Category: Personal Preparedness

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General Preparedness Personal Preparedness

Is Preparedness Contagious?

Can you help other people get prepared by being prepared yourself? When you take steps like getting an emergency kit, learning CPR, making a family plan….will your friends and family see what you have done and take notice? If you do take these steps…do you tell people what you have done and try to encourage them to do same?

I personally believe that if those of us who take preparedness seriously encourage others…they will at least take the next steps. We need to help them and show them that it is easy. While the government and other national organizations preach the message….it is often seeing someone else that you relate to that will get you to take action.

What are your thoughts on this? Should you keep your preparedness steps private…or try to motivate others by talking about it?

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Pandemic Personal Preparedness Preparedness Planning Swine Flu (H1N1 or Influenza A)

Contagion

I just came back from watching the movie contagion. A very interesting movie that had many in the audience chatting after about whether or not something like this could happen. Could there be a mass pandemic outbreak of this proportion? If there was….would there be a run on food supplies, medicines, etc?

I am not the kind of person who sees a movie like this and runs out and starts planning for the next big outbreak but…it did make me a little nervous? Could it happen by accident? Could terrorists figure out a way to turn a disease into a weapon? What would the outcome be and are we prepared as a country and world to react to this type event?

For the past few years we have had on our site what the industry calls a “pandemic kit“? It is just some basic supplies that someone can use to help stop the spread of infection. Are there other basic supply options we should all look at having on hand? I for one am going to look into it. As a parent and husband I would hate to thinnk that I didnt take some basic precautionary steps….just in case.

I truly hope a movie like Contagion doesn’t cause people to panic…but that it at least stirs some people to action in terms of their own personal preparedness plans.

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Disaster Kits Earthquake Preparedness Fire Preparedness/Safety First Aid Flood Preparedness Food and Water General Preparedness Hurricane Preparedness Personal Preparedness Preparedness Planning Preparedness tips Survival Kits Tornado Preparedness

Preparedness Procrastination

Every year we see different types of disasters happen across the United States and the rest of the world. Earthquake, Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Floods, Fires, Acts of Terror and Blackouts just to name a few. We are also constantly reminded of the message: Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed. So the question is…If disasters happen and we know the basic things we can do to be better prepared…why do most people wait until the last minute? Why are there massive lines at retail stores for food, water, flashlights, batteries and other types of survival gear?

As the owner of a survival kit and preparedness supply company…I get panicked calls and email asking if people can pick up kits immediately or if I can ship overnight. You would like that at some point people would all stop procrastinating and start to better prepare. If every day or week you take one simple step to being better prepared…in very little time…you would find yourself much better off than where you are  today. Everything doesn’t have to be done now and it certainly isn’t about panic. Just start…take action. I believe that one you do…you will realize that it isn’t much work and you will fell better knowing you have taken steps to make yourself and your family safer. Oh..and by the way….if you do take the first step…while you’re at it…encourage a family member or friend to do the same.

Here are some simple suggestions:

*Learn what sort of emergencies/disasters happen in your area. Learn what they do and how they can affect you. Will they cause blackouts, high winds, etc.

*Check what supplies you have in house and get some simple items every time you are out shopping: flashlights, batteries, emergency food that won’t spoil, water.

*Take to your family about what you would do “if” something happened. Where would you go? What might happen? Where the supplies are. How you would communicate.

*Learn basic first aid and CPR. It can come in happen at anytime and not just during major events

Please let us know if you have other steps you recommend. The more we share and encourage others…the better off we will all be.

Be well and stay safe,

Paul

1800prepare.com

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Emergency Responders General Preparedness Personal Preparedness Personal Stories Preparedness tips

Auto Guardian

As the owner of a preparedness kit/supply company and a volunteer firefighter….emergencies seem to find me (or maybe I am just paying more attention and looking for them). As such, I tried to be as prepared as I can be so I can help if I run into a situation. In my personal vehicle…on top of my firefighting turnout gear I also keep an auto survival kit, a regular survival kit, an auto guardian rescue flashlight and assorted other supplies. There have been numerous times where I have used the items that I carry both for my own problems and to assist others.

Last week in our town we had 3 different fire department calls at once. I was responding to one of the calls when I came upon a small car accident. The accident involved 3 cars but luckily no one was injured. One of the vehicles sustained damaged and their was debris in the road. The accident occurred right near an intersection so there was also the risk that someone rounding the corner would hit the vehicles already involved. I knew that there were other first responders on their way to the alarm call and I realized that this accident could prove a hazard to them as well.

