If living healthy means taking care of yourself as well as your family and friends, are you obligated to let them know about life-changing warnings? Let’s say, the end of the world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI)?
It’s not as irrelevant a question as it seems. Last week, Ukrainian astronomers predicted that a large asteroid may collide with Earth in 2032. The chances of this happening are slim, but they’re still higher than the typical flyby (and there are a lot of them, check out this asteroid flyby chart and try to sleep tight tonight). Even more alarming, this 2032 asteroid is so large it’s designated as a “minor planet.”
Did those scientists have a duty to report that dire warning to the world? With odds so low, it’s easy to say yes. But what if the odds were 100 percent? Would it be responsible to tell others?
That’s what Living Ready asked readers on its Facebook page. The most interesting answers are below.
Here’s one last disturbing thought. Many people said they wouldn’t tell a soul if they knew TEOTWAWKI was coming. By that reasoning, there could be someone – a scientist, politician, religious leader or just an average Joe – out there right now with that kind of knowledge and you’d never know it. If TEOTWAWKI was coming tomorrow, you wouldn’t receive a heads up.
What Would You Do If You Knew TEOTWAWKI Was Coming?
“I’d tell everyone that I knew.” – Cheryl Lien
“If I was the only one who knew, I wouldn’t tell a another soul.” – Jonathan Cooper
“Morally obligated to tell someone…problem is, as a known ‘paranoid’ (someone who does a little prepping) no one would listen to me, any more than they give any regard to my suggestions to put some gear and food aside for simple prudence.” – Jcharles Tower
“I think the real question is, if all the world governments knew, would they tell us?” – Joyce L. Suich
“Odd question. How any ONE person could know this without anyone else knowing is impossible to imagine. On the other hand, I watch the weather where I have family living and don’t hesitate to call if something bad is heading their way.” – Mike Phillips
“I’d tell everyone and have one hell of a week long party!” – Paul Kendall
“I’d tell my family members and announce it on my Facebook page. Probably my immediate neighbors, too. They’re nice folks.” – Carrie Bartkowiak
“Well, if I was going to tell someone, it would only be people who could keep it a secret. And it would not be people in a city or in high population areas.” – James Thomas Hyde, Jr.
Which is more important to preparedness: hunting guns or survival food? Find out why a bullet might be better than a breadstick in this interesting feature.
All components of SHTF plans are important: survival communication, food, shelter, survival or hunting guns, medicine and gear are just a few. In a perfect world, a household would have enough money to purchase everything needed or all the skills to fill in the gaps. But that’s just not the case.
With mortgages, insurance, day-to-day expenses and other financial burdens, prepared people have to make quick decisions about the preps they purchase. To put this into context, we asked readers to choose between survival guns and preserved food. The question was:
For long-term survival, would you rather have all the hunting guns, ammo and gear you could ever need and have to hunt for every meal you ate OR would you rather have all the food you could ever eat but never be able to use firearms, bows or other hunting gear?
Survival Guns or Food?
Many readers chimed in with their views. Just about everyone agreed that in the scenario above, hunting guns trump food.
“Firearms serve a dual purpose for both hunting and protection. So, truthfully, as tempting as an infinite food cache sounds, I’d stick with the firearms for the above reason.” – Steve Chapel
“I’ve never hunted a day in my life, but I would learn in a hurry.” – Ian Graham
“Either way you choose there is a good possibility that you will in the long run end up hungry and or dying. The food without any means of protecting it can easily be taken from you. Then you will have nothing. Having all the guns is no guarantee that you will be able to bring down game enough every single day or month. Balance is the key to life.” – Echo Moon
“Guns and gear. It’s more work to hunt for your food, but you need protection.” – Julie Campbell
“You could trade gear for food VERY easy, not so much food for guns!” – Damon Stelly
“Hunting gear. It could serve dual purpose, like protection.” – Dale Durgin
“I’m going with the gear. Just have to get my wife to adjust her tastes a bit.” – Kyle Balek
Pictured: What you’ll be doing after the outbreak. (artist’s rendition) An outbreak of the zombie virus spread across the globe overnight. Some say it’s man-made. Others claim it’s from outer space. Either way, TEOTWAWKI is here.
If you’re reading this, you’re one of the few survivors still with Internet. The following is the best zombie gear for the apocalypse from the Living Ready Store. Good luck.
1) Best Zombie Machete: Woodman’s Pal Military
Everyone knows that the only way to kill a zombie is through decapitation. And if you don’t, you will soon. Zombies are squirrely sunuvaguns, so you’ll need gear that can really pack a bite on contact.
