Everyday Survival - Recognizing Life Threatening Situations

Being prepared for a medical emergency needs to include the knowledge of which situations may require you to immediately call emergency services. When dealing with a life threatening situation and other means of safe and immediate transport are unavailable, it is important to remember that EMS should be called immediately, even prior to starting CPR or other types of first aid.

Potentially life threatening situations may include any of the following:

1. A head injury followed by unconsciousness.

2. An inability to breathe.

3. Any signs and symptoms of a heart attack.

4. Sudden paralysis or muscle weakness on one side of the body.

5. Any vomiting of blood.

6. Severe burns, especially over large areas of the body.

7. Any sudden or abrupt loss of consciousness.

8. Any accidental poisoning or overdose of medication.

9. Any type of gunshot wound, stab wound or impalement by any type of object.

10. Severe bleeding of any type.

There are also several other signs of serious and possibly life threatening situations that may require immediate emergency care. These situations may include such things as:

1. Severe or prolonged abdominal pain.

2. Unexpected seizures.

3. Major dislocations of joints such as the hip.

4. Sudden or unexplained worsening of a current medical condition such as asthma, emphysema, high blood pressure or other type of heart condition.

Being able to recognize life threatening situations when they occur will help you be better prepared. There will be times when emergency first aid will not solve your problem and proper emergency medical services will be required for your survival.

Do you know when to call an ambulance?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Got Ants?

Here's a short video showing a large fire ant mound. They can have a large surface area and be even larger underground, sometimes being as much as 30 or 40 feet underground. The larger ones are usually a combination of several colonies and can have as many as three of four queens. This makes large colonies extremely difficult to eliminate.

Got ants?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Common Sense Gardening

It makes common sense to get the most from your garden and the space you have available. When proper planning is used, even a small garden can produce large amounts of produce for you and your family. When adding compost or fertilizer, don’t forget to use a little common sense at the same time.

Common Sense Gardening Tips

1.) Have your seeds and seedlings available prior to the start of your growing season. Don’t wait till the last minute when seed stocks or seedlings may be in short supply. It’s important to remember that you probably won’t be the only person planting a garden.

2.) Prepare and cultivate the soil for your garden ahead of the planting season as soon as possible and always use plenty of compost. Proper conditioning of your soil prior to planting is an essential step. This will give your seeds and seedlings better conditions for best growth right from the start of your growing season.

3.) Plan your garden so that your plants when mature will cover the entire garden area. This will allow you to maximize all the available space in your garden and help increase the yield from your crops and get the most from your garden.

4.) Choose high yield vegetable varieties that are well suited for the planting zone in your area. Smaller and more compact plant varieties that produce heavier crops will give you higher yields for your efforts creating less work for you.

5.) Choose plant varieties that are of a hardier nature. Depending upon your temperature zone, you may need varieties that are cold hardy, drought or heat resistant or that are not vulnerable to certain pests or plant diseases that may be common in your area.

6.) If possible, attempt to extend your growing season. Use cold frames or a greenhouse to increase the length of your growing season. This is especially important where colder temperatures place severe limits on your growing season.

7.) Pay attention to your garden. Check your garden often to avoid or minimize damage and destruction by pests or plant diseases. A garden can be ruined and all your crops lost in a short period of time leaving you with little or nothing to show for your efforts.

8.) Don’t forget your garden tools! They are as important as any other part of your gardening activities. Make sure handles are in good shape and the cutting or chopping edges are sharp. Keep a good pair of work gloves handy to help prevent or reduce possible injuries. Protect that thumb while it’s turning green!

9.) Take advantage of the experiences of your friends, neighbors and relatives. Quite often many people will be more than willing to share their successes, as well as their failures. This will help you avoid mistakes that others may have already made or help to give you a head start in the right direction.

Successful gardening can be quite a challenge. It can also be great fun. All you need to remember is to add a little common sense to your garden.

Here is a link to a free online vegetable garden planner to help in planning your garden.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Nighttime Visitor

He's back and it's crunch time!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Soup

Food and water will always be a major concern in any survival situation. A limited capacity to cook and prepare meals will also be an additional problem you may experience. There is also the problem of insuring proper nutrition during this time in order to avoid additional problems you will not need. A quick and simple solution is soup for your survival.

