Whether a storm hits your home, a vacation goes awry, or you fall on hard financial times, there are some items you absolutely cannot do without. It is important to consider personal hygiene as much as good nutrition and first aid care.
This is especially true when power grids and water infrastructures are hit for an extended amount of time. It doesn’t take much money to keep these essentials on hand, just good preparation and simple household ingredients. Aside from a quality first-aid kit, there are many other ways to feel clean and keep your spirits up in a time of crisis.
When planning for a long bout of hunkering down, or even a stay in a shelter area, there are three main objectives to consider: natural waste, avoiding sickness and creature comforts. To begin your care kit, obtain a sealable rubber tub for storing supplies, rags for cleaning and one or more all-purpose plastic buckets with sealable tops, that preferably hold at least 10 gallons, for storing waste and boiled water.
If you are staying home, be sure to fill your bathtub with water and add one-half cup of bleach ahead of time. You can use this water for a multitude of needs, such as cleaning and sanitizing, and to flush your toilet. You can use either distilled water or boiled water in all of the supplies you will need for your care kit.
Invest in a sturdy pair of rubber gloves, or a pack of them, for removing waste and for cleaning the inevitable messes that come with stormy weather. You’ll also need various sizes of spray bottles. Include one opaque-colored spray bottle for hydrogen peroxide, as its properties break down and lose potency when exposed to light. While gallonsized, sealable plastic bags are handy to have around, you can also make do with plastic grocery sacks for removing waste and storing items from the elements.
Rubber boots for each family member can be beneficial for navigating through deep floodwaters. They will help avoid sharp objects that could cause unsanitary scrapes and cuts on the feet and legs, thus infecting the body.
This story is from the Fall 2016 edition of BugOut MAG!.
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This story is from the Fall 2016 edition of BugOut MAG!.
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