Survival Food Kit and Gear

Posts Tagged ‘Survive’

It is unlikely to catch a fish or animal in the first few minutes when in the wilderness. Patience is key. Learn how to use patience when trapping food for wilderness survival in this free outdoors...

It is unlikely to catch a fish or animal in the first few minutes when in the wilderness. Patience is key. Learn how to use patience when trapping food for wilderness survival in this free outdoors...

It is unlikely to catch a fish or animal in the first few minutes when in the wilderness. Patience is key. Learn how to use patience when trapping food for wilderness survival in this free outdoors...

It is unlikely to catch a fish or animal in the first few minutes when in the wilderness. Patience is key. Learn how to use patience when trapping food for wilderness survival in this free outdoors...

If you find yourself stranded outdoors, the key to your survival is finding three specific things: shelter, food, and water. Now, in some outdoor situations where the elements are not too severe, you can survive without shelter. But it is impossible to survive without food and water. Knowing what to do in the case of an emergency situation can go a long way towards making sure you get home in the best health possible.

A normal person can go three full days without water, and three weeks without food. So if you find yourself stranded, the first thing you need to find is water. Keep in mind that water in stagnant sources is often contaminated. In order to protect yourself, always travel with water purification options, such as halazone tablets or iodine drops. If you find moving water it is less likely to be contaminated. You can still add purification measures to the water to stay safe.

Always carry a container that you can fill with water. When you find a water source, fill your container. You will be more mobile if you have a water source you can carry with you. If you cannot find naturally occurring water, there are other ways to find water. Try collecting the dew off of plants. You can also collect rainwater. The juices of fish are a source of hydration, although not an appealing one. The thing to keep in mind, however, is that your ultimate goal is simply survival. Also, avoid doing too much physical activity if you are limited on water availability. The more exercise your body does, the more water it will need.

Finding food is less crucial, because you can live three weeks without food. There are places that you can find food in the wilderness fairly easily. If you brought emergency rations with you, save those until all of the natural sources of food have been exhausted.

What you eat will depend a lot on the amount of water available to you. Remember that it takes more water to digest protein than it does to digest carbohydrates. Also, naturally occurring carbohydrates, such as fruit, have water in them. So if you are in a limited water situation, fill up on carbohydrates, avoiding meat and other protein sources.

Make use of whatever fruits and berries you can find. If you are not familiar with the fruit you find, a good rule of thumb is to avoid any berries that are red or white. Most of the poisonous berries are either red or white in color. All grass seeds are edible. If you find a plant with an edible root, remember that there is tremendous nutritional value in eating the roots of plants.

Avoid eating wild mushrooms, unless you can clearly identify them. Most wild mushrooms are perfectly safe to eat, but there are several varieties that are poisonous, and if you do not know how to identify the safe ones it is best to stay away. Remember that insects such as grasshoppers and locusts are edible. You can eat them live or roast them. Frogs, lizards, and turtles are other sources of protein that are fairly easy to catch. While these foods might not be your first choice for Sunday brunch, remember your goal is survival!

Plateaus can be most frustrating! There you are, making the correct food choices, moving and exercising, staying positive... and the scale won't move! Learning why they exist can help you understand the science behind the plateau. In addition, we'll provide you with information to help you stay on track while weathering the difficulties of a plateau.

What is a Plateau?

A plateau is the body's natural defense against starvation. In all reality, it is a marvelous protective mechanism and, in time of famine, would help preserve your life. If we can learn to appreciate "what" a plateau is, then we can begin to view it as a benefit to our overall survival and not as such a dreaded enemy.

What Can You Do to Help Get Over a Plateau?

There are both physical and emotional components that are needed to survive a plateau.

Physically, you need to double-check your food intake to make sure you're not exceeding the calories needed to lose weight. Sometimes, we tend to begin eating a little more and push the calories up enough to maintain our weight rather than continuing to lose. Other times, as Ana calls it, we indulge in BLT's (bites, licks and tastes). What we consider to be "little" indulgences, can actually add up to more than a 1,000 additional calories.