Examine the different ingredients for soup and water will be the main and foremost ingredient of any soup. It is the primary ingredient of all soups. The water in soup will help to avoid any dangerous effects from dehydration…a major problem in any survival situation and a staple for combating the effects of many routine illnesses. It will also allow you to counter any lack of nutrition by adding a few simple and basic ingredients.

Lack of proper nutrition can also endanger your survival but by adding a few simple ingredients to your soup you can work to solve this problem. Adding pasta or noodles, meat or vegetables to your soup will enhance the nutritional value and the flavor as well.

This is a great use for any type of dehydrated food item from onions to tomatoes, your canned vegetables or fresh produce or all those bouillon cubes you've got squirreled away.

There may also be a problem with feeding a larger than normal group if other family members are present or have gathered together for safety and security during a crisis. Soup can go a long way in feeding a large number of people without straining your food inventory levels. Soup can be further enhanced for additional nutrition and flavor with the addition of ingredients to thicken your soup and give it a little additional ability to curb hungry appetites. Adding a little flour, cornstarch, instant potatoes or even canned or instant milk can increase the nutritional value of your soup and when combined with a chunk of homemade bread, biscuits or cornbread it can create a well rounded meal that is both satisfying and nutritious.

Another great quality of soup is that it can be readily customized to suit even the pickiest of eaters, especially younger children. It can even be made to order in case you need to accommodate the requirements of those persons with special dietary restrictions or certain food allergies that can create additional problems.

Don’t forget the spices! A little salt and pepper or a dash of Worcestershire sauce will do wonders for your soup. Almost any herb or seasoning you have available will work nicely in a soup to enhance its flavor and nutrition.

Soup also allows you to plan ahead of time for your meals. The dry ingredients can be prepackaged together into a variety of soup starter mixes that are lightweight and easily transported or you can purchase ready-made soup mixes at most grocery stores.

You can also make soup in anything from a cup to a crock pot or whatever is handy.

How about a recipe for survival soup? Let your imagination and whatever you have available be your guide! It's also a great way to warm up on a cold winter day. So put your some of your storage food items together and create your own recipe for survival soup.

Got a great recipe for survival soup?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Chicken and the Snake

The other day RW, Jr. found a chicken snake (or rat snake) just laying around. The temps were fairly cool and it was pretty lethargic. While it was just laying in the sun, a chicken decided to check it out.

Got chicken snake?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Food Storage Inventory Spreadsheet

A while back I offered my food storage inventory spreadsheet free to my readers. Hope it's been useful to those of you that have tried using it to track your food inventory. Here's a brief comment from one of my readers.

"Riverwalker,

Just wanted to let you know I just now got around to using the spread sheet you sent to me months ago. It is working great. I packed my first food bucket last night and the wife was all too happy to help. Keep up the great work.

Rook"

Thanks Rook! Glad you found it helpful.

Anyone else got any comments about whether or not it has been useful to them?

If interested in the spreadsheet, you can do a direct download here:

Stealth Food Inventory Spreadsheet

The use code is RW (case sensitive). There is also a link in the sidebar.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Confronting Chaos and Confusion in a Crisis

There is an almost absolute possibility in any type of crisis that you will experience chaos and confusion. The disruption of normal, routine services and activities that are often taken for granted will most assuredly test the limits of your endurance. You only need look at current events around the world to see the ugly truth of this fact.

There are some things you can do that will help you overcome the chaos and confusion that will seek to destroy your hopes for survival.

1.) Keep and maintain a Positive Mental Attitude - This is the first and probably the foremost thing you can do in a crisis or an emergency. People can be very resourceful when the need arises and forming a positive mental attitude about your situation will only enhance your chances for survival.

2.) Set Attainable Goals for your Survival - Don’t waste time, energy or resources on long term goals that may not be feasible in the first stages of a crisis. Save those goals for later and place an emphasis on improving your current situation. Place your emphasis on setting reasonable goals that can be achieved fairly easily and within a short period of time in the early stages of a crisis. Your Positive Mental Attitude will be reinforced with each goal that is attained during a crisis.

3.) Use a Common Sense Approach - Realize that a common sense approach will keep you on the right track and help you reach your goals for survival. Your common sense will help you recognize what is within your power and ability to change. You won’t be able to change everything all at once and will need to realize this fact in the beginning stages of any crisis.

4.) Be Flexible in your Planning - The only bad thing about having a plan is that sometimes they don’t work, at least not the way you intended. You will need to have an alternate plan in case your current plan of action isn’t working to help you reach your goals. Be flexible and remember that sometimes plans need to be modified or changed in order for you to reach your goals for survival.

