First Aid Kits

 Another earthquake has happened, and devastation, along with tsunami warnings, have hit again. Please have your water stored and have your 72-hour kits in an accessible spot in your home. As Haiti and now Chile have been hit by natural disasters I have been thinking of all the things that we can learn from these events. For one, I have 

 learned that help may not be available for 1-2 weeks after a disaster. If family members or neighbors are injured we may be the ones taking care of them until help arrives. I have thought a lot about my first aid kit and realized that I need to stock it with more supplies than I have now. I urge you to evaluate your first aid kit and add any necessary supplies that you are lacking.

A COMPREHENSIVE FIRST AID KIT (COURTESY OF TERI EBERT)

EQUIPMENT:

• CONSECRATED OIL
• LIST OF EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
• INSTRUCTION BOOK (FIRST AID INFO)
• SURGICAL MASK, CPR MASK
• GLOVES
• SOAP AND SCRUB BRUSH
• ANTIBACTERIAL HAND WASH (SANITIZER)
• ANTISEPTIC TOWELETTES
• DISINFECTANT SPRAY
• THERMOMETER
• STETHOSCOPE, BLOOD PRESSURE CUFF
• MEDICINE DROPPER, TEASPOON
• INSTANT COLD PACK, ICE PACK
• INSTANT HOT PACK, HOT WATER BOTTLE
• TWEEZERS, KNIFE, RAZOR BLADES
• SCISSORS, OR EMT SHEERS
• SAFETY PINS, NEEDLES
• TONGUE DEPRESSOR
• COTTON BALLS, COTTON SWABS
• MATCHES
• FLASHLIGHT
• HAND TOWEL
• SHEETS, BLANKET
• PAPER BAG
• TOURNIQUET
• SNAKE BIT KIT
• GOGGLES

MEDICINE-TOPICAL:

• ALCOHOL PREPS, RUBBING ALCOHOL
• HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
• ANTIBIOTIC CREAM, IODINE
• BURN CREAM
• HYDROCORTISONE CREAM
• CALAMINE LOTION, CALADRYL
• INSECT REPELLANT, SUN BLOCK
• EYE WASH OR DROPS

BANDAGES:

• ASSORTED ADHESIVE BANDAGES (INCLUDING KNUCKLE, FINGERTIP, AND X-LARGE)
• BUTTERFLY BANDAGES
• TRIANGLE BANDAGES
• GAUZE PADS, ASSORTED SIZES
• GAUZE ROLLS, ASSORTED SIZED
• ELASTIC BANDAGES, ASSORTD SIZES
• TAPE
• EYE PATCHES
• MOLESKIN
• MENSTRUAL PADS
• FINGER SPLINTS (POPSICLE STICKS)
• SPLINTS (PAINT STIRRERS)
• SLING

MEDICINE-PAIN:

• ACETAMINOPHEN (TYLENOL)
• IBUPROFEN
• ASPIRIN

MEDICINE-INTERNAL:

• PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS
• GLUCOSE
• ANTIHISTAMINE (BENADRYL)
• ASTHMA INHALER
• ANIT-DIARRHEA
• LAXATIVE
• ANTI-NAUSEA
• SYRUP OF IPECAC, ACTIVATED CHARCOAL
• ANTACIDS, BICARBONATE OF SODA
• COLD AND FLU REMEDIES, COUGH DROPS
• PEDIALYTE, SALT
• THYROBLOK (FOR NUCLEAR RADIATION)

Having faith, sustaining the priesthood, and keeping our covenants will help protect us, but even the faithful will experience injury and illness. We can prepare for medical emergencies by learning first aid skills and storing medical supplies.

1. Learn how to call 911 (for children)
2. Post emergency first aid instructions inside a kitchen cabinet door.
3. make an emergency and extended family phone list. Make sure to have an out of state contact person. Add emails to the list and place in your 72-hour kits.
4. Learn about CPR
5. Assemble a first aid kit. Place first aid supplies in your 72-hour kits. Store essential medicines, if possible.
6. Have consecrated oil available for priesthood blessings.

Having a family home evening on first aid would be a great way to get the entire family involved with learning first aid.