Outfit yourself with the Woodman’s Pal Military Premium with Canvas Sheath & Stone. The beefy blade was originally designed to clear brush, chop firewood, make kindling and a ton more. You’ll need it close by for switching between camp work and old-fashioned zombie throat-bustin’.
Specs
16.5” overall length
5” Military style soft leather grip with steel knuckle guard
2) Best Zombie Emergency Radio: Eton American Red Cross FRX 3
For the latest news on the zombie outbreak, you’ll need a radio that doesn’t run out of batteries. So long as you can turn a hand crank 360 degrees, you’ll always be in touch with the Eton American Red Cross FRX 3.
Here’s what Living Ready‘s Corey Graff had to say in his Eton FRX 3 review shortly before joining the legions on the undead:
The FRX3 is small, just 7.875″ high x 7″ wide x 3.5″ deep, but it’s packed with useful features, including a built in solar panel and rechargeable Ni-MH battery (3.6V/600mAh) for extended use when grocery stores aren’t stocking batteries. It also plays on 3 AAA batteries, for times when the sun isn’t out.
Warning: Despite the world ending, this radio may still pick up Top 40 stations. Use with extreme caution.
3) Best Zombie Water Filter Bottle
With the zombie virus contaminating local water sources, having a portable filtration option is critical. The Aqua Vessel Insulated Filtration Bottle is your answer.
It eliminates 99 percent of zombie viruses, plus giardia, cryptosporidium and many more nasties, all on its own. Just fill the bottle with water, then drink. It’s that easy. When paired with a purifying chemical or disinfected water, it’s even more effective.
After a long day, sometimes you just don’t feel like getting off the couch to hack up that grotesque walker lumbering through your front door. If you have the CRKT Kangee T-Hawk, there’s no need to worry. Just give this tactical tomahawk a forehead-splitting toss and you’re done.
Of course, there are many practical uses for the CRKT Kangee T-Hawk, too. It’s perfect for quick chopping tasks outside – or in. The smart design keeps this tool firmly in your hand during smooth operation.
Specs
Overall Length: 13.75 inches
Weight: 1 lb. 8.4 ounces
Blade Length: 2.93 inches
Thickness: 0.23 inches
Material: SK5 Carbon Steel
Blade-HRC: 54-55
Finish: Black Powder Coat
Grind: Flat
Style: Axe Edge Front with Spike
Edge: Plain
Click here to get this best zombie ax from the Living Ready Store signed by its designer, Ryan Johnson.
5) Best Zombie First Aid Instruction
A zombie bite, just like any wound far from help, is serious business. The best thing to do is to quickly clean and close the wound, then see a doctor. But what if one isn’t around and all you have are a few basic First Aid items?
If you’ve taken the How to Treat Wounds & Burns Online Course from Living Ready University, you’ll know exactly what to do. Dr. James Hubbard, MD (aka The Survival Doctor) explains the must-know steps to take for treating wounds on the fly.
Click here to download the best zombie First Aid instruction, How to Treat Wounds & Burns, from Living Ready University.
Bonus: The Cure for the Zombie Virus
Experts are still working on a cure for the zombie virus, but that doesn’t mean you can’t up your immune system in the meantime. A healthy diet and exercise are keys to living well.
You’ll get both with Recipes and Tips for Sustainable Living by Stacy Harris. This book explains how to live and eat with self-sufficiency in mind. It’s as good a cure as you’ll find.
The reaction to this comic book was mixed. On the one hand, it’s reaching audiences that may not have otherwise considered preparedness seriously.
On the other, is it responsible for the CDC to blur the lines between fiction and reality in an age when there is so much misinformation on the Internet already?
The topic was examined in-depth last year in Living Ready‘s article, The CDC’s Zombie Survival Guide PDF Could Cost Real Lives. In a nutshell, it’s better to draw a clear line of distinction between reality and fiction when it comes to disaster preparedness. Just as Jaws stoked paranoia about sharks – one that actually impacted shark populations – the blurring of entertainment and reality can become a problem.
At Living Ready, zombies are treated as pure fiction. There’s no confusion between what is real and what isn’t. Even in the recent article, 5 Best Zombie Gear Items for the Apocalypse, there’s no mistaking reality for fiction.
Where the line tends to blur is with survival gear and information designed specifically for zombie preparedness. Zombie ammunition, zombie guns, zombie knives, zombie everything.
Should someone actually use those items on another person, the legal consequences would be severe.
Self-defense cases, even where a person is justified in using force, will examine every aspect of the situation. Zombie gear calls into question the mental faculties of the defendant. You can bet a prosecutor will exploit that for all its worth.
