine) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:04:00 +0000

Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually fore shocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.
If indoors

* DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON on until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
* Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
* Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
* Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, load bearing doorway.
* Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
* Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
* DO NOT use the elevators.

If outdoors

* Stay there.
* Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
* Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If in a moving vehicle

* Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
* Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris

* Do not light a match.
* Do not move about or kick up dust.
* Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
* Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

Winter Storms and Extreme Cold

noreply@blogger.com (Knine) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:59:00 +0000

Heavy snowfall and extreme cold can immobilize an entire region. Even areas that normally experience mild winters can be hit with a major snowstorm or extreme cold. Winter storms can result in flooding, storm surge, closed highways, blocked roads, downed power lines and hypothermia.

How can I protect myself from winter storms and extreme cold?

* Know your winter storm and extreme cold terms
* What to do before winter storms and extreme cold
* What to do during a winter storm
* What to do after a winter storm
* Learn about floods that can result from winter storm thaws

Thunderstorms and Lightning

noreply@blogger.com (Knine) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:39:00 +0000

* Facts About Thunderstorms
* Facts About Lightning
* How Can I Protect Myself From a Thunderstorm or Lightning?

All thunderstorms are dangerous. Every thunderstorm produces lightning. In the United States, an average of 300 people are injured and 80 people are killed each year by lightning. Although most lightning victims survive, people struck by lightning often report a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms. Other associated dangers of thunderstorms include tornadoes, strong winds, hail, and flash flooding. Flash flooding is responsible for more fatalities—more than 140 annually—than any other thunderstorm-associated hazard.

Dry thunderstorms that do not produce rain that reaches the ground are most prevalent in the western United States. Falling raindrops evaporate, but lightning can still reach the ground and can start wildfires.
Facts About Thunderstorms

* They may occur singly, in clusters, or in lines.

* Some of the most severe occur when a single thunderstorm affects one location for an extended time.

* Thunderstorms typically produce heavy rain for a brief period, anywhere from 3 0 minutes to an hour.

* Warm, humid conditions are highly favorable for thunderstorm development.

* About 10 percent of thunderstorms are classified as severe—one that produces hail at least three-quarters of an inch in diameter, has winds of 58 miles per hour or higher, or produces a tornado.

Back To Top
Facts About Lightning

* Lightning’s unpredictability increases the risk to individuals and property.

* Lightning often strikes outside of heavy rain and may occur as far as 10 miles away from any rainfall.

* "Heat lightning" is actually lightning from a thunderstorm too far away for thunder to be heard. However, the storm may be moving in your direction!

* Most lightning deaths and injuries occur when people are caught outdoors in the summer months during the afternoon and evening.

* Your chances of being struck by lightning are estimated to be 1 in 600,000, but could be reduced even further by following safety precautions.

* Lightning strike victims carry no electrical charge and should be attended to immediately.

Back To Top
How Can I Protect Myself From a Thunderstorm or Lightning?

* Know your terms
* What to do before a thunderstorm
* What to do during a thunderstorm
* What to do after a thunderstorm

What to Do After an Earthquake

noreply@blogger.com (Knine) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:16:00 +0000

* Expect aftershocks. These secondary shock waves are usually less violent than the main quake but can be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures and can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake.

* Listen to a battery-operated radio or television. Listen for the latest emergency information.

* Use the telephone only for emergency calls.

* Open cabinets cautiously. Beware of objects that can fall off shelves.

* Stay away from damaged areas. Stay away unless your assistance has been specifically requested by police, fire, or relief organizations. Return home only when authorities say it is safe.

* Be aware of possible tsunamis if you live in coastal areas. These are also known as seismic sea waves (mistakenly called "tidal waves"). When local authorities issue a tsunami warning, assume that a series of dangerous waves is on the way. Stay away from the beach.

* Help injured or trapped persons. Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance such as infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.

* Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the area if you smell gas or fumes from other chemicals.

* Inspect the entire length of chimneys for damage. Unnoticed damage could lead to a fire.

* Inspect utilities.
o Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.

o Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.

o Check for sewage and water lines damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting ice cubes.

What to Do Before an Earthquake

noreply@blogger.com (Knine) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:54:00 +0000

Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently and without warning. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and advance planning can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake. Repairing deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations, anchoring overhead lighting fixtures to the ceiling, and following local seismic building standards, will help reduce the impact of earthquakes.
Six Ways to Plan Ahead

1. Check for Hazards in the Home
* Fasten shelves securely to walls.
* Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.
* Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and china in low, closed cabinets with latches.
* Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from beds, couches, and anywhere people sit.
* Brace overhead light fixtures.
* Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. These are potential fire risks.
* Secure a water heater by strapping it to the wall studs and bolting it to the floor.
* Repair any deep cracks in ceilings or foundations. Get expert advice if there are signs of structural defects.
* Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products securely in closed cabinets with latches and on bottom shelves.