 As February comes to a close I hope you were all able gather your 20lbs of oats per person. If you didn't get enough for everyone, don't worry, you can add slowly to your storage. I have another recipe using oats to help you with rotating. I know in my house we love "Honey Bunches of Oats" cereal and it is quite expensive and it actually doesn't go on sale very often. So I found the next best thing, homemade Honey Bunches of Oats. Try it out!

HOMEMADE HONEY BUNCHES OF OATS

10 C quick oats (rolled oats are ok, just cruchier) *A full #10 can of oats is about 13 C, so just take out 3 cups and you'll be set for the recipe*
1 18oz. box Corn Flakes
1 C honey, corn syrup, or pancake syrup
1 C brown sugar
1/4 C water

In a large bowl stir together the oats and cereal. Boil the sugars and water until dissolved. Pour over the oat mixture. Spread about 1/2" deep onto an ungreased baking sheet and bake at 300 for 30 minutes. When cool you can stir in an kind of dried fruit that you enjoy. Store in the #10 can from the oats and it will store for several months in a cool, dark area. It won't "spoil" unless it gets wet. Enjoy!

 

FEBRUARY STORAGE GOALS:

Food Storage Goal: OATS-20lbs per person.

Non-Food Goal: Lighting is our goal this month. Gather matches, candles, flashlights (crank or battery operated), emergency candles, light sticks, solar powered flashlights or lanterns, etc. Find what works for your family and have these in your 72-hour kits and in your car kits and have a source of light by every bed in your home. The glow light sticks that activate by bending are great to hang as night lights and can easily fit in 72-hour kits.**This month add a manual can opener to your supplies. It is great if you have pop top cans but your storage of cans is useless unless you can open them.**

If you need a FamilyHome Evening lesson on getting your 72-hour kits together, then click HERE to see a fun way of gathering all the items you'll need.

Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the peace

How Much Will Your Years Supply Cost?

This is from a website called selfreliantsisters.com and I thought it was a great post to share with you all.

How Much Will Your Years Supply Cost?

Thank you Rhonda (Melissa's Sister) for sharing this!How much will your year’s supply cost you? I just got an emergency supply store’s catalog in the mail; they advertised a year’s supply of food for ‘just’ $3649.95**. For one person. Is it really that much money to get a year’s supply?
Adding up all the essentials, a month’s worth for one person is $ 16.23. A year’s worth for one person is $194.76. Figure in that you’re getting your year’s supply after building your three-month supply; that knocks it down to getting nine months’worth;$146.07 per adult.To finish your YEAR's supply!

SO, if you really want to spend $3649.95 plus tax, you could buy a full year’s supply for not just one person, but for NINETEEN people. Yes, it’s different food than that ‘gourmet’ version, but here’s the counsel we’ve been given:
"We encourage members world-wide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings.” “For longer-term needs….gradually build a supply of food that will last a long time and that you can use to stay alive”
(from All is Safely Gathered In, First Presidency pamphlet)
Here is the cost breakdown (early 2010 prices):
Grains, 300 lbs - if you get just wheat and oats, at the cannery they cost between $5.80 and $8.15 for 25 lbs. depending on if you get white or red wheat, quick or regular oats. If you average this out, it will cost you $6.98 per person, per month. $83.70 per year’s worth.

Milk, 16 lbs - is $1.40/lb at the cannery, which is $1.87 per month, $22.40 per year.
Sugar, 60 lbs - is $ .56/lb there, $2.80 per month, $33.60 per year.
Oil, 10 qts - this isn’t sold at the cannery, but the price at Macey’s last week was $2.50 for 1 ½ quarts (48 oz.) At that price, after tax, it’s $1.43 per month, $17.17 per year. It’s only $14.38 if you buy it at Sam’s Club ($6.98 + tax for 5 qts.)
Salt, 8 lbs - 4# box at Costco or Sam’s Club is a dollar; $ .16 per month, $2 per year.
Legumes, 60 lbs – the cannery sells black beans, pinto, and white, from $14.10 to $16.30 for 25 lbs. Averaging the prices, it’s $2.99 a month, $35.92 per year.
Water, 14/gal/person - You can store this for free by using 2 and 3 liter pop bottles, or juice containers (not milk jugs- they break down). Or use the 5-gallons square jugs or big blue barrels; they’ll run you about $1 per gallon of storage.

