Taking another look

I have been looking a lot at ways to get more prepared for emergencies.  I have made more concrete plans lately, but still feel woefully unprepared. I will try to come back here and use this blog to chronicle my steps.  All I need is about 5-6 more hours in a day. Sleep is over-rated. But unfortunately necessary.  Stay tuned.

Freeze Dried Foods Update

I've tried a couple of the other Mountain House freeze dried meals I had bought.  The first was a Beef Stew designed for one person in what they call their ProPak.  It was in a similar mylar-like pouch with all of the air removed which made it a smaller package, and therefore more transportable, ideal for backpackers.  The flavor was very good and it would be a very acceptable way to eat some veggies on the trail.  The texture of the beef was still a little chewy even though I gave it a few extra minutes to steep.

The second was their Scrambled Eggs and Bacon breakfast.  I love the taste and texture of freshly scrambled eggs, so I worried this would be a stretch.  The 8 oz. of boiling water the package told me to add is more than enough to rehydrate the eggs, which means that I had to pour off some of the excess, which was a little gross.  Like the time a sudden shower ruined the scambled eggs my dad was whipping up on a campstove when I was a kid.  The flavor, again, was pretty good (the bacon helped).  The texture, again, left something to be desired.  Not horrible, but eggs aren't meant to be chewy.  If you imagined that you were eating some sort of soft egg/bacon jerky, it wasn't too bad.  Just like the rained-on camp eggs, when you're camping and hungry for breakfast, it would be quite welcome.

I wanted to try these to make sure they are edible.  I am considering buying these in 10# cans to keep on hand for emergency food.  They have a 25+ year shelf life when stored in the unopened can, so it could be there when you needed it.  I'm not in a rush, so I'll wait for a sale as these can get pricey - the can of Chili Mac would be about $21 for about 10 servings, not too bad for shelf-stable emergency rations.

Emergency Food Review: Mountain House vs. MRE

While it is good to be prepared to gather food in the wilderness if you had to, it would be better to prepare some food ahead of time.  I had the opportunity to eat an MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) ration when I went to serve with the U.S. Public Health Service after Hurricane Katrina.  They really are ready to eat, requiring no cooking or preparation.  The main entree tastes better if you heat it up using the included heater.  Their biggest disadvantage is their size and weight.  They would be good to have on hand at home for back up meals or to throw into your vehicle.  They would be difficult to throw into a pack to carry because of that weight (about 1.5 lbs.). Each meal provides 1200 calories and comes with an entree, a side dish, bread/crackers, dessert, powdered beverage mix and seasonings as well as utensils, and a flameless heater to warm the entree.  The packages are durable to puncture, heat and cold.  Because there is so much food in each one, an MRE could sustain one person at a survival level for a day if they were resting and not having to shiver for warmth.

Assuming you could get access to water and boil it, you can spare a lot of weight and space by packing freeze-dried meals.  Mountain House makes a collection of freeze dried meals for backpackers that would fit this bill. Tonight I tried their Chili Mac with Beef entree. It weighs 5 oz. but expands to 20 oz when you add 2 cups of boiling water.  The package says that it serves 2 people and contains 580 calories total.  The tatste was surprisingly good.  The texture of the beef improved with a few more minutes soaking up the water, but at first it was a little chewy.  After eating about a third of it straight out of the hot pouch, I put the rest in a bowl and added shredded cheese. 

They have lots of flavors and I plan to slowly try them.  They are expensive for an everyday meal, but I want to see what works in this form and what doesn't.  They make large cans of these meals that I may stock up on as well for emergency home use (i.e. stuck in a blizzard or other natural disaster). Though we tend to have a really well stocked pantry, the shelf life of these products makes them worth considering.  This was tasty enough that I could see buying two cans, slowly making meals from the 1st can over time and when we open the second can, buy a replacement so that there is always a relatively fresh unopened can in reserve.  I'd have to find a dish that at least 2 or 3 of us at home would eat to make that worthwhile.

Conference on Wilderness Medicine

The 22nd Annual Conference on Wilderness Medicine was held this year in Big Sky, Montana.  It was an excellent conference.  While it was geared to the medical/rescue professional, there was much to be learned by anyone wishing to learn more about the dangers posed by the wilderness.  There were lectures on avoiding lightning damage, wild animal attacks, sun safety, hypothermia avoidance, treatment of heat illness, mountain safety, white water safety, diving safety, and how to find and purify water.  The best lecture and workshop in this regard were taught by Gary Kibbe.  He is a former Navy SEAL who trained other SEALs how to survive in the wilderness.  His lecture about "Surviving the Unexpected Night Out" spent a lot of time talking about the items you can carry on your person that could increase your chances if you found yourself lost, away from your car or home.  We got to practice those skills in an optional "Wilderness Survival" workshop that he taught.  I learned how to build a couple of solar stills for collecting water, find food on the forest floor (ant larvae, yum!), find my way without a compass, start fires with a flint, and build a lean-to shelter.  He also supervised a similar class geared toward kids that my eight year-old took and enjoyed.