Don’t bother with zombie-themed survival gear. Stick with the perennial products that don’t hinge on fads. They’ll probably work better anyway.
It’s easy to think the entire family will be together when a disaster hits, but that’s not always the case. In most survival scenarios, logistics will be a challenge. Everyone, from big city dwellers to rural homesteaders, needs to figure out how to gather everyone in one spot.
That hinges on a family communications plan, but let’s take a look at a survival scenario that could actually happen. Living Ready posted this question to its Facebook page:
A natural disaster (like a flood or a fire) is only an hour from hitting your home. You decide to evacuate your family to safer territory, but one of the kids is at a friend’s house located more than an hour away. You know the friend’s family doesn’t practice preparedness and is in harm’s way. Do you evacuate the family you have with you knowing you’ll be completely safe from the disaster? Or do you risk driving through the disaster as it hits to pick up the kid at the friend’s house?
Basically, is it better to have a 100 percent chance of survival for most of your family, or a 50 percent chance of survival for all of your family? You could adjust that 50 percent to a different percentage if you wish, but the question is the essentially the same.
Your Responses to this Survival Scenario
The responses overwhelmingly endorsed splitting the family up, with one person going to collect the stray kid. That would require two vehicles and at least two drivers. Does this change your own family’s emergency plan?
Most responses advocated splitting up and keeping in contact. If cell service goes down, as it often does during disasters, a two-way satellite communicator will be essential. Living Ready endorses the DeLorme inReach, available at the Living Ready Store.
“Realistically, the wife and son/daughter would evacuate to safety with a 2-way radio, and I would go after the kid with the other radio.” – Justin King
“No child of mine would be left behind. I would go get them, regardless of the cost.” – Karen Walker Grummer
“If you must, rescue the child, but don’t put the whole family in danger. Send as many of them on to safety as you can spare.” – Stephen Ledington
“Send the others to safety, and you are only risking yourself to rescue the kid.” – Laurie Blanchette
“Risk it all for my family.” – Janie Frieze
“I would go for the rescue of said kid BUT would also call and ask the people to meet me halfway with my child.” – Belinda Chedville Mason
“Number one, no way my child would be an hour away with someone that doesn’t understand preparedness. That said, I would send everyone else on and go retrieve them myself. But, who would sit there knowing disaster is an hour away? Even those not in sync with reality would see it coming.” – Chet Castor
“Depends on the topographical map between you and your missing kid and on weather or not those folks are willingly leaving or not.” – Nick Kearney
“My family’s plan is for mom and dad to go to our rally point while I move to extract my brother if he is unable to.” – Jesse VanderBie
“Easy. Split up. Send those I can to safety, and go get my child. No one gets left behind. Period.” – Jcharles Tower
“Split up, if there are two responsible adults or even one is an older teen. Send the family to safety while the adult goes after the remaining child. Keep in contact with each other via radio or text or what ever is available.” – Susan Anderson
New rules under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) are requiring some residents and business to purchase expensive flood insurance policies. The thinking is that being in a high-risk flood plain is too dangerous to not carry specialized disaster insurance.
As covered in a previous article about flood insurance, the NFIP had to undergo extensive reform because of the volume of claims recently, most notably Superstorm Sandy. Increasing the pool of high-risk insurance holders could prevent the NFIP from going bankrupt.
But should this kind of disaster insurance be a requirement? And does it set a precedent for other disaster-prone areas? Areas frequented by earthquakes, wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes and more could fall under the thumb of programs similar to the NFIP’s forced disaster insurance.
Living Ready asked readers on its Facebook page that very question:
Should all homeowners and businesses be required to purchase extra insurance if they are located in an area frequented by natural disasters?
Should Disaster Insurance be Mandatory?
