Checklist: Summer Survival Kit

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August 17, 2015

Share this page with friends so they can be better prepared this summer!

This summer survival kit checklist is adapted from a 1981 U.S. Army manual titled, Checklist for Individual Hot Climate Survival Kit. It contains a list of items and maintenance tips for those items. It’s basic, but should provide ideas to get started.

No matter the summer survival kit checklist you use, keep two things in mind.

First, although it’s always important, water plays an even greater role in a summer survival kit. The old adage of “one gallon per person per day” may not be enough, especially if travel by foot is involved.

Second, and less obvious, is to remember that hot days can still have cold nights. In a desert survival situation, for example, temperatures can plummet at night. A light sleeping bag may seem like overkill, but it won’t be when the mercury hits the 40s.

Summer Survival Kit Checklist & Maintenance Reminders

Tarp – Holes, cuts, frays, tears, burns, loose or broken stitching, damaged grommets
Magnetic Compass – Cracked or broken dial face, test operation,
Insect Headnet and/or Body Net – Holes or tears in netting, broken or loose stitching, missing or broken elastic headband, loose or missing grommets
Plastic Fork/Spoon/Knife – Cracked or broken
Reversible Sun Hat – Cuts, frays, tears, broken or loose stitching
First Aid Kit – Make sure all components are secure and not expired
Survival Manual/Book – Missing pages, legible copy, viewable images
Matches in Waterproof Container – Failures in container, broken or wet matches
Non-Perishable Food Items – Spoiled or expired food, tears in packaging
Signaling Mirror – Scratches, chips, cracks, distortions
Rescue Whistle – Cracked or missing components, obstructions in mouthpiece
Tool Kit (including firestarting gear) – Damage or corrosion to tools, dull edges, dry tinder
Fishing Tackle (line & lures) – Corrosion, old line, dull hooks
Water Bottles (1 plastic, 1 metal, 1 collapsible & 1 gallon per person per day) – Dents, leaks
Water Disinfectant (iodine tablets, etc.) – Expiration, damaged packaging
Frying Pan/Pot – Rust, corrosion, cracks, buckling
Sunscreen Lotion – Damage to container, expiration of contents
Pocket Knife – Rust, corrosion, missing components, dull edges
Light Sleeping Bag – Tears, rodent damage, broken zipper, broken clasps

Your Summer Survival Kit Tips

The U.S. Army has its own ideas about summer survival kits. What are yours? Post your summer survival kit tips in the comments below.

Outstanding Gear and Resources

Special Forces Survival Guide

Survival Straps Survival Bracelet

SAS Survival Handbook

Real Men Crochet Paracord

By

Toni Rexroat

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August 17, 2015

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Crochet Paracord: Just Another Reason to Learn Crocheting

You can crochet with anything! And that means items you’d normally throw away can be turned into any number of handy items.

I have seen multiple examples of projects crocheted from plastic bags, T-shirt fabric and even cassette tapes. I will even admit to a single occasion when I attempted to crochet with licorice. It is very difficult as the strands break easily and just taste so good.

The point is that crochet skills are a tool to turn any length of material into pouches, bags, netting, cords, belts and more.

This is especially true when it comes time to crochet paracord for later use.

Why to Learn How to Crochet Paracord

A few days ago, my dad sent me a short video about a guy who knits with parachute cord, allowing him to create a strong strap and convert a large length of cord to a utilitarian and manageable length.

This practice is popular with those preparing for emergencies, outdoors enthusiasts and many others. In a situation that demands a length of parachute cord, it’s important to be able to unravel paracord in a hurry. While some wear paracord bracelets for this purpose, going the DIY route and crocheting paracord is a good choice for making customized widths and lengths of paracord. Instead of just paracord bracelets, you could make any number of wearable options.

Although I’ve thankfully never been in a life-threatening situation, there have been times when I wished I had cordage on hand.

How to Crochet Paracord

For my paracord project, I started with a Tunisian simple stitch. This easy Tunisian stitch uses more length than a single crochet stitch, and is easier to work with the stiff cordage. I am in love with the look and feel of this strap. It is strong but flexible, and would also make a great belt.

Using a size M (9 mm) hook, five stitches and three rows is about two inches wide and two inches tall and uses five feet of parachute cord. This means that a 100 foot package of parachute cord will create a two inch wide strap or belt that is about three and one third feet, or forty inches, long.