The first thing I did was pull my car up ahead of the accident to a safe spot on the shoulder of the road. (If you are going to stop and help  at an accident…make sure you don’t become a victim. Park in a safe place and always be aware as other motorists as they tend to tunnel vision on the accident and may hit you). I then called our dispatch to notify them so they could alert the other responders. I quickly checked on the people involved to make sure they were alright. I then took my auto guardian tool which is a 5 in 1 device and placed it in the road about 20 feet behind the accident. I turned on the flashlight L.E.D. lights so oncoming traffic would see the accident. This item works great as a replacement to a road flare.

After I set down the auto guardian…I quickly swept the debris out of the roadway so it wouldn’t affect other cars, jumped back into my car and headed to assist at the call I was on my way too. Hopefully….when the accident was cleared..someone threw my auto guardian into their car so they could have it for themselves.

It never ceases to amaze me how many times I actually use my own products. Whether its supplies from a first aid kit or just a flashlight….I like knowing that I can both take care of myself a little better…and also assist others who may be in need.

If you have stopped to help someone in trouble…please share your story here.

Thanks and stay safe

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General Preparedness Personal Preparedness Preparedness Planning

More companies selling preparedness items

Contrary to what many of my friends think….I actually like to see more and more companies adding preparedness items like the ones we sell to their sites. As first responders ourselves….my partners and I started this business because we carry about getting people better prepared and we want to help change the culture of preparedness in this country. We recognize that together we can make a difference. The easier we make it for consumers and business owners to get the information and supplies they need…the better off we will all be.

Emergency preparedness is an individual responsibility but it provides many benefits to the masses. Taking some time to make a preparedness plan, get some survival supplies and learn about the types of disasters and emergencies that can happen in your area will not only make you and your loved one safer….it will also benefit your community. Below are just a few of the ways…

1. You become your own first responder which allows rescue personnel to focus on the more critical

2. You can assist your neighbors and others in your community

3. You reduce the run on supplies that occurs when a disaster kits

4. You help reduce panic and disorder

Decide now to at least take some of the basic steps to better overall preparedness. I can virtually guarantee you that you will feel better by no longer procrastinating and it will make the next steps much easier.

Until next time…stay safe and be prepared.

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Emergency Responders General Preparedness Personal Preparedness Personal Stories Preparedness Planning

Saved by my Own Auto Safety Product

As the owner of a preparedness kit/supply company I am always preaching to people the need to be prepared for everyday…what if’s. Preparedness isn’t just about being ready  for major events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, terror attacks, blackouts, etc. There are things that can and do happen everyday that we can be better equipped to deal with. These things can range from the simple need for a band aid or other first aid supply, the supplies needed to deal with a flat tire or an escape ladder to get out of a burning home.

Tonight I responded to an automatic fire alarm as I am a volunteer with the Somers Fire Department. The call turned out to be a false alarm so we all packed up to head home. I just happen to be the last car to leave. For some strange reason…my car battery was dead. Here I was in the middle of the night…stuck with a dead car. Now…I could have knocked on a door and called a garage or asked someone to give me a jump start as I was in a populated area. But…what if I wasn’t. What if it was my wife and the car was in a parking garage late at night or some other secluded area?

Two weeks ago…I decided to get a portable jump starter that I could keep in my car. I thought it would be good to have both for myself and so I could help a stranded motorist if I came across one. I had the product shipped from my warehouse and left the box in my office for a few days. On Monday I thought it was silly to have ordered it and not taken it out of the box…so I unpacked it, read the instructions and plugged it in to charge. On Wednesday I put it in my car (it takes 40 hours to charge the first time).

Well…tonight it came in handy. I pulled it out of the trunk, connected it to my battery and had my car started in less than 60 seconds. Now….I thought this device would come in handy one day. I just didn’t know it would be the day after I put it in my car.

This event simply reinforced to me the concept…that unfortunately…things happen. AND…that by taking some simple steps…we can be better prepared to deal with them. I am not saying that everyone needs to go out and buy every product, gadget, rescue device on the market. Just take a few moments to think about the things that can occur in your everyday life and then see what steps you can take to better deal with all those…what if’s.

Stay Safe,

Paul

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General Preparedness Personal Preparedness Preparedness Planning Preparedness tips

Why do we need disasters to prepare

empty shelvesI am always amazed at how many people in this country raced to get preparedness kits and supplies right after a disaster strikes somewhere. Why is it that we have to wait and see mass devastation before we will take some basic simple steps to prepare ourselves for the unexpected. If more people would just take a little time each day to increase their level of preparedness….we would all be much better off. Make it part of your daily or weekly routine. Don’t think of it as a chore. Make it fun, enjoy the process and the learning. And know….that each step you take makes you just a little bit safer. And while you are at it….encourage your friends, neighbors and community to do it with you.