“I don’t care if they decide to insure themselves or not, but if they don’t, they should not be able to make a claim on the taxpayers to make up for it.” – Matt Pierce
“They would have to cover the whole country if they did a regional thing. For specific threats, like living in a specific flood plain that floods often, or living on the side of a volcano, yes. Choosing to live in OK, thus you might get hit by a tornado? nope.” – Jane MomwithaPrep
“No one should have to carry any insurance that they don’t want, but they shouldn’t expect, or receive, a government bailout if a disaster strikes them.” – Paul Kendall
“If you insist on building on an unstable cliff, yes. If you live below sea level, yes. If your house is in the middle of tornado alley, yes. Otherwise, everyone has to help pick up the cost of money lost by insurance companies when the odds catch up. If you drive every day in Dallas your car insurance is more than if you drive in the countryside for the same reason.” – Steven White
“Where is it safe to live that no ‘Natural Disasters’ happen? Are we talking about only floods or Waves, Tornados, hurricanes, Fires, snow storms, earth quakes, Tsunami’s, pick your poison? I live on the Gulf Coast and if you have to rebuild you have to meet new codes! It’s not the same thing over and over!!” – Damon Stelly
“I live on Long Island IN Newyorkistan, all the insurance these people paid still hasn’t helped them a year after SuperStorm Sandy. Ask the people of Katrina if they got paid as well. All the monies supposedly paid went right into government coffers for emergency management. Disgusts me as firefighter/EMT.” – Davy Poggi
“Hmmmmm, mandatory insurance, with a bit of grease for Uncle Sam’s palm, you know, because what they mandate will be better than the junk you have now. Where have I heard this whole mandatory insurance bit before? It’s a total win for the government, and a lose for all of us.” – W Toney Nikolatsopoulos
“No, but neither should they receive ANY tax dollars to rebuild when their house gets blown away. You take your chances, and you deal with the consequences.” – Carrie Bartkowiak
What Do You Think About Mandatory Disaster Insurance?
Should disaster insurance be mandatory? Leave your comment below or go the Living Ready Facebook page to join the conversation.
The Bushnell PowerSync SolarWrap is making a lot of buzz in the outdoors and survival markets. The SolarWrap’s roll-out design comes in three versions: the mini, the 250 and the 400. This review will use the 400.
The 10.1-ounce SolarWrap 400 comes in a case that sports handles for straps and other carrying methods. It’s compact, less than the size of an average hammer.
The product also includes a cord with micro and standard USB ends, as well as an adapter for charging the SolarWrap from an outlet. Opening the case, the actual SolarWrap itself comes with USB attachments at either end that open with a flip. One is for mini USB. And one is for standard USB.
Bushnell PowerSync SolarWrap Review: Using the device
The SolarWrap must be turned on to work. Blinking lights indicate how much charge is in the internal battery.
The SolarWrap rolls out to 29.25 inches. Once deployed, it can be positioned just about anywhere. From a tree. The hood of a car. A sidewalk. A post. Anywhere there is sunlight. Just be sure to have some kind of anchor so the roll doesn’t curl up, a problem flat solar panels don’t have.
Hooking up a device is simple. Just plug it into the USB port. Slip the device under the roll to protect it from the sun and you’re done. The SolarWrap charged this iPod in about an hour.
While in the sun, the SolarWrap simultaneously charges its internal battery. That’s an innovative feature. It means the SolarWrap’s battery can be used when the sun isn’t shining. The SolarWrap can also be charged using a wall outlet. Setting that up requires just a couple quick steps with the included adapter.
Bushnell PowerSync SolarWrap Review: Drawbacks
All of this adds up to a portable, versatile product that works great. Still, there were some drawbacks. The USB tabs kept popping open throughout the review of this product. This could cause those USB connections to become dirty. I hope Bushnell addresses this.
Update: Bushnell informed Living Ready the tabs are being addressed.
The included accessories don’t fit inside the carry case. It’d be nice if they did so they won’t become lost.
The rollout feature is slick, but I’m concerned that it may become torn. If that did happen, Paul Ahnold at Bushnell informs me that a break in one solar cell will not affect the rest. I can appreciate the foresight of that design element.
Bushnell PowerSync SolarWrap Review: Right for You?
So should you buy the Bushnell PowerSync SolarWrap? It depends on how much power you actually need. For charging phones and gadgets, it’s a winner.
For heavy uses, such as running lights at night or charging a car battery, you’re better off with a larger panel, like this Goal Zero Guardian.
Along those same lines, the SolarWrap may not stand up to exceptionally hard, rugged use. Go with something with a tough shell instead, like the Bushnell SolarBook or this Goal Zero Escape.
Still, sportsmen, hikers, campers, preppers, and even commuters will find a lot to appreciate in the Bushnell PowerSync SolarWrap.
Bushnell PowerSync SolarWrap Review: Pair It Up
Here’s a bonus tip from Living Ready.
Pair any solar charging device with the PowerPot. The PowerPot uses heat and water to produce electricity.
Between solar and heat power generation, you’ll stay juiced in just about any scenario.
From rolling blackouts to hurricanes, floods to tornadoes, power can go out at a moment’s notice. If the grid fails, the PowerPot will keep you charging! The PowerPot thermoelectric generator converts any heat source directly into power that charges your USB handheld devices. Get Yours Now
Both dehydrated and freeze-dried emergency foods do significantly better in terms of shelf life and portability than food not processed these ways. But there are some significant differences.