2. Identify Safe Places Indoors and Outdoors
* Under sturdy furniture such as a heavy desk or table.
* Against an inside wall.
* Away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures, or where heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over.
* In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, overpasses, or elevated expressways.

3. Educate Yourself and Family Members
* Contact your local emergency management office or American Red Cross chapter for more information on earthquakes. Also read the "How-To Series" for information on how to protect your property from earthquakes.
* Teach children how and when to call 9-1-1, police, or fire department and which radio station to tune to for emergency information.
* Teach all family members how and when to turn off gas, electricity, and water.

4. Have Disaster Supplies on Hand
* Flashlight and extra batteries.
* Portable battery-operated radio and extra batteries.
* First aid kit and manual.
* Emergency food and water.
* Nonelectric can opener.
* Essential medicines.
* Cash and credit cards.
* Sturdy shoes.

5. Develop an Emergency Communication Plan
* In case family members are separated from one another during an earthquake (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), develop a plan for reuniting after the disaster.
* Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the "family contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person.

6. Help Your Community Get Ready
* Publish a special section in your local newspaper with emergency information on earthquakes. Localize the information by printing the phone numbers of local emergency services offices, the American Red Cross, and hospitals.
* Conduct a week-long series on locating hazards in the home.
* Work with local emergency services and American Red Cross officials to prepare special reports for people with mobility impairments on what to do during an earthquake.
* Provide tips on conducting earthquake drills in the home.
* Interview representatives of the gas, electric, and water companies about shutting off utilities.
* Work together in your community to apply your knowledge to building codes, retrofitting programs, hazard hunts, and neighborhood and family emergency plans.

KPN Meetup 02/06/2010

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:09:00 +0000

Who?
Members of the Kentucky Preppers Network and anyone else who would like to join us.

What?
A meet and greet for preppers. Bring your gadgets, preps, or anything you would like to share. (except for guns)

Where?
Golden Corral
8013 Preston Hwy
Louisville, KY 40219

When?
Saturday February 6, 2010 @ 2:00pm Eastern Time

Why?
To get to know fellow preppers, and like minded people right in your own community

RSVP at the forum HERE or Facebook HERE

View Larger Map

Lessons Learned from the Earthquake in Haiti

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:59:00 +0000

The earthquake that struck the Republic of Haiti on January 12th was a disaster and a tragedy. For anyone unaware, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck close to the capitol of Port-au-Prince. Thousands are thought to be dead; historical buildings, hospitals, and what infrastructure they had was demolished. My hat goes off to all the people going down there to help, and countries around the world pitching in to help them in this time of need.

But let this be a wake up call to all Americans. A lot of us are near major fault lines, including one here in Kentucky (New Madrid Fault Line), and a major earthquake could happen at a moments notice. This goes to show that Americans need to realize the threat of disasters that are out of our control, and get prepared for them. Food storage, emergency kits, and supplies you would need in the event of widespread power outages and service failures are so important. How much better off would the people in New Orleans after Katrina, or the people of Haiti be if they all were equipped with a 72 hour emergency kit?

We can't expect anyone to come to our rescue, and we must be prepared to help ourselves and our families in the event of a disaster. Even the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) urges Americans to create a plan, stock up on supplies, and get prepared. If the disaster in Haiti doesn't prove the point, then look at what happened in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina struck. We're all at risk, and we all need to be prepared. One old sayin' that comes to mind is "better to be safe, than sorry."

Food Storage Tip - Plan Your Meals

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:46:00 +0000

Wanting to have a 1 year supply of food on hand is one thing, getting the supply together is another. It might seem like a tough task to accomplish but it's a lot simpler than you think. To achieve a 1 year supply of food that you can rotate and eat on a regular basis is probably going to require you to change some of your eating habits. But that doesn't mean you're going to have to eat beans and rice for every meal. Most meals you already eat can be made with ingredients that will store long-term.

The first step to creating your working food storage is to develop a meal plan. This shouldn't be too hard because most families eat the same meals over and over. You need to sit down with your family and create a list of meals that everyone likes to eat. The more meals you're able to write down, the better, because variety is the key to any food storage. (There are also a number of books out there that have recipes for food storage items. These might help when planning meals.) This should include meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Once you have a good list of meals now it's time to start figuring out what ingredients will go into these meals that will store long term.

