We have a winner!

We have a winner! Congratulations Phillip!

Phillip will be receiving a free fire bowl from Stealth Survival.

Simply send me an email with your shipping name and address and a phone number that can be used to confirm receipt of your new fire bowl. Your personal information will be kept confidential and be used only to ship you your free fire bowl. Congratulations once again to Phillip!

Here is the winning comment chosen at random:

Phillip said...

Yup. Fireplaces. I love fireplaces, still. Even need to fire ours up, if it ever cools down enough.

OCTOBER 19, 2009 8:35 AM

Thanks to everyone for all your great comments!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Raising Horses

There is a great post on Raising Horses over at the Texas Preppers Network that many of you may find of interest. YeOldFurt, a member of TPN, is doing a series of posts on raising horses that will have some very valuable information and insight on raising horses. So saddle up and head over to TPN and learn a little about raising horses.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Last Chance

Just a reminder to my readers in the continental USA, this is the last day you can enter a comment for a chance to win a free fire bowl. So visit Stealth Survival for a chance to win a free fire bowl for the holidays.

The lucky winner and their winning comment will be announced on Saturday.

Celebrate the Holidays with a Free Fire Bowl

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Updating Your Survival Skills

Having survival skill are a great thing to have because you never know when they will be needed. Emergencies or natural disasters can happen at any time and anywhere without the least bit of advance notice. Keeping your skills updated is also an important part of emergency preparedness. It's not every day you get a chance to put your skills to the test because disasters don't follow a timetable. Techniques and procedures can change as better ways are found to accomplish the same task, especially when it comes to your first aid and CPR skills.

It was necessary to recently update my emergency first aid skills and this was required due to the nature of my work. After undergoing some additional training in advanced first aid, CPR and getting certified on the AED (automatic external defibrolator), I feel my skills are now in pretty good shape when it comes to emergency first aid. In an emergency or crisis, first aid training will be one of the most useful skills you can have.

If you haven't taken the time to get first aid training, now would be an excellent time to put some effort into advancing your skills in this area. You may have training available through the workplace or you can check for training classes that may be offered by your local EMS services or fire department. In any case, if you don't have proper first aid training you may be setting yourself up for a rude awakening if a disaster or emergency occurs. Even if there isn't a major disaster, first aid skills are always useful for the everyday "minor" disasters that occur.

There are going to be times when you need more than a band-aid!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Planning - Risk Assessment

After you have developed an Emergency Plan, the next step in preparing for a natural disaster or other crisis is to make a risk assessment of the major events that can affect you personally. Being aware and informed about the type of disasters, either natural or man-made, that are most likely to occur where you live and work will increase your chances for survival.

The western regions of the country are the areas which are most likely to experience or actually have a major earthquake that could be a threat to your survival. The southeastern coast and areas along the Gulf coast are the parts of our country that are most susceptible to hurricanes. Florida is probably the most vulnerable state in this regard since it actually has two coastlines. If you live in the area known as "Tornado Alley", which runs through parts of several states, including but not limited to Oklahoma, Kansas, South Dakota and Texas, you are probably more prone to experience tornados along with severe and damaging winds more than anything else that might occur.

Even though flooding or high water can occur almost anywhere, low lying areas near major rivers, like the Mississippi and Missouri, are going to be subject to more frequent flooding than other parts of the country. Severe flooding and mud slides can occur in mountainous areas because of heavy rainfall or earlier than usual snow melt. Flash flooding can also occur almost anywhere at anytime with any excessive rainfall amounts.

You can stay ahead of many natural disasters simply by staying informed of current weather conditions by following weather forecasts and emergency radio broadcasts. Making a daily effort to stay informed will give you a head start on handling a disaster or crisis when it occurs. Many communities have emergency services of different kinds that also work to help keep you informed on a local level. Many times during an emergency local services will have representatives from the fire department, police, or other emergency service workers who go door-to-door in sparsely populated or isolated areas to notify people of possible life-threatening situations.

While some types of disasters are extremely hard to predict, certain areas that are the most susceptible to these kinds of disasters usually have special emergency disaster centers set up and in place to assist you. Most are equipped to handle any of your questions about disaster risk management.

Protect yourself and your family by becoming more informed about your risks and susceptibility to certain disasters which may occur more frequently in your area.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Bug-Out Bags - List of Suggested Contents

Adult Bug-Out Bags (one for each adult)

Flashlight(s), extra batteries, or light sticks

Emergency radio (portable) and batteries

Keys - for home and car(s)

Money - change and small bills

Glasses, contact lenses, etc.