Freeze-Dried Survival Food Lasts Longer
Taste the difference between dehydrated and freeze-dried survival food with this sampler pack from Wise. Click to get it from the Living Ready Store.
Dehydrating food will not extend the shelf life nearly as long as freeze-drying.
You can expect dehydrated food to store well for months rather than multiple years depending on how much moisture was removed. The more a food item is dried, the more brittle the texture becomes and the longer it can be stored.
Freeze-dried survival foods will have a longer shelf life, but keep in mind that storage conditions vary widely.
Why Does the Difference Matter?
This is important because over the last several years, some survival food companies have been using the two terms interchangeably. If they can’t explain how they make it, don’t buy it.
Rotate Emergency Food Supplies
Regular rotation is the key to proper survival food storage. Keep a record system detailing the age of all of your supplies.
Remember, temperature and moisture are two of the most common causes of spoilage in emergency food storage. Contamination, light and insects round out the list.
From rolling blackouts to hurricanes, floods to tornadoes, power can go out at a moment’s notice. If the grid fails, the PowerPot will keep you charging! The PowerPot thermoelectric generator converts any heat source directly into power that charges your USB handheld devices. Get Yours Now
A staple of any mutual assistance group is a weather radio, such as this Eton American Red Cross FRX 2 Emergency Radio.
When it comes to considering new members the group will want to attempt to get a complete picture of the potential candidate. Of course if this is a “come as you are” situation you may need to make some judgment calls. When time is on your side, try to have a comfortable sit down interview/conversation in a comfortable, neutral location.
Here are some additional primer questions to ask of potential members after the pleasantries:
What are you looking for in a group?
Is there anything specific you are preparing for?
How many people would you want to bring into the group? Family, friends?
How is your preparedness going? Are you moving forward in collecting supplies? Skills?
How long do you think you might be able to survive with your current stores?
What kind of skills do you have and how long has it been since he or she actually tried to use them?
Do you have reliable transportation and time to participate?
Is there any concern or any disabilities that may become a problem in an active environment? What is the health of the candidate or family?
Has the candidate been in a group previously? Why did they leave?
While chatting with the candidate look for personality cues that may offer insight into his or her personality:
What is the person’s temperament? Do they seem overbearing or timid?
Do they have extremist views or views that contrast with the group’s stated goals?
Do they appear to truly be interested or are they just along for the ride (for example, a spouse dragged to the interview)?
Many people know that Living Ready takes a firm anti-zombie stance. As in, zombie preparedness is misguided and a waste of resources.
But then we saw this zombie First Aid kit infographic. We think it’s time to reconsider. After all, no one has ever proven zombies don’t exist.
Sure, government zombie prevention efforts have managed to keep the hordes at bay for now. You don’t see them anywhere, do you? But you never know how many zombie-free days we have left.
Happy April Fool’s Day. If you still have the itch to make a kit, check out this survival guide by John McCann. It’s full of kit ideas for a variety of non-zombie emergencies.
For a lot of city dwellers, a bugging out in a vehicle isn’t an option. Many urbanites don’t own cars in the first place. Those who do might find roads chronically congested and impassable by vehicle – and that’s before a disaster hits. The solution is a bug-out bike.
In Build the Perfect Bug-Out Bag: Your 72-Hour Disaster Survival Kit, author Creek Stewart explains the benefits of bug-out bikes for city folks. He writes:
Bicycles, for example, can be outfitted to carry a surprising amount of extra supplies in addition to BOB on your back. They are also not dependent on fuel, which will be in limited supply during any large-scale evacuation. [Bikes] also have excellent maneuverability through traffic jams and congested traffic.
The same could be said for motorbikes to a certain extent. But despite being fuel sippers, they’re still going to need to fill up at some point. The pedal power of a bug-out bike can function so long as the rider can.
That’s one rider, which is a major downside of bug-out bikes. Bringing someone else along on the handlebars only works in third grade. When it comes to bug-out bikes, everyone in the family unit should have their own set of wheels. Two- and three-person bikes make a degree of sense, but we at Living Ready have yet to give this tactic a full evaluation.
Click the image to see a larger illustration showing the features of a good survival knife.
Share This Survival Knife Illustration
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Anatomy of a Survival Knife
In his book, Stay Alive: Survival Skills You Need, author John D. McCann reviews the features that every survival knife worth its weight should contain. Many have debated the merits of survival knives, and these must-haves are sure to get a similar response. Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments are below.