I can’t wait to show my Tunisian crochet strap to my father. What would you make out of parachute cord or what crazy item have you crocheted with?

Do It Today: Hurricane Preparedness Checklist

By

Charley Hogwood

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August 17, 2015

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Editor’s Note: This article about a hurricane preparedness checklist comes courtesy of P.R.E.P. (Personal Readiness Education Programs), a survival and preparedness school in Florida. Follow P.R.E.P. on Facebook and Twitter.

Time to Review Your Hurricane Preparedness Checklist

Hurricane season officially starts June 1, 2013. How well are you prepared for the storm? It’s time to review your hurricane preparedness checklist.

Here are some tips to get you situated before the season begins. Preparedness is key to preventing standing in long lines and paying high prices when a storm is near.

Hurricane Preparedness Checklist: Prepared

* Take a few minutes to look around your home and property for anything that may become damaged by blowing or standing water. Be ready during the storm to react in the home to structure damage and water intrusion.

* Before a storm arrives, consolidate all storm survival supplies to one location in the center of the home. This will make things easier to find in the dark when the power is out and will aid in inventory of supplies and rationing if needed. This is also helpful if you need to evacuate at some point.

* Do you have large trees that could fall on your home? Gusting winds can break large branches and send them across the yard, especially if it’s early in the season when the trees haven’t been exposed to strong winds for a long time and still have their leaves and pine needles. That large tree may be sturdy but standing water may loosen the soil around the roots, leaving an opportunity for the tree to fall later. Keep an eye on any trees that may be located in saturated soils.

* Do you live near canals? During a flood event, roads and canals may appear similar leading many drivers to mistakenly drive into canals. If you aren’t sure, look for mailboxes, if there are none in sight you may be looking at a canal. Make a threat map ahead of time and identify the safest routes.

* Are you in a surge zone? Most coastal areas can be flooded once the storm surge pushes on shore or into ocean inlets. You don’t have to live on the beach to be affected by storm surge. Water can be pushed inland and disrupt the storm sewer drainage system leaving nowhere for rainwater to go until the storm passes. Past experiences show that some communities will drain quicker than others during flooding events. Take this into account for travel or evacuation purposes, as well as your threat map.

Hurricane Preparedness Checklist: Skilled

* After a storm, power will be restored to critical grid areas first, such as hospitals and the largest populations. Report outages early and be ready to survive on your own for a while.

* The recommended 72 hour emergency kit will fall short when you are in the dark for 2 weeks. Have a plan to cook off-grid and be able to wash dishes properly to prevent a food borne illness outbreak in the home. Also keep a good quality meat thermometer in your emergency kit and evac bags for food safety.

* During periods of busy phone circuits, use texting as an alternative to voice. Texting runs on a different system and requires less bandwidth. Use an out of area relative as a family emergency contact. When local lines are down, long distance lines may still operate. Make sure everyone has that phone number to relay messages.

* Use the buddy system to care for each other and be sure to stay properly hydrated. Most injuries happen after the storm due to accidents with tools and bad decisions. Your ability to make good decisions depends heavily on being properly hydrated.

* Drink at a bare minimum a half-gallon of water per day. If you are working in the heat, strive to drink a gallon or more as needed.

Hurricane Preparedness Checklist: Aware

* The right front quadrant of a hurricane is where the most severe weather will be located. This is where there will be increased storm surge and more potential for tornadoes. Severe gusting winds can happen anywhere in the storm.

* Expect weather from all directions. As the storm passes, any item you thought would be shielded from approaching winds may exposed to opposite direction winds later.

Keep the Lights On

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Let’s Make a List: Best Survival Guns

By

Ben Sobieck

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August 17, 2015

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Ruger-Collecting-3 — The Ruger 10/22 autoloader has become the benchmark against which other rimfire semiautomatic rifles are compared.

It’s time to start naming names.

We’ve gone over the features of the best survival guns should sport: reliability, ruggedness, portability, simplicity and effectiveness. We’ve told you how the .22 is arguably the best survival ammunition. We’ve debated revolvers versus semi-automatics. We’ve explained that the best survival guns fill multiple roles, including defense, hunting, predator control, livestock harvesting and more. We’ve even talked about layered defense and choosing firearms that function well at a variety of distances.

