SCP Survival

Best Survival Gear and Supplies

Earthquake Survival Preparations for Senior Citizens

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When planning a survival strategy for catastrophic events like earthquakes, forgetting important matters is a “no-no.” For this reason, it would be best to take time to plan. Simply having survival kits during these times is not enough, it would be best to have an earthquake survival guide that includes evacuation plans and other safety protocols.

In addition to uncontrolled circumstances that may arise during earthquakes, elderly individuals have distinct needs that need to be met no matter what. Also, reduced movements and other limitations can make emergency situations difficult for them. These factors can be quite costly and may spell the difference between life and death.

There are a couple of important matters that should be prioritized to make sure that elderly individuals are taken care of during earthquakes. They are explained below.

Appropriate Medical Information

In the event of an earthquake and other natural disasters, individuals with specific medical requirements may be separated from their caregivers. When this happens, it is important to make other people well aware of their existing condition or conditions.

Accessories such as medical bracelets are essential since they can help strangers develop a clear understanding of what to administer in times of emergency. Another alternative is to give elderly individuals a written note that features the medical condition, drug prescriptions, medical history, and other essential details.

Registering in special medical centres in one’s locality can help medical personnel pinpoint individuals that have exclusive needs.

Personal Disaster Plans

Carefully planning an earthquake survival guide can help elderly individuals have a sense of composure during earthquakes and other serious situations. This can also help reduce feelings of confusion and disorder. In addition to having concrete plans, possessing medical kits, back up batteries, as well as mobile medical devices can be beneficial in many ways.

The aforementioned commodities can be helpful when elderly individuals become dissociated from hospitals and other medical institutions for long periods. These precautionary measures together with government emergency strategies can help safeguard the safety and welfare of elderly individuals and other members of the population in the event of an earthquake.

Conclusion

Taking care of elderly individuals during earthquakes is a very serious matter that should not be neglected. Rather than relying on the healthcare system, family members should do their part and make concrete disaster plans that can help ensure the safety and welfare of their elderly loved ones. This is a relatively easy task that can be achieved with practical planning and implementation.

How To Harvest Your Winter Squash (and save the seeds)

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Winter squash is a wonderful plant. Super easy to grow and store. Not only are the fruits of the plant edible (yes, technically it is a fruit) but the shoots, leaves, tendrils can be eaten as greens, cooked or raw. The seeds can be ground into paste, meal, flour, pressed into an oil, crushed to create a nut butter, eaten raw or dried and seasoned to create a delicious snack. Even squash flowers are edible!

I usually plant mine at the edge of the garden and point them into the horse pasture. The horses eat the grass around them but never damage the vines or fruit. Squash are also part of the Native American “Three Sisters”, comprised of corn, squash and beans. These three crops were staples of the Native American diet. Planted together the beans climb the corn stalks and fix nitrogen into the soil and the squash shields the ground keeping weeds to a minimum.

Two weeks before harvest, cut your squash vines 2-4” above the fruit. Let them dry in the garden to harden off their skins. Before a hard frost, gently gather them up and store them in a dark place. Cool and dry is not as important as dry. They store better in the attic than in a damp basement. If you bruise one or the stem breaks off, use those first. Squash will often store until spring.

The seeds are very easy to save, just clean, dry and put them in an envelope for use in the spring. It is often advised to plant only one variety of squash at a time because they will cross pollinate. Male and female blossoms are on the same plant. If bees are not prevalent in your area, hand pollinating may be an option.

Squash can be eaten raw, cooked in a variety of ways, made into soups or sweet bars. Just find a recipe book and start looking for something that suits your palate!

Best Natural Supplements for High Blood Pressure

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With many prescriptions being filled on a just-in-time basis, and with one third of the population suffering from high blood pressure, a part of preparedness is taking responsibility for your own health.

In a grid down situation, you may have to go a couple of days or longer without access to medication.

What is High Blood Pressure?

According to the American Heart Association, nearly one in three adults in the United States has high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. But nearly one-third of those people don’t know they have high blood pressure, because it’s a silent disease. People can have high blood pressure for years without experiencing symptoms or knowing they have it.