To be sure you are physically on track, you may find it useful to journal your food intake. Write down EVERYTHING you eat and the associated calories. CalorieKing is a site I have found quite useful; there are others. This site shows the calorie content, the nutritional values and serving sizes of common food items. In addition, the same information is available for many items featured at national restaurants and fast food chains.

If you are exceeding the caloric intake necessary to lose weight, adjust your food plan and reach out for additional support.

If you are physically remaining at a calorie content that will allow weight loss, then try the following activities to jump-start your metabolism.

Activity #1

Days 1 and 2 - Lower your normal caloric intake by 200 calories (example: if your daily caloric intake is 1,400 calories, lower your calorie intake to 1,200).

Day 3 - Increase your normal caloric intake by 200 calories (example: if your daily caloric intake is 1,400 calories, increase your calorie intake to 1,600). By consuming the additional calories, it sends a message to your brain that you are not starving. It signals your body to release the fat it has been holding in reserve.

Day 4 - Return to your normal caloric intake (example: if your daily caloric intake is 1,400 calories, return your calorie intake to 1,400).

Activity #2

Change your exercise routine from day to day. This keeps your muscles in a state of confusion. In this state, your body does not know what to expect and your muscles stand ready to accept the physical challenges you present. This allows your body to achieve the maximum benefit from your exercise.

You see, our bodies have a remarkable way of adapting to changes in our environment and physical activity levels. If you continue to do the same exercise routine, day after day, your body becomes accustomed to it and knows what to expect... it adapts. In doing so, it no longer requires the same amount of energy to perform a task it is becoming accustomed to. While your effort remains constant, your body has adapted and now uses less energy to perform the same function. It really is remarkable and part of the grand design that assures our survival as a species, albeit frustrating when trying to lose weight.

Emotionally, a plateau can present challenges. You begin to doubt yourself and your efforts and start questioning whether you should just give up.

Is this really what you want? Do you want to give up on YOU and the progress you've made? Do not allow failure to be an option!

Rather than looking at this in a negative manner, why not reverse your logic? Why not look at where you've come from and celebrate your success? Why not celebrate the fact that you are determined and strong and that you are not gaining? Why not reinforce the knowledge that your body will give way to your efforts of healthy eating and exercise once it realizes you are safe and your survival is not threatened?

Attitude is Everything! Here is a story that was recently shared by my friend.

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. 'Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today.' So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. 'H-M-M,' she said, 'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today.' So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. 'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail.' So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. 'YAY!' she exclaimed. 'I don't have to fix my hair today!' Attitude is everything.

How Do You Survive a Plateau?

Understand that the science behind a plateau is the first step to surviving these episodes. Let your brain reinforce this knowledge and calm your fears. You are not failing. You will lose the weight. It will take a little more time and require persistence to continue on your plan when the scale does't move.

Implement one or both of the activities described above to help shorten the length of time you remain at a plateau.

Accept that a plateau is a normal survival response and not anything you are doing wrong.

Persist in the healthy eating and exercise behaviors that will bring you success.

Maintain a positive attitude. Just as the tortoise won the race in his slow and steady pace, know that you WILL win this race as well!

Reach for the support of friends to uphold you during a plateau. They can provide the encouragement and motivation to see you through a plateau and join in celebrating your success!

A Few Final Thoughts...

"A strong mental attitude is built the same way physical strength is gained- by repetition." - Unknown

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." - Robert Francis Kennedy

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; un-rewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race." Calvin Coolidge

"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go." - William Feather

"A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure till he gives up." - Unknown

Stay true to yourself! YOU CAN DO THIS!!! It is our dream no one has a right to prevent us from reaching it, least of all us.

A disaster can strike in seconds sometimes with no warning what so ever and leave whole communities without power, running water or even shelter. You must be prepared to survive. The best way to prepare yourself is to have the necessary equipment and supplies to ensure you and your family are provided with the necessities of life.

Survival equipment is really a form of life insurance. You never know when a disaster will strike and you need to be prepared before not after such an event. You should also try to ensure your neighbors; family and friends are prepared with their own survival gear otherwise be prepared to share yours. If others won't take their survival needs seriously then buy them kits for Christmas, birthdays and even wedding presents.