Most meals can be created with ingredients you can store long term. One good thing is to find commonalities between your meals; ingredients that would go with a number of your planned meals so you can store a lot of that ingredient. You can find a lot of your long term storage items at any supermarket, but some items you will need to improvise on, or purchase from a supplier. Your food storage needs to be independent of everything other than water and a heating source to cook with. Recipes that need things like cheese or milk that require refrigeration can be replaced with powdered cheese and powdered milk.

Some things such as meats can be home canned for long term storage, rather than relying on freezing them, which keeps you attached to the grid. Creating a long term food storage isn't hard, but will take some planning and work on your part. The use of a dehydrator can help you when creating your food storage. There are a lot of things you can do on your own (dehydrating and canning) rather than buying it all from suppliers which is going to be expensive. The idea is to create the storage, and not be out anymore money that you usually would when buying food.

Are You Watching the Sale Ads?

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:43:00 +0000

You should be. I was browsing through the local Kroger ad and right off the bat saw a ton of great deals for preppers looking for build their food storage. Kroger runs a lot of 10 for $10 deals on a number of items. From salad dressing to deodorant you can increase your stock of just about everything by taking advantage of these sales. This is exactly how a prepper saves money and builds their food storage at the same time.

For example, this week Kroger has Kroger Brand canned fruit 10 for $10. That's only $1 a can. Canned fruit will store for at least a year and probably longer. Why not take advantage of this sale and stock up on canned fruit? True, it's going to cost you more money right now, but in the long run you won't have to go out and purchase the same fruit at the full price, you can just grab it from the pantry knowing you got it on sale. This translates into saving money on purchasing the goods you eat on a regular basis, along with building your pantry and food storage.

The same principle goes for anything you catch in the sale ads or have coupons for. Buy in bulk on sale, then when items are back at regular price you won't need to purchase them. As your stock of fruit (or any other item) gets low, next time you see it on sale go ahead and re-stock. This way you avoid ever having to pay full price for a lot of stuff you use, and you build your stock each time. This is the basic principle you need to follow when working on your food storage. There are many variables when considering starting a food storage, but this is something that is universal and that everyone can take advantage of.

Winter Preparedness

noreply@blogger.com (PyramidZen Admin) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 16:53:00 +0000

Greetings fellow arctic dwellers. I've been in recluse mode for the past couple of months, but haven't lost touch with the fundamentals of preparedness. I spent some alone time in the woods here recently and enjoyed the beauty and solitude of early winter backwoods trekking. Although the beauty is a real treasure, and you don't have to put up with insects, hacking through thick weeds, lush fields of poison ivy, and a number of other awareness builders, you do find yourself faced with different challenges.

Normally I am able to nibble a healthy variety of plants in one form or another while on an outing, but I found little more than a few spice bush berries left by the birds. You can imagine the berries rejected by the birds aren't exactly a windfall, but passable as a snack. Water was the next thing. Usually not an issue as there are springs, and fast moving streams abound, but recent development of the surrounding areas have left these once vibrant water sources questionable at best. I found a few grape vines, a great source of water in a pinch, and a little water in the crotches of trees, although that is also the watering hole to every critter in the woods, so drinking quality can be risky. Best to purify that water with a little iodine if you have it. I carry resublimed iodine crystals for that purpose, and they last indefinitely when used properly. Aquapure is a company that makes these kits for a reasonable price. The bottom line, for my last outing was that I could have gotten by, but it was very sparse. For those sturdy souls wanting to thrive well in the winter outdoors, I recommend taking no less than a full year to follow the lives of the local flora and fauna on a daily basis so you will get to know the intricacies of their lives that will make year round identification easier. There is a lot out there to provide sustenance if one knows what it looks like in the dead of winter. It is a real good feeling to see a bare black twig sticking up in the snow, and to know just what it is good for. Remember to dress right in several layers. I set out one cold day hiking around the hills. There was frost on the ground, and it was cold for at least a quarter mile of my walk. By the time I had been walking, and climbing for an hour or so, I was down to a tee shirt, and one thin layer of pants, and I was still sweating. As I returned to the old farm house I was staying in, I had to begin relayering again bit by bit to stay warm. All was well. I was prepared.

