Practical Prepping Podcast

Practical Prepping Podcast Episode #86, "Ways To Filter And Purify Water, In SHTF Or During Water Emergencies."

Please share this episode with friends. Here is the direct link: https://practicalpreppingpodcast.buzzsprout.com

Knowing how to filter and purify water is important not only for survival purposes, but water systems, from time to time, become contaminated and the water is unsafe to drink, and in some circumstances becomes dangerous to let it contact skin. It is a skill we need to know.

 During commercial water system emergencies, authorities will issue one of several types of advisories:

             “Boil water advisory   -The water is not safe for consumption without boiling

             “Do not drink water advisory" - Water can be used for bathing and toilets,   Bottled water mush be used for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth

             “Do not use water advisory” -Not only do not consume, but do not allow water w/o come in contact with skin

Filtering water is removing sediment, trash, debris, bugs, fish, and other solids
Purifying water is making it safe to drink
All water to be consumed must be purified.

Ways to filter water

• Through a bandana or handkerchief
• Through a coffee filter
• Through a T shirt or thin piece of cloth
• Through a sand and charcoal filter in a soda bottle.             Remove the bottom, invert, few gravel near the neck to hold other materials, layer of crushed charcoal, topped by a layer of sand, make a small hole in the cap. Pour water in top, filters through, drips out the hole in the cap.
•  This method is good if you have a ready water supply, but it is slow.

Ways to purify water    (make it safe to drink)

• Bleach
• Iodine           

 Water filters

Personal water filters

            Lifestraw           1,000 gallons

            Sawyer mini    100,000 gallons

             With these, you can drink straight from the source.
             Filters sediments and purifies, but it is best to prefilter water that is extremely dirty, to prolong the filter life.

Purifying with UV Light

             NOTE: Ultra Violet light will kill bacteria and viruses in water, but it will not remove any chemicals in the water

Water filtering and purification is a skill all people should have, especially preppers.


Please consider supporting the podcast by buying us a cup of coffe. You can do that by going to www.buymeacoffee.com/practicalprep

We invite you to drop us an email at [email protected]

Visit our website at www.practicalprepping.info

Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for more episodes of Practical Prepping Podcast.

Practical Prepping Podcast Episode # 85

Please share this episode with friends. Here is the direct link: https://practicalpreppingpodcast.buzzsprout.com

Lots of folks enjoy traveling in the spring and summer, but just as many prefer traveling during the fall and winter. Then there is the time we spend daily or weekly in our vehicles. Many of us spend a lot of time in our vehicles, and there is always the possibility we will encounter some kind of issue along the way.

It could be as simple as a dead battery or a flat tire, or as serious as coming upon a wreck with injuries, before professional help has arrived.

"Building a Vehicle Kit "

Much of this will be in a GHB (get home bag), but it's a good idea to make a separate vehicle kit, because as hard as we try to avoid it, we will eventually leave home without our GHB.

We regularly move between personal vehicles and work vehicles and sometimes bags get left in the other vehicle.

It may be a good idea to build a vehicle kit for each vehicle. It will be a backup to your GHB, and will offer beneficial redundancy if you find yourself without your GHB.

As with any other kit or bag you build, it is totally customizable to fit your individual needs. You decide what to carry depending on your needs, skills, and abilities.

We discuss items to store in each of these categories...

• Food
• Water
• First-aid / Trauma Kit
• Items for making repairs
• Survival items, if you have room

Please consider supporting the podcast by buying us a cup of coffe. You can do that by going to www.buymeacoffee.com/practicalprep

We invite you to drop us an email at [email protected]

Visit our website at www.practicalprepping.info

Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for more episodes of Practical Prepping Podcast.

Practical Prepping Podcast Episode # 84 "Failures In Preparedness, and Specific Prepping Catagories" 

Please share this episode with friends. Here is the direct link: https://practicalpreppingpodcast.buzzsprout.com

There are times that, if we are not careful, we set ourselves up for failure. We must avoid preparedness failures as we prepare to survive whatever may come.

In this episode we look at a number of prepping failures we need to avoid:

Not having a plan...

Ben Franklin - "Failing to plan is planning to fail!"
Not having a preparedness plan is planning to fail at prepping.

Lack of organization...
Taking a shotgun approach, and not having a plan.
A lack of organization makes preparedness  much more difficult and leaves holes in your prepping. Murphy's Law says you will find out about those holes at the most inopportune time.

General catagories for prepping...