5.) Learn from your Mistakes - You will most definitely have setbacks in trying to reach your goals in a crisis but you should view them as a learning process that will only help you succeed. Look for other ways to reach your goals if something doesn’t work as you had planned. Some things will work and some will not. Don’t be discouraged by small setbacks and be ready for them when they happen.

Survival is a journey and every journey begins with that first step!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

RW's Truck Gun - 20 Gauge Slugs at 20 Feet

The Gun

Single shot 20 gauge.

The Ammo

Hollow point slugs.

Target Height

RW, Jr. (5'10") next to target to give you a reference point.

The Results

First shot was a little high and to the right.

Second shot was better but still a little high.

Hitting Center Mass at 20 Feet

The third shot on video.

Got 20 gauge slugs?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

RW's Truck Gun - 20 Gauge at 20 Feet

The Gun

The Ammo

The Results

So much for paper targets.....

Got 20 Gauge?

Got 20 gauge slugs?

20 Gauge Slugs at 20 Feet

Disclaimer

No live trees were damaged during this target practice.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Winter Sky

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Bartering for Survival - Seed Swapping

Being frugal is a part of being a prepper and you should always try to get the most value for your money. When money is tight, bartering can help you enhance and maximize your resources without higher costs if done in the right manner. One of the best and most inexpensive ways to enhance your prepping efforts is by seed swapping. For little more than the price of an envelope and some postage you can add additional variety to your seed stocks while reducing excess seed inventory on hand or swapping seed varieties you aren’t using for others that you may not have or that can be more useful to you.

How do you swap seeds successfully? It’s easier than you may think!

First, check with family and friends to see which types and varieties of seeds they have available and wish to swap. Make sure to specify what types and varieties you are willing to trade for when doing a seed swap.

Second, check your local farmer’s market. Many farmers are quite proud of their produce and may have seed stocks they are willing to swap. You only need to ask!

Third, the National Gardening Institute has a seed swap website available where you can list seeds you wish to swap. You can also view seeds others want to swap. This is a free forum that allows you to post your seed swaps for 30 days at no charge. This is a great way to get into seed swapping, especially if you are an urban prepper and may not have a farmer’s market in your area. Here is the link to their seed swapping forum:

http://www.garden.org/seedswap/

The great thing about seeds is that you can grow a lot of food at a very low cost. It takes a little time and effort to raise a garden but with practice can yield exceptional benefits for you and your family. For little more than the price of an envelope and postage you can enhance your seed inventory stocks.

Survival Seeds anyone?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Food Storage Tip - Date Labeling

One of the hardest things to manage with any food storage program is the proper rotation of your food items. Manufacturers of various food items don’t make this chore any easier for you. They place the date codes in small letters and in out of the way places on their products which can make finding the expiration date rather difficult. Mrs. RW has a great little tip that should make things easier for you.

Bags, boxes and canned goods can be easily marked with the expiration date or best by date by simply using a large permanent marker. She places the date codes directly on containers in letters and numbers that are easily read and won’t require you to use a magnifying glass. She simply assembles the food items on the kitchen table and marks them accordingly before rotating the new food items into current inventory. This reduces the chances of a food item going bad before you use it because the dates are much easier to read at a glance.

The permanent markers are a lot cheaper than using conventional labels and you don’t have to worry about your labels falling off your food storage items.

Got permanent marker?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Nature Video - Mr.Redheaded Woodpecker

Here's a short video clip of a red-headed woodpecker taken by RW Jr. He needed a little encouragement in order to hang around long enough to be video-taped. A little birdseed did the trick. It's amazing how a little food will get something (or someone for that matter) to hang around longer than normal.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics from the Past - EW & Sons

I don't have an exact time for when this picture was taken but it was probably in the early 1900's. They can be seen moving logs with their mule teams. Sorry about the photo quality but it was in pretty bad shape when I received it. Thanks.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Gear - RW's Truck Gun

Did some minor repairs for an individual and came a cross a nice used shotgun that I accepted as payment for a few hours of work and about $15 in parts. Total investment in this shotgun is about $60. It's a New England Firearms 20 Gauge Pardner shotgun. In good used condition, they usually run about $120 to $125. New they can cost around $150 to as much as $160. It was in good condition and had a couple of minor scratches on the barrel but no dents. It did need some cleaning. It also came with a butt cuff...which saved me a few more dollars.