The upper or first number in a blood pressure reading is the systolic pressure and the lower or second number is called the diastolic pressure. According to National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines:

  • Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg.
  • Prehypertension is systolic pressure that’s between 120 to 139 or diastolic pressure between 80 and 89.
  • Stage 1 hypertension is systolic pressure between 140 to 159 or diastolic pressure between 90 and 99.
  • Stage 2 hypertension is systolic pressure higher than 160 or diastolic pressure of 100 or higher.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

High blood pressure usually doesn’t cause any symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms associated with high blood pressure can include:

  • Dizziness or dizzy spells
  • Headache
  • Nosebleeds

Causes of High Blood Pressure

In most cases of high blood pressure, the American Heart Association says there is no one identifiable cause. This kind of high blood pressure is called primary hypertension or essential hypertension. It is usually a combination of factors, such as:

  • Weight. The greater your body mass, the more pressure there is on your artery walls. That’s because more blood is produced to supply oxygen and nutrients to tissues in your body.
  • Activity level. Lack of physical activity tends to increase heart rate, which forces your heart to work harder with each contraction.
  • Tobacco use. Chemicals in cigarettes and tobacco can damage artery walls.
  • Sodium intake. Excessive sodium in the diet can result in fluid retention and high blood pressure, especially in people sensitive to sodium.
  • Potassium intake. Low potassium can result in elevated sodium in cells, because the two balance one another.
  • Stress. Stress can raise blood pressure.
  • Alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol intake can, over time, increase the risk of heart disease.
  • Age. The risk of high blood pressure increases as you get older.
  • Family history. High blood pressure often runs in families.

High blood pressure can also be caused by an underlying condition, such as kidney disease, hormonal disorders, thyroid disease, adrenal gland disease, and the use of certain drugs, such as oral contraceptives, or herbs such as licorice. This type of high blood pressure is called secondary hypertension.

Herbs and Supplements To Avoid

Herbs that have been found or suspected to cause high blood pressure include:

  • Licorice
  • Ephedra
  • Asian Ginseng
  • Rosemary essential oil

Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

Lifestyle changes and natural remedies may help to control high blood pressure, but your doctor may also recommend medication to lower high blood pressure. It is important to work with your doctor, because untreated high blood pressure may damage organs in the body and increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, brain hemorrhage, kidney disease, and vision loss.

1. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

There is some evidence that the supplement CoQ10 may help to reduce high blood pressure. A 12 week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 83 people with systolic hypertension examined the effect of CoQ10 supplements (60 mg twice daily). After the 12 weeks, there was a mean reduction in systolic blood pressure of 17.8 mm Hg in the Coq10-treated group.

Another study conducted at the University ofWestern Australia looked at the effect of CoQ10 on blood pressure and glycemic control in 74 people with type 2 diabetes. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either 100mg CoQ10 twice daily, 200mg of the drug fen fibrate, both, or neither for 12 weeks.

CoQ10 significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure (mean reduction 6.1 mm Hg and 2.9 mm Hg respectively). There was also a reduction in HbA1C, a marker for long-term glycemic control.

2. Garlic

In a meta-analysis of seven randomized controlled trials of garlic supplements, three trials showed a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and four in diastolic blood pressure. Researchers concluded that garlic powder supplement may be of clinical use in patients with mild high blood pressure.

Garlic supplements should only be used under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner. Garlic can thin the blood (reduce the ability of blood to clot) similar to aspirin. Garlic may interact with many drugs and supplements such as the prescription drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin) or Trental (pentoxifylline), aspirin, vitamin E, gingko. It is usually recommended that people taking garlic stop in the weeks before and after any type of surgery.

3. Hawthorn

The herb hawthorn is often used by traditional herbal practitioners for high blood pressure.

In a randomized controlled trial conducted by researchers in Reading, UK, 79 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomized to receive either 1200 mg of hawthorn extract a day or placebo for 16 weeks. Medication for high blood pressure was used by 71 percent of the patients.

At the end of the 16 weeks, patients taking the hawthorn supplement had a significant reduction in mean diastolic blood pressure (2.6 mm Hg). No herb-drug interactions were reported.

4. Fish oil

Preliminary studies suggest that fish oil may have a modest effect on high blood pressure. Although fish oil supplements often contain both DHA (docohexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), there is some evidence that DHA is the ingredient that lowers high blood pressure.

5. Folic acid

Folate is a B vitamin necessary for formation of red blood cells. It may help to lower high blood pressure in some people, possibly by reducing elevated homocysteine levels.