• Food/water
• Shelter 
• Fire
• Security and Defense
• Communications
• Lighting 
• Personal finance
• Skills

Buying gimmicky, low quality gear...
Buying someone else's idea of "must have" prepper gear, or buying low quality gear based solely on price often leads to disappointment, and is a prepping fail.

Thinking that buying food, water, and gear is enough...
Nothing could be further from the truth.  We need some skills, and we need a plan. To do otherwise can lead to a prepping fail.

Not practicing with their gear...

Having it and not knowing how to use it leads to failure. Practice your skills often!

Getting overwhelmed...

When we start out, we all realize we are not where we want to be. We all feel overwhelmed at times. We end up trying to do too much at once. Make a plan. Break things down into manageable tasks. Sets some goals, and work your plan. This will help you avoid becoming overwhelmed.

Not being consistent...

Many got started after covid, but stopped prepping when they felt the crisis had passed. Another crisis will come.

Procrastination...
Listen to episode # 77 "dealing with procrastination"
Caused by lack of self discipline, lack of priority, or just choosing to do something else, we MUST get started and we must be consistent if we are going to succeed.

To avoid preparedness failures:

• Make a plan and work your plan
• Don't get overwhelmed
• Take it one step at a time
• Be consistent
• Spend wisely
• Learn skills and practice them
• Don't get discouraged

Please consider supporting the podcast by buying us a cup of coffee. You can do that by going to www.buymeacoffee.com/practicalprep

We invite you to drop us an email at [email protected]

Visit our website at www.practicalprepping.info

Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for more episodes of Practical Prepping Podcast.

Practical Prepping Podcast Episode # 83 "Stocking And Storing Medications For SHTF"

Please share this episode with friends. Here is the direct link: https://practicalpreppingpodcast.buzzsprout.com

Situations could arise at some point in the future when we become our own first responders, and our own medical care. 

For that reason we need to maintain a supply of medications to be used after SHTF, so we are going to cover a list of medications on which to stock up, and how to properly store those medications.

This is not medical advice, and we encourage you to do your own research and determine what items you may need for yourself and your family.

These may not be the only medications you might need to stock, and this is not all of the medications on our list, but in the interest of time we will cover the basics. We'll put the full list on the website. 

Here's a suggested list, in alphabetical order.

What to stock

• Activated charcoal
• Antacid, omeprazole (Prilosec), Ranitidine (zantac), cimetidine (Tagamet)

Antibiotics - 
Your Dr may give you a prescription, but here are antibiotics many preppers store. We certainly do not recommend using fish antibiotics regularly, but they could be lifesavers after SHTF when no others are available.

• Ampicillan
• Amoxicillin  "Fish Mox"
• Cephalexin  "Fish Flex"
• Cipro             "Fish Flox", or "Fish Flox Forte"
• Doxycycline
• Penicillin       "Fish Pen"

IF you choose to obtain and stock fish antibiotics, obtain usage information and a dosage chart.

• Antibiotic creams and ointments
• Anti-diarrhea
• Antihistamine 
• Anti-inflammatory
• Cold & flu medications
• Decongestants, pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine
• Hydrocortisone cream, 
• Laxatives, Tablets & Suppositories
• Oral anesthetics 
• Pain relievers,
• Sore throat medications,

How to store medications

• Greatest killers of medication are heat, light, air, & moisture
• Store at 68°F - 77°F
• Light resistant bottles
• Keep air tight and away from humidity

Where not to store

• Bathroom
• Humidity
• Lessen potency
• Deterioration 
• Above or Near the stove
• Heat deteriorates 
• In the car
• Within the reach of children & pets

Recommendations

• Leave in original, sealed packaging, if possible, especially blister pack 
• Yellow or dark bottles protect from light
• Throw out the cotton
• You can add desiccant, silica gel, or vacuum seal to protect further from humidity
• Label with contents and expiration date
• One medication per vacuum pack
• Store in a cool, dark, dry place
• Add labels to meds for their usage & dosage CHART
• Regularly check expiration dates & rotate
• Many tablets retain 90% of potency for at least 5 yrs after expiration date.

We hope this list helps you as you consider medications to store in case of SHTF.

Please consider supporting the podcast by buying us a cup of coffe. You can do that by going to www.buymeacoffee.com/practicalprep

We invite you to drop us an email at [email protected]

Visit our website at www.practicalprepping.info

Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for more episodes of Practical Prepping Podcast.

Practical Prepping Podcast Episode # 82

Please share this episode with friends. Here is the direct link: https://practicalpreppingpodcast.buzzsprout.com

In this episode we are talking with Jim Curtis, from Jim Curtis Knives. Jim is a American custom knife maker from Central Alabama. Jim built the beautiful knife that Krista commissioned for Mark as a Christmas gift, which he proudly carries daily.