Medications - minimum 7 day supply

Comfortable boots or shoes - include extra pairs of socks

Comfortable clothing for at least 3 days - include extra underwear

Coat, windbreaker or jacket

Whistle, mirror or other emergency signaling device

Knife with pocket sharpener and/or multi-tool

Matches (waterproof) and /or lighter(s)

Emergency water purification/filtration supplies

Paper and pencil(s)

Emergency phone number list, out-of-state contact name and number

Lists of people to notify in case of an emergency or if you are hurt or injured

Copies of important documents: insurance, identification, social security, etc.

First aid kit

Personal grooming items: Brush, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, washcloth, face towel, shampoo, lotion, razor, lip balm, nail clippers, sanitary products, sunscreen, etc.

Toilet paper and tissues

Zip-lock bags or plastic grocery bags

Good book, playing cards, puzzles or games

Work gloves, several pairs of latex or Nitrile gloves

Blanket(s)

Tarp(s) or plastic suitable for use as a ground cloth

Dust masks and disinfectant wipes

Pry bar, hammer, etc. (These may be needed to remove debris)

Drinking water – stored separately (include a minimum of one gallon per person)

Food items (canned, dehydrated, snacks)

Snacks (granola bars, trail mix, etc.)

Handicapped or Senior Citizen Bug-Out Bags (one for each senior citizen)

Food for any special dietary needs.

Batteries for hearing aids, wheelchairs, or other medical devices, etc.

List of model and serial number of any required medical devices

Special supplies: oxygen, catheters, syringes, etc.

Current prescriptions for eyeglasses or contacts

Personal sanitary items

Infant and Children Bug-Out Bags (one for each infant or child)

Baby formula, disposable bottles, etc.

Diapers and wipes

Instant baby cereal or jars of baby food

Bowls and spoons

Sunscreen

Several changes of clothes

Light jacket

Thermometer

Medicine dropper

Pedialyte or other electrolyte replacement solution

Tylenol or other needed medications

Shoes and socks

Toys, books, games, stuffed animals, etc.

Authorization to Consent to Treatment of Minor Form

Pet Bug-Out Bags (one for each pet)

Food and water – at least a 3 day supply for each pet

Food and water bowls

Collars and leashes for all pets (both dogs and cats)

Muzzles, harnesses, etc. for pets

Treats and pet toys

Blankets or towels for each pet

ID tags and license number

Additional name tags

Pet carrier or crate for each pet which is labeled with pet and owner’s information

Name, address and phone number of veterinarian, animal control agency and shelters.

Emergency contact numbers of people to take care of your pets or animals if you can’t.

All pet vaccinations and medical records. Make sure they are current and up to date.

Allergies or other, detailed instructions for any specials needs your pets may require.

Personal protection items were not included in the list of suggested contents and will depend upon your own personal preferences in this area as to what you may consider appropriate depending upon your circumstances.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Drugs and Your Safety

As long as you maintain the seal of the original manufacturer's container, the shelf life of a drug may be good beyond its expiration date. This is known due to the Air Force study which was done back in 1985 because the Air Force found themselves with a stockpile of medications that were about to expire. In an attempt to save money and not discard medicines unnecessarily, the Air Force asked the Food and Drug Administration to check these drugs for safety and effectiveness. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration), after numerous tests, “estimated” that approximately 80% of the medications would remain safe and remain fairly effective for nearly 3 years (the actual figure was 32.5 months) past their expiration date.

Some drugs weren’t retested because they were found to be ineffective and repeatedly failed testing past their expiration dates. The two most notable ones were water purification tablets and the drug, mefloquine hydrochloride, commonly used to treat malaria.

In a 2002 article, The Medical Letter, which is a highly respected source of independent information about drugs, stated that certain medicines, stored in high humidity and other bad conditions, remained useful for as long as nine years after their expiration dates.

Some important things to remember are the conditions under which these tests were conducted by the FDA for our military.

1.) The military tested original, sealed, and unopened containers from the drug manufacturers. Most pharmacists routinely re-package prescription medications from bulk stock into smaller amounts as prescribed by a physician.

2.) Many drugs were found to be unsafe or ineffective immediately and were removed from the testing program: most liquid medications, antibiotics, and certain other drugs( most notably the water purifications tabs and the malaria pills).

3.) Certain things such as drug interactions are routinely updated as more information becomes known about the effects of certain drugs. This information may not be available to you without a current prescription from a physician or medical doctor.

4.) The majority of household drugs and medications are not stored under ideal conditions. Most drugs are affected by the same damaging effects of light, temperature extremes, and high humidity that also affect your food storage items. Many are routinely stored in medicine cabinets in bathrooms were they are subjected to some of the worst storage conditions possible. Hot showers are nice but they aren't good for your medications.