If you are looking to attend a wilderness survival course, you'll find better courses with more hands on practice time and geared more toward the layperson.  If you are a medical professional that is looking for a great way to earn medical education credit and learn about a branch of medicine that can assist you in your career and maybe save your life or the lives of your loved ones, this is one that you must consider.

Product Review: Pocket Survival Pak

I purchased a Pocket Survival Pak (PSP) from a display table at the Wilderness Medicine Conference.  This is a self-contained personal survival kit developed by Doug Ritter, author of the previously mentioned Equipped to Survive website. On that site he describes how to build your own kit, (and this other post reviews a book that can also guide you in this endeavor), but you may not want to go to all that trouble.  In that case, a pre-packaged kit may be better than nothing.

The PSP is packaged in a clear, zip-top, tough plastic case that is 4.5 x 5 inches and just over an inch thick. It fit easily into a cargo pocket on my pants with room to spare.  It is light enough that I could easily forget it was in there.  This means it would not be much of a burden to toss into a daybag, purse, briefcase, etc. The advantage, of course, is that you may be more likely to keep this on your person, and therefore, more likely to have it if you need it. As you will see, because of its size, there are some things that can't be included.

Shelter - OK, like this one.  You'd have to improvise your own shelter.  The kit does have survival tips printed in small type that include tips for building your own wilderness shelter. The package recommends bringing a garbage bag to enhance your shelter. The kit does contain nylon cord and thread as well as a spool of wire that could be used to lash posts together to build a more secure lean-to shelter.

Water - Again, there are tips for collecting water, both nothing to store it in (other than maybe a gulp or two in the plastic case).  There is a piece of heavy-duty aluminum foil that could be shaped into a cup to boil water to purify it.  It looks like there is room for a non-lubricated condom and a couple of Micropur water purification tablets.

Food - There is a small fishing kit in a plastic tube that includes small hooks, swivels, and split shot sinkers.  Combined with the nylon thread, it can be used to fish (obviously) or bait birds.  The roll of wire could be used to make a snare to trap larger animals like squirrels, rabbits, etc.  There are some other tips for gathering food in the survival tips brochure.  There might be room to add a flat bullion packet to flavor your collected water.

Fire - This kit contains a Spark-Lite firestarter - think about the sparky end of a butane lighter without the butane.  The sparks can be used to light one of the four included Spark-Lite cotton tinder bundles.  There is room in the kit for cardboard matches and striker if you'd prefer a direct flame source.  There is a flat Fresnel magnifier in there which can be used to light a fire on a sunny day.  The survival tips include fire-building techniques and the tips brochure itself could be burned as tinder if needed.

First Aid - No obvious supplies in the kit, though you could improvise bandages and slings with the little roll of duct tape and the included safety pins.  There is room for a couple of Bandaids and a small packet of Neosporin.

Signalling - There is a signalling mirror with included instructions on how to signal passing boats and planes.  There is a flat Fox 40 micro whistle that can be heard miles away.  There is a small pencil and 2 pieces of paper that could be used to leave notes.

Misc - In addition to the multi-use items like nylon cord, duct tape and safety pins, the kit includes a small scalpel blade and a button compass.  You'd be better off with a full-sized knife or multi-tool and a larger compass, but these may be all you have. (Note: the compass looks like it is broken when you look at it in the packet, but it appears that the foil messes it up.  When I pull it out of the packet and hold it, it works just fine.)

I think that this is an excellent kit. I am going to enhance mine with a few items at try to keep it with me on days off and weekends.  It is too big for my workweek slacks, but I am planning on assembling another kit for my briefcase that I take to work everyday.  Likely some version of the Personal Emergency Kit I described previously.

Personal Emergency Kit - Take 1

My goal here was to assemble a small kit that covered all the basic categories, but was small enough to pack into a day bag or purse or the side pocket of a pair of cargo pants. I'm treating this assembly of items as a first draft because the final package was a little larger than I intended which makes it more likely that it won't be carried. An emergency kit that you don't have with you is no good at all. I tried to imagine what I would need if I had to survive for a day or two in the wild with items small enough to fit into this form factor.

Shelter - A large, contractor black trash bag (3 mil) can be used as a tarp by slitting the sides of the bag. If it is filled with leaves it can be a mattress, pillow, or blanket. Since the thick plastic is already fairly insulating, it can be used as a sleeping bag.

Water - This kit is too small to carry water, but I've included ways to collect, store and purify it. I've included a gallon and quart Ziploc freezer bags, which can be used to collect rainwater, or used in various survival applications to line a solar still, wrapped around branches for transpiration, etc. The trash bag could also be used to collect rainwater, either directly into the bag itself or by shaping it to funnel runoff into the gallon Ziploc. The two MicroPur tablets from Katadyn will purify 2 liters of water. The orange bandana can be used to filter sediment from collected water. The square of heavy duty aluminum foil can be shaped into a cup to boil water to purify it.