While most of us don't have to face each day as though it were an arctic expedition, we should at least be prepared for what we are up against during the cold weather months. Have at least a half a tank of gas in your vehicle. Also carry a road survival kit that includes a signaling device such as a flare and a signal mirror. Have warm blankets. Make sure they aren't cotton, or too light weight, or you will not be warm. I once tried to keep warm with one of those Indian blanket knock offs you see piled up in truck stop gift shops, and about froze. They are too small, and worst of all they are made of cotton, aka death cloth. Make sure it is wool, heavy fleece, or maybe a down or synthetic sleeping bag. Keep extra gloves, and insulated overalls, or some other insulated clothing. Keep a stash of snacks as you will be colder when you are hungry. Always have your cell phone fully charged. Dress in layers regardless in this kind of weather. Make sure your clothes are loose fitting, have room to breathe, and maintain air space. Wear a hat, warm socks, and gloves or mittens.

I'm sure there are other things to elaborate on, but I want to get a few basics dashed off to get you thinking about winter preparedness. Oh yeah, Toss a set of jumper cables, and a good flashlight in while you are at it, and maybe even a towing strap should you get stuck. Well, I'm sure there is more, but for me, it's over and out for now.

Gear Review - 11 in 1 Credit Card Survival Tool

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:48:00 +0000

Here's a neat little survival tool I picked up the other day. It's a 11 in 1 Credit Card Survival Tool. Made from stainless steel, this is a great thing to keep in your wallet, purse, glove box, bug out bag, or your everyday carry. The tool is thick enough to actually be useful, and for the price you can pick one of these up for all the locations I mentioned. I picked this up for $1 with free shipping when it was on sale. Regularly they are $2.99 with free shipping which still is a good price. Click here to view this item on Meritline.com.

Here's the breakdown of the chart showing what each part of the tool is made to do:
1. Can Opener
2. Knife Edge
3. Screwdriver
4. Ruler
5. Cap Opener
6. 4 Position Wrench (for various size nuts & bolt heads)
7. Butterfly Wrench
8. Saw Blade
9. Direction Ancillary Indication
10. 2 Position Wrench
11. Lanyard Hole (Key Ring Hole)

This is a quality tool that could come in handy if it's all you had with you. It's small enough and light enough to carry when you don't want to keep a multi-tool. This would also make a great gift, and go well with your already existing preparedness supplies.

Food Storage Tip - Drink Mixes

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:03:00 +0000

Water is the most important part of your preparedness plan. Without clean drinking water you wouldn't survive more than 3 days. I have a lot of water stored as it is an important part of my preparedness plan. As much as I like water I would hate to be stuck drinking only water for an extended period of time. There are many ways to break the monotony of drinking water all the time. These include flavored drink mixes, tea, coffee, and protein drinks.

Having some of these included in your food storage will help break the cycle and give you some variety in what you drink. Variety should already be included in your food storage, but it's just as important to have variety with your water storage. Most stores and supermarkets have large jars of flavored drink mixes that are very inexpensive. You can get Kool-Aid mixes, Gatorade mixes, Tang, and a number of other mixes.

These come in all different flavors so everyone should be able to find something that they like. Tea bags are also a good thing to store as they last a long time, and most people like a nice cup of tea. And for all the coffee drinkers out there make sure you have some coffee stored for those early morning pick-me-ups. Another option is to store protein powder drinks. These come in a lot of different flavors and types, and most are high in calories and vitamins, which would make it perfect for a quick meal on the go.

No matter which one you choose, having something to add to your water, giving you some variety is going to be beneficial. If nothing else having something flavored to drink, and possibly sweetened with sugar from your food storage is going to boost your moral in the event of a disaster. I like water just as much as anyone else but nobody wants to drink only water everyday. If you have children this is something that's very important.

Wild Edible Plants in Kentucky

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:52:00 +0000

A prepper's food storage is their lifeline and the basis of their preparedness plan. But food storages will eventually run out. One way to combat this is to garden and grow food to supplement the food storage, but even gardens fail depending on your level of experience and the weather. The next thing you can do is to know what wild edible plants grow in your area, so that if you had to, you could use them as a source of food. There are a number of wild edible plants out there that are packed with vitamins and nutrients, some more nutritious than food we buy in the stores. Knowing how to identify these, where they grow, and how to prepare them is vital to your survival.

Quite a few books have been published on this subject, books that illustrate what plants are safe to eat, along with where they grow in the country. You can also get region specific books and Lee Allen Peterson has a book titled "A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and Central North America." This book is available here (via Amazon) and would cover most of the edible plants in Kentucky. You can also view all the books on wild edible plants here (via Amazon), and there are free ebooks that I have posted on this very subject you can download from here and here.

