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Everyone, and we do mean everyone needs to have their own personal survival kit. Your kit needs to be economical, so don’t waste your money, but get what you can use and what you like. Whatever you carry be sure that your kit carries only the necessities. You know how things just seem to happen at the most inconvenient time? For average persons’ purposes, a personal back pack should be created for every person in your family or business.

Sounds extravagant? Not when you need it!

Remember you might not be home when something happens or you as a key member of your family might not be able to get to your other family members to help them. Never-the-less, your personal pre-stocked survival kit should be quickly accessible to you at all times. If you drive to work, have it available to you stowed in your vehicle at all times. If you are at home, have it located near your most likely exit from your home. This is so that if you must leave your home it is immediately available although your vehicle might not be. Once you stock the most important necessities in your personal survival kit, you can expand into other less important items and place them in your home or vehicle, items more bulky and heavy. This concept is called layering your survival kits, keeping the most important items on your body.

Okey the basics you need are very straight forward. Lets put together a no-nonsense list:

1. You need a container to carry the items of your personal kit. We recommend a medium size sturdy back pack, two 5 gallon and two 1 gallon plastic pails and a large metal pot. These can be stacked inside of one another with the garbage bags and hand carried while the rest is on your back. The back pack case should be; Water repellent or waterproof, easy to carry or attach to your body, suitable to accept varisized components, and durable.

2. A basic survival manual. We recommend the US Army Survival Manual FM21-76 and a First Aid Kit Booklet or Manual

3. A basic First Aid kit. We recommend You can get a good head start by purchasing a preassembled first aid kit. You will find that most preassembled kits have been put together through much feedback given by those who have experienced injury during a crisis. Some basic first aid essentials include gauze, tape, adhesive strips, scissors, antibiotic ointment, bandages, burn treatment bandages or lotions, rash or itching creams, thermometer, arm splint, tweezers, safety pins, pain reliever, prescription medications, antiseptic towelettes, ammonia inhalant, instant ice packs, sponges, eye washes, rubbing alcohol, etc.

Although pre-assembled kits contain the most common items needed during emergencies, it is important to gather items that fit your particular needs. Prescriptions such as medications for asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression etc. are crucial for first aid kits. Also be sure to include special items needed by small children or the elderly. It is useless to have a professional kit that contains items you do not know how to use, or to have a kit that is to basic to treat emergency needs. Basically, remember that first aid items can help save lives during a crisis. It is easier to invest the time and money in first aid supplies once you understand what a difference this kind of preparation can make during an emergency. Once you have purchased supplies, begin learning more about first aid relief and learn how to properly use your supplies.

Include
* Oxytetracycline tablets (for diarrhea or infection).

* Surgical blades.
* Butterfly sutures.
Burn gel and dressing
Snake bite kit
Insect repellent
Sun block
Special medications

4. Compact lightweight food for at least 72 hours. We recommend you use food you are familiar and like stored in your kit, you will be better prepared to use it during times of emergency. So when it comes to economical acquisition of Food: Get two manual can openers. Then buy plenty of oatmeal, and canned food that’s ready to eat from the can with heating. You can get Dinty Moore products and others. Soups, Chili, Chicken and Dumplings, Stews, etc., are all in cans. Cookies and saltine crackers are also great only if you can store them in cans, jars or plastic containers with airtight lids. Perhaps if you can afford and have tried for taste, acquire MRE’s (ready to eat meals) these generally are less bulky and can be carried in a kit easier.

* Minimum amount of food - ie emergency MREs or energy bars

* A small metal container to cook in.

5. Water and some water purification means. We recommend that you get water purification tablets and that you learn to treat water, first filtering it through material like a sheet, then with bleach before you prepare to drink any source of water you are unsure of during an emergency. The amount of regular unscented bleach that is recommended to use, is 4 drops of bleach per quart of water. Then it also is recommended that you boil the water, and then let it cool prior to drinking it. You’ll need at least two gallons per person, per-day at a minimum for drinking, cooking and sanitation. Using one of your 5 gallon pails for treatment and storage. Remember to boil your water in the metal pot and then transfer it to the covered plastic pail or a Collapsible Container for water storage.

6. Matches or some means of starting a fire. We recommend a standard lighter with a small can of lighter fluid, a metal match, or waterproof matches and for Cooking: A single burner Coleman propane camp stove is the best with a couple propane cylinders. This can also be stowed in one of the plastic containers.

7. Some compact versatile tools.

We recommend
* Snare wire.
* Signaling mirror.
* Wrist compass.
* Fish and snare line.

* Fishhooks.
* Candles.
* Small hand lens (magnifying glass)
* Solar blankets.
* Chap Stick.
* Knife.
50 Feet of Nylon Rope
Rolls of Duct Tape
Foldable Shovel
Hatchet or axe
Sewing Kit
an all purpose combination utility tool, as well as a Candle with windproof/waterproof matches (remember, in some cases it is not wise to light a match in case of a gas leak)

8. A flashlight, preferably one that doesn’t need batteries.

You can also use alternate light sources
Candles
Lightsticks
Lantern and fuel
Road Flare(s)

9. Extra incliment weather headgear, shoes & clothing. We recommend EXTRA CLOTHING

A complete outfit of appropriate durable clothing; including extra socks, underwear, hat, sturdy shoes, and gloves.