5.) If the medication has been opened, or stored in a high temperature or high humidity environment, such as your medicine cabinet in the bathroom, it is probably better to dispose of it, especially if it is past the expiration date shown on the package or container.

6.) Shelf life differs from the expiration date. Shelf life is a reference to the quality of the drug and the expiration date refers to its safety and effectiveness. Even though a drug may still be safe for use after its expiration date, its quality and effectiveness may not be the same. Ultimately, the shelf life is going to be affected by the storage conditions in which it was maintained.

7.) Remember that your health and safety should be your primary concerns.

“When in doubt, throw it out!”

This is not to be considered medical advice of any kind nor is it intended to be such but is presented merely for informational purposes only. Ultimately, you should seek the advice of a reliable pharmacist or physician in regards to the safety, quality and effectiveness of any medications, both prescribed and over the counter (OTC) that you may be taking or are considering for your use.

Source references:

Drug Information

Expired Drugs. PDF

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2000/04/02/drug-expiration-part-one.aspx

http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/PatientEd/Materials/PDFDocs/medicatn/geninfo/aguide.pdf

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Gone to Canada

Riverwalker is headed over to the Canadian Preppers Network for the holidays for a couple of days. Along with Kymber, we've set up a special holiday give-a-way for all my friends and readers from Canada. If you're from Canada, come on over and visit Riverwalker and Kymber at the Canadian Preppers Network. Enter a comment and have a chance to win a great fireplace accessory.

Just a reminder to my readers in the continental USA, you can still visit Stealth Survival for a chance to win a free fire bowl because "I love fireplaces!".

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Shelf Life of Food Storage Items

Knowing the shelf life of your food storage items is a very important part of any food storage program. The wide varieties of food items that are available make it hard to keep track of the shelf life of canned and pre-packaged food items that are common in most parts of the country.

Mrs. RW recommends http://stilltasty.com/ as a great website for checking the shelf life of your food storage items. They cover a wide variety of food items from canned to frozen to opened or un-opened packages. They also include the shelf life of food items commonly found in your pantry, your refrigerator and your freezer.

So take some time and check out this handy website if you need to check the shelf life of your food storage items. From fish to dairy and veggies to fruits, they have some great information for you. Whether you prefer canned, dried or fresh you can get the information you may need to help you keep the shelf life of your food storage items up to date.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Planning - Family Emergency Plan

The first step in surviving any type of natural disaster, emergency situation or crisis is to have a list of emergency contact information. You will need to know where everyone is at and how to get in touch with them as quickly as possible. The less time you spend trying to locate or contact family members; the more time you will have to get out of harm’s way. You don’t need to re-write the phone book but some simple planning is necessary. Having a “hard copy” list of emergency contact information for your family members will put you ahead of the game because you were ready with the necessary information.

Do you work two jobs? Do you have a plan to get home in an emergency depending upon where you are at a particular time of day? Got children in school? Do you know how to contact them quickly in an emergency? Are you planning to pick them up in an emergency or during a crisis? Or is someone else going to do it for you? These are just a few of the simple questions that can be put to rest with a small amount of advance planning.

It is unfortunate that many people are separated by large distances from their homes and family during routine things such as work or school. This makes survival planning a crucial part of surviving a disaster or crisis.

A good survival plan doesn’t need to be very elaborate. It mainly needs basic information about family members in a location that is easily accessible when needed during a crisis. You will also need basic information about where you plan to go depending upon the type of disaster or crisis.

Download this free emergency plan form to help you get started with your survival planning: Family Emergency Plan.

Plan to survive by having a plan.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Celebrate the Holidays with a Free Fire Bowl

Stealth Survival wants to help you celebrate the upcoming holidays in style by offering you a chance to win a free fire bowl. There is probably no better way to enjoy the holidays than spending time around a warm fire.

So what could possibly be better than a warm fireplace? A free outdoor fireplace that’s portable and goes where you go! Whether you’re visiting family or friends for the holidays or they’re headed in your direction, here’s your chance to win a free fire bowl and make some great holiday memories.

A picture of the free fire bowl to be given away is shown above. It’s a 24 inch portable unit with folding legs and includes a carry case. Just click the link to view all of its features.

So how do you win a free fire bowl ? It’s simple. Just leave a comment on this post that includes the saying “I love fireplaces!” It doesn’t matter whether you prefer the traditional wood burning fireplaces or some of the newer electric fireplaces that are currently available. All that’s necessary is for you to say "I love fireplaces!"