Here are the highlights from the survival knife illustration, as written by McCann.
Survival Knife Steel
I prefer knives that are made from a high carbon steel, such as 1095 or 01. There are many, many quality steels when it comes to knives, but I feel that simple carbon steels work well for overall edge retention and toughness. A knife made with a high carbonsteel that is fully hardened can also cast sparks with a piece of flint.
Survival Knife Tangs
The blade and handle are made from a single piece of steel without joints or welds.
Survival Knife Spines
When the spine of the knife is square it may be used as a striker / scrapper on a ferrocium rod (aka firesteel or Mischmetal).
Survival Knife Edges
A Scandi ground edge consists of and edge with a single bevel and no secondary bevel and is the grind shown in the illustration. Other types of grinds such as convex, full flat with a secondary bevel are suitable and common grinds for a survival knife.
(Living Ready says: Download this guide to survival knife grinds for free.)
Survival Knife Handles
Micarta in simplest terms is any fiberous material (paper, burlap, linen, etc.) cast in resin and compressed. G-10 is similar but cast in a fiberglass resin. Both offer stability, durability, water resistance and provide a secure grip even when wet.
Survival Knife Bolts
I personally like the added security of handle slabs that are bolted on, rather than pinned or epoxied. Handles that are bolted on are much more secure.
Survival Knife Lanyard Holes
A hole near the butt of the knife to allow a safety cord (usually 550 paracord) that can be wrapped and secured around your wrist.
Fukushima Gives Third of West Coast Babies Thyroid Problems? Not Even Close.
You may have seen reports that one-third of babies born along the West Coast have thyroid problems related to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan. That is so, so wrong.
Internet rumors surrounding the study suggest taking potassium iodide to protect from radiation caused by the Fukushima disaster. However, the effects of that radiation have been blown way out of proportion.
The stories come from the misinterpretation of a new study from the nonprofit group Radiation and Public Health Project. Even worst case, the researchers found that nowhere near one-third of the newborns were hit with thyroid problems. Not even close.
According to the study, published in the Open Journal of Pediatrics, a total of 327 cases of congenital hypothyroidism at birth were documented in the “5 exposed states” between March 17 and December 30, 2011. The authors assume fetuses were exposed to increased radioactive iodine during this time since they found evidence that it was increased in the air from March 17 through April 30.
They compare births in this period to births in the same period in 2010, when there were 281 documented cases of thyroid problems. So 2011 had a 16 percent increase. Perhaps the one-third claim comes from the March 17 to June 30 period, when there were 122 cases in 2011 compared to 95 cases in 2010. That’s a 28 percent increase.
Drawing a Conclusion
I’m not sure how many live births there were in the five-state area during this time, but there were over 500,000 in California in 2011. So, let’s very conservatively assume there were 400,000 births during April 17 through December 30 in the five-state area. That means 0.08 percent (8 cases for every 10,000) of newborns have been hit with thyroid problems.
Even if all these increased cases of thyroid problems were directly related to Fukushima, that would be one extra baby per every 10,000 births who have hypothyroidism Or, put another way, at the most, 40 babies out of 400,000 may have been born with thyroid problems because of Fukushima.
Another thing to consider (and the authors allude to this) is this is an observational, cross-section study. It finds an increase in thyroid problems and an increase in radiation during a certain period of time and assumes one caused the other.
Although sometimes this kind of assumption turns out right, it doesn’t always. There have been all sorts of these types of studies associating increased coffee consumption with some disease, for example. When further, more sophisticated studies have been done, these original assumptions about disease have been proven wrong.
Other possibilities that could have accounted for an increase are that people of some races have a higher incidence of babies born with thyroid troubles than people of other races. Perhaps there was a higher percentage of those races born in 2011 compared to 2010.
Another possibility is that newer tests are more sensitive to diagnosing very slight hypothyroidism. Perhaps some of the increase was due to this.
Probably some of the mothers of the babies born during this time didn’t even live in the five-state area during pregnancy. And there are always all sorts of reasons we never even think of.
Will Taking Potassium Iodide Help Pregnant Women Protect Their Babies?
It is a known fact that pregnant women need more iodine, which is supplied in most prenatal vitamins. However, protecting your baby’s thyroid against radiation requires much more. The more you take the more risk there is for potential side effects. Remember that any supplement, no matter how natural, should be considered a medicine. Before starting one, ask your doctor if it’s safe.
Further Reading About Potassium Iodide and Radiation
Living Ready recommends these resources for learning more about radiation and potassium iodide. This supplement is often cited in the preparedness community as building protection from radiation. Some claims about its use are overblown.