Trails.com has a guide posted that lists a few common wild edible plants in Kentucky that must of us could probably already identify. Here is their findings:

Tubers and Bulbs

The best of the wild tubers is the wood sorrel, or oxalis. The plant has a root tuber similar to a small potato. However, the stems, leaves and flowers are mildly toxic and should not be consumed. Ordinary onion grass, which grows virtually everywhere in Kentucky, is also edible. This includes both the grassy stem and the bulbs. Spring onions, or "ramps," are also easy to find and can be eaten.

Fruits and Berries

The most common wild berry in Kentucky is the blackberry, the briars of which can be found fringing numerous farms and vacant suburban lots. The American elderberry is also found in the state, but it should be carefully studied before consumption since it superficially resembles several varieties of poisonous berries. The ill-informed can easily make a mistake and quickly come to regret it. Ground cherries are also present in Kentucky, but since these plants thrive on bad, well-watered soil, it would be best to look for them in the sandy and/or rocky areas around the state's creeks and rivers.

Vegetables

The ponds and lakes of Kentucky are home to wild watercress, which can be harvested and eaten. Often mistaken for thistles, wild prickly lettuce is just as edible as its domesticated counterpart and arguably tastier to boot.

Nuts

Walnuts in Kentucky can be had from the American black walnut tree, which needs plenty of water and good soil. It, therefore, grows best close to rivers and streams. The state also has a good climate for hickory trees, which produce edible (and often ignored) nuts. The Kentucky coffee tree produces a semi-edible product, meaning that the seeds can be used as a substitute for coffee if they are roasted for three or four hours. However, even after being roasted, the seed remains marginally toxic and should never be consumed in large quantities.

Other Plants
Chickweed is a wild herb that can provide some nutrition if consumed, and the entire plant is edible. The ordinary, humble dandelion has long seen its flower petals used for making tea and recently has become popular for use in salads. It is easy to find and can be eaten straight from the field.

New Years Resolution

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:05:00 +0000

We've switched from 2009 into 2010. A new year brings new possibilities, and gives you a chance for a fresh start. Will 2010 be the year you decide to take your family's future into your own hands by getting prepared for a disaster? We're all at risk for some natural disaster no matter what area of the country you live in. Not only that but the country is also in the middle of an economic downturn with no end in sight. These factors alone should be enough to motivate you to get prepared.

A new year brings a lot of new years resolutions. Everything from losing weight to saving money. While most new years resolutions don't last, this new year needs to be different. This new year, make the resolution to get prepared. Don't make getting prepared a goal, make it a priority. Getting prepared is something that's very important, now more than ever. It could mean the difference in life and death for you or for your family, and it's not something that is hard to do. It is something that is going to take time, and hard work. But nothing worth having comes easy.

Sit down with your family and start discussing a preparedness plan. Set some money aside each week to put towards a food storage and other supplies you need. You won't be able to get prepared overnight but with a good plan and motivation you will be able to get prepared in a relatively short amount of time. So make 2010 the year that you decided to take your future into your own hands. Build a food storage, water storage, store medical supplies, flashlights, batteries, cooking methods, and everything else you would need if you didn't have running water or electricity. The chance of you needing those supplies, whether you have them or not, grows everyday.

What is your new years resolution?

It's the End of The World as We Know It

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:54:00 +0000

Happy New Year everyone! What better way to kick off the new year than with a new e-book? Our friend M.D. Creekmore over at The Survivalist Blog has released his first (hopefully of many) e-book. This one is titled, "It's the End of the World as we Know It (And I Feel Fine)." I've read through the majority of this e-book and it's a great resource, full of important preparedness information. Best of all Creekmore is releasing this e-book FREE!

You can head over to his website and download the e-book here. Make sure you tell him thanks!

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:53:00 +0000

I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Years!

Rise of the Preppers: American's New Survivalists

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:42:00 +0000

In case you missed this, we're famous! Jessica Bennett from Newsweek did an article on the rise of preppers and mentioned the American Preppers Network! It's great to finally get some positive media attention. The article was pretty fair and presented both sides. Lisa from The Survival Mom was interviewed for the article and she did a great job. (I also interviewed Lisa on The Prepper Podcast, check out the show here.) You can view the full article here, and make sure you watch the video!

Survivalism Lite

by: Jessica Bennett
Newsweek

They call themselves 'preppers.' They are regular people with homes and families. But like the survivalists that came before them, they're preparing for the worst.

Lisa Bedford is what you'd imagine of a stereotypical soccer mom. She drives a white Tahoe SUV. An American flag flies outside her suburban Phoenix home. She sells Pampered Chef kitchen tools and likes to bake. Bedford and her husband have two young children, four dogs, and go to church on Sunday.