10. Personal hygiene items, soap for washing, toilet supplies. We recommend using the sturdy 5 gallon plastic pail for a toilet, portable outhouse. Use your heavy trash bags that will fit down inside the bucket and the top will fold over the outside of the bowl toward the floor. Have a supply of bleach water in the bathroom made from one part laundry bleach to five parts water. This can be kept in a plastic 1 gallon pail. Add some of this when needed to handle scent as the bag fills up. Some folks double-bag to be sure for easy removal. When the bags are 1/2 full you can tie them off and put them in the back yard where you can dig holes to dispose of them. A bathing solution can be made of one part rubbing alcohol to ten parts of water and sloshed on the body with washcloths and rinse with clean water. Here’s where another 1 gallon pail comes in handy. Have plenty of generic mouth wash and also body rinse like “Sea Breeze”, Witch Hazel or a generic brand in your cabinet. Plan on one bottle per week per person of each.

11. Don’t forget your medications.

Ask you doctor for an extra prescription for emergencies. He or she will gladly do it and they understand and may hand you some free samples. Also don’t be afraid to ask for freebies including some antibiotics or other stuff they might hand out to you.

12. Your Personal identification, credit cards, financial papers, titles, etc.

MONEY

At least $20 in your kit — be sure to include quarters for phone calls IMPORTANT PAPERS

Emergency Instructions

Copies of documents such as birth certificates, marriage licenses, wills, insurance forms, phone numbers, credit card info, etc., Copies of the following: Marriage certificate Social Security cards Wills Inventory of household goods Immunization records Stocks and bonds Map of the area and phone numbers of places you could go

13. Maps, compass and AM/FM radio. We recommend having a radio with more than one source of power. Chemical lightsticks are recommended because of their safety, Road flares can be used but are not as safe as the lightsticks. Jumper cables. Car repair kit, Flat Tire Fixer Try to always maintain at least one-half tank of gas Cell phone to report any emergencies (many disconnected cell phones may still be able to call “911″ when charged) Emergency Cell phone charger, Fire extinguisher, Paper and pencil for leaving notes or recording any thoughts, Toys and other special consideration items for children, Books and games for entertainment, Short rubber hose for siphoning.

In preparing your survival kit, select items you can use for more than one purpose. If you have two items that will serve the same function, pick the one you can use for another function. Do not duplicate items, as this increases your kit’s size and weight. Your survival kit need not be elaborate. You need only functional items that will meet your needs and a case to hold the items. Now that you thought about it, what do you think you should carry in your kit? Now that you have the idea, it’s up to you to follow through. The better prepared you are, the better your chances you will survive.

Thank you for your attention. We hope it helps.

Author is the Founder of the Hedtke Institute, sole proprietor of Stormynites, has a B.S. in Computer Science from Southwestern University, and a A.S. in Business Computing from Devery Institute of Technology. He has extensive experience in Emergency, Survival and Personal Security with a background in Law Enforcement and eco-Treking. Additionally, his technological exposure encompasses computer and business analysis, programming and networking. His interests also are in robotics and nano-technology.

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Summertime means insect bites and stings. Ouch! Take a leaf from Susun S. Weed’s storehouse of natural remedies: Soothe, heal, and prevent bites with safe herbal remedies that grow right where you live: north or south, east or west, city or country. The best natural remedies for insect bites are right underfoot.

Plantain, also called ribwort, pig’s ear, and the band-aid plant, is a common weed of lawns, driveways, parks and playgrounds. Identify it by the five parallel veins running the length of each leaf. (Most leaves have a central vein with smaller ones branching out from it.) You may find broad leaf plantain (Plantago majus), with wide leaves and a tall seed head, or narrow leaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata), with long thin leaves and a small flower head that looks like a flying saucer. Many Plantago species have seeds and leaves that can be used as food or medicine. A South American variety (Plantago psyllium) is used to make Metamucil.

How to use plantain? Make a fresh leaf poultice. Pick a leaf, chew it well and put it on the bite. “Like magic” the pain, heat, and swelling - even allergic reactions - disappear, fast! (Yes, you can dry plantain leaves and carry them in your first aid kit. Chew like you would fresh leaves.)

Poultices ease pain, reduce swelling, and help heal. No wonder they’re the number one natural choice for treating insect bites, bee and wasp stings.

Mud is the oldest and simplest poultice. Powdered white clay, which should be mixed with a little water or herb tea, can be applied directly to the sting as soon as possible. Clay can be kept on hand at all times and is less likely to contain fungal spores than the real thing. Finely ground grains such as rice or oatmeal, or bland starchy substances like mallow root, grated potato, or arrowroot powder are also used as soothing poultices to ease itching and pain from insect bites.

Fresh-herb poultices are a little more complicated, but not by much. Just find a healing leaf, pluck it, chew it, and apply it directly to the sting/bite. If you wish, use a large leaf or an adhesive bandage to hold the poultice in place. Plantain, comfrey (Symphytum uplandica x), yellow dock (Rumex species), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum), wild mallow (Malva neglecta), chickweed (Stellaria media), and yarrow are only a few of the possibilities.