Being a compact model with a 22" barrel and being only 36" in length overall should make it a decent truck gun. It should be easy to maneuver and it doesn't take up much space.

Here are the specifications:

New England Firearms 20 Gauge Shotgun Model SB1-250

BRAND: Harrington & Richardson

MODEL: Pardner Compact / Youth Model

SAFETY: Transfer Bar System

TYPE: Shotgun

SIGHTS: Bead

CALIBER: 20 Gauge

BARREL LENGTH: 22"

FINISH: Blue

OVERALL LENGTH: 36"

ACTION: Single Shot

WEIGHT: 5-5 1/2 lbs

STOCK: American Hardwood, Walnut Finish, Straight Grip

CAPACITY: 1

FEATURES: Automatic Ejection

CHOKES: Modified

CHAMBER: 3"

BUTT PLATE: Hard Rubber Butt Plate

RECEIVER: Blue

Once the rain quits and there is an opportunity to get outside and give it a little workout, I'll post some further information for everyone on how it performs.

Got truck gun?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Wet and Cold vs. Dry and Cold

Water has approximately 20 times more heat conducting capacity than air. Conduction is also the most effective means of transferring heat. What do these simple facts mean? During cold weather, wet will be your enemy! This is especially true if you wind up in a situation where you are both cold and wet. If you are trying to stay warm and retain the most body heat possible, it is fairly obvious that being dry and cold will always be your best choice.

Remember the acronym C.O.L.D. and you will be able to optimize your ability to stay warm and dry in a winter environment.

C - Clean. Keep your clothing clean. Dirt and perspiration can reduce the ability of your clothing to keep you warm. Your clothing is an important part of your protection from the cold.

O - Overheating. Avoid getting overheated. Perspiration and sweat will cause both your skin and clothing to become wet which can work to increase your “chill factor”. You can avoid overheating by adjusting your layers of clothing or reducing your activity levels.

L - Loose. Blood flow is critical to maintaining body heat and is an essential part of staying warm. Snug or tight-fitting clothing that restricts the blood circulation of your body are best avoided in a cold environment.

D - Dry. Wet clothing in any type of cold weather will be a threat to your survival. Avoid cotton fabrics and clothing which absorb and hold moisture.

In most any cold weather situation, dry and cold will always be your best survival option.

If you happen to be inside with a nice warm fire, you may prefer “cold and wet”!

Margaritas anyone?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics from the Past - Waiting for the Train

Here's a pic of my great grandfather and a couple of his brothers as they are waiting for a train. My great grandpa can be seen holding his lever action rifle. Lever actions have been quite popular in the Riverwalker family for quite a while.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Using Tools Safely

Using the proper tool, keeping it in good working condition, having the right tool and being aware of any hazards will help to prevent accidents and injuries. This will help you be more productive in your work without increasing the risk of an accident.

The productive and safe use of tools depends on being alert, having the proper knowledge regarding the use of your tools and making sure they are properly cared for and kept in good shape. Here are some general safety rules to observe when using hand tools.

1.) Check for hazards in the area before starting any type of work.

2.) Always use proper personal protective devices such as gloves and safety glasses.

3.) Always use the right tool for the job.

4.) Always check their condition before use. If damaged or in need of repair, use a different tool or complete any necessary repairs before use.

5.) Try to avoid transporting tools loose in a vehicle. Get a tool box and use it.

6.) Be careful when loading and unloading your tools.

7.) Never throw your tools. This can damage your tools or cause injuries to others who may be in the area.

8.) Have a designated area where you will be setting your tools when not in use to prevent accidentally losing tools. This could create a hazard later on and create additional expense due to the replacement costs of lost tools. Mark them in a way that will help them be more visible.

9.) Always mark tools that need repairs or that should be replaced if they become damaged.

10.) Always store your tools safely and out of the weather.

Using your tools safely will help you survive that repair without an accident or serious injury.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival in Disguise - The Sugar-coated Solution

So you’ve got a 72 hour kit and now consider yourself prepared. Prepared for some minor crisis or disaster, maybe, but you’re a long way from being able to survive a major life-threatening event. The majority of people keep only a few days worth of food and water on hand before they have to make a trip to the store in order to re-supply. Is this really a good, common sense approach to being prepared? Or is it simply a sugar-coated solution to keep the majority of people in a “feel good” state of blissful ignorance of how bad things can really get in a hurry.