FAQs About Potassium Iodide from the Food and Drug Administration
Health Risks of Taking Potassium Iodide
More Potassium Iodide FAQs from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
How to Make Potassium Iodide in an Emergency, from the FDA
Stacy Harris explains how to make an earthen oven in this video from GameandGarden.com. As she explains in the video, making an earthen oven can take some work. But the final product is worth it every time.
One step not covered in the video is removing the sand from the interior of the earthen oven. This is what Harris told Living Ready in an e-mail:
As you let the mud dry a few days, you begin scooping out the sand from the entrance. Each day, you scoop out a little more until none is left. That gives it a chance to stay stable, but helps with the drying process.
More detailed instruction about how to make an earthen oven the Stacy Harris way can be found here and here.
One of the most common ways earthen ovens are used is baking bread. Harris mentioned that she’ll be making Italian rustic bread soon and posting about it on the website.
Also note that earthen ovens hold their heat. This is ideal for cooking food in the long-term during survival scenarios. Although they must remain stationary, earthen ovens are an efficient use of limited fuel sources.
Harris is Living Ready‘s expert for all things homesteading. Look for more from her here on LivingReadyOnline.com. She’s the author of several books about sustainable living for healthy families. Check out her website at GameandGarden.com and her Facebook page.
Being in a crowd during a terrorist attack presents its own set of problems.
The tragic events during the Boston Marathon on April 15 shocked the world and everyone here at Living Ready. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all those affected now and during the long road to recovery.
It highlighted why having a plan in place for what to do if you’re in a crowd when disaster strikes is important.
When disaster strikes at crowded event
Living Ready tapped disaster expert Paul Purcell, author of Disaster Prep 101 and someone who helped plan medical responses during a G-8 summit in 2004, to provide insights about what happened in Boston and what to do in crowds during a disaster.
Q: If it’s revealed this was a bombing, was the April 15 event a “typical” attack?
A: The primary device is tragic enough, but in many cases there is a secondary device. In this instance it seems as though the primary device was “double-primed,” or in shooting parlance, it was a double-tap.
In many cases there may be a secondary device set up to go off for the purpose of disrupting emergency response. Locations for these types of devices are chosen based on a guess where arriving responders would park and gather for a temporary Command Post.
Q: Should there be concerns about more explosions in Boston?
A: Though there may be a secondary device, there are very few organizations on the planet that have the resources to set numerous working bombs. So, chances are good that, in the case of something as massive as the Boston Marathon, most people there, mathematically speaking, will be safe from other devices.
However, people should keep their eyes open for odd unattended packages, suspicious behavior (i.e. someone skulking about trying to hide identity when others running for safety, etc.).
Q: What should a person do when inside a crowd that panics?
A: When in crowds, the worst thing is a stampede. Try to stay out of the main flow if possible, and be ready to sidestep into alleys, stores, etc. if need be.
Q: What are some things to consider when a city is on lockdown?
A: A city on lockdown is a major pain. Your best asset at this point is patience, and thinking ahead.
First thought: Get some water. Duck into a restaurant or store to get a bottle or two of water before they’re bought up by the crowd. Then pick a comfy spot to wait. Eventually, they’ll put mass transit to work as much as possible and get people out of the area. It’ll take a while, but that’s always emergency management’s game plan.
Q: Why are cell phone networks sometimes shut down in an emergency like this one?
A: With cell phones, many emergency management agencies will have trunk priority [Living Ready says: Think of trunks like channels] so they shut down civilian calls to allow them plenty of emergency response access.
One thing to try is texting and then multi-media messaging [i.e. sending a picture from your phone to another phone]. Those services use different trunks and you can sometimes get a message out. Also try a long-distance call which uses yet another trunk (which is one reason everyone should have an out-of-town emergency contact person).
The thing to do with multimedia is to take a picture of yourself or a picture of a handwritten note saying you’re okay and what you’ll do and/or where you’ll go.
Q: What should people do if their cell phones stop working?
A: You should ALWAYS have a set of “standing orders” or a set reaction plan that you will follow WHEN all communication goes down. Cell phones are great, but the foundation is standing orders.
Q: Although it doesn’t appear the Boston incident was one, are there special considerations if an attack is also biological?
A: One other consideration in bombings in crowds is that it may be a form of a “dirty” bomb, either with radioactive materials, biochem components, poisons (there was a container of cyanide in the truck bomb in WTC ’93), or simple irritants. So, in a situation like this, you should protect your breathing as much as possible with even simple methods like covering your mouth with your shirt, tie, or other tightly-woven cloth.