How many times can you enter to win? You can post a single comment each day between now and October 30th saying you love fireplaces. Each comment will be considered an entry provided you include the saying “I love fireplaces!” somewhere in your comment. You may enter a comment each day and the winner will be picked at random from all the entries that have been posted. You may comment anonymously but you will need to identify yourself with something unique like “BIG from TX”.

On October 31^st, the winner of the free fire bowl will then be announced on Stealth Survival. The winner will need to provide a shipping address and phone number in order to receive their prize. Your personal information will be kept confidential and only be used to ship your free fire bowl to you should you be declared the winner. The fire bowl can be shipped to the winner anywhere in the USA except for Hawaii and Alaska. Therefore, only entries from the continental USA will be eligible to win the fire bowl.

So leave a comment and let everyone know how much you love fireplaces!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Special project - Lightning Video # 10

Here is the tenth and final video of my lightning video series. I've got additional video projects coming up in the near future.

Enjoy the show!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Books for Barter

We would all like to consider ourselves great teachers because we feel our experience and knowledge can be of benefit to others. Unfortunately, sometimes gaining knowledge has to be accomplished by some very basic skills and one of those basic skills is reading. Reading requires tools and the most basic of those tools are books.

If your memory fails you or you forget some basic point, your attempt to impart your knowledge and wisdom to others may leave you coming up blank. Reading books can be a great way to enhance your knowledge and through practical application of that knowledge you can further develop your survival skills. While many of us would like to think that our memories are infallible, it is perhaps a little more prudent to have a few written texts as a back-up.

Barter is sometimes a risky process and many people wonder what would make a safe and practical item for trade. Why not use books for barter? Books can make an excellent item for trade and barter. They can be used to acquire skills you may be lacking or simply to reinforce your current knowledge and skills. They can also be used for simple entertainment if the power is out and you have a little free time on your hands. They also pose little risk to yourselves or others when actively seeking to trade for something you may need.

So the next time you look at a book, you may want to give it a second glance and see all the possibilities that may be inside.

Got books for barter?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Simple Survival Tips - Rain and Your Safety

Rain is one of the most common of natural occurrences experienced by everyone on a frequent basis. You should always be aware of the dangers of rainy weather because your life could depend on knowing a few simple precautions for use during rainy weather. Rain is a beautiful and life-giving thing but it can also be quite dangerous if you are not careful to avoid its hazards.

Rain causes thousands of vehicle accidents every year. Most of these accidents can be avoided by following a few safety guidelines. It is important to remember that there is a big difference in driving during rainy weather and times when the weather is sunny. Rain causes asphalt roadways to become very slick. A thin film of water on asphalt roads can cause them to become very slick and may cause your tires to lose traction. Rain will eventually wash away the oil buildup on roadways, but the first few hours are usually the most dangerous time and could result in a greater chance of you losing control of your vehicle.

Rain can also reduce your perception when driving. Many times it is extremely difficult to see when driving in the rain. Many of you may have already experienced driving in what is usually referred to as a “blinding rain” which can reduce your visibility to zero. The rain can also affect the action of your windshield wipers and headlights reducing their effectiveness. Your perception of the road itself can also be affected by the rain. It can also disguise hidden dangers like pot holes or areas of the road that may have been washed away by flash flooding; a hazard associated with heavy rainfall in a short period of time. You should make an effort to be aware of any possibility of flash flooding that may occur in your area. While the majority of people know that it is best to slow down when driving in the rain, there are those who don’t (or won’t) slow down in the rain. An increased awareness of the other drivers around you may help you to avoid an accident due to their carelessness.

Never use your cruise control in rainy weather because there is actually a chance that your vehicle could accelerate suddenly causing a loss of control if you begin to hydroplane on a wet road or highway.

Never try to cross running water. Many roads have low water crossings that can flood during periods of heavy rainfall. Seek an alternate route or wait till the water subsides. If you can't see the entire road there is a chance that it is no longer there. You probably don’t want to see your vehicle floating down the creek while you watch.

It is also important to remember that the brakes on your vehicle will work differently in the rain. Brakes do not work as effectively when wet and you should avoid “slamming” on the brakes during wet weather. You will also have considerably less traction on slick or wet roads created during periods of rainfall. Keep some extra distance between yourself and the other drivers on the road. This will give you the additional time and distance to slow down if necessary. Slow down on curves or when making turns, keep your lights on (some states even require that your headlights to be on when your windshield wipers are being used) and make sure to use your turn signals.

Using a little common sense and keeping your vehicle in good mechanical condition will help you to avoid the hazards of driving in rainy weather.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Hairy Friends

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Special Projects - Under Construction

There are several special projects under construction right now for the benefit of the readers of Stealth Survival. There is only one more lightning video in my ten part series left to be posted and it's time for additional projects. There is a new video series that should be ready soon and a new pic series. Sure hope everyone has enjoyed the lightning videos.