Power outages can turn into weeks instead of days. Just ask someone who went through a severe ice storm or were hit with several feet of snow! Store shelves that are empty on the fourth day prior to a hurricane striking your area won’t help you much when you run out of food and water. You can’t get very far on highways clogged with traffic and lined with gas stations that have no fuel, if for no other reason than re-supply was hindered and made virtually impossible due to the fact that the congestion from traffic made the transport of additional fuel stocks extremely difficult.

Examine a few facts that may give you cause for concern about your preparations. Did people in Atlanta think they would have to endure long gas lines and shortages due to a hurricane in Texas? Probably not! But it happened anyway. What about the effects of a hurricane in New Orleans? Law and order disappeared faster than the people could get out! Got a little security in your 72 Hour Kit? Let’s hope so!

There were also traffic problems all along the evacuation routes. There were cars abandoned along the roadside in my area of South Central Texas as people were attempting to evacuate New Orleans. Abandoned vehicles on the side of road were everywhere. In my case, a routine 45 minute trip took me almost 3 hours to complete due to the detours and back roads that had to be used to reach my destination because of all the traffic congestion due to refugees that were leaving New Orleans. It gave new meaning to rush hour traffic! Let’s hope you have a good knowledge of roads in your area and an even better set of maps! Otherwise, you are probably going to wind up stuck on the side of the freeway like hundreds of other people.

It may take you 72 hours just to get into a safe area and then what happens? Here are a few simple tips to keep in mind.

1.) You should have a definite destination in mind beforehand.

2.) Know how long it will take you to get there and plan for your needs accordingly.

3.) Plan on leaving early enough to avoid the rush created by other persons who are evacuating the area.

4.) Realize that resources along your route of travel will disappear quickly and obtaining additional supplies may not be an option. You will most likely have a need for extra supplies already on hand in this case.

5.) Minimize the number of stops you make. Every time you stop will cost you time you may not have.

6.) Make sure someone knows you’re coming and when you expect to be there.

7.) Guard your resources and be careful not to use them in a wasteful manner.

Remember that a 72 Hour Kit is only a temporary solution to what could become a long term problem.

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Grandpa and His Mule

Thought you might like seeing a picture of my great grandpa and his mule. Many of the Riverwalker clan have always had a couple of mules around to help with the work. My great grandpa had a pair of mules as far back as I can remember.

I plan on a series of more pictures of the Riverwalker family and hope you enjoy them. Some of the pictures aren't the best quality as they are pretty old and had to be scanned into digital versions.

Got mule?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Gear - Raven Arms MP25 Pistol

One of the items I have is a Raven Arms Mp25 automatic pistol. It uses .25 ACP ammo and has a 6+1 capacity. It is what is commonly referred to as a "pocket" pistol. It is quite small and fits rather neatly into the palm of my hand but lacks any significant power in my estimation. It will put a dent in 3/4 inch plywood at 20 feet but lacks a serious ability for the type of penetration rate to make it an effective defensive weapon.

While a good pocket pistol may be of some value as a "stealth" backup, this particular one doesn't really fill that gap. I do plan to find something that is smaller than the average pistol with a little more power but that can be effective as a backup.

While I consider it of little practical use, it has a great deal of sentimental value since it belonged to my father when he was alive.

Got pocket pistol?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Riverwalker's Pics - Boy on the Mountain

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Survival Pajamas

You’re resting comfortably and suddenly the worst happens. Someone steals the covers as you’re sleeping. One of the worst survival situations you can find yourself in is having someone steal the covers on a cold night. Fortunately, using some polypropylene thermals as pajamas will save you from a cold night. A good pair of wool socks won’t hurt either!

You can save a little money also if you keep your thermostat turned down and use your polypropylene thermals to help keep you warm while inside the house on a cold day.

They also make you a lot more comfortable if you have to leave home in the middle of the night and the temperatures outside are a little frosty. Throw on some outer garments and grab your jacket and you’re ready to go. This makes them a multi-use item!

Polypropylene thermal undergarments work well as survival pajamas. They’re lightweight and wick moisture well and dry quickly. The inside is a soft polypropylene fleece which makes them really comfortable. Polypropylene thermal undergarments are part of the Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) used by the military.