But about a year ago, Bedford's homemaking skills went into overdrive. She began stockpiling canned food, and converted a spare bedroom into a giant storage facility. The trunk of each of her family's cars got its own 72-hour emergency kit—giant Tupperware containers full of iodine, beef jerky, emergency blankets, and even a blood-clotting agent designed for the battle-wounded. Bedford started thinking about an escape plan in case her family needed to leave in a hurry, and she and her husband set aside packed suitcases and cash. Then, for the first time in her life, Bedford went to a gun range and shot a .22 handgun. Now she regularly takes her two young children, 7 and 10, to target practice. "Over the last two years, I started feeling more and more unsettled about everything I was seeing, and I started thinking, 'What if we were in the same boat?'" says Bedford, 49.

Bedford is what you might call a modern-day survivalist—or, as she describes it, a "prepper." Far from the stereotype of survivalists past, she owns no camouflage, and she doesn't believe that 2012—the final year of the Mayan calendar—will be the end of the world. She likes modern luxuries (makeup, air conditioning, going out to eat), and she's no doomsayer. But like the rest of us, Bedford watched as the housing bubble burst and the economy collapsed. She has friends who've lost their homes, jobs, and 401(k)s. She remembers Hurricane Katrina, and wonders how the government might respond to the next big disaster, or a global pandemic. And though she hopes for the best—the last thing she wants is for something bad to happen—she's decided to prepare her family for the worst. "We never set out to go build a bunker to protect ourselves from nuclear fallout; I have no idea how to camp in the wild," Bedford says, laughing. "But as all of this stuff started hitting closer to home, we [wanted] to take some steps to safeguard ourselves."

In the past, survivalists and conspiracy theorists might go out into the woods, live out of a bunker, waiting (or sometimes hoping) for the apocalypse to hit. It was men, mostly; many of them antigovernment, often portrayed by the media as radicals of the likes of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh. In the late 1990s, Y2K fears brought survivalism to the mainstream, only to usher it back out again when disaster didn't strike. (Suddenly, unused survival gear began showing up in classifieds and on eBay.) A decade later, "preppers" are what you might call survivalism's Third Wave: regular people with jobs and homes whose are increasingly fearful about the future—their paranoia compounded by 24-hour cable news. "Between the media and the Internet, many people have built up a sense that there's this calamity out there that needs to be avoided," says Art Markman, a cognitive psychologist at the University of Texas who studies the way people think. And while they may not envision themselves as Kevin Costner in Waterworld—in fact, many preppers go out of their way to avoid the stereotypes that come along with the "survivalist" label—they've made a clear-eyed calculation about the risks at hand and aren't waiting around for anybody else to fix them. "I consider it more of a reaction than a movement," says Tom Martin, a 32-year-old Idaho truck driver who is the founder of the American Preppers Network, which receives some 5,000 visitors to its Web site each day. "There are so many variables and potential disasters out there, being a prepper is just a reaction to that potential."

That reaction, of course, means different things to different people. Some prep for economic disaster, while others prep to escape genetically modified foods. An organic farmer could be considered a prepper; so might an urban gardener. Some preppers fear putting their names out in public—they don't want every desperate soul knocking down their door in the event of a disaster—while others see it as a network they can rely upon were something horrible to happen. Some preppers fear the complete breakdown of society, while others simply want to stock up on extra granola bars and lighter fluid in case of a blackout or a storm. Hard-core survivalists might think of preppers as soft; "Eventually, the Chef Boyardee is going to run out," jokes Cody Lundin, the founder of the Aboriginal Living Skills School, a survival camp based out of his home in Prescott, Az. But prepping, says Martin, is just a new word for a very old way of life. "You don't have to have a survival retreat loaded with guns secluded in the wilderness to be a prepper," adds David Hill Sr., 54, a former jet mechanic who runs the Web site WhatisaPrepper from his home in rural West Virginia. "There are many people who live in urban and suburban areas who don't own guns who also identify themselves as preppers."

Researchers say that interest in survivalism can often be a barometer of social anxiety; and in many cases, says sociologist Richard Mitchell, it can be a response to modern stress. If that's true, it's no surprise we're seeing an uptick in it now: from climate change to the economy, swine flu to terrorism, the current state of the world is enough to make even the biggest cynic just a little bit worried. As U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano reminded us in a recent speech at the American Red Cross, 90 percent of Americans live in an area where there is moderate or high risk of natural disaster. "I think what we're experiencing is a kind of generational panic attack," says Neil Strauss, the former New York Times writer whose latest book, Emergency, is about how to survive in a disaster. "We were born in a good time. We experienced booming technology and rising stock prices. And then all of a sudden, 9/11 happened, Katrina happened, the economy plunged. And it's like the rug being pulled out from under our feet."