When you’re done storing these items, you might decide to add things a few ‘gourmet’ items- but that’s just extra stuff.

Notice that the costs were just for food, not containers to store them in. Most of my storage containers cost nothing. You CAN get buckets for free, with a little effort- most bakeries give them away; all their frostings and fillings come in those buckets. Plan on washing them at home. There are two main sizes; 5 gallon and 2 gallon. I keep packages of dried fruit in the smaller buckets, also cornmeal or other things that I don’t use as much. They are a great size for a pantry, too. Some of the buckets have gaskets, some don’t. The ones that don’t seal well are still good for storing sugar.
If you want all your wheat, powdered milk, sugar, and legumes in #10 cans from the cannery, it will cost you $85.83 more for a whole year's worth; $64.37 if you're just adding 9 months more.Here’s that breakdown and quantities- this is for the whole year, not for 9 months: 51 cans of wheat $137.80, 11 cans of beans $48.95, 10 cans of sugar $46.50, 4 cans of powdered milk $28.20.
I don’t can my wheat, sugar, or beans because we go through large quantities; one batch of bread would use a whole can. Pretty silly storage for me. Besides, it’s easier for me to find space for 10 buckets than 60 #10 cans; they hold about the same amount of food.

Children do not need a full adult’s portion. For them, figure age 3 and under= 50%, ages 4-6= 70%, ages 7-10= 90%, ages 11 and up= 100%.
Obviously, kids' ages are always changing, so when I calculate what to have on hand ( I inventory every Conference), I project out six months to a year. For instance, if someone is 6 years old, I count that child as 7 years. That way I'm not always slightly behind when it's time to replenish.
**Prices are from February 2010

FEBRUARY STORAGE GOALS:

Food Storage Goal: OATS-20lbs per person.

Non-Food Goal: Lighting is our goal this month. Gather matches, candles, flashlights (crank or battery operated), emergency candles, light sticks, solar powered flashlights or lanterns, etc. Find what works for your family and have these in your 72-hour kits and in your car kits and have a source of light by every bed in your home. The glow light sticks that activate by bending are great to hang as night lights and can easily fit in 72-hour kits.**This month add a manual can opener to your supplies. It is great if you have pop top cans but your storage of cans is useless unless you can open them.**

If you need a FamilyHome Evening lesson on getting your 72-hour kits together, then click HERE to see a fun way of gathering all the items you'll need.

Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the peace!

Oats and More!

We are still stocking up on oats and I would challenge you to make a recipe this week using oats. Move beyond oatmeal and make a favorite oatmeal cookie recipe or try one of these. Remember you need 20lbs per person.

Delicious Oatmeal Pancakes

Makes 8-10 pancakes

1/2 C whole wheat flour

2 t baking powder

1/4 t salt

2 T sugar

1/3 C powdered milk

2 eggs separated

1 C water

3 T oil

1 C rolled oats

In medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and powdered milk. Stir until well blended. In small bowl beat egg whites until stiff, set aside. In large bowl combine egg yokes, water, oil, and oats. Beat slightly and allow to stand 5 minutes, then beat until blended. Mix in dry ingredients, then fold in beaten egg whites. For small pancakes drop 2 T batter onto griddle, or pour 1/4 C for larger pancakes. Bake until full of bubbles on top and then turn.

Apple Crisp

6 peeled apples

1/2 C sugar

2 T water

4 T butter 1 t grated lemon peel

1/2 C brown sugar

1 C rolled oats

1/2 t cinnamon

1/2 C chopped nuts (optional)

Slice the apples and spread in greased 8x8 pan. Sprinkle the water and 1/2 C white sugar. Mix the remaining ingredients and spread over apples. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until tender.

I have had several people ask me this week where I store my water and I reply saying that I store it in more than one spot. This made me think of the earthquake in Haiti and where we should store our supplies. If our houses fell down how would we get our 72-hour kits or water out. I know of one family that keeps a clean garbage can with cold weather items in it and they leave it in their shed. They figure they could move the shed walls easier than their house walls to get to it. I guess my thought is to store your food and supplies in more than one location. Don't put all your water under the stairs and not be able to reach it in an emergency. I have water in the garage, under the stairs, in our storage room, in the kitchen pantry and in the car. (click HERE to view the post on water.) 72-hour kits need to be accessible so if you were to leave your home in a hurry you could grab them and run.