Here are some simple things you can do that don’t require purchasing anything. If you can think of other ideas…please comment here.

1. Learn CPR
2. Learn basic first aid
3. Learn what types of disasters can happen where you live
4. Stop by your local firehouse and meet the firefighters, learn what they do and see what they can teach you
5. Drive around you neighborhood and make sure you have at least 2 routes out of town in case you have to evacuate
6. Practice fire alarm drills in your home with your family. Learn what to do, multiple ways out of your home and where you will meet.
7. Take an inventory of your valuables. You can write them down, take pictures, add receipts, etc. Store this info in more than one safe place.
8. Remove hazards around your home: old trees/branches that could fall on your house, over-used electrical outlets, etc.
9. Talk about recent disasters around the work and discuss with your family what you might do
10. Organize meeting points both around your town and at a relocation site so you can quickly reconnect with family members
11. Make a communication plan
12. Talk to your neighbors and learn what they have done and/or can do in an emergency.

This is just a partial list. Please share with us your thoughts.

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General Preparedness Personal Preparedness Personal Stories Preparedness Planning

Preparedness Lessons from the Disaster in Japan

We have all seen the devastation caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan and our hearts are with the people affected. This disaster will take many years and billions of dollars to recover from in an economic sense. The human toll both in loss of life and mental scars will never go away for many.

As a company dedicated to helping people get better prepared for emergencies/disasters we are trying to see what we can learn so we can do our job better. We can look at these type situations and see how they affected people, businesses, rescue personnel and others so we can help give people at least some of the tools, kits, supplies and preparedness knowledge so they can better deal with something like this in the future.

This situation has also caused us to take a critical look at our own “preparedness plans” for a major disaster. We constantly encourage people to purchase the survival kits and supplies they need to help them deal with sudden situations. It is a message we have tried to help spread for years….and then…everyone decided to do it ON THE SAME DAY!!

Our website traffic increased 1,000 fold, emails poured in, the phones rang off the hook. Our fulfillment centers were overwhelmed by orders. They didn’t have the staff, the space or even the raw materials to make kits fast enough to keep up with demand. While many would think this is a great problem for a business to have…it actually wasn’t. We take this business seriously and it is a passion for us. Both myself and my partner are first responders. We truly wanted to help as many people as we could as quick as we could. Having orders delayed was not something we wanted to have to tell our clients.

So…I guess we learned some of our own lessons as well. We have met both with our internal term as well as with some of the suppliers we work with and have begun to develop our own set of preparedness plans to help us all better deal with major incidents. Preparedness is a mindset and something that we can all look at across many different aspects of our lives. With time, some planning and the right equipment…I know we will be better off

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Disaster Kits General Preparedness Personal Preparedness Preparedness Planning Survival Kits

Disaster Kits and Supplies

As the world reacts and responds to the recent crisis in Japan many people are now taking a critical look at their own level of preparedness. In record numbers people are listening to the message they have been hearing for quite some time and are taking action by purchasing the preparedness kits and supplies they may need. This is one important step in overall better preparedness.

This significant increase in the amount of people purchasing kits for themselves and their families has caused a run on some of the major components that go into these survival kits. It has also caused back-ups at most of the fulfillment centers as they struggle to keep up with demand. In many cases new staff had to be hired, more space allocated and larger supply orders had to be placed.

If you are interested in getting kits and supplies I would recommend getting your orders in as soon as possible. As more and more people and companies review their current readiness level…I expect orders to only increase. In speaking for my own company and for others in the industry that I respect….please bear with us as we work hard to get through these unprecedented times. I can assure you we are doing everything we can do take care of all of our valued clients.

Be well….be safe…be prepared.

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General Preparedness Personal Preparedness

Have you ever used your Survival Kit

Has there been an incident that you felt compelled to use your preparedness kit? If so…what was the situation? In thinking about it afterwards….how did having the kit make you feel? Did you feel more calm? Was using the kit the best decision or did the situation dictate that you could have just used basic items from around the home and not relied on your kit?

After the situation…did you quickly replenish the supplies that you used?

I have an emergency preparedness kit in my home, office and in both of my cars. I often think about when I should use my kit and when I shouldn’t. I know that the kits are there just in case something big happens. Should I use the items for a minor incident? This is something everyone who has a kit should think about.

My opinion is that your preparedness kit should be kept and only used for a “serious emergency”. For minor situations you can really on other supplies you have around. If however you are the kind of person who will immediately restock the items you have used…then using your kit more often is an ok option.