One small study of 24 cigarette smokers found that four weeks of folic acid supplementation significantly lowered blood pressure.

6. Diet

Changing your diet is an important part of lowering high blood pressure. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet is promoted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The DASH diet includes fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy foods, beans and nuts. Sodium is limited to 2,400 mg per day.

Studies have found that the DASH diet can reduce high blood pressure within two weeks. These are the daily guidelines of the DASH diet:

  • 7 to 8 servings of grains
  • 4 to 5 servings of vegetables
  • 4 to 5 servings of fruit
  • 2 to 3 servings of low-fat or non-fat dairy
  • 2 or less servings of meat, fish, or poultry
  • 2 to 3 servings of fats and oils
  • 4 to 5 servings per week of nuts, seeds, and dry beans
  • Less than 5 servings a week of sweets

Serving Sizes

  • 1/2 cup cooked rice or pasta
  • 1 slice bread
  • 1 cup raw vegetables or fruit
  • 1/2 cup cooked vegetables or fruit
  • 8 oz. of milk
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 3 ounces cooked meat
  • 3 ounces tofu

A related diet called the DASH-Sodium reduces sodium to 1,500 mg a day, which is approximately equal to 2/3 teaspoon from all sources (processed and canned foods contain hidden salt).

Patients following the DASH-Sodium diet had a significant reduction in high blood pressure.

7. Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium

Calcium supplementation appears to have a modest but statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (mean difference of 2.5 mm Hg), however better quality studies are needed.

A meta-analysis of five trials indicated that potassium supplementation compared to a control resulted in a large but statistically non-significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (mean difference 11.2 mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure (5.0 mm hg).

In 12 randomized controlled trials, participants receiving magnesium supplements did not have a significantly reduction in systolic blood pressure, but they did have a statistically significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure (mean difference 2.2 mm Hg).

8. Mind-Body Interventions

Mind-body interventions, particularly autogenic training, biofeedback, and yoga, have been found to modestly reduce high blood pressure compared with placebo.

Autogenic Training

Autogenic training is a technique used for stress reduction and relaxation. It involves a series of sessions in which people learn how to control breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature.

People learn six exercises that each involve a certain posture (e.g reclining in a chair), concentration without a goal, imagination, and verbal cues. Each exercise is learned by watching a teacher demonstrate it or by reading a description. It requires regular practice.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback is a technique in which people learn how to gain control over internal body processes that normally occur involuntarily, such as blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and skin temperature.

Biofeedback is primarily used for high blood pressure, migraine, tension headache, chronic pain, and urinary incontinence.

Of the different types of biofeedback, thermal feedback (which measures skin temperature) and electro dermal activity feedback (which uses a probe that responds to sweat) may be more effective than direct blood pressure feedback or electromyography (EMG), which measures muscle tension.

Yoga

Preliminary studies have found that yoga may lower blood pressure.

9. Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise is an important part of the natural approach to lower high blood pressure. A meta-analysis of 105 trials involving a total of 6805 participants found that aerobic exercise was associated with a mean reduction in systolic blood pressure of 4.6 mm Hg, with corresponding reductions in diastolic blood pressure.

People with high blood pressure should speak with their doctor first before embarking on a new exercise program.

10. Ayurvedic Medicine

In Ayurveda, the traditional medicine of India, high blood pressure is treated according to each person’s dosha, or constitutional type.

  • The pitta type may have a flushed face, red eyes, headaches, light sensitivity, irritability, and nosebleeds.
  • The kapha type may have excess weight, water retention, high cholesterol, sluggishness.
  • The vata type may feel cold, have gas, bloating, or constipation, insomnia, or nervousness, worry, or anxiety.

11. Traditional Chinese Medicine

In traditional Chinese medicine, high blood pressure is often attributed to a problem with the circulation of vital energy (qi or chi) in the body. Chinese medicine practitioners believe that depression, anger, obesity, and high intake of fatty foods are some of the causative factors.

A combination of acupuncture and herbs is often recommended. Foods thought to have medicinal properties that may help high blood pressure include water chestnut, turnip, honey, Chinese celery, hawthorn berries, and mung beans.