Your survival kit should contain at the very least matches, fish hooks, fishing line, a string saw, a small knife, bouillon cube type

dehydrated soup stock, sugar, salt, antibiotics, antiseptics, aspirin, bandages, aluminum foil, a magnetic compass, a small mirror, a magnifying glass, and antihistamine. In a larger kit, you will need food and fresh water to survive at least for two weeks. Avoid foods that have to be cooked unless you have a portable cooker or barbecue.

In the case of floods or earthquakes your home may be destroyed or unsafe to live in so you will need shelter and warmth. Waterproof backpacking tarps can be tied to trees with rope and used as a shelter. For clothing, remember that wool insulates when wet and comfortable waterproof footwear is worth its weight in gold.

You need to know how to use your survival equipment, experience in the use of emergency survival gear will help you to choose what to include in your emergency survival gear kit. You should know some first aid basics and have a copy of a first aid manual.

As well as knowing how to use your survival gear everyone in your house must know where it is. You should keep an inventory along with use by dates and replace items as they become aged or pass their use by date. Store and record the date on items to indicate when it should be replaced or buy extra food when you can and rotate items.

You need to take a survival kit everywhere you go. In your car you should have a portable kit that contains some high energy foods, Sports bars, hard candy, MREs (meals, ready to eat), tropical chocolate bars, beef jerky, and nuts all work well. Basic first aid items, a flashlight and spare batteries as well as a map of the area. A couple bottles of fresh drinking water are must have items.

In some countries it is law to have a survival kit. Even in those countries where it isn?t you still need to be prepared. A good

survival kit will only set you back a few hundred dollars and this is a cost you?ll be happy you paid if one day that disaster strikes and you kit saves the life of a loved family member.

Learning to survive doesn?t have to be all doom and gloom. In fact it can be an interesting family activity that all can participate in.

Even very young members of the family need to be survival aware because if anything happens to their caregivers they may be left to fend for themselves. Don?t leave it till its too late get prepared to survive now.

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Whether a natural disaster like El Nino, global warming or a foreign terrorist threat, keep a HelpWare™ Emergency Supply kit, on hand, and don't forget the special items like a Poncho, a port a potty for hygiene and disease control, potassium iodide, and other essential preparedness supplies. An ounce of prevention, like storage of purified water, water purifying filter for an earthquake or natural disaster, radios to communicate and learn what Emergency Services are available, basic rations for you ready pack, and overall readiness, can prepare you and your loved ones or coworkers to ride out the 72 hour period recommended while awaiting rescue.

For your vehicle, always have an emergency roadside kit on hand with Road Flares, rope, rucksack, and generals safety supplies, maybe a safety vest, wool blanket, solar Blanket, Army Knife, solar radio flashlight, spot light, waterproof poncho, & whistle.

Make sure your kids are safe with school emergency kits and school emergency first aid supplies. School kits should include the basic food, water, first aid, communication, sanitary, and heating/shelter supplies, and the school (like your workplace) should be prepared with adequate search and rescue kits, security, and supplies with adequate shelf life. Check back at our online survival store regularly for our specials like solar powered flashlights and radios, and see our seasonal specials on survival kits, and survival supplies.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our survival tips, and look for new items each Month such as our U. S. Coast Guard Approved Survival Food and US Coast Guard Approved First Aid Kits. Also Visit the USGS for earthquake information, and learn about volcanic threats, volcanoes are as likely a threat in the US now as war, so think of the essential needs like Water in a sealed water barrel, portable plastic water container, water preserver or water purifier, waterproof containers for clothing and shelter items, and other common, yet hard to find wilderness survival, winter storm, Flash flood safety kits, products and supplies - We'll be here when you are ready to prepare! many of our products are sold at better than wholesale price to the Public with a huge selection of Manufacturer Direct Safety Product Sales since 1994. Our network of online companies have better purchasing power and are able to pass the savings on the the customer.