While there's no scientific data to track survivalism's recent growth, some preppers have speculated it's reached a level not matched in decades. Emergency-supply retailers say they're seeing business boom; the Red Cross has had a surge in volunteers over the past year (up some 160,000 over 2008), and there are networks of preppers—from Prepper.org to the Suburban Prepper, to Bedford's own blog, "The Survival Mom"—sprouting up all over the Web. FEMA's new head under Obama, Craig Fugate, has encouraged Americans to get in touch with their inner survivalist. "I encourage all Americans to take some simple steps to make their families more prepared, such as developing a family communications plan," he tells NEWSWEEK. His organization recently launched a "Resolve to be Ready" campaign suggesting that Americans to make preparedness part of their New Year's resolutions. "I think what people have come to realize is that [organizations like ours] can't always be everywhere we need to be as quickly as we need to be," says Jonathan Aiken, a spokesman for the American Red Cross. "So I think the messaging has changed, from FEMA on down, that in the event of an emergency, people need to be prepared to take care of themselves for a couple of days until the rest of us can come out and get to you."

Government has always played an active role in emergency preparedness. Nuclear-raid drills were part of everyday life for school children in the 1950s and '60s, and building bomb shelters was encouraged because of the nuclear threat. In 1999, the government set up a $50 million crisis center to deal with the computer threats posed by Y2K, and after 9/11, residents were pushed to stock up on plastic and duct tape to seal their homes in the event of a biological attack. But in 2010, as we enter the new year under an elevated threat level, the problems at hand can seem insurmountable and unknown, to the point that even Barton M. Biggs, the former chief global strategist at Morgan Stanley, warns in his 2008 book that we must "assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure." Where that leaves preppers is struggling to fill the void. "We want people to understand that preparedness is an individual's job, too," says Joseph Bruno, New York City’s commissioner of emergency management, where polling has shown that more than 50 percent of residents are thinking about preparedness—up from just 18 percent in 2004. "I'm a newsaholic, and that probably feeds some of this," says Bedford. "But I like to think that if we're prepared, it's one less family the government has to worry about."

In the end, what it all boils down to, at least for the preppers, is self-reliance—a concept as old as the human race itself. As survival blogger Joe Solomon pointed out in a recent column, during the Victory Gardens of WWII, Americans managed to grow 40 percent of all the vegetables they needed to survive. "My mother's parents had a 10-acre garden, and my grandfather worked at the dairy farm next door," says Hill, the former jet mechanic. "They worked by raising their own food, they had their own chickens, they canned vegetables, and my grandfather fed a family of 12 like that." But in the modern world, he says, many of those skills are easily forgotten. Today, our food comes from dozens of different sources. Most of us aren't quite sure how electricity gets from the wires to our stoves. We use debit cards to buy a can of tuna and we wouldn't have the slightest idea how to filter contaminated water. We are residents of the new millennium; we simply haven't needed to prepare.

So for the moment, people like Bedford are reteaching themselves lost skills—and in some cases, learning new ones. Bedford has read up on harvesting an urban garden, and is learning to use a solar oven to bake bread. She is ready with a pointed shot in the event she ever needs to hunt for her own food. And until then, she's got 61 cans of chili, 20 cans of Spam, 24 jars of peanut butter, and much more stocked in her pantry; she estimates she's spent about $4,000 on food supplies, an amount that should keep her family going for at least three months. Now, even if something simple goes wrong, like a paycheck doesn't go through, "we don't need to worry," she says.

Bedford knows it all might sound a little nuts—and she's careful about how much she reveals, and to whom. But she believes that in times of uncertainty, what she's doing is simply common sense. As for the rest of us, isn't it a little bit crazy not to prepare?

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include comment from FEMA head Craig Fugate.

Creating a Secure Password

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Having secure passwords for your online accounts is very important especially since more and more services are moving to being web based. Your login and password is the only thing protecting some of your most important information including credit card numbers, social security numbers, and other information. You think it can't happen to you but people's accounts get hacked every single day. This is why it's very important to create secure and unique passwords for every account you have.

One way to do this is to use a random password generator. PCtools.com offers a great password generator that will create you very secure passwords that would be very hard to crack. Most people have online access to their credit cards, bank accounts, investment accounts and other important information. These should all have a hard to crack password. The passwords you create need to be saved in a central, secure location so you can access them. The best way to do this is to use KeyPass Password Safe. KeyPass is a desktop program that is encrypted and able to hold all your passwords and logins. I would recommend taking advantage of these free services and protect your online identity.