It’s time to get to the heart of the matter. Whether conducting research, talking with experts or visiting with prepared people, there are a handful of firearms that stick out. We aren’t necessarily giving each the full stamp of approval, but it is telling when these models show up again and again.

Does that mean they’re the best survival guns? You be the judge. Leave a comment below with your comments and suggestions. Let’s make a list.

Are these The Best Survival Guns?

*Best Survival Rifle: Any pump-action .22 rifle – Let’s start with a no-brainer. Capacity. Reliability. Cheap, lightweight ammo. Versatility. Save that Ruger 10/22 semi-auto for the fun stuff. When it comes to SHTF, a pump-action .22 rifle is the do-it-all workhorse. Go with a pump and take advantage of a magazine tube full of .22 long rifle rounds.

* Honorable Mention: AR-15 – This one should also come as no surprise. AR-15s offer tremendous versatility to fill a variety of roles, from hunting to defense. The customization options are limited only by imagination. Despite the hype, these modern sporting rifles have more in common with grandpa’s favorite hunting gun from yesteryear than the military.

* Best Survival Shotgun: Ithaca Model 37 – And now for the controversial pick. While I’m a big fan of the Mossberg 500 (it’s my primary shotgun), I have to yield to the Model 37. Even proponents of the Remington 870 have to admit, the Model 37 has the smile of a sporting gun but the heart of a tactical firearm. That it manages to balance both themes so effortlessly speaks to its usefulness during SHTF. There are many flavors of the Model 37 on the market. Choose one that fits your tastes the best.

* Best Survival Pistol: Beretta 92FS – There’s a line in the sand between this model and Glock’s legendary simplicity. What pushes the 92FS above and beyond is its ruggedness. There are models functioning just as well today as they were 30 years ago. Some will (rightly) question the effectiveness of 9mm rounds in survival scenarios. They will point out that a 1911’s .45s will pack that critical extra punch. Keep in mind, though, that the 92FS can carry 15 rounds per magazine. It’s a tough call, but capacity beats stopping power for SHTF.

* Best Survival Revolver: Taurus Judge – Here’s another controversial pick. This iconoclastic .45/.410 comes up time and again with prepared folks. Shooting shotshells is nice, but it’s how the Judge works in tandem with a high-capacity, semi-automatic survival pistol (like the Beretta 92FS) that really pushes it over the edge. Need to put a lot of lead out in a hurry? Use the pistol. Need to lay down the law with a .45? Use the Judge. Need a close-range shotshell for varmints, predators and other lowlifes that won’t knock your hat off like a shotgun? Use the Judge.

Your Turn: What are the Best Survival Guns?

This list will certainly bring out some strong opinions. Let’s hear them. Post comments below and let us know the best survival guns from your POV.

How to Make Homemade Pickles

By

Stacy Harris

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August 17, 2015

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Learn How to Make Homemade Pickles

There are few foods that bring to mind preserving vegetables like pickles. Learning how to make homemade pickles is the perfect first project for anyone looking to get started in canning. Of course, once you taste how delicious these cukes turn out, it won’t be the last, either.

The following recipe comes from Stacy Harris and her new book, Recipes and Tips for Sustainable Living. It’s a Living Ready top pick for transitioning the entire family toward a more self-sufficient lifestyle, one meal at a time.

Try This: The LAST Deer Jerky Recipe You’ll Ever Need

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Recipe: How to Make Homemade Pickles the Easy Way

Refrigerator Dill Pickles

Yields 2 quarts

With as many babies as I have had, you know I know pickles! No, really. These truly are the best pickles, and they go great with Quarter Pound Turkey Burgers (p. 118) or the occasional bowl of Cantaloupe Ice Cream (p. 43).

Ingredients

1 & 1/2 pounds fresh cucumbers
2 onions, thinly sliced
8 sprigs of dill
1 teaspoon whole allspice
3 cups water
1 cup distilled white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
4 tablespoons salt
6 cloves garlic, smashed
1 & 1/2 teaspoon dill seed

1. Slice cucumbers and onions into 3/4-inch rounds. Divide the slices evenly among 2 quart-sized sterilized jars. Add 4 sprigs of dill and 1/2 teaspoon of whole allspice to each jar.

2. Combine water, vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic, and dill seed in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil then lower to simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

3. Ladle hot liquid into jars, leaving one inch of headspace. Set jars aside and let cool completely. Place lids securely on jars and store in refrigerator. They should last for up to six weeks.