If you have 55 gallon water drums, I found a great way to store them on their sides for easier usage. Click HERE to view the plans on how to build them. 

FEBRUARY STORAGE GOALS:

Food Storage Goal: OATS-20lbs per person.

Non-Food Goal: Lighting is our goal this month. Gather matches, candles, flashlights (crank or battery operated), emergency candles, light sticks, solar powered flashlights or lanterns, etc. Find what works for your family and have these in your 72-hour kits and in your car kits and have a source of light by every bed in your home. The glow light sticks that activate by bending are great to hang as night lights and can easily fit in 72-hour kits.

**This month add a manual can opener to your supplies. It is great if you have pop top cans but your storage of cans is useless unless you can open them.**

If you need a FamilyHome Evening lesson on getting your 72-hour kits together, then click HERE to see a fun way of gathering all the items you'll need.

Enjoy the journey!
Enjoy the blessings!
Feel the peace!

Oats

During the month of February we are going to stock up on oats. If you purchase your oats from the cannery in #10 cans they will last 30+ years. I like to store some oats in #10 cans and then keep the oats I use daily in a 5 gallon bucket with a gamma lid. Oats are very versatile and also very healthy for you. You will need to store 20lbs of oats per person and remember that number is a suggestion and you need to calculate the amount of what your family uses.

Oats can be added to breads, granola, meatloaf (meat extender), muffins, meatballs, cookies, etc. Try a new recipe this week that includes oats or maybe just add oatmeal to your breakfast. Making granola is always a great way to use your oats. We love granola in our yogurt and with the great yogurt recipe from last month (see it here) you could have a very healthy and inexpensive snack or breakfast. Here is a recipe to get you started:

Scotch Oat Bars (from The Essential Food Storage Cookbook)

1 C butter (you could use 1 C pureed white beans or 1 C applesauce to substitute)

4 C quick oats

1 C brown sugar

1/2 C white sugar (you could substitute powdered milk for the white sugar)

2 t baking powder

1 t vanilla

1/2 t salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Remove from heat. Add oats,sugars, baking powder, vanilla, and salt. Mix well. Pat into a greased 9x13 dish and bake 25-28 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and cut into bars.

Variation: Drizzle cooled bars with melted semi-sweet chocolate. Cool. Cut into bars.

• I am allergic to nuts and most granolas have nuts in them so I was excited when I found this recipe because it is a basic recipe and you can add any extras in after it is baked. This is my favorite granola recipe:

Easy Granola

5 C oats

1 C powdered milk

1 T cinnamon

1 can frozen apple juice concentrate (thawed but not reconstituted)

2 t vanilla

1/4 C oil (could try applesauce)

Preheat oven to 300. Mix all ingredients until well blended. Spread onto large rimmed cookies sheets. Bake for 30 minutes. Turn over mixture in sections. Bake 15 more minutes. Break up the mixture and turn over. Bake 15 minutes more and break into pieces again and let cool. Granola will get harder as it cools to don't overbake or it will be hard as a rock.

Eat with yogurt or like cereal with milk and raisins or nuts. 

Click HERE to see some other great oat recipes. I love "My Food Storage Deals" website for great food storage information. 

FEBRUARY STORAGE GOALS:

Food Storage Goal: OATS-20lbs per person.
  Non-Food Goal: Lighting is our goal this month. Gather matches, candles, flashlights (crank or battery operated), emergency candles, light sticks, solar powered flashlights or lanterns, etc. Find what works for your family and have these in your 72-hour kits and in your car kits and have a source of light by every bed in your home. The glow light sticks that activate by bending are great to hang as night lights and can easily fit in 72-hour kits.

If you need a FamilyHome Evening lesson on getting your 72-hour kits together, then click HERE to see a fun way of gathering all the items you'll need.

CONTINUE TO STORE WATER!

Enjoy the journey!

Enjoy the blessings!

Feel the peace!