Food - Not much can go in this pack, but I included 2 sticks of Juicy Fruit gum and a Dum Dum lollipop for a bit of sugar and a psychological boost. There's also a small packet of electrolyte replacement powder (black cherry flavor) which could also mask the taste of collected or chemically purified water. I'd love to find room for a tea bag and some Splenda packets.

Warmth/Clothing - The black trash bag can be used a poncho. Just tear or cut a hole in the center near the bottom for your face. You can also make armholes if you need to use them while wearing the bag, but you'll stay warmer if you don't. There's a single-use handwarmer to keep your hands or feet warm for a few hours. The bandana can be used as a do-rag to keep the sun off your head.

Light/Fire - There is a flat LED flashlight and a mini Bic lighter. A cyalume glowstick will provide some longer lasting light with a lanyard hole to hang it if needed. The antibacterial gel will burn and can be used to help start a fire. The tissues and 3x5 notecards can be burned as tinder also.

First Aid - In a snack-sized Ziploc I've put 2 bandaids, one liquid bandage swab, a Neosporin packet, a moleskin for blister prevention, and 2 moist towelettes. I have some chapstick with SPF 15 to prevent lipburn.

In another little Ziploc I've put 2 acetaminophen 500mg tablets for pain, 2 diphenhydramine 25mg tablets for allergic reactions or as a sleeping aid, 2 loperamide 2mg tablets for diarrhea, 3 aspirin 325mg tablets for pain, 3 ibuprofen 200mg tablets for inflammation, and 2 antacids. The bandana can be used to secure a dressing or splint.

Signaling - Besides the ability to send smoke signals with a fire you build or flashing people with the LED flashlight, I've included a thin orange marine whistle. Three short bursts is the international distress signal. The orange bandana can be waved or placed outside an emergency shelter to help rescuers find you.

Money/Barter - I put in a $20 bill and 4 quarters for emergency purchases or phone calls. A prepaid phonecard would be a good addition.

Hygiene - I've included a partial package of travel Kleenex and a thin bottle of antibacterial gel.
Tools/Misc - My secret weapon in this kit is the thin but versatile Victorinox Swisscard. The black case has a red LED, a magnifying glass, and a ruler built in. It houses a small knife, a pin, a pen, tweezers, scissors, and a four headed screwdriver (upper right in the photo) that works surprisingly well. I've included duct tape because it can be used to repair clothing, bandage skin, secure the knife to a pole to make a small hunting spear, shelter construction, etc. It is so useful and versatile that you will likely discover an unintended use in an emergency situation. Mine is wound around a small piece of cardboard that I have attached a couple of safety pins to. These can be used to repair clothing, secure a bandage or can be left open to form a small fishing hook. I've included a rubber band and 2 zip ties for miscellaneous fastening needs. I've also included 12 inches of paracord, but this actually gives me 8 feet of cordage. Each length of parachute cord has a tough outer woven sheath and seven strands of nylon inside that can be used separately or tied together. If I need a really thin thread, these strands can be untwisted to form 3 threads each. I'd like to include a little more, but I'm bursting at the seams as it is. The note card is for, well, notes.

The black trash bag provided one other unexpected benefit - when folded to fit in a quart Ziploc bag, it creates an accordion-style partition for the bag that allowed to separate these items. I tried fitting it into a wide-mouth Nalgene 1 liter water bottle and could almost get it all in, but not quite. Even this package was bulkier than I intended. I'm going to have to lose something - I'm not sure what yet. Nevertheless, it was a fun exercise to get all of this into a small bag. This fit easily into a fanny pack that I owned with room to spare. I need to get it small enough that my wife would carry it. Keep an eye out here for future modifications.

Listening to Katrina

I found a great website, called Listening to Katrina, that has changed my perspective about preparing for emergencies and emergency kits. The site author describes it as a blog, but it is more of an extended essay describing his evacuation from New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and what that experience has taught him about preparing for emergencies.

One thing that he mentions in there is that if you need to suddenly leave your home and set up shop in another town or another state, you need to be financially prepared. Not just having some cash tucked away for the road, but being able to access you financial accounts, proving who you are, proving your qualifications to work in your field. I am a liscensed physician in Ohio, but if I had to evacuate into Michigan or Indiana, it could be months before I could work there, IF I had all of my paperwork in order.

The other big brain shift I had reading this article was that I was not prepared to suddenly evacuate my house in the event of a fire. I can live out of my basement for a few weeks in the event of a blizzard, but if I woke up to the fire alarm, I'd get everyone out of the house with very little clothes and watch everything go up in flames. I need to have personal information scanned onto a memory stick and a set of clothes, flashlights and an emergency cellphone in a bag under my bed that I can grab on the way out.

He breaks evacuation strategies into leaving in under 1 minute (i.e. house on fire), leaving in a hour (i.e. wildfire approaching the house), leaving in 12 hours (i.e. hurricane approaching the region), and staying in place. He also chronicles his efforts to put his family's life back together after being suddenly relocated to Texas. Worth a read and it will influence future blog posts here.