Polypropylene thermals aren’t usually referred to as pajamas but they work a lot better than a “snuggie”!

Got PJ’s for survival?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Free Downloads from NMSU

There are some great how-to downloads available from New Mexico State University at their website. While many are targeted for use by residents of New Mexico, there are several other free publications that may contain useful information of interest to others as well.

Here is a link to their publication categories:

http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/howto/howto.html

Here are a couple of examples of some of the free informational how-to publications that are available from the Wildlife Category on NMSU’s website. They have a number of different informational categories for you to chose from that are available.

Tanning Deer Hides and Small Fur Skins

Basics of Muzzleloading

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Smoker Barrel Cooking - Custom Smoking Sausage Rings

One of the easiest things to cook on a smoker barrel is rings of sausage. You can simply lay them on your grill and that will get the job done but the more traditional method is to hang the links above your fire to allow them to get more of that smoke flavor. It only takes a simple modification in order to do this.

The main thing you will need is a baffle plate and one or two metal rods. You can either hunt around your local scrap yard or recycling center to find some or make your own using a drill and some scrap metal. You will also need one or two metal rods that are longer than the width of your smoker barrel. One rod will hold quite a few sausage rings and two will hold a LOT. Simply drill holes slightly larger than your metal rods on opposite sides of your barrel. This will allow you to insert the rods to hold your sausage rings. Remember that two rods will hold a large number of sausage rings and one may be sufficient for most people unless you plan on cooking for a large group. You will also need to remove the top grill to allow easier access and give you space to hang your sausage rings. Once you have your baffle plate, rod(s) to hold your sausage rings and have removed the top grill you are ready to go. Don’t forget to load up your wood chip holder!

The next step is to lower your baffle plate directly over your charcoal basket once you’ve got your fire going. You can add your sausage rings to your holding rods by inserting the rod through the appropriate hole on one side of your barrel and slipping the sausage rings on one or two at a time. Once you have your sausage rings on your rod, insert the other end of the rod through the hole on the opposite side of your smoker barrel. Make sure your rods are long enough to give you a good hand hold and don’t forget to wear a set of good gloves, as they may get a little warm. Set your smoking temperature by adjusting your air intakes and you’re ready to start smoking your sausage rings.

An alternate method for hanging your sausage rings is to use large “S" hooks on your rod and hang the sausage rings from the hooks if you don’t wish to place them directly onto the rod itself.

When you aren’t smoking sausage rings, all you need to do is place a bolt and nut in the rod holes to seal them and prevent a loss of smoke and heat when cooking a brisket, etc. You can even store your rods inside your smoker barrel when not in use so that they will be there when you need them.

Got sausage?

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Caught in the Dark

It doesn’t take much of a storm nowadays for you to lose power. No matter where you live and what types of weather you experience you will at sometime experience a power failure if you’re on the grid. It can actually happen even when you’re “off the grid”. It is in these cases you will need some backup source of light.

Murphy’s Law seems to dictate that a power failure always occurs at night. Why does this happen? Your guess would be as good as mine but it would seem to be more of a result of an infrastructure system that is starting to crumble and fall apart. Lack of maintenance as a result of inadequate funding seems to be a common problem everywhere.

Given the fact that the average person has extremely poor night vision; you will need an alternate source of light. I don’t have a set of night vision goggles but do keep several different kinds of emergency light sources handy and ready to go.

At a minimum, you will need at least some form of lantern for a room light. This will give you some freedom of movement without rearranging the furniture with your knees. Something I think we have all done at one time or another! It can be any type you are familiar with or have available…candle, crank, kerosene, or propane powered. The main point is to have something available.

The next item you should have is some form of portable work light that will allow you to work in an area that is dark in order to make needed repairs if necessary. It is probably a good idea to have one in your vehicle as well. It will make changing a tire or engine drive belt a lot easier if you can see what you are doing.

A couple of hand-held lights are also a good item to have handy. It will allow you direct light more easily where it is needed and can usually be easily carried on a belt clip or your pocket or purse.

The good thing is that you don’t have to spend a lot to in order to have some form of light. Close-out specials and bargain sales are a good way to find specials that won’t force you to break your “piggy bank”.

You don’t want to get caught in the dark when something goes wrong!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker

Happy New Year - 2010

I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. I'm sure there will be many new challenges we will all have to face in the coming year. Have a safe and happy holiday!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Staying above the water line!

Riverwalker