The Choices We Make

The last time I posted was before I taught my Disaster Preparedness/Urban Survival Class. The class went really well. There were twenty-two students that attended. The students seemed to be enthusiastic about the information that was presented and all were excited about getting prepared to deal with disasters. I always see the same results in my classes, I just wonder how many follow up after the class and really do what needs to be done.

It all comes down to the choices that we make and the priorities that we set for ourselves. It affects every area of our lives in so many ways that we don’t even think about. Just the act of getting out of bed, puts you at risk later in the day. The choices we make throughout the day either increase or decrease the risk and possible dangers that we bring ourselves in contact with. We tend to live our lives with no regard to the many risks we encounter each day. Sometimes it comes down to a matter of timing; we see the accident occur right in front of us that we just missed because we eased off the gas for a few seconds. Then a week later you glance at something while driving and the car in front of you slows and you rear end them. Maybe you are walking down a trail, just enjoying nature when you watch a butterfly flit across the trail. Because your eyes are following the butterfly, you fail to see the rattlesnake coiled at the side of the trail at your feet. Is it fate, or was it your choice that you got bitten by the rattlesnake? Will the rattlesnake choose to rattle a warning or will it just bite? Will the snake choose to do a dry bite or inject venom into your leg?

Most of us get into trouble from the choices we make or because we choose to be unaware of what’s going on all around us. We need to become more aware of our surroundings and prepare, or suffer the consequences. We cannot choose to be innocent bystanders. What you don’t know can kill you!

Are You Ready?

The local authorities have just come through your neighborhood informing everyone that a disaster is about to strike and you must evacuate to a local shelter in the next 15 minutes. Nobody knows when you will be able to return home. You don’t know if your home will still be here whenever you are allowed to return. How long will it take you to gather up the supplies listed below? START NOW, YOU NOW HAVE TEN MINUTES! DID YOU PACK FOR YOUR WHOLE FAMILY? DOES YOUR VEHICLE HAVE ENOUGH FUEL TO GET YOU TO YOUR DESTINATION?

How will you respond if this happens at 2:30 A. M.? How will you and your children respond if one parent is at home or running errands and one parent is at work and the children are at two different schools? What happens if you have a child at home alone?

Come to my Disaster Preparedness/ Urban Survival class to learn how to do this.

EVACUATION PACKS

Listed below are some suggested items to have in and Evacuation Pack. You should have one pack for each person. These packs should be filled long before a disaster occurs. Your Evacuation Packs are then to be kept in a place where they can quickly be picked up in case of a sudden evacuation. I suggest that you have these packs made up and kept in your home, your vehicle, at your work place, or at your business, and one for each child at their school. The reason for this is that you don’t know where you or your children will be when disaster strikes. Each person is to be responsible for their packs. They should know the contents of their packs, and know how to use the contents of their packs. Each pack should be designed for the person who has that pack. the contents of the pack must be age appropriate for the person who will use that pack.

This list is far from complete, these are only suggestions to prepare you if you suddenly need to leave home during an evacuation.

PERSONAL CLOTHING

•   Hat
•  Sturdy shoes
•  Hooded jacket
•  Rain gear
•  Long pants, one pair of shorts
•  Long sleeved shirt, short sleeved shirts
•  Underwear and socks, three pair
•  Large bandanna

PERSONAL GEAR

• Soap, washcloth, towel
• Toothbrush, toothpaste,mouthwash, floss
• Deodorant, comb, brush, unbreakable mirror
• Shampoo, lip balm, shower shoes
• Foot spray, shaving cream, razor and blades
• Feminine hygiene products
• Toilet paper, laundry detergent
• Sunscreen, insect repellent
• Extra medications, extra eyeglasses
• Prescription medications