On the next page, don’t fall victim to panic.
Events such as the one in Boston underscore why it’s important to always be prepared. Disasters don’t take a holiday, be it Christmas in Alabama or Patriots Day in Boston. Unfortunately, those holidays are often the targets of terrorists looking to inflict the greatest psychological damage.
Don’t Let a Terrorist Damage Your Psychology
“Terror” refers to psychology by definition. True, a terrorist can and will try to hurt people physically. But the real effects are psychological. That’s why the targets are usually symbolic. Consider 9/11 and the Twin Towers, the 1996 Olympic bombings in Atlanta, the Murrah Federal Building in 1995 in Oklahoma City, the World Trade Center in 1993 and even the 1920 bombing on Wall Street in New York that killed 40 people.
Unlike physical attacks, would-be victims of psychological terror have a choice: Give in to panic or continue life as normal. Living Ready chose the latter. To do anything else is to allow the terrorist to have power over us.
That meant not posting information we couldn’t verify on social media. When we listed a hotline for family members in Boston, we included the source. Not everyone was as cautious, and rumors hit Twitter and Facebook that only increased the potential for panic.
That’s not a wise decision – and it was a decision. Unlike those physically injured, no one was forced to give in to fear and panic. Hopefully, Living Ready readers showed restraint and waited for the dust to settle – figuratively and literally.
On the next page, a Living Ready report from Boston on the resilience of the city.
Living Ready Staff Report from Boston
Meghan Shinn is editor of Living Ready sister pub, Horticulture. She’s behind much of the food growing content you see at Living Ready. Shinn is from the Boston area, and had the following to say about the resilience of the city:
Marathon Monday always disproves the stereotype of Bostonians as a bit gruff, or a bit snobby. This year, obviously, everyone got to see how helpful, capable and generous Boston folks can be. Yet even in years past, if you came here for the race, you’d find a welcoming spirit and a real camaraderie surrounding race day and its related events.
Marathon Monday is also Patriots Day, which is a Massachusetts holiday, so most schools are closed, government offices are closed, and so on. It’s the start of spring vacation week for the public schools.
The city just has a very fun, holiday feel, with tourists and locals alike milling about and enjoying the day, particularly if it’s at all warm, like it was yesterday. People who have to work despite the holiday might pop over to the finish line on their lunch hour to cheer a few random runners on. Several times when Horticulture had a larger Boston office a few of us did just that. There’s also a Red Sox home game every year, with a special early start.
When I was 9 or 10, my dad took me to see the Sox on Marathon Monday. I can’t remember anything about the game. I only recall the spring sunshine, the happy crowds of people and my dad holding my hand as we worked our way back to the T (subway station) after the game. I remember him congratulating some runners, all wrapped up in their free race-day ponchos.
When I think about it now, the memory feels so bittersweet. It seems like it was such a simpler time. I now have two daughters of my own, and I worry when we go out to special events. I worry even more about what the world will be like for them years from now.
What makes me feel better, and gives me some hope, are displays of caring and bravery such as we saw from the first responders and simple bystanders yesterday. I have to hang on to the idea that such spirit will always prevail, and I’m proud that it was so evident in my commonwealth yesterday.
A “threat map” details the hazards in your area. It helps choose evacuation routes and a rendezvous point.
The explosion at a fertilizer plant in Texas this week killed several people and injured many more. It brought to mind the “threat map” disaster expert Paul Purcell details in his book, Disaster Prep 101. (Look for a full review of the book soon.)
A threat map is something you create at home. It details potentially hazardous sites, like a fertilizer plant, should a disaster strike. Using readily available maps at places like Google Maps and Mapquest, the idea is to best assess where not to travel during an evacuation.
The following lists are from Disaster Prep 101. This is just a brief overview. The book contains a lot more detail on these subjects.
Maps to Gather to Create Your Threat Map
Street maps
Aerial photos of your workplace, children’s schools and your home
A city map
A county map
A state map
A national atlas
Start Making Your Threat Map
On each of the maps, mark the following things:
Potential targets of terrorist attacks
Prevailing wind directions – You’ll need this determine where to go if toxic chemicals are in the air. In the case of the fertilizer plant explosion, it would be a good idea to stay upwind.
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Looking to go armed, but are stuck in the weeds as to what to arm yourself with? Here are 20 of the best concealed carry gun options that will keep you on the defensive.
If living healthy means taking care of yourself as well as your family and friends, are you obligated to let them know about life-changing warnings? Let’s say, the end of the world as we know it (TEOTWAWKI)?