Please take some time to check out the different free downloads that have been placed on the sidebar. You may find some of them useful in your preparedness efforts. Feel free to leave a comment if you've found any of these free downloads helpful. Thanks.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Above the Water Line

Staying Above the Water Line

Riverwalker

Special Project - Lightning Video # 9

Here is the ninth lightning video in my ten part series.

Enjoy the show!

Riverwalker

410 Gauge Shotgun Butt Cuff

Here's a quick tip for everyone! You can use a rifle cartridge butt cuff to carry additional rounds for your .410 gauge shotgun. Because they are smaller in diameter, the normal shotgun butt cuffs are made to accommodate the larger diameter of 12 and 20 gauge shotshells and won't hold the smaller diameter .410 gauge shotshells.

The above picture shows a rifle cartridge butt cuff loaded with 3 rounds of 2 1/2 inch 000 buck, 3 rounds of 3 inch # 7 1/2 heavy game load shotshells, and 3 rounds of 2 1/2 inch 1/4 shot slugs. This gives you an additional 9 rounds you can carry on your .410 gauge shotgun quite easily. You can separate the 000 buck and the slug shotshells with the longer 3 inch game loads making it easier to reload with the appropriate round without having to check the size.

Got extra rounds for your .410?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Special Project - Lightning Video # 8

Here is the eighth lightning video in my ten part series.

You can get some safety tips about lightning here:

Lightning Safety Tips

Enjoy the show!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Mountain Clouds

Mountain Clouds

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Cooking - Night Grillin'

One of the great things you can do to check just how prepared you are is " night grillin' " because you never know when the power may go out and the lights with it. This is Mrs. RW's area of expertise and to celebrate the end of my first week in my new position she decided to do a little night grillin'. She cooked up a special meal for us and it turned out great.

She grilled a couple of T-bone steaks and threw some "shrimp on the barbie" Australian-style and added a couple of roastin' ears to go with it. Practicing for when the power goes out will let you be aware of just how well you will be able to get by in an emergency.

No lights? No power? No problem! Get grillin' !

Done any night grillin' lately?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Home-Made First Aid Kit Additions - Finger Splints

Hand injuries are very common because a good pair of work gloves won't always protect you. These are sometimes simple injuries that can be treated quickly and allow you a fair amount of function and use of your hand(s) for simple tasks. While usually simple in nature and not totally incapacitating, they can increase the difficulty of completing many types of minor tasks.

A great many hand injuries usually involve the fingers. Things like a jammed finger or an injured joint can cause you a variety of problems when attempting to complete simple tasks. A great little item that you can add to your home-made first aid kit is a set of finger splints. They come in different sizes and also combo packs with different sizes included in each pack. These small splints will allow you to immobilize the injured finger and still retain a fair amount of use of your hand. It will also help to prevent further injury to the "damaged digit".

If you need to be a little fugal in your efforts, you can make an expedient finger splint by using a couple of wooden popsicle sticks and a little duct tape in an emergency situation until proper treatment can be obtained.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - White Flower

White Flower

Even the simple things in nature can be beautiful and yet still be complex.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Special Project - Lightning Video # 7

Here is the seventh lightning video by RW, Jr. in the ten part series.

You can also get an excellent Power Point Presentation of lightning pictures here:

Free Download of Lightning Pictures

Enjoy the show!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - River Roots

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Simple Survival Foods - Pecans

Did you know that pecans grow wild only in the United States and Mexico? Some of your best food sources are those items which grow naturally and can be found in widespread areas of the country. A mere hand full of pecans contains over 20 vitamins and minerals and approximately two grams of dietary fiber. They are also a good source of mono-unsaturated fats which can help to lower your cholesterol levels.

Don't have pecan trees growing on your place? That isn't a problem! Many farmers will allow you to pick your own and you can save some money in the process. Check farms in your local area and you might find some easy "pickins" prior to the holidays.

Pecans are great plain or when eaten as a dessert item in pies and cakes. Plain pecans are one of Little RW's favorites. Have to watch that boy real close or he'll gobble them all up faster than Mrs. RW can peel them.

Pecans are usually harvested in the fall. So check out your local farmers and growers to see what's available.

Got pecan pie?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Special Project - Lightning Video # 6

Here is the sixth lightning video in my current ten part series on lightning. During severe thunderstorms when the formation of lightning is most prevalent you should always seek proper shelter in order to avoid possible injury.

Enjoy the show!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker