next few minutes or hours. Keep your radio tuned to information that will keep you abreast of the situation and help you plan for what lays ahead.
After a nuclear blast, remain indoors. Canned, boxed, or food stored in buckets that have not been left open to be exposed to the elements (radiation), can be eaten. But first, they must be wiped down before opening. Be sure to keep your hands and the area under your fingernails clean to avoid transferring fallout material to the food. Fruits that have an outer protection such as a banana or an orange can be wiped clean and carefully peeled before consuming. Any foods that are left exposed, such as a canister of flour or sugar that does not have a protective lid should not be consumed as ingesting contaminated food may lead to internal damage.
Water stored in containers is safe to drink as long as it was kept covered. In most cases, water drawn from a covered well is also safe to drink and cook with. However, if you suspect your well water may have been contaminated, follow the Fallout Filtering Methods found in Chapter 3.
If you rely on city water, once stored water has run out, listen to your local radio station for information on the advisability of drinking or cooking with your area’s water supply.
If the only water source available is from a lake, stream, or pond, you must filter water before drinking or cooking with it after a nuclear event. A water purifier will not remove fallout. See instructions in Chapter 3 under Fallout Filtering Methods for instructions on purifying contaminated water.
If radioactive particles have come into contact with your skin, you may experience burns within a few hours. Radiation illness will not spread to others except for nausea soon after being exposed. Serious signs of radiation illness are as follows: hair loss, loss of appetite, paleness, diarrhea, sore throat, bleeding gums, and easy bruising. If you or anyone in your group experiences any of these ailments, you should seek medical attention.
Emergency Kits, Automobile Safety & Camping Gear
The following are items you should have available for emergency kits, automobile safety, and camping gear preparedness. The recommended foods are intentionally simple, meant for easy preparation. Keep in mind: if you are caught far away from home, or worse, stranded for any length of time, you will wonder why you hadn’t thought to include many of the items mentioned below.
72-Hour Emergency Kit: Battery-run, wind-up, or solar powered radio, water purifier, canteen/water bottles, magnesium flint and steel fire starter, matches, MRE’s, baby food, formula and diapers (if applicable), water, knife, flashlight (include a shaker style for when batteries run out), batteries, wire, two-way radios, nylon rope, prescription medicine, medical supplies, duct tape, first aid book, edible plants and herbs book and important documents.
Camping Gear: Tent, duffle bags for each person, sleeping bags for each person—rated for your climate zone, warm blankets, Swiss-style army knife, fishing pole and fishing tackle, weapon and ammunition, rope/twine, clothes pens, battery-run or propane lantern, lantern fuel or extra batteries, lantern socks, tarp, camp stove, camp stove fuel, hatchet, axe, tree limbing saw, newspaper (to start fires) and waterproof matches.
First Aid: First aid book (also listed under 72-hour emergency kit section), rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, antacid, anti-diarrhea medicine, thermometer, aspirin, children’s pain medication, bandages, gauze, gauze pads, surgical tape, suture pack, ace bandage, calamine lotion, daily prescription medicines, antibiotic ointment, eye wash and ointment, contact lens wash, anti-fungal ointment, pain and anti-inflammatory medication, burn treatment ointment or spray, iodine, electrolyte drinks (for dehydration), cold remedies—children and adult, cough medicine, cough drops, scissors, tweezers and needles (for splinter removal), sun block, mosquito spray, dental kit for denture repair, and toothache gels.
Cooking Supplies can be stored in a cooler for portability. You will need: fire pit grate, (camp stove—already listed under camping gear section), cooking spices, cooking oil, Dutch oven, frying pan and pots (best if they’re cast iron), unbreakable dishes, eating utensils, camp-style coffee maker, mixing bowls (metal can be used to cook with), spatula, stir spoon, metal drinking cups, can openers, dish soap, dish towel, matches or lighters—there’s NO such thing as too many matches, scrubbing pads, buckets, zip-lock bags, tin foil, plastic wrap, hot pads and canned goods.
Clothing: Hiking boots/high top tennis shoes, socks, stocking cap, gloves, jacket, bandana, extra changes of clothes and underwear—always plan ahead for clothing appropriate to your climate zone and don’t count on warm weather if your area has distinct seasons. Many of us have been caught in a freak snowfall, especially in mountainous areas. Never assume that summertime means packing shorts and T-shirts!
Hygiene Products: Shampoo, body soap, solar camp shower, hand lotion, razor, feminine pads, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, toilet paper, liquid laundry soap, clothes pegs and clothesline (already mentioned under camping gear).
Car Repair & Navigation: Spare tire, jack and lug wrench, fix-a-flat, street and topographical maps, compass, extra motor oil, jumper cables, basic toolkit and battery-run air pump.
List of Suggested Suppliers and Reading Material
Note: Although the author has studied, and in some cases ordered from the following suggested sites, it is always wise to do your own research for the best pricing and availability for your geographic location. At the time of the publication of Survival: Prepare Before Disaster Strikes, each site listed was operational.
Suggested Courses
YMCA
http://www.ymca.net/find-your-y/
Red Cross
Emergency Kit Supplies
http://www.quakekare.com/emergency-survival-kits-c-1.html?gclid=CLTK4Pfv8aYCFQRubAodeUDuEw
http://www.survival-goods.com/
http://emergencykitsupplies.com/
http://www.emergencyanddisastersupplies.com/emergencykits
First Aid Supplies
http://www.cprsavers.com/?source=GOOG&wcw=google&kw=first+aid+supply
http://www.first-aid-product.com/
Emergency Plans and Utility Shut-Off