Jim shares a lot of information that will help us understand more about choosing and caring for our knives.

In this episode we discuss:

• Differences in EDC knives and survival knives
• Determining the purpose for the knife
• Determining the parameters for the knife
• Choosing the proper steel
• Having a "life knife"
• Utility knives
• Building a lightweight hiking knife
• Building knives
• EDC knife
• Survival knife
• Lightweight hiking knife
• Sharpening our knives
• Types of sharpeners
• Lubrication
• Stropping our blade
• Caring for our knives
• Using vegetable oil rather than Rem oil or WD-40 on your knife

Contact Jim or see his work:

www.facebook.com/jimcurtisknives

[email protected]

Please consider supporting the podcast by buying us a cup of coffee. You can do that by going to www.buymeacoffee.com/practicalprep

We invite you to drop us an email at [email protected]

Visit our website at www.practicalprepping.info

Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for more episodes of Practical Prepping Podcast.

Practical Prepping Podcast Episode #   "Dealing With "Stinging Critter" Stings"

Please share this episode with friends. Here is the direct link: https://practicalpreppingpodcast.buzzsprout.com

Title: Dealing With "Stinging Critter" Stings

Bees, Wasps, Hornets, Yellow Jackets, Horse Flies, Bumblebees, Fire Ants, and Scorpions sting, and Spiders bite which hurts like a sting.

The common reactions to the stings are pain, swelling, redness around the bite, fever, and numbness.

Be aware that some people are highly allergic to certain stings, and being stung can bring about a life-threatening emergency.

This is the time to call for professional medical help. Also, if one is stung by mutiple insects at the same time, they should go to the ER.

Many who know they are highly allergic to stings carry the medication epinephrine in the form of an epi pen.

Immediate administration of epinephrine can be the difference between life and death.

Thankfully, most stings are not life threatening and are easily treated.

• First, remove stinger if it is lodged
• Take care not to squeeze the stinger
• "Scrape" the stinger to remove-credit card, blunt knife blade
• Wash the affected area
• Ice packs can be used to reduce pain & swelling
• OTC antihistamines, topical anti-itch creams and pain relievers can help
• Even a thin paste of baking soda & water will calm the itch
• There's also the old timers remedy - tobacco juice

Here's the signs of a severe reactions

Difficulty breathing, rapid heartrate, swelling of the lips or throat, nausea or vomiting, fever, muscle spasms, confusion, loss of consciousness.
This is a true medical emergency
Call 911 or the emergency number in your country

Seek emergency medical care for bites by any of these:

• Any of the widow spiders
• Black, Red, Brown
• Brown recluse
• Hobo spider
• Brazilian wandering Spider
• Six-eyed sand spider
• Australian mouse spider
• Australian funnel-web spider
• Redback spider
• Katipo spider

All scorpion stings should be treated in the emergency room, regardless of symptoms

Please consider supporting the podcast by buying us a cup of coffee. You can do that by going to www.buymeacoffee.com/practicalprep

We invite you to drop us an email at [email protected]

Visit our website at www.practicalprepping.info

Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for more episodes of Practical Prepping Podcast.

Practical Prepping Podcast Episode #80, "Building An Urban Bug-Out-Bag For surviving in the city."

Please share this episode with friends. Here is the direct link: https://practicalpreppingpodcast.buzzsprout.com

Building An Urban Bug-Out-Bag For "surviving in the city" is a bit different from a bug out bag used in rural and suburban areas

Many times smaller items will be of more use, such as tarps, which you wont be able to string up.

Carry cash in small bills, and divid it up in several areas.

Lighting will be necessary, especially low-lumen headlamps and
flashlight, and carry extra batteries.

You'll need a first-aid kit. We discuss trauma kits and a medicine kit containing, Imodium, pain relievers, anti-inflammatory meds, Benadryl, and antibacterial cream

You need a fire kit, but you have to be really careful with your fire being seen. Keep it very small & hidden, and realize that if you are hiding out, may have to forego fire

Gray man clothes work better that dressy office wear, and this  applies to males and females.

We list some of the survival items you need to carry.

• Multitools, knives (fixed and folding blades)
• Map of the city & surrounding area
• Old fashioned compass
• Pen & paper
• Wet wipes for washing up and it doubles as toilet paper
• Insect repellant

Shelter

• Small tarp or woobie
• 3-4 heavy mil contractor grade garbage bags
• 1-2 Emergency blankets

Food

• Food should be "no cooking required" and we discuss various types.