Hiking Navigation Tips for Your Next Trip Outdoors

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Camping can be a very fulfilling and gratifying hobby. For many people, exploring the outdoors, connecting with nature, and getting out of your comfort zone can be a very enlightening experience. There are countless places to explore, and many countries recognize this and have eagerly supported camping activities by providing trails, camping sites, and nature parks where people can go out and enjoy camping safely.

There are also groups or clubs that promote camaraderie among campers. They exchange tips about the best camping sites, recommended camping gear, such as Coleman tents, and other helpful tips.

But for the seasoned outdoorsman, there is no substitute for the thrill of going down the other path, where there are no signs and no guides. There is a sense of accomplishment in doing so, and finding your way through the unmarked path.

There are a few ways to make sure one does not get lost in the middle of a backpacking trip.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

  • Buy a map: It may sound too simple, but having a map can always be handy. It helps a camper be aware of the area’s geography and major landmarks, providing easy reference points when trying to find your bearings.
  • Keeping calm always helps: Being confident in finding your way, and remaining calm when you feel a bit lost goes a long way. Being calm keeps your breathing in check and allows your brain to process your surroundings better. Also, one tends to notice more familiar scenery and landmarks when they are calm. Panic can cause one to make wrong decisions.
  • Recognize your trail: Be sure to stay aware of your trail. Looking back and surveying what’s behind you can offer you a picture of where you are currently and where you came from. Recognizing this can help in case you do get lost. It is also a good practice to take note of unique signs or landmarks on your trails such as an interesting big rock, twin trees, odd grasses and more.
  • Global Positioning: GPS navigation units can now be purchased for an affordable price. No compass-reading required when you have a GPS unit mapping out your trail for you. It also keeps track of where you are and how far away you are from where you started. Be sure to always bring spare batteries along.
  • It also pays to learn how to use a compass: While GPS has basically turned the compass obsolete, the compass doesn’t need batteries, and it’s an interesting skill to pick up. Use your compass in tandem with your map so you can easily determine your position and which direction you should be heading toward.

On top of this, the most important thing to remember on a camping trip is to have fun. Also remember that it is always better to trust your compass rather than your instincts. Getting lost can always be a problem, but learning to stop, gather yourself, and use your wits are always your best bet.

Survival Biscuits [these are incredible]

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Food is my major concern when looking at my preps. I feel like I could just never have enough. At this point I have a large variety of types of food including common grocery store items as well as dehydrated and freeze dried.

I stopped by a local Sunbeam Bread Outlet store and saw a display of different bread mixes. What caught my eye was these were “Just add water“.

I picked up a few for $1.29 each and just tried the biscuit mix Sunday morning. Super simple to make. Like I said – “just add water” and then cook.

For the prepper this is a simple food prep that can be put back inexpensively requiring few supplies to prepare. Like most things – the true date which the product could not be eaten is likely well beyond the given date.

Anyways – the biscuits turned out great. My wife cut the dough a little thin but they tasted great.

There are many simple and cheap food preps out there that can make a world of difference when the time comes, and should definitely be included on any survival food list.

Are Freeze Dried Foods Right For You?

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Freeze Dried Food (1)

For most of us “regular” people, food storage consists mostly of canned food along with others such as rice, beans, powdered milk and potatoes. Frozen food also is thrown in the mix along with whatever is growing in the garden.

These foods are the mainstay of my food storage program, however I have started adding freeze dried and dehydrated foods as well.

Why? Well, freeze dried foods have some definite benefits.

They store for a very long time – upwards of 25+ years. They are also lightweight as they contain no moisture. Freeze dried food can be transported easier than bulk canned goods. Preparation of this food is relatively easy as water needs to be added, heated and that is it. Water is an integral part of the preparation compared to canned food.

There are two categories of freeze dried food I am currently ordering, breakfast and meats. I have been putting back Mountain House Scrambled Eggs with Bacon along with a variety of Mountain House meats.  I found that my food storage program was lacking in breakfast foods and meat. I cannot have chickens or other farm animals on my property.

Most of those I have tasted were decent to good. Mountain House is not the only producers of freeze dried foods. There are many out there and I have tried a few and found them pretty good.

However, it’s important to remember that no matter what you choose to do about freeze-dried food, it should really only be a part of your overall food storage plan. The reality is, your survival food list should incorporate short-term, canned, freeze-dried and several other kinds of food, to ensure that you have a balanced, nutrient-dense diet.