SURVIVAL ITEMS

• Personal first-aid kit
• Knife, multi-tool, headlamp, extra bulb, batteries
• Compass and area map- good quality, topo map
• Whistle
• 72 hour supply of food and water, high nutrition snacks
• Tarp- 8 ft. x 10 ft.
• Paracord-20 ft.-50 ft.
• Canteen, water purification tablets or pump & filter
• Waterproof matches, water proof container
• Three methods for starting a fire, dry tinder
• Duct tape, safety pins, sewing kit, extra shoelaces
• Notebook, pens and pencils, reading material
• Cook kit (nesting type), eating utensils, drink cup
• Inflatable pillow, good quality space blanket
• Cell phone & charger
• Extra money, concealed

IMPORTANT PAPERS AND INFORMATION

• Drivers license, insurance information, for health, home and vehicles
• Real estate and vehicle titles
• Birth certificates, social security cards, passports, marriage certificates
• School records, health, medical and immunization records
• Credit cards, loans, mortgage, bank, and employment information
• MAKE COPIES OF ALL IMPORTANT PAPERS AND CERTIFICATES AND STORE THEM AND THE ORIGINALS IN A SAFE PLACE THAT YOU WILL HAVE ACCESS TO AT ALL TIMES. PHOTOGRAPH YOUR VALUABLE POSSESSIONS.

Children in the Wilderness

Going on a trip into a wilderness area with  your children can be a rewarding and a learning experience, for you as a parent, and also for each of your children. But because this is a different environment than what you experience at home, there are new risks involved. You,as the parent or adult leader, are the one who is responsible for the care and safety of each child in your family or group. Each time you take a child into a wilderness area, or a different environment, take the time to discuss possible safety issues, and to establish some common sense rules to help avoid any known hazards. As a parent or group leader it is your responsibility to make yourself and the group become aware of the possible dangers that you could run into on your outing. Each adult in the  group has the same responsibility for the safety of the children. The rules you establish must be followed by both adults and children. If an adult bends the rules, the children will quickly do the same.

Preparing you and your children ahead of time could help prevent a family tragedy. You do not have to be many miles from civilization to find yourself or one of your children in trouble. It could happen in a local park, or maybe some location that your family has gone to for many years. You, as an adult and as a parent, are responsible for your children and their actions. No parent wants to experience the anguish or anxiety of having a child injured or missing. Make the time to teach the rules and the reasons for them, repeat this often during your trips to keep them fresh in everyone’s mind.

Establish a buddy system between all of the children. Then have each adult be responsible for a small group of buddies. The first rule you need is to have a good ratio of adults to be able to supervise the number of children in the group.I would recommend a ratio of one adult for every three children. This is a minimum and would depend on the ages of the children and what types of activity you are doing and the location. I offer classes on wilderness and urban survival for families. Below is a list of suggested survival safety rules that I teach in those classes.

1. Always provide adult supervision
2. Always do what adults tell you as long as it does not put you in danger
3. Always have your children wear bright colored clothing, no camouflage or drab colors
4. Always keep your children in sight
5. Provide your children with an age appropriate survival kit. Train them how to safely use the contents of each kit.
6. Always be aware of your surroundings
7. Never go anywhere without telling an adult where you are going
8. Never go anywhere alone, even in a campground
9. Never leave the trail
10. Never run ahead of the group
11. Never lag behind the group
12. Never wander around after dark
13. Always be knowledgeable of the possible dangers of the area you plan to be in. Explain these dangers to your children and teach them how to respond to those dangers.
14. Train your children how to respond if they become lost.
15. Know how you, as an adult, should respond should a child become lost.
16. NEVER PANIC
17. NEVER HIDE FROM SEARCHERS
18. Never stop without telling someone
19. If you think you are lost, STOP, DO NOT WANDER AROUND UNLESS YOU ARE 100% SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO GET BACK. (children should wait for someone to find them, and use the whistle in their survival kit to attract attention)
20. Have each person or child step onto a piece of aluminum foil to register the imprint of their shoes. Label each sheet with the person’s name. If that person becomes lost, this will help the trackers to track them.