Water

• Water may be the single most important item for which you need to prepare. We cover several ways.

We also list several "extra Items of urban areas," or tools which may help you survive.

Please consider supporting the podcast by buying us a cup of coffe. You can do that by going to www.buymeacoffee.com/practicalprep

We invite you to drop us an email at [email protected]

Visit our website at www.practicalprepping.info

Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for more episodes of Practical Prepping Podcast.

Practical Prepping Podcast Episode #75 "Bugging Out From The Big City"

Please share this episode with friends. Here is the direct link: https://practicalpreppingpodcast.buzzsprout.com

"Bugging Out From The Big City"
If you can, move out of the city. You don't want to be there when SHTF.
Even if you move out or you commute into the city you have to prepare for possibility of being in the city  if/when SHTF hits.
Primary issues would be EMP, CME, or any grid-down event causing oadways will likely be gridlocked, if vehicles are at all operable

Urban Areas present an entirely different set of challenges when on foot than the challenges in rural areas.
In rural areas you can go into wooded areas, utilize abandoned houses, trailers, and buildings, build a fire, build a shelter
Urban areas are "the concrete jungle"
Always the problem of being seen or confronted
Stealth is paramount
Must move undetected and utilize hiding places. Buildings, under stairs/steps may be options. Even in the backs of vehicles, or in a  dumpster.

You must move undetected
     Keep it slow when you can't see
     May be traveling at night

Security
You MUST be prepared to defend yourself
Be armed, if at all possible in that city
If you cant carry a firearm, use improvised weapons like a piece of chain or a steel bar

Shelter
Shelter will have to be different than in the woods
Contractor grade garbage bags are good for shelter in the city.

Food
Carry no-prep-necessary foods
Trail mix, Beef jerky, Granola bars, Protein bars, canned fruit and meats such as potted meat, tuna, Vienna sausage, Spam
Carry a personal water filter

Being in a large city is a very dangerous situation during a SHTF situation. So, IF you live in a major city:
Preplan your possible exit routes on paper maps, and mark routes in advance.
Build an urban bug-out-bag - (we'll cover this next episode)
Have a survival mindset
Plan to survive getting out of the city

Please consider supporting the podcast by buying us a cup of coffe. You can do that by going to www.buymeacoffee.com/practicalprep

We invite you to drop us an email at [email protected]

Visit our website at www.practicalprepping.info

Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for more episodes of Practical Prepping Podcast.

Practical Prepping Podcast Episode #78

Please share this episode with friends. Here is the direct link: https://practicalpreppingpodcast.buzzsprout.com

This is a fun little podcast where we do a "Pocket Dump" with what Mark actually carries in his pockets every day, whether he is wearing shorts, jeans, shirt and tie, or a suit.

Please consider supporting the podcast by buying us a cup of coffe. You can do that by going to www.buymeacoffee.com/practicalprep

We invite you to drop us an email at [email protected]

Visit our website at www.practicalprepping.info

Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for more episodes of Practical Prepping Podcast

Practical Prepping Podcast Episode #77

Please share this episode with friends. Here is the direct link: https://practicalpreppingpodcast.buzzsprout.com

In this episode we discuss: "Procrastination"
The art of putting things off (intentionally or habitually)
95% of people, at times, procrastinate, on some level.

Causes of procrastination

• Lack of self-discipline
• Lack of priority
• Fear
• Of failure
• Of success
• Feel the task is insurmountable
• Don't believe the task is worth the trouble
• We CHOOSE to do something else

HOW TO OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION

• Recognize you are procrastinating
• Figure out why you are procrastinating
• Adopt anti-procrastination habits
• Understand procrastination IS a habit
• Make a commitment to your tasks 
• Use time management techniques
• Utilize a Master list with your Daily To-do list
• Make an appointment with yourself for the task by putting YOU on your schedule
• Minimize Distractions
  • Clear your desk of other projects
  • Turn off the phone
  • Close the office door
• Reward yourself for completed tasks
  • It feels good to finish
• Be accountable to someone else
  • We don't want to have to say, " No, I didn't do it."
• Tackle tasks as they come, but don't interrupt current task
  • Put them on the master list so they aren't forgotten

Please consider supporting the podcast by buying us a cup of coffe. You can do that by going to www.buymeacoffee.com/practicalprep

We invite you to drop us an email at [email protected]

Visit our website at www.practicalprepping.info

Join us on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for more episodes of Practical Prepping Podcast.