In the woods, you can take a leaf from a tree, chew it and apply that to the bite. Any tree will do in an emergency, but if you have a choice, the best leaves are those from witch hazel, willow, oak or maple. Play it safe: learn to recognize witch hazel (Hamamelis virginia) and willow (Salix species) leaves before you chew on them. Maple (Acer) or oak (Quercus) leaves are easier to recognize and safer to chew - unless you live where poison oak grows. If uncertain, avoid all shrubs and any trees with slick or shiny leaves. If the leaf you are chewing tastes extremely bitter or burns your mouth, spit it out at once.

To repel ticks, mosquitoes, and black flies, try a diluted tincture of yarrow (Alchellia millefolium) flowers directly on all exposed skin. A recent US Army study showed yarrow tincture to be more effective than DEET as an insect repellent.

If you’ve spent the day in an area where lyme disease is common, take a shower right away and scrub yourself with a bodybrush. Have a friend check you out for ticks. Also, it takes the tick some time to make up its mind where to bite, so most are unattached and will wash off.

“If the worst happens and I do get a bite, I help my immune system by taking a daily dose of 2-6 dropperfuls of Echinacea tincture. I avoid Goldenseal as I believe it could have adverse effects. If I have symptoms, I use a dropperful of St. Joan’s wort (Hypericum) tincture three times a day to ensure the lyme’s organism is inactive.”

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.

Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081

Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative.

Susun is one of America’s best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women’s health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at http://www.susunweed.com

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Ceramic tile material is rigid and relatively brittle, so a sturdy base is the most critical part of installing this type of tile. Unless you want to see cracked tiles, loose tiles, or loose grout, you need to select the proper underlayment. Underlayment being what the construction trade calls the layer that goes between your wood subfloor and your tiles.

You have several alternate ways to accomplish the strong underlayment required for ceramic tile installation.

Plywood- just a single layer of plywood isn’t rigid enough to stop floor deflection. It needs to be covered over with an additional layer of exterior-grade plywood to achieve a total thickness of at least 1 1/8 inch. You can either (A)- Cover the plywood with a cement backer board (more on these below) or (B) Cover the existing plywood with a second layer of exterior grade plywood. Under either of these, a thin-set mortar is applied to eliminate air gaps. Additionally, in bathrooms, it’s recommended to lay a “shower pan” over your wood subfloor. This refers to thin rubberized materials that protect the tile from floor expansion and contraction due to moisture, temperature and humidity.

Cement Backer Board - These are prefabricated, lightweight concrete sheets used to cover wood subfloors. It has a dense Portland concrete core and fiberglass surfaces both sides and is able to withstand prolonged exposure to moisture. Brand names include DUROCK, UTILICRETE, WONDERBOARD and GLASCRETE. Joints of the backer board sheets should be staggered such that they don’t fall directly over the wood subfloor joints.

Mortar Bed- Mud beds, or mortar beds, are used by professional tile contractors mostly. They’re composed of a layer of thick roofing felt, then wire mesh, followed by a layer of mortar. The reason it is used mostly by the specialists is that it takes a high level of skill and practice to ensure the mortar bed produces a sufficiently level surface. The other reason is that it is the best foundation possible for a ceramic tile floor. Okay, but why? Because the mortar bed has a built-in reinforcement against floor deflections in the form of the wire mesh. Translation- less cracked tiles and loose grout, and longer-life flooring.

Concrete Slab-
You can lay your ceramic tile directly on concrete slab, but all cracks and holes need to be refurbished prior before the installation of a tile when it’s directly bonded to the concrete. Some concrete slab has been coated with curing compound to help the slab set without cracks. This compound should be removed before tile installation to ensure a long-lasting mortar bond, since the compound helps the concrete retain moisture and in some cases affects adhesiveness. It is also important that the slab be as level as possible, especially with the larger tile sizes in use today. Cleaning the concrete completely of debris and dust will also contribute to a higher quality installation. In short, preparation of the surface is key.

One other possibility is laying the tile over existing flooring. There are a few things to consider. Is your existing floor solid, flat and in good shape? Is it stuck well enough to the subfloor under it to provide support? Good. Is the existing floor linoleum or vinyl? Not so good. You need to strip it out or put a good subflooring on top of it. (And watch out for older vinyl flooring, which may contain asbestos fibers. You don’t want to strip this stuff out yourself. Instead, either cover it up with some plywood subfloor or have a contractor remove it. If you aren’t sure if your flooring has asbestos, call in a trained asbestos inspector.) If you have ceramic tile on the floor you can lay newer tile on top of it as long as it’s surface is level and not too smooth. You might need to sand the surface to let your bonding have a better chance.

In conclusion, a little planning and thought will go a long way toward making your tile installation project a long-lasting addition to your home, so take the time before you go in with “both guns blazing”.

Carlo Morelli is a contributing author at http://www.OnlineTips.org, where you can find tips about installing fiberglass insulation and how to seal tile grout

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