How Many Magazines do you Own?

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:52:00 +0000

Owning firearms and knowing how to use them is an important part of being a prepper, and as we all know firearms are useless without bullets to shoot out of them. This is why it's so important to have some ammo stocked up, a few hundred rounds (at least) for each caliber of firearm you own. Whether for hunting, self defense, or recreation; storing ammo will help you if shortages occur or if restrictive ammo or firearm legislation is passed. Storing ammo can also be viewed as an investment with how fast the prices are going up on most calibers of ammo.

But along with stored ammo and guns you're going to need magazines to hold the rounds and too often this is overlooked. Most modern firearms use magazines to hold the bullets and load them into the weapon. This works best with semi-automatic and fully automatic handguns, rifles, and even some shotguns. If you are storing ammo for your firearms storing magazines for them is just as important. It's good to have at least one extra magazine for each firearm you own and more if you can afford it or think it's important. If you're ever in a self defense situation having to manually add bullets into the one magazine you own could cost you your life. Keep an extra magazine or 2 (or 3 or 4) loaded at all times and it could save your life.

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 17:27:00 +0000

First Aid: Choking

noreply@blogger.com (matthiasj) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:45:00 +0000

via Mayo Clinic

Choking occurs when a foreign object becomes lodged in the throat or windpipe, blocking the flow of air. In adults, a piece of food often is the culprit. Young children often swallow small objects. Because choking cuts off oxygen to the brain, administer first aid as quickly as possible.

The universal sign for choking is hands clutched to the throat. If the person doesn't give the signal, look for these indications:

-Inability to talk
-Difficulty breathing or noisy breathing
-Inability to cough forcefully
-Skin, lips and nails turning blue or dusky
-Loss of consciousness

If choking is occurring, the Red Cross recommends a "five-and-five" approach to delivering first aid:

1. First, deliver five back blows between the person's shoulder blades with the heel of your hand.
2. Next, perform five abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver).
3. Alternate between five back blows and five abdominal thrusts until the blockage is dislodged.

To perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) on someone else:

1. Stand behind the person. Wrap your arms around the waist. Tip the person forward slightly.
2. Make a fist with one hand. Position it slightly above the person's navel.
3. Grasp the fist with the other hand. Press hard into the abdomen with a quick, upward thrust — as if trying to lift the person up.
4. Perform a total of five abdominal thrusts, if needed. If the blockage still isn't dislodged, repeat the five-and-five cycle.

If you're the only rescuer, perform back blows and abdominal thrusts before calling 911 or your local emergency number for help. If another person is available, have that person call for help while you perform first aid.

If the person becomes unconscious, perform standard CPR with chest compressions.

If you're alone and choking, you'll be unable to effectively deliver back blows to yourself. However, you can still perform abdominal thrusts to dislodge the item.

To perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) on yourself:

1. Place a fist slightly above your navel.
2. Grasp your fist with the other hand and bend over a hard surface — a countertop or chair will do.
3. Shove your fist inward and upward.

Clearing the airway of a pregnant woman or obese person:

1. Position your hands a little bit higher than with a normal Heimlich maneuver, at the base of the breastbone, just above the joining of the lowest ribs.
2. Proceed as with the Heimlich maneuver, pressing hard into the chest, with a quick thrust.
3. Repeat until the food or other blockage is dislodged or the person becomes unconscious.

Clearing the airway of an unconscious person:

1. Lower the person on his or her back onto the floor.
2. Clear the airway. If there's a visible blockage at the back of the throat or high in the throat, reach a finger into the mouth and sweep out the cause of the blockage. Be careful not to push the food or object deeper into the airway, which can happen easily in young children.
3. Begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if the object remains lodged and the person doesn't respond after you take the above measures. The chest compressions used in CPR may dislodge the object. Remember to recheck the mouth periodically.

Clearing the airway of a choking infant younger than age 1:

1. Assume a seated position and hold the infant facedown on your forearm, which is resting on your thigh.
2. Thump the infant gently but firmly five times on the middle of the back using the heel of your hand. The combination of gravity and the back blows should release the blocking object.
3. Hold the infant faceup on your forearm with the head lower than the trunk if the above doesn't work. Using two fingers placed at the center of the infant's breastbone, give five quick chest compressions.
4. Repeat the back blows and chest thrusts if breathing doesn't resume. Call for emergency medical help.
5. Begin infant CPR if one of these techniques opens the airway but the infant doesn't resume breathing.

If the child is older than age 1, give abdominal thrusts only.

**To prepare yourself for these situations, learn the Heimlich maneuver and CPR in a certified first-aid training course.